James H. Carleton to George L. Andrews, October 16, 1861

Lieut. Col. GEORGE ANDREWS, Sixth U. 5. Infantry, Commanding at Fort Yuma, Cal.: My DEAR COLONEL: You have doubtless received the orders for the regular troops now under your command at Fort Yuma, to proceed without delay to San Diego preparatory to embarking for New York. Lieutenant-Colonel West, First Infantry California Volunteers, whom you will find to be a most excellent officer and gentleman, goes to Fort Yuma with three companies of volunteer infantry to relieve you. Pray put him in possession of all the facts connected with your post, its surroundings, and its defense, which your experience may suggest, The records, orders, maps, &c., now on file, and the post books, all of which will come into his possession, will give him much information, but a few hours’ conversation with you will be of the greatest service to him. As your troops will want only enough of clothing, camp and garrison equipage, subsistence and hospital stores, and ammunition to last them to the coast, 1 beg you will turn over to Colonel West all of these articles which you can possibly spare. You will only need subsistence to Camp Wright, near Warner’s ranch. There you can draw to last your command to San Diego. Make use of Mr. Banning’s train and ambulance to Camp Wright. There you will give the conductor orders to proceed with it without delay to San Pedro. The United States pays $6.30 per day for it. This will admonish you to have no delays en route. At Camp Wright you will find a Government train and ambulance to convey your baggage to San Diego. If it happens to be absent when you arrive at Camp Wright, encamp there until it comes back, so as to be certain that there is no delay to the return of Mr. Banning’s train. The quartermaster’s and subsistence funds and all means of transportation pertaining to Fort Yuma not being needed to your command you will cause them all to be turned over to Lieutenant-Colonel West. I shall try to come to San Diego and see you all before you leave. With every wish for your health and happiness, I am, my dear colonel, very truly your friend,

JAMES H. CARLETON,