Joseph R. West to Benjamin C. Cutler, November 21, 1861

Lieut. BENJAMIN C. CUTLER, Acty, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Southern Dist. of California, Los Angeles: LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report as follows upon the crossings of the River Colorado at points adjacent to this post, and upon the measures that I have adopted for their security: I found upon assuming command that Mr. Yager had a ferry at Pilot Knob, ten miles down the river. The boats used at that point have by my orders been brought to the post, and are under my control. Mr. Yager’s main ferry is still one mile below the post. At that point I have constantly kept a picket guard of thirteen men, under charge of an officer, and no one is permitted to cross the river unless by my orders. This ferry will be removed immediately opposite the post as soon as a necessary road and landing can be completed. The work will be finished by the first of the coming week. The main crossing of the Colorado has been heretofore done at Gonzales’ Ferry, about thirty miles below this post, both by Mexicans traveling to and from Sonora, and by all the parties of disaffected persons who were making their exit from California. For these reasons, and also because the boats there could have been availed of by an enemy designing to attack my position, I recently sent Capt. William P. Calloway with a detachment, with instructions to either send the boats up to the fort or to destroy them. The former course not being feasible the latter was adopted. Although this ferry was located in Mexican territory, and its owner a citizen of that Government, it was such a disadvantage as in my judgment warranted the steps taken, under orders from the district commander, to seize and hold all ferryboats on the Colorado River. The crossings below this post were, first, Yager’s main ferry, one mile down the river (this is about being removed to the fort); second, Yager’s Ferry at Pilot Knob (this has been discontiued); third, Cooke’s Old Ferry, six miles below Algodones (there has been no boat at that point for several months); fourth, Paddock’s Old Ferry (has been for a long time obsolete); fifth, Gonzales’ Ferry (broken up as noted above). At the latter point travelers who wish to avoid this post may resort to swimming their animals upon discovering that the boats have been destroyed. There is scarcely an available ford anywhere on the river below Fort Yuma. Casual travelers might ford in one or two places, but no force could be crossed with either artillery or provisions. This conclusion is formed from information deemed reliable, and is corroborated by Captain Calloway, who proceeded with his detachment on board the steamer Cocopah 100 miles down the river andreturned. Atthe Colorado mines, twenty miles above the fort, there were three boats—one (Mr. Yager’s, in a lagoon adjoining the river) I had destroyed by that gentleman’s consent. The other two, belonging to parties residing in that vicinity, were brought here by a detachment under Lieutenant Mitchell, sent out by my orders. At this last point an enemy’s force could be crossed by fording and using rafts. The water is about breast deep, and there is enough dry cottonwood to furnish rafts. At present I judge this to be the point whereat the danger of an enemy’s crossing is most to be apprehended. The roads diverging from the Alamo and New River Stations to Gonzales’ Ferry have been referred to in my previous communications. On my march here L had some opportunities of examining them, and 1 find the information then obtained of service. Any further measures that may suggest themselves for the further security of the crossing of the river shall be promptly adopted.

Respectfully, &c.,