Slack Letter 7

Letter From Houston Texas From Joseph’s Brother Robert N Slack March 11, 1849 To Mr. James B. Slack, Bardstown, Kentucky

“…Than will be between one and two thousand wagons with the same number of persons and three or four thousand horses and mules. We expect it will take us 15 weeks to reach the Pacific Coast.” Robert N. Slack March 11, 1849 Houston Texas

Dear Bro –

As I am about leaving here for the new and distant west, I feel it a duty which I owe you and others of my Kentuckians to appraise them of my route, prospects, interest view hi Ky. I left Wharton on the 8th with for this place for the purpose of furnishing myself such entirely as could not be obtained in my town.

I leave here on Tuesday next for my county. On the 20th of the month I leave there for San Antonio in route for California. This will be an immigration of two thousand inhabitants from this state to Cal the ensuing spring. We have a company of 12 or fifteen from my county numbering some of the worthiest, wealthiest and most reliable men in the county. We expect to rendevous at San Antonio. Then we meet officers and companies from San Anton. We travel with Major Gen. Morth’s division to the Passi dels Noston, a distance of 500 miles, north there hope to establish a military post. We will then take almost a due west course to the head of the Gila which empty’s into the over Colorado of Cal. thence to San Diego, thence to the “poldo diggendo.

Our company will be fitted out with pack mules,Wagons, provisions, arms, the civilians not confident that the route will admit of carriage travel further than the Passo. We will go prepared with pack mules in the event of our having to leave the cassiapes on the way. It is supposed by Col. Lach Hays (who was less a few days since) that the casasans leaving San Antonio will be on a larger and grander seale then any that has even traveled the western plains, riviling in grandeur and magnificance the cavalcades of the east. Than will be between one and two thousand wagons with the same number of persons and three or four thousand horses and mules. We expect it will take us 15 weeks to reach the Pacific Coast.

I will take with me a small stock of drugs clothing enough to serve me two years and a few books. The most of my books I shall be compelled to leave behind. I have three mules and my saddle horse. One of the mules I shall ride mostly either leading or allowing my horse to follow.

Take my horse to ride in emergencies as we may expect to encounter some trouble on the way – He’s one of the over See my Decan old mother and tell her though I write in a stylze of much trouble, not to fear for I know none even were blest with warmer friends than I have been. I may write her a few lines from San Antinio. R.N.S. Write to me and direct to San Francisco, California your letters will arrive by the time I get there. Tell my friends to write me there.

RN.S.