The officials in Washington then concluded to Establish a Fort some 200 miles above Fort Yuma, Col. Huffman was ordered out to go and establish Fort Mohave [sic] he went out in the later part of 1858 with two companies of Draggoons [sic] arrived at the Colorado River and found there was a large force of hostile Indians awaiting him in the section of country that the Oatman girls were held in captivity so long by the Indians.

The Indians attacked Col. Huffman and he with his troops retreated fifty miles the 1st day right here I will state to carry out the contract with the Government Lieutenent E.F. Beale was to start from Fort Smith Arkansas late in 1858 with a party of 40 men with a mule train and proceed westward. Samuel A. Bishop was to start from Fort Tejon in California with 42 men six mule trains and ten pack camels and several riding camels he to proceed eastward with the intention of meeting Beale in or about Albuquerce [sic] New Mexico.

Just as S.A. Bishop was leaving Fort Tejon in the month of Jan. 1859 (date forgotten) Col. Huffman arrived and reported the Indians very hostile and insisted that he Bishop could not pass through Arizona with so small a force but he (Bishop) was determined to meet his partner Beale at all hazzards [sic] so he proceeded on his way by the way of Los Angeles and San Bernadino there being no settlers at that time between San Bernadino and Albuquerke [sic] a distance of 7 or 800 miles except one on the Mohave [sic] River some 50 miles east of San Bernadino.

After leaving San Bernadino we travelled east about 250 miles before we see any sign of Indians. The first signs was a mark drawn across the trail in the sand with 42 figures on our side representing our number of men with arrows stuck in each figure indicating what they intended to do, on their side of the line there was hundreds of straight marks indicating their number of warriors. We paid no attention to it except to keep out a strong guard day and night so as not to be ambushed or surprised.

We proceed 50 miles further east and arrived at Beaver Lake about 2 or 3 miles from the Colorado River late in the afternoon, on approaching the lake we see 5 or 600 Indians in a body standing on the bank of the lake. We marched down within about 100 yards of them and halted made signs for the chief to come over to meet us. Just as we halted hundreds of red divils [sic] sprang up from behind the sage brush on all sides of us they immediately commenced to string their bows and we got ready to give them such a fight as they had never seen. When they found us so determined they concluded to let us camp on the banks of the lake no doubt but they was waiting for a better chance as every move of theirs afterwards proved. The chief made his warriors move off away from the lake and we camped our wagons in a row about 10 yards from the lake and immediately went to digging a trench around our camp. We did not allow them inside of the trench after that as we had discovered that they all had their bows and arrows and war clubs concealed under their blankets. We kept out a strong guard that night and the next morning we moved down to the river we camped as far from the brush as we could out on a sand bar. We had a canoe along two of the men took the canoe and crossed the river towed a rope across and tied it to a tree on the oposite [sic] side and came back and we took our wagon beds off they having been made tight on purpose to be used in crossing the river we lashed them together and loaded our provisions and tools on them and was in the act of crossing when we discovered hundreds of Indians crossing with their weapons tied on their heads and at the same time the Indians commenced to threaten to open the fight with us.

We held a consultation and decided it would be disasterous to the party to attempt to cross without assistance knowing that Col. Huffman had been ordered out with eight companys [sic] of Infantry to establish the Fort that he had failed to establish when on the river earlier. We concluded to retreat back where we could get feed for our mules and camels. Two of our men crossed over the river to untie the rope and as the untied it hundreds of arrows was fired at them. The Indians then commenced firing their arrows at us from the brush but as we were some distance out on a sand bar they did no damage except to shoot me in the leg which was the 1st person wounded a little before dark that evening a large party of warriors on the oposite [sic] side of the river waived [sic] the scalps of the women they had massacred the year before over their heads that was more than we could stand so we opened the fight right there killed two or three was not positive which number.

That night they built a fire oposite [sic] our camp on the east side of the Colorado River where Fort Mohave [sic] no [sic] stands they burned the dead in full view of us and they danced and howled around them all night on the following morning we hitched up before daylight and retreated back just before we reached our old camp on the lake we were attacked by from twelve to 1500 Indians we fought them back until we could camp where we had camped before.

They surrounded us and kept us there for 5 days and nights but by that time we learned them that it was not healthy for Indians to show themselves in that immediate vicinity many of them have been good Indians ever since.

We then retreated back to Piute [sic] Creek a distance of 25 miles where we could get feed for our animals, there we remained for several weeks waiting for Col. Huffman to arrive to help us cross the river but his actions were so slow we got Impatient and some of our party concluded Cal. was good enough for them. Bishop learned there was considerable dissatisfaction among the men and a disposition to return to Cal. so he steped [sic] out and asked all that was willing to to stand by him to step out and signalize [sic] their willingness to stay with him through thick and thin scalp or no scalp. Nearly one half of the men steped [sic] out which gave him much pleasure to think he would not have to abandon the trip, he then made the men that wanted to return to Cal a proposition that if they would take the mules and wagons back to Cal he and his party would take the camels and a few saddle mules and leave under cover of darkness while they remaned [sic] in camp, on the following evening we packed the camels just after dark and struck out again for the Colorado River aiming to strike the river 15 or 20 miles above where Fort Mohave [sic] no [sic] stands and where we 1st tried to cross we traveled all night arriving at the river a little before day.

Bill Willowby and myself swam the river on the 25 or 26 day of Feb. 59 (not postive about the day) and carried a rope over and tied it to a snag in the sand bar on the east side of the river others of the party constructed a raft and immediately crossed over with all of the provisions and then swam the camels and mules over before the Indians discovered we were on the river.

We camped on the east bank of the river that day then started east not knowing where we would meet Beale. Traveled two days over a barren sterile country without water on the 2nd day late in the evening we discovered a fine spring at the foot of a mountain. Indians were camped there there but left as we approached. That night the Indians attempted to surprise us but we had a strong guard out and surprised them instead. We then traveled easterly about 300 miles without further trouble from Indians.

Beale with his party traveled west until they reached the east side of the San Francisco Mountains and then camped to wait for us not knowing what had caused the delay as he expected us to meet him a long way further east. When we arrived at their camp there was great rejoicing by both parties. Delaware Dick and Little Axe, a Shawnee, two Indian hunters and guides with Beales [sic] party had an abundance of Bear meat Venison and wild Turkeys in camp when we arrived in camp. We had great feasting for several days. While in camp at the San Francisco Mountains Kit Carson the great scout and Indian fighter came into camp, he (Carson) was then living in Taus [sic] New Mexico. We all had the pleasure of making his acquaintance, among our party there was [sic] several old Texas Rangers who knew him before.

We then in company with Beale's party started west again doing a little work on the road. When we got within about 50 miles of the Colorado River we camped early in the day to recruit our stock before crossing a wide plain. This was Thursday April 28th 1859. The herders had the mules out grazing some distance from the camp. The Tonto Apache Indians actacked [sic] the herders killed one mule caught the laziest mule in the band and got away with him stampeded the rest we immediately started in pursuit of the Indians, had a fight with them at the spring where we had last had trouble as we were going east. When we arrived in camp that evening Bishop and Beale told us that if we would conceal ourselves in the brush and behind the rocks and lay in wait until the Indians came to eat the mule which they thought they would do and get further revenge. They would give us a big blow out when we arrived in Los Angeles in the fall, eleven of us did so concealed our selves after dark on both sides of the gulch and then the train moved camp went out on the plain and camped to await our arrival. We lay all night waiting for the Indians to come about sunrise the next morning April 29. The Indians made their appearance on the hills above us we discovered them and lay quiet they not seeing anyone and thinking everything was all right came down the gulch in single file when they got right between us we opened fire and fairly riddled them we killed three and wounded many more arrows were flying fast and other Indians attracted to the spot by the firing caused us to think the best thing we could do was to get out of that gulch and save our hair, before leaving Ike Renfro a dare devil of a Texas Ranger lifted the scalp of one that we killed and made his escape with it, on our arrival at camp Bishop and Beale were dilighted [sic] with what had been done and said we should shurely [sic] have a big blow out in Los Angeles when we got in, in the fall. That was the last fight we had with the Indians while the party was together.

We then went on down to the Colorado River on arrival there we found the Troops under Col. Huffman was [sic] there and had made a treaty with the Indians had given them many Thousand dollars worth of blankets and had established Fort Mohave, he Col. Huffman had left there with part of his troops and had left Major L.A. Armistead in command of the new Fort, after recruiting our animals awhile we concluded to go east as far as the San Francisco Mountains again and put in the summer, and then in the fall to return to Cal, after getting east of the Colorado Mountains about 35 miles we concluded to leave all extra wagons not needed to haul tools and provisions and everything not needed there east of the mountains thinking the Indians would remain peaceable.

"L.A. Spitzer 1859" Rock carving found in Arizona, between Oatman and Kingman. Photo courtesy of John Marnell.

Ike Renfro, Tom Goshorn, and myself volunteered to remain with them and guard them, until the train returned in the fall on or about the 8th day of August we see [sic] signal smoke raising [sic] all over the country and knowing the habits of the Indians we concluded something unusual was going on, luckily we had built a small stone fort on the point of a ridge at the foot of which there was water, on the next day quite a body of Indians wanted to enter our camp but not liking the way they acted we kept them all out we offered to let one or two in but that did not suit them so we kept them all out, that enraged them and they showed fight from that time on about 2-1/2 month [sic] we were surrounded but held out until Major Armistead learned through a friendly Indian that we was [sic] surrounded and he then sent out Soldiers to take us to the Fort. We refused to go unless we could take everything to the fort as we then expected our train back in a few weeks.

The next night the Soldiers went back to the fort and reported that we refused to leave unless we could take everything to the fort he then sent out mules and teamsters and an escort of Soldiers to take us down. The night after we arrived at the Fort the Indians attempted to kill the sentinels [sic] posted around the Fort with the intuition of attacking the Soldiers while asleep but luckily the Sentinel [sic] discovered them and killed several of them and allarmed [sic] the Soldiers. Major Armistead with his troops was on the ground as soon as a fire co. could get out, and prevented a surprise. A short time after that Armistead planned an expedition down the river to where the main body of Indians were camped opened a fight with them early in the morning and killed some 60 or seventy of them and they have ever since been peaceable and good Indians, shortly after that our train returned and we then returned to Cal. without ever having lost a man perhaps the most successful party that ever attempted such an undertaking.

Note on our arrival in Los Angeles we had our blowout which was a fatal one for some as some that was in the habit of drinking got full and was robbed in the streets of Los Angeles, before morning.

(Note) I well remember when I went from the Kern River mines to Fort Tejon to see Mr. Bishop and ask to be employed to accompany him on the expedition he looked at me and said young man I want men not boys, men of experience and men who are not affraid [sic] to risk their lives. I offered my services with the understanding that if I did not prove myself a man before the summer was out he was not to pay me a cent when we returned to Cal in the fall, we were paid off in Los Angeles and I receiveds [sic] as much as any man in the entire outfit, as my dear departed friend had concluded I was worthy of him.)

(Note) Major Armistead was afterwards Gen. Armistead of the Confederate Army and was a brave officer and beloved by his soldiers.)

(Note) Samuel A. Bishop was perfectly fearless in time of danger and would lay in the trenches when fighting indians and tell a good joke to keep up the courage of his men, who all loved him, for his geniel [sic] qualities. Note give names append names

S.A. Bishop
Bob Wilson
Fred Kerlin
Jas Chambers
Mat Stewart
Tip Stewart
Mr. Clapp
" Hudson
" Pierce
Martin Van Ness
Sam Young
Wm Willowby
Mr. Norton
Hi Jolly a Turk
George " Greek
Georgini " "
Gabrial a Chochilla Indian
Ike Renfrow
Tom Goshorn
Jim Givens
Dad Rhimes

George Stammerjohan and myself, a couple of California historians of the 1850 era, came across the Spitzer letter on the net. It made for interesting reading. Suffice to say, however, it would appear that there is lots of mistakes in the piece. We suspect that he may have worked for Bishop, was aware of the expedition, but was not a part of the Bishop/Beale trek. We should be happy to provide specifics.

Will Gorenfeld

-----[3/7/98]
Nick--

As a student of white/Indian relations of the 1850's, I was quite pleased to find Louis Spitzer's piece on your site. The first thing that I noticed was that his accounts of Indian battles are greatly exaggerated. There were indeed some battles at the time and near the route of the Bishop expedition, but he simply considerable liberities with the facts. Or as Mark Twain wrote, he always told the truth, but mainly.

I showed the letter to Geroge Stammerjohan, who has recently retired as the chief historian for the state department of parks. George has studied this stuff for over forty years. He noted that there were no ridden camels in the Bishop expedition--the ten camels with the party hauled forage for the horses and mules. These camels did not cross the Colorado River.

Lt.Col. Hoffman did not return to Ft Tejon after the fight--rather he returned to San Francisco, army hq., to organize an expedition back to the Mojave. Stammerjohan contends that the Spitzer's distances are garbled: e.g., Beaver Lake is about a mile east of the Colorado. He contends that there are no army records of a party sent to rescue Beale's party. He found it quite unusual that Mssrs. Armistead, Beale and Bishop would confer with a kid/laborer. By the way, Lo Armistead was known as a strick task-master and, as such, was not especially loved by the men in the ranks. They couldn't wait for him to go east--which he did a few months afterwards..

Spitzer fails to mention some rather significant events: gold strikes in the area and miners on the trail; Bishop's famed camel charge (near Kingman) against the Mojaves; Beale's 25 camels; and the theft of food from Beale's desert cache and the hunger that was visited upon the expedition due to the destruction of the food cache.

Our suspicion is that Spitzer may have worked for Bishop and had heard about the expedition from the old-timers who were there. He also may have read Bishop's account of the trek that was written in the San Jose Mercury. On the positive side, Spitzer's listing of participants appears to be quite accurate. Were these taken from the news study? Or was he there and just a very confused old codger? That's what drives historians nuts. Please feel free to let us know if you wish further specifics.

Will Gorenfeld
Historical Fort Tejon Foundation

-----[10/27/99]
Nick,

It was with interest that I read the letter of Spitzer. Spurred on by comments of Gorenfeld/Stammerjohan I did a little more researching to try to understand their reluctance to accept this letter as "authentic", labeling Spitzer as perhaps working for S.A. Bishop and not really there.

I have a couple of comments in this regard. As Gorenfeld did first, I will question a couple of items.

First and foremost is that the account of Bishop's arrival at Breckinridge (or Bear) Springs, near the San Francisco mountains, which stated that Bishop arrived accompanied by 20 men. (Journal of William Floyd). There was another account that Bishop left the Colorado river with himself and 20 additional men. This was in a letter printed in the "Los Angeles Southern Vineyard," 19 April 1859. In fact, in the Spitzer letter he accounts for 20 men, plus Bishop, and his name is not listed. Any ideas on this possible discrepancy?

Also Spitzer mentions Ike Renfro without any mention of the fact that Renfro and another man were sent to find Hoffman and the army while the Bishop party was at Pah-Ute Creek. Also it seems that he might have mentioned that Renfro shot himself and had to stay with the Hoffman party. His name should not be on the list of those that went on to meet Beale. [Note: See manuscript text. (then hit "Back".)]

Spitzer later mentions Renfro apparently at Fort Mohave. This would seem to me to be interesting material for Spitzer not to comment on. Could Spitzer have been one of the fellows Bishop left behind at Pah-Ute creek to watch over the buried food cache? And later met Bishop and Beale at the Colorado river? [Note: See manuscript text. (then hit "Back".)]

I agree with those guys that it was a little surprising that Spitzer made no mention of the cache being stolen or pilfered..

Now, on the other side, it is apparent that Gorenfeld and Stammerjohan did not consult all available information and sources when they questioned Spitzer's participation in Bishop's party. Spitzer is named at least once, by W.W. Hudson in a letter printed in the Los Angeles Southern Vineyard on 3 May 1859. Hudson recounts one of the brief battles with the Mohaves and states that Spitzer was hit in the leg by an arrow. (see: Fort Pah-Ute, California; Casebier; 1974, pp.115).

So I agree that Spitzer was along on the expedition and am interested in learning more about him. I think it is really great that these old documents turn up every once in awhile. You have a treasure. I would appreciate any comments or other information you may have developed on this wonderful piece of our heritage here in the southwest.

Sincerely,

John Marnell
marnell@ctaz.com

-----[10/28/99]
Thanks for the page address and the further background on Spitzer. I worried that my response contained a bit of negative remarks regarding accuracy. After I sent it I hoped that you wouldn't take it that I was challenging the letter's authenticity.

I am just a late comer to the history of this area and sometimes think I know more than I actually do.

In your earlier reply you mentioned you may be posting photos. I'll check back from time to time.

I don't know how much you would like to follow-up regarding this trek of Spitzer's but I would like to forward Spitzer's letter and the further background on Spitzer to a friend. He is the fellow who wrote the book I referred to in last night's email, Dennis G. Casebier.

Casebier is a very good friend and has amassed military records, photographs, newspaper microfilm, and much much more regarding the Desert West. In addition, he has published a number of books on the history of the area, titles including "Fort Pah-Ute", "The Mojave Road" and books regarding the history of other military posts that had been established in the 1860s in the area.

Dennis Casebier is regarded as "the" historian of the area. Several years ago he and others established the "Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association" to preserve and to further interest in this part of the desert. In this regard he and the Association have gathered additional photographs (now estimated at over 30,000), a 6000 volume library, over 600 interviews of old timers from the area plus many other items of interest. All this is at a little know place, Goffs, California. Incidentally Goffs is about 40 miles from the site of Beaver lake, where Spitzer was wounded.

You can check some of this out on the Association's web page at www.mdhca.org

I have a bit of extra interest in the place as I volunteer many hours throughout the year in support of the organization. After I forward Spitzer's letter and related info, I would hope that Dennis Casebier may be in contact with you.

Sincerely, John Marnell

-----[10/30/99]
I've been doing a little more research based on information Dennis Casebier provided. As a result I went to a site this morning and observed two sets of inscriptions probably made by Lewis Spitzer. Both are on a rock wall, alongside of a wash, about 300 feet north of U.S. Route 66. The site, if you have a map, is in the low hills just west of the Sacramento Valley between Kingman and Oatman, Arizona. This would be 20 or so miles east of the Colorado river.

One is the initials L A S, the second is L A. Spitzer, Va, 1859.

This spot corresponds with Spitzer's letter and information from the journal of Beale.

I took a couple of photographs I could forward if they turn out. There have been other photos made of the site and I am trying to locate them. There was also a newspaper story of the region published 10 or so years ago, mentioning Spitzer. Trying to get that too.

Best regards, John Marnell.

-----[10/31/99]
Please feel free to post anything I provide.

I will send more as I get it. The finding of the initials and name location corresponds roughly with the entry on page 4 where Spitzer mentions going 35 miles east of the Colorado, building a small stone fort on the point of a ridge with water at the foot.

Have you ever made a xerox copy of the actual letter? I'd sure like to have one.

I am intending on placing a copy of the letter, plus supporting documents, in the Mohave Museum of History and Arts if it is ok with you. Please let me know.

Their web site is: www.ctaz.com/~mocohist/museum/

John Marnell.

-----[11/4/99]
Nick, I am sending a package containing several items.

First is a Xerox copy of two photographs. The top photo, when held in the correct light will show the name L.A. Spitzer, under the name is the date 1859 (the 9 is not very clear, even in person.)

The lower photo is a more distant shot of the same rock.

Second is an excerpt from the book, FORT PAH-UTE, CALIFORNIA, with a copy of the text of a newspaper story which contains Lewis Spitzer's name.

Third is a newspaper article from 8 October 1990 which also contains Spitzer's name. The accompanying photo is of a different rock, same location, which contains the letters L.A.S. Va. The Xerox copy hardly shows the letters, but in person they are quite clear, hard to get into a position to take a photo though.

Hope you enjoy these.

Best regards, John Marnell

-----[Nov 12, 1999]
Enclosed is a picture of L.A. Spitzer's name. Not the best but still trying. A friend said he can make black and white from a color negative and often it turns out with better contrast. Trying that next week.

I believe Will Gorenfeld is incorrect in the statement "that there were no ridden camels in the Bishop expedition - the ten camels with the party hauled forage for the horses and mules. These camels did not cross the Colorado River." Perhaps there is a distinction between "ridden" and "non-ridden" types of camels but from Beale's journal it is obvious that Bishop was riding one of the camels when they met Breckinridge Spring.

In Lt. Beale's journal of the west bound expedition, Beale himself states (April 18, 1859), "I heard exclamations of surprise from the men, and looking down the valley saw two men approaching on dromedaries; I recognized at once the white Egyptian dromedary, my old friend of last year; as they came nearer I saw that one of the men was S.A. Bishop, esq., and the other Ali Hadji…"

The journal of John Udell says, "...Mr. Beale's partner from California; ... had brought with him provisions and about 40 men [20 actually] and Mr. Beale's camels..."

Best regards, John Marnell

It very soon became evident that the camel experiment would not be a success. The American teamster could not be converted into an Arabian camel driver. From the very first meeting there was a mutual antipathy between the American mule whacker and the beast of the prophet. The teamsters when transformed into camel drivers deserted and the troopers refused to have anything too do with the misshapen beasts. So because there was no one to load and navigate these ships of the desert their voyages became less and less frequent, until finally they ceased altogether; and these desert ships were anchored at the different forts in the southwest. After the breaking out of the Civil war the camels at the forts in Texas and New Mexico were turned loose to shift for themselves. Those in Arizona and California were condemned and sold by the government to two Frenchmen who used them for packing, first in Nevada and later in Arizona, but tiring of the animals they turned tem out on the desert. Some of these camels or possibly their descendants are still roaming over the arid plains of southern Arizona and Sonora.

[SOURCE:
pp. 216-7, J.M. Guinn, A.M.; History of the State of California and Biographical Record of Oakland and Environs, also Containing Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Volume 1; Historic Record Co., Los Angeles, 1907. San Mateo Public Library, San Mateo, CA Call # C979.4 Guinn V1]