no Snake Indians. There were some Nez Percé Indians in the vicinity, but they appeared friendly. I think there were no Snake Indians near there, and such was the opinion of the Nez Percé Indians. On the 13th instant I started on my return to this place. Two privates deserted while on the march. I sent a party in pursuit, but the deserters were not taken. Arrived here without further incident on the 20th

instant.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. S. TRUAX,

JOHN BOWEN,

Second Lieutenant, First Oregon Cavalry.

First Cavalry Oregon Volunteers, Commanding Fort Lapwai.

AUGUST 27, 1863.-Affair at Fort Bowie, Ariz. Ter.

Report of Sergt. Charles Kuhl, Company E, First California Cavalry. FORT BOWIE, September 1, 1863.

SIR: I report to you the loss of all our horses at this post. On the 27th of this month [August] I had the horses turned out to herd, with one man to guard them, giving the orders not to go out of sight of the fort. The horses were about (not over) 1,000 yards from the post, when twenty-five or thirty Indians on horseback, galloping down the road from Tucson, surrounded the stock and drove it through the cañon toward Mesilla. Private Creeden, on guard that day, fired eight or ten shots at the Indians, hitting one of them. The sentinel at the fort seeing this (a little too late) fired his piece, and most of the men, with Captain Tidball at their head, ran to overtake the Indians as quickly as possible, but the Indians were too far ahead. There was another party of Indians behind a little knoll a short distance from the old station, in number about twenty or thirty, who operated in concert with the Indians on horseback. A third party was outside the post, so it appeared that the Indians had their position chosen to the best advantage. The rea son why I herded the horses on foot of the hill is this: Privates Jones', Blanc's, Davidson's, Lange's, and Creeden's horses had sore backs. Í had all the men to work on their horses to wash and put on medicine every day twice, and with good success. The horses were in a good condition. We built a shed and cut a wagon load of hay, so that we may keep our horses up, only allowing the horses to go to water in the morning and graze for one hour or two, not thinking of any danger. There were two infantrymen herding the sheep close by, only having one man on guard because there were at that time only two privates for duty. Privates Davidson, Jones, and Blanc were sick; Private Chappins is in the kitchen, so left Creeden and Lange for guard. The same time I have to state that there was only one pair of hobbles here. I had to put them on the mule of Chappins, who strayed off the herd most every day. This mule the Indians left in the cañon, and was brought back to the fort by our men. I applied for picket rope at the quartermaster's here, but there was none. The express will leave here to-morrow, myself and six men, in the post team. Captain Tidball has not a mule here to ride. The mules are most of them bronchos-buck, kick, and bite. We tried them, and there was no show. They broke saddlestraps and laid down in the road, so we had to give it up to ride express. Captain Tidball says he will not send his team a second time. Our

ammunition is almost out. I had to draw 100 rounds from Captain Tidball. There are no pistol cartridges here. Please send some pepper and mustard if possible. The quartermaster sent you some papers. Please ask Sergeant Andrews if they are correct. The horses lost belonged to the following men: First, Sergeant Kuhl, bay horse, American; second, Private Blanc, black horse, American; Private Lange, dark bay horse, American; Private Davidson, light bay horse, American; Private Creeden, white horse, Spanish; Private Jones, dark cream horse, Spanish.

I sign myself,

CHS. KUHL,

Sergeant, Company E, First Cavalry California Volunteers. Capt. C. R. Wellman.

SEPTEMBER 3-DECEMBER 31, 1863.-Operations in the Humboldt Military District.

Sept.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

3, 1863.-Skirmish in the Hoopa Valley, Cal.

Nov. 13-14, 1863.-Skirmishes near the Big Bar on the South Fork of the Trinity River, Cal.

Dec.

17, 1863.-Skirmish near Willow Creek on the Trinity River, Cal.

25, 1863.-Skirmish near Fort Gaston, Cal.
26, 1863.-Skirmish near Fort Gaston, Cal.

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Lieut. Col. Stephen G. Whipple, First Battalion California Mountaineers, commanding Humboldt Military District.

No. 2.-Maj. William S. R. Taylor, First Battalion California Mountaineers.
No. 3.-Capt. Abraham Miller, First Battalion California Mountaineers.

No. 4.-Capt. George W. Ousley, First Battalion California Mountaineers.

No. 1.

Reports of Lieut. Col. Stephen G. Whipple, First Battalion California Mountaineers, commanding Humboldt Military District.

HEADQUARTERS HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT,

Fort Humboldt, Cal., September 26, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of telegraphic dispatch from department headquarters via Weaverville, of date September 17, 9 a. m. It arrived at this post this evening at 7 o'clock. I immediately dispatched an order to Major Taylor, commanding Fort Gaston, to have the telegraphic order at once carried out, if he had not previously anticipated it. Fort Gaston is the nearest military post to the scene of the recent outrages, being about forty miles distant, and the force there being sufficient to spare, temporarily, thirty or forty men. The first intimation received by me of the Indian depredations in Trinity County came to hand on the 20th instant, to the effect that the mules ridden by the two soldiers who were escorting the mail between Fort Gaston and Weaverville had returned to the former place without riders, saddles, or bridles. This was mentioned in a communication from Major Taylor, but it was then supposed the mules had got away from their riders in the night; still, a detachment of twelve men under Captain Miller, Company C, was immediately sent out to ascertain the

truth. By the escort to the mail from Fort Gaston to Camp Curtis, which arrived this evening, I am informed officially by Major Taylor that Captain Miller met a party of citizens from Weaverville, who informed him that the mail carrier and escort had been attacked by a party of about fifteen Indians; that one of the escort was killed, the other severely wounded, and it was supposed that the mail-carrier was dead, as he could not be found, though about two miles from where the Indians made the attack, his saddle mule was caught by the wounded soldier and a slip of paper found, upon which was written by the mail-carrier that he was "shot and mortally wounded." The body of the murdered soldier was found with the nose and flesh cut from his face and his head pinioned to the ground by a long Chinese dirk through the neck. Previous to the attack upon the mail party the Indians had burned the buildings at Little Prairie, Martin's Ferry, and Taylor's Flat. It was also reported that twelve Chinamen were killed by this party of savages. At the time they attacked the mail the Indians were returning from these depredations loaded with plunder. The Indians who perpetrated these outrages are from the hostile bands of the mountains, joined, it is believed, by a few from those ostensibly friendly. To send troops to punish these wretches in the vicinity where the depredations. were committed will not likely avail anything, as they make these raids and then scatter and rejoin their several bands in the mountains. These marauding parties are generally composed of delegations or detachments from different clans. To hunt them out and kill or capture them is the slow work of months, but it is the only way to put a stop to their hostilities. The best way to prevent a recurrence of depredations in the region of the late attack, I suggest, would be to have troops stationed at the crossings of main Trinity and the South Fork; also to have a strong escort upon the trail, as mentioned in letter to department headquarters of the 10th instant. To insure protection to the miners and other inhabitants along this line of communication, and to keep it open, will require one company of troops. The mail can be protected by less than half that number. This leads to a subject which I would gladly avoid, but I feel compelled to represent to the general commanding that the force at present at my command is not adequate to the service required. There are but four companies of the Mountaineer Battalion mustered into service, numbering in the aggre gate less than 300 men, and recruits are coming in but slowly. That life and property may be rendered safe in this military district, and that the principal lines of travel may be kept open, I would most respectfully, but in the strongest manner possible, urge that the pres ent military strength of this district be re-enforced by two companies of infantry and one of cavalry.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. G. WHIPPLE,

Lieut. Col. First Battalion Mountaineers, California Vols.,
Commanding Humboldt Military District.

Lieut. Col. R. C. DRUM, U. S. Army,

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco.

HEADQUARTERS HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT,
Fort Gaston, Cal., December 30, 1863.

COLONEL: I very respectfully report the following: On the day of my arrival at this post, 22d instant, information was brought by a friendly

Indian that he had discovered where hostile Indians were living in log-
houses, to which they resorted after committing depredations or when
pressed by scouting parties. Lieut. Thomas Middleton, Company C,
First Battalion Mountaineers, California Volunteers, with thirty men of
same company, was at once dispatched, accompanied by Indian guides.
Lieutenant Middleton found the place as described on the 25th instant,
but he was not prepared to take it. In making a reconnaissance, one of
his men, Private Leonard, received a severe and dangerous gunshot
wound in the breast from an Indian spy. The Indian was shot down on
the spot, and Lieutenant Middleton withdrew his command a few miles
to await re-enforcements. Re-enforcements were promptly sent on the
morning of the 26th instant, under command of Capt. G. W. Ousley,
Company B, First Battalion Mountaineers, California Volunteers, when
the attack was made. The houses were found to be of large logs with
portholes, from which the inmates kept up a constant firing. The moun-
tain howitzer was used with good effect, though without much accuracy
at first from want of practice. Captain Ousley did not deem it best to
carry the houses by storm, as it was certain to result in the death of
several soldiers. He therefore posted a strong guard around the
houses and sent to Fort Gaston for more howitzer ammunition. This I
furnished and accompanied the escort in person. When I arrived at
the scene of action, about twenty-five miles from Fort Gaston, I learned
that the houses were demolished, most of the Indians having managed
to elude the guard in the darkness and had escaped. At the escape of
the Indians I was deeply chagrined and at first disposed to blame the
officers, but after observing the situation of the ground and taking into
consideration the continued exposure of the men in the storms and their
consequent fatigue, with other adverse circumstances, no other result
could hardly be expected. The houses were situated in the center of a
prairie, a good rifle-shot from the timber, in which occasionally num-
bers of armed Indians, friends of those in the houses, manifested their
presence. It was found that two Indians had been killed and that
several must have been wounded. Within the buildings were many arti-
cles recognized as having belonged to citizens heretofore-a Govern-
ment saddle lost at the time the mail carrier and one of the escorts were
killed in September on the Trinity; four guns, loaded, were also taken,
and the remnants of swords found, together with household furniture.
Two horses and two mules were also captured which had been stolen
from citizens. One important result is that the savages are now con-
vinced that they are not safe in any fortifications which they can
construct. It also proved that some of the houses (five in all) were
owned and occasionally occupied by Indians from this valley. The
casualties on our side were Private Leonard, of Company C, as noted
above, and Private C. Smith, of Company B, severely wounded in the
right arm at the elbow. Upon learning that men had been wounded
Asst. Surg. E. Phelps, Second Infautry California Volunteers, at once
requested permission to go to them in the field, which was granted.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. G. WHIPPLE,

Lieut. Col. First Battalion Mountaineers, California Vols.,
Commanding Humboldt Military District.

Lieut. Col. R. C. DRUM, U. S. Army,

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Department of the Pacific, San Francisco.

No. 2.

Reports of Maj. William S. R. Taylor, First Battalion California Moun

taineers.

FORT GASTON,

Hoopa Valley, Klamath County, Cal., September 19, 1863. SIR: On the 28th of July, 1863, I assumed command of Fort Gaston. I found the magazine in ruins. I immediately set to work rebuilding it, making it fire-proof. It is now completed and in use. The post reports thirty mules. Of these but about nineteen are able to do light work; four are team mules. Out of the balance, four only would stand a hard day's ride. The remaining eleven of the nineteen are miserable old things, almost worthless, but can be made to jog along a few miles a day, such as carrying blankets and a few rations for scouts on foot. Eleven animals have been turned out, being utterly useless. Nine of them I have sent on the summit of Trinity Mountain, where the grass is good and water abundant. They may pick up by fall or before winter sets in. Two mules strayed off some time ago. They are represented to me to be utterly worthless. I have not seen them, however. I have been informed by parties well acquainted here that the Government mules that were of any worth were selected and retained at Fort Humboldt, headquarters of this district, therefore our sorry show of mules at this post. We have but seven saddles belonging to this post at this present moment. The two escort mules of the Weaverville mail have returned without saddles or bridles. We suppose they have escaped from the pasture, as they bear no marks of violence. Even if it should be worse with the mail-carrier and escort, we have no means of assisting them, as there is but one saddle left in the stable, and but three animals that can be saddled. The distance to the station is forty-five miles, which is usually traveled in the night-time on account of lurking squads of hostile Indians. I have had some beef jerked for the use of detachments when scouting. I found it answered much better for the men, as frequently they go out with six days' rations on their backs. In some instances they are not permitted to kindle fires, nor to shoot game, eating nothing but jerked beef and hard bread, and water as a beverage. We would like to jerk a lot more, if allowable, as it is preferred by the men. The men have been kept very busy scouting, escorting trains, the mail, and opening old trails in order to commence active operations this coming winter, when the Indians can be tracked on the snow and their fires seen at night. The rations have been very insufficient to keep the men up in this kind of service, especially their clothing rations. Frequently a pair of shoes are worn out in a single scout of ten days, and pants in a month; underclothing, however, does very well. The country is very mountainous and thickly covered with underbrush, which makes it so hard on the men and their clothing. The settlers are somewhat inclined to extortion here in the matter of forage, having combined to keep the price up. I would recommend that the quartermaster have discretionary powers about purchasing horse feed. Outside of this post there is no consumption for forage. I think oats can be bought for about 3 cents per pound or less, hay at $20 per ton. Packing from Arcata can be had at about 4 cents per pound. Flour is bought by the citizens at 5 cents per pound; 150,000 pounds can be obtained here at the foregoing figures, payable in coin. I detained the