[387]

WILLIAM H. EMORY. Draft of letter dated Camp Riley, Nov. 1, 1849, to Maj. Genl. R. Jones, Adjt. Genl. U. S. Army. Encloses muster roll of "H" Company, 2nd Infantry. The commander of "A" Company, 1st Dragoons, is absent at the Gila, and has been instructed to muster his command and forward the roll. Meanwhile reports with satisfaction no desertions from the command. For two months the whole command has been in active service escorting various detachments; although at times all its resources have been placed in requisition, it has proved amply sufficient to protect the Commission in its operations. Lt. Couts, commanding the escort at the Gila, has sent in valuable reports on the Indians at that point and on the condition of the emigrants by that route, all of which have been forwarded to the 10th Military Dept.

2 pp. 8vo.

[388]

WILLIAM H. EMORY. Draft of letter dated Camp Riley, Nov. 1, 1849, to Maj. S. P. Heintzelman. Emory was about to send 2,000 rations to the Gila and to Camp Salvation to prevent his parties being driven in by the irresistible appeals made to them by the distressed emigrants, for good. Having learned yesterday that H. was authorized by the Genl. Commanding to issue provisions at these points to distressed emigrants, he has countermanded the order. "Today Mr. Foster an intelligent gentleman reached my camp having recently passed over the route He represents the sufferings as extreme, and that there are many women & children on the desert in great destitution."

1 p. 8vo.

[389]

E. R. S. CANBY. ALS, dated Nov. 1, 1849, to Emory. General news. Official word reached the general last night that Capt. Warner of the Topographical Corps was murdered by the Indians of the Upper Sacramento on Sept. 26. Lt. Couts' application for leave will be approved and forwarded, to take effect when he can be relieved by another officer. Lt. Sturgis was expected to reach this place in season to embark for San Diego by the steamer expected tonight, but up to 10 P. M. he has not yet arrived. 2 pp. 16mo.

[Also in Letterbook A, p. 72.]

[390]

HEAD QUARTERS 10th MILITARY DEPARTMENT.

Letter signed E. R. S. Canby, dated
Monterey, Nov. 1, 1849, to Emory.

His several communications have been
received; the Commanding General fully
approves of the course pursued by Lt.
Couts and the measures adopted by Emory
for the relief of the emigrants by the
Gila. In anticipation of such occurrences,
Maj. Heintzelman was authorized some time
since to take any necessary measures for
the relief of the emigrants. No Indian
difficulties are anticipated if proper
forbearance is exercised by the emigrants.
2 pp. 8vo.

[Also in Letterbook A, pp. 71-72.]

[390]

HEAD QUARTERS, 10th MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
Letter signed E. R. S. Canby, Asst. Adjt.
Genl., Monterey, Nov. 1, 1849, to Maj.
S. P. Heintzelman. Extract. The
Commanding General informs Heintzelman
"that he is exceedingly solicitous about
the emigrants by the Gila route and hopes
that you have taken measures to prevent
suffering from the want of provisions.
Should there be emigrants at San Diego
in actual want, you are authorized to
sell to them in limited quantities, taking
care that this be done only to relieve
immediate wants, and that it be discon-
tinued as soon as they can supply them-
selves from other sources."

1 p. 8vo.

[Also in Letterbook A, p. 74.]

[392]

WILLIAM G. MARCY. ALS, dated Monterey, Nov. 1, 1849, to Emory. Encloses invoices for ordnance stores turned over to Capt. Kane for transportation to Emory. [Attached are 2 duplicate invoices.]

3 pp. 8vo.

[Also in Letterbook A, p. 71.]

[393]

HEAD QUARTERS, 10th MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
Letter signed E. R. S. Canby, Asst. Adjt.
Genl., Monterey, Nov. 2, 1849, to Emory.
The Commanding General asks to be furnished with a return of Emory's command, for the months of June and July, 1849, and also requests that Emory have the commanders of his escorts furnish regularly the monthly returns of their companies, to enable the Commanding General to trace and account for the alterations that have occurred in the Department.

1 p. 8vo.

[Also in Letterbook A, p. 83.]

[394]

WILLIAM H. EMORY. Memorandum for J. B. Weller, U. S. Commissioner, dated Camp Riley, Nov. 2, 1849. Outlines the operations of the Astronomical and Topographical Engineer party on duty with the Commission since July 20, when Emory established an observatory at Camp Riley. Stress is laid on the difficulty of operations "here in California destitute of every convenience." There remains to be done only the marking on the ground between Camp Riley and the Gila of the azimuth of the astronomical line, and the placing of monuments as the Commissioner may direct.

4 pp. 8vo.

[396]

S. P. HEINTZELMAN. ALS, dated San Diego, Nov. 3, 1849, to Emory. In reply to Emory's of the 1st, encloses a copy of his instructions in relation to the suffering emigrants. Since those instructions he has made inquiries regarding the suffering emigrants without getting any authentic information until a few days ago, when he ordered flour and pork prepared to send to the Gila. Understanding that Emory's expedition was ready to start, he asks that the train and rations be turned over to Lt. Murray at San Diego, which "will much facilitate the operation & may prevent some suffering amongst the emigrants." He adds that since giving the order he has "received information from persons who ought to know, to the effect that there is very little suffering from want of provisions & that in three weeks nearly all the emigrants will have reached the settlements."

1 p. 8vo.

[397]

WILLIAM H. EMORY. Draft of letter dated Camp Riley, N ov. 5, 1849, to Maj. S. P. Heintzelman. Informs him that he labors under a misapprehension in supposing the expedition to the Gila "was ready to start"; Emory ordered it to be prepared, but soon after learning that Heintzelman had full powers on the subject, stopped the preparations and notified H., as Emory had no power and was acting on his own responsibility. Emory thus has no train to turn over to H., but will willingly lend any aid in his power to promote "this humane object." Politely contradicts Heintzelman about the sufferings of the emigrants: "I reiterate the opinion that there is great distress for want of food amongst the emigrants, at the junction of the Gila & Colorado and on the desert & believe the information on which it is based entirely authentic."

1 p. 8vo.

[398]

WILLIAM H. EMORY. Draft of letter dated Camp Riley, Nov. 9, 1849, to Lt. A. W. Whipple. Asks him to mark on the ground the Boundary line one mile beyond the point where it crosses the Colorado River. The Commissioner, who is confined to his bed, desires Emory to request Whipple to agree with Salazar on the point where "the Gila empties into the Colorado," and make an accurate survey of the same, and also of the Boundary line from that point to where it crosses the Colorado. Sends again the longitude and latitude of the Initial Point, which Whipple has not acknowledged receiving, though it was the special object of one express which by Whipple's account reached his camp.

1 p. foolscap.

[398]

S. P. HEINTZELMAN. ALS, dated San Diego, Nov. 12, 1849, to Emory. Has just received Emory's of the 10th; will be much obliged if Emory will turn over to him the dragoons Emory spoke of. They will be ready to start in a few days. 1 p. 8vo.

[Also in Letterbook A, p. 86.]

[499]

R. JONES, Adjt. Genl. LS, dated War
Department, Adjutant General's Office,
Washington, Nov. 16, 1849, to Emory.
In reply to Emory's of Sept. 11, tells
him he took a mistaken course in ordering
Lt. Evans to report to that office. If
it became necessary, "as doubtless was
the case, to replace any portion of it,
the Commander of the Department was the
proper authority to act in the matter."
It would be impracticable to hold a
court martial in Washington on such a
case, on account of the impossibility of
securing the attendance of witnesses at
a great distance from the place where
offences to be tried are committed. But
the Secretary of War "appreciates the
motives which governed you, and commends
your promptness in suppressing the
apprehended difficulties in your camp."

1 p. 8vo.

[402]

E. G. BECKWITH. ALS, dated San Diego, Nov. 19, 1849, to Emory. Having received orders last night from the 10th Military Dept. to remain with the escort with which he arrived at this place until the receipt of further instructions, and to place them immediately in efficient condition for service, requests that the men of this escort temporarily placed on duty with Emory's command be immediately ordered to report to Beckwith. Also requests that Lt. Couts be directed "to forward to me with equal dispatch any of the men of this escort whom he has assumed authority to detain under his command. I deem this important to enable me, as required, to place my command immediately in condition for efficient service."

1 p. 8vo.

[404]

RICHARD RUST. ALS, dated San Diego, Nov. 19, 1849, to Emory. The Town Council, at a meeting held Nov. 19, 1849, directs that the present occupants of the building erected by general subscription of the town for a public school and council room be notified of the necessity of its being vacated and reverted to its intended purpose as soon as possible, the corporation to pay all just claims for improvements after deducting a corresponding rent. Rust is appointed a committee for that purpose, and finding that Emory is the proper person to address in the matter, solicits his early attention to it.
1 p. 8vo.

[404]

W. A. SLAUGHTER. ALS, dated San Diego, Nov. 20, 1849, to Emory. Slaughter called on Maj. Heintzelman as directed but was refused use of the mission for one of the companies in Emory's command, on grounds that all the rooms but one leaked badly and he expected every day that the roof would fall in; for this reason it had not been employed as a storehouse.

Dr. Summers has the necessary medicines, but cannot turn them over to Emory without an order from Heintzelman, to whom Emory will have to make requisition. Dr. Summers also tells Slaughter he should remain in San Diego until he recovers from the rheumatism, which he thinks will be in a few days. Other matters of routine.

2 pp. 8vo.

[406]

JOHN M. CLAYTON, Sec. of State. LS, dated
Department of State, Washington, Nov. 21,
1849, to Emory. Has learned with regret
from Emory's letter of Sept. 15 that he
wishes to be relieved from duty with the
Boundary Commission. Praises Emory in
high terms, but accedes to his request,
and in a letter of this date has requested
the Secretary of War to designate his
successor. With respect to the civil
assistants, "it is presumed that it would
be best for them to remain with a view to
aid your successor in the discharge of his
duties."

2 pp. 8vo.

[407]

S. D. STURGIS. ALS, dated Dragoon Camp, Nov. 22, 1849, to Emory. Reports on the condition of the dragoon horses left behind by Couts. There are 22 animals now in camp. "Considering the degree to which these animals were reduced and their strength exhausted on their service in this country, they are looking quite well and had it not been for the few days of cold rain we have had and the new grass which has sprung up and is now physicing them they might be said to look very well. They are, however, still very weak, and many of them being old horses, they will be a long time in regaining their former strength and I fear they will never do so far succeed in doing so, as to be capable of performing Dragoon Service until their grass is accompanyied with a due proportion of good grain."

2 pp. 8vo.

[400]

J. HAYDEN. ALS, dated San Diego, Nov. 26, 1849, to Emory. Has inquired about forage for the dragoon horses. Only 20 fanegas can be had, at the exorbitant price of $9. Asks Emory's instructions. Has obtained quarters for H Company which however require cleaning and repairs; asks that Sergeant Furguson and six or seven men be sent up for the purpose. Rents have been rising, nearly doubling in the past week, and he has been compelled to give $50 per month for the dragoon quarters.

1 p. 16mo.

[41]

JOHN M. CLAYTON, Secretary of State. LS,
dated Washington, Nov. 28, 1849, to Emory.
The letter addressed to him by the Depart-
ment on the 21st inst. has been detained so
that it might be sent by the officer desig-
nated to succeed him. It now develops,
however, that the Secretary of War has
denied Emory's request for relief, on the
grounds that it would be greatly incon-
venient to the military service. Under
these circumstances it is hoped that Emory
will continue to discharge his duties
"with the same fidelity and ability by
which you have attained your high profes-
sional and personal character."

2 pp. foolscap.

[412]

WILLIAM H. EMORY. Draft of letter dated San Diego, Nov. 29, 1849, to Maj. E. R. S. Canby. According to instructions, Lt. Couts has sent on the body of Capt. Thorne, which was turned over to the officers of his regiment and buried at San Diego yesterday.

1 p. 8vo.

[418]

A. W. WHIPPLE. Contemporary copy of letter
dated Mouth Rio Gila, Nov. 29, 1849, to
Jose Salazar y Larregui. Sends him the
extract from Emory's official communication
asking that they jointly determine the
point where the Gila empties into the Colora-
do, etc. Asks whether Salazar can conform
to this request, and if so, when.
2 pp. 8vo.

[416]

U. S. Navy.

CADWALADER RINGGOLD. ALS, dated San Francisco, Nov. 30, 1849, to Emory. In need of a chronometer during the time he will be engaged in the examinations and improvements requested to be made in thehabby Gen. Riley, he has been offered the use of one of Emory's in the hands of Maj. Fitzgerald. Assures Emory he will take proper care of it and return it to Emory's order when he finishes the work, should Emory not want it before.

1 p. 8vo.