Unknown to George Wright, December 31, 1861

General GEORGE WRIGHT, U.S. Army, San Francisco, Cal. : You cannot disregard writs. l

ris) OPERATIONS ON THE PACIFIC COAST. [CHap. LXIL.

San Francisco, Cal., December 31, 1861.

Adjutant-General U. 8. Army, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: Since my communications of the 19th and 20th instant nothing of importance has occurred in the department. JI am throwing forward supplies to Fort Yuma as rapidly as possible. To-morrow a steamer will leave here for the mouth of the Colorado River, laden with subsistence and other stores required for the movement of Colonel Carleton’s expedition. It is 2,000 miles to the mouth of the Colorado, at which point the stores must be reshipped on small river steamers for Fort Yuma. I have also embarked on the steamer a guard of one company of the Fifth California Volunteer Infantry, eighty-eight strong, commanded by a reliable officer, who has received special instructions. Additional suppliesand means of transportation arealso being forwarded to San Pedro, the port of Los Angeles, Southern California, 450 miles from this place, from thence to be sent by land to Fort Yuma, 300 miles. I am gradually moving a portion of the Second Cavalry and the whole of the Fifth California Volunteer Infantry to Southern California, to replace the troops designated for Carleton’s expedition. The latter will not advance to Fort Yuma until advices are received of the arrival at that place of the stores shipped by sea. The expedition of Colonel Carleton is one of considerable magnitude, and, operating on a long line remote from its source of supplies, cannot with propriety advance from Yuma until fully prepared for the campaign. Fort Yuma is being fortified and will be securely held by a strong reserve. Under the command of Colonel Carleton, an officer of skill, experience, and sound judgment, we have the strongest assurance that the expedition will be successful. The weather for many days past has been tempestuous in the extreme. The floods east and north of this city have destroyed a vast amount of property and almost entirely suspended our mail communications. The telegraph has not been in operation for several days.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ,