Edwin V. Sumner to His Excellency J. G. DOWNEY, August 27, 1861

His Excellency J. G. DOWNEY, Governor of California, Sacramento:

GOVERNOR: I regret very much that you do not find it convenient to come to this city. From the orders that I have received no time can be lost in raising the 5,000 volunteers required from this State. I wish much to confer with you about this matter. I deem it very important that officers of the Army should be selected to command the regiments; the other field officers can be selected from civil life, and no man, officer or soldier, will be mustered into service about whose loyalty to the National Government there is the slightest doubt.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,