Letter
Forbes Babcock to Messrs. Forbes Babcock, July 10, 1861
San Francisco
San Francisco, July 10, 1861.
General SUMNER, U.S. Army, Commanding Pacific Department, San Francisco:
SIR: The president of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company has directed us to make application to you for the loan of four light 32pounder guns, to be placed on our steamers in active service between this port and Panama. They are intended as an additional defensive armament over and above their present one, which is of light caliber. With the large guns we wquld require a small amount of suitable ammunition for them, as none of the desired size can be procured here outside of the Government supply.
Asking a reply to this communication at your earliest convenience, we remain,
very respectfully, your obedient servants,
FORBES & BABCOCK.
San Francisco, July 10, 1861,
Messrs. FORBES & BABCOCK,
Agents Pacific Mail Steamship Company, San Francisco, Cal.:
San Francisco, July 10, 1861,
Messrs. FORBES & BABCOCK,
Agents Pacific Mail Steamship Company, San Francisco, Cal.:
GENTLEMEN: I am directed by the general commanding the department to inform you, in reply to your letter of this date, requesting the
loan of four 32-pounder guns, that instructions will be given the ordnance officer at Benicia Arsenal to furnish on application the guns and
a sufficient amount of ammunition for the protection of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company’s vessels.
loan of four 32-pounder guns, that instructions will be given the ordnance officer at Benicia Arsenal to furnish on application the guns and
a sufficient amount of ammunition for the protection of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company’s vessels.
Editor's Notes
From: Operations in Charleston Harbor, S.C., 1861. Location: San Francisco.
Topics
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 1
View original source ↗