SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS., DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, October 24, 1861
October 24, 1861.
No. 10. Los Angeles, Cal., October 24, 1861. * * * * *
Il. Capt. John W. Davidson, First Cavalry, with his squadron will march to New San Pedro on the 26th instant, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and report to Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan, Fourth U, S. Infantry.
JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Vols., Commanding Cavalry and Infantry.
[OCTOBER 24, 1861.—For Baylor to commanding officer C. S. troops en route to Fort Bliss, relating to affairs in Arizona, &c., see Vol. IV, Pp. 127.]
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HDQRs. Dist. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, No. 11. ) Los Angeles, Cal., October 25, 1861.
J. First Lieut. Benjamin C. Cutler, adjutant First Infantry, is announced as acting assistant adjutant-general for this district. All official communications from officers and soldiers serving within the district which are intended for these headquarters will be addressed to him. Those pertaining to regimental matters exclusively will be addressed to him as adjutant First Infantry California Volunteers.
II. First Lieut. Lafayette Hammond, regimental quartermaster First Infantry California Volunteers, is announced as depot quartermaster for the district, and he will immediately relieve in his duties as depot quartermaster First Lieut. Samuel McKee, First U. S. Cavalry. Lieutenant Hammond will also receipt for such public property as Capt. John W. Davidson, First U. S. Cavalry, has on hand as commander of Camp Fitzgerald.
JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ) HD@RS. DIST. OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, No. 13. } Los Angeles, Cal., October 25, 1861. I. Captain Roberts’ company, of the First Infantry California V olunteers, will as soon as practicable proceed from Camp Wright to San Diego, Cal., and relieve the company of the Fourth U.S. Infantry now stationed at that post, and which is under orders to embark at San Diego for New York on the steamer which will leave San Francisco for Panama on the 21st proximo. * * * * * * * JAMES H. CARLETON, Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding.
CAMP WRIGHT, Friday Evening, October 25, 1861. Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, : Los Angeles : COLONEL: I prefer without form to give you as near as possible an account of my progress in the present friendly note in preference to
any official communication. I have elsewhere given you a journal of the road. The celerity of our movements amounted to marching 140 miles in just one week. Is not that creditable for green troops? The halt here has been the bother. The troops arrived here on Wednesday, 23d, at 12 m. The train not until the following day. Then the train that went to San Diego did not reach here until to-day. I was unavoidably delayed thereby. However, I dispatched on yesterday Lieutenant Benson with seven men, accompanied by Keene, the guide, to clean out the wells. Hadji Ali arrived at 9 o’clock last night. Finding myself at liberty to do that very advisable thing, divide the command, I moved off Captain Calloway’s company with sixteen days’ rations at 7 o’clock this morning. I follow with Dresher to-morrow, and Company H comes on Sunday, the commissary’s train on Monday. All three companies will carry their baggage and sixteen days’ rations. hen there will be 1,400 pounds ammunition, 1,000 pounds clothing, and 38,600 pounds commissary stores. I make up Banning’s contract as follows: Company wagons, 6; ammunition and clothing, &c., 1; hospital field and staff, 1; twelve, averaging 4,000 poundseach. Total, 20 wagons. I could not go forward with the first company, as there was too much to arrange here to-day. Had I not been compelled to wait for the train from San Diego I should have gone on with all to-day. Perhaps it is better as itis. The changing of companies and repacking of provisions has also involved delay. I wrote to Colonel Andrews last night, giving him an exact account of my proposed movements, and leaving him to time his accordingly. I expect to be at Fort Yuma by the 5th proximo, twenty days from Camp Latham. Changes considered, is not this fair time? I shall rely on jerked beef on the desert—in fact, from here. Upon that article and the beans I shall report hereafter. Both promise well. I shall endeavor to give you such information in regard to our march across the desert as will prove useful in further movements of troops. Carrillo’s men have not turned up. In fact, he cannot get any. 1 shall take him and his son to Yuma, when if he proves no more useful than he has, 1 shall send him in with an express to report to you for further action. Keene is worth a dozen of him. I shall rely mostly for information as to the enemy upon the Indians up the Gila and Colorado. You must bear in mind that should it become necessary to evacuate the fort I have no train to accompany me thence. I shall fight them to the bitter end sure, standing or running. The enemy could send an advance party and clean out the wells, I suppose. I am imagining all his resources, perhaps making some for him. On the entire road from the San Gabriel River I have heard of gangs of armed men, from three to ten in a party, making the best of their way to the Colorado. Of course they had preceded us. I have given Major Rigg a copy of your instructions to me that he may follow them in detaining avowed rebels. I have made some presents to the Indians here, and believe that they cam be relied on to give the major information. The camp should, in my judgment, be moved in to Oak Grove. Colonel Andrews can halt here, and the major send him up the required subsistence; the distance fifteen miles and road superior. That a paradise, this a tophet. The news about Denver is glorious. Is not General Wright now in our way? However, we will all fulfill our destiny as you say, but I would be better pleased to hear of his being transferred to a more active field. When you get the department and I the district, there will still be fresh worlds to conquer.
In conclusion, I would say that I am fully impressed with the responsibility of my command. Green troops and an inexperienced commander could scarcely be more severely tested. I brace myself to
CnaP. LXT] CORRESPONDENCE— UNION AND CONFEDERATE. 679
the trial, and shall endeavor to meet each new trouble with another link to let out. No doubt you were aware of the delicacy of this expedition, but I scarcely think to its full extent. Secesh looks ominous from the other side, but I have no fears for the result. Captain MeMahon remains here. Elsewhere I forward his resignation addressed to General Wright. I send this by special express, and have given the rider the assurance that he shall be paid the customary fee. I think it would be advisable to have no more beans brought down from San Francisco at all. Enough can be had in the district to supply the whole command. I inclose Don Abel Stearns’ account for beef. His team driver claims to have been delayed on the road one day by me. This is so, but Mr. Stearns can well afford to pay him, as he has charged too much for transportation. I have kept this letter open before me all this evening. It isstherefore rather desultory. Yours, truly, J. R. WEST.
CAMP WRIGHT, San Diego County, October 25, 1861. Col. JAMES H. CARLETON, Comdy. First Regt. Infantry California Volunteers, Los Angeles:
COLONEL: I wrote to you the day that Larrived here, which, I suppose, you received. [camped near Senor Carrillo’s house, where we now are. The location for a camp here is a beautiful one. Water is plenty and good and wood can be easily procured, but the climate is objectionable. It blows terribly the greater portion of the time, and Doctor Prentiss thinks it unhealthy. l have examined nearly every inch of the entire ranch, and can find none better than this. The camp is situated about one mile north of Carrillo’s house and at the intersection of the San Diego road with the road to Yuma. The only place that I know of near here is Oak Grove (or Cable’s), twelve miles from here. There is plenty of water and wood at that place. I sent forward the teams in charge of Lieut. R. S. Barrett, acting assistant quartermaster, to San Diego, as per instructions from you. They returned to this camp to-day with commissary stores. Mr. Barrett reports no quartermaster’s stores of any description at San Diego. The train will leave again for San Diego on the 27th. Iam afraid that they will not be in a condition to make as good time as before (seven days), from the fact that a number of the mules are without shoes and cannot be shod either here or at San Diego. There are no shoes or nails at either place. We are also short of pants for the command. Colonel West takes 100 pairs from us here, which only leaves seventy-one pairs. Blankets we have none at all, and one blanket is not sufficient (in my opinion) to keep the men warm in this climate. The nights are extremely cold, and becoming more so every night. Complaints of sleeping cold are made by the men. We have no woolen socks or drawers, and but 204 pairs of bootees. Overcoats also wehavenoneonhand. I would suggest that those articles be forwarded as soon as practicable. The roads will soon be in a bad condition from here to San Diego and transportation will be difficult. I would call your attention also to the company property left at Camp Latham, to be shipped via San Diego. The companies—that is to say, Company I, Company D, and Company F—brought but one pick, one spade, and one ax with them, besides but a few camp-kettles and mess-pans. They are now much in want of all those articles. I also forward a requisition for stationery, &c., for this camp. We have none of any kind here. I would
also like to have blank clothing rolls, weekly reports, officers’ pay accounts, and what other blanks and papers you may deem necessary for use here. The command here are in good health and spirits, and if an opportunity occurs will give a good account of themselves. They are improving rapidly in their drills, and, Lam happy to say, orderly and obedient to their officers. They stood the march remarkably well after the first two or three days. Their feet blistered somewhat, but by frequent bathing soon got well, and when our destination was reached were in condition to undergo almost any kind of fatigue. Lieutenant-Colonel West will give you the particulars of the whole command here and of those already on the route to Fort Yuma. I find that the barley has been nearly all bought up by speculators, and 4 cents per pound is now asked for it here. Mr. Carrillo, to whom you referred me for barley, has sold out to other parties, and of course cannot furnish any more; byt I found a man, Samuel Warneck, who has 60,000 pounds of fine barley and will sell to Government for 24 cents per pound. I will contract with him for what we require and get him to hold the balance until I can hear from you. His barley is superior to any that I have seen here. The 24 cents is the price at his ranch, but we will have teams and men enough to haulit. His brother also has some 10,000 or 12,000 pounds. Your instructions in reference to this section of the country will be carried out to the letter. tespectfully, EDWIN A. RIGG, Major, Commanding Camp Wright.
P. S.—Stoves for the Sibley tents would be very acceptable.
DEAR Rice: Send Roberts down at your earliest convenience by a train going one of its regular trips for supplies. The telegraph is through to the States. In a battle fought the 21st of October at Leesburg, Va., General Baker was killed while cheering on his men. I have not heard yet how the battle went, but probably in our favor. Send the express on to overtake West. As he returns write me all your news. Keep your command ready to fight. Drill three times a day and have all your officers recite tactics.
Truly, your friend, CARLETON,