"I suppose it is impossible for Mr. R [Colonel Benjamin S. Roberts] to tell now what he can do for Pierpont here. [Pierpont is one of Laura's older sons; he is referred to often in all three letters, and seems to have had some difficulty keeping any sort of business affairs together and was often in need of assistance.] When we first arrived he supposed he should be obliged to go on immediately to Oregon, and he lamented that P.[ierpont] was not here that he could employ him at a pay of 50 dollars pr. [per] mo.[nth] as forage master. He can do that in the spring when we go if he go on an independant [sic] command but that now is a matter of uncertainty. He was ordered up here to be in readiness with his company to escort Gov[ernor] Lane and the officers of the [Oregon] Territory, but no one tho't [thought] he should exceed his instructions to go with him alone, and would wait for further instructions from Genl. [General] Kearney. So the Gov[ernor] finally concluded to take the second Lieut[enant] (Hawkins) and 25 men and have the rest to come on when the other officials should arrive, which he tho't [thought] would not be till spring. It was already so late that he was obliged to go by St. [Santa] Fee, and from there to St. [San] Diego thence by sea to Astoria; a long and tedious march. We hear from them occasionally by the troops coming in, as getting on well. Gov.[ernor] Lane expects his family out with us in the spring and other families will go along. ... If it should happen that [Pierpont] would go to Oregon I do not know that his wife would consent to be left, and [Elizabeth] thinks it might be a risk to take the baby, as it will be its second summer. Besides she has never been put to take things 'rough and tumble' and I do not know how she could stand it and of course he could make no provision for her there. If she stay with her mother Mr. R [Colonel Benjamin S. Roberts] would remit all she could need for her support of P's [Pierpont's] pay, and he would not need to be at other expense save an outfit. If those officers destined for Oregon should go by sea it will have Mr. R [Colonel Benjamin S. Roberts] subject to further orders and he may go under other and superior officers and of course he will not have the power to employ whomever he will."