James H. Carleton to Joseph R. West, April 1, 1862

Lieut. Col. JOSEPH R. WEST, Commanding at Camp Wright, Cal. : Sir: As you will not take tents for your men from Camp Wright to Fort Yuma, you can turn them over to Lieutenant Vestal, acting assistant quartermaster, and when you leave Fort Yuma take with you as

many from that post as you will absolutely require at the Pima Villages. Mr. O’Campo, and perhaps Mr. Beard, will leave Los Angeles to see you, doubtless to-morrow, each having in view the supplying of your command with fresh beef. Mr. O’Campo represents his cattle as being gentle and easily driven, and fatter than those of Mr. Rains or Mr. Carlisle, of whom Mr. Beard will doubtless procure those he may kill for beef if he gets the contract. Mr. O’Campo has told me that he would drive and kill beef as required, provided he had the contract for supplying the whole command, at 9% cents per pound. You can make a bargain with either or both of them, or with any other person, for what beef you will want, at such prices as will best subserve the interest of the Government. (See my letter of March 31, 1862.) I have directed Lieutenant Hammond to forward to you, starting early tomorrow morning, 9,725 yards of manta, 300 blue sack coats, and say, for. All teams, except those named to go with you across the desert and two kept for camp purposes, must be ordered to New San Pedro at once. Other troops and supplies await them even now. Send back to San Diego empty the two teams just ordered from the post to Camp Wright with clothing and provisions. The teams which go with Captain Thayer’s company, those which take the manta, &c., and those which went with Captain Smith’s company, Fifth Infantry, must return to San Pedro without delay. Forward the letters for Fort Yuma by Mr. Jones if Keene is not at Camp Wright; otherwise, by Keene. J have the honor to be,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,