Colonel CADY, Fort Vancouver: SAN FRANCISCO, October 23, 1861. Suspend the enrollment of the cavalry company at The Dalles. RICHARD C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. A. CADY, San Francisco, Cal., October 23, 1861. Seventh Infantry, Commanding District of Oregon: SIR: The colonel commanding the department desires you to give the necessary orders suspending the raising of the company of mounted volunteers by Captain Whittlesey. The regiment to be organized under Colonel Cornelius will, the colonel thinks, be ample for the whole country. If any men have been raised for this company the colonel desires you to disband them. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 3. RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., October 23, 1861. Pursuant to Special Orders, No. 191, current series, from the headquarters of the Department of the Pacific, the undersigned hereby relinquishes to Lieut. Col. Albemarle Cady, Seventh Infantry, the command of this district. B. L. BEALL, Colonel First Cavalry, U. S. Army, Commanding. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 4. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., October 23, 1861. Pursuant to Special Orders, No. 191, current series, from the headquarters of the Department of the Pacific, the undersigned hereby assumes command of this district. A. CADY, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh Infantry. SPECIAL ORDERS, * HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT Of Oregon, II. Maj. James F. Curtis, Second Infantry California Volunteers, will, with Companies C and D of same regiment, proceed to Fort Col ville, Wash. Ter., via Walla Walla, and relieve Major Lugenbeel, Ninth Infantry, in command of that post. The latter, being relieved, will without delay repair with companies of the Ninth Infantry now under his command to Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter. Surg. I. Parry is assigned to duty with Major Curtis' command, and will relieve the assistant surgeon at Fort Colville. III. Capt. C. W. Smith, Second Infantry California Volunteers, will, with Company A, same regiment, proceed to Fort Dalles, Oreg., and report for duty to the commanding officer at that post. IV. Capt. J. C. Schmidt, Second Infantry California Volunteers, will, with Company B, same regiment, proceed to Fort Hoskins, Oreg., and relieve Captain Dent, Ninth Infantry. The latter on being relieved will, without delay, repair with his company to Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter. By order of Lieutenant-Colonel Cady: A. C. WILDRICK, First Lieut., Third Artillery, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. A. CADY, Seventh Infantry, Commanding District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: COLONEL: I wish you to keep all the clothing in depot at Vancouver for issue to the regular troops east of the Cascades, when they arrive at your headquarters. The troops from Colville, and more particularly the escort with Lieutenant Mullan, will arrive at Vancouver much in want of many articles of winter clothing necessary for their comfort on the trip to New York. The lieutenant in command of the escort will remain on duty with it until the men join their proper companies, when he will be assigned to duty with the Ninth Infantry under orders for the East. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Colonel, U. S. Army, Commanding Department. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Lieut. Col. ALBEMARLE CADY, San Francisco, October 24, 1861. Seventh Infantry, Commanding District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.: SIR: The colonel commanding the department desires you to have the horses and horse equipments pertaining to Captain Whittlesey's company brought to and turned over at Fort Vancouver, and not to the volunteers as directed. Assistant Surgeon Craig has been ordered by the Secretary of War to repair to Washington. The order, therefore, retaining him at Camp Pickett is revoked, and he will accompany the movement as directed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, RICHD. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, Cal., October 24, 1861. II. Capt. John W. Davidson, First Cavalry, with his squadron will march to New San Pedro on the 26th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and report to Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan, Fourth U. S. Infantry. JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Vols., Commanding Cavalry and Infantry. [OCTOBER 24, 1861.-For Baylor to commanding officer C. S. troops en route to Fort Bliss, relating to affairs in Arizona, &c., see Vol. IV, p. 127.] SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, No. 11. Los Angeles, Cal., October 25, 1861. I. First Lieut. Benjamin C. Cutler, adjutant First Infantry, is announced as acting assistant adjutant-general for this district. All official communications from officers and soldiers serving within the district which are intended for these headquarters will be addressed to him. Those pertaining to regimental matters exclusively will be addressed to him as adjutant First Infantry California Volunteers. II. First Lieut. Lafayette Hammond, regimental quartermaster First Infantry California Volunteers, is announced as depot quartermaster for the district, and he will immediately relieve in his duties as depot quartermaster First Lieut. Samuel McKee, First U. S. Cavalry. Lieutenant Hammond will also receipt for such public property as Capt. John W. Davidson, First U. S. Cavalry, has on hand as commander of Camp Fitzgerald. JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, No. 13. Los Angeles, Cal., October 25, 1861. I. Captain Roberts' company, of the First Infantry California Volunteers, will as soon as practicable proceed from Camp Wright to San Diego, Cal., and relieve the company of the Fourth U. S. Infantry now stationed at that post, and which is under orders to embark at San Diego for New York on the steamer which will leave San Francisco for Panama on the 21st proximo. JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, CAMP WRIGHT, Friday Evening, October 25, 1861. Los Angeles: COLONEL: I prefer without form to give you as near as possible an account of my progress in the present friendly note in preference to any official communication. I have elsewhere given you a journal of the road. The celerity of our movements amounted to marching 140 miles in just one week. Is not that creditable for green troops? The halt here has been the bother. The troops arrived here on Wednesday, 23d, at 12 m. The train not until the following day. Then the train that went to San Diego did not reach here until to-day. I was unavoidably delayed thereby. However, I dispatched on yesterday Lieutenant Benson with seven men, accompanied by Keene, the guide, to clean out the wells. Hadji Ali arrived at 9 o'clock last night. Finding myself at liberty to do that very advisable thing, divide the command, I moved off Captain Calloway's company with sixteen days' rations at 7 o'clock this morning. I follow with Dresher to-morrow, and Company H comes on Sunday, the commissary's train on Monday. All three companies will carry their baggage and sixteen days' rations. Then there will be 1,400 pounds ammunition, 1,000 pounds clothing, and 38,600 pounds commissary stores. I make up Banning's contract as follows: Company wagons, 6; ammunition and clothing, &c., 1; hospital field and staff, 1; twelve, averaging 4,000 pounds each. Total, 20 wagons. I could not go forward with the first company, as there was too much to arrange here to-day. Had I not been compelled to wait for the train from San Diego I should have gone on with all to-day. Perhaps it is better as it is. The changing of companies and repacking of provisions has also involved delay. I wrote to Colonel Andrews last night, giving him an exact account of my proposed movements, and leaving him to time his accordingly. I expect to be at Fort Yuma by the 5th proximo, twenty days from Camp Latham. Changes considered, is not this fair time? I shall rely on jerked beef on the desert-in fact, from here. Upon that article and the beans I shall report hereafter. Both promise well. I shall endeavor to give you such information in regard to our march across the desert as will prove useful in further movements of troops. Carrillo's men have not turned up. In fact, he cannot get any. I shall take him and his son to Yuma, when if he proves no more useful than he has, I shall send him in with an express to report to you for further action. Keene is worth a dozen of him. I shall rely mostly for information as to the enemy upon the Indians up the Gila and Colorado. You must bear in mind that should it become necessary to evacuate the fort I have no train to accompany me thence. I shall fight them to the bitter end sure, standing or running. The enemy could send an advance party and clean out the wells, I suppose. I am imagining all his resources, perhaps making some for him. On the entire road from the San Gabriel River I have heard of gangs of armed men, from three to ten in a party, making the best of their way to the Colorado. Of course they had preceded us. I have given Major Rigg a copy of your instructions to me that he may follow them in detaining avowed rebels. I have made some presents to the Indians here, and believe that they can be relied on to give the major information. The camp should, in my judgment, be moved in to Oak Grove. Colonel Andrews can halt here, and the major send him up the required subsistence; the distance fifteen miles and road superior. That a paradise, this a tophet. The news about Denver is glorious. Is not General Wright now in our way? However, we will all fulfill our destiny as you say, but I would be better pleased to hear of his being transferred to a more active field. When you get the department and I the district, there will still be fresh worlds to conquer. In conclusion, I would say that I am fully impressed with the responsibility of my command. Green troops and an inexperienced commander could scarcely be more severely tested. I brace myself to the trial, and shall endeavor to meet each new trouble with another link to let out. No doubt you were aware of the delicacy of this expedition, but I scarcely think to its full extent. Secesh looks ominous from the other side, but I have no fears for the result. Captain McMahon remains here. Elsewhere I forward his resignation addressed to General Wright. I send this by special express, and have given the rider the assurance that he shall be paid the customary fee. I think it would be advisable to have no more beans brought down from San Francisco at all. Enough can be had in the district to supply the whole command. I inclose Don Abel Stearns' account for beef. His team driver claims to have been delayed on the road one day by me. This is so, but Mr. Stearns can well afford to pay him, as he has charged too much for transportation. I have kept this letter open before me all this evening. It is therefore rather desultory. Yours, truly, Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, J. R. WEST. CAMP WRIGHT, San Diego County, October 25, 1861. Comdg. First Regt. Infantry California Volunteers, Los Angeles: COLONEL: I wrote to you the day that I arrived here, which, I suppose, you received. I camped near Señor Carrillo's house, where we now are. The location for a camp here is a beautiful one. Water is plenty and good and wood can be easily procured, but the climate is objectionable. It blows terribly the greater portion of the time, and Doctor Prentiss thinks it unhealthy. I have examined nearly every inch of the entire ranch, and can find none better than this. The camp is situated about one mile north of Carrillo's house and at the intersection of the San Diego road with the road to Yuma. The only place that I know of near here is Oak Grove (or Cable's), twelve miles from here. There is plenty of water and wood at that place. I sent forward the teams in charge of Lieut. R. S. Barrett, acting assistant quartermaster, to San Diego, as per instructions from you. They returned to this camp to day with commissary stores. Mr. Barrett reports no quartermaster's stores of any description at San Diego. The train will leave again for San Diego on the 27th. I am afraid that they will not be in a condition to make as good time as before (seven days), from the fact that a number of the mules are without shoes and cannot be shod either here or at San Diego. There are no shoes or nails at either place. We are also short of pants for the command. Colonel West takes 100 pairs from us here, which only leaves seventy-one pairs. Blankets we have none at all, and one blanket is not sufficient (in my opinion) to keep the men warm in this climate. The nights are extremely cold, and becoming more so every night. Complaints of sleeping cold are made by the men. We have no woolen socks or drawers, and but 204 pairs of bootees. Overcoats also we have none on hand. I would suggest that those articles be forwarded as soon as practicable. The roads will soon be in a bad condition from here to San Diego and transportation will be difficult. I would call your attention also to the company property left at Camp Latham, to be shipped via San Diego. The companies that is to say, Company I, Company D, and Company F-brought but one pick, one spade, and one ax with them, besides but a few camp-kettles and mess-pans. They are now much in want of all those articles. I also forward a requisition for stationery, &c., for this camp. We have none of any kind here. I would |