The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-11-23

houls, may. OaWp came 100 again ana
wanted to know what all this fuss was
about. He was very badly bruised, but
was bandaged up and left on the next
train for Columbus, Ohio, He arrived
there about the time the regiment did,
but was in critical condition, and
was sent home, being, however, all the
time able to walk. When be reached
home, he found the pail bearers waiting
to convey his remains from the station to
his fathers house.
The following letter was recently re-
ceived by an old soldier in this city. 1t
was written by the Curtis whose youth at
enlistment was mentioned in THE RECORD
two weeks ago
KING CRY, MONTEREY Co.,
CALIFORNIA, Oct. %, 1892.
CoMRADE I'll am glad to write to one
who touched elbows with me during the
dark and direful days of the late rebel
lion. receive pension of SO per month
and have not done days work for nearly
two years. Have been confined to my
bed, sometimes for months without touch
| ing the floor, on crutches some OF the
time, aud hardly ever walk without the
aid OF cane. was discharged at Tren-
ton from Co. B, S8th Regt., N. j. Vols,
on June 90th, 1866, took the train for
Lambertville, town of my boyish Joy,
where | was born and received little
sort OF common school education. Up
on my arrival | was welcomed by my
loved ones. l not being satisfied, one
fine morning as was sitting on the bank
Of the canal near the outlet locks, | in.
| quired of a man whom / saw alone on
| one of the boats, II he did not want a
boy to drive The mules. His reply was in
the affirmative. SO drove the mules to
New York to Mauch Chunk, Pa. and re-
turn. Such work on my part did not
gain for me the Presidency OF the United
States, as In the case OF General Garfield.
Not being satisfied | went up to Cedar
street, New York and enlisted 10 the U.
S. Infantry, for the term of three years.
was Immediately sent over to Bedlow
Island, aud OH what d change srom vol
unteer service. Sometime after landing
at the Island, |, with several others, was
assigned to the Sd Battalion OF the 18th
U. s. Infantry and shortly afterward be-
came the 9th U. s. Infantry. We at once
received marching orders for the land Of
the Indians. was in several battles with
the Indians and experienced marvellous
hair-breadth escapes, and the most famous
OF these was the Fort Phil. Kearney mas
sacre, where, on the morning OF tho 2lst
day Of December, 1866, SO men gave up
their lives in a most horrible manner.
We were over 600 miles from any COM
muncation, except by OK or mule teams.
AT the expiration Of two years, our com
manding officer, General Smith, received
orders to abandon the hostile country,
which had cost so many lives, and report
at Omahs, Nebraska. A little band of us
OF about 1870, barely got out Of the coun-
try with our scalps, having left over 800
comrades behind, lying in graves that
none but the brave can ill. l was dis
charged at Fort Sedgwick the 10th Of
September, 1869, pledged my word
and honor that would never run on a
canal boat or soldier again. With these
resolves, struck out for a new field Of
action. | purchased ticket at Jules
burg, Kansas, which is just across the
Platte river, from Fort Sedgwick, TO San
francisco, California, for $50. At San
Francisco fell In with gentleman from
Humbot county. After about two weeks,
accompanied him TO said county There
entered into the lumber business and Il.
nancially became quite we'll off. re-
manned in that county about years.
then went to Kern county, CAL, went in
to land speculation and accumulated lit
tile more wealth, but was finally stricken
down with ague and malarial fever, which
reduced me physically to skeleton. !
have never fully recovered my health. |
have 800 acres Of grazing land, horses,
cattle, &C., and II Twas to sell out would
have quite a handsome sum. My wife
and am happy and we are surrounded
with all home comforts, and what more
could we desire. AS - California, her
motto or national flower Is the yellow
poppy, an emblem of her principle and
leading resource "Gold." CALIFORNIA;
tropical climate makes her useful In pro-
ducing wheat, barley, lumber, fruits, &c.
Horses and cattle abound 10 large herds.
Farming here Is done on much larger scale
than New Jersey for instance, the Glen
Ranch employs about 400 men during
harvest, and their expenses have run over
81, 900 per day. As for climate, you can
get almost any kind you desire. Where
live the thermometer ranges from 200 TO
1920, which you see is very changcable.
Monterey City, about 40 miles from me,
| the mercury remains about $50 the yeaI
round and is a famous watering place
and is peopled by portion Of every ma
ton of the earth, at times, especially
English. Dukes, Counts and Lords, ii
making their tour, will not omit louge
or shorter stay, at Pacific Grove, Califor-
mia Yours in +. G. s. L.
| VIM. r. M. CuRTIs.