Thos. F. Wright to J. Ulio, February 21, 1864

Respectfully forwarded for the information of the department commander, believing that the major and his command are entitled to great credit for the promptness and zeal displayed, and had not the elements been against us I think we would have been able to have given a better account of their maiden efforts. Yet we are here, and it is known, and ready for anything that may offer.

Colonel Sixth Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. District.

HDQRS. BATTALION SIXTH INFANTRY California VOLS., Camp near Fort Gaston, Cal., March 31, 1864,

SIR: In accordance with Orders, No. 2, dated headquarters District of Humboldt, March 14, 1864, I have the honor to report the operations of the battalion, composed of three companies (C, E, and G), Sixth Infantry California Volunteers, during the present month:

The battalion was in camp on the Ist instant near the town of Arcata,

Buckley, proceeded on that day to take post at Boynton’s Prairie, leaving fifteen men to guard the saw-mill near Arcata. Boynton s Pralrie iseastof Arcata, twelve miles distant, and abouttwo miles from Mad and southwest. It is, therefore, well located for the defense of Arcata and the vicinity. On the 2d instant the two companies (E and G), with the colonel commanding the district and staff, en route for Fort Gaston, marched to Liscombe’s Hill, thirteen miles; on the 3d to Fawn Prairie; on the 4th to Oak Grove, and on the 5th to this camp; total distance, forty-six miles. On the 8th instant, it having been reported that the Indians were assembling near the junction of Klamath and Trinity

Rivers with the intention of attacking a scouting party then out in that vicinity, Captain Greene, with forty men of his company, was sent to that point. I have the honor to inclose herewith Captain Greene’s report of his operations during the remainder of the month.* He deserves much credit for the activity and energy displayed over a region of country new to him and heretofore deemed impassable for troops. The two Indians captured by Captain Greene were, on their arrival at this camp, identified by citizens of the valley and others. They had been engaged in many depredations committed previously, and very recently had been with the Indians in open hostilities. They were both hung, by my direction, on the 16th instant, at this place. On the 9th instant Lieutenant Hackett, with thirty-five men of Company G, was sent out at the request of Lieutenant-Colonel Whipple, of the Battalion of Mountaineers, to assist in attacking a party of Indians discovered by Lieutenant Geer, of the Mountaineers. The report of Lieutenant Hackett is inclosed.+ On the 10th Lieutenant Taylor, with fifteen men of Company E, escorted a train with supplies to Captain Greene’s command, returning on the 11th. On the 12th Captain Cook, with a detachment of his company, was out on a scout to the east of this camp, and on the 19th Lieutenant Hutton, of the same company, also was out in the same direction. Both reports are inclosed herewith.j Lieutenant Taylor was again sent on the 19th to escort the train to the camp of Captain Greene, returning on the 20th.

On the 22d instant, in accordance with my instructions, I left this camp with Company G and the remainder of E for the purpose of making a trip down the Klamath among the Indians on that river who have heretofore been friendly toward the whites, but who had recently been accused of rendering some aid to the hostile band under the Hoopa chief, Seranaltin John. A detachment was left in charge of this camp under Lieutenant Hackett. I arrived on the same day at Martin’s ranch, near the junction of the Trinity and Klamath Rivers, where Captain Greene was encamped. About retreat, Lieutenant Hempfield, of the Battalion of Mountaineers, came into my camp and reported that a prisoner under his charge had been shot a short distance from there. On the following morning I deemed it my duty to investigate the affair as far as possible. All the facts were reported to the colonel commanding the district in my letter of the 23d instant. The prisoner was a very old man, who had, perhaps, more influence over the hostiles than any other man, and his loss under the circumstances was much to be regretted. The deed has also had a very bad effect on the Indians disposed to be friendly, lessening their confidence if nothing more. Having been satisfied from information received that the hostiles under John were in the vicinity of Young’s ranch, on the Klamath, some twenty miles below its junction with the Trinity, and that they were in the habit of visiting that place in the night-time, I, on the 24th, directed Lieutenant Taylor with twenty men in canoes to go down the river, leaving some stores for my command at Young’s house, and afterward to descend some distance below, conceal his boats, and return on the opposite side of the river to a point directly opposite the house, there to remain until my arrival, all of which was performed without the knowledge of any of the Indians in the vicinity. Leaving Lieutenant Hutton in charge with forty men, I with eighty men of the two com. panies marched by land. On arriving within five miles of Young’s after a very hard march of seventeen miles, I halted, my men and ani. mals almost exhausted, for the purpose of allowing them to recover.

At 8 p. m. I directed Captain Greene to proceed down the river very cautiously with his men and surround Young’s and the neighboring Indian ranches. The night was very dark, the rain falling in torrents, and the trail difficult to follow even in the daytime, but they succeeded in accomplishing their purpose about 1 a. m.

On the following morning with the train and the balance of the command I followed. On my arrival no hostile Indians could be found in any of the ranches. Mr. Young states to me that the night previous they had been at his house with their leader, John; that he had not allowed him to come into his house, but had warned him not to again come there, and that he did not know the direction which the party had taken. On going into camp a short distance below I sent word to the different ranches in the vicinity that I wished to talk with them on the following morning at my camp. Our arrival was so totally unexpected, and the appearance of so many men so much alarmed the Indians, whose fears had been much increased by the stories circulated among them by the whites who live with them, that it was difficult to get them together. After some delay, however, some 200 were collected together. After I had stated to them my object, and assured them that there was no danger, they became calm. It appears that at or near this point there are three ranches, the most powerful ones of the Klamaths. They control the others, and their influence is very great. For some time past the jealousy which exists has prevented them from acting together. They readily admitted that from their inability to resist they had harbored John and his party, but that they were ready to act together now, and attempt his capture if he again came on to the river. I told them that they must hereafter act together; that they would be held responsible that no succor was given to any hostile Indian. They promised to deliver any Indian up who should give them any aid or information. Being unable to learn which direction the party had taken, I sent out my Indian scouts to ascertain if possible their whereabouts, and on the afternoon of the 26th moved up the river six miles. The Indians returning without being able to get any information, on the 27th I returned to our camp at Martin’s ranch, leaving twenty men under Sergeant Bellon, of Company G, to follow the following day. Though not successful in capturing any hostile Indians, I trust the expedition has not been in vain. The exhibition of a much larger force than ever seen before must have its effect upon these Indians. The good resulting from it is already apparent in the actions of the Klamath Indians. During the four days we were absent the rain fell almost incessantly, the weather very cold, and the men suffered much from exposure, as we avoided making fires as much as possible. I regret to state that I was obliged to shoot one of my mules. It fell accidentally over a precipice, breaking its thigh, rendering it unable to move. On the 28th Sergeant Bellon with the train returned to camp. On the 30th I returned with both companies to this camp. The estimated distance marched during the month by the scouts from the two companies will, it is believed, approximate close to the actual number of miles. Company E, Captain Greene, 483 miles; Company G, Captain Cook, 395 miles. l

very respectfully, your obedient servant,