Ben. C. Cutler to Joseph R. West, March 31, 1862

Lieut. Col. J. R. WEST, First Infty. California Vols., Comdg. at Camp Wright, Cal.:

COLONEL: The colonel commanding the district directs that you take Companies © and K, First Infantry California Volunteers, and Companies B and G, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers, and Companies A, B, and D, First Cavalry California Volunteers, and proceed without delay to the Pima Villages, on the Gila River, in Arizona, and there establish an intrenched field-work, which is eventually to be garrisoned by two or three companies, and used as a sub-depot for supplies. This field-work must be made near permanent wholesome water; if possible, on a commanding site. You will take from Camp Wright as many intrenching tools as you may need, and you will be authorized to take from Fort Yuma as you pass by that post two mountain howitzers, with an adequate supply of ammunition for the same. Acting Assistant Surgeon Kittridge willaccompany you. Surgeon McNulty will instruct him (in a letter which will be herewith inclosed) as to what instruments and medicines he may need, and where he is to procure them. You will be authorized to take with you the two ambulances now at Fort Yuma, and three hospital tents, flies, and poles from Camp Wright. Acting Assistant Surgeon Kittridge will be ordered to remain at a camp already established near Grinnel’s, on the Gila River, about 100 miles above Fort Yuma. You will have for transportation three teams, which have been ordered to go with Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, and Comany B, First Cavalry California Volunteers. Thirty of the teams which left New San Pedro yesterday for your camp and seventeen of the teams now at Fort Yuma, or above that post on the Gila River. You will draw your supplies of subsistence and forage for your march to the Pima Villages from Fort Yuma, excepting the amount of provisions you can transport from Camp Wright in the thirty wagons above alluded to. When once you have arrived at the Pima Villages and broken ground, you can immediately send back to Fort Yuma for other supplies at least forty-five of your teams, suitably escorted by cavalry. You will take 5,000 pounds of pemmican now at Fort Yuma when your trains first leave that post. You can make arrangements with Mr. O’Campo or Mr. Yager, both of whom have beeves, for as much fresh beef as you may require for your command, for, say, six weeks from the day you leave Camp Wright. The pemmican had better be kept to provide against the emergency of a siege, or for troops which you may send on detached service. Surgeon Prentiss, First Cavalry California Volunteers, will be your medical officer at the Pima Villages. You will. find Companies A and D, First Cavalry California Volunteers, already in advance of Fort Yuma, and order them to join you at the Pima Villages. You will also find Captain Calloway with 100 rank and file First Infantry California Volunteers in advance of Fort Yuma. These you will send to the camp already established near Grinnel’s. You will take 100 rounds of rifled-musket ammunition per man for Companies O and K, First Infantry California Volunteers, and B and G, Fifth Infantry California Volunteers, from Camp Wright, and also 100 of the 6-gallon water kegs now at that camp, and all the empty sacks. You will also take from Fort Yuma two water-tanks, containing 600 gallons each, which have been ordered to be made for you at that post for service upon the Little Desert, and also as many empty sacks as you can get at l’ort Yuma. The empty sacks you will need for grain which you will be able to purchase from the Pima and Maricopa Indians, or in case of emergency you will need them about your intrenchments in the way of defense. You will want to take from Fort Yuma some molds for the making of adobes with which to revet your works in case you are unable to procure willows or other bushes for the making of fascines and gabions. The colonel commanding sends you 10,000 yards of manta with which to purchase wheat and other supplies from the Pima and Maricopa Indians. You can use the old-fashioned army clothing now at Camp Wright for the same purpose. The force thus intrusted to your command is but the advance guard of the expedition which has been organized by the general to operate beyond the point you are now directed tooccupy. As such you are to risk but little in offering battle to an enemy who may come near your intrenched camp, but as such you are to defend yourself to the last extremity if attacked, let the numbers be what they may who come against you. By conciliating the Indians you can employ them as spies, particularly upon a trail which leads from Tueson toward Fort Yuma, which trail les south of the Pima Villages and comes into the valley of the Gila some two or three miles below Grinnel’s. You will purchase and get inside of your intrenched work as soon as possible all of the wheat and other supplies which you may be able to procure from the Indians. Have as much hay, wheat straw, or both, cut and stacked near your intrenched camp as may be needed for your horses and mules, and for other cavalry companies which will be sent to you, if they can be foraged without using the barley at Fort Yuma, which you must know is running very short. No doubt the Indians can be got to bring in large quantities of hay and other long forage. If you can save the rations and forage which you take with you to Pima Villages by gathering in the resources of that’country you will have achieved a very important point. I am, colonel,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,