Gold Rush Era Letters

another smart place, we have passed through the cities of Philadelphia and St Louis places that you have read of. We reached our camp at five o clock [o'clock] in a beautifull [beautiful] vally [valley] surrounded by hills from which gushed some of the most beautifull [beautiful] spring which I have seen since I left my Native Tennessee having made today twenty eight miles.

Tuesday 3 -- left camp this moring [morning] in the rain. Our India rubber keeping us dry. Marched today through a fine Country under the bluffs passed through "Kinderhook" made a push to pass some ox teams ahead of us which we did and arrived at camp on the snicarty [Snicarte] slough a shute [chute] of the Mississippi River. the rain pouring down incessantly all day prospects for the night very discourageing [discouraging] wood scarce & wet, had some music, which raised the spirits of the boys lay down at nine ocloc [o'clock] and passed the best night since I left your sweet arms, made today sixteen miles.

Wednesday 4 -- Crossed the river in a steam ferry boat and landed at "Sapio" 1 1/2 miles Above the Hannibal having ferried ten miles. Reached Hannibal at 10 oclock [o'clock] a boat had just arrived for St Louis, which I went aboard of and left in fifteen minutes. Company all well, arrived at St Louis at 10 at night. The wind blew so cold I could not enjoy the scenery very much shall stay on board the boat tonight.

Thursday 5 -- Took lodgings at the Missouri Hotel, such a crowd there was no chance to get a room, met Naves in the Telegraph office, met N. G. Shepherd in the street and concluded to take up lodgings with him at the Main street house, Met T. B. Fisher, Bill Pease, & T. T. Whitehurst, got the blues again

April 30th, 18

May 1st.

Clear & pleasnt [pleasant] Meny [Morning] M it at 8 Oc [O'clock] by th [the] Recd [Received] A. N. Left at 10 Oc [O'clock] fr [for] Phil Philadelphia arrived at 7 Oc [O'clock] P.M. – stoped [stopped] at Union Hotel – " –

2d.

Brig Osceola at Sea Lat 23 0.3° min south Long 41.9° Sunday March 4th 1848

Dear Brother Abrm

This being a perfect calm this morning and within sight of land & Not knowing how long we will remain in Rio Janeiro [Rio de Janeiro] our next stopping place I thought I had better give you an account of our journey thus far. We left Philadelphia January 16th on board the Brig Osceola Capt. Fairfowl with sixty six passengers nine of which were from Lancaster. In consequence of the ice being very thick in the river we ware [were] unable to go farther than New Castle Del [Delaware] the first day.

It being the last night we expected to be on Shore for forty or fifty day[s] we thought we had never have a joleification [jollification] in the way of a dance. So all hands went a Shore [ashore] formed a procession headed by the Bugle Violin Banjo etc. we proceeded up town and engaged a room for the purpose. After making some necessary arrangement we proceeded and I can asure [assure] you it was one of the greatest night[s] sixty men ever spent.

After which we returned to the Brig perfectly deleghted [delighted] with the long to be remembered dance at New Castle. We left next morning and proceeded as far as the Brakewater. It being very stormy we wher [were] obliged to remain there untill [until] next day at noon.

I being a perfect land lubber [landlubber] began to feel the efects [effects] of Sea sickness and for ten days after you never saw sicker fellow than I was. Nothing of importance occured [occurred] untill [until] Monday morning January 29th.

[In top margin, in another color ink:] Heny Gouce has written to Chales Nauman if he is not in town tell you or Johnson to get it and send it to him. I do not thin [think] you wile [will] leave him from a week at there.

Brig Osceda at Sea Lat [Latitude] 23.3° South Lon [Longitude] 41.9°

March 4th 1849

Dear Friend

Not knowing how long we will remain in Rio Janeiro [Rio de Janeiro] our next stopping place. I thought I had better give you an account of our journey thus far. We left Philadelphia Jan 16th on board the Brig Osceola Capt Fairfowl with Sixty six [Sixty-six] passengers nine of which were from Lancaster. In consequence of the ice being very thick in the river we wase [was] unable to go farther than New Castle Del. [Delaware] the first day. It being the last night we expected to be on shore for forty or fifty days we thought we had better have a jolification [jollification] in the way of a dance. So all hands went a shore [ashore] formed a procession headed by the Bugle Bango [Banjo] Violin & we proceeded up town and engaged a room for the purpose. After making some necessary arrangements we proceeded and I can asure [assure] you it was one of the greates [greatest] nights Sixty men ever past [passed]. After which we returned to the Brig perfectly delighted with the long to be remembered danc [dance] at New Castle.

We left next morning and proceeded as far as the Brakewater. It being very stormey [stormy] we wher [were] obliged to remain there untile [until] next day at noon.

I being a perfect land lubber began to feel the efects [effects] of sea sickness and for ten day after you never saw a sicker fellow than I was.

of Philadelphia for California and when They got of [off] valpraiso Valparaiso they encountered another gale which Blowed [blew] away there [their] masts & they had to run in to valpraiso Valparaiso for repairs they had Been in port 3 weeks when we arrived and they put to sea again 3 days before we saile [sailed] I went on board and staid all night with him he lost amost [almost] every thing he gave me 2 letters to put in the office here to send home I was agoing [going] to leave the vessel at valpraiso Valparaiso as I could get three dollars and a half a day but Morgan wanted I should go on to San Francisco and I have staid on board you know nothing of what we have suffered we live worse than even our hogs did and unless we have different fare from here when we get to San Francisco our officers had better keep out of the crews way or they will cut Conns we have suffered every thing heat and cold storms of snow and ice sleet and hail the cold in the straits was severe and the heat here is almost suffocating I expected to have got a letter from you here I find there is none and I am sorry for it I want you should write to me as soon as you get this write to San Francisco this is a miserable place there is persons here that cant get away but the story that there are thousand [on the isthmus?] awaiting for a passage is all humbug there is not persons enough here to fill two vessells [vessels] there is but a ver [very] few persons here and these six or seven steamers Running here to California write as soon as you receive this

yours in F., S and G..

Jared. C. Brown

write what Charles, Martin, is, a doing