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Guide to the Thomas B. Eastland Papers, 1849
MS 19 (Vault)
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Title: Thomas B. Eastland Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1849
Collection number: MS 19 (Vault)
Creator:
Eastland, Thomas B., 1778-
Extent: 2 folders
Repository:
California Historical Society, North Baker Library
San Francisco, California 94105-4014
Language:
English.
Collection is open for research.
Copyright has not been assigned to The North Baker Research Library. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing
to the Library Director. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of The North Baker Research Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be
obtained by the reader.
[Identification of item], Thomas B. Eastland Papers. MS 19 (Vault), California Historical Society, North Baker Research Library.
The route followed by Eastland was through Texas and Mexico, but after 4 months enroute West Eastland wrote to his wife "...we
are still 170 miles from El Paso...gross ignorance or willful design has governed those who induced the government to make
a road this route...". On Sept. 11,1849 Eastland decided to strike out on his own--to continue to Chichuahua and there book
passage to San Francisco. He arrived in San Francisco aboard the steamer
Oregon on Dec. 1, 1848. By 1850 he and his son had formed Eastland and Son, a diversified business venture. Thomas Eastland returned
to his family in Nashville in 1853. In addition to his business venture with his son he had purchased mining claims in Chinese
Camp and Indian Gulch and lots for resale in the short-lived town of Ora in what was then Sutter Co., now Placer Co.
The diary and 13 letters concern Eastland's overland trip from Nashville, Tenn. to Mazatlan where he boarded the steamer
Oregon for the remainder of the trip to San Francisco.
Provides good descriptions of camping sites, availability of water, encounters with the Indians, and his eventual weariness
at the slow pace of the expedition. 57 separate camps were made, from which Army scouts made forays into the countryside.
After 97 days, still 170 miles from El Paso, Eastland decided to proceed independently with his son "Jo" and the slave Dow.
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Date: Washington, DC Feb. 25, 1849
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Title: To his son (probably Joseph): Concerns son's failure to make the Midshipman's list and his father's hope that the new Secretary of the Navy might offer a new chance; breaks news of his determination to go to the gold fields.
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Date: April 20, 1849
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Title: To his wife Josephine: suggests that her father should make a will giving her "in (her) own right, the negroes"; promises to send money as soon as possible.
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Date: New Orleans, La. May 1, 1849
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Title: To his wife Josephine: expects to reach San Antonio in time to meet "Jack" Hayes; son Jo is traveling with him.
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Date: New Orleans, La. May 1, 1849
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Title: To his wife: written same day as previous letter, requesting that mail be forwarded.
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Date: New Orleans, La. May 9, 1849
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Title: To his wife: Concerns financial arrangements; alluded to extravagant claims about gold mines.
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Date: Lavacca Bay, Texas May 17, 1849
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Title: To his wife: Aboard the steamer Fanny; describes cholera epidemic in San Antonio.
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Date: San Pedro River, Texas June 3, 1849
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Title: To his wife: describes the beginning of life in the woods; breaking mules etc.; engineers survey finds favorable conditions; some families traveling together; description of San Antonio; the slave Dow does cooking and chores; will be in San Francisco in Oct.; "...would be glorious to be first party in finding the precious stuff".
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Date: Rio Leano, Texas June 12, 1849
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Title: To his wife: At camp #1 for ten days thence to El Paso; is keeping a journal.
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Date: "California Spgs," Texas July 9, 1849
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Title: To his wife: intends to sell his wagon and use pack mules; Indians becoming bolder but no major trouble; describes prairie fire.
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Date: El Paso Del Norte, Mexico Sept. 11, 1849
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Title: To his wife:Irksome delays have tried his patience; camped at Coons Ranch; Apaches troublesome; Indian treaties discussed; Indian ambushes and hand-to-hand fights; El Paso and lives of the natives; tired of "experimental traveling."
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Date: Chichuahua, Mexico Sept. 30, 1849
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Title: To his wife: Enroute from Mazatlan via Durango; no gold on the Gila River route.
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Date: Chichuahua, Mexico Oct. 5, 1849
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Title: To his wife: Cholera epidemic; religious customs; march to "Sacramento" where Donophan defeated Chichuahuans; Governor Trias estate; mineral wealth; prepares to set out for Durango.
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Date: San Francisco, Ca. Dec. 31. 1949
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Title: To his wife: Describes arrival in San Francisco; purchases land on Feather River; reassures her that he will send money.
- "Battle of Sacramento" - Mexican War, 9/19, 9/22 diary entries
- Blacks in California - 1849 6/17 diary entry
- California - 1849
- Chichuahua, Mexico - 1849
- Chinese Camp, Tuolumne Co.
- Coons' Ranch
- Diaries
- Doniphan, Cl. Alex W.
- Feather River, Butte Co. -1849
- El Pase Del Norte, Mexico - description -1849
- Hayes, Col. "Jack"
- Indians - Apaches 9/11 letter
- Indians - treaties with U. S. Govt.
- Indians of the West - methods of ambush warfare
- Indian Gulch, Mariposa Co. -1849
- Millerites - religious sect 7/28 diary entry
- Mining Claims - 1849
- Oregon - steamer
- Oro, Ca. 1849
- Overland Journeys -1849
- San Francisco -description 1849
- Texas Rangers
- Trias, Angel -Governor of Mexico 1849
- Van Horne, Brevet Major Jefferson
- Yeatman, Capt. William