The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-19
INKLINGs FROM THE FRONTIER;
LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD

LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD. yr
CAMP ON WILD HORSE CREEK.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
One more letter will close my correspond
ence from the tented field. / shall write but
one more letter from camp. And that is the
one / am now going to write. Before take
up the pen in your service again, will be
comfortably ensconced in snug quarters for the
winter, where can surround myself with news
papers, magazines, books, and pictures. Those
who are accustomed to have these intellectual
Injuries continually within their reach can
never enjoy them with that keen relish which
many long months of deprivation and weary
campaigning has created for us, denzens of the
boundless plains. And then, with shooting
wild geese, ducks, grouse, plovers, quails, and
squirrels, fox and wolf chasing, and attending
rustic parties Of conviviality, hope to pass
the winter months pleasantly, until the sweet
flowers leap forth, smiling joyously to welcome
genial, young spring. Then will be ready for
the plains and placers of Arizona.
But did not say all that I should have said
in my last, concerning the camp and the peo-
pie we have just left and in order to be a
faithful chronicler, I must go back to my
diary, and pick up the neglected jottings, be-
fore proceed with my journey, and the regu.
lar routine of scenes and events.
It is somewhere in this vicinity that Fort
Colh a nnw arnv moot 10 IN ho b,;lt Nj.
Emory has not yet decided on the precise loca.
ton. There are numerous beautiful sites al.
most anywhere within circle of fifteen miles
Of the encampment. The new fort is to be
forthwith garrisoned by two companies of the
First Cavalry, and four companies of the First
Infantry. These troops are expected to arrive
here in few days, even before the site of the
post is selected, Major W. II. Emory, of the
First Cavalry, will be the commanding officer.
A steam saw mill is to be erected immediately,
or as soon as practicable, and the work pushed
forward with all possible dispatch.
Most of the work, if not quite all, will have
to be performed by soldiers. These poor, I'M
lucky fellows, who serve their glorious country
at eleven dollars per month. and diet on pick
led pork and beans, will have to do the work
that regular mechanics and laborers would not
do for less than two dollars per day. There
will be a mighty saving of money in building
this new fort. But who will be benefited? Not
the poor soldier, assure you.
the close of President Pierce's Admins.
tration, both General Scott and Hon. Jefferson
Davis, then Secretary of War, strongly recon.
mended some change in the rules and regula.
tons of the army, whereby the soldier might
be placed in his legitimate position, and allowed
to pursue the profession for which he enlisted,
exempt from manual labor, and no longer sub.
jected to mental servitude, for which he re.
ceives no adequate compensation, and feels
himself degraded. But Congress was so busy
with party politics, that they found no time to
look after the interests of a class of men who
have no voice III elections. Consequently, the
wise and humanitarian suggestions of even
men holding exalted positions passed unnoticed
ny that august body. The new Administration,
instead of proGting by the recommendations Of
its predecessors, have even thrown more labor
and mental service on the soldier, by dis
charging most of the laborers in the Quarter
master department, and putting soldiers in their
place. This is done on the Democratic plea of
retrenchment and reform. ~ And so it is,
with vengeance. Thousands of poor men are
thrown out of employment, and the bread of
VI ldIullioS Is cut SuOrt. DuC 90 not
party pets, in the shape of army contractors,
get all the money thus saved. You have heard
of the grand speculations in Utah.
Some ong-headed, calculating Indians are
already talking about how they expect to make
money by selling corn, potatoes, melons, and
pigs, to the soldiers. In conversation with one
o. these simple sons of the forest, who has prob
ably never done a lick of farm labor In his life.
he informed me that he intended soon to be a
rich farmer. "By EN- by, may be So" said he.
me have big farm. May be so, have heap
corn, potates, squash, tobac, may be so, heap,
much heap, may be SO. BY EN- by, me trade to
soldier for much money, heap moneys-get
rich, may be so. Whoop zee, big Ingen me /"
/ noticed that nearly every Indian who at
tempts to speak English makes very frequent
use of the phrase may be So" asked the
pretty daughter of the Camanche chief, gaudily
attired in fine scarlet cloth, and profusely deco
rated with beads and silver ornaments, if she
was married, to which she laughingly replied;
No l, senior, Pocotempo go marry un soldado
Amevicanol May be so yet, may be SO no, me
soldado wife, ha, ha, hal" And her merry
laugh rang clear on the morning air. No doubt
she thought she was speaking excellent Eng
lish. / mention these little incidents, at the
risk of boring you, simply for the purpose of
giving you an idea of the innocence and SIM
plicity of these simple, untaught people, now in
the hands of the white man, either to receive the
impress of virtue and noble impulses, or of vice
and degradation.
One bright morning, we found ourselves in
the saddle, and resuming our homeward march.
Our route lay down the Washita river, and
over valley of rich alluvial soil-as beautiful
and picturesque a country as the eye of the
most fastidious could wish to behold. After
ride of eighteen or twenty miles, we pitched our
camp on the banks of the river, and near the
Wichita encampment.
These Wichitas are not a part of the Texas
Reserve lndians-are entirely different band
from those we left at the other camp, and are
much farther advanced in civilization, cleaner,
heater, prettier, are weather., and have better
quarters. They have now been several years
on their reserve. Many of the men-and fine,
athletic fellows they are too-love to boast of
having fought alongside of soldiers under COM
mand of Major Van Dorm, against the southern
Camanches, last year. They have large herds
of ponies, cattle, sheep, and a few hogs. Their
ponies are generally larger and finer specimens
of the equine race than those usually owned by
Indians of the plains, being cross between
the American horse and the mustang. They
have mich cows, and manufacture butter and
a sort of cheese.
Their women are handsomely featured and
well-formed dress in the civil costume of white
women ride aside, and use side-saddles. They
are splendid and graceful equestrians, modest
in their general department, and afable in their
manners
All this improvement has been made within
q very short time. The reserve assigned to
them is an excellent tract of land. If they
only receive proper encouragement, and the
right sort of treatment, they viii in due time be
thoroughly civilized, and made useful members
of society.