Unknown, November 26, 1861

ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GEVERAL, : Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.: SIR: On the 22d instant I had the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the dispatch of the 19th, from the headquarters of the Army, assigning me to the command of this department, and further instructing me to retain the Ninth Infantry under my command. Two companies Ninth Infantry (G and K), with the non-commissioned staff and band, arrived here on the 14th, and five more companies of the same regiment reached here on the 22d. This command I have concentrated at the Presidio, San Francisco, to undergo a thorough course of «instruction. The remaining two companies of the Ninth Infantry are en route from Fort Colville, and I have ordered them to halt at Fort Vancouver. I propose to send one of those companies to Camp Pickett, on the island of San Juan, and let the other remain at Fort Vancouver, the headquarters of the District of Oregon and the principal depot for that command. Company E, Ninth Infantry, left this coast on the steamer of the Ist instant for New York, with the command under Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan, Fourth Infantry. The company was without any officer present belonging to it. The captain, Woods, is on recruiting service East. Nothing was said in the telegraphic dispatch about retaining any additional medical officers, but I have assumed that I should anticipate the wishes of the General-in-Chief by keeping three assistant surgeons—Heger, Craig, and Taylor. Their services are necessary in consequence of the retention of the Ninth Infantry. They were selected after consultation with the medical director. After the company of the Ninth Infantry reaches San Juan Island the company of the Third Artillery now there will be brought to this place and posted in one of the fortifications ın the harbor. I have ordered the horses and horse equipments of the four companies of the First Cavalry now in Oregon to be concentrated at Fort Vancouver. They have about 200 horses, but a majority of them are old and unfit for hard service. i would recommend that they be turned over to the volunteer cavalry being raised in Oregon, should the department design furnishing those troops with horses and equipments.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,