E.D. Townsend to E. V. Sumner, U. S. Army, September 16, 1861

Brig. Gen. E. V. SUMNER, U. S. Army, Commanding Department of the Pacific, San Francisco:

SIR: A dispatch was sent you by the pony express the 10th [9th] instant, and a duplicate the 14th, directing you to suspend the expedition via Mazatlan to Western Texas, and to prepare to send all the regular troops, except four companies of artillery, by steamer to New York, The General-in-Chief directs that you accordingly leave one company Third Artillery at Fort Vancouver and three companies in the harbor of San Francisco. The remainder of the regulars you will send forward by steamer to New York as fast as they can be collected for embarkation. The cavalry and artillery horses will be disposed of in such manner as may be deemed best for the public interest. The arms and equipments of the troops will be brought with them; also 10,000 of the muskets remaining in store. The tield batteries and their equipments will be left behind. You will send orders to Colonel Wright to repair to San Francisco to relieve you in command of the department, and after his arrival you will proceed to the headquarters of the Army and report in person. Brig. Gen. J. W. Denver, U. S. Volunteer service, will be ordered to California to relieve Colonel Wright, who will then proceed to report in person at Army headquarters. Thefollowing dispatch was sent you this day, by pony express, and also by telegraph.* I am, sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant