Daily national Democrat., 1861-08-16
Statement of Facts Addressed to the First
Regiment of California Volunteers.

On the 9TH instant, | announced to you
that Gen Sumner had accepted our regiment,
and notified you to Immediately prepare to
be mustered into service The Governors
Proclamation of yesterday, accompanied 10y
notice from Gen, sumner, calling for inde-
pendent companies to answer the requisition
from the U. 5. Government, putting the regi-
ment entirely aside. places me in false Po-
sition before you, and renders full explana-
ton on my part absolutely necessary.
Gu the 18th of May last, Immediately on
the receipt of the news that the President
had called for 73 900 volunteers TO serve for
the war, | commenced raising, under that
call, the lst Regiment: California Volunteers,
assisted by James N. Olney and James f.
Curtis, who, together with myself, were de-
signated in the enlistment rolls as the field
officers of the regiment, subject, of course, to
be approved or rejected by the votes of the
company officers, at the election under the
State lazy.
On the 18th May, the organization of the
regiment proceeded so rapidly as to put its
completion beyond doubt, and in a letter to
the War Department by Pony, | tender
ed the regiment for the war under the Presi-
dents proclamation.
On the 3lst of May, the organization was
so far complete that nothing remained to he
done but to elect the field and company off-
GERS | so reported in an official letter OF
that date to Senator McDoggall, delivered by
me personally to him on the eve of his de-
parture for Washington and which letter,
if he kept his word to me. was laid before
the Secretary of War Immediately on his ar
rival, which was about the 25th of June.
The entire organization of the regiment
was complete on the 27th of June, when the
following persons We're elected Unanimously,
am informed the field officers of the regir
ment, under the State law; Francis j. Lips
pitt, Colonel James II. Olney, Lieutenant-
Colonel; James f. Curtis, Major.
We (the field officers above nanaed) had
previously had an interview with the Gov
ernor, in which he promised, if a requisiton
came from the L. S. Government, to answer
it with our regiment, and offered, of his own
accord, to make any special order shat might
be required to remove technical difficulties
which last promise he has faithfully kept.
On the 4th of July, l received a letter
from the War Department, dated June 5th,
declining the regiment under existing cir
cumstances. Immediately replied, renew
ing my tender of the regiment, on the ground
that Congress would probably authorize
large additional levy of volunteers.
To this letter have received no direct an
swer. But, on the Sd instant, G en- Sumner
received a telegraphic order from Washing
ton to accept regiment Of infantry for the
war, its present destination being to guard
the Overland Mail Route On learning from
me that no other regiment of infantry than
our own had been offered to the United
States Government from this State, so far as
was known, he at once said ours must be the
regimen intended, and instructed me to i'm
mediately notify the Captains of companies
TO have their men ready to be mustered into
service, which did, without delay and to
expedite the matter, Published the notice
to you, which appeared in the Sacramento
Union and other papers.
On the 9th inst | was notified by General
Sumner, that 10y orders from Washington,
Brevet Major Carleton, of the United States
Dragons would be commissioned Ly the
Governor as Colonel of the regiment, instead
of myself Not wishing to throw any obsa-
Gle iu the way Of the regiment being received
into service, | cheertully consented to this
From the same motives,
Lieut. Colonel Oiuey and Mayor Curtis waiv-
ed oil claim to the offices to which they had
been elected.
But, by the Governors proclamation Of
yesterday, and Gen. Summers accompanying
notice, calling for Independent companies
trom any quarter, We are notified that our
regiment is not, after all, to be mustered into
service. The regiment is therefore left intact
with its organization complete If any of
our officers or men choose to enrol themselves
in the new regiment, they are free to do so,
and Their places Will be euppied in the mode
provided by our State law.
Meanwhile, hold yourselves still in readi
ness for active service in the East. The war
is every day taking vaster proportions, and
the nation will probably soon be compelled
to call into the field all her volunteers from
the Atlantic to the Paciac.
FRANcIs J. LIrrTT,
Col Ist Pegt. California Volunteers
San Francisco, August A. 1861.