June 4, left Blue Water Station at 2. 10 a. m. and expected to march to Tucson, fifty-four miles, in the next twenty-four hours, as there is no water on the road, and not enough with company to encamp on; some wagons remain loaded with 3,600 pounds; morning quite cool and very fine for marching; road continues to rise to the Pciacho; at 4. 40 a. m. nine miles and six-tenths from Blue Water; soil, clay, water-washed, andvery hard and smooth, extends for miles on either side of the road; considerable dry gramma grass in the immediately vicinity and mesquite sparde. At thirteen miles and nine-tenths passed graves of Lieutenant Barrett and two soldiers on the left of road. The chalcos or water holes, now dry, are in the mesquite, on the right of the road; here quite a thicket; some grass, but dry. The road is now level, or nearly so, for three or four miles. At 6. 45 a. m. halted at the Picacho Station on the right, and distant from Blue Water Station fourteen miles and nine-tenths; saw a band of antelope near foot a peak; no water at this point; consumed about 200 gallons of watr in tank, for which had to wait half an hour; resumed march at 7. 45 a. m; road begins to descend toward the south two miles beyond the Picacho and so continues to point of mountain; a very excellent road all the way. At twenty-five miles and five-tenths passed a deep well; dry on right; no water ever found here; high mountains on right, distant from 30 to 100 miles, and between mountain and road valley of santa Cruz River, here only an arroyo, which road crosses near point of mountain; at 12 m. and twnty-nine miles halted half an hou; met a messenger at 1. 30 p. m. and received notice of water in abundance at point of mountain, where company arrived and encamped at 4. 15 p. m. ; station on right and well on left of road; water plenty; no grass; no wood at well, and but little on last eight miles of road; used water brought from Tucson on wagons, and did not thoroughly test the capacity of the well, which is thirty-nine feet deep, with four feet of water; all agree in pronouncing it the best on the desert and say it cannot be dipped dry; thirty-nine miles and one-tenth.

June 5, left camp at 3 a. m., about five miles from point of mountain; dense mesquite thicket - a good cover for Indians; at six miles crossed arroyo of santa Cruz River, descending to left; quite dry; a little sand, and some more at eleven miles, half a mile of it this time; remainder of road very good; numerous cottonwood trees on road this day and much mesquite; no water; between seven and ten miles from point of mountain much salt grass; poor stuff for forage. First five and last three miles and a half of to-day's march very fine; road of hard gravel; arrived at Tucson at 8. 45 a. m. ; fifteen miles. Total, eighty-six miles and seven-tenths.

Tuscon is about halfway between Fort Yuma and the Rio Grande, and contains a population of 400, or perhaps 500, mostly Mexicans. A few Americans and foreigners were living here, principally gamblers and ruffians, traitors to their country - secessionists. Colonel Carleton received his promotion to brigade-general of volunteers while on the desert in the early part of June. On his arrival at Tuscon the Territory of Arizona was at once placed under martial law, and the following proclamation issued. *

* * * * *

A number of notorious characters were arrested, examined by military commissions, and sent to Fort Yuma. Order sprang from disorder, and in a short time a den of thieves was converted into a peaceful village. In the meantime General Carleton was making active preparations to move his command to the Rio Grande; wagons were repaired, stores collected from Sonora, and everything put in as good condition as circumstances would permit after the severe march over the Yuma and Gila Deserts. No communication up to this time could be had with our forces in New Mexico. The strength of the rebels and their locality entirely unknown. The great difficulty in communicating with General Canby, at that time in cimmand of the Department of New Mexico, was on account of the hostile Indians, the Apache Nation occupying the whole country between the Rio Grande and the Colorado Rivers. The great distance to be traversed through their country rendered it hazaradous, if not impossible, for any small party to get through it. General Carleton endeavored to send an express to General canby from Tucson. This was carried by three men. The party was attacked

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* See inclosure C to Carleton's report of August 2, p. 96.

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