Gold Rush Era Letters

Camp on the bluffs 4 miles from Naples

April 1st 1849

My Dear Beloved Wife

I take this opportunity of informing you of our movements, up to this time and giving myself the pleasure as it were of holding short converse with you, though alas! widely seperated [separated] by flood and plain. My dear wife I hope ere this reaches you, you will have become reconciled to our temporary seperation [separation] seperated [separated] in flesh, but one in heart, oh how I would like to embrace you this bright Calm Sunday Evening, how is our dear boy, does he ask for "pa" does he seem to miss me, oh there are times when my heart smites me for having abandoned the care of that sweet cherub thoug [though] it be but for a time. be to him, dearest, all that he should find in me learn him to love right for right's sake but I must commence telling you of our travels,

Here by refering [referring] to my notes I shall be enabled to give you a pretty correct account of all we have done up to this time.

Thursday March 27, 1849 Left Springfield at 2 Oclock [O'clock] P.M. my heart filled with the most intense grief (o how it wrung my heart to part with you an [and] father,) head ached very bad, my cold caused me to suffer much. rode out with Thos. Little [Thomas Little] to Camp "Taylor" pitch tents, got supper, had a call from some Ladies of the Neighborhood, had music from the band, and retired, but all hands seemed to wish to do any thing [anything] else but sleep. Camp life is a new to most of the boys, made to day [today] 4 miles

28th got off at 7 1/2 Oclock [O'clock], road fine and mules working well. Worked today at a saw mill, pretty tired, feet getting very sore. Weather continues very fine, found today two bad mudholes [mud holes] which gave us some