Dear Father
    I received your letter of the 6th inst. in due time but could not answer it sooner owing to the numerous duties devolving upon our class this encampment. In answering it at the present time I am compelled to violate the regulations by visiting after "taps"; the cadet officers of the first class have permission to keep lights burning as late as they may wish; it is in one of their tents that I am now writing.
    Since I last wrote we have had very pleasant weather, occasional showers tempering what would have otherwise been hot days. The 4th opened with rain but cleared up quite early; the day passed off as usual at this place. An oration (excellent) by Cadt. Bailey Reading of the Declaration of Independence by Cadt. Taylor and a National Salute at noon. We had quite a shower today accompanied by thunder and lightning; the latter passed down the chimney of Lt. Hughes' house, knocking down but not seriously injuring the inmates, numbering 5 in all.
    In regard to my health I do not wish you to be at all alarmed for I assure you that there is not much the matter. I mentioned it to you only on [sic] because the symptoms were such as to render a disease of the lungs possible; had they been otherwise I would [have] paid no attention to them. In respect to applying to a regular physician, I do not deem it necessary. I do not wish to trouble Dr. Dewers and it is not for my interests to consult the surgeon especially if my lungs be affected. I shall answer your questions briefly and explicitly as possible but before doing so I should state that the symptoms mentioned in my last commenced in the spring sometime in April, brought on I believe by a neglected cold. At that time I had a pretty bad cough and it was then that I spit the blood before mentioned. I cured the cough or at least brought it to its present "semioccasional" state by taking some lozenges procured at the Hospital, which lozenges according to an analysis of my own contain the same ingredients as brown mixture, viz, licorice, opi. & tart. emetic to which is added cubebs. Since April I have spit no blood, cannot say whether it was there from the lungs or not. The quantity was small and it was not veinous.
    Well, I have written so much about myself that I have but little time, if I wish to sleep much tonight, or space, if [I] don't commence another sheet, to write a great deal about other subjects.
    I don't know much about the circumstances of the case at Birch Island, nor about the lumber business generally, but this is I suppose similar in most respects to any other business; if so I think the present abandonment of the Birch Island establishment would be hasty and rather unwarrantable. If the low prices for lumber are not owing to a conspiracy but to the large quantities in market or what is the same to the small demand, the probabilities are that the worse will be the case next spring. A great many discouraged by the last spring sales will not enter upon the business at all, others but slightly; the amount in market will consequently be diminished and the prices proportionally increased, besides this I believe that there scarcely ever has been two consecutive years in which the prices were either very high or low, they generally alternating. I think it would be well if possible to give it at least another trial.
    Write soon and tell me what appears to be the matter with Merty, also tell Mary when you write to her that I owe her a letter and have not time to repay her at present, that I wish her to write to me.


Dear Merty
    We arrived safely at this port this evening and will leave for Panama per railroad tomorrow morning. I cannot write you a letter tonight for various reasons, the principal one being the inconveniences attending the operation, my seat being a bed and desk a hatbox. I shall make amends for my present briefness when I get settled down at my post, wherever that may be. After leaving New York we touched at but one place prior to our arrival here, and that was Kingston in Jamaica, at which place we had a very fine illustration of the "black Republican party" or rather of their principles. I wish some of my Fremont friends had been present; I think their politics would have undergone a change--but we will leave this for some future letter and say a few words about the voyage, conclude and go to bed.
    I must say that to me and to all of our party the voyage thus far has been rather disagreeable--not on account of bad weather, want of agreeable company, or seasickness, for the weather has been remarkably fine and of the last two items we have had plenty--but the accommodations on board the boat ("Illinois") were miserable, and I would advise all who intend to make a journey such as the present to take some other route than the one we are now traveling. The boat was so crowded that we could scarcely move about, there being about 1200 persons aboard and the ventilation so bad that I found it impossible to sleep in our room but camped out on deck, and even then I could scarcely find a place to lie down.
    But worst of all, especially after being as I was, seasick, which gives one an awful appetite after one recovers--they gave us but two meals per day, breakfast at 8--supper at 3.
    The weather has not been nor is not at present as warm [as] I expected to find it, but on the contrary it has been agreeably cool; last night was so much so that I was cold sleeping on deck under a blanket, wearing at the same time my winter clothes, overcoat and all--I will write you a few lines from San Francisco or Benicia upon my arrival there and also from The Dalles if I am so fortunate to be sent there, which I think very probable. But enough for the present. Remember me to my friends. I haven't time to send particular word to any, so tell them anything you please.


Dear Merty
    I write merely to inform you of my safe arrival in this place after a very pleasant voyage since I last wrote you--compared with the Illinois, the steamer on this side (Sonora) is a perfect paradise--we landed here on Saturday evening on Monday. I reported at the Headqrs. at Benicia and received orders to join my company now in the Walla Walla country in compliance with which I shall leave this tomorrow morning per steamer Columbia--in writing direct to me at the Dalles, W. Ter.
    The election passed off quietly and the returns are such and sufficient to establish beyond a doubt the triumph of Buchanan in this state. Fillmore is next in order and Fremont is nowhere.


Dear Merty
    I must again beg to be excused from writing a long letter and that you be satisfied with this brief epistle, written as was my last, only to inform you of my whereabouts. and that you know can be done in few words as may be seen by the heading of my note, which alone I dislike to send and therefore have concluded to append thereunto a few rambling remarks in order to give this the appearance respectable of a note if not a letter.
    I left San Francisco on the 7th in company with Lieuts. Myers, Bainbridge, Forsythe & Doct. Craig of the U.S. Army after a pleasant voyage, excepting seasickness which attacked me more than ever; we arrived off the mouth of the Columbia on the 11th, remained at that post one day, reached the Cascades on the 13th and arrived at this place on the 14th and have been here awaiting the departure of the [pack] train for the Walla Walla, which will probably set out tomorrow under the escort of a detachment of about 40 Artillery and Dragoons under the command of Lt. Sweitzer, 1st Dragoons. The weather thus far has been very pleasant and I hope may continue so at least for the next 10 or 12 days, that being the time required to make the trip from this post to Ft. Walla Walla.
    The climate here is much warmer than in Clearfield at the same time of the year, scarcely ever having snow. I believe, however, they do have snow at Ft. Walla Walla for about two months in the year, but more of this when I arrive at that post, which from all accounts is a pleasant one; in fact all that I have seen in this country are such, Vancouver being in beauty next to West Point when comparing places which I have visited. I wish here to state that you cannot place any reliance whatever on the newspaper reports of the war in this section of country. The official reports of the regular army only being worthy of credence, and these I must admit do not present an enviable appearance, not that the army has been defeated but because the commander has talked instead of shooting--but I have not time to explain further at present. When I get fairly settled at my post I shall give you a full or rather sufficient account of affairs here. The Indians are now quiet and are being fed by the government during the winter so that they may be able to stand a summer's campaign against our troops--Gen. Wool himself places too much reliance upon the reports circulating in the newspapers, as from such he must come to the conclusion that the war had broken out worse than ever, for such was his report to us when calling on him at Benicia, when on the contrary we find affairs as I have already stated--
    Remember me to all my friends and when you write which I hope will be soon after the receipt of this direct to


Dear Merty
    Since the mail leaves tomorrow and as I am off duty today and consequently cannot go to bed before 12 or 1 o'clock I think it best to employ my time in writing to you. I would have commenced several days ago, but it was only yesterday that we received our table, without which it is inconvenient to write, consequently if this oft-promised letter does not equal your expectations you know the reason why is good--
    I propose to give you an outline of my journey from New York to this valley, in which I must necessarily be brief, after which I shall write anything that happens uppermost and answer your letter of the 14th Oct., which in my last I barely noticed.
    So much for a beginning, rather sermonlike is it not. I think it only wants the 42nd [psalm?] by [which] to complete it. Well, to commence, I left N.Y. on the 6th Oct. in the steamer Illinois together with about 1000 other passengers, and a miserable time we had of it--dirt without limitation and for my part I preferred sleeping on deck, when I could find space enough for that purpose, to passing the night in our stateroom, so ill was the ventilation.
    To cap the climax of my misery on the 3rd day out I became seasick. To describe one's feelings in such a state were impossible, as you know I believe by experience. I remained sick for 3 days after which everything was as pleasant as could be expected in such a dirty & crowded vessel as was ours considering also that we had but two meals per day and that too after seasickness which has at least the advantage of giving one a most royal appetite. We arrived at Kingston on the 14th. Here we had an example of the effects of Negro emancipation. This evidently once fine town is utterly in ruins and everyone (almost) is a beggar--the island which was once a source of wealth to its possessors does not now afford subsistence for its wretched inhabitants. I think a visit to it would cure the diseased imagination of the most rabid black Republican in existence. We remained here one day and night. During the day several of us went out to the British barracks, at which place excepting the officers (who are whites) we found no troops but Negroes, the white troops having gone out to their summer encampment in the mountains, leaving in barracks the Negro regiment. The officers were very accommodating, taking us around, showing the interior arrangement of the quarters and also to accommodate a young surgeon (U.S.A.) of our party the hospital. Everything was very neat, comfortable & clean.
    Last of all we visited the band room where we were entertained with some very fine music by the darkey band, they playing for us all our national airs and all many familiar melodies. After remaining here for about an hour we returned to the vessel well satisfied with our visit.
    The next place at which we landed was Aspinwall, which we made on the 16th and from which I wrote you a note. This is a disagreeable and sickly looking place for nothing else remarkable if we except perhaps the terminus of the Panama Railroad and high prices for instance 3 steel pens .50; 1 pr. shoe strings .10 & everything else in proportion. We remained here 1 night and left early the next morning, and was safely on board the steamer Sonora the same day, sailed on the 18th. The Sonora is a fine, clean, well-conducted steamer with a very gentlemanly captain (Capt. Whiting). On board this vessel I had a very pleasant time--a fine stateroom, plenty of company and chess playing all the time if I wished it. The best players were Mr. Ellis of Cal., the surgeon of the vessel, and Gov. Curry of Oregon, the two former were as fine players as I have ever met excepting Mr. Gordon, who is the only person that I have yet found that could beat me (if I do say it myself) although Mr. Ellis played me pretty close. He is a young man I think about 26 or 27 years of age and one whom I like very much being fond of chess and mathematics and you can tell Pa that he is a [omission].
    We stopped at Acapulco for the purpose of taking on coal. I went on shore but the night was too dark to see anything. On the 31st we arrived off the bay of San Francisco but owing to a thick fog could not enter until the evening of the 1st. At San Francisco I saw Thos. Hemphill whom you probably recollect also Sanders a graduate of our class and Lewis & Kip both of whom were at West Point for a short time. I saw but little of the city but with that little I was much pleased. The surrounding country however at this season presents a very barren appearance. On the evening of the 3rd we left for Benicia and reported at Headquarters on the 4th. I would dislike very much to be stationed here. It is a very disagreeable looking place. On the 5th we were again in San Francisco which place we left per steamer Columbia on the 7th. Before leaving I wrote you a letter and sent papers to several. On board of the Columbia I was again seasick otherwise the trip to Vancouver was quite pleasant. We stopped off Port Orford to receive on board 75 of the Rogue River Indians the last of the "hostiles" in that section. They were under the charge of an Indian agent who was taking them to one of the Indian reservations. Among them was one of their principal chiefs the treatment of whom by the volunteers will illustrate pretty well their general conduct towards the Indians and account for the continuance of the war. After Lt. Sweitzer with his dragoons had whipped the Indians at Rogue River and forced all except this chief and a few warriors to surrender, he left for the upper country, leaving the volunteers that had arrived to assist him behind. Soon after his departure this chief (I have forgotten his name) came to the fort and declared his intention of surrendering together with his warriors. At the same time he brought all the guns they had and gave them up, telling them that on a certain day he and 7 of his men would come in and the rest soon after.
    The volunteers told him to come and he should be well treated and sent to the reserve. According to promise they came and were met outside of the post by some of the whites who motioned for them to come on. They went and whilst passing a pile of logs were fired on by a party of concealed volunteers. The chief alone escaped and continued the war until taken by the regular troops. This affair is mentioned in the Oregon papers as a great victory over the Indians and such is almost all of the volunteer victories. They make no distinction between hostile & friendly Indians. On another occasion, a squaw and two children were taken prisoners and sent to the fort under escort of a party. The next day they were found in the road dead and scalped, the papers reporting another battle with the Indians, three killed.
    The Rogue River war originated as follows--6 Indians from the mountains of the Shastas tribe (I believe) committed some depredations upon some miners with or without cause I know not. A company of volunteers was raised and sent out to arrest them. They arrived at the camp of a friendly chief John and accused his people of the act which they denied and upon requisition gave up their arms except the chief and a few men who started in pursuit of the Shastas. They found them and returned with their scalps and the stolen property after recovering which the volunteers surrounded John's camp and firing into it killed almost all of his people, men, women & children, gaining according to the newspapers a great victory.
    Nothing further of importance occurred until we arrived at the bar off the mouth of the Columbia at which place we came nigh going under. We were in the trough of the sea when a breaker or rather swell came down upon us, sweeping the deck and causing the vessel to turn almost flat on her side, the whole wheelhouse being under water. The vessel was forced down until she struck the bar. One passenger said that it was the 74th time that he had crossed in the same vessel and in all kinds of weather but he never saw anything like that before. No one expected anything of the kind as the weather was very calm. Several of us had gone forward to see the breakers and we had a merry time of it I assure you. At one time I was swinging out over the water, the rope I had hold of not being fastened at the lower end. Before we were over we all had pretty sore hands. The next time I cross I think I shall be content to remain aft. We landed at Ft. Vancouver on the morning of the 12 having left Dr. Craig U.S.A. and Lt. Forsythe a few miles below, they intending to cross the country to their respective posts Steilacoom & Bellingham Bay, the party being now reduced to 3 viz Lts. Myers, Bainbridge & myself.  Vancouver in point of beauty is of all the places which I have visited is next to West Point which place I put first our present post being 3rd. We stopped with Col. Morris 4th Inft. the comdt. of the post. He is a very nice old gentleman and treated us as if we were his children. Fearing that we would be too late to get our baggage off on the next train for Walla Walla if we delayed longer we left for the Dalles on the 13 and arrived there on the 12th. This is about the meanest place I ever saw. The town consists of about a dozen houses which are occupied principally by gamblers and horse thieves. We stopped with Mr. Noble formerly of the army but now Indian agent and assistant quartermaster under Gov. Stevens. No one here goes out without his revolver. A few days before our arrival Mr. Noble was shot at whilst standing near his door and the evening before we left a man was shot through the window of a billiard saloon. The post is about a mile from town and is a dreary looking place but nevertheless as ill luck would have it [we] were compelled to remain here until the 20th when we started for Ft. Walla Walla, Bainbridge mounted on an Indian pony which was so lazy that it was impossible to get him out of a walk and I on a horse as poor as "Job's turkey." (Myers left us at the Dalles.) About 11 A.M. it commenced raining, the rain driving directly in our faces. As we proceeded it turned to snow and then again to rain when about 3 P.M. we were compelled to stop at the foot of a hill which was so steep that wagons could not ascend whilst it was so wet. The tents were pitched but it was nearly an hour before we could get a fire made, there being no wood in the vicinity and the wagon containing it not yet having arrived. I tell you we had a pretty tough time of it. We were completely saturated with rain and almost frozen, no way of getting warm but by running about and the rain & snow coming down about as fast as possible, it was fine, but a fire and supper fixed things up and we felt as comfortable as could be expected under the circumstances. The dist. from the Dalles was 10 miles. We did not get off the next morning until 11 A.M. and encamped on the Deschutes River about 4 P.M. only 5 miles from the first encampment.
    Most of the next day was occupied in ferrying the train across the river, traveled 7 miles and encamped. During the night it rained & snowed. On the 23 we set out about 9 A.M. the snow being 6 in. in the valleys and about 1 ft. in the mountains. Reached John Days River a dist. of 20 miles from last camp. Wood very scarce, in fact after leaving the Dalles you see no wood except a few small bushes along the edges of the streams until you arrive at the Umatilla and after that only along streams. 24th we made 8 miles the weather very cold. 25th we had an alarm of Indians but it turned out to be some of our own party who were after a mountain tiger. Encamped on Willow Creek a dist. of 20 miles from last camp. My horse gave out but I procured a mule from the wagon master and turned him out with the herd of extra animals. 26th went 20 miles. 27th a best of 28 miles. 28th 8 miles. 29th 15 miles encamped near the Umatilla. 30th encamped on Wild Horse Creek 16 miles from the last camp, very cold, plenty snow and wood. 1st encamped on a branch of the Walla Walla about 8 miles from our destination which we reached the next day about 10 A.M. I would give you a full acct. of my journey and endeavor to make it interesting but as I kept no journal it is impossible to do so therefore you must be content with plain facts and distances as near as I can remember them.
    The great differences in the distances is owing partly to the difficulties of the roads but mostly to the scarcity of wood and water in this country. The whole country as far as I have seen it after leaving the Dalles is a succession of vast undulating prairies covered with grass and a species of wild sage, making it one of the very finest of grazing countries.
    Taking my trip from the Dalles to this post although most of the time it was cold and sometimes very disagreeable on the whole I liked it first rate and was rather sorry than otherwise that it ended so soon. It agreed with me first rate. I was getting regularly fat upon it. I venture to say that I now weigh 15 or 20 lbs. more than I did when I left home. You know when at home I could never eat fat meat but coming up I could cause the fattest kind of bacon to disappear as fast as the next person and about as much of it too. A finer climate than that of Walla Walla I don't believe can be found anywhere and a more comfortable post than ours now is is not on this coast though you may find many with better looking and furnished quarters--in my last I told you how our quarters were constructed. I will now tell you more about them. Just fancy a little log house with a mud roof nearly flat, one window and a door in the lowest part. I can just stand upright, have to stoop a little in going in and out of the door. It is about 14 ft. square, a fireplace in the middle of one end; over the fireplace is fastened a tobacco box on one side. We keep the wood, trunks, wash stand (which is a board about a foot wide nailed to the logs and supported by props) and several small shelves. Now look on the other side and you see two beds, a shelf for hats &c., one for books and pins for hanging up clothing. In the middle you will find a table on which stands conspicuous a chess board and men around which you will find various books, papers &c. The remainder of our furniture consists of a chair and two candlesticks. The latter are made of a piece of board and 4 mails each and the former made by myself of willow and cushioned with canvas and straw, a regular old armchair and the most comfortable at the post.
    Our duties at present are very light having only one tour of duty as offr. of day per week and nothing to do at other times, scouting not being necessary at this season of the year and the snow too deep for drill there being now about a foot of snow. The only other duty is that of escorting trains between this place and the Dalles; they arrive monthly. I shall probably have command of the next, which will leave this between the first and tenth of next month--the trip I suppose will be a cold one.
    In my last I told you about my writing from New York before sailing and also to send one of those Dag types to Mary Jane. The cost of my revolvers was $36 including boxes, flasks &c. They are 6 inch barrels.
    I did not see Dr. Dewers in N.Y. for this reason. He saw my arrival in the papers if he takes any of the leading ones and if he don't he ought to and it was his place to call on or send to me if he wished to see me or have me call on him. He did neither hence I did not call on him. I did not see Mr. McCutcheon because I hadn't time to go to Brooklyn. I did not send Aunt Merrill that Daguerreotype and I wish when next you see her you would tell her the reason why. When I arrived in New York I found that Lipton had engaged and paid for my passage and that he had seen the quartermaster about my requisition for transportation which must be authorized by the authorities at Washington before I could get it. Thinking all right, I proceeded to make my purchases which I continued until the funds became rather low when I thought I would give the quartermaster a call for $500.
    I did so and found that he had not sent on my requisition to Washington. This was on Friday. He said he would telegraph immediately and did so. I called again on Saturday but he had received no reply. I paid him another visit about 3 P.M. the same day. Still no word from the War Department. I was in a pretty bad fix, not enough to pay my hotel bills, so I got desperate and determined to spend what little I had and trust to luck for the $500 before Monday at 10 A.M. the time of sailing so I went across and had those Daguerreotypes taken, intending to have 3 but it was too late in the day, so late in fact that for the first I had to sit 7 minutes and for the last 10 [due to the fading light]. On Monday morning I went again to the quartermaster's, a distance of about 3 miles, then about a mile to the treasurer's to get my draft cashed then back to the hotel, paid my bill and left immediately for the boat. Consequently no time for anything else. I will send it however the first time I have an opportunity of so doing.
    It is now 12½ A.M. consequently I have not the time to attend to that blarney and fudge in your letter but must go and inspect my guard.
    Remember me to Mrs. L. Reed, McEnally, Weaver, Morin [?], Nelson, the Misses Irwin, Smith, Myers, Kratzers, Mr. Lemmer, Dr. Hartswick, Mr. Rowe, Cullen, in fact everybody you can think of and be sure and write by every steamer, sending papers &c. occasionally.


Dear Merty
    I wrote to you on the 20th (I think), the date of the departure of the last express; at that time I had received but one of your letters, the date of which was Oct. 14th. Yesterday the express arrived from Ft. Dalles bringing with it your note of Nov. 2nd; by the same express we received the news of the election of James Buchanan which to all of us was most welcome and to none more than myself especially the large majority which he received in Pennsylvania.
    "The long agony is over" and other matters will now excite general interest and of course you will be able in future to write me longer letters and not again disappoint me with notes, for such only were the above mentioned attempts of yours. You may say in reply "that those who live in glass houses should not throw stones." Although admitting that at first sight the adage may appear to be applicable yet upon further examination notwithstanding I cannot deny the fact of having sent several brief epistles, the excuses therein given and warranted by the circumstances of the case are to any reasonable mind sufficient to expose the fallacy of such an application. Now such as your last "I have to stop as I have no more room." No, not even in this country with all its inconveniences and no conveniences, I would be ashamed of such a plea. I would rather come out boldly and state truly that I was too lazy, for anyone knows that if I had not another sheet of paper, a plea which it is possible I may yet have to advance before I again reach a civilized community but one which in you would be simply absurd, it were an easy matter to cross the writings. [Lorain employed that practice in this letter, probably to make his point.] In your last I am accused of procrastination and on the grounds that you did not receive a letter from me when in New York and consequently I must have put off writing until it was too late to do so and also I did not write during the passage from N.Y. to Aspinwall.
    To the charge I must plead not guilty. As to the first reason it is absurd for I did write from N.Y., purposely delaying to do so until the last day of my stay in that place, thinking one letter from there sufficient and that you would prefer its being written as late as possible. If you did not receive it I can't help that; it was no fault of mine but of the U.S. mail arrangements. As to writing on board the steamer Illinois it were equally absurd to think of it. I have in former letters made some few remarks about that vessel which I think ought to be satisfactory on this point but it appears that they were not. Consequently I shall make a few more even at the risk of repetition in order to satisfy you and clear myself of an imaginary and unfounded charge. Our stateroom was very badly ventilated, all the air received in it having to pass through the dining saloon with its row of rooms on each side and then through the second cabin, the latter being full of passengers, and the smell of the former perfectly sickening owing to the filthy state of everything connected with the vessel. I did not pretend to sleep in our room and scarcely ever visited it and when I did do so I was compelled to make the visit short as possible or get sick. As a matter of course I preferred the former. A very comfortable place this in which to write a letter and in not doing so no doubt but what I was guilty of procrastination not however as regards letter writing but as I am accused but it was sickness that was deferred and I hope for a long time. Not being able then to write in my room where else could I go in order to do so. I can think of no place excepting the deck but this thought is evidently absurd. So I shall give it up unless your fertile imagination can suggest some place more fitted for such a purpose. I shall consider the verdict as Not guilty. But you may reply that I did not write on board the Sonora, where everything was comfortable and clean. Well, I did not, but that does not prove the charge for I had my reasons.
    I did not wish to write about my voyage on the Atlantic side as I intended to mention that when I was settled at my post, knowing that at best it would be uninteresting, nothing of importance having taken place, and in respect to the Pacific voyage I can only say the same. I might it is true have written somewhat as follows. Oct. __. Got up at __ A.M., took breakfast at __, went on deck, saw several passengers there. Weather clear or cloudy &c. (as the case might be), saw a great many of Mother Carey's chickens following in the wake of the vessel, made some profound and learned observations about the same, told if I saw any fish and the kind. Played __ games of chess with Mr. E____, with Mr. ____ &c., took lunch at 12, dined at __, distance made during the last 24 hours ____. Now I think such a letter would be very interesting; it is indeed a great pity I did not write it. I gave you a sample of such an one in my last which was 12 pages and described my journey from Ft. Dalles to this place in a manner similar to the above. I hope that it may interest you and also satisfy you that I acted wisely in not writing a similar one on board the Sonora. All my letters I think contain sufficient reasons not only for briefness but also the lateness of dates. Consequently I hope I shall hear no more about procrastination but if I do I shall expect the charge to have at least some foundation which certainly at present it has not.
    In reply to your questions I will state that on the Illinois I had no acquaintances except our party. I gave you their names in a former letter and will not repeat unless especially desired.
    On the Sonora I knew almost everyone by sight but cannot say that I made the acquaintance of any except those mentioned in my last, by reference to which you will find there were no ladies among them.
    I can't write much more than I have already done about Jamaica, were I to attempt any kind of a description I know I should fail and the reason must be obvious, for what can one learn of the people, productions &c. of such an island in the short space of one day and night. It would make me appear too much like the Yankee described in one of Cooper's novels, the title of which I cannot at present recall. The circumstances, however, are familiar. Jonathan is represented as traveling through Europe, spending one day in London, another in Paris &c., passing from one place to another as quickly as possible, returns home a great man in the eyes of his fellow countrymen and writes a book giving an account of his travels and describing the countries he has visited, the civil and religious state of their inhabitants and descants largely upon the political affairs of the different governments &c., &c., &c., &c., &c. So absurd and ridiculous indeed is he made to appear by the novelist that I have no desire to be placed in the same catalog with him.
    I can, however, safely say (for a long residence is not necessary to make observations sufficient for the conclusion) that Jamaica is but the wreck of what she once was. That Kingston is a town of beggars. That the principal fruits in the markets were the orange, lemon, fig, grape, bananas, coconut & tobacco. The price of everything except dinner for which 5 of us paid $17 and a very poor one at that, is one dime. For this you can get one orange or a basket of them, just as you prefer, and if you don't buy you are certain to be begged--one dime being the amount generally asked and asked generally, for all are beggars. Before the Negroes were emancipated the island exported largely and carried on a brisk trade. Now she imports subsistence for the inhabitants and exports nothing save perhaps occasionally a small quantity of fruit, during our stay ours was the only vessel in port and the only labor I saw performing was that of supplying the steamer with coal which was done by Negro women under the direction of a white man who appeared to have at least as much authority over them as a master in the South has over his slaves. The coal was carried in baskets upon the top of the Negroes' heads the number of darkies employed I should judge to be between 80 and 100 and a more miserable set of wretches I never beheld, heard described or read of. So much for abolitionism.
    The reason for the dilapidated and wretched state of everything I am told is that it is but seldom that the Negroes can be induced to work. The fruit being so abundant and climate so warm that they can live upon the former and the latter renders houses to them an unnecessary luxury. It is now half past eleven P.M. and I think late enough to leave Jamaica and go to bed. So good night.
    This is the last evening of the present year and in order that my last acts in it be if not good at least not the contrary I propose to employ myself in continuing this letter and in doing so I hope to gain your approval.
    The events of the past year are known, the principal ones are now matters for the historian and each individual is or may become by reflection acquainted with those which immediately relate to himself but human foresight were incompetent to the task of foretelling the incidents of the new year which is just opening upon us. What will we do, how will our time be employed as it passes away and where will we be at its close? These are questions which time alone can answer. Moralizing, or trying to at least, I suppose you think, but call it what you may it is done with an object and that object is to show you that in your letters it is not necessary to write much about the general news of the past year, but to confine your remarks to such matters as come under your more immediate notice which matters of interest to me you can by proper reflection remember and of course put in your letters and since we are unable to foretell the future you will be most particular to note down passing events and keep me posted from time to time of the whereabouts, doings &c. of yourself and friends so that when the year does end the above questions may all be answered without giving me the trouble of re-asking them.
    I believe I have already told you all about Jamaica that I know or can think of but if more is required let [it] be known by questions what is desired and if I can I will give it you.
    Of the Isthmus I saw but little and consequently can say but little about it. We arrived at Aspinwall late in the evening and left it early next morning, could not see much when the cars were in motion and when we arrived at Panama we were hurried on board the steamer. In a former letter I mentioned all I knew about it, consequently I need not repeat. Benicia comes next. My stay here was also very brief, but sufficient to satisfy me that I was fortunate in not being stationed there. The place is made up of a few scattered dwelling houses, two attempts at hotels, and three or four stores. The buildings are all small and built of wood. The barracks are about a mile from town, and of all the posts that I have seen this is the least desirable if we except perhaps the Dalles and lower Cascades on the Columbia. The only redeeming feature about it is its proximity to San Francisco. Gov. Bigler gave Pa a much fuller account of the country than I possibly could, even had I remained there for a considerable period of time whereas I was there but one day, the greater part of which was occupied in business (reporting, settling accounts &c.) and the remainder in the officers' quarters and the time of year too was such as to present the country in its most unfavorable aspect. You want to know why I wished to come to this country, and after asking the question set forth several objections, to none of which however are worth much of which the sea voyage is the first. The only danger in which is at the bar off the mouth of the Columbia and that having been passed in safety removes this objection. The next is the country & climate, both of which I like much better than the same in California judging from the little I have seen of both places, and as to fever and ague it is not known above Vancouver and I am now several hundred miles above that post and likely to remain so for some time. The objections being now answered I will state a few [End of letter missing. I think. With scans of a cross-written letter, and unnumbered pages, it's very difficult to tell which page follows which. If I'm later able to examine the original manuscript maybe I'll be able to clarify the page order.]


Dear Mary
    Your letter of April 8th was received yesterday. So long has it been since I wrote to you that I had given up all idea of hearing from you except from home. I am truly glad that even at this late hour you have considered me worthy of the time and trouble necessary to the writing of a letter. I don't know what I have ever done that you should think it necessary to stand upon formalities in your correspondence or rather I should perhaps say in your non-correspondence, for such intercourse as we have had through the medium of letters has been so limited as scarcely to deserve the name implied by correspondence. Why after writing one letter should you wait until an answer is received before writing another. When I was at West Point the time required for a letter to pass from one to the other of us was so short that such a delay might be made with at least some show of reason but now such procedure is simply absurd. I shall always be glad to hear from you and hope you will write by every steamer but pray don't preach me such sermons as you used to do in your letters when I was a cadet. Your doing so then I must plead as part excuse in neglecting replying. You gave me nothing to reply to except advice which no doubt was very good but certainly thrown away. I hate sermons unless argumentative; then I do not much object to them, but of this class I have heard but few.
    Your receiving the letters which I send home renders the mention of many things unnecessary and of course much abridges the few topics upon which otherwise I might say something.
    On night before last I arrived at this place from old Ft. Walla Walla at which place I had been on duty for 12 days with a detachment of 12 men. We were sent down to repair the old fort so as to protect the government stores brought there by the boats, fears being entertained that the Indians intend soon to recommence hostilities. We have well-authenticated reports of their holding councils and of their purport it appears that at present the only difference among them as to the time they will attack our post some wish to do so immediately whilst others think it would be better to wait until Col. Wright's council. We can whip them in either case and I care not how soon they come as I don't believe a permanent peace will exist until they are soundly flogged, this being rendered necessary by the conduct of the volunteers in the last campaign principally but not altogether, as I believe the regulars are somewhat to blame for not forcing them to battle when they could easily have done so. In the case of the volunteers' force, work was not required as they were generally first attacked and most always defeated, in consequence of which they Indians think they are the superiors.
    The old fort is a very disagreeable place, being surrounded by sand to the depth of from ten to fourteen feet, which when the wind blows (and it does very often) renders a stay out of the tent impossible and in it disagreeable, and when in the day time it don't blow, so great is the [paper torn] think of staying in the tent [paper torn] and anyplace else almost [paper torn] the evening it gets cool but [paper torn] mosquitoes between which and [paper torn] day a choice is rather difficult [paper torn] up by myself at night arrived [paper torn] A.M. have since been so tired in [paper torn] not sooner commence this letter [paper torn] the express is ready to start I [paper torn] conclude. I will however endeavor [paper torn] to your letter by next mail the [paper torn] count a reply but merely as a [paper torn] know what. Remember me to [paper torn] and all the folks.


Dear Merty
    Today I received your letter of Oct. 1st and Pa's having the date of Sepr. 6th. The latter should have been here two weeks ago but the bar was too rough for the steamer to cross, consequently we missed one mail and were unable to send any letter by the last "States steamer" which will I hope satisfactorily account for your not hearing from me thereby. I mention this now as I know an explanation must come sooner or later and I think the sooner the better. We have no local news of interest; the Indians are, as usual, quiet. Some little excitement was created here today owing to the mail steamer striking on the bar and narrowly escaping being wrecked, not so much the fault of the bar as of pilot who it is thought was not in the channel however she came in with no other damage than the loss of part of her bulwarks and wheel with her cabin well washed and the loss of freight thrown overboard to lighten her.
    Col. Wright, after having again defeated the Indians with the loss of none (0) killed and 1 wounded, they suffering severely, has returned to the Dalles--his last fight was continued for 7 hours over a distance of 16 miles.
    Gen. Harney has arrived at Ft. Vancouver and assumed the command of the new department. When he left the Atlantic Coast he contemplated a winter campaign but I do not think he will make it. In the first place I do not believe it practicable and again the work laid out for him by the "savants" at Washington has been done by Gen. Clark before he arrived.
    In regard to Col. Steptoe's affair I think the same as I wrote in former letters and all the newspaper reports in creation will not make me change my mind when it is formed on as good authority as I have for making the statement I did. Newspapers generally are "humbugs," Oregon papers especially. In some states papers are not far behind when they undertake to speak on military affairs.
    I have seen officers who have fought the Indians east of the Rocky Mountains and in Texas and New Mexico; they all say that the Indians in the vicinity of Walla Walla are as warriors far superior to any of the former. They are better able to judge in this respect than writers who form their opinions from personal appearance and gaudy trappings only. At best they are miserable creatures when compared with the Indian of romance.
    Our game here consists of ducks and geese, which are very abundant. Grouse and deer not very numerous and sometimes we get the sight of a bear. Oysters we do not have nor do I yet like them. We have a species of shellfish dug out of the soft sandstone near the bar, which is called a rock oyster but resembles the oyster proper in no respect save its having a disagreeable flavor.
    I can't send you photographs of Indians in any other dress than what you term civilized as they now wear no other but will continue the scenes if the weather is suitable but I am afraid it is rather late in the season to do much in the photographic line.
    You must excuse the briefness and disconnectedness of this as we have several visitors (officers by the steamer), one of whom is a classmate, and I have had but little time for anything except their entertainment. it is now one o'clock at night and I being officer of the day must visit my guard and then try for a little sleep. So goodbye and remember me to all my friends.


Dear Merty
    The mail arrived from San Francisco early this morning but by it I did not hear from home. Why is this? At least two letters are now due from you and if this letter is very short you will have to blame yourself for it since I have nothing to answer and must depend entirely on the resources of Fort Umpqua to furnish topics on which to write, and a poor dependence I am afraid I shall find it to be, as it is most unconscionably dull here. Within the recollection of man we have had but one day in which the sun was at all visible, nature being too busily engaged in keeping up the steam south of the Equator and attending to the condensing apparatus toward the north to think of sunlight being wanted at such small places as ours. Fort Umpqua I believe to be the maximum point of aqueous condensation. At present we have no means whatever of enjoyment. In the winter when we had any breather in the least possible he could go a duck shooting but now even we are deprived of this source of amusement as the ducks have all left.
    No news except a rumor from Washington of a decrease in our pay.
    The only local news of importance is that just reported to me that the steamer is just about starting, consequently I must leave off writing almost before I have begun.
    Remember me to all and be sure to write hereafter by every steamer.


Dear Mary
    Two days ago the mail steamer arrived, bringing your letter containing the sad news of our father's death. For some months past my letters from Merty have been such as to lead me to fear the worst, yet all of them contained some hopes and with yourself I had hoped that the returning warm weather would produce a favorable change and that on my anticipated return to the States I should find our common home unaltered and meet our father still again. But fate has decided otherwise. Our father is dead. Our home is no more. Sad events to anticipate even in thought, but much more sorrowful to record as realities. Our loss is great, greater perhaps than any of us anticipate, but great as it is I sincerely hope it may not be augmented by the weakening of any of those natural ties of affection which ought and I hope do bind us indescribably together. You have a second home and Merty you say is to go with you. I am glad that you have it to offer her but am afraid that in spite of all the efforts which I know you will make to cause her to be content with it, she will not be satisfied and I don't like to see her visiting all the time without a proper protector. When away from you Oscar should be with her as much as possible.
    Oscar I suppose knows what he ought to do better than I can tell him notwithstanding I must say that unless he is assured beyond a doubt of the condition of affairs at "Pikes Peak" he had better not go there. I give this opinion from what I have seen and know of the gold diggings on the coast.
    I am much pleased with the name you have given your baby. I have always thought very highly of Dr. Hartswick and [his] kindness and attention to our father during his illness adds gratitude to esteem, and I can wish the child no better than that he may resemble his namesake.
    I hope you will write me often. I am not much of a letter writer, therefore should I fail to reply regularly to your letters I hope you will not commit the same fault but write answered or not.
    Remember me to all.


Dear Mary
    Two steamers ago I received your letter of April 25th. I need scarcely tell you that it was welcome, as you well know I desire to hear from you often. Yet I must say it was somewhat of a surprise, so long had it been since I heard from you that I was beginning to think you never again intended to write. I am now almost satisfied that Merty never will. I have not heard from her for several months.
    I ought to have replied to your letter by last steamer and did commence to write as I thought two days before she would come in but had scarcely begun when it was announced that the steamer was across the bar, consequently I had to put off writing to another steamer, which we expect tomorrow or [the] day after.
    From Merty as I before stated I have heard nothing directly for a long time. I hope she enjoys herself at Three Springs much better than either of us could anticipate or hope. No doubt she will miss much the accustomed society of the young folks at C----. Oscar has not written to me nor do I much expect he will though I should be much pleased if he did.
    It is true I had expectations of returning home this summer founded as I thought on good grounds, but lately I have been compelled to give them all up. From the present appearance of affairs I should say it is extremely doubtful if our regiment will be ordered to the Atlantic States for some two or three years. By the last steamer we received a long order in reference to the Artillery which instead of sending any companies from this coast ordered one from the Atlantic side to Ft. Vancouver. I think it quite probable that our company will soon be ordered to some other post, what one in particular I have not the least idea.
    If therefore you have any journey in view you had better not defer it in expectation of my accompanying you unless you are prepared to postpone it indefinitely. If I could go with you it would give me much pleasure to do so also to pay you a long visit at home, neither of which have I at present any prospect of enjoying soon.
    As regards being killed by Indians, I believe we are almost as safe from it here as you are in Pennsylvania. At any rate I have none of your fears about it. It is our profession to face danger when required and our luck if we escape unharmed.
    I suppose I can safely say in reply to your question that we have no fruit at all, certainly none in our immediate vicinity unless you regard wild berries in your category, in which case we have any quantity though not of the best kind.
    The strawberry, the berry par excellence of this vicinity and of the world for aught I know to the contrary, is quite plentiful here but it is almost impossible to free it altogether from sand, which appears to be a component part of it, consequently much of the pleasure in eating the berry is destroyed by the grit. The salmonberry is a large fine-looking berry resembling in shape the blackberry of Penna., is yellow when ripe but nearly tasteless. The salalberry is one of our best but the taste for it is an acquired one; it in appearance resembles somewhat the whortleberry of the States. We have the whortleberry, but it differs much from the same berry at home; it is nothing like as fine in flavor, generally much smaller and found on high bushes which often attain the dignity of a tree. Besides the above named we have the thimbleberry, gooseberry, a species of wild cranberry and many other species, the names of which I do not know, but none of them are worth the picking. In the valley above the apple comes to perfection, but is as yet very scarce and consequently very high in price and but few to be had at any price.
    You ask if we have any ladies at the post. In one of my letters to Merty I replied to the same question but probably you did not see it and she may have forgotten. Therefore in reply we have three (just three too many), Mrs. & Miss Scott and Mrs. Vollum. Regular gossips all. So you can imagine how I like them (not very gallant but true). I haven't paid any of them a visit for at least six months except by special invitation.
    So many of the once "young folks" of C----- are married or to be married that I am beginning to feel quite aged when I think of them, so much younger than myself; probably when I return I shall find none of my old acquaintance "fancy free," but I don't know as that will make much difference as I am rapidly becoming a confirmed bachelor and a rather crusty one too, I fear, but enough of nonsense.
    We have a report that part of the Rogue River and Coquille Indians have left the reservation above with the intention of returning to their former homes. If it is true the troops here may have some work to bring them back, but I do not believe the report. It is certain they have not passed this post and they could not go to Rogue River unless they did so save by the route through the settlements in the valley above, in which case someone would have seen them and gave information--which is not the case. We have no other news (local) of importance and as I believe I have fully answered everything in your letter which required a reply I must conclude for want of other topics. Write often.


Dear Mary
    You will confer a great favor by writing to me immediately on the receipt of this so that I may be assured that you are yet in the "land of the living," a hoped-for fact but one over which your long silence has thrown some doubt. It has certainly been at least four months since I last heard from either yourself or Merty, and it appears to me an age; in fact, I am tired of going to the post office on the arrival of each steamer and returning empty-handed as regards private letters. The neglect of each and both of you is unpardonable save on long penance, and since I am the principal person wronged by it, it is no more than right that I should have the privilege of imposing due penance which I shall now proceed to do by condemning one of you (at least) to write by each steamer, a strict compliance herewith will be considered as an expressed desire for forgiveness.
    I notice by the last Clearfield Republican that Oscar had left C----- to attend lectures in Phila. I am glad that such is the case but hope when he does graduate he will locate and attend to private practice rather than seek an appointment as Asst. Surg. in the Army. In the latter position there would in all probability be greater ease than in the former, but it is not at all lucrative or seldom so, and he would have even fewer privileges than a line officer. Of the surgeons U.S.A. whom I have met and conversed with concerning the relative advantages of the two positions all without a single exception have declared in favor of a good private practice in preference to life in the Army. Oscar has never written to me though I suppose you keep up a correspondence with him. If so, will you request him to write me and send his address. I would not attempt to dissuade him from entering the Army though I do not think it best, yet before he makes the attempt he would do well to ascertain as much about the position of Asst. Surg. U.S.A. as is possible.
    I am sorry to learn that old Pennsylvania has become so degenerate as to cast her vote a second time for the black Republican ticket. I hope it will be the last and that in '60 she will roll up her old-fashioned majority on the side of right and the Union. The recent occurrences at Harpers Ferry, miserable failure that it was, should open the eyes of all that are not willingly blind to the tendencies of "Republicanism" and I believe will convince all right-minded men of the fallacy of opposing a name, regardless of principles and such is in my opinion the chief opposition to the Democratic Party in the state. Men oppose it merely because they opposed it when Whigs without reflecting that the Whig Party did not [omission?] so much on account of its wrongs as on account of sameness of principle with the Democratic Party (the platforms being nearly identical in its last campaign, Pierce & Scott).
    There being no line of demarcation between them, the existence of both became impossible, and it was but natural that the weaker (the Whig) should succumb.
    Nothing of importance has transpired in this department lately. We are expecting orders for the Presidio in the spring.
    So far this winter here has been remarkably mild. We have not had more than three consecutive days of rain during the season, and those at wide intervals. The lowest indication of the thermometer was 20° Fahr.
    At our post there is nothing of interest transpires to break the monotony of the place, the usual military routine to be gone through with daily, and occasionally either Mr. Piper or myself go a few miles up the river and kill a deer and sometimes amuse ourselves with a duck hunt in which we are generally very successful.
    Remember me to Mr. Ashman, Richard and all and do write if you ever again intend to.


Dear Mary
    We are daily expecting the arrival of the mail steamer from San Francisco and in order to be properly prepared for the event (for with us in this isolated position the arrival of a steamer is a great event) I have determined to write you a few lines though I doubt very much if you deserve them, for I have not heard from you since the receipt of your note dated Nov. 25th / 59 notwithstanding I have written pretty regularly to either yourself or Merty; in fact I hear so little from or about you or your vicinity that to write a letter from this dull place is a difficult matter and to write one of any interest is impossible. So you must excuse brevity and dryness. On this coast at the present we have no news of importance except what reaches us from the Atlantic States and that is not of the most pleasant sort. Everything appears to indicate the triumph of fanaticism both North and South. On the one hand it is disgusting to see that miserable fanatic and undoubtedly crazed John Brown held up by northern abolitionists as a martyr in the cause of human liberty and to hear his praises sent forth from the northern pulpit and from the speakers from the latter outraging common sense by comparing him with Washington and from the former they descend to blasphemy and draw comparisons with Jesus Christ. On the other hand it is pitiable to see the fears excited and system of espionage instituted through the South by such a miserable farce as that of Harpers Ferry, the partial insanity of Gov. Wise and other leading men of the South extending even to Southern students in the medical and other colleges of the North.
    The wreck of the steamer Northerner is the only out-of-the-way occurrence that has taken place lately on the coast. She struck a rock near Cape Mendocino, 35 lives lost, but I suppose you have seen the full particulars in the papers.
    Thus far we have had a delightful winter, scarcely any rain and plenty of sunshine, just the reverse of last winter. I have been taking advantage of the fine weather as much as possible. Last month I left for the Alsea River, which is 60 miles above this, on an elk hunt, but was taken sick and had to give up the idea of hunting and return. In two weeks afterward I went out again after deer but was unsuccessful. We saw six but did not get a shot. I propose to start on a four days hunt next Wednesday after elk. As you may suppose from the above hunting is about our sole amusement this season of the year.
    It would give me much pleasure to be able to inform you as requested of the time when I shall be able to visit the Atlantic States, but it is impossible to give anything more definite than I have done in former letters. I shall apply for a leave as soon as I am promoted to a 1st Lieutenancy, which I expect will be before long.
    I haven't heard from Merty for some time. Tell her to write. Oscar has not written at all. I hope you will induce him to do so as often as he can find leisure and inclination. You state in your last that you were about writing to Aunt Merrill; before I left C----- I promised to send her my phiz in a case. Tell her when next you write that time prevented it when in New York but I have not forgotten the promise and will fulfill it at the first opportunity.
    I am sorry to hear that Mr. Ashman still continues ill and am afraid he cannot last long in his present state but hope for the best.
    Remember me to all.


Dear Mary
    I have now before me your letters of Jany. 7th & 27th, both of which remain as yet unanswered owing to my having been absent from the post when the last two mails left.
    In your letter of the 7th you complain of not having heard from me for a long time. Why such a cause of complaint should exist I am at a loss to understand, for I have written to either yourself or Merty by nearly every mail which has left this during the past six months nor can I satisfactorily account for the nonarrival of the letters written by you but suppose the blame rests with the postmasters and there will have to permit it to rest. You ask how I spent my Christmas holidays. Indeed I cannot now positively tell how I did pass them. So closely does each day resemble its predecessor that it is extremely difficult to draw any distinction between them, and consequently it is impossible to refer to any stated past time and tell how it was spent save by giving a statement of the daily military routine of duty and which is as applicable to one period of time as to another. You may hence infer that our life must be very monotonous, and indeed it is extremely so--no change, nothing of interest transpiring, causes the dullness of the place to become altogether unbearable. Our only resort from this state of existence lies in hunting, of which I am becoming extremely fond and am out as often as I think I can consistently obtain permission to go. Since I last wrote to you I have been on two hunts of 3 days each after elk. In the first we were quite successful, the post sutler and myself shot four out of a band of eight that we saw, and it required the exercise of a considerable amount of forbearance to stop at that number. It was the first elk hunt for either of us, and of course was quite exciting. I should like to send you a quarter of the next elk it is my fortune to kill but am afraid it is impossible to do so. Therefore "you must take the will for the deed." I might go on and give you all the details of my hunting expeditions and their varied results but since you were afraid you should bore a bachelor like me with talk of children and details of your home life I shall exercise a like discretion and refrain from imposing upon so staid a matron as yourself the reading of that which you no doubt would consider being uninteresting, if not absolutely foolish. As soon as the spring fairly opens I expect to find some amusement in photography and will send you copies of all the pictures I take if you desire them. Have you any photograph which we took last year? If so describe them and I will furnish copies of any others that I may have. I wish you would get a photo of yourself and send it, also some of Merty & Oscar and as many more as you can obtain.
    Tell Richard I should be very happy to hear from him but very sorry to have him write an abolition letter. If he is too prejudiced against the Democratic Party to become an out-and-out member of it (the only reason that can exist for not doing so must be prejudice) I hope he will at least remain conservative and not be guilty of "Brown Republican" proclivities, but since you have informed me of your withdrawal from political life I will not interrupt the quiet retirement by political discussion.
    I have never received any letters from Oscar, therefore if he has written his letters have met the same fate as some of yours. In giving me the address of any person you should bear in mind that it requires two months for a letter to reach me and an answer to be returned, therefore the address if changeable should be given accordingly. I would write to Oscar but I don't know whether he is still in Philadelphia.
    "The best laid schemes of mice & men gang oft agley." You need not be surprised at my quotation. I am still down on poetry, and the above is about all I know in that line. And since such is the case it would not do to let the present opportunity of making my knowledge known slip, especially when it is so applicable to my case.
    I had made arrangement to visit the States when my expected promotion to a 1st Lieutenancy should relieve me from duty at this post and before I would form my new company, but it has been fated otherwise and unfortunately for my proposed leave of absence I have been promoted to my present company by the death of Lt. Day, formerly one of the 1st Lieuts. of this company--at least such appears to be the case though as yet we have no official information in regard to it. There is no doubt [end of letter lost or not scanned]


Dear Merty
    The mail steamer has just surprised us by making her appearance in the river three days in advance of her usual time, consequently I am found behindhand with my correspondence and must necessarily be brief in the present communication, and you must not be surprised if you find it rather a complaining one for I don't believe that ever mortal was so undeservedly ill treated as I have been, by both yourself and Mary Jane. I heard from neither of you by last steamer nor have I received a word or line from either by the mail that has just arrived. I have borne this sort of treatment quite long enough and in despite of it have continued writing pretty regularly but my patience is nearly exhausted and I should like to have in reply to this a statement as to whether or not I need expect to hear from you in future and if not (and if we can judge of the future by the past I suppose your reply will be in the negative) be pleased to state the reasons if any. From this post the writing of a letter is at best no easy matter but to carry on a one-sided correspondence is to me impossible nor do I see any earthly use in having two sisters and a brother if they can't write to one occasionally so look out (though I don't know whether you would care much about it) if you don't mind your ways I shall disown you.
    Now I think I have read you somewhat of a lecture (not half as much as you deserve) and hope it may have the desired effect in causing you to be more punctual in writing to me. When you do write I want you to reply to certain inquiries made in one of my letters to you and tell me all the news in C-----, anything and everything and don't excuse yourself as usual by making believe that I will be grumbly at what you write.
    We have had a very pleasant winter, no snow and but little rain or cold weather. Though farther north than you (43°43'), the lowest indication of the thermometer was 20°. At present it is raining but as soon as it clears up I intend to go on another hunt in the mountains, of which I have this winter taken several and generally have been pretty successful in either getting elk or deer. It is fine sport and without it I don't know what I should do to break the monotony of this place.
    We have no local news of importance. You will see by the papers that there has been a disgraceful massacre of Indians near Humboldt. Some 200 peaceful Indians, men women and children, were butchered in cold blood without cause or provocation by a parcel of white animals calling themselves men and for whose protection the Army is kept in most disagreeable situations in advance of civilization. No doubt we will have another Indian war on account of it. Here everything is quiet.
    Remember me to all my friends.


Dear Mary
    By today's steamer I received your letter of March 19th and one from Merty bearing date of March 28th / 60. As the steamer will leave in about an hour from this I shall not have time to reply to both nor to either further than I deem absolutely necessary. Your letter gave me the first intimation of the conditions of Pa's will and the only information respecting them save that contained in Merty's letter by same mail. The distinction drawn in regard to Oscar though undoubtedly made from the best of motives is I believe unnecessary and must be to him very painful and to all of us a source of great dissatisfaction. Its publicity should have been avoided and I agree with you in thinking. Mr. Wallace has acted in a manner unbecoming a friend of the family and was decidedly wrong in not delaying the registering of the will. If after your representations he had any doubts of my concurrence with your views it was his duty to satisfy them by writing immediately to me.
    Had I known it in time I should have opposed the registering by all honorable means in my power. As it is now too late to prevent, it remains to be seen what can be done to counteract. To determine this I would advise you to consult Mr. Smith (than whom I know of no lawyer better qualified to give advice in the premises) and would suggest questions similar to the following, viz:
    After a will has been registered are there any means by which it can be erased?
    If so, what are the means?
    Can a registered will be quietly set aside by the mutual consent of the heirs?
    In Mr. G. H. Reed I have great confidence and think it would be well to take his advice in all matters not strictly legal. During my absence I give you full power to act for me in the matter as I desire the will to be set quietly aside if possible and if not possible without my presence try and stay further proceedings until fall, at which time I shall endeavor to obtain a leave. Owing to my being A.A.Q.M. & A.C.S. at this post I see no possibility of getting a leave before fall, say 1st Sept. Write me soon and tell me what you think, for if necessary I can go home by resigning my commission at any time.
    No time to write more, remember me to all.


Dear Mary
    Today I received your letter of Apl. 30th and if in reply to it I should be brief, style disconnected and wandering and writing bad I know of no one to blame but yourself as by last steamer I did not hear from you and therefore deferred writing until the present time, thinking it quite possible that the steamer which arrived here today might bring me something to reply to. As I have stated a letter came but the mail leaves again in so short a time that it is impossible to write anything of a letter.
    By my last letter to you I answered rather hastily the letter I had then just received from you, since which I have written to Merty more fully on the subjects therein mentioned and as I suppose you will see her letter I do not deem it necessary to pursue the matter further at present, save to reiterate my remonstrance to the church affair, against which I hope you will use your influence. In compliance with your request especially since it so well accords with my own inclinations, I shall endeavor to obtain a leave of absence as soon as circumstances render it at all likely that one will be granted.
    I have several photographs other than those you mention which I will send you soon, also any that I may take this summer though I do not suppose they will be of as much interest to you as they would be to any person acquainted with the originals. In the meantime I shall be much pleased to receive the photographs or Daguerreotypes promised by yourself. I am glad to see that Oscar has so good a partner in business; as a gentleman I have a very high opinion of the Doctor but know nothing of his business qualifications though I suppose they are good.
    I am extremely sorry to hear that Mr. Ashman's health is no better.
    The political horizon looks rather gloomy owing to the unfortunate split in the Democratic ranks. I hope however that the existing difficulties will be settled at the Baltimore convention which meets I believe on the 16th inst.
    We have just received the news of the nomination of Bell and Everett by the Union convention; nothing as yet has been heard from the Blacks assembled at Chicago. Seward will I suppose be their candidate. I hope so at least as he will be more easily defeated than would be a more sane man. Tell Richd. that if his causeless hatred of the Democracy will not permit him to vote for its candidate he has no excuse for aiding the Negro worshipers by supporting the Chicago nominee, as he can by voting the Union ticket overcome all his scruples and at the same time cast his vote for an "old line Whig."
    Remember me to all.


Dear Mary
    Before our departure from Fort Umpqua I wrote to either yourself of Merty (I don't now recollect which) informing you of our intended movement to this vicinity, which was commenced on June 26th and completed (for the present at least) July 16th / 60, distance from Fort Umpqua to our present camp 250 miles. Our march was quite a pleasant one. After leaving Scottsburg (to whiich point we were transported per steamboat) our route lay through the valley of the Umpqua for a distance of 75 miles. This valley throughout corresponds with the description of the lower part, which I gave you last year. After leaving it we went through a pass in the Calapooia Mtns. known as the Big Cañon and struck the Rogue River Valley, the course of which we followed for 62 miles. This valley is far more extensive than that of the Umpqua but as regards scenery I can't say that it has any the advantage.
    At its southern extremity near the point where we left is Jacksonville, a pretty little town of about 500 or 600 inhabitants. Near this place is the famous gold region of Southern Oregon. All kinds of mining are carried on in its vicinity and here it is that the gold-bearing quartz is said to be so abundant and so rich, yielding from 20 to 30 thousand dollars per ton, yet notwithstanding this reported abundance of the precious metal I have never seen a place in which the people appeared more anxious to "make money" or seemed to have less. The more I see of mining for gold the less do I believe in its profitableness. Occasionally a man may strike a rich lead and make a fortune in a very short time, but more leave the mines broken down in constitution and with lighter pockets than when they commenced than ever realize some ordinary laborer's wages. After we left Rogue River we continued up Stuart's Cr. along the Yreka road for about 20 miles and then struck across the Siskiyou Mountains to our present camp, a distance of about 50 miles, our route being through a wild unsettled region and on an old emigrant trail. We were of necessity compelled to move very slowly, otherwise the trip across the mountains was quite agreeable.
    We are now located about ½ a mile from the Klamath River and on a small stream which empties into it about 1 mile from the emigrant crossing.
    Our camp is situated on the edge of the timber bordering on a small prairie but is so secluded that I have endeavored in vain to find a point from which to take a photographic view of it. I have my camera and chemicals with me, and as soon as I can arrange a dark house shall endeavor to get some views, copies of which if successful I will send you and from which you can obtain a better idea of the country than I can give by writing. We have plenty of gnats and mosquitoes, trout are abundant in the creek and game of all kinds appears to be plentiful & the Indians peaceably disposed though owing to the absence of all of their principal chiefs no formal talk has as yet been entered into. Judging from the little we have seen of them I think no difficulty need be apprehended with the Klamaths, the nearest Indians.
    We are still in ignorance as to what will be done with us this coming winter. It is possible that we will remain in this section and establish a post, though I think it quite probable that orders will be issued for our return to Umpqua in the fall, nor would I be surprised to hear of our being ordered to Old Point, Va., to the school of practice, as some company of the regiment must soon be detached for duty there and ours should by right be the one to go.
    The last two mails brought me nothing from either yourself or Merty, consequently I have nothing to reply to and have endeavored to make out a letter as best I could on matters relating chiefly to ourselves. I hope this will be the last time I shall find myself thus situated.
    We have just received the news of the action of the conventions at Richmond and Baltimore, mere telegraphic reports, however. I am still politician enough to desire to take one side or the other in this unfortunate split in the Democratic Party but before doing so definitely shall wait and see the platforms. As to the men, Breckinridge has always been my choice first and Douglas last if ever. Gen. Lane I have met; his education is not of the best but he is honest and possesses good solid sense and probably is as good if not better than any of his competitors. Should no compromise be effected between the two wings of the party by concluding to take the same electoral ticket, I think either Lincoln or Lane will be the next President. The former may possibly be elected by the popular vote; if he is not the House will fail to choose and the Senate will take Lane. And in my opinion it will be better than to have Douglas with his heresies, for I suppose his platform must contain his squalid sovereignty doctrine and if so I hope Breckinridge as is reported stands on the majority platform of the Charleston convention, the only platform proposed which meets the issue fairly and decides it justly, granting to the people of every section of the country the same and equal rights in the public domain as guaranteed to them by the Constitution under which we exist as a nation and above which no higher authority can be recognized without utterly destroying our nationality. Hoping that Richard does not support that corrupt and infamous collection of fanatics who have chosen Mr. Lincoln for their standard bearer and who have had the audacity to be guilty of the absurdity of censuring the President of the United States on the representations of a corrupt committee of the majority of which and their supporters in the House not one is fit to black the boots of James Buchanan. With love to all I remain your


Dear Mary
    I wrote to you last from Camp Day and would have written several times since had I not found an entirely one-sided correspondence anything but pleasant. We reached Camp Day on July 16th and left it en route for this post on Oct. 6th. During the intermediate time I received but one letter from yourself and none at all, I believe, from Merty, notwithstanding I wrote to both quite often. We arrived here on Oct. 18th, since which time I have received your letters of Aug. 14th and Oct. 14th, also one from Merty bearing date of Oct. 1st. Since our return I have been very busy, having to bring up my Q.M. and commissary papers to date, not having made any out whilst in the field. In addition I have to attend to and receipt for all the company property, and do all the duty at the post required of commissioned officers. The Major has been absent sick since our return and Mr. Piper left on Oct. 20th under orders for West Point, consequently until the arrival of Lieut. Hardin per last steamer I was the only comd. officer on the post and my time not at my own disposal, excuse sufficient for the delay in replying to your letters. I am still in command of the post and company and doing the duties of A.A.Q.M. and A.A.C.S.; these latter I shall turn over to Mr. Hardin at the end of the month. Now to your letters.
    I am sorry to hear your views about Sophy. I had supposed the contrary to what you state and hope in my next visit to C----- to find I was not mistaken. In regard to Oscar I scarcely know what to say other than I have already written. He has never written to me nor does he pay the least attention to my repeated requests for him to do so. For the present it may be as well to let the matter rest. I have a good prospect of making you a visit before long. The adjt. of our regiment told Mr. Piper that I was entitled to the next detail to the light battery now at Fort Ridgely. A vacancy now exists and I expect orders to fill it as soon as Capt. Judah arrives. He is expected on the steamer of Decr. 20th. If I should not be disappointed in this I will apply for a leave of absence immediately on the receipt of the order. Even should I not get the detail, on the arrival of the Captain I intend to apply for a leave. So you need not be surprised if I should turn up in old Pennsylvania about the first of Feby. Until that time if possible I think it would be best to do nothing in regard to the division of property, but should you think otherwise, you can write to Osk and get him to have a power of attorney properly made out authorizing G. L. Reed Esqr. to do everything necessary on my part. Forward it to me and I will complete it, provided, of course, Mr. Reed is willing to do me that favor. Everything else may as well be postponed until after I see you. Now to your favorite topic, politics. The election is over and we have heard enough to know that Lincoln is elected, and should the Union survive the disgrace he will be the next President. As yet we are not informed how the result has been received in the South, but fear the worst. In regard to Mr. Buchanan I must totally differ from you. I think he will (provided the Union is not dissolved) retire from office with as fair a reputation as when he entered upon its duties. Not even a suspicion could be shown against him by a packed committee of dishonest men, his political opponents, he has passed through the hands of "Covode" and not the slightest ground has been shown for the many accusations brought against him. In regard to public money he cannot expend one cent without the consent of Congress. Consequently if the national debt has increased and any blame attaches to the fact it belongs not to the President but to Congress. I have some more photographs which I will send you shortly or bring them in "propria persona." As to my health, when knocking about in the field it is good, but in quarters with but little outdoor exercise it is always about the same, not very good. I am troubled with dyspepsia, nothing however worth troubling you about. Hoping to see you all soon,
    You must excuse this hastily written letter; I have no time to do better.


Dear Merty
    I must plead guilty to neglect in not replying to your last letter at an earlier period but indeed I have been so busy lately with my paper that I could not force myself to spend any leisure time that I took indoors. I have written already today about a dozen letters and ought to write at least two more besides this, but as they are not official ones I may put them off for the present. If I should so conclude before I finish this, it may string out longer than I now suppose, but if otherwise you must excuse me. Your last letter bears date of Oct. 1st, a long time back considering there is a weekly mail from the Atlantic States to San Francisco. An explanation is requested.
    I shall pass over the first part of your letter, which treats of Oscar and matrimonial affairs, all of which I hope soon to have the pleasure of discussing with you in "propria persona." I hope though that you acceded to Miles K.'s request and attended the party in C----- at which no doubt you enjoyed yourself well. Miles you know formerly was and I hope yet is a particular friend of mine and I am right glad to be so surprised in hearing of his intended marriage and doubt not but his selection was a good one, though knowing so well as I do his opinions on religious subjects I can scarcely credit his marrying a Protestant. As to Pene, the only wonder is that he was not in limbo long ago. I must say though that the young ladies in C----- hold on better than the gentlemen, I mean my old associates, and this as you remark is quite encouraging. Tell them all for me that if they are bound to get married just to wait a little while and I shall try and do myself the pleasure of attending at their weddings and maybe dancing too, though I should have to learn how first. Liss especially must be told so as I shouldn't like it at all if I were absent. I would write and tell her so myself, but it has been so long since I wrote to any of the Irwins that indeed I can't muster the courage for the attempt.
    But that's enough of such nonsense, and no doubt comes quite unexpected, but from that "scary" kind of an excuse you made for a blot in your last letter I am beginning to believe you think I am a terrible kind of fellow but you see swords, pistols, guns, scowls and all such frightful paraphernalia, and I want to disabuse you of any such absurdity. You must have that horse you speak of in good time when I get back, for I shall probably want you to use him much oftener perhaps than will be agreeable to you.
    I have referred to my seeing you so often that I am afraid you will take it into your head to stop writing (if you have not already done so, as appearances seem to indicate) for fear it may be labor lost, but I must tell you that you needn't do it as it is yet utterly impossible to say when I shall make you a visit. My leaving this depends entirely upon the arrival of Capt. Judah or some other officer. I received a letter from the Captain today in which he states it is not probable that his health will admit of his joining the company this winter, and I don't see much prospect of another officer being sent to relieve me, consequently it may be spring or even summer before I can get off.
    No doubt times with you are quite exciting and secession the great topic, though we so far away scarcely realize or feel that such an event or even attempt is possible and I hope never may be brought to see it. Should such an attempt be made I fear the Army will have a disagreeable duty to perform in being the first to resist it by force of arms should the President do his duty and I do not believe it would shrink from the consequences. Since I last wrote you considerable change has taken place in our little garrison. The Major is dead and his family gone to the States. Lt. Piper also has gone and Lt. Hardin arrived. Last steamer brought us a new doctor [Dr. Quinan] in place of Dr. Hatch. He is a married man, his wife is young, lively, and quite an addition. No coast news of importance to give you. With love to all


Dear Mary
    Why I write you now I cannot explain at all satisfactorily even to myself, therefore shall not attempt to do so to you. Certainly you do not deserve a letter from me and most assuredly this will be the last I shall write unless you are more punctual in writing to me than you have been for the past two years. It is now fully four months since I have received a scratch of a pen from either yourself or Merty. Why I should be again compelled to complain of you on this score, you I presume know I don't; it is sufficient for me to know that good cause for the complaint exists and it remains with you to explain the reason why and I hope you may and will do it satisfactorily. I am about tired of filling all of my letters with complaints long since become chronic and I hope in future  nothing of the kind will be wanted.
    I had written the above when the mail arrived and quite unexpectedly brought me a letter from you from which I am sorry to learn of so much sickness in your family though happy to hear that all well again, well, at the time of your writing. I accept the excuses you offer for your not writing sooner, as satisfactory consequently you can turn the foregoing lecture over to Merty, as she needs one badly. Besides your letter the mail brought me the long-expected order to the light battery, and I shall leave this en route for New York in about one week and shall probably leave San Francisco on the last steamer in this month or first of next. On my arrival in New York I shall try and make you a visit, though I fear it must be but a short one if any. When last heard from, the battery to which I am detailed (Sherman's) was at Ft. Ridgely in Minnesota, but I think the troubles in the South will cause it to be ordered to the vicinity of Washington along with the other light companies. If so, it is probable I shall not be able to obtain a leave even for a few days. The times look bad, and there is no saying what disagreeable duty may soon be required of the Army; certainly if it comes to the worst and a civil war ensues every officer will be wanted at his post.
    We have no news of interest but what you hear long before we do, and I think it better to defer the other topics mentioned in your letter until I see you and then we can talk them over. Consequently there is nothing left to write about and I must conclude with love to all
    I shall write again from N.Y. and probably a few lines on the way.
Lorenzo Lorain letters, Oregon Historical Society Mss 417


Last revised May 16, 2026