Yrs. etc.,
Sam.
A little later he had headed for the Esmeralda Hills. Some time in February he was established there in a camp with a young man by the name of Horatio Phillips (Raish). Later he camped with Bob Howland, who, as City Marshal of Aurora, became known as the most fearless man in the Territory, and, still later, with Calvin H. Higbie (Cal), to whom Roughing It would one day be dedicated. His own funds were exhausted by this time, and Orion, with his rather slender salary, became the financial partner of the firm.
It was a comfortless life there in the Esmeralda camp. Snow covered everything. There was nothing to do, and apparently nothing to report; for there are no letters until April. Then the first one is dated Carson City, where he seems to be making a brief sojourn. It is a rather heavy attempt to be light-hearted; its playfulness suggests that of a dancing bear.
To Mrs. Jane Clemens, in St. Louis:
Carson city, April 2, 1862.
My dear mother, Yours of March 2nd has just been received. I see I am in for it again with Annie. But she ought to know that I was always stupid. She used to try to teach me lessons from the Bible, but I never could understand them. Doesnt she remember telling me the story of Moses, one Sunday, last Spring, and how hard she tried to explain it and simplify it so that I could understand it but I couldnt? And how she said it was strange that while her ma and her grandma and her uncle Orion could understand anything in the world, I was so dull that I couldnt understand the ea-siest thing? And doesnt she remember that finally a light broke in upon me and I said it was all right that I knew old Moses himself and that he kept a clothing store in Market Street? And then she went to her ma and said she didnt know what would become of her uncle Sam he was too dull to learn anything ever! And Im just as dull yet. Now I have no doubt her letter was spelled right, and was correct in all particulars but then I had to read it according to my lights; and they being inferior, she ought to overlook the mistakes I make specially, as it is not my fault that I wasnt born with good sense. I am sure she will detect an encouraging ray of intelligence in that last argument..
I am waiting here, trying to rent a better office for Orion. I have got the refusal after next week of a room on first floor of a fire-proof brick-rent, eighteen hundred dollars a year. Dont know yet whether we can get it or not. If it is not rented before the week is up, we can.
I was sorry to hear that Dick was killed. I gave him his first lesson in the musket drill. We had half a dozen muskets in our office when it was over Isbells Music Rooms.
I hope I am wearing the last white shirt that will embellish my person for many a day for I do hope that I shall be out of Carson long before this reaches you.
Love to all.
Very Respectfully,
Sam.
The Annie in this letter was his sister Pamelas little daughter; long years after, she would be the wife of Charles L. Webster, Mark Twains publishing partner. Dick the reader may remember as Dick Hingham, of the Keokuk printing-office; he was killed in charging the works at Fort Donelson.
Clemens was back in Esmeralda when the next letter was written, and we begin now to get pictures of that cheerless mining-camp, and to know something of the alternate hopes and discouragements of the hunt for gold the miner one day soaring on wings of hope, on the next becoming excited, irritable, profane. The names of new mines appear constantly and vanish almost at a touch, suggesting the fairy-like evanescence of their riches.
But a few of the letters here will best speak for themselves; not all of them are needed. It is perhaps unnecessary to say that there is no intentional humor in these documents.
To Orion Clemens, in Carson City:
Esmeralda, 13th April, 1862.
My dear brother, Wasson got here night before last from the wars. Tell Lockhart he is not wounded and not killed is altogether unhurt. He says the whites left their stone fort before he and Lieut. Noble got there. A large amount of provisions and ammunition, which they left behind them, fell into the hands of the Indians. They had a pitched battle with the savages some fifty miles from the fort, in which Scott (sheriff) and another man was killed. This was the day before the soldiers came up with them. I mean Nobles men, and those under Cols. Evans and Mayfield, from Los Angeles. Evans assumed the chief command and next morning the forces were divided into three parties, and marched against the enemy. Col. Mayfield was killed, and Sergeant Gillespie, also Nobles colonel was wounded. The California troops went back home, and Noble remained, to help drive the stock over here. And, as Cousin Sally Dillard says, this is all I know about the fight.
Work not yet begun on the H. and Derby havent seen it yet. It is still in the snow. Shall begin on it within 3 or 4 weeks strike the ledge in July. Guess it is good worth from $30 to $50 a foot in California.
Why didnt you send the Live Yankee deed-the very one I wanted? Have made no inquiries about it, much. Dont intend to until I get the deed. Send it along by mail d n the Express have to pay three times for all express matter; once in Carson and twice here. I dont expect to take the saddle-bags out of the express office. I paid twenty-five cts. for the Express deeds.
Man named Gebhart shot here yesterday while trying to defend a claim on Last Chance Hill. Expect he will die.
These mills here are not worth a d n-except Claytons and it is not in full working trim yet.
Send me $40 or $50by mail immediately.
The Red Bird is probably good cant work on the tunnel on account of snow. The Pugh I have thrown away shant re-locate it. It is nothing but bed-rock croppings too much work to find the ledge, if there is one. Shant record the Farnum until I know more about it perhaps not at all.
Governor under the snow.
Douglas and Red Bird are both recorded.
I have had opportunities to get into several ledges, but refused all but three expect to back out of two of them.
Stir yourself as much as possible, and lay up $100 or $15,000, subject to my call. I go to work to-morrow, with pick and shovel. Somethings got to come, by G, before I let go, here.
Col. Youngs says you must rent Kinkeads room by all means Government would rather pay $150 a month for your office than $75 for Gen. Norths. Says you are playing your hand very badly, for either the Governments good opinion or anybodys else, in keeping your office in a shanty. Says put Gov. Nye in your place and he would have a stylish office, and no objections would ever be made, either. When old Col. Youngs talks this way, I think it time to get a fine office. I wish you would take that office, and fit it up handsomely, so that I can omit telling people that by this time you are handsomely located, when I know it is no such thing.
I am living with Ratio Phillips. Send him one of those black portfolios by the stage, and put a couple of pen-holders and a dozen steel pens in it.
If you should have occasion to dispose of the long desk before I return, dont forget to break open the middle drawer and take out my things. Envelop my black cloth coat in a newspaper and hang it in the back room.
Dont buy anything while I am here but save up some money for me. Dont send any money home. I shall have your next quarters salary spent before you get it, I think. I mean to make or break here within the next two or three months.