Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved USGenNet. Data Repository Please read USGenNet Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: SOURCE: California State Library, Small Manuscript Collection Submitted by William (Rick) Bisbee on August 25, 2011 [Bisbee Family Connection Genealogy Website] For inclusion in the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org =========================================================================== From Amasa Heald to his sister Text inside [-brackets-] was struck through =========================================================================== Pine Grove Jany 11th 1862 Dear Sister: Your letter was duly received which I am right glad to acknowledge. For my corrispondants in that direction are geting rather sparse. Although as you have hinted, I have no reason to complain. I am inclined to think however that if I did not send our w-- card to you direct that I at least gave John orders to hand you one. My short experience of weded life gives me no reason to complaint but how it is enjoyed by the other party she is at liberty to explain but you must consider there might be a chance for a little delicacy on that point. It seems Julie has anticipated me whilst I have been writing this. She has voluntarily answered the question by requesting me to give her love to you and that she liked both me and the state much better than she expected. It might be concluded that but little was expected as she says the first thing done on aprehending my intention was to promise herself that she would marry me but suppose like the poor Irish woman she was driven to desperation and married me to get rid of me. I may as well apprise you that whilst the eastern or southern portion of our confederacy is raging with rebillion and made desolate with civil war, the vallies of Cal. & Oregon are made equely desolate by the unprecedented floods which has inundated cities, torn and covered up with tailings (dirt washed from the mts.) ranches and vineyards, swept off & destroyed thousands of cattle, horses and hogs and left the whole country almost one mass of ruin. This flood or the rains commenced about the 8th of Dec. caused by the general rain over the whole country upon the snows in the mts. about 6ft. of which was carried entirely off at this place. My paper states that on the 18th the Sac. R. was 1 in. higher than it was ever known before this flood though it had been receding most the time since the 11th but verry slowly and at that time was over 22 ft. above low water. This week in commenced snowing Mon. night and continued untill Wed night when it turned to rain since which time I never knew it to rain harder though it has now abated a little this Sat. night which no doubt has raised the water in the valley several ft. higher than ever. Our communication for the first time is cut off with Marysville the road between which place and Sac. City (which was one perfect cloud of dust in Aug. when we got to the country) has been traversed by steam boats for a whole mo. You can tell Solomon that our claims are paying verry well this winter though we have lost the best ground we have found by arbitration which came of soon after I got here and after we had well drained the ground. The arbitrators as in most all such cases making a division and by chance the best part falling to them. Also some of our gold by the freshet which sometimes gives us so much water that we are unable to work...it has been the case the last three days of this week. Tim. started for Oregon on the 16th of Dec. but in no direct service of his county. I believe will proably visit Cuting's folks and go out to the new mines if the reports we get from them are one half true. He rather unfortunately for us and carelessly killed our horse a few days before he started and when he left I was below for another and got a mule which I have to train myself as the old man refuses to attend to her hear. It takes some time to break a "tractible" animal to this business and a mule is a "little too much for the Welchmans constitution". Byron boards with us. He and Wm does finely at mining. I do not know whether we shall ever be able to make anything of J. Barrett or not. E. Stetson is working at his trade and is doing well. The most important war news we get even here in the mts. since the completion of the telegram just about as soon as you do in Sumner. Tell Maria her letter to T. arrived lat night. ??? opened it according to instructions am happy to learn mother is better. Yesterday I had one from Tim. H. he seems to know nothing about our folks and what he does know not right. Give my love to all and write soon and often if convenient. From A. Heald