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

In this 43rd installment, Lieut. French is commanding the Seminole-Negro Indian Scout Detachment at Fort Clark. He is struggling with his marksmanship qualification which is further complicated by cold stormy weather. Daily visits to the Seminole camp and “calls” on fellow officers fill his days. A sad footnote to his week is the death, funeral, and burial of a soldier from his company.


Monday, Oct. 22, 1883

Did not do well at target practice this morning. Commenced practice at 300 yds. Had breakfast before practicing. After the target practice, about 11 o'clock, Eckerson & I rode over in an ambulance to Spofford to see whether my package had come. Was disappointed, but sent the pecans home by freight. Hope the package will come soon. After returning read Vanity Fair & studied short hand until dinner, after which visiting the Seminole Camp. In the evening called on Dr. Buffington, Mrs. B. being absent, & on Mrs. Hammond. She is a very entertaining lady. About tattoo went to see Vedder about going over to meet Mrs. Bliss1 at Spofford, but found that no ambulance was to go. Vedder was a little full tonight. He cannot stand drinking & ought not to indulge. After returning to my room read myself asleep.

Got another leg at 200 yards, which qualifies me now at this range. After target practice went down to the Quartermaster's and then walked over to town to buy some postage stamps. Received a letter this morning from Harry enclosing my bill, $18, $9 of which is due from Charlie for that watch. Went over to the Post Library, read Vanity Fair & studied Phonography in the afternoon. Capt. Vance having gone hunting, dined after going to stables. In the evening, Col. Towle called. After his call, called at the General's. Intended to call on Miss Ffoulkes, but met her in the street just as I was going to her home. After tattoo went down to see Cunningham, but he was not at home, and went to the store. Williams left for a short leave today. Has been quite comfortable today.

A cold norther2 was blowing this morning when I got up. Had no target practice. A fire was comfortable today. Received a letter from home this morning. Went down to the Commissary's and to the corral & played a few games of solitaire at Cunningham's after guard mounting. Then wrote home, read Vanity Fair, took a bath & studied shorthand until time to go out to Camp. In the evening went to a promenade concert alone, after trying to escort two ladies who had previous engagements. Brought Mrs. Morris home, & then had a talk with Eckerson at his quarters. The concert was very enjoyable.

The norther still continuing there was no target practice. Went to the office and down to the Commissary's. About 11 o'clock Capt. Vance & I went out on horseback five miles from the Post where he shot two teal. Returned at 4 o'clock, but did not go out to the Camp this evening. Had no opportunity to study shorthand today. In the evening Capt. Hall & I beat Capt. Vance & Mrs. Hall at their house, two rubbers of whist to one. Afterwards had cake & wine. Returned home about eleven o'clock after having a splendid time. Mrs. Hall is a true woman, one that a person likes to meet in these days when it is hard to find such ladies in the Army. I mean ladies who are guided by some principles and who will not do things that they believe to be wrong. Mrs. Hall is a thoroughly loyal friend to all whom she accepts as friends. I hope & believe I am one. Received a postal from Shunk saying my package ought to have left San Antonio last Saturday. It has not come yet much to my disgust.

The cold weather continues. No target practice this morning. Got out my cloak and found moths have been at work. Told George to air all my clothes & brush them thoroughly. Went down to the Quartermaster's stopping on the return to get some blanks from Guard. Made out clothing rolls for clothing issued last Friday and had them signed at stables this evening. Studied Phonography & read until dinner. In the evening read Vanity Fair & called on Flynn & Kendall. Intended to play duets with Miss Florence, but my stomach seems inclined to annoy me like it did at home.

Cold drizzle prevented target practice this morning. Letter & bundle of papers from home. Went down to the office & around to Kendall's after guard mounting. Tried to get a decided opinion from the General about whether I could be ranked out of a certain house or not, but as usual he was unwilling to decide. What a pity he is such a weak man, afraid to definitely decide, afraid of a responsibility. After looking at the illustrated papers in the Library, read the papers from home & Vanity Fair, & studied short hand until dinner. After this attended the funeral of Pvt. Reith, 3 "E" Co., 19th Inf'y., Capt. Vance, Guard & I being chief mourners, in full dress walking just after the corpse. Reith was very popular and was a very deserving man. He died suddenly yesterday, the autopsy today revealing a perforation of the intestines due to typhoid fever. The ceremony was quite impressive; especially the sounding of taps after the salute had been fired. In the evening went over to Dr. Heger's to play duets with Miss Florence, but she was not at home. Called at Chaplain Blaine's & on Col. Towle. Kendall, Flynn & Steele called this evening. What a pleasant gentleman Col. Towle would be if he could only forget his troubles.

After shaving & bathing found that my mail consisted of an illustrated catalogue of iron beds, wire mattresses & c. Went to the office and over to Eckerson's this morning after breakfast. Hewitt called also. Wrote a letter home and read Vanity Fair until dinner time, afterwards going out to camp. Old Blanco is quite sick and stands a good chance of a stroke of paralysis. In the evening Col. Towle called. Played duets with Capt. Vance on violin & piano until tattoo when went to Cunningham's for a short time. Vedder and Gen. Smith went down to San Antonio Thursday night, returning yesterday morning. Last night Vedder went back there and tonight the General went down. Everybody is wondering what is it they are doing down there. Time will probably tell.


1 Bliss, Martha Nancy Work (1840-1919). She and Zenas married in 1863.

3 Reith, John F. (unk-1883) Private Reith died at Fort Clark on October 26, 1883 and was buried in post cemetery No.2, which was located at the curve of Airport Road. His remains were reinterred by the Veterans Administration in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, along with all burials from both Fort Clark cemeteries, in 1946.

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.