IT was nearly two o'clock yesterday when we arrived at this post, and
we go on again to-day about eleven.
The length of all marches has to
be regulated by water and wood, and as the first stream on the road to
Camp Supply is at Bluff Creek, only ten miles from here, there was no
necessity for an early start. This gives us an opportunity to get
fresh supplies for our mess chests, and to dry things also.
There was a terrific rain and electric storm last evening, and this
morning we present anything but a military appearance, for around each
tent is a fine array of bedding and clothing hung out to dry. Our camp
is at the foot of a hill a short distance back of the post, and during
the storm the water rushed down with such force that it seemed as
though we were in danger of being carried on to the Arkansas River.
We had just returned from a delightful dinner with Major and Mrs.
Tilden, of the cavalry, and Faye had gone out to mount the guard for
the night, when, without a moment's warning, the storm burst upon us.
The lightning was fierce, and the white canvas made it appear even
worse than it really was, for at each flash the walls of the tent
seemed to be on fire. There was no dark closet for me to run into this
time, but there was a bed, and on that I got, taking the little dog
with me for company and to get him out of the wet. He seemed very
restless and constantly gave little whines, and at the time I thought
it was because he, too, was afraid of the storm. The water was soon
two and three inches deep on the ground under the tent, rushing along
like a mill race, giving little gurgles as it went through the grass
and against the tent pins. The roar of the rain on the tent was
deafening.
The guard is always mounted with the long steel bayonets on the
rifles, and I knew that Faye had on his sword, and remembering these
things made me almost scream at each wicked flash of lightning,
fearing that he and the men had been killed. But he came to the tent
on a hard run, and giving me a long waterproof coat to wrap myself in,
gathered me in his arms and started for Mrs. Tilden's, where I had
been urged to remain overnight. When we reached a narrow board walk
that was supposed to run along by her side fence, Faye stood me down
upon it, and I started to do some running on my own account. Before I
had taken two steps, however, down went the walk and down I went in
water almost to my knees, and then splash - down went the greyhound
puppy! Up to that instant I had not been conscious of having the
little dog with me, and in all that rain and water Faye had been
carrying me and a fat puppy also.
The walk had been moved by the rushing water, and was floating, which
we had no way of knowing, of course. I dragged the dog out of the
water, and we finally reached the house, where we received a true army
welcome - a dry one, too - and there I remained until after breakfast
this morning. But sleep during the night I did not, for until long
after midnight I sat in front of a blazing fire holding a very sick
puppy. Hal was desperately ill and we all expected him to die at any
moment, and I was doubly sorrowful, because I had been the innocent
cause of it. Ever since I have had him he has been fed condensed milk
only - perhaps a little bread now and then; so when we got here I sent
for some fresh milk, to give him a treat. He drank of it greedily and
seemed to enjoy it so much, that I let him have all he wanted during
the afternoon. And it was the effect of the milk that made him whine
during the storm, and not because he was afraid of the lightning. He
would have died, I do believe, had it not been for the kindness of
Major Tilden who knows all about greyhounds. They are very delicate
and most difficult to raise. The little dog is a limp bunch of
brindled satin this morning, wrapped in flannel, but we hope he will
soon be well.
A third company joined us here and will go on to Camp Supply. Major
Hunt, the captain, has his wife and three children with him, and they
seem to be cultured and very charming people. Mrs. Hunt this moment
brought a plate of delicious spice cake for our luncheon. There is a
first lieutenant with the company, but he is not married.
There is only one mail from here each week, so of course there will be
only one from Camp Supply, as that mail is brought here and then
carried up to the railroad with the Dodge mail. It is almost time for
the tents to be struck, and I must be getting ready for the march.
CAMP SUPPLY, INDIAN TERRITORY,
May, 1872.
THIS place is quite as dreadful as it has been represented to us.
There are more troops here than at Fort Lyon, and of course the post
is very much larger. There are two troops of colored cavalry, one of
white cavalry, and three companies of infantry. The infantry companies
that have been stationed here, and which our three companies have come
to relieve, will start in the morning for their new station, and will
use the transportation that brought us down. Consequently, it was
necessary to unload all the things from our wagons early this morning,
so they could be turned over to the outgoing troops. I am a little
curious to know if there is a second lieutenant who will be so
unfortunate as to be allowed only one half of a wagon in which to
carry his household goods.
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