The Placer herald., 1865-09-09
FROM AN OCCASIONAL CORREsPoNDENT.l
From the Gila to Santa Cruz.

On small grassy plain bordered t,y groves
Of mesqul and mountain range, we found a
trading post, and in the flat before the three
adobe houses. half dozen water holes sunk
some four feet below tho surfare-tl,+se are
the Maricopa Wells. so called because the
vicinity is occupied by tribe Of Indians call
ed the Maricopas. Ii is one OF the stations
heretofore in use on the route of the over
land mail to the east. Due east from here
twelve miles is the Pimo steam -four mill or
Casa BIanco station. Another ride oftwelve
miles and you come to the Sa~atone station
directly on the banks of lhe Gila. Here the
river and the road part company-the tor'
ner bending IF to the northeast, and the
latter nrIining to the south east. Our route
fnr the most part. lay over a vast aluvaI
plain, with occasional mesqnit trees pass
ing Oneida and Blue water stations, until We
rise INTO pass Of the Pccacho range OF
m"untains-a distance OF forty miles, when
We found water, by chance. grass and mag
nificent me.qnit, the bean of which was rich
er and more nutritious than l have hereto
FIRE noticed. Our animals pitched in, as it
they had arrived a, "mule glory" make
the following extract from my ] 'urnaI, writ
ten ~ this place: Our camp has historical
fame. Early in MAY, 1862, The Conf-de-
rates having information Of the gathering Of
supplies along this line, sent one Captain
Hunter, with orders to destroy the same and
break up the Touring mill at the Plmo vii.
lagos. Hunter made headquarters Of his
conmand-ons comrany-at Tucson, and
sent forward dslachmsnts, and scouts, who
went as tar as For, Yuma. The .tarks Of
hay and deposits Of supplies along the route
were destroyed and the tl,urlng mill broken
up. Meantime the California. column under
Carleton or Canhy, made its entry into the
territory then New Mexico, and Hunters
men fell back to head quarters, leaving how.
ever lookout picket at this place, Of nine
men.
On pleasant sunny, day in the middle of
April. eight of these "ele clustered und. the
friendly branches Of one oflhese mesauits-
possibly just where write ,his-engag-d in
a little game "f short cards, when on a sud.
den up rode the advance guard of sixteen
men commanded by Lieutenant, ofa squad
ron Of CaI'fornians. Up started the surprised
"Coufvds," aud out spoke their Sergeant,-
"h-re are the ID rascals ltOw, kill the last
man OF them" Spang, spang, went five
"Confed' pieces, answered by as many from
the C@llforniaus-hurry,s scurry, shout, swear.
retreat. For five minutes the grove was
alive, and then dropping shot or two, aud
tho battle Of "Perarho Pass" WAS over will
Three "f the 'Cnnfels" were cut off from
their aims and were made prisoners. and tiv~
made good their retre;.t. Those of the guard
unhurt fell back to the main body, miIp
or such a matter TO the rear, and reported.
Before the squadron got up again, ihe ninth
man of The "C"nfeds" came in with fat
doe on his back. which he had as tho spolIs
"f \ hunt, but seeing the dead and wnu,lrd
CaitorniAns on the ground, and other marks
"t violence. and not seeing his companions.
he dashed his load to the ground aud broke
for Tucson. where the six men arrived un.
hut. The battle did not open with Bor".
din"s thunlers, nor did the earth quake un.
der Marengos sqnad'ons, but what of thar?
then there was he madd-ned brain, agony
aud death there. Lieut. L-onald lay upon
'h- ground breathing his last, his hrouher
dropped from his horse morlally hurt
Young Ge"Igr Johnson was conscious of a
ho, sharp pam for An instant permea'ing his
whole body, then the bright scen4 grew very
d"'k, and by aud hy a pleasant ethereal glow
h fused itself ,hr"ugiI,u, his en'ire soul. and
y glorious light bea,ned on landscape, groves
and vis.as, whose beau les hs hal never l,sl
fore conceived Of. Beautiful creatures. in
robes OF celestial light and loving faces, came
to lim. and moving to the chimes If sweet
est music. bore hun aWay-far, far away,
from the blood stained field.
A Afler the fight the squadron came up and
found his hrse graz NJ loose. with blood
upon the saddle and lrappings, his body upon
the ground stiff ia death, and some of III.
men sand "the ID rebels have killed John.
SON" am not certain that all tins is true,
hut just over the road, hundred yards from
here are three graves; upon the hea board
OF one il: Geo johnson, Co. A. LIST Cav.
Cal. VOL, killed April Is, 1862. aged 2l
y eArs. 0" another: w. :. Leonard, Co. d
lst Cav. Cal. Vol. died IF wounds April Is.
1862. aged 25; aud on b'"ken board, near
the remaining grave. ~ Leonard, killed
in action Aprll Is, 1862. aged % years.
Otiic-'s are Of a regiment and not of \ co,u.
pa"y, but the muster rolls for May '62, will
show"
Here was the last little wavelet, from the
"vertl"wlngs OF that poisoned cauIdron "n
the Atlantic, flowing down The Pacific Side
IL, US bs thankful that its red Path came no
nearer our Pacific homes