Brigadier-General Wright to B. C. Cutler, December 4, 1861

Lieut. B. C. CUTLER, Los Angeles:

DEAR SIR: When this reaches you, if I am virtually in command of the district (the recollection of previous disappointments prevents my being confident), you will dispatch Hadji Ali, after one day’s rest, with an express for Camp Wright, with instructions to turn over his charge to an expressman from this post, who will meet him there. You will be particular to see that all letters and newspapers for this command and that at Camp Wright are procured from the express and post offices, and that they be properly sent to their respective destinations. Many letters for Camp Wright and San Bernardino come all the way through here and have to be sent back. As I shall meet Hadji Ali at Temecula, expect you might send by him any important communications addressed to me, also my private letters. Be good enough to see that a letter directed to my wife, sent herewith, is supplied with a proper express envelope to carry it through. I have nothing but old ones.

Yours, very truly, , J. R. WEST.

Open all business letters addressed to me.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Carson City, December 4, 1861. Brigadier-General WRIGHT, U. S. Army,

Commanding, San Francisco:

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 22d ultimo. If you will give me an order, or rather cause the commandant at Fort Churchill to deliver to me, as Indian superintendent, such supplies as may be necessary to meet the immediate necessities of the Indians, I will take charge of their direction in such manner as to be entirely satisfactory, and undertake to insure peace with all the tribes in this Territory. All they require is the occasional distribution throughout the winter of such provisions as you have at the fort. I entertain no doubt whatever of the propriety and necessity of this move, and just as little that both the Department of War and of Indian Affairs will be satisfied with the eftorts made to insure peace and happinesss among the Indians. If you desire me to do so I will willingly share the responsibility with you, and in my letters to my Department will fully explain and set forth that there was no other course to pursue. To march troops over the mountains and easterly at this season of the year, and especially to transport supplies, would be the next thing to impossible. With the arrangements you are undoubtedly prepared to make, I will guarantee protection to both the telegraph and overland mail lines until spring, when both troops and transportation can find an easy passage over the snows of the Sierras. My Indian agent is now out among the Pah-Utes, and reports all quiet, but a great necessity existing for food. Such directions as you may think proper to give shall be faithfully carried out. Lam grateful that you are keeping a good lookout for the secession element. It requires it. I am trying to do so here, and have thus far succeeded in keeping it under subjection. I have at the present time twenty soldiers from the fort guarding the jail in this place to prevent the rescue of a most desperate and bloody villain—a leader of that tribe, and one who wakes up all their energies to extricate. Doubtless Captain Rowe, who promptly responded to my call, has reperted to you the facts, and I hope he will be sustained in his efforts to second me in sustaining the laws and putting down this secession propensity for butchering every one who dares to be a Union man. I should have replied to yours earlier, but have been afflicted with rheumatism to that extent that I could not write. I shall at all times be happy to aid you in any way in endeavoring to hold the great Western slope true to the old Constitution and Union, and aid her along the pathway of her destiny. I am keeping one of the Indian agents who belongs at the Humboldt until I hear from you.

With kindest regards and best wishes for your success, I remain, truly, yours,

While writing I am interrupted by the arrival of the agent from the

Shoshones’ country, who reports all quiet there.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRs. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC, No. 228. San Francisco, Cal., December 5, 1861. * * * * * * * 3. The following regular troops will, should they arrive in time, embark on the steamer of the 11th instant, under the command of Maj. A. J. Smith, First Cavalry: Companies C, E, H, and I, First Cavalry;

Companies B and C of the Fourth and D of the Sixth Infantry. Sur geons Brown and Hasson and Assistant Surgeon Quinan will accom_ pany the troops on the 11th instant. The quartermaster’s department will furnish the necessary transportation.

By order of Brigadier-General Wright: