The Shasta courier., 1865-09-09
SHASTA COURIER.
Letter from Arizona.

, reoders would like to hear OF the WHERE
,honts of the bows who left French Gulch |
and Trinity Centre in November last 10
;oin The service of our country, send you
a few items, which may be OF interest to our
friends in those localities.
You are aware that the Seventh Infantry,
G. V. has been assigned to the command OF
General Mason. in Arizona. At present the
various companies are stationed as follows:
Ak. and II at Fort Yuma, D, / and q
at Tubac. C at Fort Mohave, and at this
post.
Our company, one of the last to leave San
Francisco, took its departure on the steamer
Pacific. for Drum Barracks, May Goth, arriy'
ing at the latter named place on the I'D
Drum Barracks is situated one mile from
Wilmington. or what is better known as San
Pedro, % miles south of Los Angeles. Here
we received orders to march overland to this
fort. Our outfit, which consisted Of arms, ten
thousand rounds of ammunition, clothing,
three six-mule teams, ten pack mules, ana
rations for 10 days being completed, we lett
Drum Barracks on the Goth. We numbered
100 persons in all, including three females
June lst we reached Cajon Pass, and then
followed the route surveyed by Lieut.. Whip
pie. in 1858. From Cajon Pass to Fort
Mohave, a distance of 225 miles, through the
county of San Bernardino, there are but halt
dozen houses, scattered along the Mohave
nd
about all that one sees; in fact, the larger
portion of San Barnardino county is but one
vast, sandy, barren, uninhabited plain, tit
only for rattlesnakes, and. | like to have
said. Copperheads, to exc out the remainder
of their miserable and detestable existence.
Water at this season of the year is very
scarce: the longest distance without it was
35 miles This march we had to make dur
ing the night.
June 9th we arrived at Camp Cady, where
we found Company C, 4th Infantry, c. v,
stationed Captain B. r. West, formerly of
French Gulch, commands this company. The
quarters of this camp are made entirely of
brush. and intended for shelter from the sun
only. Here we were obliged to leave one of
our boys. he having the day before accident
ally shot himself, tae ball entering his left
hand, and passing up, came out above the
wrist He has since died, his arm having
mortified, and being 100 miles from any
physician. there was no help for him.
June 10Th Se reached the Colorado river,
but owing to its high stage of water, did not
cross till the next day. We were somewhat
surprised, on reaching what is called Fort
Mohave. Strictly speaking, it is nothing but
a barracks, the buildings being made of
cottonwood poles placed perpendicularly in
the ground, and daubed with adobe The
country around Mchave is quite uninviting,
and the land unfit for agricultural purposes.
Quite a number of the Mohave Indians in
cluding their chief Arataba, live near the
fort. Arataba has just come in with a scout
ing party and was clothed in the uniform of
a Major General, the gift of President Lin
coin, when he was in Washington three
years ago. Arataba speaks very highly of
what he saw in the East, especially of our
lamented President He intends returning
to Washington in about year when he will
take number of other chiefs with him, upon
whose united testimony their tribes agree to
rely in regard to the superiority of the white
man over the Indian. The report of Araiaba
they call a .big lie.' After few days of
much needed rest, we left on the Is b, having
received fourteen days rations at Fort Mo-
have
After leaving Union Pass, which is 25
miles from Mohave, we marched through a
fertile scope of country, which some day will
Weld au abundant return to the toll of the
husbandman. Water is not SO abundant as
might be wished, but still enough for ranch
ing purposes. Timber is rather scarce till we
get near this post.
June 2lst, one of our men strayed from
the command and was lost. probably killed
bv the Waliopi Indians. On the 25th. Pri
vate Whitfield S. Somerindyke, formerly of
French Gulch, was instantly killed by the
accidental discharge of his own gun, the ball
entering just below the left breast. and pass
ing upward through the heart. came out
through the left shoulder We buried him
q. at what is known as the Oak and Willows,
about sixty miles west of this post. Early on
the morning of the 29th we reached Fort
Whipple, rejoicing to know that our long and
weary march was ended. Distance from Mo-
have $50 miles, making some 500 miles from
Drum Barracks We saw but three Indians
after LEAVING the Colorado
For Whipple is beautifully located on
Granite Creek, three quarters of mile north
of Prescott the capital of Arizona. There is
one small company IF cavalry. First New
Mexican Volunteers, numbering 20 men,
commanded by Captain Thompson. who is
commander Of this post. Company F. Fifth
U. S. Infantry, is also here, numbering Is
men. commanded by Lieut.. Barr. General
Mason is daily expected here, where it is
understood be will establish his headquarters.
The climate here is beautiful indeed the
thermometer scarcely ever reaching 95.-
Light SHOWS in winter, but do not remain
long. Thunder showers frequently during
the summer. which wildly remind one of his
home in the East. The hills and fields are
beautifully green during the whole year.
O,.rtz ledoes are said TO exist in rich ouan-