Unknown to James H. Carleton, November 5, 1861
Col. J. H. CARLETON, Commanding First Infantry California Volunteers :
SIR: Linclose you extracts from a letter received by me from Assistant Surgeon Randle in reference to the climate at Camp Wright, near Warner’s ranch.
Major Rigg requests me to state to Colonel Carleton through you, my opinion as to the propriety or impropriety of this command remaining at its present position. It is my professional and official opinion that the command under Major Rigg ought to be removed from this place as speedily as possible, for the following reasons: First. The wind blows here a perfect gale (not a moderate breeze) more than half the time, driving the dust in clouds, and blinding the eyes of every one, and infiltrating into every coffee pot, camp kettle, water bucket, &c. This has been the day of general muster, and Major Rigg has pertinaciously and punctiliously discharged all his duties, and the men have turned out with commendable zeal, notwithstanding the gusts of wind and dust have prevented anything like cooking in camp. The wind has blown so hard that a fire could not be made, and this is no unusual occurrence. Second. We are four miles from fire-wood, which is cotton wood when we get it. Third. The water here is strongly impregnated with alkali, Fourth. The weather is very cold now, and growing colder. Snow falls here a foot deep frequently in winter, and sometimes remains a week on the ground.
The above extract contains everything touching the climate at Warner’s ranch.
Surgeon First Infantry California Volunteers.
Los Angeles, Cal., November 5, 1861.
Sixth U. S. Infantry, en route from Fort Yuma to San Diego: COLONEL: General Wright, commanding the Department of the Pacific, has made arrangements for the troops under your command from Fort Yuma to embark at San Diego for New York on the steamer which will leave San Francisco for Panama on the 21st instant, and he directs that there be nothing to interfere with your command being entirely ready at San Diego when the steamer puts in to that port to receive it. I am, colonel,
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Los Angeles, Cal., November 5, 1861,
First Infantry California Vols., Comdg. Fort Yuma, Oal. :
COLONEL : I have sent via San Diego and Camp Wright thirty-five
by lot to the different companies, so that each will haye the same strength. Report to me how many more you will want to bring your
companies to the maximum number allowed by law. I shall fill your
companies first and those at’Camp Wright next. It is reported that