MF1323.1197 Reel 39_0544

California S307 E. Steele San Francisco, Cal Nov 2, '63

Enc. copy of letter from Genl. Wright [illegible] [illegible] from him forwarded with his report of the [illegible] rel. to military aid &c

[ink stamp] RECEIVED AT THE NOV 28 1863 INDIAN BUREAU

Special Commr

"Copy"

Head Quarters Department of the Pacific San Francisco Oct 29th 1863

Sir

I have [illegible] your communication of the 25th inst addressed to my Assistant General - I deeply regret that any controversy should have arisen between the military commander of Fort Wright and the offices of the Indian superintendent - It is a rule which I have invariably enforced in my command that my subordinates shall not correspond upon official matters with other departments of the government except through my head quarters unless specially authorized so to do Capt Douglas did [in?] instructed accordingly

[illegible] Your Very Obt Servant "G Wright" Brig Genl U. S. Army Comdg

Hon E Steele Supt of Indian affairs North Dist of Cal San Francisco

OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS, NORTHERN DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA. San Francisco, November 2 1863

Sir

Herewith please find answer of Genl Wright to communication copy of which was forwarded with report of 31st ult

The Genl will not cover the whole ground in his instructions to his [illegible] but I [illegible] satisfactorly He is in fact at Sacramento although his commission date at this place.

If all application by the Supervisor for Military aid as against hostile Indians or [obstructive?] while the Reservation would be helpless as a months time at least would be consumed before messages could pass [illegible] there being no post office more than 25 or 30 miles and a high mountain & rapid streams [intro?] - The commander at Fort Wright refuses to the employee of the Reservation the military express which was regulary to open the post office consequently they will have to depend upon [illegible] for their mail matter or I shall have to establish an express for the [illegible] benefit of the Reservation. This would be rather expensive and should be avoided if possible. The Military express [illegible] for a whole being the mail matter to the Reservation for what the Supervisor paid the [illegible] under order from Capt Douglas without notice of intention it was stopped

Very Respectuflly Your Obedent Servant E. Steele Supt Agt Indian Affs N. D. Cal

To Hon Wm. P. Dole Commissioner Washington DC