The Diary of Lieutenant Francis Henry French at Fort Clark, Texas 1883 (continued, #37)

In this 37th installment, Lieut. French reminds himself his 26th birthday is approaching as he continues to suffer attacks of the “rumbles.” Captain Vance’s loan of $100 arrives just in time to settle his debts before returning to Fort Clark.

Monday, Sept. 10, 1883

Felt rather sick this morning but munched away at quinine. Went down to the factory and uptown to do some errands this morning leaving my vest & pants to be pressed. In the afternoon went down town and up to the railroad to see what rates Mr. Powers could get for me from Fort Wayne to St. Louis when I return to Clark. After returning home Mrs. Rowan called and after she left I lay down on my bed and slept through supper and until nine o'clock in the evening. Sue & Potter called on the girls this evening & he spent the evening here after the call.

Went down town with Sue this morning and got my clothes which were pressed yesterday. Saw Henry Meyer down town. In the afternoon went down to the factory and around town to do some errands. This morning about eight o'clock went out to Grandmother's to invite them over to tea this evening. Received a letter from Marie today and wrote to her. Was obliged to withdraw my acceptance of her invitation to visit Cincinnati. My money is all spent and I am in debt now. Besides I have no time. Mother is very much opposed to my going away for a day even. I hate to decline this invitation for I want to see Marie again, but I guess it is impossible. Grandmother, Mrs. Vaughn and McQuiston were here for tea. Sue & Potter called at Dr. Laubach's. I took Gertie L. home, she having come to spend the evening with Mattie & saw Mrs. Cash Miller there. After the guests left Mother & I went over to Mrs. McDonald's to play whist, but nobody was home.

Went down to Mrs. Jacobs' this morning to see Lizzie & Anna about calling this afternoon with Lula & Sue and found that they had engagements to go out to the fair grounds. Went down to the factory and spent the morning there with Father. In the afternoon went to Dr. Laubach's1 office for a while and then came home and took a nap. Jessie Hamilton was here in the afternoon, and Aunts Mary & Eliza brought the girls here for a short time. After supper Lula & I went down to call on the girls. Played cards. I came home for a few minutes to see Mrs. Vaughn who goes away tomorrow morning and who came here to say good-bye. Did not see her and returned to Mrs. Jacobs'. Came home about 9 o'clock as the rumbles commenced. Must see Dr. Laubach about this tomorrow.

Two weeks from today is my 26th birthday. This morning went down town on an errand and then to the factory. Spent the whole morning there helping Father as there were a great many customers in. In the afternoon went down to Dr. Laubach's and rode out with him to the fair. Big crowd, lots of dust and very warm. Spent my time looking at the horse races. Saw Kate Hamilton there and had a long talk with her. Saw Potter there also. After supper Lizzie and Anna came up to spend the night as they are to leave tomorrow morning. Dr. & Mrs. Laubach, Cash & his wife called. Kate, Mary, Maria, Henry, Potter, Chapman, Will Ruthrauff, Cary, Howard came in by invitation & spent the evening. We had refreshments & danced and played cards & had a very pleasant time. Lizzie seems very much taken with Potter & showed it plainly tonight & much to Mother's disgust. Mother is very anxious for Sue to marry him. They seem to be in love with each other and I do hope it will lead to a match. Got some medicine today from Dr. Laubach.

Went to bed about midnight and got up at 5 o'clock to see those girls off. Had a very early breakfast and then took them up to the depot. They left on the Limited for Chicago. Was glad to see them go. I like Anna very well and think she is a very sweet girl. But Lizzie is just a trifle too supercilious & conceited for me. They expect to spend a day or two here on their way back to Penn. from Ills., but I will not be here then. About 8 o'clock Dr. Laubach drove up with his fine team and took me out to visit his patients. Were out all morning and went all around town. Received a letter this morning from Capt. Miltincore enclosing permit for a cheap rate ticket from St. Louis to San Antonio. In the afternoon wrote letters to Capt. Miltincore, Hedekin, Abbott & Eckerson telling the latter when to have an ambulance to meet me at Spofford Junction. In the evening Lula & I called at Mrs. Hedekin's, on Miss Fowler but found her just going out and did not stay. Same with Mrs. Gilbert, on Mrs. Chittenden & daughter & had a real pleasant call, on Mrs. Cash Miller who was not at home & then at Mrs. J.M. Miller's, where we found Cash & wife & Steve & Annie. The latter is soon to become a mother. Had a very pleasant call. Potter was here to spend the evening.

Went down to the factory this morning and then up town to attend to some errands. After getting home found a letter from Capt. Vance enclosing a postal order for $100 which he has kindly loaned me. Found Bertha & Fred here in the wagon and took it to carry my dictionary holders and atlas down to Siemon's. Bought a dictionary & had them pack up the whole to ship by freight to Clark. Then had the money order cashed. After dinner went to the factory & paid Father $13, to J.R. Cary's, paid him $7.60, paid Mr. Perrin $3.00 & Lula $13.00.2 Now I don't owe anybody except Capt. Vance & have enough to take me back to Clark and then September account also. After supper Henry came over in his buggy and we went out to Mrs. Howe's to call on the Misses Crosson who are here from Canada. Spent the evening very pleasantly there, and returned to find Potter here. Henry sat a short time after we came back.

Raining this morning after breakfast. Went down to the post office, got no mail for myself but met Potter on the way up. Went to church and listened to an excellent sermon by Dr. Moffatt.3 In the afternoon Father & I walked out to Grandmother's. The corn on the five acres is doing very well notwithstanding the frost. Saw Henry`s Jersey cow. Returned about 4 o'clock. In the evening Potter was here until after 11 o'clock. Wrote to Marie this evening. Did not go to church in the evening.



 1 Laubach, Dr. Amandus Josiah “A.J.” (1843-1892). Medical doctor and a pharmacist manufacturer of medicines. His products were known to include Dr. Laubach's Eclectic Liniment, Dr. Laubach's Worm Cure and Dr. Laubach's Liver Pills.

Francis Henry French was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 27, 1857. Deeply impressed from his youth by the stirring deeds and stories told by veterans of the Civil War, he realized his ambition for a military career by entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where he graduated twelfth from the class of 1879. He was assigned as 2nd Lieutenant of “E” Company, 19th Infantry and came west. Following service at Fort Garland, Colorado Territory, and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, the regiment moved to Fort Brown at Brownsville, Texas where Lieutenant French was detailed as the Regimental Adjutant. In December 1882 the 19th Infantry was posted to Fort Clark. At Fort Clark, on January 1, 1883, Lieutenant French began diaries, which he faithfully maintained for the next thirty years. The Fort Clark period of these diaries from 1883-1888 and his letters home are an intriguing window to late 19th century Army life at Fort Clark and to the American experience of the Victorian era. Lieutenant French’s command of the famed Seminole- Negro Indian Scouts is particularly noteworthy as the young officer developed a lifelong respect for the scouts as soldiers and men. Lieutenant French is a caring and sensitive man with opinions on people and politics. He is a bachelor immersed in the “society” of the regiment and Fort Clark. However, always in the background is his profession of being a soldier and an officer, which he takes quite seriously. The fascination of any diary is of course the private thoughts and observations of another human being, revealed, and in this case the direct link to local history. What the diary truly brings to light is the complex society of a regiment at a frontier post amid the tedium of garrison routine and soldiering, all of which serve to season the young officer. The reader can’t help but become engrossed in the almost soap opera like situations and personalities observed and commented upon on a daily basis by the very perceptive Lieutenant. French falls in and out of love and debt, and is the consummate social butterfly as he takes full advantage of his bachelor status. 

Submitted by Fort Clark Heritage Council - Bill Haenn, FCHC Senior Historian. Fort Clark Heritage Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, established in 2023, to advocate for the preservation and protection of the architecture and other historic resources in the Fort Clark National Register Historic District… committed to endorsing and promulgating the rich history of Fort Clark by expanding upon related educational and research efforts.