Ib Jy Lippitl to R. C. Drum, March 27, 1862

Maj. R. C. DRUM, Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the Pacific:

MAJOR: Such was the state of the trails (being almost impassable) that the mule owners employed to transport the supplies for the three companies I was sending to the new posts found it impossiple to get their mules here and in readiness to start until the 10th instant. On that day Companies F and K, Second Infantry California Volunteers, commenced their march, and although every exertion was made to get on, it took them both about twelve days to arrive at their posts, distance from this post only thirty and thirty-five miles, respectively. Even this was accomplished by leaving behind the greater part of their supplies, which it will require one or two more trips to transport. The mules for Company A, Third Infantry California Volunteers, could not start till the 18th instant, on which day the company left here for their post, about fifty miles hence. Hearing that some of the men of Captain Heffernan’s company (K, Second Infantry California) had assaulted their officers, I immediately followed them, accompanied by Lieutenant Hanna, I came up with them about five miles beyond Arcata, Two men I found had assaulted Captain Heffernan and beaten him, although he finally mastered and secured them both. Another in resisting an order of Lieutenant Dobbins had drawn a pistol on him. Another in resisting an order of Lieutenant Hubbard to deliver up a bowie knife had attempted to use it upon him. I had these four men brought down with a guard to Arcata, from which place Lieutenant Hanna and I took charge of them and brought them to this post, where they are confined in cells awaiting their trial. T instructed Captain Heffernan on arriving at his post to have proper charges preferred and sent to me without delay. As soon as received I will forward them to you. Since my last letter fresh Indian outrages have made it necessary to establish a fourth scouting district, including the country between the mouths of Kel River and Mad River, with an average radius about this post of about thirty miles. This district will be constantly scoured by Captain Akey’s company (E, Second Cavalry California Volunteers), the only one left at this post, which for this purpose will keep out as large a detachment as it can spare. As this company has now twenty general prisoners to guard, and as I shall have to be constantly drawing upon it for detachments for escort duty and other purposes, the number that it can keep constantly in the field will be very small, and if many Indian prisoners are brought in it will be impossible for it to keep out any men at all. I would therefore respectfully repeat the request made in my last letter, that one more company should be sent here.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,