Nothing is known about the writer of this letter, Thomas J. Meredith. From the letter it can be deduced that Thomas Meredith was from Kemper County and was a member of a "wagon train" en route to California during the "Gold Rush of 1849." The letter was written from "Camp 2 Miles from Little Rock, Arks," and dated March 9, 1849. It is addressed to Mr. George H. Kimbrough, Wahalak, Kemper County. In the letter Meredith describes his trip from Jackson to his camp, while enroute to California. A description of the organization of the "wagon train" organization is included—the adoption of constitution and bylaws, election of officers and assessment of property. The route taken to reach camp had been from Jackson to Vicksburg and then by way of boat up the "Arks river, which stream we found so low that it was with difficulty we could go along and keep off of snags." He discusses the food to eat on the boat, the farms along the river and the news of the others from Kemper County ("If we ever get back I will have some good jokes to tell on some of our crowd from Kemper.…").

Series: 1. Correspondence 1 item.