The Diary of Lieutenant Francis Henry French at Fort Clark, Texas 1883 (continued, #26)

June 25, 2026

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

In this 26th installment, Lieut. French relinquishes his command of the Seminole Scouts and begins his leave accompanying Marie by train to her home in Cincinnati. The many civilians he encounters are nearly impossible to trace in search of biographical information.

Monday, June 25, 1883

Dr. Maddox came this morning. Now he, Cunnie & I, three aspirants for Marie's hand are together in the Post. Saw him this morning for a while. Worked hard all day transferring property to Geary. Went out to the Seminole Camp with him. In the evening called with Cunnie at Gen'l Smith's where I met Maj. Converse of the Sunset Route and Miss Allen a young lady from Houston. Had a little chat with her and found her quite pleasant. Called then on Col. Towle until tattoo and after that worked on my quarterly returns until long after midnight.

Tuesday, June 26, 1883

Worked today all day on papers. Geary has been ordered to go out with Capt. Livermore1 and Guard is detailed to command the Seminoles and I have to transfer to him. In the evening called with Cunnie on Mrs. Feche't, Mrs. Bernard and at Col. Lyster's until tattoo. Marie was out riding with Dr. Maddox. After tattoo worked on my papers and got them almost completed.

Wednesday, June 27, 1883

Have been working like a horse all day today. Got Gen'l Smith to cash my pay accounts for the present month. Finished the quarterly returns and have only the statement of ordnance to make now and I will be through. Rode out to the Seminole Camp this afternoon with Guard, Hewitt and Geary to show Guard around. Saw Marie for a few minutes at noon. Dined this evening at Capt. Hall's with Marie, Hewitt & Capt. Vance, and had a splendid time there. In the evening took Mrs. Hall to the hop in Marie's honor and danced a polka with the latter. While dancing she asked when we would dance together again. I wonder if we will ever meet again after we part in Cincinnati. I have promised to make her a visit this summer but Mother may veto that. Took Mrs. Hall home at tattoo and returned to escort Mrs. Lyster home after the hop was over. Sat at Col. Lyster's about an hour with Cunnie who took Marie to the hop, and then he came over to my house with me. Dr. Maddox returned to Mayers Springs last night. Wrote a letter home today. Gen'l Smith, Hall, & Vedder left for San Antonio tonight.

Thursday, June 28, 1883

The last time I wrote in my journal was at Clark, just previous to leaving on leave of absence. Now it is July 11 and I shall write up intervening time from memory. Today I was busy packing up. Got all the furniture crated and stored in Q.M. warehouse. After crating spent time before dinner at Geary's with Guard and Cunnie. Had shave at barber's and then went to Col. Lyster's for dinner, Dr. & Mrs. Heger, Mrs. Kauffman & Cunnie being the other guests. Took Mrs. K to dinner. Enjoyed it very much. After eating sat & talked for a while & then had to leave to prepare for the trip. Changed my clothes & then went around to say good-bye. After tattoo the wagon came around for the trunks and then went over to Col. Lyster's. Mrs. L., Marie, Cunnie & I rode over in one ambulance and the Colonel came in the other. Felt rather vexed with Cunnie for coming with us, but he intends to return to Duncan.

Friday, June 29, 1883

Had to wait some time at Spofford for the train. Felt rather afraid that Dr. Maddox would come in from Mayer's Spring on the train and would go to San Antonio with us but he didn't. Godwin & family & Dr. Havard from Duncan were on the train and went through to San Antonio with us. I had the upper berth above Marie. Got into San Antonio about 6-30 & saw Hickey2 there. The baggage master was so surly that we were unable to have our trunks transferred in time to take them with us; had to run to catch the train. After two or three hours ride the conductor handed me a telegram from the ticket agent at San Antonio saying that he would check our trunks so as to get them into Saint Louis when we got there. Felt much relieved in consequence. The ride was very pleasant. Marie was the only lady & everybody was very courteous. We played cribbage, talked or slept just as it pleased us. The car was a dining car and the meals were good. In the evening while the berths were being prepared we had a good old fashioned talk, like we used to at Brown. Passed through Austin & Dallas in the afternoon, neither of which seemed as lively as San Antonio. Shunk was unable to meet us in San Antonio, being Officer of the Day.

Saturday, June 30, 1883

The last day of the month. Left Texas early this morning at Denison, traveled through Indian Territory and Kansas today. Marie is a very pleasant traveling companion. Took the berth above her on the trip so as to be near her in case of emergency. In the evening we had a good talk and went into the state room to finish it, but a man was there before us. This was the last night we were to spend on the cars, and we regretted that our talk was prevented. Telegraphed to Theodore Meyer to meet us in St. Louis tomorrow morning.

Sunday, July 1, 1883

Soon after getting up we ran into St. Louis. Mr. Meyer met us at depot, and said that Theodore had gone to New Mexico. Wanted me to visit them but this was impossible. He sat with us part of breakfast & then took leave. After breakfast got Marie & traps in the chair car for Cincinnati, bought tickets and telegraphed to her brother. Then went after the trunks & found they had not come. So made arrangements to have them sent to Cincinnati. Wanted to get shaved, but had no time. The trip over the O. & M.3 was very dirty & dusty and the most uncomfortable part of our traveling. Reached Cincinnati about 6-30 P.M. No one to meet us. Took carriage for Mrs. Doughty's, 216 Auburn Ave. The ride was very uncomfortable for we were both dirty & all the people were out. Mrs. D. was at home, and after introduction took me up for a bath & to my room. After bathing and changing underwear & shaving went down & met Miss Hattie, who seems fatter than at Leavenworth in '81. She went to the train to meet us but got there too late. Then went into the parlor & met Miss Nellie Williamson, her brother, and Miss Arta Parvin. Miss Nellie is a very intimate friend of Marie's and we have often spoken about her. From first impressions, I like her very much. Hattie, Marie & I then ate supper and afterwards joined the others on the porch and talked till after ten o'clock.

1 Livermore, William Roscoe (1843-1919) USMA Class of 1865. A renowned officer of the Army Corps of Engineers who extensively surveyed and mapped the Big Bend region. Mount Livermore, in the Davis Mountains is named in his honor.

2 Hickey, James Burke (1848-1928) USMA Class of 1871. A Civil veteran of the U.S. Navy he was then adjutant of the 8th U.S. Cavalry. Following a distinguished career he retired in 1909 as Colonel of the 14th U.S. Cavalry.

3 The Ohio and Mississippi Railway (earlier the Ohio and Mississippi Rail Road), abbreviated O&M, was a railroad operating between Cincinnati, Ohio, and East St. Louis, Illinois, from 1857 to 1893.

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.

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.