In establishment of a military post on Gray's Harbor for the protection of the growing settlements in that wild and isolated portion of this Territory. Some of the most wild and hostile tribes are a few miles north of the harbor. Since the withdrawal of the troops they have given unmistakable signs of hostile intentions, and I have just learned from the mail carrier that an Indian had been killed by a white man while in the act of carrying off his property, they having borne with their thieving and insolence until it could not be borne with any longer. Mr. Woods, who shot the Indian to recover his property, is a man that would not have done an act of the kind without justifiable cause. addition to the general interest I feel in the prosperity and safety of our settlements in this wilderness, I am extremely anxious for the safety of my children and grand-children, who compose a part of that settlement. If they should become victims of savage barbarity, I shall feel that their blood will stain the skirts of those who may have deprived them of that protection they had a right to expect from their Government, and which the establishment of the post promised them as an inducement to pitch their tents in that far-off wild. It is true there are some ten or twelve men there, just enough to provoke the Indians to hostilities, but not enough to afford protection to the settlements. Troops can be transported from San Francisco to Gray's Harbor as readily and as cheap as to Vancouver. The entrance to the harbor is safer than that of the Columbia. Besides, small vessels are coming up every few days to Shoal Water Bay for oysters in ballast, only twelve miles south of Gray's Harbor, and the two bays connected by the best beach road to be found on the coast. The steamer to the sound passes within sight of the barracks, and could touch there with safety without detaining her two hours. Captains Gray and Vancouver went into the harbor with their ships and report twenty one feet on the bar, with plenty of water in the channel and in the harbor, with safe anchorage. Forty years after, Lieutenant Wilkes, of the exploring expedition, made a survey of the harbor and entrance, and reported the same result. I have been on the bar recently and sounded it, and found twenty feet at an unusual low tide. I state these facts to guard you against the many false reports in circulation in regard to the depth of water on the bar and the safety of the entrance and harbor. I think I know your character too well to believe that you would have permitted the abandonment of the post had you been aware of the danger it involved the settlement in, and I think you will agree with me that the life of an innocent babe is not to be put in competition with the cost of supporting a company of soldiers. Yours, very truly, ANSON G. HENRY, Surveyor-General of Washington Territory. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, His Excellency JOHN G. DOWNEY, Governor State of California, Sacramento, Cal.: GOVERNOR: I have received your letter of the 9th instant. If I can ever get the volunteers I will send enough of them into the Indian country to preserve order. I shall be obliged to send companies of volunteers to Oregon of not more than sixty strong. Is there any way in which the raising of these troops can be hastened? Very respectfully, your obedient servant, É. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. SPECIAL ORders, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, No. 191. I. Lieut. Col. Albemarle Cady, Seventh Regiment of Infantry, is assigned to the command of the District of Oregon, and will accordingly relieve Col. Benjamin L. Beall, First Cavalry. When relieved Colonel Beall will report at these headquarters, preparatory to sailing for New York with his regiment. By order of Brigadier-General Sumner: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Maj. R. C. DRUM, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: It is recommended to me by officers who have served long on this coast, and in this section of the State, that San Pedro would be preferable to San Diego for the concentration of all the troops in this district for embarkation for the East. The troops from Fort Yuma cau march to San Pedro in nearly the same time it would take to reach San Diego, and the company at San Diego can be brought to San Pedro without any expense to the Government. It is supposed that the steamer which may be employed would not go into San Diego without being well paid, and if we could concentrate all the troops in the district at one point it might be a saving of much expense to the Government. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Colonel, U. S. Army, Commanding. [Indorsement.] OCTOBER 21, 1861. Let the present orders be executed. The troops from Fort Yuma will concentrate at San Diego. Col. JUSTUS STEINBERGER, G. WRIGHT, Colonel, Commanding. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C.: SIR: At the request of Col. W. H. Wallace, late Governor of Washington Territory, you are hereby authorized to raise and organize a regiment of infantry in that Territory and the country adjacent thereto, for the service of the United States, to serve for three years, or during * Another copy of this letter is dated October 18, 1861. the war. The Governor or Acting Governor of the Territory will please aid in perfecting this organization in such manner as may best promote the interests of the Government; the list of officers, except the colonel, to be certified and sent to this Department by the colonel commanding, with the approval of the Governor or Acting Governor. The organization of this regiment is to be in accordance with the general orders from the Adjutant-General's Department. In case the regular troops shall have left Fort Vancouver, or the District of Oregon, the colonel herein authorized will be mustered into service by any Army officer in San Francisco, Cal. For this purpose Colonel Steinberger will, immediately upon his arrival in the city, report to the senior officer in San Francisco for information as to the presence or absence of troops in the District of Oregon. In case clothing, arms, equipage, &c., cannot be obtained from the Government stores in the District of Oregon, Colonel Steinberger is authorized to make requisition for them on the commanding officer of the Department of the Pacific. THOMAS A. SCOTT, Acting Secretary of War. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DepartmenT OF THE PACIFIC, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, San Francisco, October 12, 1861. The detachment of the Sixth Regiment of Infantry at the Presidio of San Francisco will be sent at once to Benicia, Cal. By order of Brigadier-General Sumner: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Maj. R. C. DRUM, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: I have been much embarrassed for several months past in consequence of a scarcity of officers with my regiment, the Ninth Infantry. I have no staff officers at my regimental headquarters, Fort Vancouver, neither have I an officer to assist me in my present command. However, it is not staff officers which I need most. I have three companies of the regiment, without a single officer present belonging to either of them. On reaching New York the immediate presence of the company officers will be very necessary, particularly those who have heretofore served with the regiment, but now absent. I beg the general to submit this request to the lieutenant-general. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, 42 R R-VOL L, PT I G. WRIGHT, Colonel Ninth Infantry. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. GEORGE WRIGHT: Come here immediately; by stage if quicker than by boat. I leave for Washington in the next steamer. Denver is to relieve you, and you then go East. Order Carleton by express to send three companies to Fort Yuma and return with the rest. Concentrate all the regulars at San Pedro and San Diego. E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. COLD SPRING HOUSE, October 13, 1861. COMMANDING OFFICER AT FORT WALLA WALLA: SIR: Some days ago a number of men came here saying there were over 100 men mining on Salmon River, and were in want of provisions, and that they had viewed out a good trail as they came out. The consequence was that three trains started for that place, one yesterday and two the day before. Not knowing that any hostility existed, seven of us started to overtake the pack trains this morning. When we had proceeded some seven or eight miles, and when near Eagle-of-the-Light's camp, he and two other Indians placed themselves in the trail before us, and said if we went any farther that their men were in the woods close by aud were ready for us, and that we must either go back or be killed. Eagle-of-the-Light spoke of Lawyer and others of the Nez Percés as being fools and were blind, but he could see, and that he would join the Snakes, and, being united, they would wipe out all the whites who were in their country, or who attempted to go through it. Now, unless those men who are on Salmon River get assistance soon they are in imminent danger of starving or of being massacred by the Indians. The miners in this vicinity are very poorly armed. In consequence of this, and the great need of immediate and prompt action, we would respectfully solicit your aid. C. C. FELTON, J. V. HINES, A. CARTER, E. BOSTWIĆ, D. C. COLEMAN, L. FRENCH, [AND MANY OTHERS.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. EDWARD D. TOWNSEND, San Francisco, October 14, 1861. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. of the Army, Washington, D. C.: Order of the 16th ultimo just received. I leave in the next steamer, on the 21st instant, with the Third Artillery, part of the Sixth Infantry, and 10,000 muskets. What disposition shall be made of the general staff officers? Colonel Wright ought to remain here in command. The safety of the whole coast may depend upon it. E. V. SUMNER, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, No. 193. San Francisco, October 14, 1861. 1. The headquarters and Companies E, G, and K, Sixth Regiment of Infantry, and the headquarters and Companies C, G, H, L, and M, Third Regiment of Artillery, will embark for New York on the 21st instant. The deputy quartermaster-general and acting commissary of subsistence will furnish the necessary transportation and supplies. 4. One of the unmounted companies of the Second Regiment of California Volunteer Cavalry will be detailed for temporary duty at Benicia Barracks, and will proceed to its destination on the 17th instant. By order of Brigadier-General Sumner: RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. CHARLES S. MERCHANT, Comdg. Third Regt. of Arty, and Presidio of San Francisco, Cal.: SIR: The following companies of your regiment are selected to remain on this coast: Companies A and I to garrison Alcatraz; Company B to garrison Fort Point; Company D to garrison Fort Vancouver. The general commanding desires you to transfer a sufficient number of men from the companies ordered East (except Light Company C) to make an aggregate of ninety for each of the companies at Alcatraz and Fort Point. You will transfer the men at Fort Umpqua to Company D, of your regiment, selected to remain at Fort Vancouver. If Lieutenant Wildrick belongs to either of the companies he will be directed to join immediately. You will see by the special order of this date that your headquarters and Companies C, G, H, L, and M sail on the 21st instant. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, G. WRIGHT, Colonel, U. S. Army, Commanding. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, I. The undersigned hereby assumes command of this district. II. Lieut. Col. Joseph R. West, First Infantry California Volunteers, with Companies E, G, and H of that regiment, will on Wednesday morning, the 16th instant, start en route for Camp Wright, near Warner's |