CHAPTER XIX.

That unpleasant features were there is not, however, to be denied; and as my aim is to present both the lights and shadows of army life, I will now describe a few of the latter.

As before stated, the supposed impending war with Mexico was the occasion of an influx of troops far greater than our post could comfortably accommodate. After we had been at Fort Clark a year and a half, occupying that pretty, vine-embowered house, we learned that our garrison of ten companies was to be increased to twenty-five, with two headquarters and two bands.

The custom that obtains throughout the army of each officer selecting according to his rank the quarters which he may prefer, was never more fully enforced than at Fort Clark. Fifty times, perhaps, there was a general move of at least ten families, because some officer had arrived who, in selecting a house, caused a dozen other officers to move, for each in turn chose the one then occupied by the next lower in rank. We used to call it “bricks falling,” because each toppled that next in order over; but the annoyance was endured with great good nature.

When tidings of such an unusual expected influx reached our ears, we wondered what would become of us, as there were not accommodations for half the number who were to arrive. An onlooker would doubtless have found the anxiety experienced by the officers’ wives amusing; for though prepared for the worst we were, of course, solicitous.

I was ill at the time, confined to my room; and messages were brought at intervals from six different officers, who all outranked Mr. Boyd, that each had selected our house. Ridiculous as it may seem, every one was outranked by another. Finally, a captain of infantry chose our quarters, and then the doctor declared I could not be moved; consequently, the captain went temporarily into the house which we were eventually compelled to occupy.

Next day our third child and second son was born. During the entire time of my recovery I indulged a delusive hope that the officer who had chosen our home would be content to remain in the little house he was then occupying, and which I dreaded to think of living in because it was so small for our increased family. Delusive hope! built entirely upon my belief in, or knowledge of, our respective needs. I felt that a bachelor could live less inconveniently in one room than could a family of five.

The very day our baby was born the little fellow contracted whooping-cough from his sister, who, charmed to welcome a new brother, had repeatedly kissed him. I had no idea such a disease was in the garrison, and when we learned of it the harm had been done. Not only did all three of our children suffer in the most pronounced fashion, but it was pitiable to see and hear that tiny baby coughing violently before he was two weeks old. He would turn so black in the face, perhaps a hundred times a day, that his nurse hardly dared close her eyes, as it would be necessary to raise the infant to a perfectly erect posture to prevent his strangling.

In spite of baby’s sufferings he never lost flesh, which the doctor said was marvelous, for my neighbors declared they could hear him cough a hundred yards away. Our anxiety was great, and Mr. Boyd was a veritable slave.

For a week I was at death’s door with fever; and yet the very day baby was four weeks old we were obliged to move, that the captain, who demanded his house without further delay, might be accommodated. Each of the children caught cold, and bronchitis was added to whooping-cough; in consequence of which, during that and the succeeding winter, I always slept with one hand under baby’s head, in order to raise him suddenly when attacked by those terrible fits of coughing.

When I state that our new house consisted of but one room, with a tiny addition back which was quite uninhabitable, and that we lived in such quarters for two long summers and winters, it will scarcely be believed. But even those meager accommodations were not deemed a very severe hardship by many of the ladies who had been at Fort Clark for years before the new quarters had been built, and who told tales of far greater crowding.

Among others, the case of a little bride was cited, who, coming from a luxurious Eastern home, had been glad to find quarters in a hallway between two other families. One morning her husband was told that some superior officer wanted his hall, and disgusted he resigned.

The recital of many such absolutely true tales might, perhaps, have comforted me in some measure, had we not already endured ten long years of hardships; and it seemed as if the time should have come when length of service counted for something.

But it never does in the army, as possibly only those know who have realized the fact through actual experience. There one must endure all discomforts as uncomplainingly as possible, and meekly relinquish the refinements of life, which such a mode of living absolutely forbids. For a family of five to live in one room through two fearfully warm summers and two winters was far from pleasant; and in order to relieve ourselves of discomforts so far as was possible, we remained out-doors on our pleasant porch nearly all the time.

The winters were delightful in that part of Texas, and yet very trying. The only really cold weather there is caused by the “northers,” which come up so suddenly as to render it out of the question to be prepared for the change. A norther is always preceded by a very sultry day; then the thermometer falls perhaps fifty degrees in an hour, and there is something in the chill north wind which seems to freeze the very blood in one’s veins. When, in addition, a rainstorm follows, it is little wonder that the cattle interests of Texas suffer, for no living creature can well exist in such an atmosphere when exposed.

Our little back room faced the north, so we could not use it in winter, for the tiny house, built of wood with a canvas ceiling, was then like a barn; and it was so old that in summer the canvas and woodwork harbored every species of vermin, with which it simply became alive.

I was awakened one night by the raging of a violent storm that seemed to shake the house to its foundations. The rain descended with such force that I expected every moment the roof would fall in. A glance showed me water pouring in under the door which separated the small back room from the larger one in which we slept. I quickly arose and stepped into the little room to find myself literally wading in water which reached above my ankles. The fierce storm had beaten in the old, weather-worn roof, and through a large hole which had been forced in the canvas ceiling a stream of liquid mud was pouring that deluged everything. The opening was directly over an open bureau drawer, the contents of which were a strange sight. The mud was formed by rain falling on the accumulation of dirt that miserable old canvas held; and before the storm had ceased our possessions were worthless, and the room, which within our knowledge never had been worthy of the name, was still less so.

Every house in the post was in a wretched condition long before morning, and each woman thought that her individual experience could not be exceeded in misery.

It was so common for roofs to leak and plaster to fall that we expected such mishaps; but fortunately, because they left more serious trouble in their wake, such furious storms were not frequent. One lady, a bride, who until that night had seen only the bright side of army life, decided that if such experiences were common she did not care to become accustomed to them; so one result in that instance was her husband’s resignation from the army.

A large double bed stood in one corner of our only room, and in the other a lounge that could be used for the children at night. Over our bed I swung a hammock, which served admirably for baby’s cradle, and as an economy of space it was a great success. But during warm weather the porch, as already stated, was our dwelling-place, and at night the hammock suspended there was frequently occupied by Mr. Boyd; for in such a climate to sleep with four other persons in one small room was not very refreshing.

We were, however, very gay through all our miseries and deprivations; for with seventy-five officers and forty ladies in the garrison many pleasures could be enjoyed. During the first winter we had a series of balls for the exchange of regimental courtesies. Those already stationed at Fort Clark gave a large ball to welcome the new-comers, even if they did turn us out of houses and homes, which courtesy was returned by a very grand affair. Then each regiment—six were represented, two of them colored—extended hospitalities on its individual account, and each vied with the others in somewhat varying the character of the entertainment.

Following that, the bachelors gave a large german where the favors were superb. Then the ladies united in a New Year’s reception, which was said to surpass all the rest. Afterward we had weekly hops, a masquerade and phantom party, at which it was difficult to hide our identity; for in a garrison where every personal trait was necessarily observed, to disguise one’s individuality was not easy. Probably the officer who entered the room encased in a well-stuffed mattress did so most effectually.

Studying how to puzzle the rest was great fun. So many amusements, combined with the real kindly feeling constantly evinced, made our social life very enjoyable. Every excuse for pleasant intercourse was freely sought; and so long as life lasts I shall remember those years at Fort Clark as not only joyous, but given up to experiences so distinctly different from all others as to merit perpetual and delightful recollection.

In the first place, every one lived out-of-doors nine months of the year. That necessitated, or made more easily possible, a constant interchange of friendly remarks, and we became more like one large family than like strangers. Our interests were identical. If any change was made, it affected so many that all were drawn together by that “fellow feeling which makes us wondrous kind.”

When troops were ordered away, their departure was dreaded because the officers’ society would be greatly missed. If new-comers arrived, as they constantly did, we welcomed them cordially. Every time an inspecting officer or one of high rank came to Fort Clark, as frequently happened, we rejoiced in the opportunity to give a ball in his honor, and the band serenaded him each night of his sojourn; in fact, nothing was lacking that would prove our hospitality and cordiality.

Riding and driving parties were indulged in daily; for fully half of the officers stationed at our garrison were in the cavalry, and in addition to their mounts had fine carriages. When the cavalry were sent to graze their horses near streams, and permanent camps were thus established, we visited them frequently. In turn, they combined their forces and gave grand picnics, which were so successful we were enraptured.

One night I shall never forget. The moon shone her best and brightest on a smooth stretch of canvas, spread so as to form a splendid dancing-floor, and on trees hung with fairy lanterns, which extending as far as the eye could reach met as background the pretty little stream on whose banks lovers wandered. Of course, in that region of soft tropic warmth and fervor, romance blended with everything; and no eligible young lady was ever known to leave Fort Clark without a tiny circlet on her finger, which proved her right to return as an officer’s bride.

Meantime, rumors of war kept increasing, and finally all our troops were marched into Mexico during the hottest month of the year. This was, however, done merely as a menace; for in a week’s time they returned, having faced the Mexicans on their own ground without even exchanging shots. Blistered feet and swollen limbs, gained by marching through parching sands, were the only reminders of the affair brought back.

Soon after, Mexico arranged new terms with our authorities, in accordance with which incursions over the border were allowed when our troops were on the trail of desperate adventurers who were escaping with much booty. This caused the withdrawal from Fort Clark of the gallant cavalry regiment, which with our own had hoped to reap a little glory from the strained relations between our country and her sister republic.

Courtesies were exchanged between leading officers in the Mexican and American armies, which we shared in by giving a grand ball to the general and staff of the Mexican army on their visit to our post while negotiating terms of peace. Our third winter at Fort Clark was brilliant socially. We organized a theatrical company, which gave with great success a number of popular plays, including “Caste,” “Ours,” and several farces that were a source of much merriment. The soldiers were allowed to fill the hall to its utmost capacity, and their appreciation was an additional reward for our efforts.

I doubt if anything can be funnier than a familiar face and form rendered unrecognizable by an absurd and ridiculous disguise. The night “Caste” was produced, I excelled myself in so completely changing Mr. Boyd’s appearance that his entrance on the stage as “Old Eccles” was greeted by loud and long-continued shouts, which ceased only to be again and again renewed. It was the success of the evening. In our sentimental parts Mr. Boyd eclipsed us all, and was the cynosure of all eyes in his maudlin drunkenness.

After having studied the book of directions until I understood how to make my husband look utterly disreputable and unlike himself, I delighted in having him assume various odd characters; for the moment he appeared before an audience, deafening applause invariably greeted him.

We worked as hard to secure the success of our plays as though fortunes had depended upon it, and unhesitatingly robbed our houses of ornaments in order that the stage might present an attractive appearance.

I would not like to be a professional on the boards if it necessitated as much real labor as did our amateur performances. But we soon found that a good paying audience could readily be commanded, and after the first few evenings raised money enough to build a very pretty stage, and completely renovate the only hall in the garrison, which had been used for church, schoolroom, ballroom, and theater for years without any improvements or alterations having been made, and was in sad need of the new floor and ceiling our money supplied.

We also gave performances for several charities. One for the famishing Irish, when we “Caste” our bread upon the waters, was especially successful; and when at the approach of Christmas, money was needed for a tree with which to gladden the hearts of the soldiers’ one hundred little children, we had an immense audience.

The actors afterwards went to San Antonio, where they played for the Masonic fund; and also to a little nearby town where a church was greatly needed.