Son - even when sitting by pieces of shell
and patched-up walls - the President of the Confederacy set an example
of dignified self-restraint, that many a Southern man and
woman - particularly woman - would do well to follow.
For in these days of reconstruction officers and their families are
not always popular. But at Pass Christian this summer we have received
the most hospitable, thoughtful attention, and never once by word or
deed were we reminded that we were "Yank-Tanks," as was the case at
Holly Springs the first year we were there. However, we did some fine
reconstruction business for Uncle Sam right there with those pert
Mississippi girls - two of whom were in a short time so thoroughly
reconstructed that they joined his forces "for better or for worse!"
The social life during the three years we have been in the South has
most of the time been charming, but the service for officers has often
been most distasteful. Many times they have been called upon to escort
and protect carpetbag politicians of a very low type of manhood - men
who could never command one honest vote at their own homes in the
North. Faye's company has been moved twenty-one times since we came
from Colorado three years ago, and almost every time it was at the
request of those unprincipled carpetbaggers. These moves did not
always disturb us, however, as during most of the time Faye has been
adjutant general of the District of Baton Rouge, and this kept us at
Baton Rouge, but during the past winter we have been in New Orleans.
Several old Creole families whose acquaintance we made in the city
last winter, have charming old-style Southern homes at Pass Christian,
where we have ever been cordially welcomed. It was a common occurrence
for me to chaperon their daughters to informal dances at the different
cottages along the beach, and on moonlight sailing parties on Mr.
Payne's beautiful yacht, and then, during the entire summer, from the
time we first got there, I have been captain of one side of a croquet
team, Mr. Payne having been captain of the other. The croquet part
was, of course, the result of Major Borden's patient and exacting
teaching at Baton Rouge.
Mentioning Baton Rouge reminds me of my dear dog that was there almost
a year with the hospital steward. He is now with the company at Mount
Ver-non Barracks, Alabama, and Faye has telegraphed the sergeant to
see that he is taken to Pittsburg with the company.
We are going out now, first of all to Michaud's for some of his
delicious biscuit glace! Our city friends are all away still, so there
will be nothing for us to do but wander around, pour passer le temps
until we go to the station.
MONONGAHELA HOUSE, PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,
September, 1877.
ONCE again we have our trunks packed for the long trip to Montana, and
this time I think we will go, as the special train that is to take us
is now at the station, and baggage of the regiment is being hurriedly
loaded. Word came this morning that the regiment would start to-night,
so it seems that at last General Sherman has gained his point. For
three long weeks we have been kept here in suspense - packing and then
unpacking - one day we were to go, the next we were not to go, while
the commanding general and the division commander were playing "tug of
war" with us.
The trip will be long and very expensive, and we go from a hot climate
to a cold one at a season when the immediate purchase of warm clothing
is imperative, and with all this unexpected expense we have been
forced to pay big hotel bills for weeks, just because of a
disagreement between two generals that should have been settled in one
day. Money is very precious to the poor Army at present, too, for not
one dollar has been paid to officers or enlisted men for over three
months! How officers with large families can possibly manage this move
I do not see - sell their pay accounts I expect, and then be court
martialed for having done so.
Congress failed to pass the army appropriation bill before it
adjourned, consequently no money can be paid to the Army until the
next session! Yet the Army is expected to go along just the same,
promptly pay Uncle Sam himself all commissary and quartermaster bills
at the end of each month, and without one little grumble do his
bidding, no matter what the extra expense may be. I wonder what the
wise men of Congress, who were too weary to take up the bill before
going to their comfortable homes - I wonder what they would do if the
Army as a body would say, "We are tired. Uncle, dear, and are going
home for the summer to rest. You will have to get along without us and
manage the Indians and strikers the best way you can." This would be
about as sensible as forcing the Army to be paupers for months, and
then ordering regiments from East to West and South to North. Of
course many families will be compelled to remain back, that might
otherwise have gone.
We are taking out a young colored man we brought up with us from Holly
Springs. He has been at the arsenal since we have been here, and Hal
has been with him. It is over one year since the dog saw me, and I am
almost afraid he will not know me tonight at the station. Before we
left Pass Christian Faye telegraphed the sergeant to bring Hal with
the company and purchase necessary food for him on the way up.
