WM. McCleave to Joseph R. West, February 16, 1862

> Fort Yuma, February 16, 1862. Lieut. Col. J. R. WEST, Camp Wright, Cal. : COLONEL: I have just time to say that Captain McCleave with thirty cavalry arrived here this morning all well. No further news since Mr.

CHap. LXII.) CORRESPONDENCE—UNION AND CONFEDERATE.

White was here. The diversion created by those 2,500 New Mexico troops at Fort Craig, under Lieutenants Lord and Moore, has changed Baylor’s plans. Yours, truly,

P. S.—No news yet of the guns shipped on the steamer Republic, and I am afraid never will be. RIGG.

FORT YUMA, CAL., February 17, 1862. Lieut, Col, E. E. EYRE, First Cavalry, Comdg. Camp Carleton, San Bernardino, Cal. :

COLONEL: In compliance with orders dated Camp Carleton, near San Bernardino, Cal., February 16, 1862, I have the honor to submit the following report of the route traveled over by the detachment under my command from Camp Carleton to Fort Yuma, Cal.: Tuesday, February 11, 1862, the detachment under my command, composed of Lieutenants Harvey and Nichols, First Cavalry California Volunteers, and thirty rank and file of Company A, First Cavalry California Volunteers, left Camp Carleton, Cal., at 8 a. m. After proceeding about eight miles Lieutenant Harvey became so unwell I found it necessary to order him to return to Camp Carleton. We all regretted this, but none more than the lieutenant himself. Our route by San Gorgonio Pass runs in a southeasterly direction, crossing a number of gulches formed by the late rains. The country for twenty miles appears rough, with mountains on either side. On the plain about twenty miles from San Bernardino is very good grass for about five miles. The last of the San Bernardino streams we crossed about fifteen miles from town; it did not appear to be continual. We arrived at Cheatin’s ranch, San Gorgonio, at 5.30 p. m. Distance marched, thirty miles. From Mr. Cheatin I purchased 1,640 pounds of barley at 1 cent per pound. By weighing and measuring I found that one quart of barley weighed one and one-half pounds. We fed this evening three quarts to each animal, then turned them out to graze in charge of the guard. J then caused twenty quarts of barley to be put into each man’s saddle-bag and four sacks weighing each eighty pounds put up for packing. There is no more barley here for sale. There is little or no grass near this ranch. I was told that there is good grass and water seven miles below in the valley at the foot of the mountains on the right. Wednesday, 12th, at midnight the horses were brought in and fed from the quarts. 1 then gave directions that each man would feed three quarts at a time until further orders. This made the horses to carry six and two-thirds feeds each. We started at 1.45 a. m., keeping down a valley for about eighteen miles, and crossing White River, turned to the right in a southerly direction east of San Gorgonio Mountain, having White River on the left (this is a river without water). After leaving Cheatin’s crossed a fine stream (in about five miles) running from the mountains on the left; It is said to be snow water. We continued on nine miles to Agua Jaliente, arriving at 9,45 a. m. Here we found an Indian settlement with grain growing in the fields. We halted on a stream of good water half a mile below (but very little grass and that salt) until 2 p. m., then proceeded to Toro’s (an Indian rancheria, Toro being the name of the chief). We reached this camp at 11 p.m. Ten miles back passed

Point of Rocks (this is a point which extends farther into the bottom than the others). One mile before coming to Point of Rocks found water (brackish) in a large well in the bed of White River. As the horses could not reach it, the men dipped it up in their nose-bags and gave them sufficient. At Toro’s found plenty of salt grass and water. Total distance marched to-day about fifty-five miles, it being twentyeight miles from Agua Caliente to Toro’s. Thursday, 13th, started at 7a.m. Passed several rancherias this morning. To-day traveling was very heavy, and for several miles quite soft. The animals were much fatigued, often going nearly to their knees in the mud. As it was caused by the late rains it will dry up in a few days. Wereached Lone Palm Spring at 1.30 p. m., having marched for the last fifteen miles in nearly an easterly direction. This spring is distant from Toro’s about twenty-three miles. We watered our animals, the water being strongly impregnated with saline, and warm. Continued our journey to Dos Palmas, nine miles, arriving at 4.30 p.m. Two and a half miles back in the sand bluffs found guieta grass, which we appropriated for the benefit of our stock. The road from the last spring (Lone Palm) is on the opposite side of the valley from that on which we entered. Wedid not feed barley this evening, there being an abundance of salt grass and tules here. Distance traveled to-day, thirty-two miles. The water here is similar to that at Lone Palm Spring.

Friday, 14th, started at 12 midnight and marched to Frink’s Spring, twenty miles, arriving at 6 a.m. Found here a quantity of tules or reeds and a little salt grass. Water not so good as at last encampment. Weremained two hours and continued our journey to a watertank in the mountains on the left, a distance of thirty-six miles, and camped at 8p.m. This tank is found in the rocks, is quite spacious, and contains at present about 1,000 gallons of rain water (pure and good). It is situated at the head of a canon and very difficult to find. Opposite the mouth of this cañon stands a small mountain, detached from the range of mountains, between which and the range the road leads to the water. Our trail will be found there for a long time. This is the last water before reaching the Colorado, from which, believe, it is distant forty miles, though it is estimated at thirty miles. Distance traveled to-day, fifty-six miles. We had no grass at the water-tank. Saturday, February 15, the command started at 7.15 a. m., after finishing our provisions and forage. Having marched about tive miles we halted and allowed our animals to feed on guieta grass, which is abundant on this day’s march. From here I took one of my men and the citizen expressman (leaving the detachment in charge of Lieutenant Nichols) and hurried on to the fort in order to procure rations and forage for the party on its arrival at the river. We reached the fort at 8 p.m, and having obtained the supplies required returned to Pilot Knob, where we found our men (who had just arrived), at 2 a. m. on Sunday morning, 16th instant. Distance marched, forty miles. There was much time spent to-day in grazing. Sunday, 16th, at 7 a. m. we were again in motion, en route to the fort, where we arrived at 10.15 a.m. The old road to the fort from this point has been washed away in many places by the late flood, which seems to have increased the distance, which I judge is about nine miles. The men and horses stood the trip well and proved that they were able to endure the fatigues of the campaign. Lieutenant Nichols made an excellent guide. All the way from Cheatin’s to the Colorado is nearly of the same character, being for the most part over gravel, with intervals of alluvial bottom land. From San Bernardino it is without a hill, except one point twenty miles from town. At present it would be difficult to bring wagons over it without a strong pioneer party to dig down the banks in the many channels made by the late rains. It would hardly do for another party to follow us unless a pack train with barley would accompany them for two days. Having marched a good deal by night I was unable to see much by the way, though the light of the moon was of the greatest assistance, but for which we could not have got along so well. I think interested parties have represented this route as shorter than it really is. You will notice we have marched slowly. This was caused by the party being a good deal on foot, and in many places the trail was covered with large gravel stones, which prevented us from moving at a quicker pace. The trip could be better made in seven than in five days. This morning (February 18) I accompanied the commanding officer (Major Rigg, First Infantry California Volunteers) across the river in search of grass. We succeeded in finding a good quantity of the guieta species at a distance of from four to ten miles from the fort, and I am convinced that a sufficient quantity is to be found within a circuit of twenty miles around this post for a large number of animals. All of which is

respectfully submitted.