Unknown to Joseph R. West, June 25, 1862

Col. J. R. WEST, e First Infantry California Volunteers, Commanding, Present:

SIR: I have the honor to report that in compliance with instructions from the colonel commanding Column from California, of date June 11; 1862, I proceeded on the afternoon of that day to Magdalena, in Sonora, where arrived on the morning of the 16th instant. I at once commenced to inquire into the resources of that place and vicinity to supply the troops in this Territory with subsistence, forage, &c., and the prices at which responsible parties are willing to deliver supplies at this place. The following is the result of my observation and inquiries, viz: Magdalena is the center of a population of about 5,200 inhabitants, along the river of the same name for about thirty miles, and in towns situated as follows: First. Imuris; population about 1,000; fifteen miles this side of Magdalena. Second. La Mesa; population about 500; twelve miles this side of Magdalena. Third. Terrenate; population about 500; nine miles this side of Magdalena. Fourth. San Ignacio; population about 700; five miles this side of Magdalena. Fifth. Magdalena, population about 1,400. Sixth. San Lorenzo; population about 200; three miles beyond Magdalena. Seventh. Santa Marta; population about 350; ten miles and a half beyond Magdalena. Eighth. Santa Ana; population about 850; fifteen miles beyond Magdalena. The above includes the whole population on the river, as all are in the immediate vicinity of the towns and villages. The first cultivated land is met with within about five miles this side of Imuris, and the last on the river two or three miles beyond Santa Ana, from which point to Hermosillo there is no land in cultivation, a distance of about 120 miles. The crops consist principally of wheat, corn, and barley. Beans are raised, but in small quantities. There are none of the latter at present on the river. The harvest of wheat yields about 8,000 fanegas annually. The yield could, did the demand require it, be trebled. Of barley there is but little raised, and the only parcel for sale is in the hands of Don Francisco Gonzales Torano, of Magdalena, and does not exceed 500 fanegas, say 70,000 pounds. There is no corn in any considerable quantity at present on the river. Francisco G. Toraño, of Magdalena, offers to sell at Magdalena wheat in such quantities as we may require for 2 cents per pound, and will deliver it at Tucson for 4 cents per pound. Pablo Tournier of the same place offers to deliver at Tucson 2,000 fanegas of wheat at 4 cents per pound, the deliveries to be made as follows, viz, of July and 300 every subsequent fifteen days. The number of neat cattle of every kind on the Magdalena River does not exceed 2,000 head. Of these about seventy-five are fat oxen, corn fed, each averaging about per head for them where they are owned. All the cattle, with the exception of the oxen above mentioned, are at present lean, in consequence of the necessity of corralling them at night to prevent them from being stolen by the Apache Indians, who are nightly in the habit of prowling about the towns to steal horses and cattle. an regard to flour, on my arrival I made arrangements to purchase all for sale on the river. I bought of Mr. Toraño, of Magdalena, all he had, amounting to twelve cargas, say 3,526 pounds (now delivered here), at $15.50 per carga; and eight cargas additional (to arrive on the 30th instant) at $14.50 per carga. The above flour is not bolted. I contracted with Don Alejandro Daguerre, of San Ignacio, for the delivery at Tucson on the 30th instant of 20,000 pounds of bolted flour, at 74 cents per pound, and as much more as he can deliver on the 5th of July of unbolted fiour, at $16 per carga (of 300 potinds). The quantity of the latter [fear will not exceed 15,000 pounds. Mr. Daguerre has had to employ all the mills in the neighborhood to fulfill his contract, and to work night and day to have the flour bolted. What I have purchased comprises all the flour obtainable on the Magdalena River. On my arrival at Magdalena one Don Onofre Navarro, of that place, proposed to furnish, in connection with the two principal merchants of the place, F. G. Toraño and Nicholas Maria Garnica, from Hermosillo, 250 cargas of the best brands of bolted flour, delivered at Tucson for 8 cents per pound. Assured by those parties that the flour could be obtained, I had Mr. Navarro send an express immediately to Hermosillo to order the flour, which Navarro assured me could be delivered at Tucson on the 30th instant. But on the 23d instant he was advised by the parties owning the flour they would not deliver for less than 9 cents per pound, and they required an escort for their train besides. There was evidently a combination effected between the millers of Hermosillo to raise the prices, speculating upon our necessity for the article. I was assured by the three gentlemen, Navarro, Toraño, and Garnica, the only responsible parties in Magdalena, that flour could be purchased at Hermosillo and placed at Tucson at a profit for 8 cents per pound. I then authorized Navarro to go to Hermosillo to purchase 60,000 pounds of flour at 8 cents if he could, 9 if necessary, delivered here, which amount I agreed to receive from him on the 10th day of July. Under any circumstances flour from Hermosillo could not be brought here sooner than the 6th, and the party asking 9 cents would not agree to deliver sooner than the 10th proximo. I have no doubt a contract can be made with Yhigo, Mendez, Gonzales, or Moreno, of Hermosillo, for flour delivered here for from 8 to 9 cents per pound. Juan Yhigo arrived at Magdalena a few minutes before I left, evidently with the intention of endeavoring to get a contract for flour on account of his father. I offered him 8 cents per pound for 60,000 pounds, delivered here July 10, or sooner, but he would take no less than 9 cents. Being informed that he was always late in fulfilling contracts of the same nature for the supply of Fort Buchanan, I also stipulated that in case of nonfulfillment of the contract in time he should forfeit $2,000, to which he would not accede. I have no doubt Navarro will deliver 60,000 pounds by the 10th proximo, and perhaps part of it on the 5th proximo. The following are the flour mills on the River Magdalena, viz: At Imuris, 1, small, owned by Horrosco, not going. At Terrenate, 1, small, owned by a Mr. Pierson, will grind about 3,000 pounds daily when there is water. Mr. Pierson is at present at Guaymas on his way to Terrenate with a new flour mill from California. At San Ignacio, 1, owned by José Maria Redondo; it will grind about 4,000 pounds daily when there is water. At Magdalena, 1, owned by Padrés, not going at present; It is capable of grinding about 6,000 pounds daily when there is water. At San Lorenzo, 1, owned by Emanuel Barragan, small, with bad stones, not going, At Santa Marta, a small road side mill without a house, owned by a Mr. Bird, an American; itcan grind about 1,000 pounds daily. Mr. Bird is about putting up another mill at Santa Ana. I give the capacity of the mills as informed by respectable parties, but I think their powers exaggerated, as they are extremely primitive—indeed, somuch so as to appear absurd, None of the mills bolt flour. This operation has to be performed by hand, The principal owners of cattle and sheep are as follows, viz: Of cattle, first, Jesus Estrella, Rancho de la Noria Verde, fourteen leagues this side of Hermosillo, near the Magdalena road, On my arrival at San Ignacio I got Estrella’s son-in-law, Don Conrado

Aguirre, to send an express to him to inquire the price at which he would deliver 200 head of three-year to six-year old steers at Tucson. On the 22d instant an answer was received stating that he (Estrella) would deliver at his rancho (and there only) 200 to 300 head at $15 each. Mr. Aguirre offers to take his father-in-law’s cattle and deliver them here at $18 per head. It is also necessary that the cattle be collected at once, as on the commencement of the rains they scatter over the country, whereas in the dry season they remain in the neighborhood of water and are easily collected, Second, Dionisio Gonzales, Rancho las Cruces, twenty-two leagues from Magdalena, on the Altar road. Gonzales will deliver cattle on his rancho (and there only) for $14 per head. Gonzales’ cattle are wilder than Estrella’s. Estrella has the reputation of being one of the best and most responsible men in Sonora. Third, General José Maria Elias Gonzales, at Cocóspera, is represented as having cattle, but I was not able to communicate with him. Cattle are poor in all parts at present, and I am informed that they are in fine condition in September and October, and can then be bought on the ranchos for $10 a head. In regard to sheep, there are but few, and they of a small size and in poor condition. F. G. Toraño, of Magdalena, has about 300, large and small. He will sell the lot for $400. Juan Lopez, of Imores, has about 800 head. He asks $2 each for them there. Santos Siqueirroz, of the same place, has about the same number at the same price. His agent is Toraño, of Magdalena. Antonio Bergara, of Santa Cruz, has about 80 head in Arispe; price not known. ———— Moreno, of Tubutama, has about 1,500 head; price on the rancho from $2.50 to $3 per head. Corn can be obtained from Santa Cruz principally, delivered here at 4 cents per pound. Francisco Padrés, of Santa Cruz, has about 2,000 fanegas; price at Santa Ciuz and Cocóspera 24 cents per pound. Onofre Navarro, of Magdalena, will freight it here for 14 cents per pound. The road is good; distance about 120 miles. Joaquin Quirroga (N. M. Garnica, agent) has 200 fanegas; price 2 cents per pound in Santa Cruz. . Hilario Gabilondo, same place, has 300 to 400 fanegas; price 2 cents per pound in Santa Cruz, or (which he prefers) 4 cents in Tucson (N. M. Garnica, agent). Imanuel Romero, same place, has 200 fanegas at 2 cents per pound (corn represented as three years old). Sundry other persons in Santa Cruz have about 100 fanegas; about the same price. The corn harvest at Santa Cruz is in October. There is none of any consequence at any other point. On the Magdalena corn is harvested in March and November. The following articles of subsistence can be obtained at Magdalena in sufficient quantities at the following prices, viz: Panoche about $30 to $33 per carga; salt at 4 cents per pound; soap, an excellent article, at 244 cents; sugar (Hermosillo made) at 24 cents per pound; flour, in the course of a little time, unbolted, at 5 to 6 cents per pound; bolted at 7 to 71 cents per pound. All delivered at Tueson at the above prices. Beans in sufficient quantities can be placed here from Hermosillo for 6 to 7 cents per pound. It is very difficult to get the business men of Sonora to act with promptness and energy, yet I havenodoubtthatall our subsistence supplies, except pork, refined sugar, coffee, tea, candles, and rice, can be obtained on more favorable terms than drawing them from California. Grain can be had in abundance at 4 cents per pound, delivered here. I have the satisfaction to state that I was received by Senor Don Rafael Buelva, the prefect of Magdalena, with kindness and evidences of good will and friendship toward our people. The people of the country gave every evidence of good will and of a decided sympathy with the cause of the United States in regard to the rebellion of the Southern States. I must report, however, that cash on delivery is a sine qua non with them in regard to furnishing supplies. we Tam, sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,