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.
