Unknown to Edwin V. Sumner, June 5, 1861

General SUMNER:

My DEAR Sir: The Union men of this portion of our beloved country are very anxious to have aid from the United States representative on the Pacific coast, around which we can rally and protect this territory from the sympathizers of disunion. Cannot something be done for us? We are eleven-twelfths Union men, but we are without arms or organization, while the rebels have control of all the public or private arms here. Our hearts ache on beholding the vile secession fiag floating in our midst, and we unable to destroy it. A single file of soldiers with a commander is all we want, provided they bring arms for us to use.