Unknown to Sixth Infantry California Volunteers, June 15, 1864

Maj. THOMAS F. WRIGHT, Sixth Infantry California Volunteers, Comdgq. Battalion Sixth Infantry California Vols.:

SIR: At your request I have read the report of the scout of Sergeant Harris, Company E, First Battalion Mountaineers, and would most respectfully call your attention to May 12, when he moved camp to the low gap in the Van Dusen Mountains, and to my report that I made to you on the 20th of the same month. I there stated that a portion of my scout, under the command of Sergeant Holt, Company G, Sixth Infantry California Volunteers, encamped at the low gap, where I joined them on the 13th instant (there was not at that time any signs of a scout having been there). I also reported that when I arrived they reported to me of having seen five bucks examining their tracks on the 13th on the Mad River side of the low gap. Harris and Fleming stated to you personally in my presence that it was then, and yet in his report says, May 13, “Rain; did not move.” I also stated in the same report that on Sunday, the 15th, I sent some men up the Van Dusen about 6 miles, and upon the devils, where they discovered the Indians down on Mad River. Fleming and Sergeant Harris stated to you that it was their party, and yet in his report he says, May 15, “On the trails running down the South Fork of the Trinity,” which is on the other side of the summit of the South Fork Mountains, and at least 30 miles from where I stated to them we had seen the Indians. In regard to the latter portion of his report, which dates from the

evening of the 20th, when we left this post with thirty enlisted men and three commissioned officers of your command (Lieutenant Geer in command of the detachment), Sergeant Harris did nothing more than any other enlisted man of the detachment. He did not turn over any property to Lieutenant Geer, for he did not capture any (excepting one German rifle). Hedid not turn over any deserters to me, nor do 1 know whether he was present when the deserters (that he speaks of) were arrested, although he might have been.

very respectfully, your obedient servant, First Lieutenant Company G, Sixth Infantry California Vols.