HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,
San Francisco, August 31, 1861.

IRA P. RANKIN, Esq.,

Collector of the Port, San Francisco, Cal.:

SIR: In addition to the requests contained in former letter the general commanding the department desires you to detain until further notice all powder now in bond, or herefler arriving at this port, as well as shot, ashells, and other munitiions of war.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,
San Francisco, August 31, 1861.

D. W. WELTY,

Sacramento:

SIR: The general desires me to say, in answer to your letter of the 30th instant, that the proper course for the Union men to purpose would be to organize into companies of from 80 to 100, select officer, and have a place of general rendezvous, and thus in case of an emergency to assist the Federal officers in sustaining the laws. Should it become necessary to call upon the citizens to aid in thus supporting the General Government, arms can readily be supplied these companies for this purpose. The company should be drilled in conformity with infantry factics in our service, so that it can act in concert with other organized companies.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

BENICIA ARSENAL, August 31, 1861.

Colonel JAMES H. CARLETON,

Headquarters California Volunteers, San Francisco:

SIR: Your telegraph of the 26the instant has been complied with. The ammunition for your command is nearly ready. Change in the arm with which your are furnished would render it necessary to commence the manufacture of it ab initio. You wrote me under date of 26th instant to send down the arms, &c., for cavalry, invoicing the same to Lieutenant-Colonel Davis, which, as far as the stores at this arsenal would allow, has been also complied with. I would respectfully recomed that this arrangement be continued, and that Colonel Davis take a receipt in form from the captain of each company for the arms and equipments he receives for his entire company. We will then charge the stores to the company commanders. These company receipts are to be made out to Theodore J. Eckerson, military store-keeper of ordnance. Colonel West has adopted this plan, and it is much the simplest. I sent down to Colones Davis a traveling forge and a set of saddler's tools on Saturday with some horse equipments. I sent down to-night twenty carbines (new pattern), ten for each company, with their equipments and accouterments. When we receive the stores from Vancouver we can issue the remainder. I can forward the