The Gold Rush Letters of E. Allen Grosh and Hosea B. Grosh
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The Gold Rush Letters of E. Allen Grosh and Hosea B. Grosh

Ronald M. James, Robert E. Stewart, Ronald M. James, Robert E. Stewart

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The Gold Rush Letters of E. Allen Grosh and Hosea B. Grosh

Ronald M. James, Robert E. Stewart, Ronald M. James, Robert E. Stewart

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When brothers Ethan and Hosea Grosh left Pennsylvania in 1849, they joined throngs of men from all over the world intent on finding a fortune in the California Gold Rush. Their search for wealth took them from San Francisco into the gold country and then over the Sierra into Nevada's Gold Canyon, where they placer-mined for gold and discovered a deposit of silver. The letters they sent back to their family offer vivid commentaries on the turbulent western frontier, the diverse society of the Gold Rush camps, and the heartbreaking labor and frustration of mining. Their lively descriptions of Gold Canyon provide one of the earliest accounts of life in what would soon become the fabulously wealthy Comstock Mining District.The Groshes' letters are rich in color and important historical details. Generously annotated and with an introduction that provides a context for the brothers' career and the setting in which they tried to make their fortune, these documents powerfully depict the often harsh realities of Gold Rush life and society.

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Year
2012
ISBN
9780874178920
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1849
“Off for California”
Reading, February 27, 1848
Yesterday morning a great crowd of our citizens assembled at the Reading Depot to witness the departure for the land of promise, of as noble looking band of young men as can be found anywhere. They were all in good spirits, and left with the full determination to carry out the intention of the “Reading California Association” to the letter. They will sail from Philadelphia today or tomorrow, on board the schooner Newton, Capt. West, for Tampico, from there go to Mazatlan or San Blas on mules, where they will again embark on a vessel and sail to San Francisco. The following is a list of their names: Allen Grosh, Hosea Grosh, Thomas Taylor, Charles Taylor, Andrew Taylor, Uriah Green, Henry Kerper, John Hahs, Samuel Klapp, Simon Seyfert, Peter Rapp, Dr. W. J. Martin, Reuben Axe, William Zerbe, William Thos. Abbott, Robert Farrelly, Noland Witman, and Johnston Flack.1 The vessel is equipped with everything necessary for their accommodation, and the company with an ample stock of implements, provisions, clothing, &c.
—Reprinted from Lancaster Intelligencer (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) as it appeared in the Berks County Republican, March 6, 1849
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Based on handwriting it appears this letter is from Allen Grosh:
February 27, 1849
American House, Philadelphia
Dear Father,
Yours enclosing Frank’s letter, your correspondence, etc., was duly received and we are very thankful for them. Frank is quite touched with the gold fever . . . and Bayard too! Well, if the country is what it is represented, we will use our utmost endeavors to induce them to emigrate.
Mother has not yet arrived might it [be] possible that the telegraph dispatch would have miscarried? She may come in tonight. If so, we will yet get to see her—which heavens grant. We sail tomorrow morning, and should we not get to see her, I know not what to do.
Aaron Ritter sent word by Mr. Tyson to have our miniatures taken here before we left. But we all were kept so busy that not a moment was to be lost and it was not until this evening that we had leisure to try—we did try however about 4 p.m. today but not succeed. If you can have our images taken off of our other pictures it will do as well.
We sail tomorrow morning, and would have done so this afternoon had not the winds and ice been too strong. We are in excellent spirits—anxious to go. We are very well provided with . . . Indian rubber blankets, tents, caps, bags—good arms, and mining tools. All have worked hard, and the Board of Directors deserve great credit for their activity and kindness.
I have seen most of the friends and they all send love. Brother Thomas is half inclined to the “Gold Fever.” He says that were he young he’d go without hesitation.
Tell the girls that the more we think of it the greater is our gratitude for the completeness of our outfit at their hands.
Could we but see mother before we leave we would be satisfied. Heavens grant that we may. We will then be ready to go.
Give love to all.
Affectionately, your sons,
Hosea and Allen
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Letter from Allen Grosh:
March 1, 1849 122
Schooner Newton, Delaware River
Dear Father,
We are on our way to the “land of promise” having left yesterday at 2 p.m. Hosea and I detained the vessel some two hours and would have left us, had not Messrs. Boas, Green, Salliday, Tyson, and I guess all the rest from Reading persisted in not starting until we were on board. Of course we would not have been left behind but we would have been put to the trouble of going down to Trenton. Well, thanks to them all—we’ll try and return the favor at the earliest opportunity.
In relation to U. Green I shall do as you request—had in fact made up my mind to try before we left Reading. Have no fear of Hosea and myself on the score of Temperance. There is a small keg of wine bitters on board that is all the intoxicating drink we have and I do not think much harm . . . from it . . . it is so confounded . . . bitter we are very sparing in its use.
Father, I have great confidence in our captain—and the more I see of him the more I like him—he is prudent, calm, and modest—All the men, too, during our stay in Philadelphia and so far on board have behaved themselves very well.
Our officers were selected in Philadelphia—they are as follows:
T. B. Taylor, Captain
Andrew Taylor, Treasurer
E. A. Grosh, Secretary
U. Greene, Director
Dr. Martin, Director
Love to all. Goodbye—
Affectionately and Truly,
E. A. Grosh
U. G. [Uriah Greene] sends love—
I may possibly write again before leaving the capes.3
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Letter from Allen Grosh:
March 2, 1849
Off the Cape
Dear Father,
“The brave sky bending o’er us
And the wild, wild, sea before us . . .”
Oh it is a glorious sight! Yes, “The sea, the sea! the open sea!”4 How much have we lost by not seeing it before! Our . . . is leaving everything behind us and we just passed the Levant which left for Cape Pleasant . . . the day before we did.5
We are all in excellent spirits and bid adieu to land with high hearts and high hopes. Tell the girls that they have fitted us out about as well as anyone in the party.
Farewell. Love to all. Your son,
Allen
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Letter from Allen Grosh:
April 9, 1849
Tampico, Mexico
Dear Father,
We at last have everything packed up and will start tomorrow morning early for Mazatlan via San Luis Potosi, thankful that we escape the horror of fleas and mosquitoes, which have nearly eaten us up alive in this otherwise beautiful and delightful little city. Our delay has been owing to the difficulty in procuring horses, Captain West’s letter to his agent here never having been received.
The news we receive here from Mazatlan concerning transportation up the Pacific coast, is anything but favorable, and it is highly probable that we will make the journey all the way by land, in which case it would have been about as well to have gone by the way of Cape Horn. However, we are here and if it takes six months to reach the Sacramento [River], it must. We do not want of care on the part of Meyer, Dicke and West.6 They have done everything that could be asked of them.
Our first three days march will be a hard one—hot and poor water—but after that, we expect a cooler climate and no inconvenience from bad or short water. Our horses are good, and the train of mules is every way in fitting condition. Should we receive information at Durango of difficulty in engaging passage at Mazatlan, I should not be surprised if we struck on to the old military road a little this side of Durango and proceeded direct for the head waters of the San Joaquin. I will probably have an opportunity of writing from that place and if so will let you know.
Our stay in this place, take it all in all, has been a very pleasant one.
Captain West and several members of the expedition, were here during the war and are extensively and favorably knowing; and this has given us advantages over almost any other party that has or will pass this way. The party which came by the Thomas Walter 7 from Philadelphia, about a month before we did, were fleeced pretty handsomely, and had not much to thank the Tampicoans for.8 They were coaxed into betting on the popular game of Monte, and were then fined under a law which forbids foreigners to gamble!—and in a number of ways were annoyed in like manners.
We were fortunate in witnessing the Catholic ceremonials closing Lent, as we call it in the States. Thursday and Friday were observed with much more rigidity . . . in fact on Friday all . . . even the billiard rooms were closed. About 7 pm a procession was formed in the Central plaza, consisting of the military, priests, and all the pretty girls in town, and crowds of citizens, bearing wax tapers, tallow candles, and everything else, combustible, and marched through the town, to the solemn sounds of funeral marches and chants. It was very impressive, and imposing. But it seemed to me, that the fairer portion of the procession were more occupied with thoughts of the living than of the dead—and the Americans were in for a full share of bright glances and sweet smiles, from the sparkling eyes, and pouting lips. On the return of the procession to the church, I was unfortunate in securing a place—but with a little exertion, . . . myself secured a place at the doorway, where if we could not see, we could hear. The chanting by the priests was accompanied by the organ, which was excellently played—and the whole broke up to the many tones of lively and familiar airs performed as a voluntary on the organ. And I must say, that I was better pleased to hear old familiar waltzes and dances, performed as they were, by a willing hand, than all else beside. The city remained wrapped in the gloom of mourning until Saturday at 10 o’clock, when the cannons were fired, . . . and gunpowder burnt, and on every side nothing was to be heard but the cracking of squibs and the hissing of rockets. One, and the most stirring feature of this fast, is the hanging of “Judas” up in the street. On Saturday morning, within sight of our quarters we had some half dozen of these caricatures, hanging about. They are effigies, representing any person you may wish to caricature, hanging by the neck and filled with powder and squibs. At 10 o’clock a.m., on the ringing of the cathedral bells, they are fired, and amid the confusion and noise thus created, another class of “Judases” come into the field. These are effigies mounted on “Jacks”, (a small Donkey about the size of large dogs, and . . .). These are let loose and the boys, and the “Judas” and Jack are given over to their tender mercies; and stones, sticks and every sort of missile are hurled at the poor Jack and his load, until the effigy is either torn off, or the animal escapes to the open country. Among the latter class was one taking us off. And to their credit be it said, many of the Mexicans turned aside from it as if ashamed of the affair. The boys generally took it in good patience and laughed at it heartily. But when it came down street toward our quarters one of us pushed on ahead, determined it should not pass our door. They did not come within three squares of us either through shame or lack of courage. Saturday night, however, they received a compliment which fully squared accounts. A party of odd fellows, sauntering through the street about 11 o’clock, having been driven from their beds and all hopes of sleep, were attracted by music to the corner opposite General Urrea’s house. The Old General perceiving them then came and personally invited them up. It was a musical party which had assembled there; and there the boys went, with nothing on but their pants, boots, and red shirts. The General introduced them, complimented them, and toasted them. The party sung for them, and our boys sung for the party; and nothing would suit, but that everyone must make a night of it—and a night they did make of it. They kept the whole town awake until broad daylight, and the Old General proved himself to be as big a rowdy as the best of them! General Urrea (well known to our army from his success and skill during the late war) commands this division of the Mexican army in the absence of General la Vega.9
Yesterday forenoon I had the first good sleep since we arrived in Tampico, and much I needed it; for I was about worn out. You can have no idea of the swarms of mosquitoes and fleas with which we are infested. It is perfectly impossible to think of sleep at night is almost impossible . . . of having taken advantage of this last 3 or 4 days in writing—for I was too much worn out, and could not content myself a moment with paper and ink, though I spoiled half-a-dozen sheets in attempting it. I am now writing from the top of an old rickety flour barrel, which shakes and jars at every step of those around engaged in packing up for tomorrow’s journey. I will not read it over, for fear I may become ashamed to send it, and have not time to write another.
Hosea joins in love to all.
Affectionately your son,
E. A. Grosh.
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Letter from Hosea Grosh:
June 13, 1849
Tepic, Mexico
Dear Father,
We have now come to this place which is some 20 leagues10 from San Blas inland; it is the place where a lot of business of San Blas is done. In coming thus far I flatter myself that I have seen considerable of the Elephant. We will here remain a few days until we can make arrangements for going up . . . coast on sailing vessel or steamer for San Francisco.
We left Tampico on the 10th of April about 10 o’clock warned in advance our journey through a country reported to be very barren in water some days we would be obliged to encamp without water, this last proved groundless for we always had water though sometimes very bad. Our first evening was a sudden introduction to the life that we were to lead while on the journey. It was late in the afternoon when we arrived at our stopping place, Altamira, and by the time cooking was commenced, it was dark; All was confusion and botheration, we cooked our jerked beef as well as we were able, and ate our ship biscuit with it and our coffee as well as we were able in the dark without any light but our fire; the chief of our mess was sick . . . The next morning we were roused and ate jerked beef with ship biscuit and coffee. The main body got off about 6 o’clock, the rear guard of which Allen and myself formed part a little after 7. So now we are under way. I will not fill my letter journal fashion for I would fill my sheet before I was half through if I should put all I have noted on the road and make my letter less interesting than to do otherwise. I will now stop for tonight, as it is late and I am tired with looking over the treasury accounts, (for I was elected Treasurer at San Luis Potosi) and finish in the morning.
14th. To follow the mules all of one day is a lesson of patience that is not to be met with elsewhere one of the mules lies down another slips his load another takes his course through the chaparral the muleteer lifts him up reloads or drives him . . . without scarcely a murmur or any exhalation of breath. During the first few days we had several stampedes. Fortunately no one was severely hurt. It was always an exciting time when McDowel, a splendid horseman and all the Mexicans started off in full chase, always capturing the runaway. A full description of one day will give you some idea of the rest until we came to San Luis Potosi. We started early sometimes as early as 3 o’clock after a little cold breakfast if anything remained from supper if not with a cup of coffee alone, to avoid as much as possible the heat of the day, generally arrive about 10 or 11 o’clock, then to look for a place to cook while sheltered from the sun, then the cooking, then to lunching as the ship biscuits lasted we had bread but it was gone before we had been out a great while and then we had to boil mush which added much to our labor.
Tuesday April 17. There being a river to ford we did not intend to start till daylight but were delayed by the loss of some horses until past 9 o’clock. We left West with the sick while we went on. Just before we came to the river we came to a fine grove of trees which were the first we had seen since we came to Mexico that gave a good shade, shortly we crossed a river, the Tamesí11 and stopped at a place called Le Monde and waited for further orders from rear guard and baggage. News shortly after arrived that the baggage had by another road passed us. Orders were immediately given that we saddle up. We started off in the hot sun and rode about four miles when I discovered that I had forgotten my ammunition bag and powder flask, contrary to the advice of all I rode back at full speed and fortunately found them where I had left them. Now I had nothing to do but catch up to the party which was no small job. I started as fast as my horse could carry me and after getting once or twice on the wrong road for a short distance and cutting across to the right one and galloping and trotting for about 8 miles I succeeded in coming up with one of the men whose horse had given out and one of our Mexicans when I felt relieved as I was certain to keep the right road and catch up to the party however late. We came to the place where we expected to find the party, . . . part way up the mountain the horses led by the Mexican and our man refused to go so I went on to come up to the party and send them back help. When at the top of the mountain I found two roads and took the one to the right after following it for about 3 miles the road became very i...

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