The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-25

duties dovolve on the subordinate one
present. When YOU unite those duties
with those of company officer and otfi-
Ger of the day, you can form your ideas
about the easg, indotent life led by army
officers on the frontier. -.
This Is zone company post" beauti-
fully located on bluff overlook
ing Townsend Bay, and the
sound beyond. Northeast of us,
about two and half miles across the bay,
is the town, Port Townsend, place of
perhaps one thousand inhabitants and
noted for nothing that have heard of
other than being port Of customs for
steamers going to Victoria and the Brit
ish possessions. The last named city is
about forty five miles from here, there
being steamer-the North Pacific
running between there and Olympia
twice week, stopping at Port Towns
end with the the mail.
The Island Of San Juan, over which
We had little trouble few wears ago.
was abandoned as military post last
July, there being now two detachments
of four men each, on the Island one at
each camp, that being considered
sufficient to repel any invasion that
might be made by Indians or the Brit
ish. The steamer Phantom runs between
Townsend and San Juan, and you would
be worse frightened on her in a heavy
sea than the mariners were when they
beheld the original "Phantom Ship"
l left Missouri on the 10Th of Septem-
Der, and reached Portland the evening of
the 29th, going by steamer from San
Francisco to that place. Nothing o,cur-
red on the route but what has been re-
lated over and over again, and as don
want to offer you anything stale, We will
not stop for the incidents Of the journey.
The next day I reported at Fort Vancol-
yer IN the southern part of the territory,
where had expected to be stationed, but
found the company packed up waiting
for the California to bring them to this
port. Fort Vancouver is Il beautiful post,
the headquarters of my regiment, though
there is but one company stationed there
at present. Walla Walla is the largest
post in the department. l remained at
Vancouver just one week. when we em-
barked for this port. Left Portland Thurs
day evening, and, Oh, what a delightful
trip! ! remained in bed just as long as
l pleased. In fact, from the time we
reached the bar at the mouth of the
Columbia, until we entered the shades of
Fuca, twenty one consecutive hours, |
laid in the stateroom of q Pacific ocean
steamship and heayed, and heaved. Oh,
many were the sighs heaved, thinking
of the loved ones far away. consider it
much better for ones spirits to travel
overland than by sea. Well we reached
Port Townsend Saturday night, and here
l am and expect to remain for year or
two to come; so my friends need not be
uneasy for fear I may leave here before
their letters reach me, though | have some
fears of that event myself.
In case you may have any freight to
send to this part Of the country, | will
state for your edification, that shipped
box of books, Sc, from Macon, Missouri,
on the 18th of September, and expect it
here today, by the steamer Gussie Teitair.
In the language of our Post Surgeon,
"excuse haste aud 27bad- pen, though
fear the originality Of that IS open todis-
cussion. Z. y. WILLIAMS
End Lieut.. Co. G, 2lst Infantry.