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San Francisco July 1 1866

Dear Sir,
    As director of the operations on this coast, a succinct account of the past and present operations of the Scientific Corps, may not be uninteresting.  Rob't Kennicott, J.T. Rothrock, W.H. Dall, H.M. Bannister, H.W. Elliott and F. Bischoff, left New York in the spring of 1865, under circumstances with which you are doubtless already familiar.  Upon our arrival in San Francisco all were diligently employed in preparations for the coming season.  Mr. Rothrock, Elliott, and Bannister, were assigned to Major Frank Popes exploring party in Brit. Columbia.  With the exception of Bannister the exigencies of the service have so far prevented them from doing any natural history work of moment.  They have, however been energetic and successful in the prosecution of their duties of Explorers; so much so, that when it was proposed to detach Mr. Elliott for service, during the coming season on the main Expedition, in hopes that his leisure would afford material aid to the Scientific work; Major Conway refused to comply with the orders of the Engineer-in-chief, saying that he could not be spared.  Major Kennicott on the Wright as Chief of Russian Am. Exploring party Mr. Bischoff on the Golden Gate as Explorer, and myself as Acting Surgeon, with rank of Second Lieut. started July 14th from Drakes Bay for the North.  Upon our arrival at Sitka Dr. Fisher at once took charge of the Medical Dept. and I was transferred to the Marine Corps, as purser to the Golden Gate.  Mr. Bischoff, being dangerously ill was left at Sitka in Hospital since which we have had no news from him.  It would