necessity may arise of throwing in a heavy force, in which event the presence of an artillery officer of rank would be of great importance.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Army, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC Numbers 242.
San Francisco, Cal., December 27, 1861.

Colonel GEORGE W. BOWIE,
Fifth Infantry California, Vols., Commanding Camp Union, Cal.:

SIR: The general commanding the department desires you to detail a company of your regiment, the captain of which is a reliable man, for important distant service. The company will leave Camp Union in time to arrive in this city on the evening of the 31st instant. You will see that the company is furnished with fifty rounds of ammunition for each man, and also the necessary camp and garrison equipage. The captain will you to muster and inspect the company previous to its departure. The necessary supplies of subsistence will be furnished here.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

RICHD. C. DRUM,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December 28, 1861.

General THOMAS,

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

Can I disregard writs of habeas corpus in case of political or State prisoners?

G. WRIGHT,

Brigadier-General, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC,
San Francisco, Cal., December 28, 1861.

Brigadier General LORENZO THOMAS,

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

GENERAL: A few week since I critically inspected the forts at Fort Point and on Alcatraz Island. They were found, as I have already reported, in high order. On the 21st instant I called upon the commander of each of the forts for detailed reports of their armament, supplies, &c., These reports* are herewith inclosed, and I doubt not

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* Omitted.

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