A, 1st NMVC… Keystone, New Mexico March the 8th, 1864 To Miss Maria Sophia Dear Miss Sophia, I will inform you with pleasure that I am well at the present time and I hope that when this reaches you that it may find you well also. The boys are generally well at the present and in very good spirits, and our mounts are in good health. I was glad to hear of that the birth of Jose and Petra’s child. You know I make no secret that I wish for us to one day wed and have children of our own in good time. And in that regard, I fear I have news that you will not find favorable. I know that in my last letter I said I would be coming home soon. However, I regret to inform you my company’s captain has accepted a special assignment and made a liar of me in doing so. I suppose from my past letters and other sources you have heard that my regiment has made quick work of the Navajo since Manuelito fell at Canyon de Chelly, and that we are now gathering the Indians for a move to Fort Sumner. While this is true in greatest part, word has reached Colonel Carson of one or two villages still in existence in the country neighboring San Ramirez.
