The weekly union record., 1865-04-08
Letter from Company a.
CAMP DRuN, March 25th. l

EDITOR UNION RgcoRD Our compau,
went on board the steamer Senator, st Sar
Francisco. on Tuesday last. and lei. the whar
at halfpas three Pm We passed around ths
North Beach to the Preside Landing. anG
took on companies 4, c, and K, OF the III
Infantry, and ran ont TO sea just after sunset
Old Neptune, favoriug our expedition, held
the waves in quiet subsection as We glided
silently down the coast during the solemn hour:
of night. Many soldier made partial settle.
meni OF his accoun. with the King of the Sea.
+ pardon this DEPRESSION q merry voice ringing
out clear and musical distracted my attention,
and, looking around, discovered beautiful
young woman chatting gaiy with some of her
soldier acquaintances, aud for moment paused
to admire, but she has disappeared, and will
/ proceed; however, should l be again inter
rupted, the consequences might be fearful,
especially as our Orderly, discovering my en-
barrassng situation, has given positive orders
for me to guide riga and keep eyes TO the front
Blast the orderly l was speaking of partial
settlement of account / think most of the
boys would be glad if Neptune would accept
their offering as final settlement in full, for
many of them were pretty well emptied.
Wednesday. 22d, opened on US clear and
pleasant, just after We had passed the Bay of
Monterey. We ran along the coast, about ten
miles distant, and a rough looking coast it is,
too. The mountains appear to be steep, rocky
and barren, with some heavy lumber on their
tops and in the eanons Everything was
pleasant during the day. At dark, We encoun-
tered fog which did not clear away till morn
ing. Thursday, 23d, we found ourselves along
the more fertile coast, near the town of Santa
Barbara. | judged we were in the vicinity of
oil springs for there were plentiful quantities
of petroleum floating on the surface of the sea,
about six miles north of the town. The steamer
hove TO, and few passengers were sent ashore
at Santa Barbara. This town lies in a valley.
at the month of stream. One schooner alone
lay at anchor in her waters. About twenty-five
miles below, another and wider valley makes
down from the mountains, with sand beach
in front some six or eight miles in length, at
opens into the sea. On the south bank of this
stream, at its mouth rises a bold bluff point
known as Point Conception. The Santa Cruz
Islands, some three or four in number, lie
between Santa Barbara and Point Conception.
about fifteen miles from the main land, some.
what elevated, with bold bluff banks. The
interior of the main land, Of which cold get
an occasional view, appears very rough. The
valleys are covered with luxurant growth Of
grass, and beautifully diversified with green
verdure and orange colored flowers. The sea
is remarkably smooth, and We glide along, a
cheerful throng of near 500 souls, while schools
of porpoises and an occasional finback rise to
the surface, much TO the delight OF those who
bad never before seen tie grandeur Of the deep
blue ocean.
Our fare during this passage is so much
better than we had expected lit being abundant
and of good quality, that we cannot refrain
from expressing our obligations to the Captain
of the Senator, or some other mai.
From Point Conception, the coast is bold
high bluff, nearly east for about twenty miles
then circling inland, large open bay is formed
twenty miles wide. On the southeast side of
this bay, with point or strip Of land interven-
ing, lies the Bay of San Pedro. Of this point
soTe fifteen miles lies Catalina Island We
arrived and cast anchor in the Bay of San
Pedro about 5 O'Clock P NJ, in little less than
As hours after leaving San Francisco. 1t was
too late to dsembark and reach camp, so we
remained on board oil night. Friday, oath,
We were furnished bot coffee and hard tack for
breakfast, before daylight, and commenced
Decentralization at the first approach of day.
The large steamers cannot reach the wharf, so
shallow is the water. A small steamer is en-
ployed for the purpose, and the landing of
freight is further facilitated by the use of light
ers. The whole body of troops, 400 in number,
with baggage aud equipsge, went ashore at
one trip, and were Landed on the wharf at
Wilmington before O'Clock A. NJ, and by nine
We bad reached camp and taken possession of
our quarters, which are 10 very comfortable
building, though not designed to accommodate
more than eighty men.
We feel for the first time that we are at
home, being in quarters of which We have
control, subject only to the discipline Of the
camp and the profession. All mail matter sent
to my address should be hereafter directed to
w. Y. Bliss Co. A. lst Cavalry c. V, Camp
Drum, Los Angeles county, California. And
all letters or other matter coming to the Post
Office at Oroville or WyanGotte, directed to
me, should be forwarded with the above address
Please send me some of your exchanges when
convenient, and | will eat clam to your
memory.