Today in History:

869 Series I Volume L-I Serial 105 - Pacific Part I

Page 869 Chapter LXII. CORRESPONDENCE - UNION AND CONFEDERATE.

above. Of course it will be as useless at Fort Yuma as so much old lumber until harness is sent for it. Two of these ambulances have been sent down; they have shafts and are drawn by one mule, or two mules, tandem. The harness has evidently to be made especially for them. If it is intended for me to use these ambulances on the Mojave expedition I beg you will cause the harness to be shipped at once, separate from all other harness.

I am, major, respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES H. CARLETON.

Colonel First California Volunteers, Commanding.


HEADQUARTERS,
Fort Yuma, February 15, 1862

Colonel JAMES H. CARLETON.

Commanding District of Southern California, Los Angeles, Cal.:

COLONEL; Captain McCleave has just arrived from Camp Carleton by the San Bernardino route and reports his detachment of thirty men at Pilot Knob. He came uphimself for rations and barley and returned again to-night. They will be in the morning. He is accompanied by your express, by whom I have received your communication of February 9. Your instruction in reference to him will be complied with strictly. I also received a communication from you, dated February 8, by Captain McCleave. Captain McCleave reports Lieutenant Harvey having been taken sick and sent back. I had made up my correspondence when Captain McCleave arrived here, in which you will find copies of letters from Mr. Ammi White, also Mr. Warner. * It seems from their communications that a diversion has taken place in consequence of the re-enforcements at Fort Craig. You will also please find report of Sergeant Wheeling in reference to the hay cut above Gila City. I would add, in addition to that, that twenty more tons could be cut at the same place. Mr. Yager reports to-night having twenty tons of hay at Pilot Knob, and will commence hauling to Cooke's Wells on Monday. He is now unable to place my barley on the desert, unless he had time to get it from San Francisco and haul it out from here; or he will haul from here for Government at 1 1/2 cents per pound to Cooke's Wells, and 2 1/2 cents to the Alamo. Beef he will furnish from Warner's ranch or Camp Wright to Fort Yuma, killing every night, for 11 cents per pound, contract price at this post, and also furnish what beef you would require here at the usual contract price, 11 cents per pound. He will furnish beef cattle to you on foot, for use on your way up the Colorado River, for $25 per head, weighing from 250 to 400 pounds, in any quantity from 25 to 200 head. He cannot kill on that route at a reasonable price, because he has not force enough to drive them. He will require fifteen days' notice to have any number over fifty head delivered here. Since the high water he says that cattle inside have enhanced so much in price that he cannot, as before proposed, furnish them for $22,50 per head. In consequence of the overflow here he has lost a great many cattle. Mr. Rhodes has sold out to him his stock. He also lost a number of his cattle by the flood. The general court-martial has not yet adjourned. They are waiting for the charges (approved) from headquarters but a few of them have been sent here. I wrote to the commander of the district informing him of their not being here by the express which left here on the morning of the 5th of February. Lieutenant MacGowan has not been tried, consequently I will release him in the

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*See inclosures, Rigg to Carleton, 14th, p. 865.

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Page 869 Chapter LXII. CORRESPONDENCE - UNION AND CONFEDERATE.