A Sunday in 1856.

A Sunday in 1856.

Sunday August 7, 1856
This morning I arrived at Fort Tejon at “Travelers Rest”, a wide spot in Canada de la Uvas. Just north of Lebec on the Old Road from Pueblo De los Angles and the inner Valley of the San Joaquin. The Fort is very quite to day, most of the men must be out on patrol or something for it seams almost deserted. It is at a nice location in the hills at about 3900 feet above the heat of the valley floor and its mosquitoes and Malaria.

The temp to day was 95’ with a nice little breeze out of the hills.
Most of the building are of adobe construction, so it is nice and cool inside them.

I went over to the Barrack to check in with Brevet Lt. Colonel Beall and 1st. Sergeant Williams. They quickly introduced me to the duties of the day, witch was very light fare as it turned out, and got me outfitted out in the uniform of the 1st. U.S. Dragoons, Company A. The Arsenal in Benicia had been issuing Fort Tejon old surplus uniforms and equipment left over from the Mexican- American War a decade earlier; so much of it was worn and old.

After a brief examination it appearance to me that the fort is situate at a most idyllic spot for both climate and good health. As mentioned earlier it sits above the diasma of the Valley floor. It is also at the confluence of 2 creeks and has several spring with yields a plentiful supply of sweet water for all of our needs.

The women of the Fort had prepared a wonderful lunch of Chili Beans, Fresh Bread and new made butter, Skillet Potatoes and fresh Lemonade.
After Lunch the women and children bussed them self’s with making candles so that we would have a good store for the long nights in winter.

Now next I shall explain a Dragoon, the name comes from old Saxon for Dragon and is used to describe Heavy cavalry. In the post Roman era Britain Dragoons were fast moving Heavy cavalry, in the 15th. Century they were cavalry equipped with Fire Arms, and in the current times they are cavalry equipped with guns and able to operate as cavalry, artillery or infantry as the need arises. It could be look upon as a mini Legion.

1st. U.S. Dragoons Co. A is equipped with 2- 6lb. Mountain Howitzers witch can be either transported on mules over rouge terrain or mounted on a traditional limber and carriages if the road condition allow.
And this is how come I am here. The 1st. U.S. Dragoons Co. A was in need of a few more experienced Artillerymen, so they came to the 1st. U.S. Artillery to look for help. They practically talked to me for I have previously worked in the Blacksmith shop and one of their Black Smiths was leaving.

I spent rest of the day visiting with the other Dragoons and giving tours of the fort to the few travelers who stopped on their journey.
This looks like it will be a quite post. Especially scene Mr. Edward F. Beal, U.S. Indian Agent to California, informs us that the 4 tribes in this vicinity are pacified and settled on the new land proposed for the Sebastian Indian Reservation, 17 miles east of the Fort in Badger canyon.

I do hope this letter fines you both well and in a quick fashion.
When you next take pen to paper, please remember to send stamps, for stamps at the Fort post are in very short supplie and dose not know when he will be reciving more.

Sincerely yours.
Pvt. C. Neil, Cannonier
1st. U. S. Dragoons, Co. A.
Fort Tejon, Army of the Pacific.
Lebec. California.