HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,
San Francisco, Cal., December 7, 1861.

Lieutenant Colonel ALBEMARLE CADY,

Seventh Regiment of Infantry, Commanding District of Oregon,

Fort Vancouver, Wash. Ter.:

SIR: On the arrival of the two companies of the Ninth Regiment of Infantry at Fort Vanvouver, the general commanding the department desires you to designate one of them to proceed to San Juan Island and relieve the artillery company stationed at Camp Pickett. The general desires the company selected for San Juan to be sent on the steamer leaving this port on the 17th instant. When relieved by the infantry company, Company D, Third Artillery, will as the steamer returns, embark for San Francisco. On its arrival here it will take post at Alcatraz.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,
San Francisco, Cal., December 9, 1861.

COMMANDING OFFICER,

Camp at or near Oak Grove:

SIR: The general commanding the department desires you to hold and keep securely guarded the state prisoners, Showalter and party, until further orders.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RICHARD C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Lieutenant Cutler will forward this by express to the officer having the prisoners in charge.

By order:

RICHARD C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,
San Francisco, Cal., December 9, 1861.

Brigadier General L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: I beg leave to submit to the consideration of the General-in-chief the proposition to recapture the forts in Arizona and New Mexico by a command to move from the southern district of this State, with the exception of a battery of light artillery, which I am now organizing. All the troops required for the expedition are in the southern district. I have ordered a company of the Ninth Infantry, regulars to relieve the company of the Third Artillery, at San Juan Island; the latter to come to the harbor of San Francisco. A company of the Third Artillery will be designated for the battery. We have the guns, horses, and equipments all ready, being those left here by Company C, Third Artillery (late Ord's battery.) I have now in Southern California the First California Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Carleton; the First California Volunteer Cavalry, a battalion of five companies,