Rockns16 |
California Correspondence.No. XVI.Milpitas, Santa Clara, Co., Cal.,Oct. 17th, 1860.
DEAR ROCK: -- Us of the land of gold and silver, are just now in a state of active fermentation, on the subject of politics, and a highly unusual degree of excitement pervades all classes, in view of the important Presidential contest now so near at hand. In every city, town, village, and precinct, the various political parties are formed into clubs, ready with banners and marshalled forces, to go forth to battle on the 6th of November. All the heavy blowers are out stumping the State from one end to the other... |
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Rockns17 |
California Correspondence.No. XVII.Milpitas, Santa Clara Co., Cal.,Dec. 25th, 1860.
DEAR ROCK:--
It is Christmas to-day, here in California, as well as with you home christians of the Old Colony, and it probably observed about the same, as a general thing; if anything, it is rather more of a holiday here, than with you. Last evening, many was the young heart that was made joyful by a visit from old Santa Claus, who so benevolently perambulates the world on Christmas eve, regardless of rain, wind, snow or frost, for the express purpose of delivering expected, and unexpected presents, and... |
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Rockns18 |
No. XVIII
Dear Rock
The news from your side of Uncle Sam's ranch are of paramount importance, and most eagerly looked for and discussed by us of the Pacific just at the present time. Every time the Pony Express comes in, you should see what a deep and intense interest there is manifested by every one in the newly arrived intelligence from headquarters.
The North, South, East & West are represented here, and of course sectionality of opinion does not fail to be manifested. Some of your pestilent East winds have blown a few loose seeds of treason, disunion, and secession and scattered... |
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Rockns19 |
No. XIX.Santa Clara Co CalMilpitas April 5th, 1861
Dear Rock
For some weeks past, nothing of special interest has transpired worth writing about. The farming community were busy putting in their crops, and the townspeople in their usual way traded, gossiped, dabbled in politics, drank whiskey, and discussed the weather.
The three first weeks of March we were favored with fine, warm clear spring weather ae the most fastidious could wish. The fruit trees bloomed, and leaved out, the green grasses grew at the rate of something less than a foot per day, heavenly hued flowers gently breathed... |
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Rockns21 |
Correspondence.
No. XXI.Milpitas, Santa Clara Co., Cal.,Aug 1st, 1861.
FRIEND ROCK: -
And now again is harvest - the busiest time of the year with us of the farming community. No one has any excuse for being idle now but all the stragglers that come along, find plenty of work in the harvest field, and at wages of from $1.50 to $2.00 per day. As I predicted in my last, the long drouth we had in the spring had the effect to materially shorten the crops, so that we shall not have so much grain as last year, by one third. The war has its depressing effect on us, as well as with you, but not... |
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Rockns22 |
California Correspondence.No. XXII.Milpitas, Santa Clara Co., Cal.,Oct. 12th, 1861.
FRIEND ROCK:--
You have probably ere this, learned by the papers, the glorious result of our late election here in California. Secessionism received on that remarkable 4th of September, a rebuke as signal and decided, as it was unexpected, not only by the traitorous portion of our community, but Union men themselves hardly anticipated such a grand victory.
Just before the election, the feelings of all parties were wrought up to quite a state of excitement. Three parties were in the field, Republican, Union,... |
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Rockns23 |
California Correspondence.No. XXIII.Milpitas, Santa Clara Co., Cal.,Feb. 8th, 1861.
DEAR ROCK:--
I have deferred writing to you for some time past, owing to the long continuation of the storms and floods which have been so heavily visited upon Uncle Sam's Pacific possessions, rendering traveling an arduous undertaking, and mail facilities extremely dubious and unreliable. And then again, my last letter to you, although it was written in due season, I find never reached you, for the very good reason that it was not mailed at all. A friend of mine, who was going to Washoe, kindly volunteered to... |
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Rockns24 |
California Correspondence.No. XXIV. Milpitas, Santa Clara Co., Cal., May 13th, 1962.
DEAR ROCK:--
As I predicted in my last letter, there is a great rush now being made for the newly discovered gold diggins away up in the cold North. From San Francisco they are departing by the ship load, and every day, more or less of the fortune hunters pass along the road at this point, bound for the land of promise. - They are all fitted out about alike; each riding one mule, and leading or diving another, packed with the necessary provisions and accoutrements for their long journey.
They will pass up... |
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Rockns25 |
California Correspondence.No. XXV.Milpitas, Santa Clara Co., Cal.,Aug. 9th, 1862.
DEAR ROCK:--
Harvest is again with us, and the agricultural portion of the community, as usual at this season, finds plenty to do. Wages for harvest hands are from two to three dollars per day, and in fact there is more work to do than there is hands to do it, so many are off to the wars, or gone to the new mines of the far North. Of these last however, large numbers are returning now, heartily sick of their journey, and glad enough to get back to our hospitable shores once more.
Ahl you should hear the doleful... |
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Rockns29 |
California CorrespondenceNo. XXIXMilpitas, Santa Clara Co., Cal.,April 20, 1863
Dear Memorial and Rock:--
Since the date of my last letter, times here in California have continued to become more and more “stirring;” in fact the public mind seems to have been worked up to a sort of chronic fever heat, and in nervous expectation each moment of something new, exciting and strange about to "turn up.” The important capture of the rebel privateer schooner "chapman," which was seized in San Francisco harbor a few days ago, by the U.S. Marines, just as she was about to leave, with men, armament and... |
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