will send a provision return for his company for the month of September to Major Babbitt. The rations can be sent up on the 30th instant. Fresh beef can be sent up three times a week by the boat. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Colonel Ninth Infantry, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS, Maj. J. H. CARLETON, Fort Bridger, Utah Ter., August 25, 1861. First Dragoons, U. S. Army, Commanding Volunteers: MAJOR: Having learned that a number of volunteers under your command are about to leave California to take post along the Overland Mail Route, I consider it my duty to give you information with regard to the facilities afforded by this post for occupation by a portion of your command should it be desirable to occupy it. The post, as you may be aware, is pleasantly situated on Black's Fork of Green River, having several branches with fine running water through and near the post. Four companies could immediately find pleasant quarters and in a short time a number of other buildings sufficient to accommodate an equal number could be repaired. There are six sets of officers' quarters with four rooms each, two of them having kitchens detached. There is one stable fit for immediate use which will accommodate ninety horses, and another which will require considerable repairs before being fit for use. It would hold about fifty animals. The material for repairing could be obtained at the post. There are 200 head of commissary beef-cattle here. There are 400 bales and 300 boxes of clothing, camp, and garrison equipage, stationery and medical stores at the post. Most of this was removed from Fort Crittenden when that post was abandoned and stored here for the use of the volunteers. The subsistence stores here are quite limited in quantity. I have 6,000 pounds flour, 3,500 pounds bacon, 1,000 pounds sugar, 200 pounds coffee, 150 pounds rice, and 30 bushels beans, and but a small quantity of other stores. The post sutler here has a quantity of subsistence stores purchased at the late sale, which he has made me a written promise to retain until September 20, and sell at reasonable rates should it be necessary to purchase, provided the post should be garrisoned. He has 20,000 pounds States flour, 10,000 pounds bacon, 60 bushels beans, 10 barrels vinegar, 5 barrels molasses, 2,000 pounds sugar, 15 cases desiccated vegetables, 1,000 pounds tea, 400 gallons vinegar. Stock can be wintered near the post. There is a good sutler's store here, a post-office, and a telegraph station is expected to be established here by November. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. CLARK, Captain, Fourth Artillery, Commanding Post. P. S.-The post sutler, Judge Carter, has contracted to furnish for the post, if needed, 3,000 bushels oats, 90 tons hay, 15 tons straw, and 1,000 cords wood, and states that he is willing to increase the amounts of the several articles to the requirements of the post. Will you please reply early for the information of the sutler? J. C. C. Capt. R. C. DRUM, FORT HUMBOLDT, CAL., August 25, 1861. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt by mail of the 21st instant of Department Special Orders, Nos. 142, 143, and 145, and a letter of the 8th instant relative to establishing a new post to be called Fort Seward. The means of transportation at this post are not sufficient to pack out the supplies now here for Fort Gaston and to get out the supplies necessary for the new post to last until the trails are prac ticable again in the spring. The rainy season (snow in the mountains) usually commences about the middle of October, after which packing over the mountain will be impracticable. The train belonging here is now packing to Fort Gaston. I have, therefore, to ask of the commanding general authority to hire the packing to Fort Gaston to be done by private trains. The cost will be about 4 cents per pound. The Indians referred to in my letter of the 1st instant, numbering about 130, have been camped here under the protection of the troops for a week past, the citizens furnishing them with scanty supplies of provis ions. I have written to the Indian agent at the Klamath Reservation in regard to them, but have not received a reply. Quite a number of them are decrepit and not able to walk that distance. The steam-tug will take them all to the reservation for about $300, but of course I could not go to that expense without authority from department headquarters. I do not like to make any remarks relative to abandoning this post, but I think it my duty to say that I do not doubt that it will be found necessary to re-occupy it again in less than six months. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, SPECIAL ORDERS, CHAS. S. LOVELL, Captain, Sixth Infantry, Commanding Post. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, 2. Lieut. Col. Robert C. Buchanan with the regimental and non-commissioned staff and band of the Fourth Regiment of Infantry will immediately take post at the Presidio of San Francisco. 3. Col. Benjamin L. Beall, First Dragoons, will immediately relieve Col. George Wright, Ninth Infantry, in command of the District of Oregon. When relieved Colonel Wright will report at these headquar ters without delay. By order of Brigadier-General Sumner: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Capt. WILLIAM H. GARDNER, U. S. Navy, Commanding Mare Island, Cal.: CAPTAIN: I have been informed that there are several violent secessionists in the Government employ at Mare Island Navy-Yard. I would respectfully and earnestly represent to you the danger of keeping these men in your command. It is not right that any man should draw his bread from a Government that he is denouncing, and no man with any pride would do it. I am no alarmist, but at this moment there is a high responsibility resting upon you and myself, and I wish to inform you that I have the means of making all Government property in this State perfectly safe, and I am ready and willing at all times to give you any assistance that you may require. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, É. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS, San Bernardino, Cal., August 26, 1861. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, U. S. Army, Headquarters Pacific Department, San Francisco, Cal.: SIR: Companies D and G reached this place yesterday. Companies A and F encamped at the Old Mission, about twenty-five miles from New San Pedro, on the 24th instant, and should reach this place on the 28th instant, if nothing happens to prevent. There are no vacant buildings to be rented for quarters for either officers or soldiers in this town. This command is very much in want of a physician, as well as company officers. Please furnish both as soon as practicable. Respectfully, your obedient servant, W. SCOTT KETCHUM, Major Fourth Infantry, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. GEORGE WRIGHT, Commanding District of Oregon: On the arrival of Col. B. L. Beall, turn over your command to him and repair to this place as soon as possible. You will probably be here for some time. Colonel Beall goes up in the boat to-morrow. Order Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan with the headquarters of his regiment to repair here immediately. E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. GEORGE WRIGHT, Comag. Dist. of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: SIR: The general commanding the department desires you, in turning over the command of the District of Oregon to Colonel Beall, to inform him very generally regarding Indian affairs within the district, and particularly with regard to all matters pertaining to the occupancy of San Juan Island. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT CASCADES, WASH. TER., August 26, 1861. Lieut. A. C. WILDRICK, Third Artillery, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Hdqrs. District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that since my letter of the 23d instant I have used my best endeavors to find out something of a more definite character to report to the colonel commanding. The Indians on the Oregon side of the river, of whom I spoke in my last, I was not able to see that day. So the next day I sent Captain Van Voast over to Oregon side of the Cascades with orders to make a thorough investigation into the condition of affairs on that side. Inclosed herewith you will please find his report, which goes to corroborate principally what I found out on this side of the river in my examination from the Lower to the Upper Cascades. It was reported to me that quite a number of strange Indians were at the berry patch on the south side of the river; so to satisfy myself I told Blan-a-har that I wanted him to go up to that patch and see if there were any Indians there or in the vicinity; if so, to find out their number, to what tribes they belonged, and to bring in to me the heads of each tribe. If he saw no Indians, to examine the ground closely for signs, either fresh or old, and that I wanted him to be back last night and let me know the result. He returned last night about 9 p. m. according to promise, and reported that there were no Indians to be found or seen, nor could any signs of any be seen, and that he does not think the Indians have been there this season; that the berries are about half ripe. I told him before I sent him out that if he deceived me in any way I would hang him, and I also told him the same thing on his return and before he made his report. From all I can learn I am convinced that the matter of an attack was talked over by some strange Indians and those of the Cascades, or at least some of the latter, and that the arrival of troops at this point has evidently frustrated their plans for the present at least, if they had any fixed ones. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. M. BLACK, Captain, Ninth Infantry, Commanding U. S. Troops at Cascades. Capt. H. M. BLACK, [Inclosure.] FORT CASCADES, WASH. TER., August 25, 1861. Commanding Troops, Fort Cascades, Wash. Ter.: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that in accordance with your instructions I visited the Upper and Lower Cascades, on the Oregon side, and by inquiry endeavored to ascertain upon what foundation were based the rumors of an apprehended Indian attack. It appears that an old Indian woman some eight or ten days since told Mrs. Attwell, living at the Upper Cascades, that strange Indians had been talking to the Cascade Indians of an attack, but that the latter would not join them. She added that in case of danger she would give timely warning to Mrs. Attwell. About this same time an Indian called Jim, under the influence of liquor, and just at dark, came to Mr. Attwell's house, and told Mr. and Mrs. Attwell that they must be careful; that strange Indians were in the mountains; that they might attack the Cascades; stating also that he would inform them in time of the danger. I visited the house of an Indian called Gabriel, at which place I saw the old Indian woman referred to above, but I was unable to elicit any information in confirmation of the story attributed to her; neither could I learn from them anything in relation to strange Indians or an apprehended attack. It appears that Gabriel had been told, or imagined, that you were thinking of hanging him, and seemed to be very much frightened. Indian Jim, referred to above, is absent now from the Cascades, and I therefore could not see him, but I am informed that he has since been questioned in relation to his first story, and that now he denies having told it. Mrs. Attwell is also absent from the Cascades, and I therefore could not see her. I will also here add that some alarm has been caused by the unusually large number of strange Indians reported as passing up and down, and as having much powder and lead. The arrival of troops has quieted entirely the fears of all. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, JAMES VAN VOAST, Captain, Ninth Infantry. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, His Excellency J. G. DOWNEY, Governor of California, Sacramento: GOVERNOR: I regret very much that you do not find it convenient to come to this city. From the orders that I have received no time can be lost in raising the 5,000 volunteers required from this State. I wish much to confer with you about this matter. I deem it very important that officers of the Army should be selected to command the regiments; the other field officers can be selected from civil life, and no man, officer or soldier, will be mustered into service about whose loyalty to the National Government there is the slightest doubt. I am, Governor, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. SPECIAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, * 2. The companies raised for the regiment of infantry and battalion of cavalry California volunteers, for the service on the Overland route, will hereafter be mustered into service at Camp Downey, Contra Costa. By order of Brigadier-General Sumner: * RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. FORT YUMA, CAL., August 27, 1861. COMMANDING OFFICER, U. S. Army, Los Angeles, Cal.: SIR: You will please telegraph the substance of the inclosed communication to the commanding general of the department and request him to send at least two companies of infantry to strengthen this point |