From: ANNIE GARDINER
To: SISTER-IN-LAW, ANNIE JODI BROWN
Date: June 26, 1855
Context: UPON ARRIVAL AT THE FORT, ANNIE WROTE TO HER SISTER- IN-LAW AT OAKLANDS ABOUT HER JOURNEY TO THE FORT AND HER NEW HOME
Embedded Files
My dear Annie ,
Here we are at Fort TeJon, united on the 14th, and have been at housekeeping nearly ten days, but I am notgoing to give you the end of my story first but begin at the beginning.
I had to conclude my letter in San Francisco in such a hurry that I could not say half I wanted. We had a verynice time there, Mr. and Mrs. Halleck were at the same house and were kind in going out (•••••••) everything. I saw quantities of flowers, there. They seem to grow most luxuriantly although it is only in made soil that they will succeed. When we went down to the steamer for San
Pedro (the Sea Bird), Bishop Kip came down to see us, and I had quite a pleasant talk with him. Mr. Kip was in the neighborhood visiting a friend. The Bishop I thought very handsome. The Sea was so rough and the vessel not by any means a strong one so after going out a little way, the Capt. thought it advisable to go back and we set off next morning and then I found out what real sea-sickness was. I suffer d a great deal for two days and n igh ts; and the boat was so small and uncomfortable in every way, that I could not lie in my berth , but had my bed made in one corner of the cabinfloor.
Wednesday morning we reached San Pedro, a desolate looking place with about three houses. All that day we were detained
there, waiting for the wagons which were to carry us to the Fort, and that night was my first experience in camping out. I had provided a mess basket (tell Eleanor that is a little army talk for her) with a boiled ham, tea,sugar, hard biscuit, potatoes, and some ginger bread which I had made Mary make at Ben icia , tin plates,cups, etc, and then Mrs. Kirkham had hers--we
tog ther, and were very comfortable. I wish you could have seen how snug we l oo ked in our ents at night, ourmattresses spread on a piece of gutta percha to keep out the dampness, our camp stools, etc . I enjoyed it more than anything since I have left home.
In the morning we were up, had our break-fasts and started by si x-o-c1 ock. I went in Capt. Kirkham's carriage , he and Tudor driving us alternately, so we went about twenty miles a day, stopping at noon to refreshourselves and the men, the most of whom were walking . It was not at all fatiguing.
On Friday we went into Los Angel es, staid at the hotel a little while , and drove out to see a very pretty garden, and then to the church, which was quite a rough looking one. The next day we went to the SanFernando Mission, rested awhile and dined.
These missions are scattered all over this country and wherever they are there are fine gardens. In< ••.) through the side there's quite a large vine-yard with rows of olive trees, figs , pomegranates , pears, oranges, etc., and also the famous Mexican
(maguey or pulque agave..•.), from which the pulque is made. The mission house interested me very much, it was made of adobe (
unburned brick) with a small statue of San rernando over the door holding a globe in one hand and his drawn sword in the other. A Mr. Alexander, one of the<....) who pro-vided (... ) transportation gave us a very interestingaccount of when it was in a flourishing state, when Mexico was owned by the Spaniards, that the priests weresent over here to convert the Indians; they established all these missions gardens, different kinds of manufactoriesgoing on, in al1 of which they instructed the Indians. These places are still there but all are now deserted, the remains of a fountain were still there. The hut and the Church which was also built by the Indians under the instruction of the priests and it was very interesting to see their rude attempts at painting the Crucifixion, which werehung around the walls. Mr. Alexander told us of when he
was a prisoner there for four months how kind they were to him.
I forgot to tel 1 you that at Los Angeles your letter was handed us by a person who had (taken ?) on board the"Sea Bird" and got it out of the office for us. It was our first letter from home and I need not say how much pleasureit gave us. This mission I spoke of, is owned by a rich Spaniard who was not at home, Andrew Pico, but a youngman, a relation of his, invited us to dine. I don' t think much of Spanish cookery, if that is a specimen. Sunday werested and next day we got into such roads as I never have seen before; that San Fernando Pass, it was almostperpendicular, altho the roads are much improved. We walked over the most part and Tudor drove us over therest. The scenery was splendid, hills upon
h ills, the re seemed to be no limit to them. We both a.greed in thinking if Etta could get there with her pencil shewould not want to move for a week at leas t, and we both thought of John, and how he would have enjoyed the tr ip. Tell him I think he would have considered it equal to the Boy Hunter in every respect. We arrived at FortTejon on Thursday mornin g at twelve-a-clock. Went directly to Mrs. Carter ' s who is 1 iving quite comfortably in a hospital tent, with a board floor. We all dined with her, the gentlemen went out and chose quar ters ; and then we walked over to look at their sele ctio n. Mine are of adobe, pronounced in three syllables,
and for fea r you do not know what adobe is , for I did not, I'll tell you , it is unbaked bric k. None of the quarters are fin ishe d. They have a parlor and bed room opening into each other ; both of which have ceilings of canvass, no plaster, all adobe both inside and out. I have a. kitchen, and opening into it anot her room where Mary sleeps. Lieu t. Fitzgerald and his wife <my cook) sleep in the kitchen for the present.
I set both women to brush and make the house clean. Saturday morning we took our first meal in our own quarters . I promised to tell Elean or what we had for the first time -- beef ste ak, eggs,
toast and tea arranged on a lo g, which served as a table , for the
quarter-master was having ouY furniture made. I assure you we enjoyed it very much. By Saturday evening our house was nearly all arranged. I have in the parlor a round table painted white which answers for d inner ,breakfast, etc., then I have several chairs
arranged tastefully around the room, two shelves in the corner with our books, a piece of drugget before the fire place, Sarah's candle sticks on the shelf each on an end, John's and Mrs. Groghan's
gifts. In a few days we are to have a mantel-piece, when I can
make things look better.
My room has a bed-stead, at the foot of it a box containing my grocer ies , and a green cover over it to make itlook like a table, a shelf which Tudor had put ·up where we have a looking glass and dressing things, in the corner a couple of shelves and nails to hang up dresses, etc., with a curtain over all, and a wash-standpitcher(...•). Altogether, it looks quite home-l ike . Then we have a hen house which Tudor had made last week,containing a cock and five hens and sometimes we get two eggs a day, and a pigeon house with a pair of pigeons . So, don't you think we look quit.e domestic? As to house keeping there are no gardens and everything is so expensive, that we live quite plainly, almost entirely from the commissary store, which furnisheshams, dried peaches, etc., in addition to their usual supplies , but Tudor is quite contented and I think we dovery well.
He has lost five pounds since he left San Pedro but looks quite well . As far as the climate of California goes,from all I can lea r n it is a grand humbug. His Lieu t. Caster is in wretched health, suffers very much at times from rheumatism which he got from exposure in this country ; and also from an affection of the
bowels which is owing to the water. Col. Beale the commanding
officer has severe attacks of gout, but that is owing to his habits .
Tudor is kept pretty busy. His first L ieut. being sick, he has but one officer and nearly double his number of men as a detachment of recruits came yesterday from Salt Lake. He gets up
at daybreak for reveille every other morning and has to visit ( quarters?) every other night.
The valley (•.•) coming in here is beautiful, and I cannot describe Fort Tejon better than by quoting from Mr.Kirkham who said in writing to his sister that she might imagine herself at the bottom of a bowl , the hills allaround forming th s ides , for they
seem to completely shut us in. I am well since I began to feel rested for I never was so tired in my life.
We have had some very warm days but the nights are cool. I try to keep up a cheerful heart and when I am well, can succeed in doing so. Dr. Fenbrook, a young man, is the surgeon. I have only seen him once, as he has been away. The ladies are very kind. I see them generally in the evening when I ( ••• ) and generally take a walk but MRS. KIRKHAM expects to be confined herself the last of Octo ber, so each shall have to take care of the other. The woman
I have seems anxious to please but the cook knows nothing about
cooking and I know less, so you may only depend on him for very simple d ishes . Mary is capital in somerespects but I cannot feel the confidence I should like in her. However I trust to time to
work all things right. Now have I not tal d you enough about myself?
I know you would all want to imagine us as we did you
yesterday and wished ourselves at Oaklands to celebrate with you
all, the Golden Wedding. occasion but it was out
I tried to get up something extra for the of the question so all we could in our
strict temperance was to join in spirit in all the good wishes for
our dear parents. Do write and tell us all about it, what you did and ask Fenwick, Etta and Eleanor and all, to write. We want to know of Frederic and Carrie in ( ••• •) Papa's letter with Carrie's not enclosed, but were disappointed in the last mail. The steamer had just arrived when the one for San Pedro left so our mail is delayed a fortn ight. Direct simply to Fbrt Tejon, Calif.
Tell Hallowell and Francis to write and you write too please and tell us about Frank and his plans and Sarah who I suppose will be at home next month and must write herself.
Tell the boys I saw a good many antelope running over the pla ins . I have not seen a grizzly bear running wild,but there are
two cubs here owned by a workman here. old but are pretty savage fellows.
They are only four weeks
Tudor is going to write by this mail so you will have a full account.
With much :ove to each and all at the Cove and Oaklands , Ever your affectionate
Sister Annie .
Report abuse