I have read every word of your book "Vanished Arizona" with
intense interest. You have given a vivid account of what you
actually saw and lived through, and nobody can resist the
truthfulness and reality of your narrative. The book is a real
contribution to American history, and to the chronicles of army
life.
Faithfully yours, WM. LYON PHELPS,
[Professor of English literature at Yale University.]
LONACONING, MD., Jan. 2, 1909.
Col. J. W. Summerhays, New Rochelle, N. Y.
Dear Sir:
Captain William Baird, 6th Cavalry, retired, now at Annapolis,
sent me Mrs. Summerhay's book to read, and I have read it with
delight, for I was in "K" when Mrs. Summerhays "took on" in the
8th. Myself and my brother, Michael, served in "K" Company from
David's Island to Camp Apache. Doubtless you have forgotten me,
but I am sure that you remember the tall fifer of "K", Michael
Gurnett. He was killed at Camp Mohave in Sept. 1885, while in
Company "G" of the 1st Infantry. I was five years in "K", but my
brother re-enlisted in "K", and afterward joined the First. He
served in the 31st, 22nd, 8th and 1st.
Oh, that little book! We're all in it, even poor Charley Bowen.
Mrs. Summerhays should have written a longer story. She soldiered
long enough with the 8th in the "bloody 70's" to be able to write
a book five times as big. For what she's done, God bless her! She
is entitled to the Irishman's benediction: "May every hair in her
head be a candle to light her soul to glory." We poor old
Regulars have little said about us in print, and wish to God that
"Vanished Arizona" was in the hands of every old veteran of the
"Marching 8th." If I had the means I would send a copy to our 1st
Serg't Bernard Moran, and the other old comrades at the Soldiers'
Home. But, alas, evil times have fallen upon us, and - I'm not
writing a jeremiad - I took the book from the post office and when
I saw the crossed guns and the"8" there was a lump in my throat,
and I went into the barber shop and read it through before I
left. A friend of mine was in the shop and when I came to
Pringle's death, he said, "Gurnett, that must be a sad book
you're reading, why man, you're crying."
I believe I was, but they were tears of joy. And, Oh, Lord, to
think of Bowen having a full page in history; but, after all,
maybe he deserved it. And that picture of my company commander!
[Worth]. Long, long, have I gazed on it. I was only sixteen and a
half years old when I joined his company at David's Island, Dec.
6th, 1871. Folliot A. Whitney was 1st lieutenant and Cyrus
Earnest, 2nd. What a fine man Whitney was. A finer man nor truer
gentleman ever wore a shoulder strap.
