Unknown, February 20, 1861

COLONEL: In obedience to the orders of the General-in-Chief received here on the 15th instant, Fort Point was occupied by Captain Lendrum’s company, Third Artillery, on the same day, and an order was immediately trarsmitted to the commander of Fort Vanconver to send Companies A and B, Third Artillery, from that post on the steamer Oregon to this place. These companies will constitute the regular garrison of Fort Point on their arrival. A few days before the receipt of your order Captain Gilmer, of the Engineer Corps, had instructions from the War Department to suspend operations at the fort, and had discharged the mechanics and laborers, leaving the quarters for the officers and soldiers in an unfinished state and a small portion of the defenses. To make the quarters habitable and to complete other unfinished work, involving but a small expenditure, I have found it necessary, for these objects only, to suspend the Secretary of Wars orders to Captain Gilmer, and have (see orders herewith*) instructed him to go on and complete the quarters, Sc. I invoke the interest of the General-in-Chief to have a remittance made to Captain Gilmer. The appropriation for the fort is not exhausted, and, as heretofore reported, funds are in the sub-treasury in this city. The workmen now employed on credit will, if this is not done, soon suffer. The island of Alcatraz is garrisoned by Captain Stewart’s company, Third Artillery, and fiftytwo recruits, making a force of 120 men. They are provided with subsistence for ninety days, and everything necessary for defense. I have ordered 10,000 rifled muskets, accouterments and ammunition to be placed in store on Alcatraz, and some heavy guns to be sent to Fort cient, but all that have been furnished will be mounted as fast as it can be done. In ordering a small number of the arms from the arsenal at Benicia, I have not been influenced by any appearance of a necessity for it, but because there is in doing it a manifest military propriety. I beg leave to say that Colonel Casey, commanding at Fort Steilacoom,

*See Mackall to Gilmer, February 15, p. 444, reports a great deficiency of men in the two companies under his command. His return for January shows the number to be eighty. It is earnestly desired that the companies in this department should be kept filled to the number allowed by law, and that the deficiencies be supplied as early in the spring for that purpose as practicable, to be ready for active operations should they become necessary. If authorized, great expense might be saved to the Government and our ranks kept full by opening a recruiting rendezvous in this city.

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