[From the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, Series I, vol. 50, Parts 1 and 2]

 

[OR I-50-2, pp. 715-717]

House of Representatives,

Washington City, D. C, January 4, 1864.

Maj. Gen. H. W. Halleck :

            Sir : Permit me to call your attention, and through you the attention of the honorable Secretary of War, to the fact that Camp Douglas, in Utah Territory, is located within the corporate limits of Great Salt Lake City, much to the inconvenience of the people. The California volunteers, commanded by General P. Edward Connor, were stationed in Utah, as understood, for the purpose of protecting emigration, the overland mail, and telegraph from Indian depredations. Without pausing to inquire why General Connor should have located his camp within the limits of a peaceful and loyal city rather than in the Indian country or along the road requiring protection, or, if he desired to establish his headquarters near the settlements, why he did not occupy Camp Crittenden or some place outside the limits of the capital city—I repeat, without inquiry or comment concerning the wisdom of the location to facilitate the object of the expedition, the necessity for the troops in Utah does not now exist. We are informed by the message of the Governor delivered to the Utah Legislature, now in session, that peace with the Indians prevails. Gentlemen now in this city just in from Salt Lake corroborate this statement and affirm that travel through Utah and to and from the mines is perfectly safe. This being the case, I cannot but believe that the object of the expedition has been fully accomplished, and as the Delegate from Utah I hope I may be excused tor respectfully suggesting that the removal of the command under General Connor would very much accommodate the people I have the honor to represent. While there the command has been and will probably continue to be supplied from the products of the soil. The crop last year, in consequence of a general scarcity of water, was very short, and serious fears are now entertained that the wheat crop of last season will scarcely be sufficient to supply the wants of the people until the next harvest. Camp Douglas is located upon the east branch of the city, about three miles from Main street and near the occupied portion of the east part of the city. The inhabitants of the city are entirely dependent for water upon the streams which flow from the mountain east and northeast of the city, and a large number of families are supplied exclusively from the small stream which flows through Camp Douglas. This stream by passing through Camp Douglas and its large corrals becomes very filthy and unfit for the domestic use of the families below. Again, a large number of the citizens depend upon range for their stock on the branch contiguous to and where Camp Douglas is located. You will learn by the inclosed order of General Connor that this stock, which has heretofore grazed upon this branch undisturbed, is now to suffer the penalty of death if found on its accustomed pasture grounds. This is also a great hardship to a people who have at the risk of their lives settled a great interior desert and who by their enterprise and industry have located and built up a flourishing colony midway the oceans, indispensable to the Government in its inter-oceanic communications, and greatly to the comfort and convenience of the emigrants and miners in developing the mineral wealth of the Pacific Slope. General Connor frequently, in conversation with me last summer, expressed an anxious desire to be transferred with his brave officers and men to the Potomac, where they could participate in the great struggle to maintain the authority of the Government in its well-directed efforts to subdue this wicked rebellion. I am confident no greater favor could be conferred upon the gallant general than by permitting him to take part in the active scenes of war. As the late chief justice of Utah, having been honored with the office under three successive administrations (my duties only terminating last August), having held many courts in Utah, and familiar with the sentiments of the people for nine years, I consider it my duty to your department to say that I know that the people of Utah are loyal to the Constitution and Government of the United States. As chief justice I have administered the new oath to the members of the Legislature prescribed by Congress for officers of the Government, and none have ever hesitated to take it, and although jurors are not included within the law, yet it was my custom to qualify them by this oath, and not in a single instance did a juror ever decline to be qualified by it. The direct tax was at once assumed by the legislature, and memorials have been passed full of noble sentiments of patriotism. I am aware that converse opinions impugning the loyalty of the people have been freely expressed and circulated, but such opinions are only entertained by corrupt, weak, or mistaken, or ignorant minds.

            In conclusion, treaties having been formed with the Indians, peace with them and the emigrants restored, transit and travel now entirely safe and secure, the people loyal, may I not, as the representative of Utah, ask that General Connor with his soldiers be removed from the Territory and the people restored to their former rights of water and pasturage and permitted to enjoy undisturbed the blessings which God and nature have given them as the pioneer settlers of the distant valleys of the Rocky Mountains'? Will you please honor me with a copy of such decision as the honorable Secretary of War may make in the premises'?

            I have the honor to be, with sentiments of respect, your obedient servant,

JOHN F. KINNEY.

[Indorsement.]

            Respectfully referred to Brigadier-General Connor for report.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in- Chief.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 729]

Sacramento, January 19, 1864.

Colonel Drum,

            Assistant Adjutant-General:

            Peace and quiet must be preserved in Nevada Territory. If the provost-marshal cannot do it, I will use the military force.

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 730]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, Cal., January 19, 1864.

Maj. Charles McDermit,

            Second Cav. California Vols., Comdg. Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter.:

            Sir : It is apprehended by the assistant provost-marshal of Nevada Territory that disturbances may arise during the approaching election in that Territory. The department commander therefore desires you to confer with Captain Van Bokkelen on this subject, and if with the means at his disposal the peace and quiet of that Territory cannot be preserved, you will use such Federal force as may be available for that purpose. During the day of election you will report by telegraph the condition of affairs.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 733-734]

Headquarters,

Fort Tejon, Cal., January 26, 1864.

Lieut. Col. E. C. Drum,

            Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept, of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.:

            Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report: On my assuming command of this post I found 380 Indians located about 300 yards below this fort, as follows: 120 bucks, 170 squaws, and 90 children almost in a state of starvation; as they are under no one's charge, and no one to care for them, they must lookout for themselves. They are the remnant of nearly 1,100 Indians that were brought in from Owen's River by the Second Cavalry California Volunteers and placed on Tejon Reservation in the charge of the Indian superintendent, but afterward moved from the reservation to this place by order of headquarters Department of the Pacific, which order I cannot find at this post. Upon inquiry of the Indians through the interpreter, José Chico, I find that they all wish to be sent to the Tule River farm to enable them to raise something for their sustenance, as they are unable to do it here. I would also state that a deputation from Tejon Reservation was here to-day to see me and ask my leave to go to Tule River farm, which I told them I could not grant. I then asked them why they wished to go to Tule River farm. They told me that heretofore they always put in their crops of wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, &c., but this season they have put in nothing, for the reason that the agent, Mr. Godey, would not give them mules and plows to put in their crop with. Mr. Godey, the agent, tells me that his animals are so poor that they hardly can stand alone, and that for this last two months he has been out of all kinds of supplies either for Indians or his animals; that he has notified Mr. Wentworth, superintendent, of the fact, but has received neither reply nor supplies. I therefore most respectfully suggest to the department that all these Indians, 200 of the old Tejon and 380 of the Owen's River, located near this fort, in all 580, be sent to Tule River farm, as there are already 100 acres in wheat, 40 acres in barley, and 200 acres to be planted in corn, potatoes, &c. With all these things planted and a supply of beef-cattle, supplied by the Indian Department, these Indians will be perfectly happy and satisfied. My other reason for making this suggestion is this: The Government pays rent for both of these reservations, and on each has employed an Indian agent and employe, and by putting the Indians all on one reservation it will save the Government the rent of one reservation and the salary of one agent and employe. But should the general commanding department deem it necessary to keep these Owen's River Indians here in the vicinity of the fort, I would most respectfully ask for orders to furnish them with some kind of rations for their sustenance, and that José Chico, interpreter, so favorably mentioned in Capt. M. A. McLaughlin's report of May 26, 1863, be retained in Government employ as interpreter, at the rate of $50 per mouth in legal tender.

            I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN G. SCHMIDT,

Captain, Second Infantry California Volunteers, Comdg. Post.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 738]

Special Orders,            )                                               Hdqrs. Department of the Pacific,

No. 23.                        )                                   San Francisco, Cal., February 1, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

            2. Maj. Edward McGarry, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, will proceed to and assume command of the troops at Camp Babbitt, Visalia, Cal. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation.

            By order of Brigadier-General Wright:

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 739-740]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, February 3, 1864.

Col. E. D. TOWNSEND,

            Assistant Adjutant- General, Washington City, D. C.:

            Colonel : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 28th of January. I have already sent four companies of the First Cavalry California Volunteers to Southern California ; one of them has probably reached Tucson by this time, escorting the marshal of Arizona and the superintendent of Indian affairs. The other companies will move in the same direction as soon as transportation is prepared. The three remaining companies, two at Camp Union and one at Benicia Barracks, have not yet been mounted. They are undergoing a thorough course of instruction on foot. In December Colonel Babbitt, chief quartermaster in this department, received a dispatch from the Quartermaster-General instructing him not to pay for any more horses until further orders. I accordingly suspended the purchase, presuming that we should have to wait for an appropriation by Congress before recommencing. I have now ordered Colonel Babbitt to purchase a sufficient number of horses to mount the three companies, and as soon as this is accomplished they will be sent to San Pedro by water. In the meantime the three companies now at San Pedro will move at an early day for Tucson via Fort Yuma, under command of Col. O. M. Brown, First Cavalry California Volunteers. I have ordered that all the transportation used by the companies be sent back from Tucson to Fort Yuma to meet the remaining companies as they arrive at that station. I have purchased a very large number of wagons and mules within the last two years. For General Carleton's expedition I had to buy 200 wagons and more than 1,200 mules, and a very large number of wagons and mules for General Connor's expedition to Salt Lake and the re-enforcements since sent to the same place. Thus it will be seen that the heavy expenditures for the means of transportation in this department have been rendered necessary in preparing commands for the Department of New Mexico and other remote districts. I have also to acknowledge the receipt of a telegram from Major Williams, assistant adjutant-general, dated January 28, inviting my attention to the expediency of granting furloughs to soldiers of the Regular Army who may re-enlist before the 1st of March. The necessary instructions have been given.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 747]

Special Orders,            )                                               Hdqrs. Department of the Pacific,

No.  34.                       )                                   San Francisco, Cal., February 13, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

            2. Paragraph 2, of Special Orders, No. 23, is hereby revoked.

            3. Maj. Edward McGarry, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, will proceed to and assume command of Camp Union.

* * * * * * * * * *

            5. Maj. Andrew W. Bowman, Ninth Infantry, U. S. Army, is assigned to duty as acting inspector- general on the department staff. The major will report at these headquarters at the earliest day practicable.

            By order of Brigadier-General Wright:

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 748-754]

Headquarters District of Utah,

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., February 15, 1864.

General Henry W. Halleck,

            General-in- Chief, Washington, D. C.:

            General. : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a certified copy of a communication addressed, through the General-in-Chief, to the honorable Secretary of War by Hon. J. F. Kinney,[1] Delegate from the Territory of Utah, transmitted to me for report, and to submit the following as my views on the several subjects contained in the communication referred to: In regard to the first point made by Mr. Kinney, relating to the location of Camp Douglas, I am not apprised whether the camp is within the limits of Great Salt Lake City, as the authorities may have chosen to prescribe in a charter or describe in an ordinance. For aught I know to the contrary, the Territorial or city authorities may have extended their city jurisdiction on paper over the whole tract of country from the mountains to the Jordan. It was and is a question which has occasioned me neither to make careful inquiry nor to exercise much consideration. I recognized the supreme authority of the United States as existing here, however little it may be respected by the leaders or masses of the people, and established my camp on what is unquestionably public domain, never reduced to adverse possession by cities, towns, or private persons, so far as I am aware. I did not recognize the right now claimed by the Legislature or city to embrace a vast region of country for city or any other purposes antagonistic to the interests of the Government when that Government desired or required any part of such domain. Mr. Kinney is at a loss to understand why General Connor should locate his camp within the limits of a peaceful and loyal city, and why he did not occupy Camp Crittenden. In reply I have to say that Camp Douglas is on the public domain at least two miles distant from the nearest house in the city. It was selected on account of its salubrious and convenient site and abundance of water. The alleged annoyance to the citizens from the fact that one of the several streams running through or near the city is rendered filthy by the presence of the troops is greatly exaggerated, and is in my opinion an excuse for rather than a well-founded cause of complaint. My reasons for locating the camp were at the time of location, and are still, regarded as good and sufficient. First. It was and is desirable that the camp should be at some central point in the district, where supplies of forage could be most advantageously procured and whence roads diverge in all directions—north, south, east, and west. These advantages could best be secured at its present location. Second. I deemed it not only prudent but absolutely necessary to the respect due to and the dignity of the Government that the camp should be located and maintained in the immediate vicinity of the headquarters of Brigham Young and his attendant nest of traitors. Previous to my arrival I was not only informed, but it was bruited about in every direction among the people, that the forces under my command, soldiers marching to the relief and for the protection of the Territory, would not be permitted to cross the Jordan on the west. This threat, publicly given out, I subsequently found to have been intended as an intimidation, with a view to stopping the command at Fort Crittenden. How much the desire of speculators to sell to Government the buildings at the latter point at exorbitant rates had to do with the origin of the threat I deem it unnecessary here to argue. Mr. Kinney overstates the fact very considerably when he dwells on the loyalty and peacefulness of the people of Utah. They are bound down by a system of church tyranny more complete than that which held the bondmen of ancient Rome in early days or now enthralls Afric's sons on the cotton fields of the South. The world has never seen a system of bondage, abject slavery, espionage, and constant, unremitting tyranny in the most trivial relations of life more galling than that which Brigham Young oppresses the people in the name of religion. His teachings and those of his elders all tend to impress disloyalty upon the minds of his subjects and antagonism toward the Government, in which he recognizes neither authority over him nor goodness in itself. Until my arrival and location in his immediate presence his pulpit harangues were but iterated and reiterated denunciations of the Union and outbursts of bold-faced treason. Even now he and his chosen apostles, the minions of himself and the teachers of the people, can hardly conceal their inborn treason or repress the traitorous words which fill their hearts and break upon the ear in ill-concealed sneers and covert insinuations against the Government which fosters and protects them in their iniquities. As a specimen of the loyalty and peacefulness of the man from whom this people receive their ideas, as well of religion as of morality and the Government of the United States, I quote a brief paragraph from one of the so called sermons of Brigham Young, delivered in presence of the assembled multitude on the 6th of October, 1863, at the Bowery, in Salt Lake City, to the semi-annual conference then in session, viz:

            "As for those who Abraham Lincoln has sent here, if they meddle with our domestic affairs I will send them to hell across lots, and as for those apostates running around here, they will probably fall down and their bowels will gush out, or they will bleed somewhere else."

            A sermon as remarkable for its innate treason, villainous hatred of the Government, and extreme vulgarity as it is for its grammatical construction. Were it not that these words as used by the chief priest of the church are susceptible of the most complete and overwhelming proof, it would pass credence that they were ever used by any man, however debased, in any pulpit in the land. Taught, led, governed, tyrannized over by such men, by means of the most perfect system extending throughout the whole people and down into the deepest recesses of everyday private and domestic life, covered by the thin gauze of a superstition called religion, unparalleled in the history of the world and a disgrace at once to the civilization of the nineteenth century and the free institutions of the land, it is not to be wondered at that the people, ignorant and deluded, should have attained a state of feeling not merely inimical to the Government, but bordering on treason, only suppressed for the time by the presence of the troops or the personal fears of the wily, traitorous, and treacherous leaders. When, therefore, Mr. Delegate Kinney affects patriotism himself, and with persecuted air and earnest professions characterizes the people of Utah as either loyal or peaceful, he but excites a smile upon the lips of even the casual passer-through of this land of polygamy, treason, and kindred crimes. I beg to assure the Department that the presence of the troops both in the Territory and on the present Government reservation at Camp Douglas has done much to prevent treasonable outbursts and conflict with this peculiar people and is doing much in a quiet way to lead the community back to allegiance and proper respect and regard for the Government. Brigham Young has impiously sworn and prophesied that the troops should either be destroyed or removed from Camp Douglas ; and should the department intervene to remove the troops, not only would it not commend the Government to the mass of the people, but it would serve to strengthen his power and fulfill his prophecies. Not only would such a course be injurious to the Government itself, but the transfer of the troops would be regarded by thousands of the citizens, suffering under a worse than Egyptian bondage, as the withdrawal of the last ray of hope and an abandonment of them to their hard fate. That their condition has been much ameliorated since the arrival of the troops I have the strongest and best reasons for believing, and many look forward eagerly and hopefully to the time when the power of the Government shall be felt or the incoming of a new population may relieve them from a galling despotism and restore them to their long-lost rights as American citizens. I have had recent evidence of the boasted loyalty of these people in the return of an expedition sent to the south for the protection of miners. The officer in charge, Lieut. John Quinn, Second California Volunteer Cavalry, in his official report states that in many places not only could he not obtain forage for his animals at any price, the people asseverating that they would not sell a grain to Uncle Sam's minions, but he was absolutely. prohibited from entering their farm-houses or seeking shelter from the winter storms in barns, sheds, and outhouses. I have also learned from credible witnesses that in cases, not few or exceptional, Gentile merchants and traders visiting the southern settlements to purchase flour and grain are invariably asked if they are buying for the troops, with the declaration of the farmers that if so grain and flour would not be sold at any price. The mere suspicion of being an agent of the Government in search of supplies is sufficient to violate any contract previously made and debar the purchaser from obtaining a bushel of wheat or a sack of flour or other produce. I inclose for the information of the Department a certified copy of a communication just received by me from miners, citizens of the United States, wintering in the neighboring town of Franklin, near the northern border of the Territory. I need hardly say that the utmost protection will be afforded them should it be required, but it is surely an anomalous position of affairs that citizens of the United States, peacefully seeking the settlement of a Territory of their common country, and that Territory professing through its Delegate loyalty and peacefulness, merely asking the hospitality accorded to humanity, should be compelled to look for protection from the armed troops of the Union. The hypocrisy of claiming either loyalty or peacefulness for such a people is too palpable to require further comment.

            In reference to the special order directing stray cattle found on the reserve to be shot, which is complained of by Mr. Kinney as emanating from me, the Department is respectfully informed that the same was issued by Colonel Pollock, commanding Camp Douglas, and immediately on coming to my knowledge it was revoked by me and has not in a single instance been executed. The Department is informed that Mr. Kinney is mistaken in the assertion that this command is subsisted to any considerable extent from the "products of the soil of the Territory." Our subsistence supplies are entirely drawn from the East, except only flour, beef, and vegetables, for which articles we are now paying exorbitant rates, induced and purposely made so by the edict of Brigham Young to his people not to sell to the troops. In this manner have the contractors (Gentiles) been broken up and forced out of the field of supplying, and Brigham himself, or his chosen bishops, derive the profits from the enormous and unreasonable prices demanded and necessarily paid. For the same reasons the wood and hay contractors have been unable to fulfill their contracts, and the troops were compelled to go into the mountains twenty miles distant in the dead of winter to cut and transport timber for fuel, while the animals, from sheer necessity, had all been turned out to exist upon the light herbage to be found upon snow-clad hills and wintry plains. In consequence of this, not only have the troops at times suffered for want of fuel, but the cavalry has necessarily been dismounted, and many of our animals have perished for lack of food, when it is a conceded and well-known fact that there is an abundance of forage in the Territory, for which the contractors have in vain offered the most exorbitant rates. After this statement of facts bearing on the subject I deem it my duty to the Government and the country to add that I would regard it as extremely injudicious and impolitic in every sense for the Department to comply with the request of Mr. Delegate Kinney, and it would only do so under the most decided and earnest, yet respectful, protest on my part. In conclusion I may be permitted to add that while an order transferring either myself or my command to the active scenes of the East would but be responsive to my own and the universal heartfelt desire of the troops under me, I must beg leave, respectfully, to suggest that neither they nor I have constituted Mr. Kinney our spokesman, and with a proper appreciation of his unasked-for interposition to that end and a due respect for the position he holds, would prefer communicating our wishes on proper occasions through some other and, probably, more congenial channel.

            I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. EDW. CONNOR,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding District.

[Inclosure.]

Franklin, Utah Ter., February 5, 1864.

Brigadier-General Connor,

            Commanding Camp Douglas:

            Dear Sir : In view of the following matters we have thought it necessary to acquaint you with the actions of the citizens here. It is a constant stream of burlesque against the Government and you and your soldiers—such as "Thank God the buzzards are picking the bones of the U. S. Army," and that you and your army are "a set of vagabond hirelings," and that "the day was not far distant when you and your army would have to leave this country," and various other expressions of like import too numerous to mention. There is one other item we think necessary to mention. A few of the citizens here have boasted that they took $16,000 worth of Government stock in 1857. There are men here who make that boast, and can be pointed out any day. They preach to their minute men to look well to their guns, and to lay in powder and keep their horses fat. They preach at Logan for the minute men there to be in readiness to be here in two hours. We have behaved ourselves as well as any set of men ever did, and still they make these threats and abuse us and our country every time they preach. Some of the boys expect to prospect west of Box Elder as soon as spring opens, and they (the Mormons) make their brags that we shan't prospect for gold in the country. We leave these lines to your kind consideration. They are written at the request of all the miners.

            Nothing more at present, but remain your friends,

M. MONCHARD,

M. LEBEAU,

PETE LUFFING,

[And 23 others.]

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 768]

Headquarters District of Utah,

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., February 23, 1864.

Lieut. Col. R. C. Drum, U. S. Army,

            Assistant Adjutant-General, San Francisco, Cal.:

            Colonel: Inclosed herewith I have the honor to transmit, for the information of the general commanding the department, a certified copy of a petition from the Hon. John F. Kinney, Delegate to Congress from Utah Territory, to the General-in- Chief, and through him to the honorable Secretary of War, urging the removal of myself and command from Camp Douglas, which petition was respectfully referred by the General-in-Chief to myself for report.[2] I also inclose copy of such report forwarded to the General in-Chief, and a communication from miners residing at Franklin, Utah Ter., in relation to the disloyalty of the people in that place and vicinity.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. EDW. CONNOR

Brigadier- General, Commanding.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 774-775]

CIRCULAR.]                                                              Headquarters District of Utah,

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., March 1, 1864.

            The undersigned has received numerous letters of complaint and inquiry from parties within and without the district, the former alleging that certain residents of Utah Territory indulge in threats and menaces against miners and others desirous of prospecting for precious metals, and the latter asking what, if any, protection will be accorded to those coming hither to develop the mineral resources of the country. Without giving undue importance to the thoughtless or reckless words of misguided prejudices, or bad-hearted men who may be guilty of such threats as those referred to, and indulging the hope that they are but individual expressions rather than menaces issued by any presumed or presumptuous authority whatever, the undersigned takes occasion to repeat what no loyal citizen will gainsay, that this Territory is the public property of the nation, whose wish and interest it is that it be developed at the earliest possible day in all its rich resources—mineral as well as agricultural, pastoral, and mechanical. To this end citizens of the United States, and all desirous of becoming such, are freely invited by public law and national policy to come hither to enrich themselves and advance the general welfare from out the public store, which a bountiful Providence has scattered through these richly laden mountains and fertile plains. The mines are thrown open to the hardy and industrious, and it is announced that they will receive the amplest protection in life, property, and rights against aggression from whatever source, Indian or white.

            The undersigned has abundant reason to know that the mountains of Utah, north, south, east, and west, are prolific in mineral wealth. Gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, and coal are found in almost every direction, in quantities which promise the richest results to the adventurous explorer and the industrious miner.

            In giving assurance of entire protection to all who may come hither to prospect for mines, the undersigned wishes at this time most earnestly, and yet firmly, to warn all, whether permanent residents or not of the Territory, that should violence be offered or attempted to be offered to miners in the pursuit of their lawful occupation, the offender or offenders, one or many, will be tried as public enemies, and punished to the utmost extent of martial law.

            The undersigned does not desire to indulge in useless threats, but wishes most fully and explicitly to apprise all of their rights and warn misguided men of the inevitable result should they seek to obstruct citizens in those rights, or throw obstacles in the way of the development of the public domain. While miners will be thus protected, they must understand that no interference with the vested rights of the people of the Territory will be tolerated, and they are expected to conform in all things to the laws of the land, which recognize in their fullest extent the claims of the bona fide settlers on public lands. While the troops have been sent to this district to protect from a savage foe the homes and premises of the settler and the public interests of the nation, they are also here to preserve the public peace, secure to all the inestimable blessings of liberty, and preserve intact the honor, dignity, and rights of the citizen vested by a free Constitution, and which belong to the humblest equally with the highest in the land. This, their mission, it is the duty of the undersigned to see fulfilled by kindly and warning words, if possible, but if not, still to be enforced at every hazard and at any cost. He cannot permit the public peace and the welfare of all to be jeoparded by the foolish threats or wicked actions of a few.

P. EDW. CONNOR,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding District.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 778]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, March 5, 1864.

Adjutant-General U. S. Army,

            Washington, D. C. :

            Sir: Brig. Gen. P.E. Connor, commanding the District of Utah, has submitted to me a copy of a communication addressed to Major-General Halleck on the 4th of January last by the Hon. J. F. Kinney, Delegate to Congress from Utah, together with his (Connor's) reply to General Halleck. During the last year the removal of the troops from Camp Douglas was maturely and carefully considered, and I was fully persuaded that the present location at Camp Douglas was the proper position. I have but little faith in the loyalty of the Mormons. They threatened last year to destroy any re-enforcements from California approaching Camp Douglas, but I sent them and they reached there in safety. I would most earnestly recommend not only that Camp Douglas be maintained, but that it be strongly re-enforced.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 787]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, Cal., March 12, 1864.

Brig. Gen. P. E. Connor, U. S. Volunteers,

            Commanding District of Utah:

            General: The general commanding the department, having read with care your circular of March 1, desires me to say that he approves the position taken for protection of all loyal American citizens who may seek a home in the Territory of Utah. The laws of Congress for the protection of citizens must be enforced.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 795]

Special Orders,            )                                               Headquarters District of Utah,

No. 24.                        )                                   Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., March 18, 1864.

            Lieut. Col. William Jones and Capt. Samuel P. Smith, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, will proceed west of Salt Lake to select a cavalry camp.

            By command of Brigadier-General Connor:

M. G. LEWIS,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 801]

Special Orders,            )                                               Hdqrs. Department of the Pacific,

No. 65.                                    )                                   San Francisco, Cal., March 28, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

            6. The camp at Smoke Creek Station, in Nevada Territory, will be broken up in time for the command to reach Fort Churchill by the 30th of April next. Such of the movable property as may be considered valuable will be taken to the post above named.

            By order of Brigadier-General Wright:

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 802]

Special Orders,            )                                               Hdqrs. Department of the Pacific,

No. 66.                        )                                   San Francisco, Cal., March 29, 1864.

            1. The headquarters of the battalion of Nevada Territory cavalry will be established at Fort Churchill, at which point Maj. A. A. G. Williams, Nevada Territory cavalry, will report for duty.

*******

            By order of Brigadier-General Wright:

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 802-803]

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter.,

March 30, 1864.

Lieut. Col. R. C. Drum,

            San Francisco, Cal.:

            My Dear Colonel: The more I think and inquire about the Colorado route the more convinced I am of the necessity and importance of opening the route. Communication at all seasons of the year with navigable waters will be of the utmost importance to the speedy development of this Territory. Consequently I have concluded to make a military road from this place to Fort Mojave, and shall start a force for that purpose as soon as the grass has grown sufficiently to sustain the animals. Will you answer, if possible, the following questions? Are there commissary stores at Fort Mojave, so that the command I will send can draw there for the return trip ?  How many months in the year can the river be navigated to Fort Mojave?  I can make a new load to the fort in a distance of about 500 miles, which can be traveled at all seasons of the year. In fact, winter would be the most preferable time on account of the heat in the summer. If our supplies can be sent by steam to the mouth of the Colorado, and thence shipped to Mojave as speedily as possible, I recommend they be sent that way. Otherwise a few articles most needed could be sent the Placerville route and the balance be sent by sailing vessel to the mouth of the river. All quiet in Jerusalem.

            Sincerely, your friend,

P. EDW. CONNOR.

[Indorsement.]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

April 13, 1864.

            Respectfully referred to Captain Kellogg for his information. The department commander approves of General Connor's proposition to open communication with the Colorado River and has directed General Connor to advise Captain Kellogg of the amount of subsistence he will require at Fort Mojave, which will be forwarded to that point at the earliest day practicable.

            Respectfully,

R. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 806-807]

Territory of Nevada, Executive Department,

Carson City, April 5, 1864.

Brigadier-General Wright,

            Commanding Department of the Pacific:

            Sir:  You will pardon me for making a suggestion to you in regard to the disposition of troops in this Territory for the coming summer. I think the safety of immigration and of prospectors for minerals requires a company of cavalry to be stationed at some point north of the Humboldt in the vicinity of City Rocks. I am told food is abundant in that region. The Bannocks or Pannoke Indians roam in that direction, together with some of the worst Pi-Utes, which renders it dangerous for immigrants and prospectors. Mineral is being discovered in that direction, many persons will go there, and I fear the result will be to bring on an Indian war if there are not troops to protect them. If those who go there should kill an Indian or Indians it would bring upon us trouble that would be disastrous in its effects upon the prosperity of our Territory. The policy of the Government seems to be to encourage the development of our mineral resources as speedily as possible, and believing that the best way to do it is to protect the miners in their explorations, I make the suggestions for your consideration. This company could traverse quite a region and furnish protection to both of these classes. I know nothing of the forces at your command or what disposition you intend to make of them. I simply suggest this for the reason that the people look to me for protection, which I am anxious to afford them. If in the interlude of business pressing which is constantly being pressed upon your attention you can find time to reply, give me your views upon the subject and I shall feel grateful.

            With considerations of respect and esteem, I remain, your obedient servant,

JAMES W. NYE.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 809]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific

San Francisco, April 9, 1864.

Adjutant-General U. S. Army,

            Washington, D. C. :

            Sir: The condition of affairs in this department is unchanged. In the District of Oregon Brigadier-General Alvord is organizing small commands to move over the country toward Snake River for the protection of settlers and emigrants approaching from the east. In the District of Humboldt, Colonel Black, Sixth Infantry California Volunteers, is prosecuting vigorously the war against the hostile Indians, and if a reservation is set apart remote from that country I hope at an early day to send those Indians to it. In the District of Southern California quiet prevails. The seventh and last company of the First Cavalry California Volunteers has marched for Arizona. In the District of Utah there is no change to report. General Connor recommends that the volunteers raised in California and now serving in Utah be discharged there at the expiration of their service. I have ordered it so done unless instructions to the contrary shall be received from the War Department. Recruiting for a regiment of infantry in Nevada Territory is progressing favorably well. If we can raise a regiment I propose to send it to Utah in the course of the summer.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 812-814]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, April 11, 1864.

His Excellency James W. Nye,

            Governor of Nevada Territory, Carson City :

            Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's communication of the 5th instant in relation to the disposition of troops during the coming summer, in order to afford protection to the mining population as well as to the emigrants approaching from the eastern States. Already expeditions from the Columbia River are prepared to move from Forts Dalles and Walla Walla in a southeasterly direction across the State of Oregon to the upper waters of the Snake River; a command of cavalry will move at an early day from Fort Klamath through Southern Oregon to the Owyhee River and the southern portion of Idaho Territory. Expeditions have been prepared at Camp Douglas, near Great Salt Lake City, for the purpose of affording protection to all loyal citizens coming to this country. It is intended, as far as our limited means may allow, to give protection over all the routes leading into this country, and that leading by the "City of Rocks" and the country north of the Humboldt will not be overlooked.

            I am most happy to reply to Your Excellency's communication, as it is only in that way I can learn the wants of the people in remote and sparsely settled districts which troops have rarely traversed.

            With great respect, Your Excellency's obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

__________

Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter., April 11, 1864.

Col. R. C. Drum,

            Assistant Adjutant- General, San Francisco, Cal.:

            Colonel : I have the honor to inclose herewith communication from Mr. Baldwin, son of the late Judge Baldwin, of California, and Capt. C. A. Sumner, relative to the existence of a secession organization in Virginia. We have nearly 500 armed men at this pass; one-half of this force is sufficient to put down any hostile demonstration on the part of the secessionists in the Territory. I am aware that a large number of the most violent Southern sympathizers have immigrated to this Territory from California who have but little means and are desperate; but at the same time, some of the largest property holders in the Territory are from the South, and their interests require them to do all they can to prevent an outbreak and to assist in sustaining the Federal authority. I would respectfully recommend that a provost guard to consist of 1 commissioned, 2 non-commissioned officers, and 25 privates be ordered to Virginia City to assist the provost-marshal in suppressing any disturbances that may take place; besides, the headquarters of the guard would serve as a temporary rendezvous for recruits for the infantry regiment. The only additional expense to the Government in keeping a provost guard in Virginia would be the rent of quarters, which I think would be reasonable.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. McDERMIT,

Major, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, Comdg. Post.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

Virginia City, Nev. Ter., April 11, 1864.

Lieut. Col. R. C. Drum,

            Assistant Adjutant- General, Headquarters, San Francisco, Cal.:

            Sir: I have the honor to communicate a statement of the facts of the existence in this city of a secession club, regular and frequent in its meetings, and evidently designing some movements of a revolutionary or disorganizing character. I am obliged to wait a few days the result of certain detective operations now being carried on before stating so much of the detail of the traitorous plottings as are now (and probably will be in addition) discovered and reasonably certified to. Meanwhile and now I deem it advisable to say this much to you and to respectfully urge the establishment of a fully armed and equipped provost guard at this place. The suggestion and recommendation belong originally to Major McDermit, through whom I have the honor to transmit this. I have been requested by Major McDermit to write to you, as of the first instance, because I have had direct personal communication with parties professing to know of the meetings and meditations of the gang of secessionists who are infesting, perhaps threatening, this city. To the proposition for a provost guard, Major McDermit has advised the procuring of the indorsement of leading loyal citizens of Virginia. I have respectfully to say that I did not think it would be well to obtain such an indorsement at the present. I fear that would lead to popular disclosures of a character calculated to place the traitors on the untraceable alert, looking to legal conviction. That such a precautionary provision of watchfulness and defense as is here asked on the part of the military representatives of the Government would be approved and welcomed by our fellow-citizens in Virginia there can be no doubt. Some considerable incidental advantages, in this time of recruiting for the First Nevada Infantry Regiment, have been mentioned to me by the commanding officer at Fort Churchill and will, I presume, be set forth in an accompanying letter. I shall have the honor to report myself at department headquarters during the present week.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. A. SUMNER,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

Virginia, April 6, 1864.

Capt. C. A. Sumner:

            My Dear Sir: I have the most reliable information that there exists in this county a secret organization of secessionists who hold periodical meetings and are evidently conspiring against the peace of the community. I wish you would come here as soon as convenient and get on the track of the infernal traitors, and try and bring their damnable plots to a summary and bloody end.

            Your friend,

ALEX. W. BALDWIN.

[Inclosure No. 3.]

MEMORANDUM.

Maj. Charles McDermit,

            Commanding Post, Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter.:

            Isaac Anderson, of Virginia City, Nev. Ter., is approached by one A. C. Bradford, formerly of Stockton, Cal., a well-known and virulent secessionist, and invited to join a secession club, of which Bradford was acting secretary or proselytizer. Bradford is understood to have recently come to the Territory. Anderson evaded the invitation and is the prime informer. Already it is observed: The large number of secessionists in Virginia City, mostly of the legal profession, are invisible and together on certain evenings ; some of them are bold in hinting that it will be of as much service to be a rebel here soon as in South Carolina, &c.

            Respectfully,

CHAS. A. SUMNER,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Volunteers.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 818]

Special Orders,            )                                               Headquarters District of Utah,

No. 32.                        )                                   Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., April 13, 1864.

            I. Lieut. Col. William Jones, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, will, on receipt of this order, turn over the command of the troops at the Rush Valley Reservation to Maj. John M. O'Neill, of the same regiment.

            II. Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, upon being relieved, will repair immediately to Camp Babbitt, Visalia, Cal. Captain Stover, assistant quartermaster, will furnish the necessary transportation to Sacramento, Cal.

            By command of Brigadier-General Connor:

M. G. LEWIS,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 820]

Special Orders,            )                                               Hdqrs. Department of the Pacific,

No. 80.                        )                                               San Francisco, Cal., April 14, 1864.

            1. Lieut. Col. A. A. C. Williams, Nevada Territory cavalry, will proceed to Camp Douglas and report to Brig. Gen. P. Edward Connor, commanding District of Utah, to command the battalion of Nevada Territory cavalry.

*******

            By order of Brigadier-General Wright:

RICHD. C, DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

 

[OR I-50-1, pp. 315-358]

APRIL 20-OCTOBER 26, 1864.—Expeditions from Fort Dalles, Oreg., and Fort Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., to Southeastern Oregon, with skirmishes.

REPORTS.

            No. 1.—Brig. Gen. Benjamin Alvord, U. S. Army, commanding District of Oregon.

            No. 2.—Capt. George B. Currey, First Oregon Cavalry, commanding expedition.

            No. 3.—Capt. Edward Barry, First Washington Territory Infantry, of operations

August 16-18.

            No. 4.—Capt. John M. Drake, First Oregon Cavalry, commanding expedition from Fort Dalles.

            No. 5.—Lieut. John M. McCall, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations May 17-19.

            No. 6.—Capt. William V. Rinehart, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations June 14-16.

            No. 7.—Capt. Richard S. Caldwell, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations July 3-16.

            No. 8.—Lieut. James A. Waymire, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations July 6-8.

            No. 9.—Lieut. John F. Noble, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations August 7-16.

No. 1.

Report of Brig. Gen. Benjamin Alvord, U. S. Army, commanding District of Oregon.

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, June 16, 1864.

Adjutant-General U. S. Army,

            Washington City:

            Sir: Inclosed herewith I have the honor to forward, for the consideration of the Department, a communication dated June 1, 1864, from Brig. Gen. B. Alvord, commanding the District of Oregon, with two inclosures, giving the particulars of a fight with Snake Indians.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, Commanding Department.

__________

Headquarters District of Oregon,

Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., June 1, 1864.

Colonel: I have the honor herewith to inclose to you, for the information of the general commanding, a copy of the report of the 20th instant of Capt. John M. Drake, First Oregon Cavalry, commanding an expedition into the Snake country; also a copy of Lieut. J. M. McCall's report accompanying the same. They give the particulars of a fight between a small detachment of his command under Lieutenant McCall and some Snake Indians on the 18th instant [ultimo] at a point about 170 miles south southeast from Fort Dalles. It resulted in the death of a gallant and very valuable officer. Second Lieut. Stephen Watson, of the First Oregon Cavalry, and two men. Fifty head of horses and their saddles (all that the Indians had) were captured; their lodges, provisions, &c., were destroyed. The attack was made at daylight. At 6 o'clock Lieutenant McCall sent to Captain Drake for re-enforcements. In three hours, at 9 a. m., Captain Drake was there, but in the meantime the enemy had fled. I suppose that Lieutenant McCall considered that he had a fair chance to capture the whole gang if they would hold on until Captain Drake arrived. Captain Drake reports that he shall make near his last encampment his wagon depot, whence his eight wagons will run to Fort Dalles for supplies. He intended to remain there eleven days, scouting thoroughly through the whole neighborhood for the Snakes. At the end of that time he would start for Harney Lake. By my Special Orders, No. 70, of the 6th May, I directed that the command of Captain Drake " will proceed to the northeastern end of Harney Lake and effect a junction with the force of Captain Currey, First Oregon Cavalry, who will command the whole force. Captain Currey will decide when the two commands shall again separate." I issued this order on the reception of a memorial from the people of Canyon City directed to the Governor of Oregon, praying for the calling out of temporary volunteers from that vicinity, as the memorialists considered the troops too small in numbers. The junction of the two commands ought certainly to suffice. I had desired each command to act separately, if possible, traversing distinct parts of that mineral region. Captain Currey will doubtless be able to let them separate for a large share of the summer. Both commands, you are aware, are ordered to remain in the field until the middle of October. Each has 100 pack-mules, which will carry near sixty days' rations, so that they are prepared and equipped for efficient service. The friendly Indians have already done service to Captain Drake as scouts. Captain Currey has with him Houlish Wampo (head chief of the Cayuse) and a dozen Indians of long-continued enmity to the Snakes, and who will assist in ferreting them out.

            I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

BENJ. ALVORD,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding District.

Lieut. Col. R. C. Drum,

            Asst. Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. Dept. of Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.

No. 2.

Reports of Capt. George B. Currey, First Oregon Cavalry, commanding

expedition.

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp No. 1, on Walla Walla River, eight miles from

Fort Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., April 28, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report that I took up my line of march for the Indian country this day and arrived here this afternoon. It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge myself under many obligations to yourself and Colonel English, commanding officer at Fort Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., for the very superior outfit with which I am supplied. I have 104 pack-mules loaded and eight six-mule teams. With this 1 am enabled to start with ninety days' rations for my command. A considerable portion of the subsistence stores which were sent to Fort Walla Walla, Wash. Ter., for the use of my expedition, remains there, as my amount of transportation was insufficient to move it. The troops under my command, ninety-one in the aggregate, are in good condition and fine spirits. The amount of ammunition for my pistols which I have with me is insufficient for the entire campaign, and I most respectfully urge upon you the necessity of forwarding to me at an early day at least 10,000 additional rounds.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp No. 6, on Grande Ronde River, May 3, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I reached this camp, on Grande Ronde River, at the eastern base of the Blue Mountains, on yesterday. I experienced no difficulty in crossing the Blue Mountains; had fair weather and much better roads than I expected before starting. Uma-how-lits (war chief of the Cayuse tribe) and ten of his warriors joined me at Lee's encampment, on the Blue Mountains. They are fine-looking fellows, well mounted, and seem very anxious to return with some war trophies. I could have selected more Indians, but after making calculations concerning subsistence and the amount of transportation under my command, I did not deem it prudent to take more. I remained in camp to-day to permit the animals to rest and graze, as there was little feed upon the mountain. I start in the morning at 6 o'clock, my usual hour for commencing the day's march.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Headquarters Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp No. 16, on Owyhee River, at mouth. May 16, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication. of the 25th ultimo at Camp No. 3, on Umatilla River, Oreg.; also letter of the 27th at Camp No. —, on Malheur River, Oreg. Until I arrived at the Malheur River it was my opinion that up that stream would be my most practicable route to Malheur and Harney Lakes, and in accordance with that opinion I ordered the infantry detachment to join me there. While there I received information which I deemed sufficiently reliable to act upon that a band of about 150 Indians were engaged in making preparations for fishing on the Owyhee about seventy miles from its mouth. This induced me to move to this place, where I met the detachment of infantry. I will move forward with the cavalry in the morning, clear the river of any Indians who may be found on it, and select a location for my depot. My troops are in fine health and spirits. The animals look remarkably well. I hope to be able to bring my men under fire within five days from this. Of this, however, I cannot speak certain. Grass thus far good. Yesterday we had a fine rain, and last night a splendid thunder shower. The late fall of rain will not only benefit the grass, but be of great utility in determining the age of Indian signs. I have heard of no late depredations, but much solicitude is evinced by the few settlers along the road for some sheep drovers who are driving about 4,000 head of sheep on the road leading from Queen's River to the Owyhee Mines. I hope to be able to so engage the Indians that they will have little time to attend to sheep drovers.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Capt., First Oreg. Cav., Comdg. Expedition into Indian Country.

First Lieut. John W. Hopkins,

            First Oregon Cavalry, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., District of Oregon.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

                                                Camp on Gibbs' Creek, 100 miles above the mouth of

                                                            the Owyhee River, June 8, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to report that in accordance with the determination expressed in my letter of the 16th ultimo I started with the cavalry from camp at the mouth of Owyhee River on the morning of the 17th ultimo. The road leads directly up the Owyhee for a distance of about twelve miles, leading a south southwest direction. Here it leaves the river, diverges to the right up a deep cañon for some miles, when it reaches the table-lands, which are covered with sage brush, trap rock, and scattering bunch grass. Traversing the table-land for some ten miles, the trail makes a transverse over a rough country of promiscuous clay hills, basaltic ledges, and sandstone cliffs, on which a stunted growth of grease-wood and half-starved prickly pears find a precarious rooting. This uninteresting but tedious region extends for about ten miles, where the hills become bolder and sides more clearly defined, where the trail leads down a small creek, which at this season of the year affords a small amount of muddy water. Passing down this creek in an east-southeast direction for some miles, it passes up a deep cañon in a south-southwest direction for some miles, and again comes out on the table-land, which presents the usual Snake River characteristics—trap rock, sage brush, dust, horned toads, long-tailed lizards, big crickets, and little grass, with an occasional rattlesnake and scorpion. Over this stretch of high rolling country both men and animals suffered exceedingly for water, being on a forced march from 6 a. m. until 8 p. m. without water. Finding water in a cañon to the right of the trail, owing to the exhausted state of the animals, I remained in camp on the 22d, and sent out scouts in several directions, who, returning at night, reported no Indian signs. The character of the country does not change from the camp of the 22d to this place, where I arrived on the morning of the 25th about 10 a. m. This creek, which I named Gibbs' Creek, in honor of his excellency Governor Gibbs, is a small creek which, wandering through trap-rock cañons a distance of about thirty miles from its head spring to the southwest, falls into the Owyhee about five miles below the mouth of Jordan Creek. As I found good grass and water here I halted, and sent Captain Rinehart with twenty men back to the camp of Captain Barry, at mouth of Owyhee, with orders for Barry to come on. While awaiting the arrival of the transportation and infantry I made two scouts with small parties, one to the west as far as the foot of a snow range of mountains, the same that affords (I am told) a large portion of the waters of Malheur Lake; found a beautiful valley, but no Indian signs. The other up Jordan Creek, during which I succeeded in surprising a small party of six Indians and killed five. There were no women or children in camp. Some hours after this affair a lone Indian was discovered in the sage brush about half a mile from the road. I sent the Indians in chase. After a two miles' run they caught and shot him, making six killed in all. Captain Barry, with the infantry and Captain Rinehart's detachment, arrived on the 6th with the pack-mules. The wagons will cross Snake River on the Jordan Creek road and follow the wagon road used by miners from Boise City to the mines, and thence to this place. I will start for Harney Lake as soon as the wagons arrive here, which will be about the 12th instant. I have just heard of a party of sixty or seventy Indians on Jordan Creek. Will start in about three hours with four days' cooked rations and find out more definitely their business.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

                                    Camp No. 46, on Rattlesnake Creek, at the Northeast side of

                                                Harney Lake Valley, July 2, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report that since my last, dated 100 miles above the mouth of Owyhee River, June 8, 1864, I made the scout up Jordan Creek as contemplated at that writing, but after scouting the entire valley of Jordan Creek to within eight miles of Wagon Town, a mining camp on that stream, and to the south and east of that stream to and along the waters of Sucker Creek, a small stream that feeds the lake, marked on the maps furnished from your office, named Lake Ella, I could get no traces of the supposed band of Indians. On the 12th of June I arrived at Camp Henderson, the place I started from. On the 10th I sent Lieutenant Currey and fifteen men of Company E from my camp on Jordan Creek to meet the wagon train then en route along the road from Fort Boise to Wagon Town. On the 14th I ordered Captain Rinehart to take his company and examine the country up the Owyhee River, taking with him three days' rations. For further particulars and description of country traversed, please see copy of his report, herewith inclosed, and marked A.[3] The wagon train arrived at Camp Henderson a short time after dark on the evening of the 15th of June, with animals very much worn down, having drawn heavy loads over a very rough road. The morning of the 16th I took up the march for the valley at the east side of Steen's Snow Mountain, the valley in which Lieutenant Waymire, First Oregon Cavalry, had a fight with the Indians early in the spring. On the 18th I arrived at the foot of Steen's Snow Mountain, a distance of fifty miles from the mouth of Jordan Creek, in a west- south west direction, road very rocky. This valley affords an abundance of grass and water, and here I established a depot, threw up a redoubt of sufficient capacity to contain the entire camp and quartermaster's property. While engaged in rendering the depot secure I sent the Indians to scout the country to the south of Steen's Snow Mountain. They returned on the evening of the 21st, bringing with them four captured Indian women, who reported the men belonging to their camp in the vicinity of Harney Lake.

            The morning of the 22d 1 started for Harney Lake, passing along the east base of the Steen range of mountains in a northeast direction for twenty-five miles, passing the earth-works thrown up by Lieutenant Waymire last spring. On the 23d I passed over the range of mountains cutting several of the head branches of the South Fork of the Malheur River. On the24th, reached the south side of Malheur Lake. From here I traversed the south side of that lake; passed over a low sage brush range of table land to the southeast end of Harney Lake. Finding it impracticable to pass the marsh that connects the two lakes at this season of the year I passed entirely around Harney Lake, and on the afternoon of the 28th reached the northeast end of the lake. Saw no traces of Captain Drake. The lake water being very salt and grass poor, on the following day I moved out in a northeast direction to Cricket Creek, a tributary of Malheur Lake, and encamped, intending to scout for Captain Drake and Indians. Late at night George Reynolds, the guide of Captain Drake, rode into camp accompanied by four of the Indians belonging to Captain Drake's expedition. From Reynolds I learned that Captain Drake had not been to Harney Lake, but had passed to the north, going around the east end of Malheur Lake; was then on my trail marching after me. I mustered at that camp, and on the following day moved across the valley in a northerly direction to this place, where I was joined by Captain Drake and his command. Found his command in good condition and 100 strong. With the two commands I will start in the morning direct toward Canyon City, intending to clear the region of John Day's River of Indians within the next thirty days, an undertaking presenting no great difficulty, in my opinion. Captain Barry with his infantry remains at the depot. I can but regret that I did not reach this vicinity sooner, but as you have already been advised of my reasons for not moving up the Malheur River I will not now repeat. Since leaving Fort Walla Walla I have traveled 813 miles, making forty-six camps. This does not include the scouts made by my officers. I would now gladly give my men and animals some rest, but do not deem it advisable until the murderers of Lieutenant Watson and the plunderers of our people have been chastised.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant.

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Headquarters Expedition into Indian Country,

Camp No. 57, on Crooked River, near Camp Maury, July 30, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the letter of the 12th instant from the general commanding the district From Camp No. 46, on Rattlesnake Creek, I moved with both expeditions north-northeast for three days up Selvie's River to a valley of several miles extent called by Lieutenant Waymire in his report last spring Summit Valley. Here I halted and sent Lieutenant Waymire on a scout to the east with three days' rations, and Lieutenant Currey with twenty men to Canyon City to make inquiry among the citizens of that place concerning visitations from the Indians. For the information of country, &c., elicited by Lieutenant Waymire, please see his report, inclosed herewith, marked A.[4] Lieutenant Currey reported Canyon City as being twenty miles from camp in a north northwest direction; the citizens very much alarmed at the Indians, and that some six days previous to his arrival (on the 6th) a party of thirty or forty had attacked a train and driven away about forty head of animals from within a few miles of the town. Parties who pursued the Indians gave information that they had fled up the South Fork of John Day's River. This information induced me to change my direction to a north -northwest, so as to reach the South Fork of John Day's River and thus intercept them, or at least find their trail. On the evening of the 11th I crossed the dividing range to the west of the South Fork, and halted with a view of scouting the western tributaries of the South Fork and headwaters of Crooked River. At noon on the 12th the Indian scouts came into camp at full speed and reported that they had been ambuscaded by a large party of Snake Indians and one of their number killed about ten miles from camp to the north. I immediately started with 100 men to the scene. When about three miles from camp I discovered a large smoke about three miles to the east of my route, which I immediately recognized as the smoke from burning wigwams. Changing my direction and hurrying on as fast as the rocky nature of the ground would permit, I soon arrived at their abandoned camp. It was situated in a deep wooded ravine, seemed to have been occupied for several days, and from the appearances about 100 head of horses and mules belonged to the band. It is only conjecture as to the number of Indians, but I am of the opinion the party did not exceed sixty. Should estimate their probable strength at about that number. From the numerous fresh tracks diverging from camp in all directions, several hours were spent in determining the direction taken by the party in its flight. Having satisfied myself that they had taken the direction of the South Fork, I returned to camp.

            On the morning of the 13th, with Companies A, D, and E, First Oregon Cavalry, I started on their trail with a supply of eight day's rations and three boxes of ammunition. About noon of the l2th [14th?] I reached the South Fork, which here runs in a cañon of at least 1,000 feet deep, very steep—indeed precipitous. As soon as my command reached the bottom of this cañon the Indians began a pretty lively fire upon me from the almost overhanging ledges. The Indians having driven their stock from the river up a deep walled cañon coming into the South Fork from the east, doubtless supposed they had found the only exit from the chasm. Dismounting my men I deployed Company A behind rocks and trees up the cañon on the west side of the South Fork ; Company E in front of the horses and transportation in the bottom, and Company D I threw across the cañon up the cliff, with orders to take and hold the heights at all hazards. As the firing soon changed from the right and center to the left, I re-enforced the left from Company E by sending a platoon. As soon as my men gained the heights on the east side the Indians withdrew. The position my men now occupied cut the cañon diagonally, extending from several hundred feet up the west side to the top cliffs on the east. Behind this line I moved my transportation out of the cañon to the east side without any loss. The Indians shot over my men, consequently none were injured. One horse was slightly wounded by a spent pistol ball. My troops were but partly out of the cañon before a party of Indians was seen coming down the hill on our trail. These were doubtless a party detailed to open fire on my rear should I get into confusion in the cañon. Continuing on the trail of the Indians we found several abandoned articles; among the most valuable was an American horse. About ten miles above the cañon, where I first crossed the South Pork to the northeast, their trail recrossed to the west. From this point their trail led in a direct line toward the west end of Harney Lake. As they were evidently traveling without reference to rest for man or thought for beast, I desisted from farther pursuit, not wishing to again strike out on the plains around and beyond the lakes until I was satisfied the Indians had all been driven from this vicinity. As Captain Drake had not heard from his depot for forty days I moved to this place, where I arrived on the 18th. The grass being very much eaten out around Camp Maury, on the 19th (Captain Drake selected a new location about five miles west of the present one. On the 20th he will move his camp, and on the 21st, with fifty men of his command and fifty of my own, I will start north and west.

            I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

                                                Camp No. 61, on Canyon City Road, at Rock Creek,

                                                            near Camp Watson, July 25, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report, for the information of the general commanding the District of Oregon, that on the morning of the 21^st instant, with a cavalry command of 100 men, supplied with ten days' subsistence, I started in a northeast direction for the Canyon City road. My route led me through the range of Blue Mountains in which the north branches of Crooked River, west tributaries of the South Fork of John Day's River, Bridge Creek, Rock Creek, and Cottonwood Creek (tributaries of John Day's River from the north side below the South Fork) head. Passing slowly and making a careful examination of the country along my route for evidences of Indians, I arrived at this place at 10 a. m. of this day. Near the summit of the mountain range, or rather bed, I crossed a trail about two weeks old, leading in the direction of the place where I found the Indians as reported in my last. Being well satisfied that it had been made by the same Indians, I did not deem it worth while to follow it. This constituted all the late Indian signs I saw on the route. At 10 p. m. of the 23d instant I was overtaken by my express from Camp Alvord, containing the letter from the citizens of Boonville (a mining town on Jordan Creek), a copy of which I herewith forward. Captain Caldwell, First Oregon Cavalry, who is encamped near me, informs me that he has been in this vicinity about two weeks, and that thus far his scouts have discovered no Indians or fresh signs. Before leaving my camp on the 21st I directed Captain Drake to take a party sufficiently strong, in his judgment, and examine the country at and around Sheep Rock. He started on the 22d. I have heard of no late outrages by the Indians, and am of the opinion that they have abandoned this region of country. My expressman from Camp Alvord brings a report that a band of cattle were stolen in the Harney Lake Valley. I shall start for Captain Drake's depot in the morning, and from thence return to the Harney Lake country. The Indians mentioned in the letter from the citizens of Boonville, Idaho Ter., are about 350 miles from me at this time. I will go after them as fast as my animals will permit and the completion of my present undertaking will warrant. From this camp to Captain Drake's depot, by my trail, the distance is sixty-five miles. Mountains not difficult of travel, mostly covered with open pine timber.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter,

[Inclosure.]

BOONVILLE, July 13, 1864.

Captain Currey :

            Dear Sir : We are compelled by force of circumstances to communicate to you a few facts in relation to the depredations committed by the Indians within the last few days. On Friday night last they made an attack on ranches a few miles below this place, stealing and taking all the stock in the valley, and what is still more shocking, killing and mangling one of our citizens in a most brutal manner. On Sunday morning a party of about twenty men organized and started in pursuit, and overtook them yesterday, the 12th, when a fight ensued, resulting in our defeat, killing Mr. Jordan and wounding two others. If they are not promptly punished I fear there is but little safety of the lives and property of our citizens.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servants,

SILAS SKINNER,

J. C. BOONE,

H. WHITE,

R. TUGASKES,

JAMES MILLER,

On behalf of the citizens.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp No. 66, near Camp Gibbs, of Captain Drake's Command,

August 1, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication dated June 9, 1864, on the evening of the 30th ultimo. I have sent a communication to the general commanding by every return express. From my camp on Canyon City road, near Camp Watson, I moved down the road to Bridge Creek, where I found Lieutenant Olney's command encamped. From there I learned that the camp had been alarmed the night previous to my arrival. I immediately sent out scouts, who reported that they had scoured the country for eight or ten miles to the west, south, and east of camp, and found no tracks; and as there was no probability that any would be found to the north, upon the return of the scouts at 8 a. m. on the morning of the 28th I started back for this place, passing up the east side of Bridge Creek for twelve miles, and from thence to my out-going trail, which I followed for some miles, and then diverged to the right in order to make further examination of the practicable passes leading from the head of Bridge Creek to the Crooked River side of the range. Found no new signs, and am inclined to think no Indians have been in that vicinity since the 11th of July. I arrived at this camp on the afternoon of the 30th ultimo, a few hours later than Captain Drake did from his scout to Sheep Rock. For the information derived from his excursion I would most respectfully refer you to his report, a copy of which is herewith inclosed.[5] My expressman, who arrived a few days ago from Camp Alvord, reports upon information derived from some stock drivers that old Po-li-ni joined twenty-three Wick-i-ups at a small lake about thirty miles west of Camp Alvord. On tomorrow (August 2) I start with my original command, will visit that locality, and then return to my depot. Going by way of this reported rendezvous will not increase the time of my journey to Camp Alvord more than ten days. Captain Drake will remain in this vicinity. I hope to be able to reach my depot on the 16th instant, unless I meet with difficulties not now apparent. From here to Camp Alvord is computed 200 miles. You will see by this and my former reports that since I took command of the two expeditions the country has been pretty thoroughly scouted from the head of Malheur River, on the east, to the west bank of the Des Chutes on the west, thus familiarizing to our troops a region hitherto unknown to our arms and filled by the fertile imagination of a panic-stricken people with hordes of savages strongly posted in the impregnable fastnesses of trackless mountains and yawning cañons.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp Alvord, August 20, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report for the information of the general that on the 2d instant the commands of Captain Drake and mine separated. With mine I took up the march for this point via Harney Lake, passing around the west end and a portion of the south side of that body of water, and from thence in a southeast direction to the headwaters of Thunder Creek, a tributary of Malheur Lake, which takes its source in the Snow Mountains immediately to my west. On the head of this latter-named stream I found several small lakes and valleys. On my journey out this creek was scarcely fordable for depth of water, and upon my return was entirely dry, with the exception of a few pools standing in deep holes in its bed. From Thunder Creek I changed my direction more to the east in order to strike the pass in the mountains through which I passed in going out. Owing to the wearied condition of the animals I did not deem it advisable to make an excursion out on the desert to the west, where there is some probability the Indians have fled to. On the morning of the 15th I dispatched an express to the Pueblo Silver Mines, some thirty-five miles south of me, with a letter to Lieutenant-Colonel Drew, First Oregon Cavalry, hoping to gain some information from him concerning the region to my south and west, but as he had not yet arrived at that mining camp I gained nothing. On the morning of the 16th I sent Captain Barry, First Washington Territory Infantry, with twenty men of his company to make a scout through the mountains to the south and west of this camp, and for the information elicited by his movement I respectfully refer you to his report, herewith transmitted. About noon on the 19th instant a party of about twenty- five Indians, who were undoubtedly ignorant of the location of this camp, came in sight at a distance of about three miles from camp, but as soon as they saw the camp fled for the mountains apparently panic-stricken. As soon as I could bring in the animals which were out grazing I mounted a detachment from Companies A and E and pursued them until near night. Got within long-firing range of some of the hindermost. They abandoned six horses, three of which they killed ; several pack loads of skins and Indian provision lay strewn along their road. As the pursuit became hotter they directed their course to the more rugged cliffs of the mountain, and at sun about an hour high they succeeded in reaching the head breaks of Horse Creek, and scattered among the deep cañons and rocky ledges. Further pursuit being useless, I returned to camp. You will observe from Captain Barry's report that this camp is located in the vicinity of the good winter rendezvous of the Indians.[6] In fact, winter camps are found in nearly every cañon on the east and south side of Steen's Snow Mountain. On to morrow morning Sergeant Gates, Company E, First Oregon Cavalry, and a detachment of twenty men will go to Jordan Creek and learn what is going on in that direction. I am almost discouraged at the prospect of being able to accomplish anything very definite by the 1st of October; the country is so vast and the Indians so familiar with it that until the mountain fastnesses are blocked up with snow and they are compelled to seek winter camps I can devise no means of striking an effectual blow. I have already traveled over 1,300 miles, and yet find a vast region to my west and south untraversed, and, as far as I can gather, unknown to the whites. I shall move as soon as my animals have regained strength to warrant a delve into the unknown desert to my west. I arrived at this camp August 12.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp Alvord, Oreg., August 30, 1864,

            Sir : I have the honor to inform you, for the information of the general commanding district, that since my last letter of the 20th instant I have remained in camp recruiting my animals. Sergeant Gates with his detachment returned this evening. He went as far as Sucker Greek on the Fort Boise road. Saw nor heard any Indians in that vicinity, and learned from settlers that Colonel Maury had returned to Fort Boise. Unless my express, which is due to-morrow, brings some orders to the contrary I shall start with 100 men on the morning of the 2d of September, intending to move south as far as Pueblo Mountain, and from thence west to the chain of lakes running near north and south, the largest of which is called Lake Christmas, and perhaps as far west as Lake Abert. Lieut. Col. C. S. Drew, First Oregon Cavalry, with his command encamped near me on the 25th instant. He moves in the morning for Fort Boise. Colonel Drew informs me that he saw several bands of Indians in the region which I propose to visit, but as he was so encumbered with a large train of citizens, including several families, he could not pursue them into the mountains. I will take with me thirty days' rations, but will endeavor to get back to this camp by the 20th proximo if I can.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp No. 82, Nevada Territory, September 10, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding that on the 2d of September I took up my line of march for the south and west, and arrived at this camp on the evening of the 8th, where I was obliged to halt on account of sickness in my command. The trouble with my men is the bloody flux. I will start in the morning, and if not prevented by the continuance of that disease will carry out the line proposed in my last. At this camp I found one of the bands of Indians seen by Colonel Drew, and found them to be Pi-Utes, and not inclined to do mischief. I would have captured the entire party and sent them to the Pi-Ute Reservation, but the shortness of my remaining time would not permit me to go so far south as that. I think when winter pinches them they will steal stock to live upon, as they are very poor. This camp is situated sixty miles south-southwest of Camp Alvord and about ninety miles from Warner Lake, and about forty miles south of the Oregon line.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp Alvord, Oreg., September 23, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding the district that owing to the continuance of the bloody flux in my command I was unable to extend my last excursion as far as I contemplated. I examined the country immediately west of this (Steen's range of mountains) and returned to this camp on the afternoon of the 16th instant. Since the 16th I have remained in camp, and am now happy to inform you that but few cases of sickness are in camp. In the morning I move with Companies A and E for the head of Malheur River, intending to pass down that stream to its mouth. Captain Barry, with the infantry and ten men from Companies A and E, will start at the same time for Fort Boise. Lieutenant Pepoon, acting assistant quartermaster and acting commissary of subsistence of the expedition, with the wagon train, will go escorted by Captain Barry to Fort Boise, and join me with his train at the mouth of Malheur River on or about the 12th of October. I think by moving down the Malheur with the cavalry that depredations may be prevented along the Boise road during the fall. This seems desirable, as formerly that section has been the theater of their atrocities late in the season, and I fear the usual role may be repeated this year unless my presence in that region deters them from their annual excursion in that quarter.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country.

Camp No. 104, on Birch Creek, October 16, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding the district that on the morning of the 26th ultimo I broke up camp at Camp Alvord and began the movements as contemplated in my letter of the 25th ultimo. With the cavalry I moved north northeast along the eastern base of Steen's range of mountains for twenty-seven miles and then crossed over to the west side. In the mountains saw some fresh Indian tracks passing northeast. After crossing the mountains I had to bear along the western base of the mountains in a southwest direction for ten miles in order to find water, which I found in a small creek, one of the head branches of the South Fork of Malheur River. At this camp my scouts reported a well-beaten, newly made Indian trail leading toward the east end of Malheur Lake. Taking the direction of the Indian trail in a north northwest direction, passing a short distance to the east of Malheur Lake and in sight of it, came to the conclusion that the Indians had divided up, a portion of their tracks turning to the right down the Malheur and the remainder going toward the waters of John Day's River. Turning to the right, I followed along the emigrant road toward the mouth of Malheur. On the afternoon of the 4th instant, after camping, three citizens with twelve head of horses came up the road and encamped about half a mile above me on the river. They stated that they were endeavoring to make their way to Virginia City, Nev. Ter. Early the next morning they came down and reported all their stock stolen by the Indians, and about the same time the packmaster reported four Government mules gone. I sent men out to look for the stock, who upon returning reported Indian tracks after the stock going up the river. Being suspicious that the white men were concerned in the affair, and my stock being much fatigued, I did not deem it advisable to make an extended pursuit, feeling well convinced that not less than five or six days' hard riding would bring me up with the rogues. The three citizens referred to came back with me to within one day's march of the crossing of the old emigrant road with the Malheur River, and then without notice took to the hills. Upon my arrival at the old emigrant road I learned from the settlers that several days prior to my arrival three white men and one Indian had driven off twenty-six head of horses and mules belonging to the settlers, that they were pursued and thirteen head taken back. This confirmed my first suspicions that these fellows were rascals, and leaves me only to regret I did not arrest them. I have no doubt they are in league with the Indians, but at the time did not feel fully authorized to arrest them. The emigrant road down Malheur River is very crooked, rocky, and mountainous, and in my opinion entirely useless as a wagon road. I arrived at the old emigrant road on the 12th, and on the 13th reached this camp. From Camp Alvord to this place I marched every day excepting one. On that day I remained in camp to rest my animals, because on the previous day I did not get into camp until several hours after dark. Lieutenant Pepoon with the wagon train joined me at this camp on the 13th instant. I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 5th instant on yesterday. In the morning I take up the line of march for Fort Walla Walla and will arrive there as soon as possible. Lieutenant Hobart with detachment of Company A joined me at this camp.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp No. 115, October 26, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding the district that I arrived with my command at this camp near Fort Walla Walla this day at 12 m. Company A, commanded by First Lieutenant Hobart, First Oregon Cavalry, was sent to Fort Walla Walla to report to the commanding officer of that post. Lieutenant Bowen, First Oregon Cavalry, and detachment of Company F, was ordered to proceed to Fort Lapwai, Idaho Ter. With Company B, First Oregon Cavalry, I will start for Fort Dalles on the morning of the 28th.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. B. CURREY,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

No. 3.

Report of Capt. Edward Barry, First Washington Territory Infantry, of operations August 16-18.

Camp Alvord, August 20, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to report to you in compliance with Camp Order, No. 19, detailing me with twenty men on detached service. I left this camp on the morning of the 16th instant, and marched southwest to Horse Creek, a distance of nine miles; thence up Horse Creek six miles and camped. On the morning of the 17th marched ten miles up Horse Creek and camped. There is a good trail from Camp Alvord to Horse Creek. Up the creek it is rough and wild and a hard road to travel. Horse Creek heads between Snow Mountain and Green Mountain in a northeasterly direction, and runs south toward Pueblo Mountain. Plenty of juniper and poplar along this creek. The creek is about twenty-five miles long and sinks in a dry lake. On the morning of the 18th instant I took an escort of men and passed up the mountains on the northwest of Horse Creek. After rising the ridge, found a large open, rolling country, plenty of water and grass, interspersed with groves of timber, consisting of mountain mahogany, juniper, and poplar, which gave to the country an interesting appearance. I should judge this to be the Indian paradise m this section of the country. There are the remains of old Indian villages, which to all appearances were deserted during the last winter or spring. There is a mountain which heads on Horse Creek and runs in a northerly direction about ten miles. It has a beautiful slope to the southwest, and is covered with excellent grass, green as a leek; hence I have named it Green Mountain. Along the base of this mountain is plenty of good water. A number of streams form a junction about five miles from the mountain and make a large stream, which I have named Trout Creek, as those fish appear to abound. The atmosphere was so dense that I could not see more than the outlines of the mountains on the west side of Harney Lake. All of this day was devoted to this district of country within a circuit of twenty miles. It would require twenty days to acquire a perfect knowledge of the country between Horse Creek and Harney Lake. It is large country. This day it was 10 p. m. before I arrived in camp. On the 19th broke up camp on Horse Creek and took up our line of march for Camp Alvord, where we arrived at 12 m. in safety.

            All of which I have the honor to respectfully submit.

                        I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

EDWD. BARRY,

Captain, First Washington Territory Infantry, Comdg. Detachment.

Captain Currey,

            First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

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No. 4.

Reports of Capt. John M. Drake, First Oregon Cavalry, commanding expedition from Fort Dalles.

Headquarters Fort Dalles Expedition to the Indian Country,

Camp Maury, May 20, 1864.

            SIR: I have the honor to report for the information of the general commanding that on the 17th instant, at a point eight or ten miles below this place, at one of the crossings of Crooked River, the advance guard of the command on the march discovered fresh Indian signs. On arriving in camp, at the forks of Crooked River, some Indian scouts were sent out into the surrounding country to gain information. At 5 p. m. two of their number returned, reporting the discovery of a camp of nine lodges and about twenty or thirty Indians in a northeasterly direction, about twelve or fourteen miles distant. A portion of their number were left to keep watch of the hostile camp. At 9.30 p. m. I sent out a detachment of twenty-six men of Company D and thirteen men of the detachment of Company B, First Oregon Cavalry, commanded by Lieut. S. Watson, the whole making a force of thirty nine men, commanded by First Lieut. J. M. McCall. The detachment was accompanied by all of our friendly Indians remaining in camp. Lieutenant McCall's instructions were to make a night march, surprise their camp at daylight the following morning, and attack at once without preliminaries. A copy of Lieutenant McCall's report of his operations up to 9 a. m. of the 18th instant is respectfully inclosed herewith.[7] On the morning of the 18th instant the command resumed the march as usual, intending to halt and encamp at this place, a distance of five miles.

            At about 7 a. m., and when three miles from camp, a messenger from Lieutenant McCall arrived, bringing a note from him asking for assistance. Taking forty men of Company G, First Oregon Cavalry, under command of Captain Small, I set out for the scene of conflict at once, giving instructions to the officer next in command to continue the march to this place and establish a camp. On arriving upon the field at 9 a. m. I found Lieutenant McCall's party occupying a small rise of ground nearly a mile distant from the scene of actual conflict. The wounded had all been carried down the hill to this place; the dead were in the hands of the Indians. Surgeon Dumreicher, who accompanied me, proceeded at once to care for the wounded, and as soon as I could get the necessary information as to the exact locality in possession of the hostile Indians, I set out with Captain Small's detachment for the purpose of renewing the tight. Moving slowly, and reconnoitering carefully, over a country so rough as to be almost impracticable for cavalry, we gradually approached the cliff of rocks under which they had taken refuge, but found it abandoned. I subsequently learned from some of our friendly Indians that they left about an hour before our arrival, dispersing into the mountains. Their trails could not be found, as they were on foot, and the surface of the country so exceedingly rough as to render any attempt to trail them utterly useless. Our dead had been stripped and horribly mutilated. A Warm Springs Indian killed in the tight had been disemboweled and scalped. The dead were carried down to the place occupied by Lieutenant McCall and party and I then proceeded to make an examination of the position lately occupied by the Indians. It was a very strong one, had been well fortified and barricaded with large bowlders, probably in anticipation of attack at some time or other. On going into their camp we found a very large store of provisions and a considerable quantity of property of every description such as is usually collected about an Indian camp; also clothing, saddles, camp equipage, &c., that had been stolen from the whites. Everything was burned under the supervision of Captain Small, a special detail having been made for the purpose. As far as I can ascertain positively but three Snake Indians were killed; if any were wounded they carried them off. Lieutenant McCall captured fifty head of horses, all they had. Fifty or sixty saddles were burned with their camp, and they are without the means of committing depredations for the present.

            From what information I can get I place the strength of this party of hostile Indians at forty or fifty in number, well armed; a desperate band, headed by a chief named Po-li-ni, a noted character in the Indian country. This is one of their haunts; our friendly Indians say they have occupied this camp for three or four years; the camp itself bears every evidence of this fact. They are undoubtedly the party that has committed so many depredations on the Canyon City road during the past winter and spring. I sent the captured horses to camp; turned over to the Warm Springs Indians eight of them claimed as their property. I have appropriated five more to remount soldiers whose horses were shot in the action and killed, or wounded. Ten others were turned over to the quartermaster, to be used by the herders and packers; the balance of the lot I distributed among the Warm Springs Indians, and will require them to send them back to the reservation. These horses have all been stolen from the whites, and will probably be claimed at some time. With the large quantity of stock belonging to the command to be cared for in a hostile country I deemed a lot of horses of this description an addition that might embarrass us, and have made this disposition of them, hoping it may meet the approval of the general commanding.

            Our casualties in this affair are: Second Lieut. Stephen Watson, commanding detachment Company B, First Oregon Cavalry, killed; Privates James Harkinson and Bennett Kennedy, detachment Company B, First Oregon Cavalry, killed; and Corporal Dougherty and Privates Freeman, Henline, Level, and Weeks, detachment Company B, First Oregon Cavalry, wounded. Private Henline is severely wounded in the shoulder and will not recover under two months; the others are but slightly wounded and will be fit for duty in ten or fifteen days. One of our Indian scouts was killed, and Stock Whitley, their chief, dangerously wounded ; the surgeon thinks he will recover. The citizen, Richard Barker, named in Lieutenant McCall's report, has been traveling with the command for eight or ten days for the purpose of joining a prospecting party somewhere in this vicinity; I did not know that he had gone out with the detachment until I heard of his being wounded. His wound is a severe one, a fracture of the thigh bone caused by a rifle ball. He has a wife and family living at Salem, Oreg. The killed and wounded were brought to camp during the afternoon and night of the 18th. The dead were interred yesterday with appropriate honors; the wounded are comfortable and well cared for. In conclusion, I would state that the management of this affair on the part of Lieutenant McCall seems to have been prudent and careful ; the intended surprise was only partially successful, the Indians taking the alarm in time to make good their retreat to the cliff 300 yards distant from their camp, and in the direction from which Lieutenant Watson was approaching. He (Lieutenant Watson) evidently did not know of the existence of the ledge upon which his platoon made the charge, as the ground was descending and extremely rough. He may have been precipitate and imprudent, perhaps, but his conduct on the whole was gallant and daring.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN M. DRAKE,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding.

Acting Assistant Adjutant General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

__________

Camp Gibbs, Oreg., July 30, 1864.

            Sir : In compliance with your directions that a scouting party be sent to Sheep Rock and its vicinity, I made a detail on the 21st instant of fifty men as follows : Second Lieut. John F. Noble and sixteen men of Company C, twelve men of Company D, ten men of the detachment of Company B, and twelve men of the detachment of your own command left at this camp. The district of country to which the detachment was to march is but little known. The only information that I have ever been able to procure concerning it was from the Warm Springs Indians, to the effect that it was a barren desert. Its exact locality was unknown to any person of my command, and I had no guide to send out with the detachment. In consequence of these facts I determined to take command of the scouting party myself. Leaving camp on the morning of the 22d instant, I proceeded along the timbered ridge immediately in rear of this camp in a course as nearly due west as the surface of the country would permit. I encamped the first night on a small tributary of Crooked River, about eighteen miles west of this camp. While descending the ravine upon which I encamped from the summit of the mountains, a single Indian was seen in the heavy timber of the cañon. A pursuit was made, but he escaped in the thickets. As no signs of Indians were found in the vicinity, I concluded he was a hunter from some distant camp. From the camp my course was pursued due west to the big bend of Crooked River, where I encamped the second night. About fifteen miles west of this camp on Crooked River, on the open desert, stands a cluster of high peaked hills, isolated from any other range of mountains. I supposed this to be Sheep Rock. Accordingly on the morning of third day I continued the march westerly, following the course of Crooked River through the windings of the cañon, six or seven miles to a point where the river makes a short turn to the north. Leaving the river at this point I marched directly west to this cluster of hills, and arrived upon the summit at 2 p. m. These hills are high, rocky, and barren of vegetation except a few clusters of juniper. No water could be found on them, and I was reduced to the necessity of returning to Crooked River or of continuing on to the Des Chutes, about eighteen miles distant, as near as I could judge. I determined on the latter course, and resumed the march at 3 p. m., taking a course a little south of west, aiming to strike the Des Chutes at a point opposite to the Three Sisters. At 10 p. m. I arrived near the river, but did not succeed in reaching it that night. The bank of the river at this point is skirted with a strip of heavy pine timber and undergrowth ; the surface of the ground very broken and rocky. In this labyrinth I became entangled in the dark, and notwithstanding the men and animals were famishing with thirst from a long and tiresome march across the desert, I was obliged to halt for the night, having accomplished a march of thirty-five miles. During the night the men in squads of three to five found their way to the river and filled their canteens. The animals were tied up without water or grass.

            On the morning of the 25th I proceeded down to the river and halted for the day. On the morning of the 26th the march was resumed. Going up the river three miles a good ford was found, and I crossed the river and proceeded down the river twenty miles and encamped on the west side. The following morning I recrossed the river and returned to Crooked River, intersecting our outward trail at the summit of the cluster of hills before mentioned. During a temporary halt here one of the men found a small spring about two miles north of the trail not large enough to water animals. A camp on Crooked River was reached at 3 p. m., making the distance across the desert by this route not over twenty-five miles. From this point I continued the march in a southeast direction twelve or fourteen miles, and encamped on Juniper Creek, a tributary of Crooked River, that has its source immediately south of this camp, and arrived at camp at 11 a. m. today, having marched during a nine days' absence 165 miles. I found no signs of Indians of any recent date except of the single Indian before mentioned as having been seen on the first day's march from camp. At the cluster of hills which I supposed to be Sheep Rock, there are no Indian signs at all to be found, and I do not think any have ever lived there. There are some evidences of a few winter camps on Juniper Creek and in the bend of Crooked River—perhaps six or eight families in each place. Their camps appear to have been vacated early in the spring. I found the country south and west of the timbered ridge to be extremely barren and sterile in character—in fact, a desert. Except Juniper Creek there is no water to be found this side the Des Chutes. The grass of this desert country is of poor quality and scarce. I am convinced there can be no large number of Indians in any portion of this district of country, from the simple fact that they could not subsist themselves in it, and there is evidently little or no travel on the part of the Indians through it, as no trails or signs of travel could be found. It is possible a few Indians may be concealed in some rugged place fifteen or twenty miles southwest of this camp. If so, their numbers are so small that they would escape all ordinary search. Their capacity to do harm is not sufficient to justify an expenditure of time necessary to hunt them out.

            I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

JNO. M. DRAKE,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry.

Capt. George B. Currey,

            Commanding Joint Expeditions, Camp Gibbs, Oreg.

__________

Hdqrs. Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp Dahlgren, Oreg., September 4, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report, for the information of the general commanding, that Capt. H. C. Small, with a detachment of forty men, carrying twenty days' supplies, marched from this camp this morning, with instructions to proceed to the hilly country west of Lake Harney for the purpose of seeking information as to the present locality of the band of Indians routed by Captain Currey on the 12th of July last. The latest information received concerning Po-li-ni's band was from Captain Currey's expressman, who saw and was chased by five or six of them on his way from Camp Alvord to Camp Gibbs in July last. This was in the mountains, some twenty miles south of Lake Harney, about the 18th of July, six days after they had been driven from this section of country by Captain Currey's command. Whether Captain Currey succeeded in finding them or not on his return to Camp Alvord, they have of necessity continued their flight farther to the southwest, into the only section of country left open to them, the Goose Lake Mountains. The scouting operations of this command during the past month prove that no attempt has been made on their part thus far to re-enter this section, and from the manner in which they were pursued and hunted out of the country I think they will not attempt to return while any troops remain here. Captain Small's scout will settle this point. This country has been their home for many years, but the probability is that they have abandoned it as a permanent place of habitation, and will probably locate themselves for the ensuing winter at one of the numerous small lakes south of the desert. This will not prevent them from making an occasional raid upon the settlements during the coming winter, particularly if the winter should be open like last winter. These attempts, if they occur at all, may be looked for in January and February next, possibly as early as December. The point they will strike at is the Canyon City road from South Fork west to Cherry Creek, as being the most exposed point in the white settlements. I am led to these conclusions from my knowledge of the former habits of these Indians. It is highly improbable that they will resort to any other means of obtaining a livelihood than such as they have been accustomed to in times past. They are a bold and enterprising banditti, who live on the stock they steal. On securing a band of stock they start it into the mountains. If pursued, they travel night and day, halt occasionally, kill a horse, eat it, and continue their flight. White men, who are obliged to carry provisions with them, pursue in vain. I have presented these facts and conjectures to the attention of the general commanding in consideration of the losses sustained by our people heretofore, and the depredations these Indians are still capable of committing in this part of the country should their attention be directed to this point in future. As a means of protection against any such operations as are herein contemplated I would respectfully suggest the policy of stationing a company of cavalry at Rock Creek or Bridge Creek during the winter. The mere presence of such a body of troops at one of these points would deter them from making any attempts on the road, particularly if the road was patrolled occasionally by small detachments.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. M. DRAKE,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

[First indorsement.]

Headquarters District of Oregon,

Fort Vancouver, September 13, 1864.

            Respectfully forwarded to Maj. Gen. I. McDowell, commanding the Department of the Pacific.

BENJ. ALVORD,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding District.

[Second indorsement.]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

Portland, Oreg., September 13, 1864.

            Brigadier-General Alvord will take the necessary measures to keep a company in the district of country of which Canyon City is supposed to be the center, for the protection of the inhabitants from the predatory band of Indians who have been committing hostilities during the past season. No expenditures whatever will be allowed, nor will any citizen be hired in consequence of this order. The company must be instructed to either hut themselves on Rock Creek, where it is understood there is an abundance of timber, or live in their tents. The general will report from time to time the measures he takes in the fulfillment of this order.

IRVIN McDOWELL,

Major- General, Commanding.

__________

Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter., November 6, 1864.

            Sir : The military expedition into the Indian country under my command having returned to Fort Dalles and closed the campaign on the 11th of October, I have the honor to submit herewith to the general commanding the following report of the summer's operations:

            The expedition was directed in Special Orders, No. 33, headquarters District of Oregon, March 19, 1864, to march on the 15th of April, but owing to some unavoidable delays the start was not made until the 20^th of the same mouth. At this time the command was composed of Company D, First Oregon Cavalry, Capt. John M. Drake, First Lieut. John M. McCall, and forty-five enlisted men ; Company G, First Oregon Cavalry, Capt. H. C. Small, First Lieut. William M. Hand, Second Lieut. John F. Noble, and sixty seven enlisted men, and two staff' officers, Surg. C. C. Dumreicher, U. S. Volunteers, and Capt. D. W. Porter, assistant quartermaster, U. S. Volunteers, making an aggregate of 119 officers and men. A detachment of twenty-five men of Company D, First Oregon Cavalry, under command of Second Lieut. James A. Waymire, stationed at the South Fork of John Day's River, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 19, headquarters District of Oregon, February 23, 1864, were to join the expedition en route, and a detachment of twenty-five men of Company B, First Oregon Cavalry, under command of Second Lieut. Stephen Watson, was sent from Fort Vancouver to the Warm Springs Agency. This last detachment marched from Fort Dalles April 20, was supplied with sixty days' rations, and Lieutenant Watson was placed under my orders. The outfit of the expedition in the way of transportation consisted of eight six-mule teams, and ninety-five pack mules, enabling the quartermaster to transport ninety days' supplies for the whole command, including thirty-nine citizens employed in the quartermaster's and commissary departments, and a party of Wasco Indians that were to accompany the command in the capacity of scouts and spies; also medical stores, ammunition, and camp and garrison equipage for a six months' campaign.

            Notwithstanding the season of the year in which the expedition was taking the field, I deemed it advisable that the troops should be well supplied with tents, as the climate of Eastern Oregon, especially the mountainous regions, was known to be severe at times, even in summer, and always uncertain. Every aid and assistance practicable was received from the commanding officer at Fort Dalles, Col. R. F. Maury, in putting the expedition into the field, and I am desirous of expressing my thanks to him for this as well as the interest manifested for its success. In your letter of instructions of the 7th of April I was advised that the main objects of the expedition were to protect the whites in mining operations, to explore and occupy the country not included in the Indian reservations, and to afford all the protection practicable to the friendly Indians of the Warm Springs Reservation. The plan of campaign therein indicated was to establish a depot of supplies at some point in the Indian country from which two circuits of sixty days each could be made, one west and south and one east and south, with full authority to select my own route of travel and a site for the depot. By your letter of instructions dated April 12, 1864, authority was granted to make any deviation from the original plan that my judgment might dictate, keeping in view the main objects of the expedition. This was in consideration of recent Indian depredations near Canyon City. A good deal of pains had been taken by myself and others at The Dalles for several weeks prior to the departure of the expedition to collect information relative to the section of country over which the campaign was to be conducted. Two persons were found (Mr. Louis Scholl and Mr. George Rundell) who had been employed as guides with similar expeditions into that country in the years of 1859 and 1860. From them I learned that the natural route of travel into the Harney Lake country—in fact, into any part of the country lying south of the Blue Mountains—was by the road traveled by Captain Wallen in 1859 and Major Steen and Captain Smith in 1860, by the valley of Crooked River. This led me to adopt that as the route of travel. A thorough knowledge of the country acquired during the summer's operations assures me that it was a judicious selection. On the arrival of the expedition at Cross Hollows April 26 orders and transportation were dispatched to move Lieutenant Waymire's detachment from the South Fork, to join the expedition at Trout Creek during a temporary halt in contemplation at that place. This detachment did not arrive until the 7th of May, joining at Cedar Springs. Meanwhile Lieutenant Watson's detachment at Warm Springs had been moved across the Des Chutes River and joined the expedition at Trout Creek on the 2d of May. Lieutenant Waymire's party was sent over to the Warm Springs immediately on his arrival to take the place of the troops under Lieutenant Watson. This exchange was made in consideration of the hard service performed by Lieutenant Waymire's men in the early spring, and the jaded condition of his cavalry horses and the necessity of an effective force to guard the depot. The re-enforcement by Lieutenant Watson's detachment increased the effective force of the expedition to an aggregate of 145 officers and men. At Trout Creek the command was joined by a party of ten Warm Springs Indians, and a few days after by eleven more, making twenty-one in all, who agreed to accompany the command through the campaign to serve as scouts and spies.

            On the 27th of April, at Antelope Springs, a letter from the general commanding was received by express from Fort Dalles informing me that Captain Currey, commanding an expedition from Fort Walla Walla, had been advised to march at once to the vicinity of Lake Harney, unless important claims should draw his attention elsewhere, and that he had been instructed, "You must order Captain Drake to effect a junction with you whenever you think it advisable;" and Special Orders, No. 70, headquarters District of Oregon, dated May 6, 1864, ordering a junction of the two expeditions at Lake Harney, was received May 10, at Cottonwood Creek. Under these orders and instructions, and with this arrangement of the troops under my command, the expedition moved forward from Cottonwood Creek May 11 and entered the Indian country a few days afterward. A depot of supplies was established on a small tributary of Crooked River, live miles above the forks of the river and about three miles south of the South Fork, at the foot of a timbered ridge extending from the head of Crooked River to its mouth, on the south side. The distance from Fort Dalles to the depot, known as Camp Maury, is 175 miles by our journals. Owing to bad roads and other causes some delays took place during the march to Camp Maury, and the locality selected for the depot was not readied until the 18th of May. The manner in which Indian depredations had been committed during the previous winter on the white settlement on John Day's River and the Canyon City road raised the presumption that a small party of marauding Indians inhabited the country about the head of Crooked River. This presumption was sustained by the opinion of our guide, who from previous experience in the district of country in question had acquired some knowledge, not only of the country itself, but of the Indians who inhabited it.

            As the expedition approached the Indian country the usual methods were instituted for the discovery of Indian signs and evidences of Indian habitation, but no discoveries of this character were made until the 17th of May at one of the crossings of Crooked River, four or five miles below the forks of the river. This led to the action on the morning of May 18, in which Second Lieut. S. Watson and Privates Bennett Kennedy and James Harkinson, Company B, First Oregon Cavalry, were killed, and Corporal Dougherty and Privates Weeks, Freeman, Level and Henline, same company and regiment, wounded. One of our Indian scouts was killed. Stock Whitley, chief of the Warm Springs Indians, mortally wounded, and a citizen of Salem, Oreg., named Barker, severely wounded. When Po-li-ni's camp was discovered by our Indian scouts on the 17th of May it was thought to be a small squad of marauders who had made a temporary camp at the place then occupied for the purpose of carrying on their thieving operations. Such was the opinion of the scouts themselves, who reported that a close examination of the camp had been made. For the purpose of breaking up this camp and chastising the Indians I sent out, under command of First Lieut. John M. McCall, First Oregon Cavalry, a detachment composed of two commissioned officers, thirty-nine enlisted men, and twenty-one friendly Indians, with orders to make a night march and surprise the hostile camp at daylight on the morning of the 18th. On making the attack Lieutenant McCall found the Indian camp not only far superior in numbers than had been reported, but well prepared for defense. Three hundred yards above their camp was a semicircular ledge of rocks that had been turned into a fortification with a good deal of labor and skill. The upper side of the ledge was protected by a low wall hastily thrown up along its entire length, and the lower side was thoroughly and effectually barricaded with the large bowlders and loose rocks broken from the face of the cliff by the action of the elements. The place was large enough to contain with ease sixty or seventy men, nearly inaccessible on account of the extremely rugged character of the surrounding country, and could not be attacked except by direct assault. The movement of the troops was sufficiently sudden to surprise the Indian camp, but not to prevent them from taking shelter in this ledge of rocks, when Lieutenant Watson's platoon was received with a fire that repulsed the attack, and forced the assailants to fall back to cover, leaving their gallant leader and 2 of his men killed and 5 wounded upon the ground. The original plan of attack was to surround and capture the hostile camp. With this purpose in view the troops were divided into two parties, to march by different routes and attack opposite sides of the camp, while the party of friendly Indians were to attack midway between the two. The escape of the Indians from their lodges somewhat disconcerted the plans and precipitated the fight with one portion of the attacking forces and caused a repulse before the remaining fraction were within supporting distance. On the arrival of Lieutenant McCall with the remaining platoon it was determined after an examination of the place to secure the wounded, place them in safety, draw off the troops, and send for assistance. The messenger was started at 6 a. m. and re-enforcements arrived on the ground at 9 a. m., to find the fortification abandoned and the Indians dispersed into the mountains. The losses of the Indians amounted to 3 killed, and judging from evidences on the ground, 5 or 6 wounded. These they succeeded in carrying away. Our own wounded were brought away from immediately under the fire of the intrenched savages and carried to a spring nearly a mile distant. Our dead were not recovered until after the flight of the Indians. On the arrival of re enforcements Lieutenant McCall's force was found collected at the spring above mentioned, where the wounded had been carried with a great deal of exertion. Their wounds were immediately attended to by the surgeon, and on the discovery of the flight of the Indians measures taken to get them to camp. This proved to be a laborious and tedious task. The camp was fifteen miles distant, over a rugged country, and no means of transportation for wounded men. Two of the wounded had to be carried on hand litters; the others managed to ride their horses. Before removing the killed and wounded the stock captured from the Indians were sent to camp, and the Indian camp, with its lodges and stolen property, destroyed.

            At 2 p.m. on the 19th of May the command was formed in procession to render the last office which the living may administer to the dead. On a small hillock 300 yards in rear of Camp Maury, at the edge of a grove of pines three graves were dug side by side, and into these were deposited the earthly remains of our fallen comrades. Let us hope that the wave of civilization as it rolls over that desert country in future years may not swallow up the memory of men whose lives were so nobly sacrificed in its cause. The numerical strength of Po-li-ni's band developed by this affair induced an apprehension on my part that the Indian marauders living in this region had been underrated. This was particularly the case when our small scouting parties sent out daily from camp into the surrounding neighborhood reported fresh Indian signs of almost every character, in great abundance. During the few days consumed in burying our dead, providing for the wounded and establishing and rendering secure the depot, they appeared to be hovering about the neighborhood in considerable numbers at night. This state of affairs rendered the utmost vigilance necessary for the protection of the large quantity of stock belonging to the expedition, and required that measures should be taken to destroy or drive off these prowlers, and to explore thoroughly the surrounding country before the expedition could move forward to Harney Lake with safety to the depot. With this object in view the country within a radius of twenty or thirty miles of Camp Maury was thoroughly scoured, and what was ascertained to be a small band of night prowlers driven across the Blue Mountains. These operations consumed twenty days and developed the fact that except the small party that had been annoying us at night, the only Indians about the head of Crooked River was the party concerned in the affair of the 18th of May, and that these had dispersed into the mountains lying between Crooked River and the Canyon City road. During this time I ordered forward Lieutenant Waymire's detachment from Warm Springs, which arrived May 29, thus increasing the strength of the command to 165 officers and men. Of this force fifty-seven men, including an escort of twelve men with the wagon train, were detailed as a guard for the depot, and Captain Small placed in command, preparatory to moving forward to Harney Lake in execution of the orders to that effect. The command left Camp Maury on the 7th of June as a movable column, with an aggregate of 108 officers and men, and supplies for forty days. Our cavalry horses and pack animals were in better condition for hard service than at any time since leaving The Dalles, and no apprehensions were felt as to the safety of the depot and line of communications. It was supposed that Captain Currey's command with which I was to effect a junction would reach Harney Valley by the 10th of June, and I was particularly anxious that the junction of the two expeditions should not be delayed on our account, and consequently moved forward from Camp Maury with all rapidity that circumstances would permit. The command arrived at Big Meadows June 13, and it was ascertained the same day that Captain Currey's command had not yet arrived at Harney Lake. The junction was effected July 1 at a point about thirty miles northeast of Lake Harney, after some considerable marching and counter-marching over the eastern part of the valley and adjacent foot-hills. From the 1st of July to the 2d of August the two expeditious operated together under Captain Currey's command, and a detailed account of operations within that period could not be properly embraced within this report.

            On the return of the expedition to Camp Maury, July 18, a removal of the depot became necessary on account of the failure of the grass at that place. A site for a camp was selected live miles west of Camp Maury, the removal effected July 21, and the new depot named Camp Gibbs. A second removal became necessary a month later for the same reasons as the first, and a depot was established at Camp Dahlgren, twenty miles northeast of Camp Gibbs. From these two camps the scouting and exploring operations were conducted for the remainder of the campaign, after the departure of Captain Currey's command from Camp Gibbs on the 2d of August. The operations of the two expeditions under Captain Currey's command during the month of July had driven Po-li-ni's band of Indians to the south side of the desert. This fact, connected with Captain Currey's proposed plan of operations in returning to his depot, indicated the only practicable course to be pursued during the remainder of the summer for the protection of the frontier settlements, a thorough and continued scouting of all that region of country lying south of the Blue Mountains, and embraced within the boundaries of the mountains on the north, the desert on the west and south, and the Canyon City Mountains on the east. The primary object of this plan was the quick discovery and pursuit of any parties of Indians that the presence of the other command in the country farther south might drive into this region. To carry it out effectually required cavalry horses in good condition, and transportation and other facilities for rapid movements. Our means of transportation was still in good condition for hard service, but the cavalry horses were somewhat exhausted, partly from hard service and partly from a distemper raging amongst them during the summer. Notwithstanding this defect in means, the plan was carried out successfully, beginning with a scout of Captain Small with thirty-two men of Company G into the Blue Mountain Range about the head of Bridge and Rock Creeks, and a scouting party commanded by myself, consisting of Second Lieutenant Waymire and forty-two men of Companies B and D, First Oregon Cavalry, into the mountainous country lying between the Blue Mountain Range and Harney Valley. These parties marched from Camp Gibbs, the first on the 4th of August and the second on the 5th of August, each supplied with fifteen days' rations. The second of these parties returned to camp August 16, having been absent twelve days, and the first returned August 21, having been absent seventeen days. These parties traversed districts of country previously unexplored by either of the military expeditions, acquired a considerable amount of information regarding the country, and confirmed previously entertained opinions that the Indians had entirely abandoned the country. Some other parties were sent out during the month of August into the country west and south of Camp Gibbs, all productive of a like result.

            On the 4th of September a scouting party, consisting of a subaltern officer and forty-two men, under command of Capt. H. C. Small, marched with twenty days' rations from Camp Dahlgren, with instructions to proceed to the head of Beaver Creek; thence south to the hilly country lying west of Lake Harney. As the campaign was drawing to a close, and arrangements for the return of the expedition to Fort Dalles would have to be made by the 25th of September, it became important to know something of the whereabouts of Po-li-ni's band. At this time it was, supposed that the troops stationed on the Canyon City road would be recalled about the 1st of December, leaving the road unprotected, hence the absolute necessity of procuring some information in regard to the movements of the Indians before they located themselves for the winter, in order that their plans for winter depredations, if any were contemplated, might be counteracted. Captain Small's scout was intended to accomplish this purpose. His cavalry horses and means of transportation were the best in the command. He received full instructions and clearly understood the object of the enterprise and the importance attached to it. Proceeding with his party to the head of Beaver Creek, about forty miles from camp, the trail of a small party of Indians traveling in a northeasterly direction, evidently a hunting party from all accompanying signs, was discovered, and the main object of the scouting party abandoned for the pursuit of this party of hunters, women and children. This pursuit was kept up in an irregular manner over the rugged and almost inaccessible country about the South Fork of John Day's River for twelve or thirteen days, the Indians, resorting to their habitual tactics in such cases, dispersed, each individual to take care of himself. During this chase some of Captain Small's scouts approached to within twenty miles of Camp Dahlgren, and the whole detachment rejoined the command at camp on the summit of the mountain September 22. It was a matter of serious regret that the principal object of this scouting party was not attained, as the campaign closed with its return to camp, and the expedition was compelled to return to The Dalles without being able to communicate any information whatever regarding the abiding place of the Indian marauders, or intelligence concerning their plans and purposes for the future.

            It was generally believed by officers who had performed scouting service in the main range of the mountains north of Crooked River that a practicable route for a wagon road could be found across from Camp Dahlgren. Accordingly, in the early part of September, an exploring party crossed the mountains for the purpose of examining in detail the surface of the country with the view of opening a road if a practicable route could be found. This party returned to camp September 9, having ascertained beyond question the practicability of a route running north from Camp Dahlgren and intersecting the Canyon City road at the Mountain House, The distance was estimated at twenty-three miles. On the 11th of September Captain Porter was sent out in charge of a working party, and by the 18th the road was opened and the party returned to camp. The object of the road at first was to march the expedition over it on the return to Fort Dalles, and to secure an open route of communication between the Canyon City road and the open country at the head of Crooked River for the benefit of the settlements in that neighborhood and to facilitate military operations in the future. The more immediate usefulness of the road became apparent when the orders were received to establish Captain Small's company for the winter at Camp Watson. These orders were received September 18, and recognizing the necessity for immediate action in carrying out the purposes of the general commanding as indicated in those orders, preparations were at once made to move the expedition to the north side of the mountains. Camp Dahlgren was abandoned on the 20th, the command marching to the summit of the mountain, there to await the return of the detachments of Captain Small and Lieutenant McCall, then absent. These detachments joined September 22, when the expedition moved down to the foot of the mountain on the north side and encamped at Alder Greek September 24. The near approach of cold weather and the absence of any kind of shelter for the troops other than tents at Camp Watson rendered it necessary that Captain Small's company should be relieved at once, that necessary steps might be taken to prepare their camp for winter. This was accordingly done on the 25th of September. Our surplus commissary stores and every article of property in the quartermaster's and commissary departments not absolutely needed on the march to The Dalles was transferred to Lieut. John F. Noble, acting assistant quartermaster and acting commissary of subsistence at Camp Watson, and our surplus transportation sent to Fort Dalles. According to the original instructions arrangements were to be made for the return of the expedition to Fort Dalles by the 15^th of October. With this purpose in view the command, now reduced to Company D and the detachment of Company B, with transportation reduced to five teams, broke up the camp on Alder Creek on October 4 and started for The Dalles. At Bridge Creek October 5 authority was received by letter from headquarters District of Oregon for the expedition to move forward to The Dalles with dispatch. Accordingly the march was accomplished in eight days, and the command arrived at Fort Dalles on the 11th of October after an absence of six months, less a few days.

            At the close of a long and arduous campaign it becomes me to speak of the troops which I have had the honor to command. For them I have none but words of praise. Without the opportunities of personal distinction that mark the history of more serious warfare, they have been patient and enduring in long and fatiguing marches over a mountain and desert country, brave and vigilant in times of danger, and obedient always. Instinctively observing a high standard of discipline, every kind of service was performed with alacrity, as a matter of duty unmixed with hopes of reward. They are entitled to the highest commendation. The district of country explored by the expedition lies between the parallels of 42° 30' and 44° 30' north latitude, and between 118° and 121° west longitude, and is inhabited by a few bands and some scattered families of Snake Indians, who roam over a vast expanse of mountain and desert unmolested. It would be difficult to estimate their numbers. Migratory in their habits and averse to intercourse with white men or other tribes of Indians, not much is known of them. Of these bands Po-li-ni's is the largest and most formidable to the white settlements, numbering probably fifty or sixty fighting men, and some women and children—it would be impossible to say how many—and is composed in part of Snake Indians proper, who have united themselves under able leadership for the purposes of plunder, and in part of renegades from other tribes actuated by a like motive. Their home is the upper part of the Crooked River Valley, shifted occasionally to other localities to suit their nomadic tastes and to seek shelter and protection for their families and stolen property after an incursion into the settlements. These are the Indians who have committed the depredations on the Canyon City road, John Day's River, and the Warm Springs Reservation within the past two years. Some other small parties of a few families each, roaming over the country, live concealed in the most rugged and inaccessible places to be found, are possessed of the instincts of the wolf or panther more than those of humanity, rendering all efforts to hunt them from their lairs almost futile. Lieutenant Waymire found in April last at the eastern base of Steen's Mountain these Indians collected in quite considerable numbers. From the appearance of their camps in the latter part of June they evidently abandoned that section of the country soon after Lieutenant Waymire's attack upon them. No signs were found that would indicate the route taken in their departure, and no information obtained to show where they went. It is probable that on the approach of warm weather they dispersed in all directions. The experience derived from the campaign just closed leads me to believe that these Indians have been vastly overestimated in numbers. Their habits of life enable them to multiply evidences of their existence indefinitely, and at the same time to evade successfully all attempts on the part of the whites to hunt them out and open intercourse with them. A squad of eight or ten families encamped at a small spring about the head of Malheur River in early spring will be at Goose Lake in midsummer, at Steen's Mountain in the fall, and on Crooked River or the Des Chutes the ensuing winter, occupying at least five or six different camps in each locality, and as many more on their route of travel from one place to another. They are indisposed to fight if it can be avoided, and seldom take risks of that nature unless advantages are largely on their side. Their strength lies in the extent and character of the country in which they live and their activity and address in availing themselves of the advantages afforded by nature. To subdue or exterminate them would require time and means beyond the advantages to be gained by such a course. To protect the settlements from their inroads a small military force stationed at the most assailable points is all that is necessary. The rapid advance of the white settlements in Eastern Oregon has so circumscribed their territory that they will be obliged to abandon their country entirely within a year or two at the outside, or go upon some reservation and live at peace with the whites.

            Of the district of country embraced within the theater of the summer's operations there is little to be said beyond the mere fact that it is worthless. Presenting to the explorer alternating sections of mountain and desert, it is destitute of attractions for the settler or traveler. A few small valleys occurring at long intervals are to be found in traveling over this vast region that appear to be susceptible of settlement and cultivation. Having a good soil and water and timber in abundance, some of them may be made available for settlement if the climate does prove too severe. The altitude of these places is generally so great that frost, snow, and ice are matters of common occurrence even in midsummer. In the little valleys amongst the Blue Mountains it was found to be so frosty that the mountain grass was bitten off in September, and at Silver Creek on the 11th of June snow fell to the depth of three inches on the low hills inclosing the valley, and covered the bottom of the valley itself. At this place on the day in question the thermometer went down to 24° at sunrise. On the 18th of June, at the head of a tributary of the Malheur, the thermometer at sunrise stood at 20°; at Summit Valley, thirty miles south of Canyon City, the mercury fell to 21°, and at the same place on the 9th of July it fell to 19°, and on the 18th of July, on Beaver Creek, the mercury went down to 10°. The instances here cited are the extremes of cold experienced during the summer, but will indicate the rigors of climate to which the country is subject. It is questionable whether any of these valleys can be made useful for anything but grazing. A marked feature of this part of Eastern Oregon is found in "The Desert," a strip of country extending from the mouth of Crooked River in a southeast direction to the Humboldt Mountains, a distance of 250 miles, and varying in width from 30 to 100 miles. It separates the Klamath Lake country from the Crooked River and Harney Lake basins, is an undulating plain, ridged irregularly with high ledges of volcanic rock, and covered with a stunted growth of sage and juniper, presenting to the eye a picture of desolation seldom seen in our country. It was crossed in July by a scouting party from Camp Gibbs at a point opposite the Three Sisters, when the distance across was found to be thirty miles, the route pursuing the old emigrant trail of 1845. Southeast of this trail the desert becomes wider and more impassable. From Silver Lake to Mountain Springs by the Yreka trail it is seventy-two miles, and from Saline Lake to Pleasonton's Butte, by the Red Bluff trail, it is ninety miles in width. Another trail crosses it from Goose Lake to Owyhee. The distance across by this route I did not learn, but it is much reduced below the distances by the other routes. These trails are traveled by people emigrating from California and Southern Oregon to the Boise and Owyhee countries. As routes of travel they are practicable for loose stock only, except the first and last named, which may become practicable routes of transportation. It is said by some parties of prospectors somewhat familiar with that country that the route by Pleasonton's Butte can be improved by a slight deviation to the west, thus touching at some small brackish lakes that occur somewhere near the middle of the desert. Since the return of the expedition information has been received that leads me to believe that a route could be found from the Des Chutes River, twenty miles above the Three Sisters, to intersect the military road at Spring Valley twenty miles south of Camp Maury. This supposition is based upon the fact that a small stream empties into the Des Chutes twenty miles above the Three Sisters from the east. It is probable that from the head of this stream not more than twenty-five or thirty miles of desert would have to be crossed to the chain of hills south of Crooked River. This if found correct would afford a route of communication from the Willamette Valley to all points east of the mountains, nearer than any now known. Should a military force be sent into that country the ensuing summer an examination of this part of the desert with a view to the opening of this route, if it exists, would be altogether practicable, and attended with but little expense.

            Next to the desert the Harney Lake basin naturally presents itself to our consideration as a feature worthy of notice in a description of the country. Inclosed on the north and east by some rambling spurs of the Blue Mountains, on the southeast by the Snow Mountains, and on the west by a chain of ridges and isolated peaks that rise out of the desert, the basin is simply a depression on the very apex of a large district of highlands, circular in form, with a diameter of fifty or sixty miles and no outlet; with its sterile, rocky slopes cut into chasms and gorges by volcanic action ; with its wide tracts of sage desert and general want of everything that renders a new country attractive, it forms a fitting climax to a most worthless part of our country. The two lakes, which for some unaccountable reason are called the Malheur Lakes on all the old maps of the country, are near the center of the basin and separated from each other by a narrow sand bank. Lake Harney, the smallest of the two, is about ten miles long and four or five miles wide; its waters are clear, but brackish from evaporation. Tule Lake, the most easterly of the two, is a little larger than Lake Harney, and communicates with it by means of a channel or slough. Its waters are shallow and muddy. It is in reality nothing more than the sink of Cricket Creek, a stream that has its source in the high peaks near Canyon City and flows south to the Harney Lake basin. The country immediately surrounding these lakes affords nothing worthy of notice; high, rocky table lands and almost endless fields of sage comprise the landscape. Thirty miles north of Lake Harney, as Cricket Creek debouches into the valley, a wide alluvial bottom is formed, wet and swampy, subject to periodical overflows, and covered with a rank growth of wild grass. This place was called Big Meadows by Major Steen in 1860. It would afford fine grazing grounds during the summer months, and is capable of supplying large quantities of hay if cut in proper season. The Snow Mountains, so called by Major Steen, who crossed it in the month of August, 1860, forms the southeastern portion of the great rim that incloses the Harney Lake basin. It is simply an elevated portion of the chain that forms the connecting link between the Sierra Nevada and the Blue Mountains. The altitude was not ascertained, but it approaches close to the snow line, as the summit was covered with snow in June, and large patches were distinctly visible in July and August. The eastern face of this mountain is abrupt and precipitous, broken occasionally by great cañons, through which the melting snows of the mountain find an outlet to the desert plain below. The western face descending into Harney Valley wears a barren appearance, is rocky and broken, and entirely destitute of vegetation. From the Snow Mountains eastward to the Owyhee River stretches a broad expanse of desert. It was not crossed by any parties from the command, but was supposed to be about thirty miles in width. From the Main Fork of John Day's River to the Harney Lake basin lies a district of country extremely broken and rugged in character, embracing the main chain of the Blue Mountains and its numerous spurs that shoot out in various directions. The Blue Mountain—so called in the reports of the expedition to distinguish it from the numerous detached ridges in its vicinity—is a single ridge that branches out westwardly from a great mass of mountains east of Canyon City, and terminates in high, rugged table-lands near the mouth of Crooked River. Its northern face, abrupt and precipitous, affords here and there a route of ascent, is densely timbered, and has a moist, damp climate. From the base to the tablelands of the Columbia the country is chopped into struggling foothills destitute of timber. The southern face of the mountain slopes gently to the Crooked River Valley, is barren in appearance, with a dry climate, and a temperature considerably warmer than the northern side. It is here worthy of notice that the whole country south of the Blue Mountain wears the marks of an arid climate. An extensive district of mountain country is drained by three small streams—the South Fork of John Day's, Crooked River, and Cricket Creek. The watercourses and springs dry up in the latter part of the summer and vegetation almost ceases to exist. As a mineral country it has afforded thus far nothing that would be at all remunerative to the miner. Gold in small quantities was found by some of the men of the command on Beaver Creek about forty miles southeast of Camp Dahlgren. With this exception no minerals of any kind have been discovered so far as known, although several large prospecting parties have devoted a good deal of time to exploring its gulches and cañons within the past two years. The water-courses of the country, as before remarked, are small and of no importance. Crooked River, the largest, has its source in the mountains north of Lake Harney, flows northeast through broken table lands, lying immediately south of the Blue Mountains, to the Des Chutes River. Forty miles above its mouth it enters a great cañon marked by precipitous walls of rock on either side, and affording only at long intervals an occasional route of crossing. Its waters are warm, strongly impregnated with the alkalies of the soil on its banks, and unwholesome for man or beast. The broken table-lands about the head of this stream, called the Crooked River Valley, are characterized by unexampled ruggedness of surface, so rough and rocky that a cavalry horse losing a shoe would be unable to travel in a few hours. This is a fair grazing country early in the season, these rocky table-lands producing bunch grass of superior quality and in great abundance, that ripens in July and parches and dries up in August. The South Fork of John Day's River heads in some rocky ridges about thirty miles north of Lake Harney, and flows north through a great gorge in the Blue Mountains to the Main Fork. The stream in July was a mere brook, running through a deep cañon nearly its entire length, there are no valleys of any size or consequence on its banks. Cricket Creek, sometimes called Selvie's River, heads near Canyon City and flows south through some straggling spurs of the Blue Mountains to Harney Lake Valley. It has two quite large valleys near its source, and forms the large meadow bottoms in the valley before mentioned. Its course until it reaches the Harney Lake basin is through a densely timbered country, wild and rugged, and abounding in game of all kinds. It abounds in beaver and other animals of that kind, and was a great deal frequented in times past by the employes of the Hudson Bay Company. A few smaller streams of trifling importance complete the history. Among these may be mentioned Bridge Creek, Rock Creek, and Cottonwood Creek, all heading in the Blue Mountains, the two first flowing north to John Day's River and the last west to Crooked River. Silver Creek heads about fifty miles south of Camp Dahlgren and flows south to a brackish lake near Pleasonton's Butte. It forms a valley fifteen miles from the butte of considerable size, with a rich alluvial bottom, producing an abundance of grass.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. M. DRAKE,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

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No. 5.

Report of Lieut. John M. McCall, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations May 17-10.

Expedition to the Indian Country,

Camp Maury, May 19, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders on the 17th instant, with twenty-six men from Company D, thirteen men from detachment of Company B, with Lieut. Stephen Watson and ten Indian scouts, I left Camp No. 17, on Crooked River, at 9.30 p. m., to attack the camp of Snake Indians that had been discovered by the scouts the same day. We proceeded in a northeasterly direction over a high and extremely rocky country for some twelve or fourteen miles, where we found eleven of our Indians who had been left to watch the Snake camp. They reported that the Snakes had been having a regular war dance, singing, laughing, and shouting so that they could hear them two miles, and had only just got quiet. It was now nearly 2 a. m. We moved up a short distance and halted. Four of our Indians then started out on foot to ascertain if possible the exact locality of the Snake encampment. After an absence of about three-quarters of an hour they returned. We then moved forward about one mile and sent out two more scouts, who returned in a few minutes reporting that the distance to the camp was not over 600 yards. The united report of all the scouts was that we approached the camp from the west; to the north and south was an open flat or bottom running some distance; to the east was a gradually ascending hill covered with juniper trees, the encampment being on the west side of the open flat under some juniper trees. I divided my command into two platoons, Lieutenant Watson in charge of one and myself the other. The Indians were to go to the north, I to the south, while Lieutenant Watson was to go slowly up the center, with instructions to all to capture any horses they might see, so as to cut off their retreat by horseback. As soon as it was light enough we all started. My route was over a very rocky country until I reached the flat, which at that point was very miry—almost impossible to cross. Just as we got over this mire we discovered a band of horses being rapidly driven up by an Indian. We immediately captured them, and I put them in charge of a corporal and two men. We then heard firing to our right, and turned in that direction, but found we were coming directly under the fire of our own men. We turned to the right and came around over the point of the hill and found Lieutenant Watson's party. The Indians had retreated across the flat to a cliff of rocks, where they had a complete fortification. Lieutenant Watson had charged them to the edge of the cliff, where the Indians fired a volley into them, killing Lieutenant Watson and 2 privates of Company B and wounding 5 others, some severely. I also found a citizen, Richard Barker (who I did not know was along until I had started), with his thigh broken and Stock Whitley very severely wounded. Some 3 horses had been shot dead and 5 or 6 badly wounded. The whole of this had been done in less than fifteen minutes. I soon found that the Indians were impregnable in their position, and the only way for me to save the wounded men and the horses, both of the men and those already captured, was to retreat to a safe place and send for re-enforcements. The attack was made before 4 a. m. At o'clock I started an Indian and Private Barney as express for re-enforcements. At 8 o'clock we reached a safe position about one mile and a half from the field, and you arrived at 9 a. m.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. McCALL,

First Lieutenant, First Oregon Cavalry.

Capt. John M. Drake,

            First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

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ADDENDA.

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, June 13, 1864.

Brig. Gen. B. Alvord,

            Commanding District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.:

            GENERAL: I am directed by the general commanding the department to say that he has read with much interest the reports of Captain Drake and Lieutenant McCall; that he commends the gallantry of the troops and regrets the loss of a brave officer and the noble men who fell in the conflict. He trusts their surviving comrades will avenge their deaths in a summary manner.

            I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,

E. SPARROW PURDY,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

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No. 6.

Report of Capt. William V. Rinehart, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations June 11-16.

Camp Alvord, Oreg., June 21, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to report that in compliance with Orders, No. 13, from your headquarters, I marched from Camp Henderson with thirty two men of my company to the Jordan Creek Ferry, on Owyhee River, and proceeded thence up the west side of the river two miles to a ford, where I crossed over and found moccasin tracks and the trail of the horses stolen from the proprietors of the ferry. Following up the east side of river three miles I recrossed the river at the mouth of the Great Cañon and ascended the bluffs to the high table-lands, from which I could trace with my glass the course of the river, bearing nearly due east. This I found to be the great bend of Owyhee, as laid down upon the [sic]. Following a small trail in a southeastern direction for two miles, I turned eastward across a rocky sage plain, and sent out Sergeant Taylor and three men to scout along the bluffs and examine the flats and bars on the river for Indians. In this manner I marched about eight miles, keeping in sight of the scouting party, and far enough out from the bluff to avoid the rocks, which were very bad near the bluff. Here I turned toward the river and called in my scouts, who reported no signs of Indians, and also that the river was entirely inaccessible except at one point about three miles below. It being now 5 p. m. I followed down the river to the place indicated by the scouts, and succeeded in getting down to the river bypassing down a rocky gulch to a small bar covered with porcupine and barley grass, where I encamped for the night, having marched full twenty five miles. On the 15th I resumed the march as before, passing along the margin of the sage plain and taking observations of the river at every opportunity. Having gone about fifteen miles in this manner I halted at a pool of water occasioned by late rains, at 11 a. m., and leaving the command here I took three scouts and passed up the river about three miles to where it turns directly south, and as far as I could trace its course with my glass it appeared to bear a direction nearly due south. Having found no indications of Indians, and our rations being over half exhausted, I returned to the pool, and after grazing an hour started on my way back to Camp Henderson. I passed back by a route farther out from the river through flue grass for ten miles, then through sage and rocks, and found several Indian wick-i-ups five to eight miles out from the river on the dry plain. These seemed to have been summer lodges and had not been occupied lately. I returned to the river at the mouth of the Great Cañon just before dark, having marched about forty miles. The cañon from the Great Bend up to where I last saw it, a distance of twenty-five miles, is narrow and very deep; from 300 to 400 feet the bluffs perpendicular and of basaltic formation. On the 16th instant we marched to Camp Henderson, fifteen miles distant, and finding it evacuated followed the trail to Camp No. 30, making thirty miles. On my return I sent out scouts from the Great Bend to discover the course taken by the party with the stolen horses, and having found that they were taken across toward Jordan Creek, I went and examined the trail, and believe it to have been made by other than Indians.

W. V. RINEHART,

Captain, First Oregon Cavalry.

Lieut. John Bowen,

            First Oregon Cavalry, Adjutant Expedition.

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No. 7.

Reports of Capt. Richard S. Caldwell, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations July 3-16.

Camp on Bridge Creek, July 10, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to report that I left Fort Dalles with my command on the 3d and arrived at this camp yesterday without any event of interest transpiring. I found the command of Lieutenant Wood at this camp. He arrived on the 5th. He reports having seen Indians upon the hills near here. There have been no depredations on the road since the fight here except a few shots fired at the Mountain House yesterday morning. The stage bound up stopped there for the night. The Indians left before day. I shall move to-morrow for Rock Creek, thirty miles above here, where I shall make permanent camp. I shall leave detachment of six infantry at Alkali, four miles above here, and with the train returning shall send a small escort as far as Muddy, where they will remain, this being the lower end of the route, where every difficulty has occurred. Muddy, Alkali, and Rock Creek are all stations where the stages stop for the night and where packers and travelers will make. The travel upon the road is larger than I had anticipated, and even now families are traveling upon the road. The locality of the Indians and their captured stock is a matter upon which great variety of opinion exists, some putting them upon one side of the John Day's and some upon the other. I hope to determine the matter with certainty before the arrival of Lieutenant Olney's command. The Eugene City trail comes in at this place I learn the distance is from sixty to eighty miles to where it crosses the road, twenty-five miles below Camp Maury.

            I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. S. CALDWELL,

Capt., First Oregon Cav., Comdg. Canyon City Road Expedition.

Lieut. J. W. Hopkins,

            First Oregon Cavalry, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.

                        Hdqrs. District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

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Canyon City Road Expedition,

Camp Watson, Rock Creek, Oreg., July 18, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 9th instant, with Special Order, No. 94. I am in receipt of no communication from Lieutenant Olney, or of the acting assistant quartermaster at Fort Dalles, as to what transportation and rations he will be supplied with. This command arrived here on the 12th instant, having left six infantry at Alkali, twenty-five miles below. The supply train started back on the 14th with an escort of seven cavalrymen, who will accompany it as far as Muddy, where they will remain for the protection of that station. I did not deem it necessary that the train should have an escort below that point, as no Indians had been seen below there, but learn since of depredations committed at Antelope, twenty-five miles below. On the same day I sent ten men as escort to some families going to South Fork to settle, with orders to scout in that vicinity for two or three days. They will be back to day. Lieutenant Wood has scouted for ten or twelve miles in the mountains south of this camp, and reports no sign of Indians. A few Indians have been seen about the stage station on the road the last week, but, strange as it may appear, no travelers report having seen any. Since we have been at this camp the travel on the road has been immense; cattle droves, pack trains, and families from Jackson County, Eugene, and The Dalles have passed, and all report having seen no Indians on Crooked River or on the Eugene trail. I learn that the command of Captains Drake and Currey were twenty-five miles from Canyon City a week ago, and some of the command were at Canyon City. They had seen no Indians on the route. Their destination I did not learn. This camp is on Rock Creek, sixty miles from Canyon City and twenty from the South Fork. Grass, wood, and water are plenty, and shall make this the permanent camp for the season.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. S. CALDWELL,

Capt., First Oregon Cav., Comdg. Canyon City Road Expedition.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General,

            Headquarters District of Oregon, Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

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Camp Watson, July 26, 1864.

            Sir : I am in receipt of no communication from your headquarters since mine of the 18th instant. Since that time I have, with the availablemounted force of my command, spent four days in scouting over the country for thirty miles below here on both sides of the road, and find no Indians, or any sign of there having been any for some time. Captain Currey, with 100 men, arrived here yesterday from Camp Maury. He struck the road ten miles below here ; distance sixty-five miles ; good mountain trail. From information derived from him and other sources, I am of opinion that Po-li-ni, with his band, left the road about the time of our coming here, and has gone to Harney Lake or that vicinity, where, in connection with other bands, I think he will infest the roads from Nevada and North California, or else return with increased force to this vicinity. The packers and teamsters travel on this road in large companies now and guard their stock well, and this circumstance and his fight at Bridge Creek has taught him that he cannot steal without fighting, which with his force he cannot afford to do. Lieutenant Olney has not yet arrived, and I have not heard from him. I have directed him to encamp at Bridge Creek, where he will remain and scour the country from there to Crooked River.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. S. CALDWELL,

Capt., First Oregon Cav., Comdg. Cañon City Road Expedition.

Lieut. J. W. Hopkins,

            Actg. Asst, Adjt. Gen., Hdqrs. District of Oregon,

                        Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.

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No. 8.

Report of Lieut. James A. Waymire, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations July 6-8.

Fort Dalles Expedition into the Indian Country,

Camp No. 38, July 8, 1864.

            Sir : In obedience to Orders, No. 30, headquarters Fort Dalles Expedition into the Indian Country, and in accordance with instructions received as herein directed from Capt. George B. Currey, First Oregon Cavalry, commanding the detachment of cavalry under my command, comprising thirty enlisted men of Company D, First Oregon Cavalry, marched from this place on the morning of the 6th instant. Passing out of the eastern end of Summit Valley, a plain situated near the source of Selvie's River or Cricket Creek, and about sixty-five miles north of Harney Lake, I passed over a succession of timbered hills, gradually ascending toward the east a distance of four or five miles, and then joining to several irregular chains of mountains, the most prominent of which lay to the north. Taking this prominent ridge I found it to be the dividing range between Canyon Creek to the north and the East Fork of Selvie's River to the south. The general course of this high divide is east-northeast and west-southwest, and it leads directly toward Malheur Butte, the highest point of the mountains, at the head of John Day's River. About three miles after striking the ridge our route intersected a large trail which comes out of the great defile of Canyon Creek, and runs almost due south in the direction of Steen's Mountain, east of Harney Lake. The guide, an old trapper, who is practically acquainted with the country, thinks that this trail was formerly used by the Indian tribes of the Umatilla and Walla Walla Rivers in coming to the mountains of this vicinity in search of game. It may, however, be a thoroughfare to the Harney Lake country. It has not been recently traveled. Following along the divide our route was quite practicable, though rough in many places from rocks and fallen timber. There are two steep precipices of perhaps 300 feet each, about sixteen miles from Camp No. 38. From the last precipice it is six miles to the source of the East Fork of Selvie's River in a cañon a few miles southeast of Malheur Butte. Here the detachment was encamped for the night after a march of about twenty-two miles. Camping facilities were sufficient.

            On the evening of the 7th with some difficulty from the steepness of the ascent and rocky nature of the mountain, I moved up two miles to the top of the range. There is a fine spring here with some mountain grass surrounding it on the hillside. The range here is quite rugged, its northern face forming a cove in the shape of a horseshoe of several miles in circumference. The walls of the cove are nearly perpendicular, are composed of basalt rock, are about 1,000 feet in height, support several very large beds of snow, and rest their base upon a large tableland. On this table land, thousands of feet above John Day's River, the brooks from the walls of the cove form a lake about one and a quarter miles long and half a mile wide. The lake is bordered by rock and a large grove of pine surrounds it. A large stream issues from the lake and runs into John Day's River. Malheur Butte occupies the northwestern end of the cove three miles distant from its center. Leaving the animals at the spring in charge of one platoon, with the other I went to the summit of the butte. The ascent was steep and rocky. The butte is composed of trap rock. It commands a fine view of the country for more than 100 miles around. The Middle Fork of John Day's River has its source in the mountains immediately connected with the butte, to the east a few miles; Canyon Creek live miles to the southwest; Selvie's River or Cricket Creek (East Fork) three miles south-southwest. One fork of Malheur River heads directly east and runs east, and another tributary heads about five miles southeast; runs south perhaps fifteen miles, where it is joined by a stream coming from the west and turns east. All the intermediate country about these streams is mountainous and covered with fine timber, except two small valleys on Selvie's River, one on the tributary of Malheur, which runs south, and the channel of John Day's River, which is marked by a high rolling prairie of several miles in width, bordered by timbered mountains. The mountains on North Fork of John Day's River to the north, on the head of Burnt and Powder Rivers to the northeast, the Payette Mountains to the distant east, Steen's Mountains east of Harney Lake to the south, and the Cascade Range far in the west were all plainly visible. Leaving the mountains, passed down a gradual slope to the south into a small valley on the tributary of Malheur. It is nearly round, about five miles in diameter, has several groves of pine in it, is surrounded by timbered mountains, and discharges its waters through a cañon to the south. There is plenty of game in the valley, but no Indian sign of this year. Encamped in the valley with plenty of grass, wood, and water. On the morning of the 8th I left the valley at its western side, passing into the timbered mountains in a western direction, for Camp No. 38. The mountains are quite rough for about seven miles to the west. Several large cañons running south, thence passing into the divide north of Selvie's River the descent is gradual and comparatively free from fallen timber (the worst obstacle to marching in that region). Traveling west about twenty miles, reached Camp No. 38 at 2 p. m., having discovered no fresh Indian sign during the day.

            I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES A. WAYMIRE,

Second Lieutenant, First Oregon Cavalry,

Commanding Detachment Company D, First Oregon Cavalry.

Capt. John M. Drake,

            First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition

                        into the Indian Country, Camp No. 38, Oreg.

__________

No. 9.

Report of Lieut. John F. Noble, First Oregon Cavalry, of operations August 7-10.

Camp Gibbs, Oreg., August 17, 1864.

            Sir: In obedience to instructions dated headquarters Expedition into the Indian Country, Camp Gibbs, Oreg., August 4, 1864, I left this camp at 7 a. m., on the 7th instant, with a detachment of twenty-one men of companies B and G, First Oregon Cavalry, and four days' rations.  Following a southerly course over the mountains, struck Juniper Creek in about eight miles. Then taking a course about north of west through the timbered ridges, crossing several small creeks, all dry at this season (general course being south and running into Juniper Creek), in about eight miles camped on a creek, but little water and poor grass. Said creek also runs into Juniper Creek. The following morning took a westerly course. In about eight miles struck a creek, running water. Here I halted the pack train and left one platoon with it. I proceeded with the other platoon down the creek southwest about four miles, and ascending the bluffs found said creek emptied into Juniper Creek about two miles beyond. On this creek a large number of Indians had been encamped some time last fall. From the number of old wigwams and signs I should suppose they numbered from fifty to seventy Indians. They had but little stock, apparently. On returning to the train I followed up the creek some four miles. This region is known as Sheep Mountain and hunting grounds of the Snake Indians. Then bearing off to the northeast crossed a low divide in the mountains to the north side and went into camp in about four miles on one of the tributaries of Crooked River. Grass poor and water scarce. The following morning, taking an easterly course, in about four miles struck another creek running in a northerly direction into Crooked River. Following this creek down to its mouth, some eight miles distant, and then following up on the north side of Crooked River to this camp about twelve miles. No fresh signs of Indians were discovered, only on the first day out. An Indian on horseback had passed down one of the creeks a few days before on the south side of the mountain, traveling south. Most of the creeks on the south side of the mountains which were running in June last are now perfectly dry. There is great scarcity of water and grass upon the south side of the mountains at this season of the year. I am of the opinion that there are no Indians at present, nor have there been any about Sheep Mountain for a long time. The distance traveled about sixty-four miles.

            Upon returning to Camp Gibbs I lay over to rest the animals, &c., until the morning of the 12th instant, when I left with twenty men of Companies B and G, First Oregon Cavalry, taking five days' rations with me. Crossed the mountains in a southeasterly course ; struck the head of a large valley in about eight miles. Said valley encircles the east end of this range of mountains, running around into Crooked River Valley some fourteen miles east of this camp (Gibbs). I followed this valley down a short distance, leaving it, bearing off in an easterly course over a low mountain. In about eight miles brought us to a tine running creek which empties into the above mountain valley. This creek is about two miles long, the water good, and plenty of grass at this camp. The following morning struck a southeasterly course, passing over the valley, struck the wagon road (Major Steen's), and in about twelve miles came to Alkali Flat, or Spring Valley; crossed the main branch of Crooked River and took the Canyon City road and followed it about ten miles in a northeasterly course and encamped on a creek running into Crooked River. The water very poor and but little of it; the grass very poor. The next morning took a northerly course, leaving the Canyon City road at this point, it bearing off in an easterly direction. In about six miles struck a creek running into Crooked River through a deep and rough cañon. Followed up this creek about one mile and struck the Canyon City road again; but little water. Followed said road about two miles, then bore off to the west of north (here the road took a northeasterly course), and in about six miles struck a creek running into Beaver Creek. I followed said creek down some eight miles—no water in it at this time, but there is a fine, strong spring about six miles up it, southeast from Beaver Creek, and large valley surrounding it—to Beaver Creek, and camped. Water standing in holes and very poor; grass very fine at this camp. The following morning took a direction north of west and passed through two large valleys; fine grass, but no water at the points through which I passed. After traveling eight miles I took a westerly course and crossed over onto Crooked River in about twelve miles and encamped; plenty of water and grass good. I met Captain Small and his command on the southwest side of the battle-ground of May last about noon today. He was then moving in an easterly direction, having marched that morning from the north ford of Crooked River. The following morning, taking a westerly course down Crooked River, reached this camp in about ten miles. I saw no fresh signs of Indians during my scout, and am of the opinion that there have not been any in that portion of the country very recently. The distance traversed on my second trip, about ninety-five miles.

            Most respectfully submitted.

JOHN F. NOBLE,

Second Lieutenant, First Oregon Cavalry.

Capt. John M. Drake,

            First Oregon Cavalry, Commanding Expedition into the

                        Snake Country, Camp Gibbs, Oreg.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 825]

Special Orders,            )                                               Headquarters District of Utah,

No. 3                           )                                   Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., April 23, 1864.

            Captain Price's company (M), Second Cavalry California Volunteers, now at Fort Bridger, will take up the line of march for Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., on Monday, May 2, 1864, and on arrival at the latter post Captain Price will report to the commanding officer for duty.

            By command of Brigadier-General Connor:

M. G. LEWIS,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, April 30, 1864.

General Bidwell, Chico, Cal.:

            GENERAL: 1 have this day received your letter of the 26th instant, with a petition of citizens of Humboldt, Surprise Valley, Snake Creek Valley, Honey Lake Valley, and vicinity, for military protection. Before I ordered the withdrawal of the detachment at Snake Creek I was fully satisfied, from the representations made to me, that there existed no longer a necessity for its continuance in that quarter. My plan is to concentrate my forces as much as possible, to be prepared to meet any emergency in this State. It is not designed, however, to abandon any portion of the country to the depredations of the Indians. As soon as a cavalry company can be prepared for service at Fort Churchill, I will send it over the entire region referred to, to remain at the most exposed points as long as may be necessary. I deem it better to perform this service by movable troops than establish permanent garrisons. I will thank you to inform the petitioners that I shall see that their country is not devastated by Indian raids.

            With great respect, I am, general, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 834]

Special Orders,            )                                               Headquarters District of Utah,

No. 40.                        )                       Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., April 30, 1864.

            I. Captain Smith's company (K), Second Cavalry California Volunteers, will proceed on Tuesday next, the 3d proximo, via Camp Douglas, to scour the country in the vicinity of Raft River, City of Rocks, the Port Neuf River, and Fort Hall, in Idaho Territory, in search of five lodges of hostile Shoshone Indians, who failed to attend the treaties of last year, and who have lately been committing depredations on emigrants en route to Idaho, and if found they will be punished. The peaceable Indians in the northern settlements and in the vicinity of the ferries on Snake River, east of Fort Hall, will not be molested. The company will take three months' rations and will return and report to these headquarters on or about the 31st day of July next, unless otherwise ordered.

            II. Captain Baldwin's company (B), Nevada Territory cavalry, will proceed on Tuesday next, via Camp Douglas, to Uintah Valley in this Territory, for the protection of miners and exploration of the resources of the valley. The company will take three months' rations and proceed to and report to the commanding officer of Fort Bridger for duty on or about the 31st day of July next, unless otherwise ordered.

            III. Captain Berry's company (A), Second Cavalry California Volunteers, will proceed on Saturday next south to what is known as the Beaver and Reese River road, and will scour the country between Cedar Swamp and the newly discovered silver mines in Washington County, Utah Ter., for the protection of miners and exploration of the resources of the country. The company will take ninety days' rations and report on or about the 31st day of July next to the commanding officer Second Cavalry California Volunteers, unless otherwise ordered.

            IV. More specific instructions will be issued to company commanders from these headquarters. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary teams for transportation.

            By command of Brigadier-General Connor:

M. G. LEWIS,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 837-838]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, May 2, 1864.

Adjutant-General U. S. Army,

            Washington, D. C. :

            Sir: The general condition of affairs in this department remains unchanged. Recruiting progresses as favorably as could be expected; the troops are in good health and judiciously posted for the preservation of the peace and quiet of the land. The programme for the movable columns during the summer for the protection of immigrants from the eastern States is as follows: Troops from the District of Oregon to move from Forts Dalles and Walla Walla, to be advanced southeasterly to the upper waters of the Snake River. Troops from the District of Utah will afford protection along the great thoroughfares through that Territory and Southern Idaho. A command from Fort Klamath will move in an easterly direction over Southern Oregon to the Owyhee River and the southern portion of Idaho Territory; and a command from Fort Churchill will move northward and scout in the vicinity of Lakes Pyramid, Humboldt, and Honey, affording protection along the Humboldt route. This arrangement will afford ample protection to the settlements within our borders as well as to the immigrants approaching from the east. The remaining troops in the department are so posted as to preserve the peace and quiet of the country, whether threatened by rebel sympathizers within or foes from without. I have lately visited and inspected the works in progress on Angel Island and at Point San José. The heavy guns from the batteries are being mounted, affording increased security to the harbor of San Francisco. On the 28th ultimo I paid a visit to the U. S. ship Saranac, Commodore Poor, anchored between the city and Yerba Buena Island. She is a line ship with heavy guns and in position to protect the portions of the harbor and city beyond the range of the guns on Alcatraz Island.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

__________

 

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, Cal., May 2, 1864.

Maj. Charles McDermit,

            Second Cavalry California Vols., Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter.:

            Sir : The general commanding the department desires you to prepare Company D, Nevada Territory cavalry, for field service. The general directs that this company proceed to the Smoke Creek country, with instructions to visit during the coming summer all the valleys on the Chico route from the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains as far west as, in the opinion of the captain, may be necessary to give the required protection to settlers, and punish marauding Indians. It is not, however, the design of the general to confine operations to the route above indicated, should the officer in command of the expedition believe that a departure from it might conduce to the quiet and security of that particular section. You will direct supplies to be sent to this command at such points as will suit its movement, as it is the desire that it should not remain long in any one place, unless the interests it is sent to guard imperatively demand it. Thirty days' subsistence will be taken by the command. All horses in excess of the number of enlisted men of the company will be taken, provided the grazing is good in the country to be visited, or forage can be purchased at more reasonable rates than at Fort Churchill. Any men enlisted for Company D will be sent to it with the trains conveying its monthly supplies. You will report by telegraph the departure of the company.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 840]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,

San Francisco, May 1, 1864.

Maj. Charles McDermit,

            Second Cav., California Vols., Comdg. Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter.:

            Sir : The general commanding desires you to make a detail of two reliable commissioned officers and thirty enlisted men as a provost guard to be stationed in Virginia City. You will, previous to sending the guard to Virginia, proceed to that point yourself and confer with Captain Van Bokkelen, assistant provost-marshal, as to the locality and manner of quartering the men and officers. All the necessary arrangements will be made before the force is sent to Virginia. You will instruct the officer in command of the guard to consult freely with Captain Van Bokkelen on all matters relating to the peace and quiet of the Territory, and to act in concert with the captain and any force at his disposal.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 844-847]

Headquarters District of Utah,

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., May 15, 1864.

Lieut. Col. R. C. Drum,

            Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of the Pacific, San Francisco, Cal.:

            Colonel: Inclosed herewith I have the honor to forward, for the information of the general commanding, copies of instructions to company commanders in this district who are now absent with their companies on detached service.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. EDW. CONNOR,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding Post.

[Inclosure No. 1.]

Headquarters, District of Utah,

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., May 9, 1864.

Capt. Samuel P. Smith,

            Co. K, Second California Vol. Cavalry, Comdg. Expedition:

            Captain : You will proceed by easy marches to Raft River, Idaho Ter., or vicinity, where you will establish a depot for your supplies, and then return four of your wagons (driven by citizens) to this post. After establishing your camp you will take steps to capture or kill the male adults of five lodges of Snake Indians who have for years infested the roads in that vicinity, and who have of late been stealing from and attacking emigrants to Idaho. You will be particular that friendly Indians are not molested, but treated kindly by your command. The lady of the honorable Judge Waite and a woman fleeing from Mormon persecution will accompany you.  You will give them transportation and protection as far as Fort Boise, sending a small escort from Raft River to Boise for their protection. You will render ample protection to emigrants south of Snake River and between City of Rocks and the Port Neuf River, and at the same time thoroughly prospect the country for precious metals, particularly placer gold, and report from time to time the result to this office. You will be particular that your horses are taken good care of and kept in good order, and you will return to this post, unless otherwise instructed, on or about the 1st day of August next.

            By command of Brigadier-General Connor :

M. G. LEWIS,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

[Inclosure No. 2.]

Headquarters District of Utah,

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., May 13, 1864.

Capt. David J. Berry,

            Co. A, Second California Vol. Cavalry, Comdg. Expedition:

            Captain : You will proceed with your company from your present camp in a southerly direction to Tintic Valley, and from thence south by the most practicable route to the Meadow Valley mining district, situated about 100 miles west of Cedar City, in this Territory. You will select a camp about midway between Cedar Swamp and Meadow Valley, where you will leave a part of your company with the bulk of your supplies, and then return four of your teams to Camp Relief. You will then, during the period designed for you to remain detached, scout the country between Cedar Swamp and Meadow Valley, and afford protection to miners from Mormons and Indians, and watch the Parowan Indians, who again threaten to attack the overland mail coaches. You will thoroughly explore and prospect the country over which you travel, and if successful in finding placer diggings, you will at once report the fact to these headquarters. You will report with your command at your regimental headquarters on or about the 1st day of August next, unless otherwise ordered.

            By command of Brigadier-General Connor:

M. G. LEWIS,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

[Inclosure No. 3.]

Headquarters District of Utah,

Camp Douglas, Utah Ter., May 11, 1864.

Capt. N. Baldwin,

            First Nevada Territory Vol. Cavalry, Comdg. Expedition:

            Captain : You will proceed with your company to-morrow by way of Parley's Park to Uintah Valley, in this Territory, and at some central point establish a temporary depot for your supplies, after which you will return to this post the four teams with your command, driven by citizens. You will afford ample protection to prospectors and miners, and the Indians in that valley being all friendly, they will be treated with kindness by your command. You will cause the valley and vicinity to be thoroughly prospected by your men, and will report from time to time the result to this office. The discovery of placer mines is of especial importance. You will therefore devote the most of your attention to their discovery. You will proceed to Fort Bridger, Utah Ter., by the way of Brown's Hole, on Green River, and report to the commanding officer of that post for duty on or about the 1st day of August next.

            By command of Brigadier-General Connor:

M. G. LEWIS,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

Headquarters, Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, May 16, 1864.

Adjutant-General, U. S. Army,

            Washington, D. C.:

            Sir : This department is quiet, but you are aware that there is on this coast a powerful opposition to the present Administration, claiming to be Union men, yet doing all in their power to thwart the Government in the prosecution of the war. A large majority of these people, however, are truly loyal and will support the Government zealously and earnestly so long as a rebel remains under arms. The political status of California was fixed at the September election. The struggle will be renewed at the approaching election of a President, but I have no fears as to the result. The war policy of the Administration will be sustained by an overwhelming majority. We must expect some excitement and sensation articles and speeches during this political campaign, but I have no apprehension of any serious attempts on the part of the opposition to involve this country in a war. Looking at the present condition of the States of the Pacific I am well satisfied with the policy I have followed, notwithstanding it has been too conservative to meet the views of a radical minority, yet it has been fully indorsed by the sensible portion of the community. Were I to be guided by the dictates of the radical press I should crowd my forts with men charged with disloyalty, keep this country in a constant ferment, agitate desperate efforts to plunge us into all the horrors of a civil war, and all simply to gratify the caprices of a few men who advocate such extreme measures. I have made many arrests for disloyal practices, and have several persons now in confinement, and should circumstances demand it I shall not hesitate to use all the power I have for the preservation of the peace; but I will not be goaded on to do acts which I know to be wrong. These radicals seem to believe that it is my special duty to arrest every man or woman whose sentiments do not coincide exactly with the Government, and if I do not yield to their insane demands, denounce me as a sympathizer with the rebellion, but I am not at all disturbed by such accusations. For three years past I have labored intensely for my country, and although not permitted to risk my life on the battle field I can point with pride to the happy and peaceful condition of the Pacific Coast, and if the prudential course I have pursued has contributed to this great result I shall be more than repaid.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 847-850]

Hdqrs. Provost-Marshal, Nevada Territory,

Virginia, Nev. Ter., May 17, 1864.

Brig. Gen. John S. Mason,

            Acting Assistant Provost-Marshal- General, San Francisco, Cal.:

            General : In connection with my reports upon papers referred relative to secret secession organization in Virginia City, Storey County, I take the liberty of presenting for your consideration the following as my views of the position of this Territory, and more particularly Storey County, as regards the numerous secessionists residing therein. For the past twelve mouths there has been a very large and continuous emigration of the most influential secessionists of California to this Territory, the majority locating in this county, the others chiefly locating at Reese River and more recently in the county of Nye. From data and notes compiled by myself and observed for past two years at this date there are not less than 2,400 "Peace Democrats," "Copperheads," and openly avowed secessionists in Storey County, all of whom are engaged in one common cause. That some well-established sign of recognition and a record of their own numbers is observed, if not also clandestine meetings in squads, I have strong reason to believe, but cannot assert it as a fact, for the evidence which would guarantee such assertion would also authorize prompt arrest and public exposure. I doubt not but that if I had under my orders a special detective officer of known ability, who was an entire stranger (in that capacity) to the community, that within two months many important discoveries could be made, as I am of opinion that the headquarters of the conclave of secessionists have been transferred to this locality. The fact of the leading secessionists being large owners in our most productive mines is one reason why I do not believe that any foolish and vain attempt at public disturbance of peace would be made by them, as they are well aware that any overt act would seriously impair the value of their property. Were it not for this well-established fact this community would be in such a constant state of excitement as to require a large military force present all the time. They are now by subtle words endeavoring to poison the minds of the working class against the United States Government by statements relative to the lately reported action of Congress upon the subject of taxation of the mines. Amongst the citizens who possess and control property society is divided into two distinct circles of association, unionists and secessionists, and upon any public demonstration of disloyalty the balance of power would be in the hands of the working class, who are too apt to be misled by the sophistry of the ever-working brain of the rebels, and who to a very large extent give them employment.

            The secessionists are guilty, under hypocritically proclaimed Union sentiments, of obtaining possession of the various offices in the counties of the Territory and dispensing the patronage of same to their associates. A strong effort will be made by them this summer to carry the elections for all offices for this and other counties. They lose no opportunity of discussing and expressing their doubts as to the ability of General Grant to defeat Lee, and are very open and boisterous at times in their remarks upon and denunciation of the United States Government, and frequently by their insulting language upon the streets make good Union men fear for the future security of this place should any decided reverse befall the Federal army. That the establishing and maintaining of a proper military guard at this point is not only desired by the Union citizens but will be attended with the most positive and beneficial results is beyond question. It will have a tendency to check public and noisy declarations against the Government, as they will know prompt arrests await them for such offenses. I am compelled to state that arrests have been made of very low and drunken characters for seditious remarks, while those high in position and wealth have been passed by unnoticed for more serious offenses, by some of the officers who hold warrants for raising companies in this Territory but who have not yet been mustered into the service. These arrests are made on very frivolous causes and, as far as I can learn, without any previous proper authority from the department headquarters. Such acts only give to the educated and artful secessionists arguments to present to the working class that the Government dare not arrest men of influence and wealth, but only those who are workingmen and poor. I attribute the evil to an overzealousness and misconception of their duty by the gentlemen holding warrants to recruit companies. I would respectfully suggest that the General commanding the Department of the Pacific issue orders to officers in this Territory as to by whom, and under what circumstances, arrests should be made, and how disposed of after arrest upon a charge, as I am aware of a very recent case in which an arrest was made by an officer not mustered into the service, and immediately after such arrest offered to release the person if he would give a bond of $5,000 conditioned for good behavior for twelve months. All this took place without any time intervening which would allow the reception of authority from post commander at Fort Churchill or general commanding the department. I have taken the liberty of presenting some of my views upon the state of affairs in this section, and if in so doing I have exceeded the bounds of duty and propriety my excuse must be that I am prompted so to do by a desire to preserve peace and good order in my district, and to see those high in social position and wealth promptly arrested for any traitorous language or conduct in public.

            I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JACOB L. VAN BOKKELEN,

Captain and Provost- Marshal, District of Nevada Territory.

__________

HDQRS. PBOVOST-MARSHAL, NEVADA TERRITORY,

Virginia, Nev. Ter., May 17, 1864.

Brig. Gen. John S. Mason,

            Acting Assistant Provost-Marshal- General, San Francisco, Cal.:

            General: I have the honor to submit the following statement of the result of examination into the matter of secret secession organization in Virginia City, as reported by Capt. C. A. Sumner. Mr. A. W. Baldwin personally states to me that his report was based upon statements of the same man, Anderson. I could not discover that Captain Sumner possessed any personal information, or facts, or had taken any actual measures by employment of detective police or secret agents to confirm any previous surmises in his mind which would authorize him to say, " I have the honor to communicate a statement of the fact of the existence in this city of a secession club, regular and frequent in its meetings." (See communication of C. A. Sumner to Lieut. Col. R. C. Drum, April 11, 1864.) The statement of Captain Sumner in second paragraph of memorandum, as regards a large number of the legal profession being invisible at night, is based upon his not personally encountering them on the streets or in public places; he cannot designate any particular evening of the week upon which his attention has been drawn to this absence from the public thoroughfares. As regards the remark, "That it will be of as much service to be a rebel here soon as in South Carolina," this, Captain Sumner informs me, is based upon a remark made by a lady who keeps a boarding house, who said the remark was made by a boarder at her table. All the information possessed by Captain Sumner is based upon the statement of Anderson and his own surmises, without any facts to support an assertion that a club actually exists and regular and frequent in its meetings. Upon private examination of Mr. Isaac Anderson he disclaims ever having stated that he was approached by one A. C. Bradford and invited to join a secession club, of which Bradford was acting secretary; but says that he thinks that Bradford is in some way connected with a secession organization from the reason that some woodchoppers who had come in from the wood ranches asked him where they could find Bradford; and he thinks they were all secessionists. It is all surmise on the part of Anderson. This Isaac Anderson informs me that he is a candidate for office of sheriff of Storey County at election to take place this summer, and does not want to say anything which would injure him in votes for that office with the " Copperheads." Claims to be a strict Union man. In view of the foregoing result of examination into this particular statement contained in the document referred [to], I must report that the same is not sustained by any evidence furnished me by the parties presenting the same to headquarters of Department of the Pacific; nor have I yet been able to discover any such club or organization.

            I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JACOB L. VAN BOKKELEN,

Captain and Provost-Marshal, District of Nevada Territory.

__________

[OR I-50-1, pp. 355-360]

MAY 9-JUNE 22, 1864.—Expedition from Fort Crittenden, Utah Ter., to Fort Mojave, Ariz. Ter.

Report of Capt. George F. Price, Second California Cavalry, commanding expedition.

Salt Lake and Fort Mojave Wagon Road Expedition,

Camp 31, Fort Mojave, Ariz. Ter., Wednesday, June 22, 1864.

            Sir : I have the honor to submit herewith preliminary report of this expedition to this camp. A full and complete map of my route, together with complete history of the expedition, will be furnished as soon as practicable after my arrival at Camp Douglas. It is intended to furnish in this preliminary report sufficient information to enable the general commanding District of Utah to determine how far the expedition was successful, to what extent it succeeded in accomplishing his wishes, and whether a route from the Colorado River to Salt Lake City can be made superior to the present route from Carson City to Salt Lake, or equal to it. In obedience to letter of instructions of May 7, 1864, from headquarters District of Utah, I left Camp Douglas on morning of 9th of May, 1864, with Lieutenant Conrad and sixty-one non-commissioned officers and men, four six-mule teams, and sixty-four Government horses. I arrived at Fort Crittenden on the 11th of May, from which point I was instructed to commence my operations. I here determined to move the column and teams by the San Bernardino road, sending out small parties to the west to explore the country. Upon arrival at Muddy Creek the wisdom of this measure was apparent, for had I attempted to haul my teams on any one of the routes run by my side scouts, would have been destitute of horses and means of transportation long before arrival at Mountain Meadow. I moved the column by easy marches to Mountain Meadow, a distance of 302 1/2 miles, in sixteen days, having good water and grass along the route, with as fine a road as I ever traveled over. To this point six of my horses had become unserviceable and were run in the herd. Two of my teams gave evidence of failing, and I commenced feeding them from my private grain. At this point 1 also erected a monument in memory of the victims of the Mountain Meadow massacre, which fact was at that time communicated to you in an official letter. From Mountain Meadow to Muddy Creek my stock failed rapidly. I employed every means in my power to keep it up, making short drives, working at the teams whenever a pull was required, and keeping a working party ahead to improve the road. The distance was ninety-eight miles, and I occupied nine days in traveling it, besides resting at Mountain Meadow two days, and then did not get two of the teams into camp at Muddy [Creek] until three days after making the camp; was compelled to pack the loads in and give the mules empty wagons, which then they could scarcely haul. Leaving the Rio Virgin for Muddy, had to rise a large hill, a mile long. At that point was compelled to pack outfit on horses; then place all mules to wagons, and sixty men with ropes in addition to get them on top of the hill. It was not so much the condition of the route which broke down my means of transportation as it was the fact of having old and worn-out mules, who commenced failing on a road which was equal to a turnpike.

            I made Camp 24, on Muddy, June 3, 1864, having succeeded in getting all my stock in, excepting one mule and one horse died and one horse strayed. Total distance from Camp Douglas, 396 miles 6 furlongs and 21 rods. My side scouts from Fort Crittenden to Muddy are as follows: One from Fort Crittenden to Round Valley, via Tintic Valley, Oak Creek, and Sevier River, 101 miles; one from Radford's to Cedar City, via Deseret Settlement, Sevier River, Sevier Lake, Sink of Beaver, and Black Rock Springs; distance, 156 miles. No wagons accompanied either of these scouts. Neither could wagons have accompanied them, the routes being across heavy sand, rank growth of sage brush, no grass, and but little water on routes, and it at long intervals. The third and most important side scout started from Corn Creek, south of Fillmore, taking with it one six-mule team, the best one I had, with twenty days' rations. This scout, after almost superhuman exertions, succeeded in making New Mines, west of Beaver City, and passing down to Black Mountains were forced to come in my route to San Bernardino road at Mountain Meadow. Distance traveled, 350 miles. All of these scouts reported barren, desolate country, and no chance to run a natural wagon road where there could be found wood, water, and grass. A carefully prepared map of each of these side scouts has been made, together with complete daily journal, which will be submitted with final report. By means of these scouts I was possessed with much valuable information, and succeeded in running a complete line from Fort Crittenden to Clover and Meadow Valleys, to within a distance of seventy miles of Muddy Creek, and at one point on the side scout being 115 miles west of Beaver City, The last-named scout joined me at Muddy on 5th June, having occupied twenty days, with team and horses much jaded. It thus became evident to me that I could not continue the expedition with all of my teams and horses, and accordingly left Sergeant Gass with fifteen men at Muddy, having in charge two wagons, nineteen horses, and eleven mules, together with all of outfit not absolute necessary for me to have, and by reducing rations of those who were to accompany me was enabled to leave him rations for thirty days. He was instructed to run line from Muddy to Clover Valley as soon as horses were rested enough to do so, and to await at that point (Muddy) orders from me. None of the horses or mules left behind were in condition to cross to the Vegas; in fact, could not have driven them across the desert loose.

            I left Muddy on Tuesday evening, June 7, 1864, with forty-five men, forty-seven horses, and ten teams, having only provisions and water barrels on them. The men were reduced to one blanket and their saddle-bags, each containing one shirt, one pair drawers, and one pair of socks, Mr. Conrad and self doing the same, leaving all our mess kit, bedding, &c., at Muddy. Succeeded in crossing the desert without much trouble, and found at Vegas plenty of excellent water and grass. Had to leave at that place two horses which could not proceed any farther. After resting there until evening of 9th June resumed march from Las Vegas for El Dorado Cañon ; distance, forty-four miles. Traveled to Mesquite Springs that night, when halted until daybreak, using the spring water, which was very bad. Next day (10th) resumed march. After traveling up grade eighteen miles halted at grass; mules and horses much exhausted : gave horses three quarts of water each, and men had one quart each issued to them. Wagons and troops then separated, former taking road, latter taking trail. We made water in mountains which stood in pot holes in the rocks, and was only rain water. About dark horses were crazy for water, and had the men been compelled to travel five miles farther some of them would have gone crazy. On this route four horses gave out and had to be shot. Next morning went down into El Dorado Cañon and made Camp 27. Water enough standing in cañon for stock, but no grass. Teams came in some two or three hours afterward; mules scarcely able to stand in the harness. I remained in cañon until next day in the afternoon, then resumed march for Mojave. Arrived at Lewis' Spring with many of the horses exhausted, men nearly all walking. Upon arrival at spring could not obtain water enough for the stock. Horses arrived there about reveille; team mules did not get in until middle of afternoon, and then only brought in one wagon. It became evident to me that I would be compelled to leave them. Had taken precaution to send party from El Dorado Cañon to Mojave by river trail, and knew that fresh mules would come out in few days. Left Sergeant Gordon and nine men at Lewis' Spring with the teams; also left with them about all the provisions I had; also left with him ten horses who could not travel any farther. Six additional horses were shot or left en route from El Dorado Cañon to Lewis' Spring, making a total of twelve horses shot or left at water and grass since leaving Muddy. I then started from Lewis' Spring for Rock Springs with twenty-five horses all told, and upon arrival there found no water for stock. Drove them out to Government Hole, where they obtained enough to quench thirst. Found a stray cow and shot her for meat. Next day resumed march for Piute Creek, and from Piute Creek arrived here on the 16th instant completely worn out and exhausted, half the men barefooted, horses scarcely able to walk, not because they were poor in flesh, but because the route from Vegas here affords but little grass and water, and where the grass is there is no water, and where water is found there is no grass. I was very thankful that I had succeeded in getting here. At Piute Creek met six fresh mules going out to meet my wagons, taking also some provisions to the men. From Fillmore to Cedar City the route makes a circle into the east, and I ran three observation lines as follows: One from Corn Creek to Beaver City; one from Corn Creek to Parowan, and one from Corn Creek to Cedar City, None of these are practicable, for want of water and grass. The streams starting out from the mountains do not run down more than from one to six miles, excepting Beaver Creek. I found the maps extant of the country through which I traveled very incorrect. No reliance whatever can be placed upon the maps for any portion of the country south of Fillmore. I ran the distance from Camp Douglas to El Dorado Cañon, 488 miles, and from Camp Douglas to Fort Mojave, 585 miles four furlongs and nineteen rods. The route can be shortened from El Dorado Cañon probably twenty-five or thirty miles, and from Fort Mojave at least sixty miles, which will be done on return trip. On Tuesday (21st) dispatched an express for Muddy, with orders to Sergeant Gass to resume line of march for Camp Douglas. I cannot obtain any fresh teams or horses at this post. There are but few animals here, and they are in but little better condition than my own. The condition of my stock may be stated as follows:

            Left at Muddy June 7, 1864, 19 horses and 11 mules, worn out and unserviceable; left at Las Vegas, June 9, 2 horses, unserviceable; shot en route to Rock Springs, 10 horses; left at Rock Springs, 2 horses; left at Lewis' Spring, 12 mules and 10 horses. Total rendered unserviceable en route, including mule and horse died before reaching Muddy and 1 horse strayed, 24 mules and 45 horses. My team mules were driven in yesterday. The stock I have here will not be in condition to resume travel for at least one month, and I doubt my ability to return much of it to Camp Douglas. Plenty of provisions can be obtained here, but I do not purpose taking full supply when starting, only enough to supply to Mountain Meadow, intending that teams will meet me from Camp Douglas at or near that point. You will be advised fully of my plan of operation in time to meet me at Mountain Meadow, should I so adopt. I repeat that the condition of my stock is not caused so much by the character of the road as it is from the fact that the team mules were old, worn out, and almost unserviceable at the start for a march of such magnitude. The delay of the teams also delayed the troops, keeping it in poor range much longer than it would have been had the teams been serviceable. You will remember that at Camp Douglas I remarked that not less than fifteen of my horses were totally unfit for this expedition. I made the same remark to the general commanding, and was told that he could not do better for me. This I believe, and am satisfied I had as good an outfit as could be at that time furnished. Yet the fact cannot be denied that the outfit was entirely inadequate to the wants of the expedition. As a natural result the route proved severe upon both men and animals, and both frequently suffered intensely from want of water, and also from fatigue incident to misfortune of getting through with broken down teams. As soon as the teams commenced failing I issued private grain belonging to Mr. Conrad and self amounting to 800 pounds. As regards the route I have fully made up my mind as follows: While I will not yet say that road cannot be opened west of present traveled route until learn result of line run from Muddy to Clover Valley, am decided that no nearer, better or more practicable route can be run than the present one from Camp Douglas to Las Vegas; and having traveled from Carson City to Salt Lake over the mail road, state without any hesitation that the route I have traveled to mouth of El Dorado Cañon is superior in every respect to it, and that the total length of route need not exceed 450 miles. There is no occasion to run the southern terminus of road below El Dorado Cañon. Steam-boats can navigate the river as easily to the cañon or to a point eight miles above it, as they can and do to La Paz, 200 miles south of Mojave. I will locate the southern terminus of road either at mouth of El Dorado Cañon or at a landing eight miles above, running from thence to Las Vegas to Muddy, Virgin River, Clara River, Mountain Meadow, Cedar, Beaver, Fillmore, west side of Utah Lake to Salt Lake City. Nature of road as follows : From El Dorado Cañon forty-four miles desert to Las Vegas, where find most excellent water and grass; from Las Vegas to Muddy forty- seven miles desert, where find good water and abundance of grass ; from Muddy to Virgin, twenty miles, good road; on Virgin to Beaver down thirty-two miles sandy road, heavy hauling; from Beaver down to Clara River, good road; from Clara River to Mountain Meadow, heavy road; from Mountain Meadow to Salt Lake City, 302 1/4; miles, a turnpike road, supplied with wood, water, and grass; longest drive on it without water is twenty-seven miles. Best time to start freight trains from El Dorado Cañon on or about 20th April, as follows: A train of 100 Government wagons, divided into five parts, each part two days in advance of rear, each twenty wagons to have two grain and water wagons along, and every wagon to have water barrel holding twenty-five gallons. Feed grain to Mountain Meadow anyhow, haul water to Muddy Creek : from these two points load grain and water wagons from other teams, and the through trip can be made in twenty-six to twenty-eight days, easy. So well satisfied am I of this fact would be willing to take charge of such a train and stake my commission on bringing it through without loss of an animal, except from natural causes, provided that at the start the outfit was of a No. 1 quality. To start out any other kind of stock would simply result in delays and losses, and also injure the reputation of the route. It is useless to run a road from the cañon to Fort Mojave. It would make nearly 100 miles additional land carriage over a country poorly supplied with water and grass. The Colorado River can be navigated to El Dorado Cañon with greater ease than the Sacramento River can be navigated from Knight's Landing to Red Bluff, using the same kind of boats as are employed on the Upper Sacramento River. There are no obstructions in the Colorado River excepting the occasional shifting of sandbars, which is peculiar to the Missouri, Mississippi, and Sacramento Rivers. No approtions [sic] of public money are necessary to improve the navigation of the river. Rich mines are located along it from a point seventy miles south of La Paz to the mouth of the Virgin ; the country is rapidly filling up with an energetic people, and private enterprises can easily do all that is required and receive handsome profit from any outlay thus made. The so-termed Colorado Steam Navigation Company runs one heavy, good-for-nothing boat to La Paz, which town property is mostly owned by that arrangement. Instead of placing good boats on the river, the company acts as though it wished to retard the opening of the country, and it is my decided opinion that this company is seeking to obtain from the Government a large appropriation for the ostensible purpose of improving the navigation. Steam-boat brought a load of freight to this post on 20th May last and said would return immediately. Mr. Hardy has over 300 tons of freight lying at La Paz awaiting transportation from this model company, and when it is a notorious fact that the river is as easily navigated from La Paz to El Dorado Cañon as it is from Fort Yuma to La Paz, no reasonable excuse can be offered for such conduct on the part of a company professing a great desire to open the river and supply the wants of a region rapidly developing in great mineral wealth. All the steamers they could place on the river could run down every trip loaded to utmost capacity with rock from the many ledges and receive four cents per pound for freighting it. A steam company could make fortune upon fortune at the business of freighting rock down the river. It is scarcely a year since the mines were discovered in this section of Arizona, and now there are over 100,000 persons interested in them. Many of these ledges rival in richness the Comstock and Gould and Curry, of Nevada Territory, and it is my belief that ledges will be discovered all the way from here to Salt Lake City in the mountains of the Colorado, the Virgin, and the Sevier Rivers. The importance of opening the navigation of the Colorado River and establishing good wagon-road communication from head of navigation to Salt Lake City cannot be urged too strongly or impressed too firmly upon the minds of those in authority who have the power within their hands of prosecuting such a work to a successful termination. I passed through numerous bands of Indians from Mountain Meadow to this point, and had no trouble with them. On the contrary, found them the most inveterate beggars I ever met. In conversation with Indians at Muddy they charged the Mormons with the Mountain Meadow massacre, naming John D. Lee and Jacob Hamblin as two of the principal leaders in that affair. I have now communicated about all that I deem worthy of note at present time. The daily journal of the expedition will when finished embody every detail occurring from day to day, which, together with the map of routes, will afford complete information, and will I trust meet the approval of the general commanding, and I desire you to assure him that no effort has been spared on my part to make the expedition successful and to accomplish his wishes in regard to it. Whatever of hardships and suffering the expedition may have endured amounts to nothing if success, in his judgment, has not been accomplished by it. The health of the command is excellent.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. F. PRICE,

Captain, Second California Cavalry, Commanding Expedition.

Capt. M. G. Lewis,

            Assistant Adjutant- General, District of Utah.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 850]

General Orders,          )                                               War Dept., Adjt. General's Office,

No. 201.                      )                                               Washington, May 21, 1864.

            Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell, U. S. Volunteers, is, by direction of the President, assigned to the command of the Department of the Pacific headquarters, San Francisco, Cal.

            By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,

Assistant Adjutant- General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, p. 855]

Washington City, May 30, 1864—9.21 a. m.

Maj. Gen. I. McDowell,

            New York:

            When will you sail for California? The Secretary of War directs me to say that it is his desire that you proceed thither by the very first opportunity.

JAS. A. HARDIE,

Colonel, Inspector-General.

__________

[OR I-50-2, pp. 861-862]

Fort Ruby, Nev. Ter., June 7, 1864.

Captain Lewis,

            Assistant Adjutant-General, Camp Douglas, Utah Ter.:

            Captain: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of commanding general's telegram of yesterday. I visited Deep Creek Station on the 26th ultimo, and was so well satisfied that no men were needed there that I ordered the detachment in. Since the reported trouble in Major Egan's lodging camp and the letter received from Sergeant Jones, which I forwarded you, I have strengthened the command at Eight-Mile Station (Fort Trinity), and have directed Sergeant Jones to send men on the stage when the convenience of the mail and passengers will allow them to ride, stopping over a trip or two at Antelope, Deep Creek, and Cañon Station. That will keep men on the road and at the stations all the time. I have four teams sent to Fort Churchill, one on the road with the supplies for the men, and only four mules at the post for service. If I venture the road team with men and supplies for new stations at Deep Creek and Cañon Station I shall have to postpone the prospecting trip mentioned in my letter of the 5th instant. I intended to use the mules with the road team to pack rations for Lieutenant Hosmer's party. Will not the general revoke the order sending men to Cañon and Deep Creek Stations? Please answer by telegraph. I really do not think any more soldiers are needed on the road than there are now. I cannot answer for Company B just now. Nearly one-half of the company is absent on various duties. Those just relieved on the road will be in in a few days. I will then get their wishes and answer by telegraph.

            I am, very respectfully, your humble servant,

J. B. MOORE,

Lieutenant-Colonel Third Infantry California Vols., Comdg. Post.

__________

[OR I-50-1, pp. 377-381]

JUNE 8-AUGUST 9, 1864.—Expedition from Fort Churchill to the Humboldt River, Nev. Ter.

REPORTS.

            No. 1.—Maj. Charles McDermit, Second California Cavalry.

            No. 2.—Capt. Almond B. Wells, First Nevada Cavalry.

__________

No. 1.

Report of Maj. Charles McDermit, Second California Cavalry.

Headquarters,

Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter., September 4, 1864.

            Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith Captain Wells' report of his late expedition up the Humboldt River, also to Smoke Creek and Surprise Valley. I was in Surprise Valley in 1852 and 1853. It is situated at the east side and at the base of the Nevada Mountains, about 175 miles north of this post, 60 miles east of Fort Crook, and by the Lassen route 200 miles east from Yreka, and about the same distance from Rogue River Valley. It was in the north end of this valley where Captain Warner had a severe battle with the Indians in the year 1849 or 1850. The Indians are not very numerous, but they are expert thieves. The water, grass, and timber are abundant and of the best quality. I think it would be well to have a company of troops stationed in this valley for one or two years, but not permanently, as the country will in a few years be settled, and the Indians either run off or become domesticated. There is a good wagon road from Humboldt River to Surprise Valley, also from Fort Crook and Yreka. If the general commanding would wish me to go to Surprise Valley in October to select a military station I will be pleased to do so. The troops can put up their quarters without any expense to the Government, as the timber is abundant.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CHAS. McDERMIT,

Major, Second California Cavalry Volunteers, Commanding Post.

Lieut. E. D. Waite,

            Acting Assistant Adjutant- General, Sacramento, Cal.

[Indorsement.]

Headquarters District of California,

Sacramento, September 9, 1864.

            Respectfully forwarded to department headquarters.

            Captain Doughty, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, is, by my order, now moving to Surprise Valley for the purpose of examining the country. When his report is received it will be submitted to the general commanding the department.

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier- General, Commanding.

__________

No. 2.

Report of Capt. Almond B. Wells, First Nevada Cavalry.

            June 8, 1864, left Fort Churchill, Nev. Ter., pursuant to orders from Maj. Charles McDermit, commanding post, at 8 a. m.; traveled east ten miles and camped about 2 p. m.; water and wood plenty. Camp No. 1, June 9, left camp at 7 a. m.; traveled a distance of eighteen miles in an easterly direction and arrived at camp at 3 p. m. ; wood and water plenty. Camp No. 2, June 10, left camp at 5 p. m. ; traveled a distance of thirty-five miles in a northeasterly direction; arrived at the sink of Humboldt River at 4 o'clock next morning. This was a complete desert, the whole distance being destitute of wood, grass, and water. Camp No. 3, June 11, laid over one day to rest men and animals, they being much fatigued, as also the animals of supply train. June 12, traveled a distance of thirty-five miles; encountered a severe rain-storm, which lasted from 11 a. m, till 3 p. m. Camp No. 4, June 13, left camp at 7 a. m.; traveled a distance of twenty miles and arrived at Camp No. 5 at 3 p. m. Laid over two days in a fine valley supplied with an abundance of wood, water, and grass. Several of the animals stampeding was the cause of my detention in the camp. However, I was fortunate in recovering the whole of them. Left the camp on the morning of the 14th of June; the command arrived at Star City, in the west range of the Humboldt Mountains, about 2 p. m., traveling a distance of twenty-two miles over a barren country. Thinking it prudent to rest men and horses previous to the many deserts I had to cross, and the place affording the best kind of grass and water, I camped here for three days. Camp No. 6, June 19, here I divided the command, taking fifty men with me to visit the scene of the late massacre; the remaining twenty men I sent with the train, both to form a junction at Camp Pollock, in Smoke Creek Valley; traveled twenty-six miles; crossed the Humboldt River at Basse's Ferry; grass and water plenty. Camp No. 7, June 20, left camp at 5 a. m. and traveled in a northerly direction a distance of fifty miles, thirty miles of which was a desert country without wood, water, or grass; camped at 7 p. m. Camp No. 8, June 21, left camp at 8 a. m. and traveled a distance of twenty-nine miles over a mountainous country. Here was the scene of the late massacre. Country supplied with abundance of grass, wood, and water. Camp No. 9, June 22, left camp at 9 a. m. ; arrived at Camp No. 10 at 3 o'clock, having traveled a distance of eighteen miles; wood, water, and grass plenty. Camp No. 10, June 23, left camp at 4 a. m. and traveled in a southwesterly direction a distance of fifty-five miles, the whole distance being an alkali plain, and arrived at Rabbit Hole Station, on the Humboldt and Susanville road, at dark. Grass very poor, water scarce, and no wood. Camp No. 11, June 24, left camp at 7 a, m. and arrived at Hot Springs Station, distance of twenty miles directly west of Rabbit Hole, at 2 p. m.; wood and grass very scarce. Camp No. 12, June 25, left Camp No. 11 at 4 a. m. and traveled a distance of twenty-four miles directly west over an alkali country and arrived at Camp No. 12 6 p. m. ; water plenty, but wood and grass scarce. June 26, left Camp No. 12 at 5 a. m. and traveled a distance of thirty-five miles, thirty miles of which is a barren waste, arriving at Camp Pollock at sundown. Here I formed a junction with the train and are awaiting supplies. Remained at Camp Pollock until July 18, 1864.

            July 8, sent Lieutenant Littlefield with detachment of ten enlisted men ; took up the march to Surprise Valley, a distance of about fifty miles, with instructions from commanding officer to be absent for eight days, at the expiration of which time to report to Camp Pollock. Detachment arrived at camp on the evening of the 15th, having traveled a distance of about 180 miles, traversing nearly all of Surprise Valley (which is about sixty-nine miles in length) without meeting any Indians. This valley is situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, about seventy-five miles from Susanville, Cal., the greater portion of which is in the State of California. Here wild game of nearly all kinds abounds, with an abundant supply of bunch grass and clover. Water of every description, from boiling hot springs to the pure mountain streams, in all parts of the valley. Detachment arriving in good order, the whole command remained at Camp Pollock until

July 18, losing one enlisted man by disease and eight by desertion. July 19th, left Camp Pollock at 5 a. m. ; traveled a distance of thirty miles in a westerly direction; arrived at Camp No. 14 at 6 p. m. ; grass and wood scarce ; water plenty. July 20, left Camp No. 14 at 5.30 a. m. and traveled a distance of twenty miles in a westerly direction, and arrived at Camp Johns, near Susanville, in Honey Lake Valley, Cal., at 2 p. m. Whole command staid at this camp until July 25, when, pursuant to orders from headquarters Fort Churchill, a detachment of thirty men with twenty days' rations, under command of Lieutenant Littlefield, took up march for Unionville, in Humboldt County, Nev. Ter, (report of proceedings of detachment is herewith submitted), the balance of the command remaining at Camp Johns. Detachment under Lieutenant Littlefield returned to Camp Johns August 9, after which the whole command [remained] at the camp until August 17, when a detachment of forty men, commanded by Captain Wells, left for the summit of the Sierra Nevada Mountains with four days' rations, the remaining portion of the command, under Lieutenant Wolverton, removed camp about two miles for the purpose of getting better feed for animals. Arrived at new Camp No. 15 at sundown, and remained here until ordered to report to Fort Churchill, the detachment under Captain Wells arriving on the 20th of August. Whole command remained at the camp until August 24, when we broke up camp and started for Fort Churchill. Traveled a distance of thirty miles and arrived at Camp No. 16 at 6 p. m. Water plenty, grass scarce.

            August 25, left Camp No. 10 at 6 a. m. ; traveled a distance of twenty miles in a southwesterly direction; arrived at Camp No. 17 at 3 p. m. Wood and water plenty, grass scarce. August 26, left Camp No. 17 at 5 a. m., traveling a distance of thirty-two miles through Long Valley in a southwesterly direction, and arrived at Camp No. 18 at 6 p. m. This camp was at Pea Vine Station on the road from Susanville to Virginia City ; but little water and no grass. August 27, left camp at sunrise and traveled a distance of thirty-two miles, arriving at Camp No. 19 at 5 p. m., Virginia City. No grass, plenty of water. August 28, left Virginia City at 6 a. m.; arrived at Fort Churchill at 3 p. m.; distance from Virginia City, twenty-five miles.

            Respectfully submitted to Maj. Charles McDermit, Second Cavalry California Volunteers, commanding Fort Churchill.

A. B. WELLS,

Captain Company D, First Cavalry Nevada Territory Volunteers.

[Inclosure.]

            July 25, 1864, detachment of Company D left Camp Johns, near Susanville, Cal., at 6 a. m. (Lieutenant Littlefield in command) for Unionville, on the Humboldt River; traveled forty miles over dry and dusty plains; arrived at Mud Springs at 6 p. m. Good water and hay for horses. July 20, left Mud Springs at a. m. ; arrived at Smoke Creek Station at 10.30 a. m. Good water and hay for stock. Took in Government grain for horses, and purchased beef for men. Heavy showers of rain during the night. July 27, left Smoke Creek at 5 a. m.; watered at Buffalo Springs; arrived at Deep Hole at 4 p. m.; distance of thirty-four miles. Found water and hay for horses. During the night three men deserted, taking with them three Government horses, three saddles and bridles, three revolvers, and two carbines. July 28, left Deep Hole 6 a. m.; arrived at Hot Springs 4.30 p. m; found hay for stock; water bad. July 29, left Hot Springs at 5 a. m. ; arrived at Willow Creek at 6:30 p. m. after a hard drive of forty miles. Hay and good water for stock. July 30, left Willow Creek at 6 a. m.; arrived at Saint Mary's, on Humboldt, at 1 p. m. Camped at Humboldt River; plenty water and hay for stock. July 31, Lieutenant Littlefield left camp at Saint Mary's for Unionville, leaving command at camp. Stock and men in good condition.

            August 1, still at camp. August 2, Lieutenant Littlefield returned from Unionville at 2 p. m. August 3, still at camp. August 4, started back to Camp Johns at 5 o'clock, arrived at Rabbit Hole Station at 3.30 p. m. ; distance of thirty miles. Found good hay for stock, but water bad. August 5, left Rabbit Hole at 5 a. m. Stock in good condition; arrived at Hot Springs 2 p. m.; distance twenty miles. Found hay and poor water. August 6, left Hot Springs at 6 a. m.; arrived at Deep Hole at 3 p. m., traveling twenty-four miles to-day. August 7, left Deep Hole at 5 a. m. ; arrived at Smoke Creek at 4 p. m. ; distance thirty-two miles. Good water and hay for stock. August 8, left Smoke Creek at dark, traveling all night. August 9, arrived at Soldier's Bridge at daylight; fed stock and proceeded to Camp Johns; arrived at 9 a. m.

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[OR I-50-2, pp. 873-874]

Headquarters Department of the Pacific,

San Francisco, Cal., June 21, 1864.

To the Loyal Citizens of the Pacific Coast:

            On the eve of my being relieved from the command of the Department of the Pacific, it is deemed a proper occasion to take a retrospective view of the three years I have been in command. When I first assumed command of the department, embracing all the States and Territories west of the Rocky Mountains, I was not unmindful of the high trust reposed in me by the Government, and the following communication, which I addressed to the Adjutant-General of the Army after the expiration of the first year of my command, will exhibit the course I had thought proper to pursue, and which has been persistently followed during the whole period of my administration of military affairs on this coast.[8]

            Acting upon the principles contained in my letter above recited, I now point with pride to the happy and peaceful condition of this country. Intrusted as I have been with a high and responsible command, far removed from the seat of the General Government, I have during the whole period held in my hands the power of peace or war. Had I for a moment yielded to the insane demands of a radical press and its colaborers I should have filled my forts with political prisoners to gratify personal hatred, causing such an outburst of indignation at such a course as to render it almost certain that civil war and bloodshed would have followed. The Union-loving people on this coast are vastly in the ascendant. They have the power and the will to maintain the integrity of the Union on these distant shores. Let every attempt to raise the standard of rebellion within your borders be crushed. Listen not to the insidious arts of a hireling, radical press, which, under the specious guise of loyalty, would not hesitate to gratify its pruriency for fame by doing all in its power to plunge your country into all the horrors of a civil war.

Be just, and fear not;

Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,

Thy God's, and truth's.

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

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[OR I-50-2, pp. 884-885]

Abstract from return of the Department of the Pacific, Brig. Gen. George Wright, U. S.

Army, commanding, for June 30, 1864.

* * * * * * * * * *

DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA.

Brig. Gen. George Wright.

* * * * * * * * * *

FORT CHURCHILL, NEV. TER.

Maj. Charles McDermit.

1st Nevada Cavalry (four companies).

1st Nevada (three companies).

* * * * * * * * * *

DISTRICT OF UTAH.

Brig. Gen. P. Edward Connor.

CAMP DOUGLAS, UTAH TER.

Col. Robert Pollock.

2d California Cavalry, Company M.

3d California (six companies).

FORT BRIDGER, UTAH TER.

Maj. Patrick A. Gallagher.

3d California, Company I.

FORT RUBY, NEV. TER.

Lieut. Col. Jeremiah B. Moore.

3d California, Companies B and E.

CAMP CONNOR, IDAHO TER.

Capt. David Black.

3d California, Company H.

CAMP CONNESS, UTAH TER.

Maj. John M. O'Neill.

2d California Cavalry (four companies).

1st Nevada Cavalry, Companies A and B.

* * * * * * * * * *