The Diary of Lieutenant Francis Henry French at Fort Clark, Texas 1883 (continued, #14)

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 14th installment, Lieut. French continues his detached service from Fort Clark in command of the Seminole-Negro Indian Scout Detachment at the sub-post of Meyers Spring in present day Terrell County. His respect for the Scouts begins to grow as he starts to realize they are being unfairly treated with a prolonged deployment away from their families.
 

The Doctor went to Sanderson and returned this evening with some cabbag and onions. Spent the day making out Quarterly Returns of Q.M. Stores and o C.C. & G.E..1 Went over to the train in the evening and met the Doctor. Sa McGeary there. At night wrote letters to Helen and to Capt. Bradford.2 Settle with Slush Fund of Detachment.

Finished Quarterly Returns of C.C. & G.E. and made Quarterly Statement of Ordnance. If I had proper blanks could easily have finished Quarterly Return of Ordnance. At night wrote letters to Marie and to Shunk. Harvey is getting along very well, but think he cannot have a saddle put on for over a month yet.

Wrote letters home and to Hall today, and sent all the mail by Dr. Harmer who left for Clark this evening. The couriers came in this afternoon bringing me a letter from home and a bundle of papers. Rode over to the train with the Doctor and saw McGeary there. In the evening practiced on my violin for a while and retired earlier than usual.

Rode over to Thurston this morning to see if the nails for my tent had come, but found none. Returned and with the nails on hand put up one frame and put the tent over it. In the evening young Flint [see Diary for Feb'y. 8, 1883] came over for some things and spent the night here. In the evening we talked and he promised to keep a lookout for a chance for me to invest a small amount of money in some sheep. He seems like an active young man and will make his mark and money in the sheep business. Sent couriers for mail.

Flint left this morning. Sent over to Thurston but the nails did not come. Resumed work on tents and this evening I spend in my new tent. Have two wall tents facing each other with a space between covered by a fly. This will make a cool pleasant arrangement for hot weather. Shall fix the Doctor's tents the same way as soon as the nails come. This evening a cowboy by the name of Weaver came over from the Pecos to meet his brother at Thurston, but not finding him has returned to pass the night here. Four men who were on pass returned this evening bringing me a letter from home and some official mail. In the evening wrote to Crowder returning invoices signed, to Friedlander for a San Antonio check for $5, to Geary to pay 30 cts. telegraphic charge in Brackett, and letters to Capt. Randlett & Dr. McLain, and shall send them by Luce who expects to go to Del Rio tomorrow to see his wife.

End of the first week in this month. The Seminoles are becoming very tired of staying out here, and today Sgt. Kibbets told me that many of the men would not re-enlist if kept out here next month when their time is up. I don’t blame them for it is very unjust to them to keep them here. Wrote a personal letter to Gen'l Smith and asked him to consider this matter. Did not say anything about the men not reenlisting for he might consider it a threat. People will think I am asking for this more for myself than for the Seminoles so as to get to see Marie before she goes North. But I know that although I would prefer to stay in the Post whether she is there or not, that this letter was written solely for the

scouts, who have been treated unjustly. I don’t care much for the remarks of people so long as I feel sure I am doing right. Rode over to the station this morning but no stores came from Clark. Two ranchmen came up today and went with Weaver over to their ranch on the Pecos. Rather chilly this evening. Commenced to make out Quarterly Return of Ordnance but must wait until Monday to finish it. Wrote letter home this evening.

Sent letter to Thurston this morning to be mailed, and sent horse for Smith, section boss, to come over to spend the day. Train was very late and they did not come from railroad until noon. Smith is a young Irishman but he is very attentive to his business and will succeed. Mr. Stone a ranchman on the Pecos came up from Del Rio bringing me a nice cake Sophy3 sent by Dr. Harmer to Del Rio. Dr. Will telegraph this evening when he will come up. Wrote a letter to Grandmother in the evening. Dr. telegraphed that he will return Thursday morning.


1 Despite exhaustive searches this abbreviation could not be deciphered.