Letter from Governor McDougal to the Sheriff of Mariposa County, authorizing a volunteer militia

Letter written by Governor John McDougal on January 13, 1851 in San Jose, California, to the Sheriff of Mariposa County, asking that he assemble a volunteer militia of 100 men. Letter is in response to a petition sent to the Governor by citizens of Mariposa County, requesting that he approve the creation of a militia to protect citizens from "Indian hostilities." Military Department, Adjutant General, Indian War Papers (F3753:50), California State Archives.