Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers, January 16, 1862
Assistant Adjutant-General, Departmënt of the Pacific,
San Francisco, Cal. : MAJOR: Your letter dated 9th instant, expressive of the commanding general’s wishes on the subject of erecting field-works to guard the approaches to this city, was only received yesterday. In answer thereto I beg leave to state that the inclemency of the weather and bodily indisposition have combined to render my attention to the examination of the several localities involved in a reconnaissance of this nature less perfect than I would desire it to be, and consequently that I am not as yet quite ready to place before him a report such as he desires, and which involves not only the avenues to certain localities but a number of estimates. My time has recently, however, been much taken up in the office with the studies of a permanent plan of defense for the grounds on the hill in the rear of the fort at Fort Point. These studies I will lay aside for the present, and will take up at once the report requested by the general commanding, which I trust will in a few days be so framed as to give him the information he desires from this office.
With great respect, I am, major, your obedient servant,
San Francisco, Cal., January 16, 1862.
Second Infantry California Volunteers,
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 12th instant, reporting the arrival of your companies and suggesting plans of operations, and to say in reply, by direction of the
desires you in the meantime to acquaint yourself with the condition of
affairs in the district, of which you are expected to keep these headquarters constantly advised. The court requested has been ordered.
In consequence of the absence of Captain Ketcham, the men of his