R. E. De Russy to Richard C. Drum, January 16, 1862

Maj. RICHARD C. DRUM, U. S. Army, 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,