The Diary of Lieutenant Francis Henry French at Fort Clark, Texas 1883 (continued #29)

In this 29th installment, Lieut. French is two weeks into his leave at his family’s home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His time is still occupied by visits to the dentist, baseball games, and a seemingly endless stream of “callers” or making calls himself.

Monday, July 16, 1883
Went down to the Dentist's in the morning and after dinner. In the evening called with Mother at Mrs.
Laubach's and Mrs. Miller's. It rained in the evening. Had one caller in the evening.(1)

Tuesday, July 17, 1883
Had a rest today from the Dentist's. No letter from Marie. Spent the morning at home and at the factory.(2)
In the afternoon went down to call on Mrs. Biewend with Mattie. In the evening McQuiston & other callers prevented me from going out.

Wednesday, July 18, 1883
Sat in the Dentist's chair from eight o'clock to 1-30. My bill is to be $75, part cash & rest in 60 days. After dinner read the record in Father's suit. In the evening called with Mother & Lula on Miss Sweeney & Annie Morris. Potter was here when we returned. Letter came from Marie today.

Thursday, July 19, 1883
Spent the morning as usual in the dentist's chair. After dinner finished reading the record in the canal case. In the evening, Mother, Mattie and I called at Mrs. Cheney's. I met her daughter and husband, Mrs. Knight & Mr. K., but neither Mr. nor Mrs. Cheney was at home. Callers were at the house after we got home.

Friday, July 20, 1883
Did not go to the Dentist's and am to rest until Monday. Went up to the shops and walked through them with Potter. He works in the office of the master mechanic and as he seems to understand and inquire thoroughly he explained everything very well. In the afternoon called with Mother at Uncle French's and at Dr. Ayers'. After supper went to call at Mrs. Higgins'. A number of folks from Grandmother's & Mr. Chapman spent the evening here.

Saturday, July 21, 1883
Went down town & to the factory in the morning. In the afternoon went with Lula to see a quite interesting game of ball. Called on Mrs. Ian Henderson in the evening. Potter was here to call. Ern & Mecca Hoagland came up for a short time but did not get out of the carriage.

Sunday, July 22, 1883
It was very close today. Mr. Moffatt has gone away and we had no services. Wrote to Marie in the morning and after dinner went out to Grandmother's with Father. A rain storm drove us into Mr. Cheney's for shelter.  Took tea with Aunt Julia. In the evening went to prayer meeting with Mattie. Very few people were in attendance.


1 “Calling” was a social ritual, one of the many courtesies of society in that era whereby one could keep one’s relationships alive and flourishing. “Calls” were made in the late afternoon or early evening and lasted only 20-30 minutes.
2 French, Hanna & Co., Summit City Woolen Mill on Water Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

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.