^"'i' ^^^1 Correspondence. I 1 7 



history which he cultivated with so mucli zeal and advantage as a 

 naturalist. 



Fort Buchanan, Arizona, was situated at the Hot or Monkey Springs, 

 the head waters of the Senorita Creek, a branch of the Santa Cruz, about 

 eight miles from the international boundary and ten miles from the Mex- 

 ican town of Santa Cruz. I was stationed there from December, 1857, 

 until July, 1861. When our troops withdrew from the Territory in the lat- 

 ter year, that post was abandoned, but when the volunteer troops from 

 California resumed possession of that region the station was re-established 

 at and thereafter known as ' Camp Crittenden.' 



In those days we had no hospital corps, hospital attendants — stewards, 

 nurses, cooks and orderlies — were detailed from the line at the request of 

 the medical officers. While on duty there I had the late Hospital Steward 

 Louis Othon Faringhj' detailed as acting steward, taught him the routine 

 duties of the position, and he served with me oft and on during many 

 years at West Point, Fort Riley, &c. I found him the best and most 

 reliable non-commissioned soldier and man that lever met. As he belonged 

 to ' D ' troop, 1st Dragoons — Bendire's company — I believe it was at 

 his suggestion or through the First Sergeant of the troop — R. F. Ber- 

 nard, now Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. Army, retired — that I had 

 Private Charles Bendire detailed as hospital attendant, sometime in 

 1858. He was then comparatively young, an active efficient soldier, quiet 

 and of modest, retiring disposition. At that time I was collecting speci- 

 mens of Natural History and seeing my work he would from time to time 

 bring me specimens of one kind or another which he supposed desirable 

 for my collection. 



His troop having been ordered to California my impression is that he 

 accompanied it to that State and was stationed at Fort Tejon, in the San 

 Bernardino ^'alley, where he commenced collecting birds' nests and birds 

 eggs. 



In 1864 he called to see me at Memphis, Tennessee, having been com- 

 missioned a lieutenant in the regular army after having served as non- 

 commissioned officer — including hospital steward — some years after his 

 service under me. The collection of reptiles mentioned in your letter, 

 was made by me for the Smithsonian Institute at Fort Buchanan and 

 vicinity in 1858-60. I was in frequent correspondence with Professor 

 Spencer F. Baird and through him and Professor Joseph Henry I presented 

 the ' Irwin Meteorite ' to the institution. Bendire was not with me in the 

 affair at Apache Pass in 1861. As this is written from memory I regret 

 that I cannot give details in satisfactory form, but trust the resumfi may 

 aid you in the proposed paper. 



With kind regards believe me, 



Yours very truly, 



B. y. D. Irwin. 



