until you can hear from me. I have sent 10,000 rounds of ammunition to you at San Diego by the Senator last night. Have it got at once. I have written to have stoves sent to you. I will soon send you some cavalry, say a lieutenant, a sergeant, a corporal, and twenty-five men, starting to-morrow or next day. Try and have shelter for the horses. The horses must be kept in fine condition if you have the hard service you anticipate for cavalry. Mr. Showalter and men of that stripe must be searched for expected evidences of treason, and at all events they must take the oath of allegiance besides. If they refuse, hold them securely and report all the facts in the case, as I have before written. We have had enough of the bullying and treason of such men. If Judge Terry tries to pass, he must go through the same ordeal. There must be no child's play with him. Keep your own counsel; act with great circumspection, but with firmness. Put yourself in en rapport with the Indians. They will give you much valuable information of little parties attempting to dodge by you. I have sent you a forge, muleshoes, nails, tools, and some clothing. You can now put everything in service order and keep it so. Be ready at a moment's notice to move on to the help of West. Your position is such at this critical juncture that you must keep up a sleepless vigilance. Have your command in fighting order all the time, night or day. Keep me advised of all you do. Much is expected of you and all your command, officers and men. Drill, drill, drill, until your men become perfect as soldiers, as skirmishers, as marksmen. Keep the command in good health. Look after the messing every day yourself, and be sure the police and cleanliness of camp is perfect. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding. LOS ANGELES, CAL., November 4, 1861. MY DEAR EYRE: I received your kind note of the 30th of October this morning. In case you find by a shrewd and careful set of traps, which you have the address to set, that the person alluded to in the copy of a letter sent by Lieutenant Cutler is playing false to the Government (Doctor B-)—in case you obtain good evidence to this end (and if it exist you will obtain it, I am sure), then seize him quietly, search him and his premises thoroughly for all papers going to prove his disloyalty, and hold him securely until you hear from me. Obey no writ of habeas corpus in his case after you have once seized him, as you will have in your possession evidences of his guilt strong enough to justify his detention. I will uphold you in resisting the writ until you hear from me. There must be no child's play in what we do in so flagrant a case as his will be, holding the position he does. It is said the mail-carrier and post-office people in your place are to be doubted. Is this so? If so, then all important communications to me must be sent in by an officer by stage, as you have no horses. Lieutenant-Colonel Davis has resigned. His resignation has been accepted by the Governor, and Davis has gone home on the Golden Gate. Keep every string drawing; practice skir mish drill, and (judiciously as regards ammunition) target practice. We may have use for your men at any day. It is not certain that an attempt will not be made to come across the desert. See Alta; see inclosed letter (Warner's).* Keep all these matters in your own bosom. * Page 698. If Showalter comes to San Bernardino, or where you can get hold of him, have him swear allegiance to the Government. If he refuse, hold him good. I will send him to Alcatraz; same of Judge Terry. Be on the qui vive. There are plotters all about us, without a doubt. Sincerely, yours, JAMES H. CARLETON. NOTE.-If any person fires into your camp, hang him. Maj. R. C. DRUM, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., November 4, 1861. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: I have the honor to report that Lieut. Col. H. Lee, Fourth Infantry California Volunteers, with Companies A, B, C, D, and E of that regiment, arrived at this post on the evening of the 1st instant (403 enlisted, 419 aggregate present). I have given the necessary directions for the disposition of these troops, in accordance with my letter of the 1st instant, viz, Colonel Lee with two companies at Walla Walla, one company at Steilacoom, one at Yamhill, and one at Fort Vancouver. I trust that this arrangement, under the explanations already given, may meet the approval of the commanding general. No medical officer accompanied these troops. I trust that the deficiency consequent on the operation of General Orders, No. 24, will be supplied as soon as possible. I have given no directions in regard to the movement of the medical officers from the relieved stations except in the cases of Fort Colville and Camp Pickett, supposing that those interested would be governed by the terms of the general order above referred to. I feel compelled, however, to retain Surgeon Brown here as long as I possibly can. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, A. CADY, Lieutenant-Colonel Seventh Infantry, Commanding District. SPECIAL ORDERS, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., November 4, 1861. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF OREGON, No. 53. I. Lieut. Col. H. Lee, with Companies A (Rowell's) and C (West's), Fourth Infantry California Volunteers, will take post at Fort Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., and relieve the present garrison. The command will be in readiness to move at 8 a. m. to-morrow, and will proceed to its destination with as much expedition as possible. II. Captain Magruder, First Cavalry, when relieved will proceed to this post with his command. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation for these movements. By order of Lieutenant-Colonel Cady: A. C. WILDRICK, First Lieut., Third Artillery, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, Į HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT Of Oregon, No. 54. Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., November 4, 1861. I. Company D, Third Artillery, will proceed by the steamer Pacific about the 11th instant to Camp Pickett, San Juan Island, where it will take post, relieving the present garrison, Company H, Ninth Infantry. II. Captain English, Ninth Infantry, will with his company embark on the steamer Pacific on its return from Fort Steilacoom, and will continue thereon until its arrival at San Francisco. By order of Lieutenant-Colonel Cady: A. C. WILDRICK, First Lieut., Third Artillery, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, San Francisco, Cal., November 5, 1861. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Army Headquarters, Washington, D. C.: Troops in good condition. Cavalry regiment full. Infantry regi ments filling up. Fifteen companies sent north. G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding Department. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Brig. Gen. SETH WILLIAMS, San Francisco, November 5, 1861. Adjutant-General at Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.: GENERAL: I have this moment received Major-General McClellan's dispatch of the 2d instant, calling for a report of the condition of my troops. I have replied briefly by telegraph as follows: "Troops in good condition. Cavalry regiments full. Infantry regiments filling up. Fifteen companies sent north." The organization of the volunteer force called for from this State by the War Department will be completed at an early date. The cavalry service is the favorite arm in this country, and both regiments, the first of five and the second of twelve companies, are full. It is confidently expected that the five infantry regiments will be nearly filled up by the 1st of December. The First Infantry is fully organized and is in the southern district of the State. Five companies of the Second and five of the Fourth Infantry have already been sent to Oregon to relieve the regular troops in that State and the Territory of Washington. Four companies of the Third Infantry and one of the Second Cavalry have been sent to relieve the garrisons of Forts Bragg, Seward, Gaston, and Ter-Waw; one company of the Second Cavalry to Fort Crook; two companies of same regiment to Fort Churchill, and one to Benicia Barracks. In the Southern District of California Colonel Carleton is in command. He has his own regiment, First California Volunteer Infantry, and the First Cavalry, a battalion of five companies. Commands have already been sent to relieve the regular troops at Fort Yuma and at San Diego. Colonel Carleton's intimate knowledge of the southern section of this State makes it of the highest importance that he should remain there in command. As the War Department specially designated Colonel Carleton to command the First Infantry California Volunteers, originally designed for protection to the overland mail service, I have taken it for granted that it was not intended to withdraw him from the volunteer service, under the instructions from Adjutant-General's Office of the 3d of October, 1861. Lieutenant-Colonel Cady, of the Seventh Infantry, Regular Army, is now in command of the District of Oregon, having been sent there by General Sumner to relieve Colonel Beall, of the First Cavalry. The regular troops I shall send East as fast as they reach the coast. Most of them will have sailed by the 1st of December; those from Colville and Walla Walla will not get off quite so soon. Should it be the wish of the Department to send volunteers from this country to the East, I doubt not that the regiments would be filled very promptly. The personnel is not surpassed by any troops we have; all that is required is instruction and discipline. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding. [Indorsement.] Inform General W. that Colonel Carleton and Colonel Cady will be retained in his department; that his arrangements are approved. Recommend to the Secretary that six picked squadrons of Californians be formed for service with the Army of Potomac, and four for service in Texas; that two regiments of California and Oregon infantry be raised for service here and two for Western Texas. GEO. B. MCCLELLAN. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, Col. EDWARD D. TOWNSEND, San Francisco, Cal., November 5, 1861. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. of the Army, Washington, D. C.: COLONEL: I have this moment received your communication of the 10th ultimo. Anticipating the wishes of the General-in-Chief, orders were issued some days since for Company D, Third Artillery, now at Fort Vancouver, to proceed to San Juan Island and relieve the company of the Ninth Infantry. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. WRIGHT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding Department. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, Cal., November 5, 1861. Maj. RICHARD C. DRUM, U. S. Army, Assistant Adjutant-General, San Francisco, Cal.: MAJOR: I send you copies of letters * received and written by myself as the best account of what is transpiring in this district. I cannot believe any force will attempt to come over the desert, but I want to keep my command in as near a state of preparation for such an emer gency as could be expected from raw troops. The camp at Warner's ranch should be moved. I desire authority to change it to a warmer and healthier point-say to Oak Grove or to Temecula. I have sent Captain Fritz and one subaltern and thirty rank and file, First Cavalry California Volunteers, to Owen's River. I have sent Lieutenant Wellman and twenty-seven rank and file, First Cavalry California Vonunteers, to remain a while at Camp Wright, to act as vedettes, scouts, *See Rigg to Carleton, October 25; Carleton to Rigg and West to Carleton, October 29; Rigg to Carleton, October 31; Carleton to Eyre and Warner to Carleton and Carleton to Rigg, November 4, ante. expresses, &c. I have sent thirty-five recruits, via San Diego (by steam) and Camp Wright, to fill up the companies at Fort Yuma. I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers. CAMP LATHAM, Col. J. H. CARLETON, Near Los Angeles, November 5, 1861. Commanding First Infantry California Volunteers: SIR: I inclose you extracts from a letter received by me from Assistant Surgeon Randle in reference to the climate at Camp Wright, near Warner's ranch. Major Rigg requests me to state to Colonel Carleton through you, my opinion as to the propriety or impropriety of this command remaining at its present position. It is my professional and official opinion that the command under Major Rigg ought to be removed from this place as speedily as possible, for the following reasons: First. The wind blows here a perfect gale (not a moderate breeze) more than half the time, driving the dust in clouds, and blinding the eyes of every one, and infiltrating into every coffee pot, camp kettle, water bucket, &c. This has been the day of general muster, and Major Rigg has pertinaciously and punctiliously discharged all his duties, and the men have turned out with commendable zeal, notwithstanding the gusts of wind and dust have prevented anything like cooking in camp. The wind has blown so hard that a fire could not be made, and this is no unusual occurrence. Second. We are four miles from fire-wood, which is cotton wood when we get it. Third. The water here is strongly impregnated with alkali. Fourth. The weather is very cold now, and growing colder. Snow falls here a foot deep frequently in winter, and sometimes remains a week on the ground. The above extract contains everything touching the climate at Warner's ranch. J. M. MCNULTY, Surgeon First Infantry California Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Lieut. Col. GEORGE ANDREWS, Sixth U. S. Infantry, en route from Fort Yuma to San Diego: COLONEL: General Wright, commanding the Department of the Pacific, has made arrangements for the troops under your command from Fort Yuma to embark at San Diego for New York on the steamer which will leave San Francisco for Panama on the 21st instant, and he directs that there be nothing to interfere with your command being entirely ready at San Diego when the steamer puts in to that port to receive it. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel First Infantry California Volunteers, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Lieut. Col. JOSEPH R. WEST, Los Angeles, Cal., November 5, 1861. First Infantry California Vols., Comdg. Fort Yuma, Cal.: COLONEL I have sent via San Diego and Camp Wright thirty-five recruits for the companies at Fort Yuma. You will have them assigned by lot to the different companies, so that each will have the same |