I have always thought army life would be delightful if there was the
slightest certainty of remaining at any post for a given length of
time; but this is so out of the question that many comforts which
might otherwise be procured are gradually tabooed.
Officers become so accustomed to expect removal, that they are
unwilling to accumulate comforts which must be left when marching
orders are received; and every one is apt to give credence in some
degree to the rumors which continually gain ground, and usually
emanate from an unknown source, that a change is soon to be made. One
lives in a veritable atmosphere of unrest until it becomes second
nature.
At Bayard, for the first time during our army life, we felt somewhat
settled. Cavalry service consists entirely of unforeseen emergencies,
dependent upon the country’s condition and its need for the movement
of troops, either in the pursuit of Indians or horse-thieves. As
Mr. Boyd had been sent to superintend the building of the quarters
at Bayard, we felt that unless his regiment moved he would remain
as quartermaster until they were completed, so quietly established
ourselves in one of the new houses to enjoy life and a more prolonged
stay than usual.
We made many pleasant friends in the neighboring town of Silver City,
enjoyed a great deal of company from there, and always drove over to
the entertainments they gave, some of which were of a very comical
nature.
Imagine a ball at which every element is represented, from the most
refined to the most uncultivated, from the transplanted branches of
excellent Eastern families, who lured by enticing descriptions of
great mineral wealth to be found at the West had gone there in search
of fortunes, to the rudest specimens of frontier life, who had never
seen anything else, and were devoid of all education, yet, like true
Americans, regarded themselves as the very quintessence of knowledge
and good-breeding.
The balls were always held in the courthouse; and when, during court
session, the judge and attendant lawyers were to be honored with an
entertainment in consonance with their dignity, the rude room would
be cleared of benches just before the hour at which the dance was to
begin, and pretty dresses would trail over the floor which had not
been cleaned for weeks, and which was the recipient of every kind of
_débris_.
At one of those balls, held immediately after court had adjourned,
the window-sills had been made receptacles for all such usual
appliances of lawyers as paper, pens, and ink. The army-post guests
laid their many wraps in one of those windows because there was
no dressing-room. In fact, such a luxury was unknown. When ready
to return home, our wraps were pulled down, and with them came
several bottles of ink, which sprinkled their contents liberally
over shawls and head-gear. As usual, I was a sufferer, and have to
this day, as memento of the occasion, a very handsome shawl that was
completely ruined. But to remain at home from the only pleasure our
circumstances afforded was not to be thought of, and fine clothes
were willingly sacrificed.
We could rarely indulge in dancing-parties at Bayard because there
were so few ladies. When, occasionally, a special effort in that
direction was made, the fact that we had no proper dancing-hall
would be emphasized, and the large double parlors of our commanding
officer’s house utilized. With the facilities at hand for decorating
them with beautiful flags, cannon, stacked bayonets and swords, we
gave several dances, which contrasted favorably with the town balls,
and quite cured me of any desire to ever again dance on so different
a floor.
Yet we sincerely enjoyed our Silver City friends, and our greatest
pleasure was to drive over and visit them, returning early in the
evening, very much fatigued, but happy because we lived near any sort
of town, instead of being cut entirely off from all outside life.
Our cook often rebelled at the large parties of friends who sometimes
visited us unexpectedly, and, as before in similar experiences,
showed his displeasure by indulging too freely in “strong water.”
One day he notably distinguished himself, and almost extinguished
me, by reeling in before a whole party of friends who were awaiting
luncheon, and declaring that he was no slave, neither had he engaged
himself as a hotel cook. His freedom of manner was so natural among
frontier people, that every one laughed, and all sallied out in the
dining-room, where we passed around bowls of bread and milk.
We had two excellent cows, and my delight was to work large rolls of
butter into dainty pats for the table. Never before or since have
I so enjoyed housekeeping as at Fort Bayard. Our chickens seemed
fairly to multiply, and I could keep no count of the eggs they laid.
We were able to supply every one, and still have quantities left for
our own use.
I was in my element; for I found that by dint of judicious management
fifty dollars a month could be laid aside, so in two years’ time we
were entirely out of debt, and fully resolved never again to enter
the state. That was our golden harvest time, and I look back upon it
with unspeakable pleasure.
I would like the ability to describe one beautiful friend who was my
constant companion at that time, but no pen can do justice to the
admirable traits of so perfect a woman. She is still with her husband
in the West, a pattern of all womanly goodness. Her example may well
be followed by all who leave good homes to follow their husbands in
army life, for only the absolute unselfishness she so beautifully
exemplified will enable women to endure the same hardships. It was
her sweet little first baby to whose death I have alluded, and which
left us all sincere mourners for her dear sake. She always reminded
me of the virtuous woman described in the Bible, whose “children
arise up, and call her blessed.”
But I must not linger over those recollections of dear Fort Bayard,
where we enjoyed a real home for three years, and even flowers in
abundance. If people in civil life could know of the weeks and months
of care one little plant has often received from an army woman,
because a dear reminder of her distant home, they would understand
what a luxury it was to be able to raise flowers without any
particular effort. Though one loves work, yet it is pleasant to be
sometimes rewarded; and we had never before been where flowers could
be freely indulged in, nor have we since.
There was another especial pleasure we enjoyed at Fort Bayard, which
to me is the chief charm of army life—constant rides on horseback.
At that post they were delightful; for, go where we would in any
direction, excellent mountain roads and superb scenery rewarded us.
Our favorite jaunt was to the Santa Rita mountains. Having gained
them, we would dismount and explore the famous mines which were
tunneled in so many directions that I always feared lest we should be
buried alive. Those tunnels had been dug centuries before, and the
then so-called “new industry” was but a revival of past labors.
Mr. Boyd, true to his nature, which was to employ every moment in
devoted service to the government, rarely found time to escort me
until after the day’s duties were over; or we would arise very early
in the morning, and enjoy a ride that colored my mind for weeks with
a vague fancy that life was not altogether and entirely real and
practical, but was full of deep beauty; and if we could only live
more out-of-doors, and be permeated more often and thoroughly with
the charms of nature as seen in the early freshness and beauty of
such mornings as were those, we should be elevated, and enabled to
grasp more of spiritual things than tame and ordinary humdrum life
permits.
Oh, I envy the woodsman who is content with nature, and never pines
for the artificial life of cities! Nature is perfect, and in such
deep solitudes the most prosaic minds must realize this truth.