The Diary of Lieutenant Francis Henry French at Fort Clark, Texas 1883 (continued, #10)

In this 10th installment, Lieutenant French is at the sub-post of Meyers Spring commanding the Seminole-Negro Indian Scout Detachment. He passes his time reading novels, practicing on his violin and riding his horse three miles to the railroad station for exercise. The Scouts receive their pay and give the lieutenant over $1000 to deliver to their wives at Fort Clark. By the end of the week he prepares to return to Fort Clark on horseback accompanied by two of the Scouts.

Monday, March 5, 1883

Charged on the Clothing Book the clothing issued the other day and found several errors in Guest's accounts. Am undecided what to do, as I have written him once or twice about this book and have carried it to him when I went to Clark. The safest plan for me would be to write him an O.B. and send it through Gen. Smith or Dept. Hdqrs. I guess he will pay some attention then. I have no use for that style of a man; he seems to be perfectly worthless. Practiced today and enjoyed the violin a great deal. I hope to be able to take music (vocal) lessons next Summer while home. Read part of "Fair Haired Alda"1  by Miss Marryat and finished "Monsieur Le Ministre". 2 In the evening wrote letters to Ed Todd, to Porter and for catalogue of Whitman Saddles. Raining this evening.

Pleasant weather today except a little rain in the evening. Finished "Fair Haired Alda" today. Practiced as usual. Wrote an O.D. to Vedder asking for more hay. Wrote a personal letter to Hall and asked for advice in regard to this matter of errors in the Clothing Book. I hate to make trouble for Guest, but if these are not corrected now, there will be no end to the trouble in the future. Rode Harvey to Thurston in the evening for exercise. Have felt "agueish" today, but hope I won’t have any attacks. I must take some quinine.

Raining all day, so that I did not send out the couriers as I had intended. Ordered Harvey brought in from the herd in the afternoon as there was a prospect of cessation to the rain, but it commenced again before he came in and I was compelled to give up my ride. Wrote a letter home today, practiced and read "The Fixed Period"3 by Trollope. Do not fully understand the book, but think it is a kind of satire, but on what subject cannot tell yet. Perhaps when the book is finished I may learn more about it. Thank goodness the mail is due tomorrow. Time is passing along slowly, but today ends the first week of the month. Soon it will be time to prepare another pay account, but I am going to try to see if it is possible to get along without drawing my pay this month. Somehow or other today I have been thinking a great deal about getting married, and having a home of my own. But I must put all such thoughts aside until Lula and Sue,4 at least, are married. Think I shall study Ives' Military Law5 and refresh my memory on this important part of my profession.

Rode Harvey over to the railroad this morning and was well pleased to see the Doctor get off the train. He brought me a letter from Marie and one from home. Came back immediately to camp to send the wagon after the Doctor. While waiting for the couriers practiced my music. About noon the couriers came and with them a recruit6 making the Detachment 40 strong. Four letters from home, one from Marie, one from Capt. Vance, Bradford, Shunk and Helen with two bundles of papers and a lot of O.B.'s made my mail. I enjoy reading letters so much that it was a great treat to get so many. Helen writes the most finished letters of all my correspondents. The Doctor was compelled to go up to Sanderson on the night train to see a sick man, so that I am alone once more. But having all the papers to read I do not feel his absence so much.

Sent over to Thurston this morning for the Paymaster but he did not come. The Doctor returned this evening with a lot of potatoes, eggs & brown sugar which he received as fee for attending the sick man. He kindly turned all these into the mess without making any charge for them. Practiced today as usual. Wrote letters sending checks to pay some bills and read papers.

Rode over to Thurston this morning and met Paymaster Bash and nephew Dan who come to pay my men. The wagon and escort were there and everything was brought in safety to camp. The men were paid in the evening and I collected some money to pay Friedlander and to take into the wives of the Seminoles in the Post. Mr. Stone a ranchman come over also and will spend the night here. In the evening Maj. Bash & Stone were beaten at seven-up7 by Dan and myself. Paymaster gave me a check for $125 my pay for March, which I shall send to Father to deposit until I can use it next summer. Could not practice today.

Major Bash, Dan, Doctor & I rode horses over to the train this morning where I was introduced to Mr. Lincoln who is now at Thurston with a gang of carpenters to build the cattle pen and shoot. McGeary gave us a San Antonio Express as he always does. Returned to Camp after seeing the Major and Dan start for Davis,8 wrote a letter home and sent the check to Father for deposit. Saw in the paper an order giving Guest leave of absence for 3 months. So I will start tomorrow morning for the Post taking Blanco with me to see if I can get Guest to correct the Clothing Book before he leaves, and to attend to some other matters. Received nearly $1000 from the men to be carried into Clark. Hope it won’t rain while I am making this trip. Shall carry my letters to the Post instead of letting U.S. do it.