10088, 10089. (letter) Private James Booth, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A.T., August 8th, 1867

Private Jerome Booth co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry Camp McPherson, A. T. The following is a copy of an original handwritten letter, dated August 8th, 1867, Camp McPherson, A.T., written by Private Jerome Booth, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry. The original letter is part of the Bill W. Smith Collection. No attempt was made to correct spelling or punctuation of the original. Private Jerome Booth was killed by Indians November 2nd, 1868 while on Mail Escort near Walnut Grove, A. T. He was shot twice by gunfire in the left side and once by an arrow to the left shoulder. Camp McPherson August the 8th 67 dear brother it is with pleasure that I seat my self pen in hand to inform you of my present good health you will think me tardy about writing this is the second time I had written you the paper you sent me is now in the hands of the indians I had answered your letter and two men being detached to go with the mail I gave it to them they started from camp about 4 oclock they did not live till dark there is not much trade here and supposed them all right until yesterday when some frackers informed us that they had met no soldiers but said they had found two bodies lying among the rocks on the trail naked and scalped which the indians never fail to do they also found some of the mail there the mail carriers were mounted on mules there is two men sent too see all are from here osp.l mnoo 1.10ded Ile spu0!.1J Ku-1 Ile 0) spodso.l Kul OA!fi I will send you acopy of the paper that wages here it will tell you how things flourish here I was in that water spout you spoke of it did not occur on the 10 of May but on the tenth of March the rest of the report was correct you said you were agoing to raise some potatoes if you could I should like some of them we have none here I havent had any in six months you say that it rains all the time there it rains here half of the year and is dry the rest of the year deer and antelope are very plenty here we are quite sickly here the fever and ague is prevailing rather too well the most of the men intend to desert when they get paid the officers got wind of it and I dont think we will get paid very soon paper is very scarce here I havent received any pay since I enlisted good by direct Jerome Booth Co. H 14 US Camp McPherson arasonia. show to Lady dont forget the pictures