When we came here last
summer, I was afraid that the old hounds would pounce upon Hal, but
instead of that they were most friendly and seemed to know he was one
of them - a wanderer returned.
ST. CHARLES HOTEL, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA,
September, 1877.
LIFE in the Army is certainly full of surprises! At Pass Christian
yesterday morning, Faye and I were sitting on the veranda reading the
papers in an indifferent sort of way, when suddenly Faye jumped up and
said, "The Third has been ordered to Montana Territory!" At first I
could not believe him - it seemed so improbable that troops would be
sent to such a cold climate at this season of the year, and besides,
most of the regiment is at Pittsburg just now because of the great
coal strike. But there in the Picayune was the little paragraph of
half a dozen lines that was to affect our lives for years to come, and
which had the immediate power to change our condition of indolent
content, into one of the greatest activity and excitement!
Faye went at once to the telegraph office and by wire gave up the
remainder of his leave, and also asked the regimental adjutant if
transportation was being provided for officers' families.
