three thousand inhabitants) where we stopped two hours, and witnessed a feast dance which had been going on for several days. It surpassed anything I have ever seen or read of. There were several hundred dancers dressed in their war costumes, dancing to the music of a drum, howling, etc. I will not undertake to describe it, but should I be spared to return, you shall have it as it was. "We leave here in a few days, having three companies to act as escort through the Navajo country. The Navajoes are constantly attacking parties who go out in the mountains for wood. The day we arrived here, two men were shot but two miles from the fort. I have an arrow which was shot into a horse last night in the corral (horse yard). "There is not much danger of our being attacked as the Indians care only for plunder. They crawl along through the grass where stock is herded, and drive them off. Since this fort has been established, about six months, they have lost by the Indians several hundred head of stock, and some ten or fifteen men, mostly herders. This is the last fort we stop at before reaching the mines. Fort Whipple is probably established by this time in that vicinity, several companies having gone there a few weeks since. We pass through but one village, that 'Zuni' an Indian (pueblo) village, eighty miles from this post. There we shall. find white Indians (albinos). Judge Howard, of Colorado, formerly of Ann Arbor, and Jinks of Saranac, or Boston, are with the train, and many others, miners and fortune seekers. "I feel as though you had forgotten where I am, not having received but two letters since leaving home, Sept. 7th. Those I received at Santa Fe, dated Sept. 14th and 27th, the latter dated the day we left the States. There is to be an express (military), sent twice a month to Fort Whipple, Arizona, from Santa Fe this winter, but in the spring a mail route will probably be established. We are hungry for news. Write, write, write. Much love to all. "Your son, "JONATHAN." "Mail leaves Leavenworth, Kansas, on Friday morning for Santa Fe. Mail letters on Monday and they will reach Leavenworth in time for Santa Fe mail, I think. Enquire! Please address as on the other side. Some mistake may have been made by letters going to California. The express which General Carleton proposes to send twice a month is to be carried on horse back and consequently newspapers will not be forwarded from Santa Fe with full mails. The mail for Santa Fe leaves Leavenworth every Friday morning instead of Monday as I wrote before. It goes through to Santa Fe in thirteen days. "Address as follows: "JONATHAN." "J. Richmond, Esq., "Care of Gov. Goodwin, Arizona party. "Care of Genl. Carleton, Santa Fe, N. M. "Via Leavenworth & Santa Fe, N. M." "Navajo Springs, Arizona, "Dear Parents: "We arrived here to-day, and the Governor has issued his proclamation, a copy of which I enclose. This is the first point which we know is in Arizona Territory. I bought me a burro (jackass) at Zuni. Shall not reach Fort Whipple before January 20th, 1864. Will write at length on our arrival. This goes to Wingate by military express (one of our soldiers), in the morning. All well. Love to all. "Our arrival here was announced by the firing of a Governor's salute of eighteen guns on the morning of the 22nd. Offers of prayers and thanksgiving should have been made, but upon viewing the site which Major Willis, (who, with three companies, preceded us two weeks) had selected for a military post, and, if suitable, for a capitol, we concluded to let the thing slide. We are located about two hundred and sixty miles northwest of Tucson, and about ninety miles west of the San Francisco mountains on a small stream of water supposed to be, and, for the present, called the head waters of the San Francisco river. The climate is mild as in the States in June. We all go about in our shirt sleeves during the day, but at sundown an overcoat is very comfortable, (you bet), Missouri word. I cannot give you a full and correct log of our travel until we are located, having no place as convenient as I would wish for using my pen and ink. (My position at the present moment is under a wagonsheet, stretched between two wagons.) The grass, which, by the way, is a very important item in the location of a fort, especially at this season of the year, is very good about here, and the stock (some six hundred head) are recruiting fast, much to the delight of our Quartermaster, who has experienced some heavy losses during the trip. The nearest wood is two miles. "The mines are twenty-five miles from here, but there are a few cabins eighteen miles. The Antelope Diggings are sixty miles, all on the Tucson road. There are some who have very rich claims, but the want of water prevents their working them at present. Large tanks are being made on the summit of the mountain to be ready for the spring rains. Morehouse, brother of B. & F., who are with us, arrived yesterday from Tucson. He takes Mr. Wrightson's goods and with the boys proceeds to the Santa Rita mines. He has specimens of gold which he picked out with his knife while on his way up. "On our arrival we noticed several individuals who were very anxious to form the acquaintance of the officials and others of the party, and who are now known as being candidates for Delegate to Congress. There are some twenty or more now at Tucson who make no bones of the wished for position. Most of the candidates, I understand, are from California. "The outfit for the present (probably two months) remains here. The Governor, with a party, start on an expedition with pack mules in search of a site for the capitol the first of the week. They will go down on the Salinas river and from there west to the Colorado. Judge Howell goes at the earliest opportunity to Tucson, where, it is said, business is awaiting him. I go into the mines on Monday, packing my jackass with a month's provisions, thinking by that time to be able to judge whether mining will pay. I may go to Tucson during the term of court which will be in March. On the 19th inst., B. Morehouse and myself, with several Mexicans, had a fight with a party of Tonto Apaches, killing two on the spot, and wounding two so badly that they are probably dead before this. Judge says he intends writing the "Eagle" on the fight. "I captured one horse, a quiver of arrows and a number of smaller articles. I have not received a letter since I left the Valley City excepting the two received at Santa Fe under date of Sept. 14th and 27th. How is it? Upon leaving home I promised to write at every opportunity and I think I have not only kept that but many other promises given and resolutions formed. A weekly military express is to be forwarded to this place by General Carleton; one has already arrived, mail in abundance for all but me. I do not know when I shall have a chance to write again, as I go to the diggings Monday. "Write! Write!! Write!!! care of Governor Goodwin, Fort Whipple, Arizona Territory. Love to all. "Your son, |