The Diary of Lieutenant Francis Henry French at Fort Clark, Texas 1883 (continued, #13)

March 26, 2026

by Fort Clark Heritage Council, Bill Haenn, FCHC Senior Historian

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.

In this 13th installment, Lieutenant French has returned to Meyers Spring and is back in his routine of reading novels, writing letters and anticipating his mail. He makes his first trip to Sanderson with several Scouts and has some interesting observations of the developing community.

Monday, March 26, 1883

The Doctor went up to Sanderson and returned this evening with some splendid potatoes. I spent the day in camp trying to get all the writing done up, that has not been attended to since I went to Clark two weeks ago. Sent couriers in with mail and five men on pass to Clark, sending letters to Marie, Capt. Vance and others by them. I give them six days now to make the trip, so they are due here next Saturday.

Tuesday, March 27, 1883

This morning with Sgt. Kibbets and three men went up to Sanderson, riding a horse of Sgt. July's. The ride was rather warm and not very enjoyable. Sgt. Kibbets told me a great deal about the scouts and his stories were quite interesting. Am thinking of writing a description of these men and sending it to the Youth's Companion or Century. However I shall wait until I have finished the description of our quarantine camp. Reached Sanderson1 about five o'clock P.M. and found it to be a town on wheels, almost all the people living in freight cars. Spent the time before retiring in wandering around talking. This will be a big town, if they strike water in their artesian well, as it is the end of two divisions on the G.H.& S.A.R.R.2

Wednesday, March 28, 1883

The vegetables did not arrive as expected last night, so that we could get nothing but 150 lbs. of potatoes @ 5 1/2 cts. Had a talk with a man there in regard to supplying Mayers Springs with fresh beef and promised to write to Clark to get authority to purchase from him. Started for camp and after a warm dull ride rode into camp about four o'clock P.M. Luce, on the way told me he could find some mineral up in the vicinity of Maxon Springs and asked permission to go up there for a few days. Think I shall let him go alone for four or five days to see what he can get. Felt tired out in the evening.

Thursday, March 29, 1883

Wrote a letter home and took it over to Thurston this afternoon. Mr. McGeary the conductor of the train carried it to mail in San Antonio for me. Was much surprised & pleased to see Capt. Williams3 who was Post Quartermaster at Brown last year. He was relieved from duty there on the 23rd and had been to Davis to report, and when I saw him was on his way to Atlanta on leave. He is a very pleasant gentleman and I liked him very much at Brown. Col. Towle4 calls him a "petticoat quartermaster," as he was appointed A.Q.M. through the influence of his wife's friends. The train did not stop very long and our conversation was quite unsatisfactory. Commenced to work on my quarterly returns today. Wrote letters to Hall and to Vedder today. This evening 4 new tents and lumber to frame and floor them came out with the rations. The lumber is all cut out. Soon the Doctor and I will be comfortably fixed up.

Friday, March 30, 1883

Sun was shining brightly today, and the air was quite warm. Sent two couriers in with mail this morning. After starting them, the Doctor and I commenced to work with some of the men and before evening had two wall tents floored & framed ready for occupation. The Doctor will move into them tomorrow. Vedder did not send any nails, so that we cannot start on my tents just now. In the evening found a quotation from "Lucile"5 to write in Marie's album. This reminded me very much of the time last Summer at Brown when we read Lucile together over in the National Cemetery at Brown. There are very many pleasant memories connected with that place. What an enjoyable time we spent reading this grand poem there. Well, it is all past now. Wrote a note to Marie and will send the book and note by the soldier who came with the rations, tomorrow. Sgt. July cut the lump out of Harvey's back this morning, so that he cannot be ridden for over a month.

Saturday, March 31, 1883

The last day of the month. Made out my Monthly Return, Report of Fuel and Forage and Quarterly Account Current of Company Funds. Also wrote a letter to Ed Todd to send me a nice copy of "Lucile" to present to Marie for a birthday present. Couriers came in bringing me a pleasant letter from Marie, two letters and a bundle of papers from home and some official mail. Spent the evening reading the papers.

Sunday, April 1, 1883

Pleasant Spring day. Today is Father's birthday. Hope that it will be a very enjoyable one for him and be followed by many more pleasant. Took a bath and wrote a letter home. Then in the afternoon the Doctor and I took some horses and rode over to Thurston. The ride was very pleasant, as we were in no hurry but allowed the horses to go along slowly. Today is the anniversary of the death of the Doctor's daughter and he felt rather blue in consequence. Poor man, his seems a hard life. With his profession I think I would give up the Army and get a civil practice where I could live with my family. Mailed the letter on the train and after chatting with Mr. McGeary and the men around Thurston returned to camp. Harvey is getting along nicely. In the evening wrote letters to Cunningham and Crowder.

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 for the benefit of the visiting public and future generations, providing for the advancement and strengthening of heritage tourism initiatives by growing recognition of and visitation to the Fort Clark Historic District and being committed to endorsing and promulgating the rich history of Fort Clark by expanding upon related educational and research efforts. Find this article and more online at KinneyCountyPost.com