62 January 2002 La Posta
Figure 2-3 Brown’s
letter written on the
trail while escorting
Indian prisoners to be
put on the train at
Roseburg was
postmarked in that
town on May 12th.
th
May 10 – Four miles south of Myrtle Cr. [ed. – Apparently Lieutenant Brown was not satisfied
[Creek], Douglas Co., Ogn. Have a very good with his “stylographic” field pen since this letter was
camp here and expect to make Roseburg (21 written with a sharp pencil.]
miles) by 1 P.M. tomorrow and will immediately
th
Vancouver Barracks, W.T. May 13 , 79.
make arrangements for taking my prisoners
[postmarked The Dalles, Oregon May 17]
aboard the train Monday morning. I let my white
prisoner off on consideration of his apologizing
Dear Father:
and taking a pledge. I have just administered the
I arrived here last evening with my prisoners
oath to him (I being a Post Adjt & having au-
which were turned over and are to remain here
thority to do so) not to use liquor during the re-
at present. I took supper at Gen Howard’s and
mainder of his term of enlistment, i.e. till March
was invited to stay there but thanked them and
21 1883.
went over & stayed with I. Hofner, a classmate
Yesterday we had, I think the muddiest roads
of mine.
that I ever saw in my life and today they were
I met Gov Ferry, Gov of W.T. at Gen Howard’s
very bad indeed. It rained a good part of the day
today. The Gov is here making arrangements
yesterday but this evening . . . comfortable again
about the Moses Tribes etc. Gen Howard goes
and I am sitting in my “A” tent on the bed of
up the river tomorrow on the steamer Wide West
leaves & blankets with a good oak wood fire out
and I suppose the Indian Chiefs will accompany
in front. We find the Indians very handy in get-
him, and perhaps Gov Ferry. I am going along
ting fuel, and when I want it I just get my “striker”
and am to be assigned to Command a Company
Luke a carbine & go out with half a dozen of
of Indian Scouts to be enlisted up the country. I
“Los” and they bring me all I want. I expect to
don’t know what my P.O. address will be for the
see some fun when I get them on the cars at
present but will let you know as soon as I find
Roseburg as I don’t suppose one of them ever
out.
saw a locomotive in his life.
Am going over to Portland as soon as the
Yours afct
steamer leaves for which I am waiting.
W.C.B.
th
Yours afct,
Roseburg May 11 – Just got in and have a
W.C. Brown
crowd of a hundred or more at my camp looking
with eyes, mouths & ears all open to see the In-
Steamer Harvest Queen May 14
dians. Had the most . . . mud today that I ever
saw. One of the wagons which runs empty got
Have had a pleasant trip up the Columbia &
mired and it was all that the team could do to
will be in Walla Walla tomorrow where I am
haul the empty wagon out. Rained last night and
going to get a horse, one or two enlisted men,
this morning, also is raining now.
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