DENVER, Sept. 14, 1861.
    MESSRS. EDITORS: Yesterday evening, to use the laconic expression of the honorable Representative from Denver, "the combined wisdom of Colorado" in propria person�, accepted the invitation of Lieut. Col. Tappan, to visit Camp Weld, to witness the dress parade of a portion of the 1st Regiment of Colorado. About 5� P. M. said "combined wisdom" chartered a prairie schooner, the inside area of which was a trifle less than three acres, and whose motor power was a span of colossal specimens of the genus Equus, but whose ideas were somewhat obfuscated, each evidently starting off with a dogged determination to do exactly opposite to that which his colleague had formed a like determination to accomplish. Bay set in his breeches; dapple-grey pulled forward; bay pulled grey back; grey, whose impurturable gravity the exciting circumstances seemed not to disturb, took it with a quiet coolness, evidently saying to himself, "none of these things move me"--bay jumping, jerking, rearing, plunging, looking back at "combined wisdom" with all the equine contempt he could concentrate in his evil eye. One member of said "combined wisdom" was evidently desirous of throwing himself away, if any nice young lady could be found with open arms to graduate his descent to terra firma.
    By dint of patience, and an unanimous surrender to the will of Providence, the prairie schooner's arrival at Camp Weld was fait accompli. The Council were met upon the grounds by Col. Slough, who proceeded in his usual gentlemanly manner to point out the various improvements which were in progress--the situation, in a sanitary point of view, and its facilities for defence. He apologized for the awkwardness of the soldiers, on the principle that "when a child was most particularly required to do its best, it was most sure to cut up and do its darndest," though we must confess that they, in the eyes of a novice, acquitted themselves admirably, taking into consideration the little time they have had to drill, the heterogenous collection of arms, and the non-arrival of their accoutrements. Lieut. Col. Tappan, assisted by Capt. Wynkoop and Lieut. Shaffer, put the troop, composed of parts of companies A and B, through various evolutions, such as marching in platoons, companies, &c., invigorated by the soul-inspiring fife and drum of the two companies, after which they dispersed to their quarters. The various members of the Council, and their friends, slung themselves into their berths aboard the schooner, lashed themselves to the spars and rigging, and by dint of coaxing and cajolery, as the shades of evening were fast falling, Messrs. Bay and Dapple Gray, once more sprang to the collar, and in "double quick" rolled "combined wisdom" and your humble servant to their happy homes in the perlieus of the city of the plains.                                                             REPORTER.

Source:

Reporter, "Visit of the Council to Camp Weld," Weekly Rocky Mountain News, Denver, Colorado, Wednesday, 18 September, 1861, Page 2.