Unknown to James P. Major, July 12, 1862

MAJOR:

About two weeks since Loball’s ranch and the mail station on the Van Dusen River were attacked and destroyed by Indians. A detachment of Company A,Second Infantry California Volunteers, then stationed on Yager Creek, a few miles distant, went immediately in pursuit, but returned ina few days without having succeeded in finding them. A few days since a band of ten Indians attacked and robbed the house of one Cutterback, about two miles from Coopef’s Mills, where there is a small detachment of the Second Cavalry California Volunteers, which on being informed of it hurried to the spot; but the Indians had escaped before their arrival and our men were not able to find them. Mrs. Cutterback was slightly wounded in the side by a rifle-ball. In all these attacks the Indians found fire-arms and ammunition, which was probably their chief object. Night before last four citizens were attacked by a party of Indians in ambush on Mad River eight miles beyond Fort into the woods and has not yet been heard of. The other two escaped. One of them carried the news to Fort Baker, where I doubt not Captain Ketcham promptly took such measures as the occasion required. On the 2d of July Lieutenant Gonnisson, of Company E, Second Infantry California Volunteers, returned from a scout with thirty-five Indian prisoners. A fewdays since Sergeant Wyatt with adetachment of Company K, Second Infantry California Volunteers, stationed at Camp Olney. on Mattole River, returned to camp from a scout in which he had killed at this post is 365. Several have died, probably owing to the close con. finement, to which they are unaccustomed. Owing to the freshet it was impossible for the troops to get to their camps in the interior until the 20th of March. As some indication of the activity they have dis played since that time, I beg leave to state that the number of reports of scouts already received is forty-three, and that most of them wert scouts of fifteen days each. In consequence of Captain Akey’s forme requisitions for ammunition not having been answered, I have been com pelled in one or two instances to authorize the purchase of powder anc lead when his men had to be sent into the field. T inelose a fresh requi sition from him. Iam happy to state that the discipline of Company A, Second Infantry California Volunteers (formerly Captain Smith’s), is now completely restored. That company under its new commander (Captain Flynn) has relieved Company K, at Fort Lyon. First Lieutenant Hubbard, of Company K (now here as witness before the courtmartial), is stationed at Camp Olney, on the Mattole River, about forty miles south of this place, with a detachment of his own company. Iam uniting the scattered detachments of that company and sending them to that station, where a full company is urgently needed, the settlements in Mattole Valley being quite numerous and the Indians there being in great numbers and roving about in large bands. I am now satisfied that all that Company K wants is a good commanding officer, and I intend to give Lieutenant Hubbard ample opportunity to show whether he can become one. Captain Heffernan is still at Fort Lyon in attendance upon his sick wife. Iam about to direct him to turn over his company property to Lieutenant Hubbard. A full statement of the matters charged against him as going to show his unfitness for command will be sent down by me per next steamer, unless in the meantime he should tender his resignation, which I do not expect he will do.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. R. C. DRUM, U.S. Army,