The Placer herald., 1863-08-22
From the UNION ADVOCATED
SOLDIERS LETTER.

Fort CRAIG, N. NJ. July 18th, 1868.
Mr.. Enthusiastically, here we are
once more at our old stamping ground
Fort Craig.) My last was from ''camp in
the mountains" The dag after dispatching
my letter, we received orders to change our
base, which we consequently did by taking
the most direct road for Fort Craig, at
which place we arrived in due time. So
you see our "grand surveying expedition
was abandoned, for what reason, have not
been able to learn.
Independence Day, 1868, was celebrated
at Fort Craig with as much enthusiasm as it
possibly could have been in one Of our lsrg-
est Northern cities. Just as the sun made
its appearance above the horizon, the usual
morning salute was fired; in fact the morn,
ing, noon and evening salutes were executed
in superb manner by Smiths Battery. At
six o'clock we had "grand review and
parade" After parade we all congregated
at the race track TO witness a race between
two horses belonging to Company ID, 1st
Cavalry. Considerable money changed hands.
About sunset we were treated with some rare
sport, gotten up by the officers of the garr-
son for the special occasion: Such as climb
ing the CREASED pole, twenty feet high, prize
twenty dollars; catching the creased pig,
prize ten dollars, the victor to have the pig,
avlued at thirty dollars foot race, one hun
dred and fifty yards, prize ten dollars wheel
barrow race, prize ten dollars; race back
wards race in bag, for which prize of
ten dollars was offered to the winner of eli.
ther race. In the evening we had a tiue dsl
play Of fire works. To wind up the amuse.
ments of the day, we were favored by the
Eureka Minstres," giving one of their Sc
lect entertainments, both the instrumental
and vocal music reflected much credit on the
California volunteers. Some sharp cuts"
were got off on the officers connundrums,
dialogues, etc, etc., in fact, | must say that
the Minstrels acquitted themselves with favor
in the estimation of those who were present.
Good order and decorum was maintained
throughout the day Of course there were a
few "under the influence" but strange to say,
not candidate for the guard-room. Al
though stationed in this God.forsaken counl
try, so far away from civilization, the volun-
teers will have their regular sport" on In
depen ence day.
On the afternoon Of the fourth when the
"boys" were in the hight of glee and every
thing was going as "Merry as a marriage
belle" news was brough to the Fort, that
some Indians had run off the stock, that was
grazing at the time two or three miles down
the river. Col. Brigg Immediately Dispatch
ed Capt Pishen with his company %. lst
cavalry) in pursuit they travelled some ten
or twelve miles when they came within sigh,
of the Indians. When the Indians were first
seen by our cavalry they were driving the
stock into three herds each taking a differ
ent direction. Capt. Pishen Immediately
made the same division Of his company, and
once more started in pursuit. After five or
six hours hard fighting and brisk manGnvre'
ing, the cavalry recaptured all the stolen
property without the loss of man killed.
Capt Barkie Of the first New Mexican Vol
unteers, who was here on VISIT kindly vol
unteered his services on the occasion, was
slightly wounded in the left hand; two priv
ates of company d. also received slight
wounds and two horses were killed in the en-
gagement. They killed four of the "red
SKINS" and brought their seal ps into the
Fort as trophies of war they wounded three
escape. Night fall coming on, and the
horses being tagged out it was immpossble
to follow them. This is company DIS.
first skirmish, and it is said "they fought
like veterans"
Henry G. johnson, first Sergeant of Com
pany 3, LIST. Infantry, received official notice
a few days ago, of his promotion to first Lieut..
of lst Battalion, lst Infantry, Nevada Terri.
tory. ii. G. Johnson is brother of the ex'
Governor, J. Nicely Johnson Of California.
notice by the papers that you, in Caifor
MIA, are engaged in u bitter politica strife,
and we regret very much to know, that in
this hour OF our country's trials, that such
should be the case. But how could it be
otherwise! Democrats, (and they are not
scarce) belonging to this regiment have but
little to say, unless it be on the SLY, as the hot
class, who stick to party and cry no party,
are sure to denounce those claiming alleg
ance to that party as worse than cooper
heads" All of the Auburn boys are good
Union Democrats, as we'll as large mum
Der of the Sacramentians. Yours,
P. p. H., Jr.
MIssrArED.-Thc Transcript charges John Biglcr
with having said in speech at Grass Valley,
few evenings ago. that " the South could not be
subjugated." Mr.. B gler made no such assertion,
nor did he use language which could be tortured,
even by an illbcral Abolitonist, into meaning
anything like the above quotation. AS the editor
of the Transcript was not present when Mr.. Big
Ter spoke in this place. we infer that he made his
statement on the authority of some person who
was here, and that person is either stupid don
key or wilfu liar.--Grass Valey National.
SCHOOL has been opened up town--under a
pine bough shelter. Fast--ant we? school,
printing office, numerous large stone and frame
buildings, innumerable cabins and shanties, three
mills going up, and two more to arrive in a few
days, and all done since January Reese Riuer
ReveHIe.
A STRIKE-On Tuesday evening the brck-lay-
ers and stonecutters employed on the new Capt.