HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, April 28, 1862

April 28, 1862.

Camp at Norton’s Wells, Yuma Desert, Cal., April 28, 1862. Col. GEORGE W. BOWIE, Fifth Infantry California Vols., Comdy. at Camp Wright, Cal.:

COLONEL: About the time this reaches you, say the 30th instant, some trains will be near your post en route from San Pedro to Fort Yuma. These trains must be so divided at your camp that not over eighty animals, whether horses or mules, be at any one point on the desert on any one day. This precaution is rendered necessary from the failing of the water at Sackett’s Wells. All the marches from Vallecite across the desert must be made at night, starting from each point at 5.30 p.m. The increasing heat of the weather renders this absolutely necessary. You will arrange the programme of the movement of the trains accordingly, giving to each conductor a written paper of the hour and the day when he is to leave each of the following places, viz: Vallecito (water plenty, perhaps some hay; hardly any grass here to be obtained). Carriso Creek (water plenty, but bad; no grass, no hay). Indian Well (water to be drawn up in buckets; more can be gotten by having a man descend the well there to dip the water into the buckets by a cup as fast as it runs in; this will take all day steady work to water the animals; no grass, probably no hay). Norton’s Wells (water abundant, to be drawn up in buckets; no hay, no grass). Cookes Wells (water abundant, possibly hay; no grass). Pilot Knob (on the river; probably hay). Fort Yuma.—Send forward by the different divisions of the trains thus marching a day apart (omitting to send any of the infantry with the one with which Lieutenant Hammond is to come on without delay, with a half company of cavalry) one company of the Fifth Infantry, until only one is left at Camp Wright. Yourself, staff, band, &c., will come in the next division, following your third company thus detached. You will find barley at San Felipe, Carriso Creek, Indian Well, and at Norton’s Wells. If you cannot make arrangements to have fresh beef delivered to each train, each detachment, or each company thus leaving Camp Wright on its march across the desert, you must be sure to cause your commissary to issue pork, if necessary, for the whole distance. The teams must not be overloaded as the weather is getting hot. Have the teams Joad mostly with sub. sistence stores, being sure to have barley enough on to last, say, eighty miles, in case of accident or failure of supply at any one station. Each company will bring its quota of the rifled-musket ammunition now at your camp (Wright); will bring ten days’ rations of subsistence for its sustenance en route; will bring each two tents. Under no cireumstances will any officer or man be permitted to bring any article of baggage, or pound’s weight of baggage, not authorized by regulations for

troops in the field. This rule does not apply to yourself in greater force than circumstances in your estimation may warrant. To insure this, and to insure that the teams are not overloaded, have every article or package or box weighed upon the scales, and a list of such weight made up against every load. The present acting commissary of subsistence and acting assistant quartermaster at Camp Wright you will leave at that camp until furtber orders, even though his company comes forward. Assistant Surgeon Randle will also stay there until further orders. Brigade Surgeon Christian will come on with yourself or with Major Fergusson in case you have left before the arrival of the latter officers. l presume Surgeon Wooster bas already left Camp Wright for Fort Yuma. This Jetter places you in control of all trains passing your post eastward until you yourself leave, and enjoins upon you the care that they shall be so instructed that not over eighty horses or mules, aggregately, be at any one of the points before mentioned at the same time. Each wagon should, if possible, have two water-kegs. Marching by night, the men and animals will suffer but little for want of water. The Jetters for Los Angeles will be sent forward by a dragoon express. Keene will return to Yuma from Camp Wright. I am, colonel, very respectiully, &c., JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding.