Edwin A. Rigg to Colonel, January 15, 1862

COLONEL: I forward the express, as directed by you, upon receipt of intelligence of the barley which was shipped from San Francisco to the mouth of the Colorado River by way of Guaymas, The steamer Cocopah, Capt. George A. Johnson, left this port on the 26th of December to meet the vessel, and to-day I have received a letter from him inform. ing me of the arrival of the vessel, a copy* of which I inclose to you, from which you will find that the steamer Republic has met with an accident. I also inciose copy of letter} received from Juan Robinson & Co., of Guaymas, directed to acting assistant quartermaster at this post, which will also explain what goods have been lost or thrown overboard, and what shipped to the mouthof the Colorado River on schooner Lolita; also copy of receipti for the cargo received on board of her, and the lay days the vessel will be entitled to without damage. The steamer can easily return in time to the mouth of the river if she arrives here on the 18th to get the cargo out of her within the lay days stipulated for. I also inclose the reports of Lieut. E. G. Taylor, whom I sent to Fort Gaston, as directed by you. John Costello went with him as guide. He knows the country well through to the Mojave, having been with Colonel Hoffman when he went through, and he is reliable, I think, at all times. Lieutenant Taylor’s report will give you the result of his observations. I received a note from Keene, dated Mission Camp, January 10, 1862, in which he suggests that ten tons of hay should be cut and stacked at that point. Mission Camp is fifteen miles from Gila City. He says it would be well or advisable to cut eight or ten tons of hay to be left at this point. There is plenty of it close at hand. It will make the drive more evenly divided from Gila City to Antelope Peak than grazing the animals at Pond Hill, which is some three miles and a half below. I have ordered it to be done. The hay you wished cut and hauled to Gila City will be cut at that point. I also inclose for your information copy of a letter received here by Mr. Hinton, from a gentleman in Sonora; alsoone{] received by Mr. Yager, from another gentleman in Sonora, upon the same subject, the truth of which could easily be ascertained if I were authorized to send a person to Tucson. Mr. Yager will commence cutting the hay for Cooke’s Wells to-morrow, and will haul it there by the 10th of February. Some one will have to be sent there to receive it and watch it, or it will be used up by travelers. If Tam to send any one there, will the colonel please authorize me to employ some one for that purpose, or will some one be sent there from the other side? Mr. Yager has just come in, and he desires me to say that he will put some hay at the Alamo, but how much he cannot yet tell. He also desires me to say that he will have beef enough here for any demand, and can also furnish any given quantity on foot at the price named in my last—$30 per head, weighing from 300 to 500 pounds,

*See inclosure No. 3. See inclosure No. 6. See inclosure No. 7. t See inclosure No, 4, § See inclosure No, 2, Y See inclosure No, 8,

The command is improving daily in target practice, and a company of good sharpshooters can be selected from them. The skirmishing and bayonet exercise (the latter, however, the non-commissioned officers only drill at) are progressing as well as could be expected. They are ready to march when ordered, and prefer it to lying in garrison.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,