William W. Mackall to S. Lovell, March 28, 1861

Capt. ©. S. LOVELL, Sixth Infantry, U. S. Army, Comdg. Fort Humboldt, Cal. :

CAPTAIN: The commanding general directs me to inform you that in addition to the detachments sent from your company in the region of country watered by the Kel and Trinity Rivers, he has ordered to the same district two detachments of a sergeant and eighteen men each, from Fort Gaston, and one of a subaltern and fifty-nine men from Fort movements of all these parties, and see that they are kept actively engaged in moving over the country requiring protection, and that you charge yourself with supplying them from time to time with provisions. Send an extract from this letter to each, that your authority may at once be recognized and such reports as are needed sent to you. He further informs you that at his request the Governor of this State will cause to be enrolled at Humboldt two sergeants, two corporals, and twenty-six men. This party you will muster into service as infantry, and assign them as guides in equal numbers to the detachments above mentioned, taking care to assign the guide-sergeants to detachments commanded by commissioned officers. The employment of these volunteers is an experiment, from which the general hopes to derive an advantage to the Government more than commensurate with the expense, and he relies on your exertions to take such measures as will render their service most effective. If depredations are now committed on the settlements by Indians, with guides thoroughly acquainted with the country and the Indians, and a sufficient force to chastise the parties when found, he thinks security should be given to the frontier.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,