As an illustration of the many delays consequent upon frontier travel
may be mentioned the receipt, just before leaving for New Mexico,
of a box that had been fourteen months _en route_, though sent by
express from New York. To recount the mishaps which had befallen it
would be tiresome; yet that was but one of many similar experiences.
I had ordered the box in December, while at Camp Halleck, fully
expecting it would reach San Francisco by the time we did. The
contents were very valuable, and included an army overcoat intended
as a surprise for my husband, together with many other useful and
needed additions to our wardrobe.
It was shipped by my brother, who mailed at the same time two bills
of lading. The box arrived safely by sea, but the mail, which was
sent overland, was snowbound on the Union Pacific, and consequently
our letters were delayed. Knowing my brother’s habitual promptness,
I haunted the express office in San Francisco, only to be told again
and again that no such box was there. We therefore started for
Arizona without it. On our arrival, letters and the two bills of
lading were awaiting us. The box had been in San Francisco all the
time.
One of the bills was intrusted to an officer going there, who
promised to attend to the matter, but he never troubled himself about
it. After months had elapsed we begged another officer to hunt up the
box, which he not only did, but kindly brought it to us, after its
arrival had been vainly expected for fourteen months. The strangest
part of the whole affair, to my unworldly mind, was that the first
officer was under great obligations to us, while the one who really
obtained the box was almost a stranger.
The present may not seem a fitting occasion to moralize; but as this
is a true account of my army life and experience, I desire to state
that my reward for undue exertions on any one’s behalf was usually
the basest ingratitude. Of course this is only in accordance with all
the time-honored maxims of wiser people than myself, but the personal
experience was none the less unpleasant.
The officer to whom I refer as having been under obligations, had
brought a sick wife and child to the post for a temporary sojourn,
but the illness of his wife was so prolonged I was completely worn
out nursing her. As an addition to my troubles a second child
appeared upon the scene, which I was not only compelled to care
for, but supply with a wardrobe, in order that they might leave
for California in a month’s time. I was ill in bed, the result of
overwork, for weeks after they left, yet never have received a line
from them.
My long experience on the frontier plainly demonstrated that the
absence of civilization and all its appliances compelled any one with
a sympathetic heart to learn all branches of nursing. Before having
been married ten years I had acted as midwife at least that number of
times, and, far sadder, had prepared sweet and beautiful women for
their last resting-places.
Few who have seen delicately nurtured city girls marry so gladly the
men of their choice, have any idea of what they must endure in army
life. The utter absence of so much that is considered indispensable
in ordinary homes, added to the constant possibility of a move at the
most infelicitous moment, causes anxiety and restlessness which have
no adequate compensations in either the emoluments or glory that can
be gained in the service. Children always enjoy frontier travel, but
anxiety falls to the lot of mothers.
In one march of our regiment from New Mexico to Texas, nine children
were born _en route_. In those instances which came under my
observation, both mothers and babies were on the second day bundled
into ambulances and marched onward. In my opinion the natural
desire of army officers’ wives to be with their husbands has cost
the sacrifice of many precious lives; while those who survive the
hardships have bitter sufferings to contend with in after years of
chronic illness.
It is notorious that no provision is made for women in the army. Many
indignation meetings were held at which we discussed the matter, and
rebelled at being considered mere camp followers. It is a recognized
fact that woman’s presence—as wife—alone prevents demoralization, and
army officers are always encouraged to marry for that reason.
While at Camp Date Creek we formed several pleasant friendships, and
it is a matter of regret that in the years which have since elapsed
I have never met any of the ladies. Through the resignation of our
company captain and promotion of the senior lieutenant, an addition
was made to our circle of a brave, true soldier a man appointed from
the ranks—who by his nobility of character graced the higher position.
Consolidation at that time weeded out all worthless men. If an
officer’s reputation was aspersed, the charges were investigated, and
if proved, the chances of retaining his commission were very slight.
A second lieutenant of our troop was a scamp. He victimized me before
receiving his _congé_. I had supposed the mere title, “officer of
the army,” to be synonymous with honesty, so intrusted to him the
hoardings of many months with which I had designed to purchase a
pipe, and present to my husband. The amount, seventy-five dollars,
was large to me, and evidently to him also, for I never saw the money
again, nor the pipe it was to buy. Neither did the lieutenant return,
for he was dismissed the service, or rather dropped for incompetency.
Mr. Boyd had his pipe after all; for not discouraged by my loss I
began to save again, and although funds accumulated slowly, and a
year passed before the requisite amount was laid by, the pipe remains
to this day a memento of my early extravagance.
We had no outside society at Date Creek except a few rough
frontiersmen, who not only dared the danger from Indians, but also
that of the low, malarious atmosphere, for the sake of raising
vegetables, which commanded high prices. True, our small military
post was the only market, and as all supplies required to supplement
the gardeners’ stores were by reason of freight equally high-priced,
I doubt if the men even succeeded in making a comfortable living.
With all its drawbacks life was very enjoyable. Though out of the
question to go far, yet we explored the country within a radius
of several miles. Neither game nor fish were found, but it was a
pleasure to meet the strange characters with which that region
abounded.
We indulged in one visit to our regimental friends at Camp Willow
Grove. Everything was delightful when once there, but we had as usual
a disagreeable time going. Two days were consumed on the way. The
first night was spent at a stage station where all the strange and
uncouth experiences of our Nevada journey were repeated. There was,
however, a woman in this rough home who shared her bed with me; but
as it was originally intended only for one person, and we each had an
infant to care for, it soon became a question of whether or not I,
who occupied the side next the wall, should be shoved through it.
The thin boards of which the house was built were distinguished,
as is all frontier lumber, by their ability to warp, and therefore
proved a protection only from the rain, and not from the wind which
blew through the knot-holes and cracks. The inclemency of the weather
made matters worse. It was a fearful night! I mentally resolved
never to spend another in that rickety house. We changed our route
returning, and passed through Prescott.
About that time we began to rejoice in the prospect of additional
stores being furnished by the commissary department. After striving
for nearly two years to vary the monotony of our rations, we felt as
if the promised treat, in the shape of chocolate, macaroni, prunes,
raisins, and currants, would be almost too much of a luxury, and
care must be exercised if indigestion was not desired.
How much we enjoyed the slight variety! The zest with which cook and
I rang the changes on those different comestibles would seem really
childish at the present day, when almost all varieties of canned
goods and luxuries in the shape of grocers’ supplies can be found at
every military post, however small and remote.
The amount of pleasure which can be derived from the most
insignificant sources seems incredible; but I attribute much of the
happiness I found in army life to my delight in trivial matters. Then
we all were so united in mutual interests. The officers, instead
of being immersed in business cares, were ever ready to be amazed
or amused, as the case might be, with the results of our industry,
and absolute delight was manifested over the most trifling plan for
social enjoyment, which doubled the pleasure.
I have for many years entertained the greatest regard for
physicians, because during our army life they displayed so warm an
interest in my children. One of the merits of frontier residence is
that little ones thrive so much better there than in a city, and
rarely suffer from the many ailments to which town-bred children are
subject. The interest they inspire in every one, especially the post
surgeon, whose constant presence in cases of emergency gives one a
feeling of comfort and security nothing else can afford, is very
gratifying. The result, even in cases of severe illness, is usually
complete recovery. Both parents and patients unavoidably benefit by
the surroundings.
Our doctor at Camp Date Creek was a character so uncommon that my
recollections of him can never be effaced. He was an Irishman, a
grandnephew of John Philpot Curran, the distinguished Irish wit, and
himself so full of humor that his very presence was an antidote to
sickness and sorrow.
The doctor received a government contract after having been in
America but a few months. He never wearied of recounting the
impressions American slang had made upon him. Immediately on entering
our house he would seize baby and hold her for hours, all the time
pouring forth reminiscences of Ireland, and expressing surprise at
the difference between the two countries.
Our slang was described as very effective, especially the
Californian, which had, or so the doctor assured me, a distinct
vocabulary of its own, that, like adjectives, was capable of being
positive, comparative, and superlative. As an example he instanced
the following:
“You bet, you bet you, you bet your life.” “Why,” said he, “here is a
perfect declension! You bet your boots, you bet your bottom dollar,
you bet stamps.”
The genial Irish doctor was immensely pleased with our vernacular, if
with nothing else.
It would afford me much pleasure to prolong the narration of
incidents connected with those friends who aided so greatly in making
our life enjoyable, but I must hurry on with the account of our
journey to New Mexico.