HEADQUARTERS, November 13, 1861

Fort Yuma, November 13, 1861.

[Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, Comdg. Southern District of California, Los Angeles :

DEAR COLONEL: 1 have looked over my letter of yesterday before closing the express this morning. It is rather sensational, but I see nothing in it that reflection does not confirm. 1 have been over the river this morning to have an earnest talk with Mr. Joseph Hooper and his partner about the steamer’s being so much behind time, now nearly forty-eight hours. They are in no wise apprehensive about her, but attribute the delay to some accident. This idea is confirmed by reports

of the Indians, who state that she was going down the river four days after she left here. This implies an accident—perhaps the rudder knocked off, &c. Of course I shall be uneasy until I ascertain the cause of the delay. I am throwing up one work 350 feet—faces on a low hill west of and adjoining the fort—and three smaller ones at dif. ferent points. This gives us plenty of work. Also drilling all spare time, and artillery detachment at it constantly. As Mose says, I shall “spile” for a fight in about a week. Much was to be accomplished, but I shall soon have matters all snug in my grasp and then hold them so. There is a lull in all excitement about attacks, but I am not inclined thereby to relax vigilance. I think it would be quite worth while for the Government to send down by sea to mouth of river the two pieces of artillery that I have asked for. Somebody will be to blame, unless greater efforts are made to hold this post, enemy or no enemy. Yours, WEST.