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 Timothy Bisbee to his father =========================================================================== Pine Grove Jan. 4th 1863 Dear Father; Yours of Nov. 23d has been received. I began to think that I wasn't going to get any more letters from home it being the first I have received since the first of Oct. but I don't wish to complain. I know how it is. You work hard - yes too hard - and when you get leasure don't fell like writing letters and Maria is very buisy too I suppose. I rather hear of her teaching school than working at Granfathers. I think it is too much for her to do all this work, should think she must rather teach and that they could get some other girl that would do as well as she there. I was sorry to hear that my grand-mothers were so feeble. My health has been very good since I came back. We are having a very bad winter for mining. There is no water to wash with and most of the Cos have their sheds full or nearly so of dirt and are laying off. We have had no rain this fall or snow to speak of untill after the 20 ult. when we had quite a snow storm and we are now having another storm and a big one. We can work a little longer when it comes fair weather although we cannot get out dirt much longer. We have found a place in our digings where the bed rock goes down some 40 feet nearly purpendicular and how much further we don't know. As we can not do much elce we think of runing into the pipe clay which is over this pitch off a piece and sink a shaft to see if we can find bedrock and a strater of gravel with Gold in it. This is the high rock I used to write you about instead of the rock going up it goes down. There is a heavy body of pipe-clay and cement raises up where the bedrock goes down and we have run against it several times and called it bedrock. I believe some of you wrote me that the spiritualists sayed when I first bought into the Lone Star that I shouldn't make much for a while but would strike it when we got back. Now this low place is in our back ground and there is a chance to strike it big there yet. There is a load in this hill about forty feet wide that pays some $40.00 to $50. per day and where it was last worked on it was rather making this way but I don't build any very large castles in the air on the strength of that. I would like to have the facts prove such to be the case however. You say you would think they have been diging long enough to get through in those claims I have bought into in Plumas County. I think so to if they had worked where they ought and not had so much boys play. The Co. have run 3 tunnels one below the other and all on the long side of the mountain. The first was run in a short distance way up side of the mountain. The second run in 600 feet and the third 75 feet lower is in 1300 feet and I think if it was in 700 more it would be in gravel. Since I have bought in we have quit work in that tunnel and started one about half a mile around the mountain from it in a much better place to run into the mountain and where we hope to get pay by runing 1000 feet. Some think we will have no hard rock but I think it is doubtful about that. H.C. Adams is working there this winter. I have not heard from there for about a month. I am rather discontented lately and if it wasn't for going home I don't know but I should go to Oregon in the spring and buy some mill property but I know if I go up there that I can't get home for some time and if I stay here I hope to in a year, two at the outside. Oregon is bound to be a flourishing state at no very distant day with here gold mines in the eastern part of the state, and her other mineral resources. I do not see how she can help being a flourishing state. There is rather too much rain and fog there in the winter to be agreeable but I believe I rather like there than here or in the most places in this state. I was sorry to hear that Jimey Heald was no more amoung the living. This rebelion has sent many a one to his long home and I am affraid will many more before it is put down. It appears that Burnside didn't do as great things when he overtook the rebels on the Rapechanoc as you expected. It seems to me (continues written sideways) that there is something wrong in the management of affairs some where. I don't see what Butler was superceded for unless he is to have an important command somewhere else. (continues cross-wise on the first page) Give my respects to all inquiring friends. Tell Grandmother I would like to see her and hope I may yet. Tell Maria not to do too much housework and to write me once in a while. Tell mother not to fret much as that is the hardes kind of work. And Lewis that I will answer his note sometime and that he must write again. Our snow storm has turned into rain and we may have water yet. T.H. Bisbee (Sideways on page 2) I was at Potosi and stayed with Barrows the other night. He is fat weighs 196 lbs. and still gaining. (Sideways on page 3) Byron & I are living together this winter.