John Adams to W. W. MacKall, March 7, 1861

Maj. W. W. MACKALL, Assistant Adjutant-General, U. S. Army:

MAJOR: Having received some rather indefinite rumors that the Hot Creek (that is the band generally dreaded by the people) Indians were collecting in numbers from 100 to 200 about MeElroy’s Bridge, which is on one of the roads to Red Bluff, I sent a detachment of men there with orders merely to show themselves, and also to ask the two men who live at the bridge if the Indians were there. These men said the Indians were doing no harm, nor were they apprehensive of any. I have received other reports that these Indians are on Pitt River, some twenty miles from this post, and have cattle in their camp. But as no one hereabouts has lost any cattle, nor is there any direct complaint made against these Indians, I would hesitate to commence hostilities. The white inhabitants of this section are more than anxious to be at war with these Indians. For this reason the Indians are afraid to go into the valleys for roots and berries, so that I cannot imagine how they live, and must think they merit some consideration for not stealing. At present there is from 300 to 400 Indians in the immediate neighborhood of this post. No complaints are made against them. I think the route which will be generally traveled between Yreka and Red Rluff this season will be by what is called the Oak Run road, some ten or twelve miles distant, and diverging from the old or Lockhart road. As my company is very small, it will hardly be practicable to keep detachments on both these routes or on the emigrant trail. None of these roads will be open for teams before the 1st or 15th of May. I would respectfully ask for instructions whether to give the protection of this garrison to the road most traveled, or to that one which will be taken by some of the teams, and which is probably the most dangerous. This latter is the Lockhart road. I suppose of course the emigrant road via Honey Lake, Fort Churchill, and so on, must be protected, but the emigration will not arrive to within seventy-five miles of this post before July. It is very probable that the Indians—that is, the Hot Creek—will be troublesome. ee À I am, major,

very respectfully, your obedient servan