It does seem as if everything horrible had come all at once. The order
we have been expecting, of course, as so many rumors have reached us
that we were to go, but all the time there has been hidden away a
little hope that we might be left here another year.
I shall take the greyhound puppy, of course. He is with Blue, his
mother, at Captain Richardson's quarters, but he is brought over every
day for me to see. His coat is brindled, dark brown and black - just
like Magic's - and fine as the softest satin. One foot is white, and
there is a little white tip to his tail, which, it seems, is
considered a mark of great beauty in a greyhound. We have named him
Harold.
Nothing has been done about packing yet, as the orders have just been
received. The carpenters in the company will not be permitted to do
one thing for us until the captain and first lieutenant have had made
every box and crate they want for the move. I am beginning to think
that it must be nice to be even a first lieutenant. But never mind,
perhaps Faye will get his captaincy in twenty years or so, and then it
will be all "fair and square,"
FORT LYON, COLORADO TERRITORY,
May, 1872.
EVERYTHING is packed or disposed of, and we are ready to start
to-morrow on the long march to Camp Supply. Two large army wagons have
been allowed to each company for the officers' baggage, but as all
three officers are present with the company Faye is in, and the
captain has taken one of the wagons for his own use, we can have just
one half of one of those wagons to take our household goods to a
country where it is absolutely impossible to purchase one thing! We
have given away almost all of our furniture, and were glad that we had
bought so little when we came here. Our trunks and several boxes are
to be sent by freight to Hays City at our own expense, and from there
down to the post by wagon, and if we ever see them again I will be
surprised, as Camp Supply is about one hundred and fifty miles from
the railroad. We are taking only one barrel of china - just a few
pieces we considered the most necessary - and this morning Faye
discovered that the first lieutenant had ordered that one barrel to be
taken from the wagon to make more room for his own things. Faye
ordered it to be put back at once, and says it will stay there, too,
and I fancy it will! Surely we are entitled to all of our one half of
the wagon - second choice at that.
I am to ride in an ambulance with Mrs. Phillips, her little son and
her cook, Mrs. Barker and her small son. There will be seats for only
four, as the middle seat has been taken out to make room for a
comfortable rocking-chair that will be for Mrs. Phillips's exclusive
use! The dear little greyhound puppy I have to leave here. Faye says I
must not take him with so many in the ambulance, as he would
undoubtedly be in the way. But I am sure the puppy would not be as
troublesome as one small boy, and there will be two small boys with
us. It would be quite bad enough to be sent to such a terrible place
as Camp Supply has been represented to us, without having all this
misery and mortification added, and all because Faye happens to be a
second lieutenant!
I have cried and cried over all these things until I am simply
hideous, but I have to go just the same, and I have made up my mind
never again to make myself so wholly disagreeable about a move, no
matter where we may have to go. I happened to recall yesterday what
grandmother said to me when saying good-by: "It is a dreadful thing
not to become a woman when one ceases to be a girl!" I am no longer a
girl, I suppose, so I must try to be a woman, as there seems to be
nothing in between. One can find a little comfort, too, in the thought
that there is no worse place possible for us to be sent to, and when
once there we can look forward to better things sometime in the
future. I do not mind the move as much as the unpleasant experiences
connected with it.
But I shall miss the kind friends, the grand hunts and delightful
rides, and shall long for dear old John, who has carried me safely so
many, many miles.
Lieutenant Baldwin is still ill and very depressed, and Doctor Wilder
is becoming anxious about him. It is so dreadful for such a powerful
man as he has been to be so really broken in pieces. He insists upon
being up and around, which is bad, very bad, for the many broken
bones.
I will write whenever I find an opportunity.
OLD FORT ZARAH, KANSAS,
April, 1872.
OUR camp to-night is near the ruins of a very old fort, and ever since
we got here, the men have been hunting rattlesnakes that have
undoubtedly been holding possession of the tumble-down buildings, many
snake generations. Dozens and dozens have been killed, of all sizes,
some of them being very large. The old quarters were evidently made of
sods and dirt, and must have been dreadful places to live in even when
new.
