ED. R, S. Canby to Governor of Chihuahua, June 23, 1861

Santa Fé, N. Mez., June 23, 1861.

His Excellency GOVERNOR OF CHIHUAHUA, Chihuahua, N. Mex. :

SIR: The bearer of this communication, First Lieut. Donald C. Stith, of the U. S. Army, has been commissioned by me to visit your excellency, for the purpose of asking your assistance in effecting the restoration of a train of wagons and a large quantity of stores, the property of the Government of the United States, which were carried into the State of Chihuahua in the month of March last, by William D. Kirk, then a wagon-master in the U.S. Army. This flagrant robbery and breach of . faith will be fully reprobated by your excellency, and I have the fullest confidence that you will at once, in the exercise of your powers, direct – the restoration of the publie property and the delivery of the robber (Kirk) into the hands of the accredited agent of the UnitedStates. Lieutenant Stith takes with him, for the information of your excellency, a full statement of the cireumstances connected with this robbery, so that you ean see at once the true history and merits of the case. He will also take inventories of the stolen property, in order that everything may be verified. When this property is restored to Lieutenant Stith I have the honor to request that your excellency will cause him to be furnished with any assistance that may be necessary to facilitate his return to this department, and if it should be needed that you will direct the train to be escorted to the frontier of Chihuahua, where an escort from the troops of this department will meet it. I beg to assure your excellency that the action that you may take in this matter will be fully recognized and appreciated by the Government of the United

With the assurances of my most distinguished consideration and respect,

I have the honor to be, your most obedient servant,