Respectfully referred to department headquarters to H. M. McGill, July 20, 1861

Hon. H. M. MCGILL, Acting Governor, dc., Olympia, Wash. Ter.:

SIR: [have to acknowledge receipt of your letter.of this date, covering a petition for troops, with sundry affidavits from citizens near Gray’s Harbor, concerning the contemplated danger to them from the Indians on the north side of the Chehalis. It is the desire and intention of this office to send an agent to visit these Indians at a very early day, and to carry into effect the treaty with such of them as have been treated with, which includes all the Indians on the coast except the Chehalis bands. It is hoped that these arrangements may be the means of termivating all difficulties and dangers, both real and imaginary, but it would be advisable in the meantime to have an armed detachment of, say, ten or fifteen men from Fort Steilacoom, or Fort Vancouver, stationed at the old post, and I consequently recommend that number be sent thither. I am,

very respectfully,