Edwin A. Rigg to James H. Carleton, March 25, 1862

Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, Commanding District of Southern California:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report to you that Captain Calloway’s company (I), First Infantry California Volunteers, moved from this post on the evening of the 22d, and will reach Grinnel’s on the 28th, having laid over one day at Mission Camp to allow for rations to move up, employing his whole force there at cutting hay. He left Mission Camp on the morning of the 25th. Captain McCleave’s company are at Grinnel’s to-day. I have forwarded as expeditiously as possible forage and rations at that point. They will have on the 29th forage and rations for the command, including Captain Pishon’s company of cavalry, for twelve days; also 9,000 rounds of ammunition for the cavalry, carbine and pistol, and 7,000 rounds of ball cartridge for the infantry. Captain Pishon arrived at this post on the morning of the 24th. His horses have all been shod, and a detachment of thirty-five of his company left this evening for Gila City en route to Grinnel’s. The balance of his company will leave to-morrow; also a detachment under the command of Second Lieutenant Phelan of Company K, in charge of two 12-pounder howitzers. I have temporarily attached the unattached recruits to Captain Calloway’s company to work the howitzers. They are good men and up in their drill, and go under the immediate command of their officer. This will make Captain Calloway’s infantry force 97 men; Captain Pishon’s command is 92, rank and file, Captain McCleave’s company 83, making the fighting force 272. As fast as the limited transportation on hand will permit I have thrown them forward, and have now, or will have by the 29th, rations and forage sufficient for their immediate use. I have, after mature reflection and calculation, concluded to order them forward thus: As soonas Captain Calloway’s company of infantry arrives at Grinnel’s, Captain McCleave’s company will extend up as far as they can find forage, keeping a sharp lookout; as soon as Captain Pishon’s company arrives, Captain Calloway will march his company direct for the Pimas to attract their attention, and if possible draw them out, whilst the cavalry will make a rapid march around to the south of them and fall on their rear, not leaving any possible chance for their escape. To prevent, however, making rapid marches at the wrong places, I have sent old man Weaver and his companion, Moore, who know the whole country well, and are well known to the Indians, to strike across from Sutton’s into the Maricopa country, and through them obtain positive information of the enemy being at the Pimas. He knows every foot of ground through that whole country, and is almost an Indian himself, having assisted the Maricopas against the Apaches. He will be able to have the information at Grinnel’s in nine days from this date. If they have left there, the whole company will move on directly to the Pimas, and he will go forward in the direction of Tucson, keeping the command posted through Indians of the locality of the enemy. But as no time is to be lost to prevent Captain McCleave being carried off to Mesilla, a dash direct will be made at Tucson, taking it in the rear, or as may be considered best, after obtaining information. I have so instructed Captain Calloway, and after whipping them, to fall back on the Pimas and intrench as well as they can with their limited means, having but a very few intrenching tools to send with them, and also very limited means of transportation. From all the information that I could obtain in reference to the Tinaja Alta route, it is impracticable, unless every necessary were placed in the advance. For want of water neither horses nor the infantry could march it without breaking down, in which case when most required for hard work they would be the least able to stand up to it. The route suggested by the district commander by way of the copper mines has the same objection. It would be necessary to prospect it and provide in advance for everything necessary to put the troops through in good fighting order. After consulting, as the colonel desired, Mr. Jones and others, who know the country well, particularly Mr. Weaver (an old trapper and scout), I came to the conclusion that the above plan was the best, and adopted it. They should only show face enough to keep them near them, whilst the others are getting in their rear; and if Weaver is successful, which I have every confidence that he will be, Hunter must be caught. McCleave’s company is pawing for the advance. Captain Pishon’s men are full of fight, and Calloway writes from on the road to Antelope Peak that his men are in fine order. They are well up in the skirmish drill and bayonet exercise, in very good state of discipline, and composed of good material. Everything now depends upon their handling. I send at daylight the programme to Calloway, who, since the capture of McCleave, will be the ranking officer. The cavalry, of course, will be handled by Captain Pishon, His horses will be in tolerably good condition by the time he reaches Grinnel’s, which he will, making easy marches, on the 31st. Mr. Jones goes up to-morrow to go with them, and all they have now to do is to go to work. As soon as the mules come in Lieutenant Phelan will start with the howitzers. The men understand tolerably well how to handle them. They have been practiced in unlimbering and packing the pieces, &c., and will, I think, give a good account of themselves. If the pemmican were here it would be just the article to carry along. I have put everything in the way of transportation moving, but at this particular time feel the want of more of it. Two teams have left, loaded with baled hay, for the Alamo, one of which has returned from there and started back to-night with more. I would also respectfully submit, for the information of the colonel commanding, that the forage and rations sent on to Cooke’s Wells, Indian Well, and Alamo, for the use of Captain Mead’s company of cavalry, is still there in charge of men from this post. Lieutenant Wood relieved Lieutenant Benson, sent out to put in order the wellson the desert. Lieutenant 3enson, Company I, with detachment of that company, marched from this post to join his company yesterday, and will reach Grinnel’s on the 29th. I have thus, I believe, informed the district commander of everything done toward shoving the detachment off to the Pimas that could be done with the means at hand, and have but one regret in reference to it—I would like to be with it.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,