Unknown to E. V. Sumner, August 10, 1861

General E. V. SUMNER, Commanding Pacific Division, San Francisco:

SIR: I feel it my duty as an old resident of this place to apprise you that all of us who are loyal and devoted to the Stars and Stripes, and that have something to lose in this section of the country, feel that we are in the greatest insecurity as to the public interest as well as to our own lives and property. No part of your command is composed of such discordant and menacing elements as it. Within we have open and avowed secessionists and Southern sympathizers, and I am sorry to say that they are chiefly composed of those who exercise most political influence with the native population, and already they have not failed to poison their minds against the Puritan fanatics of the North. We are threatened with rebellion across the plains by people of the Van Dorn stripe, if we are to credit the repeated reports of the Texan emigration, and in these disordered times it is not well to discredit them. Lower California, the asylum of cut throats and robbers, is on our immediate border. We are surrounded toa great extent by barbarous and hostile Indian tribes, that may at any moment be excited against us and the Government by rebels or marauding Mormons. I not only consider it necessary, but the part of prudence and timely vigilance, to station a lookout cavalry force at the Cajon Pass, or at some point close thereto. Please to receive my suggestions with indulgence, being made in a spirit to subserve public and private interests.

Your most obedient servant, : MATTHEW KELLER.

Los ANGELES, August 9, 1861.

Commanding Department of the Pacific, San Francisco :

DEAR SIR: I am constrained by the aspect of political affairs in this quarter to bring the matter personally to your knowledge in the hope that you will deem it prudent to add to the United States command in this section at least two companies, You are probably aware that our hostility to our Government is well known, and who at any time may join the secessionists in our midst, I am constrained to urge that you will kindly make further disposition of troops in this quarter and by their presence overrule any movement which may be made by disaffected persons to kindle the fire of domestic strife in this State. In thus addressing you I represent the sentiments of a large number of respectable residents, whose position and pursuits are of that character as would prevent their becoming active participants in case trouble should ensue.

Trusting that you will lend ear to my solicitation, I remain, dear sir, with much respect, your very obedient servant,

Camp Fitzgerald, August 10, 1861. [Maj. D. C. BUELL:]

MAJOR: I have the honor to inclose the accompanying letter from Mr. Willis, of San Bernardino, which will be found to bear directly upon the subject-matter of the generals letter of July 18, 1861, to Major Carleton and the latter’s reply, which I have seen. Mr. Willis appears to be of good standing, though I think he overrates Samuel Kelsey’s character and influence. Brown will be watched here by our Union friends. I have nothing more to say, as I infer the general has already taken steps consequent upon Carleton’s reply.

I am, major, your most obedient servant,

Captain, First Dragoons, Commanding.

{Inclosure. SAN BERNARDINO, August 5, 1861. Major CARLETON, Commandant of U. S. Forces at Los Angeles:

SIR: For some time past I have desired to communicate to you certain facts respecting the secession sympathizers of this county important for you to know, but being a candidate for the office of senator, and busily engaged in traveling about the county, I have not had the time so to do. From certain events now known to me I feel it doubly my duty as a lover of the old flag and Constitution, and the peace and harmony of this section of the State, to make known to you what I know. On my visiting Bear and Holcomb Valleys, electioneering, or rather soon after while I was there, a man by the name of Brown, a large man, with whiskers, wearing a blue flannel coat, who a few days ago left for your city, and whom it would be well to watch, arrived in the mines from Sacramento. On the night after his arrival a meeting was called of men known as secessionists at the store of Samuel Kelsey. Major Rollins was sent for on the Mojave and attended the meeting as the leader and moving spirit, assisted by Samuel Kelsey. On the first night they mustered seventeen or twenty. Supposing it to be a meetIng for political purposes, a friend of mine attended as a spy. All present were sworn to secrecy. This man Brown and Judge Campbell, candidate for senator on the secession ticket, addressed the meeting. The object of the meeting was to concentrate and ascertain the fighting Strength of the seceders in the county, and enroll them as a force to act in connection with other forces throughout the State, having for their object the seizure of the public property here and in Utah, and to raise the standard of rebellion in California, and thus bring on civil war amongst us in this State. On the night subsequent another meeting was held, when more attended. Some of the leading secessionists (Major Rollins and Beall) have disposed of their effects in order to be at liberty to engage in the movement. The secessionists are not numerous, but active, energetic, and persevering and fighting men, while the Union men are the hard working and quiet citizens, unorganized and unsuspecting. Shortly after the second meeting I returned to this city. Brown and Kelsey came down on the same day, and two nights after a meeting was held in this city. Not being aware of the meeting, which was kept secret, being called until late in the evening, I could not find a friend to play secessionist and get invited. I since find, however, that a friend was there. The object of the meeting was the same as that of Holcomb. This man Kelsey is enterprising, cautious, and brave, and instills with the subtlety of the devil treason into the minds of the youth of the county who have the slightest sympathy with the South, and infuses into them his own ardor. I watch him close. Another enemy of no less formidable character is qualities which make a woman one of the most dangerous of enemies and one of the best of friends. Her father, Mr. Rubottom, and brother and nephew, and brother and son, James M. Greenwade, at Temescal, all secessionists, she inspires with her own enthusiasm in the cause. John Rains, at Cucamonga, is another, but lacking all the qualities of the rest, and having but money and the reputation of being wealthy. Such is the state of the county at present. Disregard the reports you read in the Los Angeles Star about the Mormons and Whisky Point. They and the men who reside there are Union men, and in this matter are unjustly libeled by a secessionist paper and by a friend of Joseph Bridger, another of the secession candidates. It seems to me that if a company of soldiers were sent here as a nucleus for the Union men to rally around in case of difficulty, it would have a tendency to prevent, perhaps to keep subdued, the secession spirit, and infuse spirit into the Union men. In case of difficulty my life and fortune are for the cause, and I shall organize a company and place myself under your command. But God forbid the necessity.

I have the honor to remain, your obedient servant,