George Wright to Lorenzo Thomas, May 23, 1862

: . San Francisco, Cal., May 23, 1862. Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS,

Adjutant-General U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: Inclosed herewith is an application to the Honorable Secretary of War, which General Allen has requested me to forward. The light artillery battery company was organized in this city last summer, and I take great pleasure in bearing witness to its rapid progress and fine appearance on the field. The company drills very frequently. It passed my office yesterday en route for exercising on the Presidio grounds. The officers and men in full uniform, the guns, horses, and equipments, all in splendid order, This is the only light battery organized in this State, and has involved the officers and men in considerable expense, a part of which only has been covered by a recent appropriation by the Legislature. Such organizations should be cherished and fostered by the Government, and I beg leave to recommend to the

Honorable Secretary that the request of General Allen be granted, and that the same allowance be authorized for this company as is made to light batteries in the Regular Army annually for practice. The entire militia of this State is under the new organization, commanded by one major-general, and Lucius H. Allen, a graduate of West Point, has been appointed to that office.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,