HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 471 



who had arrived from Fort Hall, where he had left 

 his detachment of the battalion, to come to California 

 to report to me in person. lie brought a muster-roll 

 of bis detachment, with a power of attorney from all 

 its members to draw their pay ; and as the battalion 

 itself had been discharged on the 16th of July, Pay- 

 master Rich paid to Captain Brown the money due the 

 detachment up to that date, according to the rank 

 they bore upon the muster-rolls upon which the batta- 

 lion had been mustered out of service. Captain 

 Brown started immediately for Fort Hall, at which 

 place and in the valley of Bear Biver he said the 

 whole Mormon emigration intended to pass the winter. 

 He reported that he had met Captain Hunt, late of 

 the Mormon battalion, who was on his way to meet 

 the emigrants and bring into the country this winter, 

 if possible, a battalion according to the terms offered 

 in my letter to him of the 16th of August, a copy of 

 which you will find among the military correspondence 

 of the department. 



In my letter I offered Captain Hunt the command 

 of the battalion with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, 

 with an adjutant; but I find, by the orders lately 

 received, that a battalion of four companies is only 

 entitled to a major and acting adjutant. I will notify 

 Captain Hunt of this change at as early a moment as 

 I can communicate with him. I am pleased to find 

 by the despatches that in this matter I have antici- 

 pated the wish of the department. 



Last season there was a great scarcity of provisions 

 on the coast of California ; but when the stores are 

 received that are now on their way, there will be 

 an ample supply for the coming winter. The crops in 

 this country have been very fine this season, and at 



