The weekly union record., 1864-04-23
Letter from Fort Mojave.

ED1rOR.-When ] donled the blue coat and
brass buttons Of Uncle Sam " year and
half ago and left Bs,te county as l then sup
posed for the Rio Grande promised large
circle of aeauaintaDces 10 write them. l have
often thought Of M unfulfled promise, and
sometimes thought l would redeem ii, and then
memory would bring q score OF promised ones,
and could not write to please all, and as the
Major says : could not discriminate That
promise unia!alled has given me much concern.
| have eoBelsdea 10 serve au, by one letter,
through the columns of yosr paper
The first FIVE moHths Of my military career
were spent at Benicia, during which time, by
continual Grill, obtained fair insight into
the mysteries OF the military art. We lef.
Benicia il March '63 for Camp Drum near
Los Angeles, where We remained about one
month. One evening, on dress parade, orders
were published that company II and b"
4th infantry, c. V, would march to Fort
Mojave, aud in day or two we were enroute
for this place, which after most tedioss march
of three hundred miles through country, for
the most part Of Desert character, we reached,
eighteen days from Camp Drum
Here We remain, and it appears to be the
wish of all that we may be permitted 10 stop
here till our time expires, which, with the ma
iority, will be in seven months. We were
sent here to guard the Indians, break up tine
rendezvous OF the Secesh, and the gangs Of
horse thieves, who made this recruiting place
on their way TO Dixie. There has been
lively run of custom on our commissary by
strapped and hungry returned Walker River
victims. Most Of them are loyal and love the
old flag. But the sympatbsers of JEFF and his
rebellious followers, were required to take the
oath of allegiance after which, they received
enough grub to last them to the white settle
ments. The Indians at present are quite peace
able.
As this country is attracting considerable
attention, l will state for the benefit OF my
Butte county friends, as far as know, as to
climate and the future prospects. The climate
for four or FIVE months is very hot. With the
exception of a few light showers during the
months of July and August, and one or two
during the past winter, there has DO rain fell
during The past year. Rains fall in the noun
taiDs in torrents. From July to November
the thermometer stood 907 to ll67. The ho,
winds blowing over the wide barren plains are
almost sufoeating. During winter, ice freezes
at nights to hall inch in thickness, at times.
and the days are warm and pleasant We
are visited occasionall. with what we term
"sand storms"-they are very dsagreeable, and
at times rage with great fury darkening the
air with gravel and sand. The river is eirted
on either side by low broken ranges of mour.
tains, at distance from two to four miles.
The river bottom is from two to ten miles in
width, and is mostly covered with dense
growth of cottonwood and willow. There is
portion Of this bottom land that would raise
grain if properly cultivated. The Indians raise
some corn and wheat, vines, etc. The river is
nayigable the year round for boats of light
draft. l am led to believe from developments
already made, that this country will be rated
among the richest, in mineral, on the Pacific
coast. Although nothing but surface pros
pectiDg has been done, feet in the San Fran.
cisco District has changed hands at as high
figures as $500 per foot. Among the numer-
Gus claims supposed to be rich, We may men,
tion the Morse, Leland" and Mitchell. =
The Sacramento District discovered and Or
ganized by the soldiers last fall is no doubt
very rich in silver. The ore resembles that Of
Humboldt. Mr Carlson, assayer gives US
the following result: Hancock, S2l7, silver
and gold Bourke 4 Kennedy S4S 90; Union
S47 92 This fot groupings is pronounced by
knowing ones as good Indications Capital
is., are beginning to come in here, end ere
long our mines will be proved
The "Irata" District is copper-the crop
pings will assay from 20 to so per cent Of
copper with some silver. We have been per
mited to prospect aud explore the country,
and as a consC queuce, We are owners OF as good
feet as there are in the country. The express
leaves here but twice month, and it leaves
in half an hour, so excuse haste. Yours, etc.
Arizona Ter. April 9, '64 A. Z. DAVIS.
TnE REBEI, HYENAs DENAND THAT y ALL