HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



489 



ing furloughs, adopted at some of the posts in this 

 country, with the sanction of the former department 

 commander, had succeeded well, and the infor-mation 

 received about the time of my arrival from the south 

 ern part of this department confirmed me in the 

 opinion previously entertained, that the mania for gold- 

 hunting would exist, in its most exaggerated form, at 

 points most remote from the placers. I accordingly, 

 immediately after relieving Colonel Mason in the 

 command of the department, recommended the adop 

 tion of the policy above indicated. It is a matter of 

 regret, that the emergencies of the service have been 

 such that it could not be carried out to the extent re 

 commended ; for the experience of the past four 

 months has convinced me that it is the only course 

 that can be adopted, with reasonable hope of success, 

 until the state of affairs in this country is materially 

 changed. In addition to the mere question of expe 

 diency, Indian difficulties that were then occurring, 

 and the threatening danger of a proximate collision 

 between the different classes at work in the gold re 

 gion, made it highly important that a -strong military 

 force should be established in the immediate vicinity 

 of the mining region. 



For the disposition of the troops in the department, 

 and the measures taken to prevent desertions, &c., I 

 respectfully refer to department order and special 

 orders forwarded to you by this mail. These furnish 

 you with a history of the operations in the department 

 since my assumption of the command. The present 

 disposition of the troops is the same as indicated in 

 orders No. 16, except that company A, 2d infantry, 

 re-inforced by details from other companies in all, 

 four officers and eighty men has been detached, un- 



