John D. 8. Spencer to G. Wright, January 24, 1861

Col. G. WRIGHT, Headquarters Department of Oregon, Fort Vancouver :

SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt on the 22d instant of your letter of the 20th of December, with inclosures, on the subject of the military reserves on San Juan Island. I perfectly concur with you that an arrangement respecting the extent of each reserve would be advisable, and also that as little land should be closed to settlers as may be compatible with the maintenance of discipline and the other requirements of each camp. I therefore beg to propose that the two officers in command of the detachments of U.S. troops and of Her Majesty’s be instructed to meet, and keeping in mind the foregoing considerations, should conjointly settle and arrange the extent of the respective reserves, a plan of which, when agreed upon, should be exchanged. With regard to that paragraph of your letter wherein you propose “that whatever amount of land Captain Pickett shall now or hereafter include within his special military jurisdiction, Captain Bazalgette shall be at liberty to include an equal amount within his camp limits, and no more.” I cannot refrain from observing that such an arrangement would seem to be at variance with the terms of the joint occupancy, Which provide for perfect equality of rights in all respects, not that the officer commanding the troops of Her Majesty is to be guided in every particular by the actions of the officer in command of the troops of the United States. It is with this view that I propose a mutual agreement between these two officers, and I beg to assure you that whatever they may conjointly agree upon in this matter I shall be prepared to confirm.

I must, sir, in conclusion, take this opportunity to express what pleasure I have derived from the very cordial and friendly feeling which had existed between the troops of the two Governments during the time of the joint occupation, and I have on all occasions received from Captain Bazalgette the assurance of having always experienced the utmost courtesy and friendliness on the part of Captain Pickett.

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