The letter was written by Mathias Slaten while he was at Gregory's Diggins, Colorado, and is addressed to his wife, Bethena Elizabeth Adams, who was at the family home in Georgia. The letter reports Mathias' attempt to earn money in mining or other work near what later became Denver, Colorado. The location where Mathias wrote from was named for John H. Gregory of Georgia, who discovered gold in Colorado on May 6, 1859.

In his letter, Mathias mentions William Green Russell, Mer Willis, and Washington Kiker. Slaten went west in March-April, and the trip took 42 days. This was probably in 1860 because his son was already born, yet there is no direct mention of the Civil War. Mathias appears on the 1860 census with his family but may not have actually been present. This letter was the last that Mathias' wife ever heard from him.