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room. This limit has been fixed by Major Vinton, the senior quartermaster on the Pacific coast.

For fuel, the commutation will, of course, be regulated by the market price.

The general desires that you will quiet any uneasiness that may exist in the minds of the inhabitants of your neighborhood by assuring them that he will use all the means under his control to give them an adequate protection. The necessity for having more troops in the south is fully felt, and has been represented to the proper authorities. He hopes to have it in his power in the course of a few months to establish troops in such positions as will effectually prevent the occurrence of the dangers which they apprehend.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major S. P. HEINTZELMAN,

E. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant General.

2d Infantry, commanding, San Diego.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Sacramento City, July 22, 1849.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report, for the information of the commanding general, that, from a partial examination of the country south of this place, and from information collected at Monterey before leaving that place, and while upon the road, I am satisfied that the most important point for a military post in the San Joaquin valley will be at or near the junction of the Los Reyes river with its most southern branch, distant 120 to 140 miles from Monterey, and from 15 to 20 miles east of the Yuba lake.

The rapidly-increasing white population on the headwaters of the Merced, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne rivers, is driving the Indians from those rivers to the south, where they concentrate about the headwaters of the San Joaquin and Los Reyes rivers. The Indian population of these rivers, with the exception of two or three tribes, have given evidence of the most friendly disposition towards the Americans. The country bordering on these rivers is rich in minerals, and the population now in the southern mines is moving to the south, and the close contact that must result will inevitably lead to many aggressions committed by the one party upon the other. It is important that our own citizens be protected against Indian hostilities; and the dictates of policy, as well as humanity, require that the Indians should be secured against the aggressions of the whites.

The establishment of a military post on the Los Reyes river will give protection to the country east of the San Luis Obispo, which frequently suffers from the depredations of Indian horse thieves.

There will be much difficulty at present in supplying a post so remote from the coast; and, of the routes by which supplies may be sent, I am not yet able to decide which will be the best; but I expect, on my arrival at Benicia, to receive a report from Lieutenant Wilson, 1st dragoons,

which will determine this point; and, when that report is received, I shall be able to report more definitively.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Lieut. Col. J. HOOKER,

B. RILEY,

Brevet Brigadier General.

Assistant Adjutant General, Headquarters, 3d Division.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, California, August 9, 1849.

COLONEL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of June 21, and, in reply to so much of it as desires aid "to direct Major Kingsbury to proceed to his destination at or near Feather river without further delay," to state that, at the date of your letter, Major Kingsbury had received no instructions from me, nor from any other source through me, to establish himself on or near Feather river. He was ordered to establish his camp in the vicinity of Sutter's Fort, for the immediate object, suggested by the major general commanding the division, of "looking into certain Indian troubles that have recently occurred on the American fork;" and I did not intend he should go beyond that neighborhood until the selection of a position for a military post on the Upper Sacramento, ordered by the commander of this department in January last, could be made.

Before leaving San Francisco, Major Kingsbury had indicated, for the temporary encampment of his cominand, a point on the Cosumnes river, distant from Sutter's Fort 18 or 20 miles. His selection was approved by me, as it was the seat of the principal Indian disturbances referred to in the communication in division headquarters of May 4. He now reports that, previous to the receipt of your communication of July 10, he had no order to remove to Feather river, or any instructions going beyond those given him from department headquarters; and that, in encamping his command at Sutter city, he was governed by the advice of the Indian agent of that district, and the information communicated to him from me-that, so soon as the necessary arrangements could be made, a topographical examination of that part of the country would be ordered for the purpose of determining a more permanent position for his command. My recent visit to the Sacramento river was for the purpose of determining this position, when it was arrested by the selection announced in your communication to Major Kingsbury of July 10.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Lieut. Col. J. HOOKER,

B. RILEY,

Brevet Brigadier General, commanding.

Assistant Adjutant General U. S. A., Sonoma.

HEADQUARTERS TENTHI MILITARY DEPARTMENT,
Monterey, California, August 9, 1819.

CAPTAIN: I am instructed by the commanding general to say that you will cause the government reserves at San Francisco to be properly marked out, and notice to be given in one or more papers published in that town, forbidding trespasses by the erection of buildings, or in any other manner what pever.

Mr. Thompson and Mr. Steineberger are the only persons authorized to occupy any portion of these lands; and without authority communica ted to you through or from department headquarters, you will permit no one else to occupy them.

Very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

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E. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant General.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, California, August 14, 1849.

MAJOR: I am instructed by the commanding general to enclose for your information a copy of a letter to the assistant quartermaster at San Francisco, in relation to the land on which the post office agent at San Francisco was authorized by you to erect a building. This portion of the reserve is covered by a grant to Mr. A. B. Thompson, given by the Mexican authorities in 1838, which, although not considered good, was recog nised by Governor Mason, the former governor of California, himself, to the extent of "occupancy of the house, and right of way to the water." The remainder of the reservation is in possession of Mr. Steineberger, under authority given him by the assistant quartermaster at San Francisco, which was not submitted to the commanding general of this depart

ment.

Mr. Allen's application to General Riley, and your conditional permission, have been forwarded to division headquarters disapproved.

Doctor E. Jones, mentioned in the enclosed communication, was the agent or assignee of Mr. Thompson, and the papers therein referred to are on file at the presidio of San Francisco.

Very respectfully, major, your obedient servant,

Major R. ALLEN,

E. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant General.

Ass stant Quartermas'er, San Francisco.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, California, August 9, 1849.

SIR: I am instructed by the commanding general, in reply to your Communication of the 7th instant, to say that the ground on which you have commenced building is covered by a grant to Mr. A, B. Thompson,

given by the Mexican authorities in 1838, which, although not con sidered good, has been recognised by Governor Mason and himself to the extent of " occupancy of the house, and right of way to the water," until his claim be subinitted to the United States government.

Until this title matter is decided by the authorities at home, he has no disposition to interfere. The remainder of the reserve is already in the possession of Mr. Steineberger. It is proper to say that your application would not have been approved, as the reservation has been selected for military purposes by a board of engineer officers, and the selection ap proved by the Secretary of War.

Your application has been forwarded to division headquarters disap. proved.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

R. T. P. ALLEN, Esq.,

Post Office Agent, San Francisco.

E. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant General.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,

Monterey, California, August 10, 1819.

SIR: You will herewith receive a letter from the alcalde of Santa Barbara, giving information that a Chilian brig, the Imperial," which put into that place in distress, has been condemned as unseaworthy, and her cargo landed and stored; and that the alcalde has allowed a small portion of these goods to be sold, and now holds the duties on them at the disposal of the government,

General Riley directs that you immediately proceed to Santa Barbara, and reserve the duties so collected by the alcalde; and also collect the duties and fees that may be due on the ship and balance of her cargo.

It has also been reported that other foreign vessels have recently landed passengers and freights in the ports of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, in violation of the revenue laws of the United States. It will be your duty to inquire into these matters, and take such measures as may be found necessary to enforce the revenue laws; and, for this purpose, you are authorized to call in the assistance of the local magistrates of those districts. But should you meet on the way, or find at Santa Barbara, the collector or deputy collector appointed for the ports on this coast, you will turn the whole matter over to them, and immediately return to department headquarters.

You will probably find at Santa Barbara, among the custom-house papers, a MS. copy of the tariff of 1846, but as it may be possible that copy is lost, you will, if possible, procure one at this place, and take it with you as your guide in collecting the duties and fees.

As soon as you have completed these duties, you will immediately return to this post, and bring with you the moneys so collected, which will be paid over as "civil funds" to the quartermaster at this place. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant General.

Lieutenant J. HAMILTON, 3d Artillery.

HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT,
Monterey, California, August 12, 1849.

MAJOR: Your communication of June 19, with its enclosures, and that of July 5, were received on the 10th instant, and have been submitted to the brigadier general commanding, by whom I am directed to say that he will keep the companies composing your command filled up to the standard authorized to companies serving in this department. Beyond that it is not in his power to go, without instructions from the War Department.

Your correspondence with the commission will be transmitted to the Secretary of War with the following endorsement:

"This correspondence is respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War, with information that under instructions from these headquarters of April 15, 18, and June 30, the companies of this escort have been filled up to an efficient strength, and that arrangements will be made to keep up this strength by transfer from other companies serving in this department. This force, in conjunction with that furnished by Mexico, I deem amply sufficient for protection in any operation west of Gila river. Beyond that river a greater force will probably be necessary; but it cannot be furnished from this department without serious detriment to the service, nor do I feel authorized, without further instructions from the War Department, in going beyond the instructions of general order No. 65.

"At the date of last report from San Diego, Major Emory's command had an aggregate present of 101, and the Mexican of 140."

By department special orders No. -, Lieutenant Slaughter, 4th infantry, was continued on duty with the company to which he was then attached. As this order may have failed to reach you, I enclose a duplicate.

The communication from Major McKinstry, to which you refer, in relation to the transportation to San Luis Rey, has not been received; nor is the commanding general in possession of any information in regard to it, except that communicated in your letter. The officer in command at San Luis Rey when it was abandoned has been directed to report what disposition has been made of the transportation at that place.

It has not been in General Riley's power to furnish a medical officer to your command. His inability to do so was reported some time since to the Adjutant General, and an additional number of officers applied for. The number of officers of the medical staff originally assigned to this department was reduced by the Surgeon General before the troops left the United States; and although General Riley has received no instructions to furnish a medical officer for your command, he would of course have done so if there had been one at his disposal. It is important that the commanding general should receive, as early as possible, a return of your command, in order that he may direct any transfer that may be

necessary.

Very respectfully, major, your obedient servant,

Major W. H. EMORY,

Topographical Engineers,

E. R. S. CANBY, Assistant Adjutant General.

Commanding escort of Commissioners.

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