Joseph R. West to James H. Carleton, October 27, 1861
Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, Commanding Southern District: COLONEL: Your courier of the 25th instant arrived here at 8 p. m. Surgeon Prentiss is with me. I have one company (B). Company I is * See foot-note, Vol. IV, p. 134. one day ahead, and H the same distance behind. As the doctor is of the opinion that the command can go through without him, and leaves a very competent steward, he returns to-morrow, and will be at Camp Wright at sundown. Weare getting along finely. I leftCamp Wright . at 7 a. m. yesterday, but started this morning at 3.30 a. m. from San Felipe, and reached here at 10 o’clock; eighteen miles, and heavy road. I leave again at 3 a. m. to morrow, and shall go to Carriso Creek, eighteen miles more, and heavy road. As soon as the weather gets too hot for morning travel I shall commence my marches at sundown. The advance party of seven, under Lieutenant Benson, are doing well preparing the water for us. He is to leave a note at each station for me; i received the first one this morning. Captain Calloway I hear is getting along finely, and Lieutenant MacGowan, with H, is close at my heels. I am within five hours’ ride of each of them, and both have instructions to communicate with me in case of difficulty. I am not prepared to report definitely as to best plan of crossing the desert. So far I favor the present mode. Am living on jerked beef. Would it not be well to have 5,000 pounds of it always on hand at Camp Wright? One company is enough in any one party, I think. I should mention that the commissary train is coming along with Company H. Governor Gaudara’s two sons passed Warner’s ranch six days ago. It strikes me that if Major Rigg had a company of cavalry with him he could stop all such characters. There are prowlers around; six were within a mile of here yesterday, and seven at Carriso Creek on Thursday. I am much obliged to you for the news; it is most acceptable, but I shall most anxiously look for that promised letter from yourself. Yours, truly,
J. R. WEST,