James H. Carleton to E. R. S. Canby, August 2, 1862
Ojo de la Vaca, Ariz., August 2, 1862.
General George Wright, U. S. Army, commanding the Department of the Pacific, recommended to the General-in-Chief that a force from California, to consist of a battery of four guns (Company A, U. S. Third Artillery), the First Regiment of Infantry California Volunteers, and five companies of the First Cavalry California Volunteers, Should cross the Yuma and Colorado Deserts, and recapture the posts in Arizona and Southern New Mexico, then supposed to be in the hands of the rebels, and open the Southern Overland Mail Route. These recommendations or suggestions were approved by the Generalin-Chief, and arrangements were set on foot to carry them into effect. But what with unprecedented floods in Calfornia and uncommon drought on the Yuma and Colorado Deserts, and other serious difficulties which had to be encountered, it has been quite impossible to bring forward the force above indicated in a fighting condition at an earlier date than the present. I was baffled in every effort I attempted to communicate with you. My first note, marked A, after many days came back to me, the messenger not being able to ascend the Salt
Fork of the Gila on account of high water. My second note, marked B, after several days was returned from Sonora, as the Mexican expressmen were too much afraid to encounter the dangers of the journey through Chihuahua to El Paso and so on to your headquarters: Of the three men whom I sent with my third notes, marked C and D, two were killed by the Apache Indians near the Chiricahua Mountains on the evening of the18th of June last. The third, after a miraculous escape and a perilous ride, arrived on the Rio Grande at sunset on the evening of the 20th, 160 miles from where his companions were murdered. Here, in an exhausted, half-delirious state, he was captured by secessionists, and, together with his dispatches, taken to Colonel Steele, ©. S. Army. On the 17th of June I directed Lieutenant-Colonel Eyre, First Cavalry California Volunteers, with a small command from his regiment, to make a forced reconnaissance toward the Rio Grande. He started from Tucson on this duty on the evening of June 21. (See my letter to him, marked E.)
On the Sth of July I directed some supplies to be forwarded half way to the Rio Grande, to provide for the emergency of Eyre’s being obliged to fall back. (See letter to Colonel West, marked F.) Roberts’ command, which acted as a guard to these supplies, had a fight with the Apache Indians at Apache Pass, in which he lost 2 killed and 2 wounded, but in which he succeeded in driving the Indians, as he reports, with a loss of 9 killed on their side. From June 7 until July 17 I was busily employed in repairing trains, in getting supplies up from Fort Yuma and from Sonora, and in regulating somewhat the affairs of Western Arizona. On the 17th July, without yet having heard from the Rio Grande, I made the order for the advance to that river. It is herewith inclosed, marked G.*
On the evening of the 21st of July, after the second detachment of the column had started from Tucson, I received your note of the 4th ultimo, together with copies of some orders and instructions to the commander of the Southern Military District, Department of New Mexico. I left Tucson on the 23d ultimo and arrived at this point on the Ist instant. I left 100 men at Apache Pass. (See General Orders, No. 12, marked H.t) Colonel West’s detachment will arrive here to-morrow; Captain Willis’ the next day; Lieutenant-Colonel Rigg’s on the 5th. I shall halt two or three days on the Miembres to recruit and let the column close up, and shall then proceed by the stage route to Mesilla.
I received your letter of the 9th of July day before yesterday. It was not the intention of General Wright to throw a command into your department which would embarrass you to keep it supplied. The troops from California were to draw nearly all their stores from Fort Yuma, to which point they are shipped from San Francisco. Some were to be bought in Sonora. My supply train, which leaves Tucson to-day, will have forty days’ rations for the whole command from the 20th instant. Even those rations of yours consumed by Eyres cavalry I had hoped to replace, learning to what straits you had been put for subsistence for your own command. I am happy to know that you have now such an abundance of stores, and should I fall short of anything, I will cheerfully avail myself of your authority to draw on your depot at Fort Craig for what I need. A train of about fifty wagons will ply between Fort Yuma and Tueson, starting from Tucson, say, the 12th instant, to accumulate and keep up a good supply at that point.
* Inclosure G is a duplicate of General Orders, No. 10, p. 90, + Omitted as of no present importance,
A contractor has given bonds to keep the Column from California supplied with fresh beef at nine cents a pound. Stores can be hauled by private trains from the port of Guaymas to Tucson for five cents a pound. This latter information may be of service to you. I have no subsistence funds here; the paper marked I* will exhibit the condition of those in the quartermaster’s department.
The paper marked K* will tell you of my means of transportation after the arrival of the train which leaves Tucson to-day, minus, say, three teams left at Fort Bowie, Apache Pass, Chiricahua Mountains. All my troops except one company of cavalry have pay due from February 28, 1862. It will be a great kindness to have them paid, if it can be done without inconvenience to the troops of your own department. I have no paymaster with me, and was not counting on the troops being paid by your paymaster. The men are sadly in want of small stores, tobacco, Sc. We have no sutler, and of course, on the desert, the soldiers have exhausted what few necessaries they happened by chance to have. Ihave, say, 100 rounds of ammunition for small-arms per man, and can soon have more from Fort Yuma, and I have for the four pieces of artillery the ammunition named in a letter to Lieutenant Shinn, U. S. Third Artillery, marked L.* The men have only fatigue clothing and that somewhat worn, but I expect some up from Fort Yuma very soon. Can you spare any? Capt. Tredwell Moore, assistant quartermaster, is the only staff officer belonging to the army with me, and he will be relieved from duty in this column shortly after my arrival at Mesilla. I have with me two surgeons, one assistant and one acting assistant surgeon, all of the volunteer service. For the state of my medical supplies see Surgeon MeNulty’s letter, marked M.* The strength of the command when it arrives at Mesilla will be approximately:
Field amd atati ia cis ctcateis Soa ss A eee eee 25 Say of artillery (aggregate) oa A 73 OF Infant yene coe Sages ss as Smee roces osos oros eee 825 OF Cavalry o.oo). ont sle sce saren e sec A nee eee 350 Total fighting toto. A ee ee eee eee 1, 273 Of employés.. co. const Sanco Se eee A
Total requiring subsistencemes. see eese se elee see eee ee eee 1,
Twill send you an accurate field return as soon as the command under Captain McCleave reaches Mesilla. I inclose herewith a letter from Maj. Richard C. Drum, assistant adjutant-general, Department of the Pacific, marked N; also a copy of General Orders, No. 29, [1862], from the War Department, on the same sheet. I beg to be fully instructed by you in all measures wherein myself or the California Column can be of the most service. We have not crossed the continent thus far to split hairs, but with an earnest resolution to do our duty whatever be our geographical position; and so the marches of this column tend always toward the heart of the rebellion. The men will forget their toils and sufferings on the Great Desert in their hope ultimately to reach the enemy. In all this I am sure I but express the sentiments of General Wright. As the gallantry of the troops under your command has left us nothing to do on the Rio Grande, it would be a sad disappointment to those from California if they should be obliged to retrace their steps without feeling the enemy. I hope I do not ask too much when I inquire whether a force could not profitably be thrown
into Western Texas, where it is reported the Union men are only waiting for a little help to run up the old flag.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
Brigadier-General, U. S. Army.
Commanding Department of New Mexico.
[Inclosure A.]