James H. Carleton to Edward E. Eyre, June 17, 1862

Lieut. Col. EDWARD E. EYRE, First Cavalry California Volunteers, Present :

COLONEL: It is important that a forced reconnaissance be made in advance of the column from the Rio Grande, and you are selected for this delicate and at the same time hazardous duty. You will take with you for this purpose a squadron of your regiment to be composed of all the effective officers and men of Companies B and C now here. For transportation you will have three six-mule teams. Take six aparejos in the wagons for packing purposes when necessary. Take, say, four days’ pork, and dried beef and pemmican, and flour, coffee, sugar, salt, and vinegar for thirty days. Take 70 rounds of ammunition for the Sharps carbines per man, and 30 rounds per man of navy-revolver ammunition. You should have at least 6 pickaxes and 12 long-handled shovels as intrenching tools Acting Assistant Surgeon Kittridge will accompany you. All other essentials of your outfit will readily suggest themselves to you. When you bear in mind that you are always to be ready to fight, with your horses in the best possible condition, all, and only all, you will want practically to fulfill these requirements will come to your mind. You go to watch the road in the direction of the enemy. If possible you will capture or drive in his pickets, and observe and report upon his situation, strength, movements, and apparent purposes. To do this successfully the greatest prudence, sagacity, forecast, and boldness are necessary. I hardly need assure you that I have the fullest confidence in your ability to carry the purpose of your reconnaissance to the most useful results. Avoid collision with the Indians. Of course you will report back to me all that it is necessary for me to know.

Wishing you success, 1 am, colonel, very sincerely, yours, JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding.

[Inclosure F.] Tucson, Ariz., July 8, 1862. Col. JOSEPH R. WEST,

First Infantry California Vols., Comdg. at Tucson, Ariz.: COLONEL: You will order a sergeant and nine trusty infantry soldiers and three first-rate cavalry soldiers to the crossing of the San Pedro, to guard some forage which the quartermaster will send to that point. You will order Roberts’ company, of the First Infantry California Volunteers, to the San Simon, en route to the Rio Grande, where they will make an intrenched camp, if possible near the mail station, and there await further orders. A train will accompany these troops with thirty days’ rations for Colonel Eyre’s command, commencing on its arrival af the San Simon, and thirty days’ for the troops who are to remain at the San Pedro. Hach soldier will have 110 rounds of ammunition, and the party at the San Simon will have some intrenching tools and also some seythes. These troops are sent to guard these supplies until the column reaches them on its march to the Rio Grande. They also go to observe the road and to form a support to Colonel Eyre in case he falls back. You cannot be too minute in your instructions to them, having in view the furtherance of these ends. They are to have scouts all the time well to the front, unless menaced, say fifty or more miles; they are to keep me informed of movements in their vicinity of the enemy, and if attacked they are not to surrender on any terms. They are to be uncommonly watchful that Indians do not run off their stock, and at the same time are not to attack the Indians unless the latter are the aggressors. I am, colonel,

respectfully,