Waldo Ogn May 30. 1863.

 

My dearest brother.

                                    Your letter dated at Greenville Miss. April 22^d is received & is more than welcome, being the first I have got from you since you became a "bold sojer boy". I written many letters to Emelia and received several from her & by means of news papers etc. have kept pretty good run of your movements knowing you were in Steeles Division &^c You say in your letter "Vicksburg will be ours before you receive this". well today is Sunday—day before yesterday, Friday. I received your letter & also my Jacksonville paper which says "the stars and stripes are floating over Vicksburg". If this news is true then you are indeed a true prophet. You must have seen much hard service and severe fighting ere this. May you have been fortunate enough to have come off unscathed. the paper says Steeles division "caried the rifle pits &^c". How does it seem to make a charge? Why dont you tell me more about your personal feelings and experience? Do so next time. 

 

            You wish to know about our old acquaintances here in Waldo. not many are here but Scott still lives on the old ranch & works on his old claim in Shelley Gulch picking about here & there. he has a small ditch of his own. He is union to the backbone. Ralph is still in Mr. Works store and is about the same only more peevy. Of course he growls a good deal at every thing and every body, but his heart is all right. Logan & Ike Thompson keep a store & hotel. Old Hodges still works in Fry Gulch. Bill Mupwell, Godfrey Antany, Mr & Mrs. Coyle are still in Allen Gulch & these are about all you knew.

 

            We have a population of 200 I suppose but they dont all make so much money as the few did when we were here in '56. I am hiring 15 or 20 men on the Co. claim in lower part of A.G—but the ground is not very rich. I have a foreman & do not stay on the claim much. I try to live as comfortable as I can, keep a good horse, ride considerable around in the valley & act as though I intended to live here always & perhaps I shall. I am inclined to think I can offer you sufficient inducements to come here at any time when you are at liberty to do so. I dont well see how I can ever go back to the East. I have sold my pastures / to W^m for $950. and he says he will send the money as soon as I order. His money (paper) will not be worth here over .70 on the dollar in gold, so I get little or nothing from the estate after waiting 10 years. Many thanks to C.D. Lymonds Esq. of Marlow N.H. for the care he took of an orphans property. You know the land lies between W^m & the "Ancarton" Eph^rms old pasture & it was too bad to let some stranger have it though I presume I could have got more say from George Sheldon or Jim Robb. But I am satisfied to let Brother Bill have it & were I richer would give it to him.

 

            I have considerable money loaned out here at high rates of interest on farms ditch stock &^c & presume I shall have to take the property. But I think it is all worth the money secured, if I will stay & look after it.

 

            As you say, we have plenty of fruit & some schools & the war only troubles us as a storm afar off. To give you some idea of this I will say that I have never seen a soldier who has been in the war. I shall send some papers with this to Emelia who will forward them to you and so Good bye. My heart is full of more than I can express.

 

Most truly your loving brother

John C. Weston

 

[verso]

                                                                    

The pictures are                                              

Jef. Davis                                                        

Beaureguard                                                

Mrs. McClellan                                              

Gen^l J. W. Denver                                           

Col. E. D. Baker                                            

Delazon Smith revolver from Oregon                     

& Kit Carson                                                   

                                                                        

You want to know if I wrote for Eliza, of course dont you know my writing I should think you might I have written again to day for her.

 

I had an awful big swarm of bees come up yesterday I tried to hive them but failed. Rich done it for me.

 Emelia

 

[upside down]

 

July 6.

Reynolds called this morn wants I should rent him my hous. says he will pay big rent & see to all my things & I can go to town to live. I think I shant do it, do you think I had better. I have not time to write more.

Your Emelia

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