Ben. C. Cutler to Joseph R. West, March 5, 1862

Lieut. Col. J. R. WEST, First Infty. California Vols., Comdg. at Camp Wright, Cal. : COLONEL: Order Captain Mead’s company to report to the headquarters First Cavalry California Volunteers, San Bernardino, Cal. You are at liberty to reduce your post teams to four. As you yourself suggest, direct the remainder to New San Pedro; let them bring as far as San Bernardino the baggage of Captain Mead’s company, with subsistence enough to last his company to that point. You will thus be relieved of many of your embarrassments as regards forage. It was supposed that you desired to have some cavalry at your post, and that it was important that the Camp Wright wagons should be returned to you, from the following paragraph in your letter of January 31, 1862, written from Chino Ranch: The result is, that if there should be any real necessity for a quick movement from

Camp Wright to support Fort Yuma, I am deprived of the needed transportation, while that little detachment of cavalry might have been of incalculable service.

After Mead’s cavalry had been sent to you it appears you were obliged to send it to Temecula. It was supposed that when your wagons were sent to you, you would be enabled to move to that point, or to any other point where there was grass, and then in case you could not get grain for Mead’s company you were authorized to send it back, provided you had no use for it. (See letter February 25.) The point whence supplies haye hitherto been drawn for Camp Wright (up to the commencement of the stormy weather) has been San Diego. It was supposed that you were aware of that fact. This is in answer to your letter of February 26. On the 21st of February you were authorized to send five of your teams to New San Pedro, and being authorized on the 25th to send Mead’s cavalry back to San Bernardino, it was hoped by the colonel commanding that you would be able to supply the remainder of your animals with forage. As you think you can get along with four teams and still be able to move Roberts’ company to your camp, this letter gives you authority to reduce your animals down even to that number. After you have moved Roberts, if you can do so, move up Ffrench. If you cannot do so, report the fact. From the information of which you are possessed in regard to the state of the roads, cannot subsistence supplies be hauled to your post from San Diego? If the road needs repairing to make it practicable for wagons, will you be able to repair it?

very respectfully, your obedient servant,