Bring Back the Ballroom Lecture Series Opens with Strong Attendance and Compelling History

The Bring Back the Ballroom Lecture Series launched to an enthusiastic crowd on Thursday, March 19, with over 50 attendees gathering inside the historic Officers’ Mess and Club at Dickman Hall for an evening of history, storytelling, and community. Presented by the Fort Clark Heritage Council, the first lecture, titled “Conduct Unbecoming an Officer and a Gentleman,” was delivered by historian Bill Haenn. The program offered a vivid glimpse into the life of Captain Thomas Little and the cultural realities of frontier Brackettville in the late 1870s. Haenn’s presentation centered on a dramatic and deeply human story.  

On December 27, 1922, Captain Thomas Little—once a respected officer of the 10th U.S. Cavalry, husband of 60 years and father of nine—died at age ninety. Decades earlier, however, his career ended in disgrace after an 1877 incident in Brackett, where he was seen in uniform accompanying a known prostitute. Charged with “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman,” Little was court-martialed at Fort Clark and dismissed from service, a decision upheld by General William T. Sherman and President Rutherford B. Hayes.

The lecture explored not only the facts of the case but also the broader human themes of reputation, judgment, and redemption. For the remainder of his life, Little sought to restore his name, illustrating the lasting consequences of a single moment of transgression. Attendees included representatives from the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Pecos Trail Region, and members of the Kinney County community, along with visitors drawn by the opportunity to experience history within one of Fort Clark’s most iconic spaces. The evening also offered a glimpse into the future of the restored ballroom as a place of fellowship, education, and cultural enrichment.

The lecture series continues this week with Lecture #2 on Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 p.m., featuring “Twilight of the U.S. Cavalry in the Big Bend Country.” The series will also include an April 23 presentation on “W.M. Cline’s Postcards of Brackettville.” With a strong turnout and engaging start, the Bring Back the Ballroom Lecture Series is quickly becoming a cornerstone event for the community, blending local history with a renewed vision for Dickman Hall.

You can register online HERE