The Diary of Lieutenant Francis Henry French at Fort Clark, Texas 1883 (continued #17)

April 23, 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 17th installment, Lieut. French is commanding the Seminole-Negro Indian Scout Detachment at the sub-post of Meyers Spring in present day Terrell County. He anxiously awaits the arrival of his relief and prepares the Detachment for their return journey to Fort Clark.

Monday, April 23, 1883

Spent the day quietly in camp writing letters and reading. Played cards in the evening with the Doctor. Sent the couriers in with the mail this morning. Wrote Mr. Boesch of Brownsville to send me a pair of flannel pantaloons to wear this summer on leave & sent Crowder a check for $5 to settle that post fund business. Will be mighty glad when this confounded business is settled up at last.

Tuesday, April 24, 1883

The Doctor went up to Sanderson but returned without getting any vegetables as the man who kept the store there has left. This will make it rather rough on the company that is coming out here. The Doctor brought a telegram from Hall sent yesterday saying that "E" Troop would leave Clark today. It ought to be here next Monday. Wrote a letter to Guard to collect $5 from Murphy for me, one to N.Y. to enquire about the check I sent over a month ago for some socks, and made out my pay accounts. Shall send all tomorrow.

Wednesday, April. 25, 1883

Wrote my usual letter home today. In the afternoon Doctor & I rode over to Thurston. Saw Mr. Tracy there. McGeary was conductor of the train and saw him. Sent letter with my pay accounts asking to have the checks sent to Clark instead of out here. Had tank cleaned out near the springs today.1 "E" Troop ought to camp at Devil's River today. Ruled some red lines in the Muster Rolls and prepared them for filling out at the proper time. Sgt. Gordon and party returned this evening and report no stock missing and no signs of Indians. This report makes me feel much easier for I was afraid that I had been too hasty when I was over in the Pecos Valley. Besides I have been disappointed before when I expected to go into a Post from detached service and dreaded a report of Indians for then we would have to go out for a campaign. Our rations are nearly exhausted, so that we cannot make much of a campaign without a new stock. I have not sent in for more as I don’t want to carry any unnecessary weight back to the Post.

Thursday, April 26, 1883

Wrote a report of Sgt. Gordon's scout and then rode over to the railroad in time to meet the morning train and see Conductor Roberts. Made out my first muster roll for this muster today, but shall wait until later in the month to make out the others. The two Ramseys and Stone came over from the Pecos today, Stone and young Ramsey on their way to Uvalde, & the elder Ramsey going to Del Rio. It has been quite warm today, but I found it comfortable under the shade between the two tents. Read a light novel called "Allerton Towers"2 by Annie Thomas. It does well enough to pass the time, but is not much of a book. Read a little law in the evening.

Friday, April 27, 1883

Wrote some official letters this morning and put in some headings on the muster rolls but did not write any names. The Doctor went down to Lozier this evening to attend a sick child. Harvey's back is healing splendidly. Some cattle men came in today to stay here until a bunch of cattle comes up from Del Rio. Read most of the day. Tried to read more Ives in the evening, but went to sleep over it.

Saturday, April 28, 1883

Spent the most of the day in working on the muster rolls and completed them as far as possible until after the men are mustered. Went down to the Springs this morning to stop the cattle men from washing in the main tank and spoiling the water. The couriers came in early this morning bringing me two letters from home, some official mail and a bundle of papers. No letter has come from Marie for some time. Perhaps she is offended because I have not written oftener, but I have not had much spare time and besides have not felt much inclination for writing. Rode over to Thurston this afternoon and learned that "E" Troop had left Eagle's Nest at 4 o'clock this afternoon. They will come in either tomorrow or next day. Doctor returned this morning from Lozier. Read a little law in the evening.

Sunday, April 29, 1883

Wrote a letter home this morning and took a bath. About one o'clock P.M. saw "E" Troop coming over the hill. So the Doctor and I did not go over to Thurston as we intended. Sent a man over with note to the men over there saying good-bye and letter home and to John Hoagland congratulating him on his promotion. Capt. Kauffman and Kendall3 came with "E" Troop. Gen. Smith has made Weeks,4 the 1st Lieutenant, Post Commissary. I supposed Vedder would get this. Made out inspection reports to have some tents condemned and shall turn over property early tomorrow. Shall try to leave camp tomorrow and camp at Lozier. It was very pleasant to have these new officers in camp, some new people to talk to. I shall go to bed early tonight as I have a great deal to do tomorrow.

1 It is probable in 1883 the spring was enclosed by a low stone wall creating a tank. A larger higher tank was built in 1901 by Major John L. Bullis, who then owned Meyers Spring. That tank still exists to this day. The site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

2 Allerton Towers by Annie Thomas is a three volume novel which even today receives low marks for its literary value.

3 Kendall, Henry Fletcher (1855 -1913). USMA Class of 1878. Then the 2nd Lieut of “E” Troop, 8th Cavalry at Fort Clark. The Kendall family is the namesake of Kendall County, Texas. As a major of the 12th Cavalry, Kendall was the post commander of Fort Clark in 1901. He retired with a disability in the line of duty in 1905.

4 Weeks, Harrison Samuel (1845-1892). USMA Class of 1868. Then serving as the 1st Lieut. of Troop “E,” 8th Cavalry at Fort Clark. He retired as a captain on September 28, 1889.

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.