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

Monday, Nov. 5, 1883

Was awakened before reveille this morning. Sent bedding down to Eckerson's1 & ate breakfast with him at Capt. Vance's. After some delay succeeded in getting a wagon and left the Post about 7 o'clock with Eckerson & 5 Seminoles. The trip was quite pleasant. Eckerson is a queer fellow, sometimes he coincides with a person readily in every opinion. At other times nobody can be more contrary. The road was good until in the vicinity of the Nueces where it became very rocky. Reached Silver Lake about 2 o'clock and after hunting around for pecan trees camped on the edge of the lake. The Mexicans living in that neighborhood had gathered almost all the pecans, and their pigs eaten the rest. Fay2 killed a deer so we were certain of fresh beef. The lake is quite a small one, more a widening of the Sycamore.3 Duck are quite plentiful in the water holes. Fished for a short time that evening. Took the shot gun & killed two quail. Retired about 7 o'clock feeling quite tired with the trip.

Woke up at daylight after a rather cold night's sleep, but feeling in excellent health especially after a wash in the lake. After breakfast Eckerson and I went around the lake where we found a few pecans and shot at some ducks without getting any. Returned to camp & remained there while some of the men gathered the pecans we found, about 3/4 of a bushel. When they returned to camp, we went to some water holes, where I shot at some ducks and missed them. Returned for dinner, afterwards taking a short stroll. Retired early as usual feeling rather tired. This life is doing both of us a great deal of good. The men who were out hunting today came back with no game.

After breakfast Eckerson & I rode out to some water holes & spent the morning in shooting at beautiful mallards, he shooting two & I none. After dinner walked out to hunt for a turkey roost but were unsuccessful. Went to bed early. The men got three turkeys today.

After breakfast packed up to return to the Post. A short ride brought us to Kruger's ranch where Eckerson introduced me to Mrs. Kruger, a graduate of Vassar & a splendid lady. Her husband is a young Englishman who owns a large amount of land in that vicinity. They have a little baby, and seem quite contented, although Mrs. K seems rather sad, I thought. The ride to the Post was unexciting except for a short religious discussion we had. Got into the Post at 1 o'clock P.M. and were soon unloaded. Geary &

Duff met us at Eckerson's. Geary looks very well after his summer's trip. After a bath & a shave went over after my mail finding a letter from home. Saw Capt. Hall & learned that the Seminoles will go out in a week or so. Returned to write home. Eckerson & Ives came in to see me. Ives is as chatty & bright as ever. No news of importance. Lyster & Vance were hunting. Lyster has taken Vance's house.4 I must see the General tomorrow to see if this will move me also. Did not go out to stables this evening. Dr. Maddox dined with us. After dinner callers came in until nearly tattoo. Went out to call on Ives & Geary but neither was at home. Returned to read the papers that came from home last Sunday. Lula writes that Potter wants Sue to marry him in the Spring, but she wants to wait until Fall. Think it will be impossible for me to attend if it is in the Spring.

Had a good night's rest in bed. It does me good to go out for a while & rough it. Went to the office this morning. The General was very pleasant in his reception of me, shaking hands & inviting me to be seated. I must stop all this grumbling about him & Vedder. He told me I would start for Mayer's Springs the latter part of next week. The Seminoles would remain there until next May, probably, but if I wanted to be relieved at any time, just write him. This is quite encouraging, if Sue is married next Spring. Asked about quarters and he said he would try to secure me a room to put my things in while at Mayer's Springs. Then went to the Commissary's & bought some cigars to send to Potter & J.R Cary, and to the Q.M. to see about ordnance stuff. Was bothered about property & gave myself a lot of unnecessary worry. In the evening went out to stables. Afterwards called on Duff, 8th Cav'y. visiting here from Del Rio, not at home & on Mrs. Guard. After seven o'clock played whist at Capt. Hall's against Mrs. H & Capt. Vance until midnight & had cake & wine, and a fine time. I am going to stop worrying about this property responsibility & attend to business better.

At the office this morning met Vedder & walked down to his office with him. He was quite accessible and I succeeded in making arrangements to have the carbines repaired. Had them carried down to the Ordnance Sergeant. Asked for a Board of Survey to act upon the carbine with a burst barrel. In the afternoon went over and sang with Miss Florence. Then played a while on the organ in the chapel and went to the Library. Did not go out to stables as the horse came while I was at dinner. In the evening went to a children's party at the hop room in honor of Trudie Hall's5 birthday and helped to entertain the little ones. It was quite warm. Received a letter and a bundle of papers from home this morning.

Overslept myself, & had to hurry with bathing and shaving to get to breakfast. A letter from Harry was my mail. Went over to the office & then returned to write home. Asked Guard at the office for the papers &c. of the Scouts and made arrangements to get them tomorrow. The General gave me a room over Vedder where Ives has a room also. So this Winter I can keep my furniture there and whenever I come in from Mayer's Springs can always find a place to go. Was interrupted by dinner in writing a letter to Marie, but finished it & mailed both letters after returning from stables. Went to chapel in the evening from which escorted Mrs. Hall. Col. Bliss & other callers came in afterwards. Col. B. entertaining all by stories & tricks with cards. Rumor around that headquarters go to San Antonio. Gen. Smith & Hall went down there tonight. Hope "E" Co. will go also if any company goes.

1 Eckerson, Theodore Henry (1851-1941)– USMA Class of 1874. Then the 1st Lieut of Co B, 19th U.S. Infantry. Retired as a Captain on January 3, 1895.
2 Seminole Scout Sandy Fay. He faithfully served as a scout for 34 years. He is buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.
3 French is incorrect here. The water course which forms Silver Lake is the west prong of the Nueces, not Sycamore creek.
4 Another round of “falling bricks” begins for the garrison as officers “rank out” each other for the most desirable quarters.
5 Gertrude Plummer Hall (1873-1942). It was her tenth birthday.


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.