Weekly Trinity journal., 1863-03-21
1T eeklu Trinitu Journal
Weaverville, Saturday, March 81, 1868.

From THE CALIFoRNA CoLUMN,-John W.
Smith, of Kanaka Bar has received a very in.
teresting letter from B. F. Mcdaniel, an old resi-
dent Of Douglas City, but now in Carleons
command, dated Mesilla, Arizona, Jan. 10th,
from which we are permitted to make the follow
ing extract:
"Tbis town is situated on the west side Of the
Rio Grande, and nearly opposite Fort Fillmore,
which was so dsgraceuy surrendered by MAJ.
Iynde to the Texans in July, 1861. We have
had a petty easy time of it since our arrival at
this Mace compared, with the privations and
bardshps the Union soldiers are enduring in
other parts of the country. Many OF the best
buildings in town were owned by avowed seces-
sionists who "skedaddled " with the retreating
Texans, and their property was confiscated by
Gen Carleton OIL his arrival here. The buildings
are now being used for officers and soldiers quar-
tiers. commissary buildings, etc.
Military operations in these parts have not
been conducted on a very extensive scale of late.
Two or three expeditions have been out against
the Indians, but were attended with little or no
success 1t has been reported here for some time
past that the California Column was to be rein
forced 10y troops from Fort Yuma and California,
t there would be movement towards
early in the spring Recent events, how
aiken In connection with orders lately is
ent course is 10 be pursued
expedition is to start out next week for the
double purpose of establishing new military
Post near the beadwaters of the Gila river, and
to cbastise the A pache Indians for past depreda-
tions committed on the inbabitan is Of the Plno
Alto mining region. The new Fort is to be called
Fort West-the region in which it will be built
is in northwest course from this place, and
distant about one hundred and fifty miles. The
expedition will consist Of four compaUies, two OF
cavalry and two OF infantry, ours icing one OF
them. A movement into Texas would suit the
California volunteers better than anything else
They are eager for more active service, and
anxious TO strike blow that Will help crush re-
bellion aud show to the conntry what kind Of
metal the California Column is composed off,
However, if we are to be denied the privilege of
going any further East then Indian fighting will
be preferable to this inactivity. This continual
drill and guard daty is getting to be monotonous
and tiresome.
think the California Column will be kept in
this Territory and New Mexico to garrison the
military Posts, and keep hostile Apaches in
check. There is q regular mail communication
now between this place and the States by the way
Of Santa Fe, Kansas City, and so on to St. Louis.
We get the news from New York in twenty days.
] cannot see any prospect of the war being
brought to close very soon however, am in
favor Of fighting il out,
The weather during the past month has been
pretty cold for this climate. We had slight
fall of snow about two weeks ago, tho ugh it did
not remain on the ground but few hours. The
health of the troops here is generally good
Three men of our company have died during the
past summer and fall. You probably have read
in the California papers an account of Corporal
OF Company K, lst Infantry, being shot for
mutnous conduct. A whole company (Co d.,
lst Infantry,) fired three volleys at him before
he was hit, and as he stood at distance of only
ten PAGES in front of the Company, you can i'm.
agine that the men did not try very hard to hit
him. One of our men being in range of the fire
wae ".-""k bv ball, from the effects of which
day after. His name was
German aud formerly worked
may perhaps recollect him
eume some of your German
m we'll"