morning, when it returns to San Francisco, arriving there on Monday evening. Instructions have gone to Captain Folsom accordingly. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Captain A. J. SMITH, W. T. SHERMAN, 1st Lieut. 3d Art., A. A. A. General. 1st Dragoons, commanding, San Francisco, California. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, February 20, 1849. CAPTAIN: I have just received from the alcalde of this district a communication of to-day's date, of which the enclosed is a translation. You will furnish him the armed force he asks for the security of the prisoner, as long he desires it. You will judge whether it will be most convenient to guard the prisoner where he is, or to take him to your own guard-house. The guard is furnished solely for the safe-keeping of the prisoner, and is to take no part in carrying the sentence into execution-that belongs entirely to the civil authority. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, commanding. Captain H. S. BURTON, HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, February 21, 1849. SIR: Your letter of January 29th is this day received, and, in answer, I am directed to say to you that general orders No. 36, of July 7, 1848, herewith enclosed, continues you in service until you are "duly notified of your discharge." The exhibition of these orders to Major Hill, paymaster, will remove any doubt he may have entertained as to your posi tion, as an officer of the army. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. T. SHERMAN, First Lieut. 3d Artillery, A. A. A. General. Assistant Surgeon W. S. BOOTH, U. S. A., Los Angeles, California. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, February 25, 1849. SIR: By direction of Colonel R. B. Mason, I enclose you a copy of a letter from the Adjutant General, received on the 23d instant, and an extract from one received on the same day from the Secretary of War, call ing for certain muster-rolls and information that Lieutenant Colonel Fremont states are in your possession. These letters will exhibit to you the great importance of these rolls to establish the claims of the California battalion to pay for their services. Colonel Mason requests that you will, with all convenient despatch, forward to him the original rolls referred to, and any other information that would aid in establishing the claims referred to, which rolls and information he will transmit to the Adjutant General at Washington. Should the muster-rolls in your possession not be in duplicate, it would be advisable to have copies made for yourself, so that the originals might go to Washing ton. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major READING, W. T. SHERMAN, First Lieutenant 3d Artillery, A. A. A. General. Late Paymaster, Fremont's Battalion. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, February 25, 1849. SIR: Colonel Mason directs that upon the return of the government barque Anita to San Francisco, you load her with commissary stores, and despatch her to San Pedro; then to deliver to the commissary of the dragoon command, now at Los Angeles, the stores he may require; after which to proceed to San Diego, and there await the arrival of the troops from the United States, or further instructions from proper authority. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, W. T. SHERMAN, First Lieutenant 3d Artillery, A. A. A. Genera!. Captain J. L FOLSOM, HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, February 27, 1849. SIR: I proceed to suggest, in compliance with the wish expressed yesterday in conversation by the General, in relation to the points at which the troops now in the country, and those shortly to arrive, under Brevet Brigadier General Riley, should take post until the permanent positions for the military posts are selected. This cannot be done until the country is more thoroughly examined, with that particular view. Two companies should occupy the Presidio barracks at San Francisco Captain Smith's company, 1st dragoons, now garrisons that. The company of the 3d artillery, soon to arrive, should at once take post there, though a much greater force is required for the purpose of repairing the old fort at the entrance of the harbor, and mounting as early as practicable a few heavy guns; but it is useless to attempt to keep such a force there, as the gold fever, the season for which is at hand, will take off nearly the whole of any force at that post. Company F, 3d artillery, now here, is sufficient for Monterey. The whole of Brevet Brigadier General Riley's command should disembark at San Diego, and take post at the mission of San Luis Rey, distant about 39 miles, leaving a small force at San Diego. The two companies of the 1st dragoons now at Los Angeles should also take post at the mission of San Luis Rey, leaving Brevet Major Graham's command at Los Angeles. The above-named mission will afford ample quarters and storehouses for the whole of this command, and the troops will be more out of the gold mania. From its position, detachments can easily be thrown into either Warner's or the Cajori pass, or further on, in the direction of the junction of the Colorado and Gila rivers, at or near which point, I think, it will be found necessary to establish a military post. The Indians are troublesome and commit depredations upon the settle. ments in all parts of the country, particularly to the south. There should be a small post on the waters of the San Joaquin, east of San Luis Obispo, with a view to protection against the Indians; and also one in the Sacramento valley, some distance north of Sutter's Fort; but so long as the gold mines continue to yield in the abundance they now do, it will be impossible to keep soldiers in those valleys, and it will be useless to put them there. I am, respectfully, Lieutenant A. GIBBS, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, commanding. Mounted Rifles, A, A. A. General, 3d div sion. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, February 28, 1849. CAPTAIN: In acknowledging the receipt of your communication of the 7th instant, I am instructed by the colonel commanding the department to say that, under the peculiar circumstances existing in California, you will exercise a sound discretion in granting furloughs to your men-to such numbers, and for such periods, as shall be most consistent with the interests of the service. Very respectfully, captain, your obedient servant, Captain A. J. SMITH, ED. R. S. CANBY, Asistant Adjutant General. 1st Dragoons, commanding, &c., San Francisco.. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, March 1, 1849. SIR: The American steamship "California" arrived here on the 23d ult., and brought me a copy from the Adjutant General of your instructions of the 5th of October, and I hasten, by the first opportunity, to inform you that the whole of the 2d infantry are to disembark at San Diego, and to take post at the mission of San Diego, distant about thirty-nine niles, leaving such a force at San Diego as you may think proper. Never more than one company has garrisoned that post. San Luis Rey will afford your command ample quarters and storehouses for everything, and it is the only place in California that can shelter so comfortably your whole regiment; and, besides, it is the most suitable point at which to locate the main depot and force in the south. Brevet Major Graham, commanding at Los Angeles, will be directed to send to San Luis Rey, to await your arrival at San Diego, all the wagons and teams that he can spare. Captain Folsom, assistant quartermaster at San Francisco, has been instructed to send provisions and lumber, (if any can be obtained,) iron, nails, &c., to San Diego, suitable for making or repairing doors, windows, &c. He is also directed to send a number of new wagons and harness. Teams you will have to pick up in the lower country, and perhaps put ox-tongues to your wagons, and work oxen. Should the transport-ship having on board company M, 3d artillery, and the detachment of fifty recruits, put into San Diego, please order her to San Francisco, touching at Monterey to land the recruits, and then proceeding to San Francisco to land company M. Should any vacancies exist in the companies of the 2d infantry, you had better fill them from these recruits, bearing in mind that the company at this place requires some thirty-odd to fill it up to sixty-four. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brevet Brig. Gen. RILEY, or R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, commanding. SENIOR OFFICER of the transport first arriving at San Diego. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, CAPTAIN: The colonel commanding directs that you send by the barque Anita to San Diego, for the use of General Riley's command, twenty fourhorse wagons and ten one-horse carts, with harness, &c., complete, from those now in store at San Francisco. You will also send a sufficient supply of scythes to enable the troops to cut grass for the public animals. The colonel suggests (a suggestion only) that the master of the Anita be instructed to touch at Santa Cruz and take on a deck load of lumber for San Diego. If the vessel is not capable of carrying at one trip all the supplies required for San Pedro and San Diego, it will be advisable to load her with a portion of each, and make two trips. Very respectfully, captain, your obedient servant, Captain J. L. FOLSOM, Assistant Adjutant General San Francisco, California. Assistant Quartermaster U. S. A., CIRCULAR. The colonel commanding the tenth military department requires, as soon as practicable, a list of all public property received from Colonel Fremont's battalion, or any agent or member thereof, with an estimate of the value of the articles at the time they were received. The list will also state the condition of the property as receipted for, serviceable or unserviceable, good or bad condition, according to the facts. Any horse, gun, or other article that may have been restored to the original owner, will be mentioned in the column of remarks. Very respectfully, ED. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant General. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, March 1, 1849. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, March 7, 1849. MAJOR: The colonel commanding the department directs that the squadron of 1st dragoons, now under your command at Los Angeles, be immediately sent to the mission at San Luis Rey. The quartermaster of the squadron will be instructed to take with him to San Luis all the public wagons that can be spared from Los Angeles. They will be placed at the disposition of General Riley for the transportation of his cominand from San Diego to the mission, upon his arrival at the former place, which it is supposed he will reach some time in the course of the month of April. The command need not take a large supply of subsistence stores to San Luis, as an abundant supply will be sent by sea to San Diego. Instructions for the command of the squadron are sent herewith, under cover to you. The express from your post, due at this place on the 1st instant, has not yet arrived. The colonel commanding desires that your attention be called to this subject, and that you give at Los Angeles such directions as will insure its regular arrival in future. You will instruct your quartermaster to establish an express from San Luis Rey to Los Angeles, running in connexion with the regular expresses from Los Angeles to this place. Very respectfully, major, your obedient servant, Brevet Major L. P. GRAHAM, Ass stant Adjutant General. 2d Dragoons, commanding, Los Angeles. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, MAJOR: I am instructed by the colonel commanding the department to say that, on the arrival of your squadron at the mission of San Luis Rey, |