This is a letter written by Wm. C. McKinley, Company D. 1st. Bat. Mountainmen C.V.,
Fort Humboldt via Eureka to his friend Benoni Swearingen of Indian Town, north of Happy
Camp, Ca.

“Fort Humboldt, Dec. 23, 1863

Friend Ben:

I must suppose that by this time you have given up all idea of hearing from the boys who
left Indian Creek in October last; but the fact is that we have not had the chance of writing you
sooner. From that I have commenced, I hardly know what to say, unless that we all arrived here
in safety and good health which continues, with the exception of slight colds. We are regularly
installed as Privates in U.S.Army. we have good times here doing nothing but eating and
drilling, the latter of which we did not bargain for but of course have to go through. Lieut.
Herrick and family have arrived and taken up their residence here for the present. The Company
numbers so far 41 men, and we are daily expecting our Captain with additional recruits from
San Francisco.

As soon as he comes here, we expect to be sent to Fort Gaston, and from there into the
mountains and after that perhaps into hell. Jack Ince, George Long and Taylor spend their spare
time in gunning and fishing, ducks and fish being in abundance. Taylor greatly misses his rifle
and regrets not bringing it with him. The principle duty performed by us is ‘mounting Guard’
which we all have to stand once a week. Now I wish you to understand one thing and that is that
all the promises made to us before joining, have not been kept as a matter of course. Instead of
the Minie rifles, we have the old Yager, that same as old Bill has. They are not worth a damn.
The grub, such as it is, we draw plenty of, but somehow it never gets on the table, owing to
unknown circumstances. We can make a guess as to where it vanishes. At the table it is a regular grab
 game and then sometimes some of us get nothing; and if it was not for the game killed by
our crowd, some would damn near starve. The last squad of recruits from San Francisco brought up
some “hard cases”, must have their regular whiskey, and as a matter of course, money being
scarce, the clothing disappears mysteriously. But we all know that soldiers never steal, no, no,
damn a soldier who would steal. Sometime since, we had one as cook in the kitchen, who was
caught selling the company soap and candles for whiskey. He was put under arrest and made to
pack 25 pounds of bricks on his back for about 12 hours every day for the space of eight days.
Truly a delightful occupation. We have one of the same crowd in “solitary confinement” for five days
for being drunk and disorderly in Quarters. Such are some of the incidents in a soldier’s
life.

   You will perceive from all I have said, that we have been regularly sold, but we must grin
and bear it. For myself, I would sooner be on Indian Creek working two bits a day than be
where I am. You made a lucky escape in not coming and the boys all advise you to stay where
you are if you know when you are well off. Jack Ince wishes to know whether Mrs. Swearingen
got the hoop skirt he sent here. The boys all desire to be remembered to Capt. Thorp, Col Smith
and the Creek in general. Write soon and give us all the news on your Side of the Mountain.

   Tell Old Bill that I will soon write him. Send us some papers.

(signed) Yours Truly, Wm. C. McKinley”.