Unknown to George B. McClellan, April 28, 1861

Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Army:

COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I arrived here on the 24th instant, and on the 25th relieved General Johnston in the command of this department. My departure from New York was not known here till the night before my arrival. It gives me pleasure to state that the command was turned over to me in good order. General Johnston had forwarded his resignation before i arrived, but he continued to hold the command, and was carrying out the orders of the Government. Ihave determined to re-enforce immediately and strongly the forts in this harbor, and have ordered down three companies of artillery (including the battery) from Fort Vancouver. I have also taken the liberty to. detain the detachment of twenty-nine Sappers and Miners. I trust the General-in-Chief will not disapprove of this. My intention is to put at the depot at Benicia, in addition to the two infantry companies now there. These troops will all be supplied with six months’ provisions, and additional arrangements will be made for water where it is necessary, so that they will be independent and secure for six months, and will hold the entire control of the entrance to the harbor. I think this disposition of the troops will not only secure the Government property, but will have the effect to foreclose at once all hopes on the part of the disaffected of their ever being able to precipitate matters here by seizing forts and arsenals.

There is a strong Union feeling with the majority of the people of this State, but the secessionists are much the most active and zealous party, which gives them more influence than they ought to have from their numbers. I have no doubt but there is some deep scheming to draw California into the secession movement; in the first place as the “Republic of the Pacific,” expecting afterward to induce her to join the Southern Confederacy. The troops now here will hold their positions and all the Government property, but if there should be a general uprising of the people, they could not, of course, put it down. {F think the course of events at the East will control events here. So long as the General Government is sustained and holds the capital the secessionists can not carry this State out of the Union. 1 would

respectfully