Arizona citizen., 1871-04-15
REPORTO COLONEL GEORGE
 STONEMAN.
HEADQ'RS DEPT ARIZONA,
 PRESCOTT, Oct. 31, 1870.

J thorough inspection of the whole de- pertinent of Arizona, and made as careful an examination of all the i'm portant points within its limits as far as time and circumstance would allow, the first opportunity is embraced to furnish for the information ofsuperior authorities, in this my annual report, a statement of the condition of affairs m the department, as well as sum- mary of the operations of the troops in the command, during the past six months.
 In accordance with the requirements of Paragraph III, General Orders No. Il, Headquarters of the Army, April l5,. 1870, organizing the new Depart ment of Arizona, I assumed command thereof May 3, 1870; but owing to the necessary delays in procuring the material to start and organize new department, the want of transporta- ton, and the absence of all staff off cers, I was unable to reach Prescott be- fore the 3d of July. Upon arrival there it was found that there were no quarters or buildings of any kind, either owned by the Government or that could be hired, and we conse- quently pitched some tents and went into camp-offices, officers and clerks. There were in the department ten troops of the Third Cavalry, six troops of the First Cavalry, ten companies of the Twenty-frst Infantry, four con- panies of the Twelfth Infantry, Q de- tachment of the Third Artillery, and detachment of unassigned recruits and these were employed in garrison ing eighteen posts. There were also in the department four quartermas- ters' depots. This gave about one company and half at post. The Third Cavalry was much, and the Twelfth and Twenty-first Infantry were very much reduced by expiration of terms of service; and as no re-en- listments were being made, the num- ber of troops in the department, already small, was daily growing smaller. These regiments are now, however, being filled up very literally with re- cruits, and when all have arrived which are understood to be on the way, the strength of the command will be all that is desired, if properly used and located. The detachment of the Third Artillery at San Diego is now with drawn, the location in Williamson $ Valley Camp Rawlins) discontinued, and the post of Camp Goodwin aban- doned. I have deferred making any recommendations in regard to the dis continuance of other posts and depots until after I could have an opportuni- ty to form an opinion, based on per sonal observations and inspection.
 am now, however, prepared to re- commend that seven more posts be abandoned, and the troops serving thereat concentrated at the other eight posts, and that three quartermasters depots, all except Yuma, be broken up, and the civil employees at them dis charged. This will increase the eff ciency of the command, and aid the department commander very much in his efforts to reduce the current ex- penses of the department. The posts thus reduced in number, there would remain Camps Verde, Thomas, Grant, Bowie, Hualpai, Date Creek, Mojave aid Yuma, and their importance would, in my opinion, be in the order in which they are named. The first three are located in the heart of the hostile Indians, or would be with Grant moved forty miles to the north. The next three are located on three of the great mail routes and highways through the Territory, and the last two are infantry posts, and are located on the Colorado river, and have con- trol over the river Indians. They are all perfectly healthy, (except Grant, which would be when removed, locat- ed in the best grazing portions of Ari- zona, and are so situated that what ever building material there is in Ari- zona can be made available. The posts and depots recommended to be discontinued are expensive, and can be dispensed with advantageously to the Government, and without other detri- ment than pecuniary one to the peo- pie of the Territory in their immediate vicinity, who, of course, will object, as they will be unable, as heretofore, te dispose of their hay, grain, &c., to the Government, at the usual and exorbit- ant prices. The location of some ot the posts appears to have been the re-