DIARY OF JOSEPH ALMOND

1862

Jan. 24, 1862  [2]Tailed and altered the Lambs & Ear Marked all the Sheep.

Jan. 25            Drove to Corpus to see Gregory.  Bought a Bridle, 1 qt. Turp., 1 Pair

Shears, 2 Buckets.  Did not get along very well with Gregory because he wanted to deliver the Sheep at Roma.  Got an order from Pfeuffer for 100 Ewes in the evening.

Jan. 26            1 Lamb born.  Mexican Ewe by Franks’ house, also 1 Kid.

Jan. 31            Sent Pfeuffer’s order to Spence by John Wade

                         and got note back to give Pfeuffer  on Saturday when I go to      

                        Corpus.  One lamb born Saturday.  R. Kinghorn 2 Steer per 30 Dollars

                        to be paid when he comes back here.  Beynon has went to Corpus. 

                        Found that Mr. Ranahan had rented his House to John Hastings

                         and got fifteen dollars in advance.

Feb. 4              Sold R Kinghorn another Steer for 13 Dollars. Received 10 of it and

                        the rest to be paid when he comes back from Brownsville.

May 23           (Friday)  Mr. Bryden brought a Mexican about 9 o’clock at night for a

Shepherd.  Came up to the Camp at Ward ’s Place early on Saturday morning.

May 29           Started for Ventana.

July 28            Saw the Black Mare with Black Mare Colt.

July 29            Cattle Hunter returned from Agua Dulce with one Calf.  Went to get

Grapes in the bend above Durst ’s place.

Sept. 2             Robt. Kinghorn went to Corpus for Shed but the rain stopped us from

loading.  He started with about 200 ft. lumber but his Oxen gave out beside John Dunn’s.  He got up to the Motts on the 4^th, after leaving the little lumber he had at Stephens  at the lake.

Sept. 5             Sent for 20 Bush. of Corn, 2 Box Peas, 1 Bush. Eschalots, 2 Bags of Flour

by Mr. May who was carrying Salt to Gonzales.

Sept. 11           Got home from the Flock this Morning about three o’clock, after herding

the Sheep until Antonio went across the [3]River to look for his oxen.

Sept. 13           Started to go on a cattle hunt but Allen did not come so it was put off until

next day.

Sept. 16           Started about eight o’clock but the boys had gone.    Went on the Charley

Shaw s and they had left.  Got up with them just after they let the Cattle go, at the timber between the Oso & Chocolate Motts.  Got one cow here for Wades.  Went on with the herd Ball & Tyrrell’s Rancho where we stopped and had dinner. After that we went and had a round up near Worthington ’s Ranch on the Oso, where we got young Spot and another Cattle of Wades.  After that we went back to Balls & camped.  All night Ennard & Allen branding their calfs.  Branded one of Wades Calves and turned it out because it was too young to trail.

Sept. 17           Started (after Ennards and Allen had another spell at

                        branding) towards

Murdochs Rancho and rounded up near the house but got nothing.  Sent the herd over towards Oliver s and went to the San Facinto timber.  Hunted all up the timber to Olivers but got nothing.  Ennard and Allen branded here after which we started for Charley Shaw s.  Got there just at Sundown.  Reynolds and I left for home with his horses.

Sept. 18           Left home about eight o’clock.  Meet the boys on the Ridge on the other

side of the Oso.  Went from there to Sandfords where Ennard & Allen branded and we camped for the night.

Sept. 19           Hunted up and some of us drove to Durst’s lake and Ennard

                         & Allen  

rounded up on the hill.  Joined them on the hill before the herd was turned

away.  Got nothing.  Drove down to the Round Lake, from there back to Durst’s lake.  Got nothing.  Had another round up in the [4]Rincon, then drove on until near Sanfords where we had another & last round up.  And  separated from Ennard, went down towards Ashton ’s Bottom and had dinner.  Then started home.  Got a black paint heifer and come along until we got to Wades, from where Harry Coling roped the calf and broke its neck and gave me a [5]Maverick in its place.

Sept. 20           Branded the Maverick & Young Spot’s Calf and two of Wades.  Lizzie

                        has been over at Wades all night because Sarah is sick.

Sept. 22           (Monday morning)  Started for M^cIntyres for a cattle hunt.  Had dinner

                         at Oliver’s Ranch.  Got M^cIntyres just about Sundown. 

                         Found the [6]Banquete Men there with their herd in the pen.  They were ready to start

                         for home in the morning.

Sept. 23           The Banquete Men left very early and we helped M^cIntyre to Brand

                        and then hunted in the Rincon.  Came and up again to M^cIntyres and

                        camped again at the same place.

Sept. 24           Hunted up towards the Creek 4 or 5 Miles and had a round up, where I got

a black heifer with a red heifer calf.  Came round by Santa Cruz where my horse fell lame.  Rounded up twice at Santa Cruz where I got 3 Cows & Calves & one was left because the calf could not be found.  Went to M^cIntyres pen and branded the rest of the day.

Sept. 25           Finished branding and left for Comanche’s where we camped.

Sept. 26           Started for [7]Incinal.  Hunted long as we went.  Found a Rankin  steer

                        near Eagle’s Rancho on the Oso Creek.  Crossed the Creek and hunted a little and then

                        penned the Cattle & Branded.

Sept. 27           Hunted round the Incinal towards Corpus and the Bay.  Then we went on

up to Gregory’s where I saw Gregory and got leave to take some of the dirty salt for the Sheep.  Got a yearling steer.  Hunted round a little, then started for Worthington ’s Rancho, where we Camped.

Sept. 28           (Sunday)  Made a very early start and had a round up at the Camp where I

saw three cows and calves (branded).  We then went to Brittons Rancho but I got nothing. Came back to [8]Camp.  Had breakfast and started for home.  When we came to Gallaghers, M^cCoy ran in a beef for me.  Watered the Cattle here, then came onto the Laredo road where M^cCoy

                       and Adams cut their Cattle out and left us. After which we came on home

                       and arrived about three o’clock in the evening.

Sept. 29           (Mon.)  Got Mr. Wade and we went up to Reynolds for

                        the Cattle and

came home with them.  Killed the beef in the evening.  Went with the Money & Order to Kinghorns for goods to be got at Brownsville as per M___?___.

Sept. 30           Started for Sheep Camp went by Scotts and gave Mrs. Scott the five

dollars that I got in mistake in change for the Shoes.  Got to the Camp a little after Sundown

Oct. 1^st            Went down to Mr. Hogarths Camp before breakfast.  Had breakfast at

Hogarths Camp & then went to flock where my Bucks were.  But the Shepherd would not bring the flock over to the pen because the Sun was too hot.  So I came off to my own Camp and moved up to the Palo Ventana.

Oct. 2^nd          Went down to Brydens’ pens and had the bucks cut out before

                        breakfast. 

Got only sixteen, being two short of my number.  Had breakfast with Mr. Hogarth and drove the bucks up to the Flock.  Then started for home.  Hogarth moved his camp up near to mine today.

Oct. 3              Got up the black Mare and started between ten and eleven o’clock to Mr.

Adams  to get his cart to go the Oso for Salt.  When I got to his house he was away with the cart for a load of hay.  So I had to stay with him all night.

Oct. 4              Started from Mr. Adams immediately after Sunrise with the Cart.  Got a

very good load of Salt.  Saw Dr. Britton, Shaw, & Mrs. Johnston at Gregorys.  Got home about eight o’clock.  Both the Mare and me were right tired.

Oct. 5^th            (Sunday)  Mr. Adams took his Cart away having come up Yesterday

                        with

his horse & my ladder.  He informs me that Corn Meal is eight dollars per Bushel in Corpus.

Oct. 6              Went out with John to bring in all the horses.  Got nearly all of them in,

about Dinner time.  We altered the yearlings.  Among them was my little mare’s Yearling.  We got the grey horse out for Mr. Wright.

Oct. 7              Could not start for the Camp this Morning because I was a little sick.  A

Man named Saunders saw the Grey horse in the field and came and got him.  Three women camped for dinner in the Mott beside the house.  One

of them was the wife of a Mr. Adams  who stopped all night with us some time ago when he was horse hunting.  Saw Alex Kinghorn on his way to Corpus with his family.  He told me that his brother Robert’s little child had got snake bit Yesterday.

Oct. 8              Did not get started for the Camp until about two o’clock.  Called at

Spence’s House.  He told me he was going to Banquette to see M^cClane  about some bucks.  He also told me that Vineyard had some full blood Merino Buck for sale at Mr. Cooper s Rancho at $35 per head.  Got up to the camp about eight o’clock at night.

Oct. 9              It came on to rain this Morning about two hours before Sunrise but did not

rain heavy.  Although it was sufficient to stop me from Shearing the Sheep.  So Mr. Hogarth and I left for the Motts, coming by way of Millers house and Banquette where I could not get any of the things I wanted.

Oct. 10            Had a spell, scraping and fixing a Rawhide Rope when Mr. Bryden came

for me to go and help fix his Wagon.  Came home again about three o’clock after fixing the Wagon ready for to load with Salt, to start tomorrow for Columbus.  Mr. Cassidy came and had super with us.

Oct. 11            Started for Mr. M^cIntyre’s.  Went by of Wm. Cody’s to

                        learn when he

want to be back from Brownsville. Saw young Matt.  He told me he had seen the old [9]Gotch the day before.  Went on to M^cIntyres and found Mr. M^cLaughlin  at the pen waiting for M^cCoy to come from Headen’s Rancho where he had gone to bring a horse which had got away from him.  He asked me how many Cattle I wanted to buy and said he thought he could buy about two hundred if I would take one hundred of them.  He said he would see about it on Monday and left with the Cattle they had in the pens.  M^cIntyre had gone out to seek horses that had gone off over the night, my Grey one among them.  He did not get back until just about Sun down.  Luckily my horse was among them, so I saddled up immediately and left for home where I arrived between twelve and one in the night.  Found a person named Ward wanting me to go to Captain Kings to move Mr. Bryden s House.

Oct. 12            (Sunday)  Told Mr. Ward that I would try and be at the Captains House

the latter part of this week or forepart of next.  Went and heard Perham preach at night.  His text was “I find no fault in the Man.”

Oct. 13            Intended to start about nine o’clock for Sheep Camp but Bryden was not

                        ready so I waited.  Toby Ennard  brought me word that Jim had got a

                        Cow

                       & Calf in the pen for me.  So I went down to their house but the Cow had

gone away with the milk cows.  Came back by Brydens and he was still not ready.  It is now about eleven o’clock and he has not come yet.  Bryden came very soon after and we started.  A little on the other side of Byingtons, we met a Mexican on one of Bryden’s horses.  The Mexican is

[10]Viarco for one George Lennard.  Called at John Frederick and saw Norris.  We went on and got to Brydens “[11]Jackal” just about Sundown.

Oct. 14            Penned the Sheep and got some of Antonios out for Hogarth and Diego. 

Put a few in the little [12]Carrel to shear.  One of the best Southdown bucks died from a blow from one of the older ones with horns.  Got twenty three shorn.

Oct. 15            Got seventeen more shorn and quit it because they got out of the Carel. 

Came off home where landed about one o’clock.

Oct. 16            Started for Captain King’s between 10 & eleven o’clock.  Got there just

about dark.  Met with Col. Luckett  & T. A. Dwyer.  Col. Luckett stopping there on account of Sickness.  M^cLaine also was there.

Oct. 17            Made an attempt to fix Wagons for the moving of the house with the

assistance of M^cLaine, got one ready.

Oct. 18            With the assistance of M^cLaine & Mr. George, got

                        another wagon fixed and went over to the house.  Got it raised up and one wagon put 

                        under it.  Stayed all night at Ward s.

Oct. 19            (Sunday)  Ward  & George & I had breakfast then saddled up our horses

and rode over to look out the Route for the Wagons to travel with the house.  Got over to Captain King s before they had done breakfast.  Had another cup of coffee.  Spent a pretty miserable day lying about the Gallery.

Oct. 20            Got a pretty good start over to the house by noon but did not get away

very well on account of the Coupling not been strong enough.  Put chains on them .  We got off very well and got it over to its place just as the sun went down.

Oct. 21            Got the house off the wheels and put down to the height it was wanted. 

                        Mr. Wade came down to us about five o’clock in the evening.  He came to

                        seek his horses.

Oct. 22            Mr. Wade  left after breakfast without getting his horses.  I got the

windows into the house and blocked it near level as I could by sight.  Then went over to Brydens old place and had a spell, pulling down the Chimney.

Oct. 23            Ward , dad Lawrence and I went and with the help of

                        Griffin, a one eyed

man, that Col. Luckett had with him for driver, got the Kitchen on to the Wheels and with a good deal of difficulty, got it over by a little after dark at night.

Oct. 24            Got the Wagons out and got it all fixed up before Sundown.  Made

preparations to leave the next morning by three o’clock.  But a Norther blew up in the night and upset the arrangement.

Oct. 25            A good stiff Norther blowing yet.  I started for home as soon as I had

breakfast.  Came round by Staples ’ Rancho.  Branded, altered & marked a bull Calf belonging to the Young Speckled Cow.  Left Staples about twelve o’clock.  Met Clark & Theodore Laurence  on their way to Ringgold barracks.  Got home between four & five o’clock, pretty near foundered with the Cold, having to face a very cold Norther all the way.

Oct. 26            (Sunday)  Bought seven hens & a rooster from a Man named Smith on the

Blanco in the Evening.  Mr. Hobbs  came and got me to help him to pull a heifer out of the Bayou beside Wade s.  We pulled it and one of Kinghorn’s out.

Oct. 27            Helped Mr. Wade  to get up a beef and killed him in the evening.

Oct. 28            Went down to see McCoy about the houses for Captain King

                        Then went

with him to the Oso to try to find the old Gotch but did not succeed.  He informed me that they had branded a heifer calf for me on the Pintos last Friday.

Oct. 29            Started to pull down the houses.  Got the loan of Mr. Ranahan’s Cart

                        and M^cCoy ’s Horse and brought the Lumber up from Stephens

                         that Kinghorn left on the fourth of September.

Oct. 30 & 31   Still at old House pulling them down.  Gallagher left the Mexicos

                        Ranche for Judge Love’s Place.

Nov. 1^st           Went out to seek the horses but could not find them.  Lizzie went over to

                         Brydens at night and Hogarth  informed her that the Sheep

                         were lambing and that Antonio wanted me very much.

Nov. 2             (Sunday)  Went up in the Morning to the Bluffs but did not see the Horses

come to Water in the evening.  Went with Lizzy to Brydens.

Nov. 3             Started out early to look for the horses.  Got nearly to the Corkill timber,

where I met Wades young horse and several of the Mares.  Soon after saw the old Dun and started him toward the Water, then came on and got them

all at the Watering place and drove them to Wades pen.  When I got home, Lizzy informed me that John Williams had penned Wrights sheep in Kinghorn’s little pen and that about thirty of them were smothered.  It is now about dinner time and I intend starting for the Camp soon with the little Mare. Started with Mr. Hogarth  about three o’clock.  Got up and had supper at Hogarths camp about eight o’clock.

Nov. 4             Separated the ewes & lambs from the flock.  Got thirty lambs and herded

them all day.

Nov. 5             Made out the lambs to forty one and engaged a Mexican named Martin

__?__ from San Patricio.  Found a dead buck on the flat.  Had a long hunt for the little Mare and found her fastened by the Rope in the Creek.  Came off home about 10 o’clock.  Called at Spences and found Lizzy and Mrs. Bryden.  I also called at Mr. Flint s and got five dollars worth of Tobacco (2 ˝ lbs) for Mr. Wade.  When we got home, found that Mr. May had come with the Flour (1 Bag) corn Meal (5) and Corn (55 lb.) and Corn (5.36 bu.).

Nov. 6             Got the Corn and Corn Meal Business all settled and went out in the

Evening with Mr. Wade and found the Black Mare and Sorrel horse.

Nov. 7             Get all things ready for going off to the Camp.  Went down to Brydens to

see if he was ready to go to the Camp with the Wagon.  Waited a considerable while of him coming back from Mr. Reynolds, with salt.  Then left and got a Bushel of Corn ready for him which he is getting the loan of.  Wade brought in the Sally Heifer and we branded her calf (a bull) and turned her out.  Now I am waiting of Bryden coming.  Bryden came about two o’clock and we started for the Kinte’s.  Got to Scots’ just about Sun down.  Had supper with Mr. Scott and got to the Kinte’s very late.

Nov. 8             Left the Kinto’s early for Ventana.  Gave the Sheep some Salt and the men,

Rations.  Got a turkey and left for home where I landed about seven o’clock when Mr. Adams had just left for [13]Colins.  He came back before bed time and stayed with us all night. He was up hunting for his dun and black horses.

Nov. 9             (Sunday)  Adams  left directly after breakfast.  Minister Adams preached

                        at

eleven o’clock in the School Room.  He stayed at Wades all night on his way from Conference.  In the evening, he baptized the child.

Nov. 10           Went out very early to seek the black Mare so that I might go to Corpus

for the shed but could not find her.  Wade  went and got fixed about the beef cow.

Nov. 11           Fixed the hearth and then went to look for the Mare and still could not find

her.  Wade killed his first beef.  Kinghorn got home from Brownsville but only brought us some coffee, Soda, & matches.

Nov. 13           Started for the Camp with Hogarth.  Got there about four o’clock, then

started just about Sun down for Theodore Dix’s.  Stopped there all night.  Fixed a closet for him and then went to see Mr. Russell’s house and the Creek at Casa Blanco where the Water is.  Went back to Camp.

Nov. 15           Started about two o’clock for the Motts.  Got here about nine.  Left for

Corpus to see Captain Dix about the Russell  house but he informed me that Captain Andrew was going to it.  Got home about 12 at Night.

Nov. 16           (Sunday)  Went to Bryden’s in the evening. R. Gallagher

                        was there.  When

we came home, Eddy Corkhill  was at the door waiting for us. He stayed all night on this way to Corpus.

Nov. 17           Helped Johnny to get two Beeves into the pen and fixed up ready to start

for for Camp but Bryden has not come yet.  Got started between 2 & 3 o’clock.  Got to Mr. Scotts about Sun down.  Had supper and went on to the Blacksmith’s shop and camped with Henry Allen  & James Ennard.

Nov. 18           Left the camp early and got up to the Ventana in good time, then rode

down to Brydens Ranche to get the [14]Marking Irons, but they were not there.  I then went up to Beldens camp, intending to go to the Pinetas to get a Shepherd—but heard from John Fitch.  Informed me that there was no Shepherd there.  Came back again with Fitch to where Henry Allen  & them have camped.

Nov. 19           Started to go to Pope’s Place on the La Garta.  John Fitch told

                        me it was

for Sale but when I came to Theodore Dix ’s, they told me it was not for Sale. So I came back.

Nov. 20           Tailed and altered 41 ewe Lambs and 33 Bucks but two of them were

Antonio’s.  Then took the Flock down to Brydens Pens and tailed 160 Ewe Lambs and Tailed & Altered 166 Buck Lambs.  Camped at the Pens.

Nov. 21           Started from the pen, after counting the Tails and found that the whole

number of Sheep & Lambs were 1592. Came by Fusselmans and down to Headens camp to look for a place.  Came on home where I got just at Sundown.

Nov. 22           Went up the River to see Mr. Murphy but found he had gone in Cart. 

Crossed the River above the [15]Pantoclam and went on to the [16]Ventana.  Got there just at Sundown.

Nov. 23           (Sunday)  Paid Martin nine Dollars and started with the Sheep.  Got to the

Kyman lake, after losing my Blankets.

Nov. 24           Came on by Rancho Grande down to the Round lake where I left Antonio

with the sheep.

Nov. 25           Started with an old Mule and Johnny’s Cart with little John, very late.

Nov. 26           Brought all the things down from the Camp.

Nov. 27           Lizzie & I went up to the Camp and let Antonio go for fifteen days.  Lizzie

returned next day and I remained to herd the Sheep.