10139, 10140, 10141. Camp McPherson, Arizona Territory, Nov. 14th 1868, Mr. L.D. Booth (letter)

Camp McPherson Arizona Territory Nov 14th 1868. Mr. L.D. Booth Dear Sir I seat myself to perform a painful duty. it is that of informing you of the untimely death of your Brother Jerome Booth. He was killed by Indians the 2nd day of this month while escorting the mail from Wickenburg to Walnut Grove. The mail party consisted of but three men a citizen mail rider and two soldiers. One of which was your Brother. they were attacked by about 60 who lay in ambush till the mail was within a few feet of them when they raised with a whoop and fired killing Jerome almost instantly, and wounding the mail rider. Jerome fell from his saddle. then raising himself on one knee and raising his Carbine to fire but life was to far gone and he fell dead without a struggle. he was shot three times. twice with bullets in the left side and once with an arrow in the left shoulder. I wish to inform you that you are not the only one to mourn his loss. by his death. I lost a dear and trusty friend he seemed like a Brother to me. he was always willing to assist when others could not. He was truly kind, generous and obliging. and I sympathize with you in the loss of so dear a Brother. There were many sad hearts in this camp when the news reached here. for he was liked by officers and men. perhaps you are not aware that he had left this camp. he and myself both left here at the same time to go to Walnut Grove to escort the mail. and he fell a victim to brutal savages the second trip he made. the escort has since been removed. I am sorry to say I could not go to assist in burying him as I was obliged to go to Prescott the next day to report it to the military authorities. the Corporal in charge of the escort went with some citizens and buried him. and they all say he was buried well as could be expected. The Indians took his cloths from him and a memorandum book some postage stamps and a few letters they are all probably destroyed. there has been nothing seen of them since. He had no money at the time but there is four months pay due him besides some clothing money. which I have no doubt Lieut. Western will attend to as soon as possible. he has some letters from Miss Alice Parsons. and one from you which I enclose with your picture I believe I will send the letters to Miss Parsons as soon as possible. I hope you will excuse my negligence in this matter as I have been moving all of the time since the sad event happened. I sympathize with you in your deep affliction by the loss of so dear a Brother. but we must remember that he fell a true and noble hearted soldier while in the performance of his duty. and thought well of by all who knew him. Should you wish any more particulars I will give them to you if possible. yours truly, Leslie G. Cutter co. H 14th U.S. Infantry. Fort Whipple Prescott Arizona P.S. The Company has gone to Prescott since he was killed. -- L.G. Cutter

10138. Private James Booth, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A.T., copy of handwritten death report

Private Jerome Booth Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry Camp McPherson, A. T. The following is a copy of the handwritten death report of Private Jerome Booth, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A. T. and is dated November 14th, 1868. Jerome Booth was killed by Indians November 2nd, 1868 near Walnut Grove, A. T. while on Mail Escort. The report is written by Leslie G. Cutter (a fellow soldier) of Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry and mailed to the brother of the deceased: L.D. Booth, Binghamton, Broome County, Box 900, New York. The original report is part of the Bill W. Smith Collection. No attempt was made to correct the spelling or punctuation.

10137. Gravestone of Private James Booth, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A.T., Killed by Indians November 2nd, 1868 while on mail escort.

Private Jerome Booth co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, camp McPherson, A.T. Killed by Indians November 2nd, 1868 while on mail escort. 4, Remains relocated from the Camp Date Creek Cemetery to the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio in May of 1892

10104, 10105, 10106. (letter) Private Jerome Booth, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A.T., November 1st, 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 November 1st, 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 November th 1 1867 Dear Brother it is with pleasure that I take this opertunity of writi ng to you I received your letter bearing date Sept ember the 13 and was very glad to hear from you I was much pleased w ith the photographs you sent me I received a lett er from you the week before and have answered it and written one to you I came off guard this morning and thus have the fore noon to my self we have a herd here of 75 five head and consisting of horses mules and cattle which the corporal and three men of the guard take charge of and drive them to the best feed they can find but they do not go far from camp for the indians like fresh meat I w as acting corporal this time I went to Wick enburg a week ago today with the Captain and had avery good time it is aplace contai ining four stores and three white women we saw some very fine herds of deer and antelope on the way we were mustered for four months pay yesterday and expect the pay master every day un til he comes I passed through the town where nutan Dutche was on my way thr ough california I dont think it would do any good for me to write to him for very few go under their right name in this part of the USA now Larry that yarn about gale and the kitten s I guess thats all Bosh most likely you called the kitten up in your lap and I think you w rote that about gale because she wont let you have any peace until you answ er my letters like you ought well good by and dont forget to write from your brother Jerome Booth Camp McPherson date creek A. T.

10096, 10097, 10098, 10099, 10100. Private Joseph Booth, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A.T. (letter)

Private Jerome Booth Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry Camp McPherson, A. T. The following is a copy of an original handwritten letter, dated October 18th, 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 October the 18th 67 dear brother I after the lapse of nearly six weeks I find myself seated pen in hand awriting to you again I have not heard from home yet the mails are very irregular at present the fast time it left here the red skins about fifty in number surprised the escort and captured the mail and killed the mail rider on the spot the escort beat a hasty retreat back to camp from which they were about 4 miles the Captain then ordered aparty to get aready to go and get the mail or what they could find of it he went with them they found the mail bag cut open and the mail scattered all about they gathered up the mail of which the Captain took charge they discovered the rider where he fell I was then at Wickenburg I had went down with the mail the week before and had the four and tail over the mail contractor getting uneasy at the mail not being in at usual time asked me to go to camp with him which I agreed to do and after dark we set out the reds let us alone until we were about about six miles from camp when they got after us with annoyance the first that we heard of them was the whiz of aflight of arrows backed by an unearthly yell that might wake the dead we gave our animals the spurs and soon left them far in the rear ten more days and I have a year served for Uncle Samule it seems some time since I was at home I havent seen an apple since I left although they are plenty in California Oct the 20 again I take my pen in hand to try and finish this letter I was called for duty the other day and of course had to go and thus missed sending it by yesterdays mail to day is Sunday and it will start Monday from here the mail rider brought the news of aparty of sixteen persons being killed last week near Tucson aplace about one hundred miles from here he also stated that it was impossible for the mail to go any farther then that place there being three hundred mounted indians between that and the next post that is all for the reds this time the nights are nice and cool here now and the weather is very pleasant we havent had any rain since I July I think that rather beats all New York how did that patch of tobacco do that you was trying to raise inspite of the weather I hope it has done well if it wasent for that fragrant meal I cant say what might have become ofL.B. when I think of the good old times at home A bit of the meal is my only consolation how is the farm at home managed this year has father got the cider milk done yet I would like to have about two weeks on the cue about this time how has will ransome and his annie get along ihope uncle dont have any trouble with his dear son well larry I have seen agreat deal of that yellow stuff called gold since I have been in this part of the world and I think I had rather dig for gold in the states nearly every day we hear of some party of miners being jumped as they term it last week there was four out of aparty of five that were out prospecting killed the other had ahard run for life there are agreat many instances of this kind where there is none left to tell the tale I bought one bushel of potatoes the other day they cost me 11 eleven dollars and fifteen pounds of onions which cost me 5 five dollars you may think that you would let the vegetables go and save your money but you would rather let the money slip than get the scurvy well I guess that is about all you will want to study out for once I Best respects to all inquiring friends good by Jerome Booth

10092. Gravestone of Private John D. Kelley, Co "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A.T., Killed by Indians, August 1st, 1867, Prescott National Cemetery.

Private John D. Kelly co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry Camp McPherson, A.T. Killed by Indians August 1st, 1867 Prescott National Cemetery

10091. Privates John D. Kelley (Kelly) & John Denver, Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A.T., Killed by Indians August 1st, 1867.

Privates John D. Kelley (Kelly) & John Denner Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantery Camp McPherson, A. T. Killed by Indians August 1st, 1867 Privates John D. Kelley (Kelly) and John Denner, soldiers of Co. "H" 14th U.S. Infantry, Camp McPherson, A. T. were killed by Indians on August 1st, 1867 at Willow Springs, A. T. (near Bell's Cafion) while delivering correspondence from Camp McPherson to Fort Whipple, A. T. The Camp Date Creek, A. T. Burial Records indicates that the attack occurred on August 1st, 1867. The Arizona Miner newspaper account of the incident, printed on August 10th, 1867, states that the attack took place on August 3rd, 1867. Private Kelley (Kelly) was buried in the Camp Date Creek Cemetery and re-interred to the Prescott National Cemetery. His last name is spelled Kelly on his headstone, but military records spell his last name Kelley. John Denner was buried at the Camp Date Creek Cemetery, with no further information available.

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