576

the business is well nigh
completed.

The terrible news comes
of the assassination of Prest.
Garfield. At Present we cannot
learn the truth of the affair
but hope it may not be
true. All, even the most
bitter Southerners, unite in
expressing the greatest
regret and sorrow, and
we are all [dumb?] in the
face of so great a [?].
We hope for the best
however.

Before noon today
we will be on our way
westward from here on a
long trip through New Mexico
and Arizona. Our direction
will be considerably north
of West – or about in the
direction of San Francisco.
Where you read in the
paper of the terrible [indian?]
[massacres] hereabout don't
be afraid for me, for
most of them are on the
line of the Mexican Central
R.R. south from here, and
were committed on
comparatively defenseless
parties. We are a large
party and well armed.
So have no fear for
me. I am all right
and no doubt will
continue to be so.

From the mess tent
comes the call to breakfast
– it is the signal that
demands dispatch and
the [habit?] of breaking
camp is at hand. I think