La Paz, Apr. 1st,
Liehe Schwester ,
1867
There is certainly an avalanche of home letters due me. Nothing
yet since the letters in the box. I know however that you have all
written but the mails here are so irregular and I have been
rambling about so diligently that they have not been able to find
me. This weeks mail will be in to—morrow however and then for an
hour of happiness. The old letters have all been read over and
over a dozen times.
Last week I forwarded the continuation of my journal with an
account of the flood we were caught by in the mountains. Since
then we have heard from the other two detachments that left Drum
Barracks by the Mohave and Yuma roads. The one by the latter route
for Tucson was treed, as they say out west, by a flood of the Gila
River, driven up on the hills and detained several days. The other
force is snowed in among the mountains between Mohave and
Prescott. An odd country .
We are still camped on the Colorado two miles below La Paz. The
continuation of my journal will give you an account of the sights
to be seen and the daily run of events. I am getting the most of
the town practice, such as it ise The surgery is all sent to me.
It is 'very pleasant after the worry and insolence met with in city
practice to receive the respect and consideration while here, and
especially by the Spanish population ,
i s accorded to the
physician. There is no one else in town who does anything in the
line of surgery so that this makes me the doctor. Had rather an
amazing time the other day. The Indian agent sent for me to ampu—
tate the leg of an Indian boy. We had every thing ready to proceed
when a deputation of the tribe came in, faces beautifully polished
with stove blacking and very earnestly said that American man and
Mexican man might live after leg cut off but they did not think
Indian could ever get well. The agent thought better not to force
the matter against their superstitions .
We may remain here a month yet before receiving further orders.
I sent inclosed in a letter to Mr. Dent, Superintendent of Indian
Affairs for the T y. of Arizona, a letter to John with a list of
some articles I want. A duplicate of the list you will find in
this. The quantity of some of the articles is changed however. The
pkg. was to be forwarded with Mr. Dent. If however he is much
I find that it can be sent safely
delayed or anything prevents ,
through one of the vessels sailing for the mouth of the Colorado.
If Mr. Dent can bring it, it will arrive here in about a month, &
the other way six weeks. After marching on to our permanent camp
there will not be much chance to send for articles so that I am
laying in a supply. As soon as we meet a paymaster if there is any
reliable way of forwarding money I will send as there are now
several hundred dollars due me. Tell John he owes me several
letters. Write me all the news. How the trees and plants doing?
Have you a garden? See that the fruit trees are wrapped up again
to protect them from the worms .
Love to all— your brother ,
J.P. Widney
Miss
Santa
Bell Widney
Clara, Cal.
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