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in scouting; but our labors were much lightened because they were

directed with intelligence and justice by Captain McLean; whose

agreeable manners and upright methods are still so impressed on my

memory that to this day I look back upon my service with 〃D〃 Company

of the First Infantry as among those events which I remember with

most pleasure。



In this manner my first summer of active field duty passed rapidly

away; and in the fall my company returned to Fort Duncan to go into

winter quarters。  These quarters; when constructed; consisted of 〃A〃

tents pitched under a shed improvised by the company。  With only

these accommodations I at first lived around as best I could until

the command was quartered; and then; requesting a detail of wagons

from the quartermaster; I went out some thirty miles to get poles to

build a more comfortable habitation for myself。  In a few days enough

poles for the construction of a modest residence were secured and

brought in; and then the building of my house began。  First; the

poles were cut the proper length; planted in a trench around four

sides of a square of very small proportions; and secured at the top

by string…pieces stretched from one angle to another; in which

half…notches hack been made at proper intervals to receive the

uprights。  The poles were then made rigid by strips nailed on

half…way to the ground; giving the sides of the structure firmness;

but the interstices were large and frequent; still; with the aid of

some old condemned paulins obtained from the quartermaster; the walls

were covered and the necessity for chinking obviated。  This method of

covering the holes in the side walls also possessed the advantage of

permitting some little light to penetrate to the interior of the

house; and avoided the necessity of constructing a window; for which;

by the way; no glass could have been obtained。  Next a good large

fire…place and chimney were built in one corner by means of stones

and mud; and then the roof was put ona thatched one of prairie

grass。  The floor was dirt compactly tamped。



My furniture was very primitive: a chair or two; with about the same

number of camp stools; a cot; and a rickety old bureau that I

obtained in some way not now remembered。  My washstand consisted of a

board about three feet long; resting on legs formed by driving sticks

into the ground until they held it at about the proper height from

the floor。  This washstand was the most expensive piece of furniture

I owned; the board having cost me three dollars; and even then I

obtained it as a favor; for lumber on the Rio Grande was so scarce in

those days that to possess even the smallest quantity was to indulge

in great luxury。  Indeed; about all that reached the post was what

came in the shape of bacon boxes; and the boards from these were

reserved for coffins in which to bury our dead。



In this rude habitation I spent a happy winter; and was more

comfortably off than many of the officers; who had built none; but

lived in tents and took the chances of 〃Northers。〃 During this period

our food was principally the soldier's ration: flour; pickled pork;

nasty baconcured in the dust of ground charcoaland fresh beef; of

which we had a plentiful supply; supplemented with game of various

kinds。  The sugar; coffee; and smaller parts of the ration were good;

but we had no vegetables; and the few jars of preserves and some few

vegetables kept by the sutler were too expensive to be indulged in。

So during all the period I lived at Fort Duncan and its sub…camps;

nearly sixteen months; fresh vegetables were practically

unobtainable。  To prevent scurvy we used the juice of the maguey

plant; called pulque; and to obtain a supply of this anti…scorbutic I

was often detailed to march the company out about forty miles; cut

the plant; load up two or three wagons with the stalks; and carry

them to camp。  Here the juice was extracted by a rude press; and put

in bottles until it fermented and became worse in odor than

sulphureted hydrogen。  At reveille roll…call every morning this

fermented liquor was dealt out to the company; and as it was my duty;

in my capacity of subaltern; to attend these roll…calls and see that

the men took their ration of pulque; I always began the duty by

drinking a cup of the repulsive stuff myself。  Though hard to

swallow; its well…known specific qualities in the prevention and cure

of scurvy were familiar to all; so every man in the command gulped

down his share notwithstanding its vile taste and odor。



Considering our isolation; the winter passed very pleasantly to us

all。  The post was a large one; its officers congenial; and we had

many enjoyable occasions。  Dances; races; and horseback riding filled

in much of the time; and occasional raids from Indians furnished more

serious occupation in the way of a scout now and then。  The proximity

of the Indians at times rendered the surrounding country somewhat

dangerous for individuals or small parties at a distance from the

fort; but few thought the savages would come near; so many risks were

doubtless run by various officers; who carried the familiar

six…shooter as their only weapon while out horseback riding; until

suddenly we were awakened to the dangers we had been incurring。



About mid…winter a party of hostile Lipans made a swoop around and

skirting the garrison; killing a herdera discharged drummer…boyin

sight of the flag…staff。  Of course great excitement followed。

Captain J。 G。 Walker; of the Mounted Rifles; immediately started with

his company in pursuit of the Indians; and I was directed to

accompany the command。  Not far away we found the body of the boy

filled with arrows; and near him the body of a fine looking young

Indian; whom the lad had undoubtedly killed before he was himself

overpowered。  We were not a great distance behind the Indians when

the boy's body was discovered; and having good trailers we gained on

them rapidly; with the prospect of overhauling them; but as soon as

they found we were getting near they headed for the Rio Grande; made

the crossing to the opposite bank; and were in Mexico before we could

overtake them。  When on the other side of the boundary they grew very

brave; daring us to come over to fight them; well aware all the time

that the international line prevented us from continuing the pursuit。

So we had to return to the post without reward for our exertion

except the consciousness of having made the best effort we could to

catch the murderers。  That night; in company with Lieutenant Thomas

G。 Williams; I crossed over the river to the Mexican village of

Piedras Negras; and on going to a house where a large baille; or

dance; was going on we found among those present two of the Indians

we had been chasing。  As soon as they saw us they strung their bows

for a fight; and we drew our sixshooters; but the Mexicans quickly

closed in around the Indians and forced them out of the houseor

rude jackalwhere the 〃ball〃 was being held; and they escaped。  We

learned later something about the nature of the fight the drummer had

made; and that his death had cost them dear; for; in addition to the

Indian killed and lying by his side; he had mortally wounded another

and seriously wounded a third; with the three shots that he had

fired。



At this period I took up the notion of making a study of ornithology;

incited to it possibly by the great number of bright…colored birds

that made their winter homes along the Rio Grande; and I spent many a

leisure hour in catching specimens by means of stick traps; with

which I found little difficulty in securing almost every variety of

the feathered tribes。  I made my traps by placing four sticks of a

length suited to the size desired so as to form a square; and

building up on them in log…cabin fashion until the structure came

almost to a point by contraction of the corners。  Then the sticks 。

were made secure; the trap placed at some sec

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