Edwin M. Stanton to E. V. Sumner, U. S. Army, June 3, 1861

General E. V. Sumner, U. S. Army, Commander of the Pacific Division:

DEAR SIR: I beg to be excused for my presumption in addressing a letter to you when I am an utter stranger, yet feeling it to be my duty which I owe to my country, and believing that a fair, candid statement concerning the true position of all parties in this lower portion of the State may be useful to you, I thus lay them before you. There exists amongst us through all these southern counties a secret organization of secessionists, and in a settlement near Los Angeles there is an organized cavalry company which is ready at almost any moment to break out, holding an inveterate hatred toward the citizens of this place, and it is at this point they would make their first attack, and there dre some in our midst who would receive them cheerfully and help them in their treacherous designs. I speak what Ido know. I have only been here about seven weeks, and commenced the publication of a paper called the Weekly Patriot. I have received notice to stop the publication of strong Union sentiments, as it will be unsafe for me to continue them any longer, but I am not to [be] frightened at any intimidations or threats. Ishall continue on in the way I have commenced, and keep a sharp lookout for any disturbance which may break out. We are, and have been, expecting a rising of the secessionists, notwithstanding the late Union demonstration at Los Angeles, and nothing but the presence of the U. S. troops prevents them from rising there. Secret meetings continue to be held all over this lower country, and secession and disunion is boldly avowed in our streets. Shooting continaes to be the order of the day, and drunken desperadoesand Southern cutthroats damn the Stars and Stripes and endeavor to create disturbances all of the time. We havea singular population, composed of Mormons, Mormon apostates, who are even worse, gamblers, English Jews, and the devil’s own population to boot, while we only have aboutadozen good respectable families rightin town, whoareat the mercy of these desperadoes; and the secessionists of the Monte are only waiting the withdrawal of the troops from Los Angeles before they commence operations. If a company of dragoons could be stationed here it would give a feeling of security to every honest citizen and friend of the Union in this vicinity. Provisions are cheaper here than in any other part of the country, and it is the key to all the passes leading to Arizona and Salt Lake, and if a rebellion should arise the troops stationed here would form a nucleus around which every patriot can rally. For information as to who I am and my character I would refer you to Hon. N. Greene Curtis, grand master of the Grand Lodge of Masons, J. L. English, Hon. John G. Downey, Governor of this State, and of every prominent man in Sacramento, of which county I was formerly surveyor, and for myself I can inform you that I am a near relative of Major Sherman, of the flying artillery, U.S. Army, and I have seen service through the whole of the Mexican campaign.

With this information, hoping to receive an immediate reply, I remain

your obedient servant,