CHAPTER VIII.

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.