I went to San Francisco immediately after the election and only received your favor of the 15th today, on my return.

I find the cavalry company already gone, and suppose that its return cannot be expected. I find Captain Smith’s Company of Infantry also ordered to San Francisco and just leaving—to be mustered in.

I much regret that we are likely to be without military force in this part of the State. I do not think it required simply for the protection of loyal citizens, but I do think that the presence of an exponent of the intention and power of the Government to protect its citizens and enforce its laws has had a most wholesome effect in modifying and restraining the spirit and purpose of disloyalty. A greater audacity in the expression of rebellious sentiments and hopes was observable immediately upon the withdrawal of the Cavalry. To prevent the idea of an organized purpose to give trouble to the Government and its supporters from being entertained in this part of the State, it is certainly very desirable that there should be some representation of the military power of the Government stationed here. There are many hundreds of square miles hereabouts in which loyal men are in minority and the disloyal men seldom have any property or interests which would be imperilled or sense of honor which would be outraged by any plan which might be conceived for a cowardly defiance of the Government or for the punishments of its supporters, especially if a safe scheme of plunder were connected with it.

As far as the Mariposa Company is concerned, if it is inconvenient or impracticable for government to station a military force here, I don’t want it. If I can’t defend our property from any mob I shall be willing that the Company should bear the loss, but as far as it is a part of [284]the policy of the Maj. Genl Commanding to make use of his forces to check and disintegrate disloyalty in the population of the State, I think this is a very important point for a small military station.

Considering the weakness of our loyal population, the zeal and success with which the purpose of raising an infantry company here has been seconded is I think creditable to us and entitled to some consideration perhaps. The motive of those enlisting here has been almost purely patriotic and, of course, this withdrawal considerably weakens the effective civil force of the County available against disloyalty and disorder.