RICHARD McCORMICK PAGE

Secretarys' office - Prescott, Arizona - July 11 - 1864 -

My Dear Brainard I can't tell whether I have or have not replied to yours of Mch. 24 - At all events I can see I shall lose nothing by giving a few moments of leisure to addressing you at this time. I am curious to know - presuming Lincoln to be the Baltimore nominee - how you are going in the presidential campaign. Without seeing the ******* platforms or of course having the light with which you are favored, I am all for "Old Abe". He may have blundered, been tediously slow, and told vulgar stories, but he has been honest and faithful in his way, and if it is not the best way, it is I think the most hopeful for the country. Moreover I think much of the argument that to change pilots in this hour of the storm could be a dangerous experiment. How ever rough the weather the ship of state is thus far in safety and I have good hope of her preservation by the present management. Should Fremont get votes enough to beat the rail-spliter it will be but a natural termination of the manner or result of the manner, on which he has been used. As the path-finder of the way which led Father Abraham to the White House he would have had anything and everything he wanted, and not have been perpetually drubbed by the Blairs and such like fellows by whom the President has been constantly nailed to the wall. Away out here we shall escape the excitement of the campaign and perhaps be the better for it. I do not see that I can leave for the States before December. Our Legislature, to be chosen on the 10th inst. & to meet at this place on the 1st of September. It will be an original body I can assure you. We have a good many Secesh but they are very decent and orderly. If Grant is victorious at Richmond they will go under. We have thus far managed to keep all parties united. Our new town is progressing finely. You must credit the name and plan (which my brother can show you) to me. Also the picking out of the *** of organization and sale, which few know of, it being quite new, and by which some $20,000 will be returned to Uncle Sam, instead of $1.25 per acre. The *** is the one entitled "An act for increasing the Revenue by reservation and sale of town sites on public lands." approved March 3, 1863. There is no hum bug about the gold here - the only question agitating my mind is how much of it I shall get! I am hoping to have my full share, but the country is yet so new, inaccessible and underdeveloped that the future is much in the clouds. Re-reading "Boswell's ****" which is particularly palatable in the wilderness, I this morning hit upon that remarkable proposition that six pounds will fill your belly, shelter you from the weather, and even get you a strong lasting coat, supposing it to be made of good bulls' hide - Johnson should have lived here where six pounds will do nothing of the kind. Flour is selling at $50 - per hundred, and one must have a mine to meet the demands of his belly, not to speak of his back.

Yours to command RCMcCormick.

Territory of Arizona, Office of the Secretary, Ft Whipple April 1864

*** Brainard Your exc'y ****** Feb. came the other day after a passing of some six 888 weeks. I am always glad to hear from you and of our old friends and interests. Politics trouble me very little in this country. Fitting out Indian fighters has been my chief occupation for a **** ****. The Governors is constantly about his search for capital site, that most of his duties and responsibilities fall upon me. I am kept ***** also. If we ***** the Apaches we shall go ahead. Their presence is the chief draw back to the development of the country. If I escape their *** and have my wealth here I think I shall sell - I have learned to look out for the main chance and shall try to take care of myself financially as I have not done before. Glad to hear that the Repub. Union is on it's pins again. It ought to be a power in the coming campaign and after it, which will be better. As for working without ****** as in times past it is extremely foolish. Much pleased to hear of the new life of the Christian Assoc. and hope my circumstances will soon permit me to contribute to the proposed home.Good America and Young America can unite the work will soon be accomplished. The new house a fixed fact. Alas! for the Custom House developments. Very very disgraceful ar the all, and especially Palmer's doings. Who but Barney would have taken such a fellow in his confidence? Without the war spirit we should be terribly beaten in the coming presidential struggle. The mistakes in Republican *** have been many and inexcusable. Make my regards to all the boys, go to Gildersleeve and see some of our precious rock which I send him, and with continued affection, believe we

Yours from the wilderness

R C McCormick

Santa Fe, Nov. 23/1863 -

Dear Brainerd

I was ***** in not finding a letter from you at this place. Presume you had nothing to say. Here after until otherwise *** please direct to met at Fort Whipple, Arizona, via Santa Fe. *** letter sent by this mail to the Post will inform you of our condition, proposed journey in ****. We are all well and by this time well used to the plains and mountains. We were over seven weeks in reaching this point which is but a little more than half way to our destination. I have a copy of Sumners speech nicely printe by the Rep. Union. Suppose you are all lively over the result of the New York election. The Coppers must feel very bad. Seymours "friends" evidently "dont see" the propriety of their little outrages last summer. How looks the presidencxy? Here abouts the impression is very general that "Old Abe" is the coming man for '64 - Santa Fe is as ** *** as a place can be. But for the American redidents enterprise would be unknown. These latter have dried and mined as to excess, and we are beset by all sorts of people who mind to go with us, the popular idea being that all is gold in Arizona. We shall probably start an entirely new town for the capital, and for a shwile be wuite shut off from the outer world. We hope however for early mail and stage communication. Make my love to all the boys. I am too much **** to write to each. Time is what I want in the **** matter. It is a good thing in any case.

****** RCMcCormick