Oct. 18, 1865
Dear Estelle
I have just received your letter dated the 14th for which you have my hearty thanks. Tonight is dark and stormy: just such cold, gloomy weather as makes one feel sad. Your letter coming with the storm, has saved me from the "blues". And, could I have you with me I should be perfectly happy.
I am very lonely here. I shall get away from this just as soon as I can do so in a respectable manner. (I would not tell this to anyone but you.) I will try and stay until my uncle comes: then I must see you. When I left home my uncle told me that he wanted me to assist him in his business when he came here. I promised and of course must wait. If I had friends or acquaintances here, I could be more contented; but I have neither and do not care to make any here.
You want me to tell you about myself. I don't like to talk about myself. If
I praise myself, you will say I am conceited. If I tell you of my imperfections
(and I have many) you will say I am bad. -- You will not love me. But you asked
some questions which I will try to answer. I do not think I am cross but I sometimes
get angry. Of course I smile and laugh and am very fond of fun, and love to
tease people sometimes. You must not think, Estelle, that I am stone as
that picture would lead you to believe. My friends say that I sometimes look
sad. They would also tell you that I used to be full of fun and would go as
far as the most reckless in any reckless but honorable undertaking. My mother
has often expressed fears that I would get killed some day, but I am living
yet and those happy days are passed. My experience in the army changed me. I
was an officer for three years, and of course had to throw aside my boyish habbits,
in order to command respect. I had to look stern when I wanted to laugh outright.
I had to punish when I wanted to forgive. These things are what makes my picture
look to you so sober.
I will try to tell you sometime of my long rides in rain, in snow, in fire. Of my brave comrades, many of whom I have lost.
I assure you that could you see me now (and I see you) you would see me smiling. I do not talk much until I get well acquainted. I like society, but do not go much in it. I love home better than all other places because my mother, my father, sisters and brothers are there.
Yes I love potatoes, corn bread and milk, pumpkin pie and you. Can you make cornbread? I am very fond of children. I do not like to see a lady dressed up in bright colored ribbons and other fancy duds. I like a plain modest dress. I hate false waterfalls. I like hats.My unmarried sister's name is Jane. She is older than I am. I love her very much. I got a letter from her last week. She had received a premium at the county fair on an oil painting that she had made. She is going to paint photographs. She is old enough to marry and I (when at home) tease her by calling her an "old maid". She is a good sister.
I am glad that you are going to send me another photograph. I shall expect
it soon. The one I have is growing dim because I look at it too much.
I like the sentiment of the extract from Longfellow's poem. I think I have never heard the song you spoke of, My Snow Clad Hills. I hope I shall hear you sing it some time.
I wrote you a letter Sunday. I hope it has reached you.
And now my dear girl I must say good night to you. May God ever love and protect you.
Your affectionate George
P.S. Are you a Fenian? I am one in feeling. I have a beautiful poem about the Fenian flag which I will lend you if I can find it. Tell me about your politics. George
I cannot find the poem. I have lost it. My letters all look very rough. Please excuse their imperfections.
Nov. 6, 1865
Dear Estelle
I know you will accept a short letter when I tell you that the weather is cold and I have no fire. I was very glad to get your letter, which came today. I suppose winter has commenced in your country. I wish it were summer, then it would be much pleasanter for our meeting. You did not say any thing about my coming in your letter. Don't you think of it any more? I am rejoicing over every day that passes. Time moves slowly along but every moment brings me nearer to you. I think I will tell you in my fourth letter after this one, at what time I shall be in Utica, or some other place. I am living at my ease here. I go the the office at 9 o'clock. Sit in an armed and cushioned chair, walk on fine carpets and have access to a splendid library. We have to stay at the office until 4 p.m. now. I have but little to do some days. I am not employed more than one half of the time. There are fine baths in the building. I am a frequent visitor to them. The water can be of any temperature desired. Oh! They are splendid. I want to go to sleep in them whenever I go there. Don't you think I ought to be contented and happy? But I am not and you my dear are the cause of my discontent. But do not think I endure you. Oh! no, I think you, love you for it, I am sorry that we can not agree about Mr. Porter. I shall have to defend his cause. Why won't you tell me what he says of the Falls? and the "business transaction"? You say he is a "horrid creature"! My dear, this is rather a serious charge to make against a fellow creature, and I insist on your telling me why he is a horrid creature.
I would like to try some of the good things you have to eat. Do you tell me about them, that I may compare them with what I get to eat and thus torment myself? When you are eating those good things, just think of me. Please forgive me for associating you with pumpkin pies. My excuse is that I love pumpkin pies and I associate you with all I love. My sister Jane is not a musician. There is but little musical genius in our family. I have read Jane Eyre and like it very much. I know of persons who might do themselves more harm than good by reading it. I have sent you the Atlantic for Oct. and Nov. I hope you have received them. I like what you say about meeting me. I want you to walk straight to me. You are very regular in your habits I see. I think your cheeks must look red as roses after taking your long walks. Why is it hard for you to close up your letters to me? I don't want any close up to them, just let them continue to an indefinite length.
I must say good night Estelle. Do not cease to love me. I love you dearly. Good by, George
Bridgers Ferry June 21St 1867
My Darling Estelle
We reached this place the day before yesterday. We are encamped on the North
Platte River 55 miles from Fort Laramie. We have to cross the river at this
point. The only means of crossing the River at is by a small ferry boat reached
by a rope stretched across the stream - We have 108 wagons to cross and it will
be about three days before we leave here. This is on the direct road to Phil
Kearney from Laramie. There is a company of troops permanently stationed here
to guard the road — It takes us a long time to reach our destination but
I hope we shall be there soon — Our journey has been pleasant — I
have enjoyed it very much — My health is pretty good now. In your last
letter you wrote as though you might be sick this month. If this is to so it
may be that you are now holding our little one in your arms. At least you will
ere this letter reaches you — I feel very anxious darling to know that
you are safely through the awful ordeal. 0 my Darling how much I want to be
with you. — how cruel in me to leave you at such a time. I never want to
part from you again and never will. I hope we shall soon be together —
There are two Lieutenants here who want to bring their wives out here - One
has three children — I think we shall perfect a plan by which we will have
you out this fall — There wives live in Pa. There are two women with us
now. — One a Lieutenant's wife — and a fine lady I think — She
has two children — One three the other about one year old — The other
woman is the wife of a soldier — her husband is now at Fort C. F. Smith
above Kearney — she had two little ones. I think I shall be a first Lieut
— ere — many months-Good evening my love — I will write more
tomorrow -
June 22d Good morning my Darling — This morning is quite pleasant and I
am writing to you while laying in my tent. I am tenting with two other Lieutenants
— one a German, who has been an officer in the Prussian Army and is a pretty
good fellow. The other is from Pennsylvania. - He is fond of the fluid and is
pretty full this morning and is expatiating on various matters. I think we will
march tomorrow as the teams are most all across the river. I can think of nothing
more to write you my love. I think of you always dearest. And long for you to
be with me. When you can send any little fancy things you may send them - ribbons
I can trade them with the Indians. You need not buy any new things but some
of your old things you do not need.
Fort C. F. Smith M.T.
Sept. 13, 1867
My darling Estelle
The Governor who went to the Crow Camp reached here last night. Today a Company
of Cavalry reached this place from Kearney. A Commissioner came to hold a Council
with the Crow Chiefs. The Council has just broken up - I attended it. The Chiefs
made speeches and smoked and received a few presents from the Commissioner.
They are going to meet the rest of the Commissioners at Kearney next fll moon
and make a treaty. I will give you the names of some of the chiefs. Their names
were announced by the Interpreter. They shook hands with all the officers and
then made their speeches. The names are Man that shows his face - Iron Bull
- Bearstooth - Thin Belly - Crazy head and White Mouth. They related their exploits.
Some of which were quite thrilling. The Sioux do not feel disposed to come to
the Council - though it is thought that some of the will come - Genl. Bradly
read me a letter from Genl. Augur Comd'g this department in which he says the
Council will settle the Indian affairs and decide whether we are to have war
or peace. The commissioner who is here I have just discovered is a brother of
Mr. Matthews from Monmouth. I have conversed but a few moments with him. He
knows father and served during the war with him. He is not one of the Commissioners
appointed by the Pres. but only an agent for the Commission and does not know
on what terms they intend to treat. The Crows are desirous to remain at peace
with us but would like to have us leave this road. One of them remarked that
the country stunk and drove away the buffalo meaning the game was frightened
away by the travel through the country. I wrote you a long letter a few days
since in which I told you that I had been appointed Commissary at this Post
the nicest position at the Post. I have charge of a great deal of property about
1/2 million dollars. We are well supplied with provisions now and I have today
received authority to purchase fresth vegetables from Galatin Valley. The Indian
Commissioner here is going to give the Crows 1500 Dols. worth of provisions
which I am going to sell to him from my Dept. I am getting along first rate
with my new duties - I do not have to go outside of the Garrison and am relieved
from all duties such as marching, escorting, etc. My duties are in the office
and I have Clerks to do the writing. I like the soft thing first rate.
I think of you love all the time and our darling little one [Col. Guy George
Palmer, born 14 Jul 1867] . I hope you have fully recovered from your sickness
love. O darling how you have suffered. I feel much more contented knowing that
you have passed safely through your great trial and that ...
Fort Philip Kearny, D.T.
Dec. 17th
My darling,
The mail will go down the road in a few days. I will tonight commence a letter to you. I wrote you on the 9th inst. On the 10th Dr. Mathews arrived at this Post with Presents for the Crow Indians. The Commissioners adjourned to meet the Sioux at this Post next June. Word was sent to them that if they would remain peaceable this winter that the Country would be given up to them next summer. We are of the opinion that the Regiment will go to the States next spring. We do not know what answer the Sioux will give to the message sent them-But we hear from Fort Smith that some of the Sioux bands have sent word to the Post that they desire to come in and make peace. We received a small mail by Dr. Mathews but I got no letter from you. There is now at Fort Reno 65 miles from here on the Powder River a large mail for us which we expect to get next week. Lieut. Wishart received an appointment as Brevet Captain. I think he will go to Fort Smith and probably will have command of a Company. He tells me to send you his regards. We have had beautiful weather here until yesterday when it turned cold and commenced snowing. It is not snowing today but it is rather cold. My dear, seven long months have I been away from you. O how long it seems to me. It has been years to us. What changes have occurred since I left you. Dearest Stelle how strong my love has grown for you and how great my desire to see you and our dear boy. I am loving you always darling. Your face is always before me. I know that God will permit us to again see and embrace each other and be happy. O Stell what joy is in store for me when I shall fold you in my arms my sweet little wife. I now see that it was well for us both that I came here. The difficulty I have had in ridding myself of that infernal diarrhea. The long time I have suffered with it convinces me that I would not have recovered had I remained in the States. On this account I am glad that I came here. I shall return to you in restored health. I hope to remain in the Army but shall not remain at the sacrifice of your own and my happiness. I like the Army and would be discontented and at a loss to know what to do out of it and I pray that circumstances will soon occasion our reunion and at the same time avoid the necessity of my resigning. Next Spring, Darling you will come to me or I will come to you. Last evening I visited in company with other officers and by invitation Lieut. Warrens the Quartermaster of our regiment. He has his family here consisting of his wife and two children. His wife is young and a lady. I think you will like her when you meet her. A Negro minstrel troupe has just been organized here to entertain us this long and dreary winter. They gave their first performance at Lieut. Warrens's house last night. There were ten performers. The music was good, consisting of guitars- violins-flutes-banjo-bones-triangle and tambourine. The members and soldiers belonging to our regiment all came away well pleased with the performance. It will seem strange to you that an evening party shall consist of a Negro show in a gentlemen's parlor and that his lady's bedroom should be the dressing room. But in this wild and lonely country such amusements are more fashionable than in Utica. Today I have been. making up the proceedings of a Board of Survey on Public property, of which I am the recorder. My duties here are light and consist of the ordinary routine of Garrison duty-such as attending company Roll Calls three times a day-drilling my company when the weather will admit-looking after the welfare and good behavior of the men- Duties as Officer of the Day every ten or twelve days. There are 85 men in my company. Most of them are intelligent and well behaved. I have had but one to punish as yet. He missed Roll Call and I made him carry a log one hour. We have to haul them over the coals sometimes. I will write more to you my love before the mail goes. Tonight and every night I want to be with you. 0 God speed the time when we shall meet. I hope you are well-and Guy too. I think I see you holding him in your arms and hear you telling him of your George so far away. Goodnight my darling may God preserve you for me. From George.
Dec 21" 1867
My Darling
Tonight I renew my letter to you. Darling how I long for the time to come when
I may hold you in my arms and talk to you and tell you how I have thought about
you and how much I love you. Time is passing swiftly along but none too swiftly
for my anxious waiting heart. Dr. Mathews, the Indian agent is still here. He
expected to go to Fort Smith with the Indian presents but will not go this winter
and they will be distributed here. Today two Crow Indians arrived from Fort
Smith carrying(?) letters from that Post A train had started from that Post
to come here for Indian goods but turned back after coming about 112 miles deeming
the snow too deep to proceed. Maj. Burrowes of our Regt. Started to come with
the train. He had just received a Leave of Absence for three months but can
not take advantage of it this winter. He left his wife two months after marriage
and has been absent from her almost two years. There has been no mail at this
post since I last wrote you. There is one for us at Ft. Reno. Lt. Belden go(?)
for it in a few days. We shall get it next week. I am living with Lieut. Belden
who belongs to the 2d Cavalry. Our house is of logs daubed with mud. It is warm.
We have two rooms. We live in one and our orderlies in another. We go to another
house for our meals. Our room is lined with old tent cloth on the ceiling, sides
and floor. I have warm clothing I bought from the Sutler(?), Two woolen shirts
which cost $12.00 and I have a new dress coat which will be nice and warm. I
am having a cape made from one of my buffalo robes which will be nice and warm.
December 22d My Darling, Today I am Officer of the Day. My Duties are to have
General Supervision of the Garrison as regards to its cleanliness-safety-duties
of the Sentinels-Safe Keeping of prisoners-etc. Tonight I shall have to remain
up most of the time. Visit the Sentinels and see that all goes well. There are
about 100 Cheyenne camped near us. These Indians have heretofore been hostile.
They were at the Treaty of Laramie and now profess friendship. They came here
to get presents from the Indian agent. We are a little suspicious of them and
do not allow them to come inside the Fort. Today I received an invitation from
Mrs. Warrens to dine at her house on Christmas. I shall of course, go. How much
I would like to be with you on Christmas, my Darling. I would like to send you
and Guy fine presents but can send you nothing from here. We have a Chaplain
here. He came last week. He has started a Bible Class among the officers which
met tonight the first time. Mr. Wishart, Mr. Belden, Mr. Bonney and myself were
present. We read and discussed the First Chapter of Mathew beginning at the
17th verse. I did not join in the discussion-but I expect that here after I
shall have to my heavy s... s(?) as I used to when my dear little Stelle read
to me.
December 24th Christmas Eve. I wonder what my darling Stelle is doing tonight
and how will she spend tomorrow. Not a very happy Christmas for us my dear.
How much I would like to be with you tomorrow. How happy it would make us if
I could come to you tonight. Today Gen'! Smith sent Lieut. Belden and myself
each a bottle of wine with his complements. We sent him a note thanking him
for it and wishing him a happy Christmas. Tonight the minstrels performed and
I attended. There were three ladies there-wives of the Officers. Tomorrow I
am going to dine at Lieut. Warrens. I shall try to pass the day as cheerfully
as possible but I shall be thinking of my Stelle and wishing her a merry Christmas.
I have just got my cloak finished. It was made by my Company Tailor. I like
it very well. It is made of a fine Buffalo robe with beaver collar-cords-and
buttons and lined with red flannel. I have a Company Shoemaker who is a good
workman. I am going to have him make me a pair of Buffalo boots. I am going
to have a Beaver Skin cape made for Stelle. I pray that you may have a happy
Christmas. I love you my own Stelle above all others and next to you I love
our Guy. I send you and Guy many kisses and embraces. Good night. God bless
you. George
December 25th 9 P.M.
My Darling The day has passed quite pleasantly with me. I almost forgot that
I was at Phil Kearny but I did not forget you my own darling. I have thought
of you all day and wished you were with me. Next Christmas my love we shall
be together. At 2 o'clock I went to Lieut. Warrens' to dine. Thirteen officers
of our Regiment were there. We had dinner at 3 o'clock. Here is the Bill of
Fare and order in which they came drinks were brought on-Soup-Roast Beef-fresh
pork-ham-Potatoes-Butter, Bread-Pickles-Apple Sauce-Tomatoes-Champagne Wine-Plum
pudding and mince pie-Cake, Candy, Nuts ands coffee-Cigars. The time one and
one half hours at the table passed pleasantly. Some toasts were drank among
them the following offered by Gen'l Smith "Gentlemen this is hoping that
our next Christmas may be passed in a pleasanter locality." This toast
is evidence to me that he expects the Regiment to return to the States. This
evening I called with other Officers at Maj. Gordon's of the 2d Cavalry where
we were regaled with hot whisky punch-Cake-raisins-nuts etc, . Don't fear darling
that I have drank these liquors which I have mentioned. I drank wine at Mrs.
Warrens but not enough to effect me.
The mail comes tonight and Lieut. Belden starts early in the morning for Fort
Reno. We have had no mail here for one month. We expect a large one in a few
days when Mr. Belden returns. Now my own Sweet Stelle and dear Guy I must bid
you good night. I love you darling, and pray that I may soon return to you.
I am getting along finely. The Indians are quite peaceable
now. It is thought that they may come in to this Post and make peace. Dr. Mathews
says he has authority to treat with them, and if they will make peace, the road
will be abandoned —if they demand it- With this letter, I send you Ten
Dollars as a small Christmas present. I am sorry I can not send you something
better. Love me Stell and tell Guy of his absent but fond father. I shall expect
letters from you in a few days. Goodby my own darling Stelle-
George
Fort Phillip Kearney, Dacota Territory ( 1) January 6th 1868
My Darling Stelle,
I received by the mail brought up by Lieut .Belden six letters from you. It
had been a long time since I had heard from you and these letters were received
with the greatest of joy. The last letter was dated the 10th of November and
now it is two months since I have heard from you. In your last letter you tell
me that you are sick and have had to consult a doctor. My darling I am alarmed
about you and fear that you will be very sick unless you can take the best care
of your, to me, precious life. Do not give so much of your time and strength
to Guy. Have someone to help you take care of him. I don't want my treasure
of a wife to be sick while I am away from her. I left her in your keeping and
I shall expect to hear on my return that you have faithfully cared for her.
The weather here up to the 1st of January has been warm and pleasant. There
has not been snow enough to cover the ground. The day before yesterday the weather
changed to cold and we had a snow storm. I was Officer of the Day and felt the
severity of the weather very perceptibly as I was out of doors a greater part
of the day and night. This afternoon the sun shines out cheeringly but the air
is cold and the snow squeaks as we walk on it. There are a great many Crow Indians
in our camp now. Our house has been thronged by them for several days. While
I am writing there are six squaws and men jabbering to each other. Lt. Belden
and myself are quite proficient in the language and amuse ourselves talking
to them. I sometimes get very tired of them. They walk in without knocking,
sit on our chairs and beds without leave and eternally beg for bread and sugar.
The women are almost all thieves and we are compelled to watch them closely
to prevent losses of such little articles as combs, brushes, looking glasses,
clothing, etc. Lt. Belden has been trading with some of them for Robes. He has
about a dozen which he is now packing up to send home. I have on hand four good
robes and shall try to get a few more nice ones to fetch home with me. With
the last mail I got a letter from Charley Denny [George's brother-in-law George
Dewey?] .
He writes that both Cal [Caroline] and Harriet have babies. How wonderfully
thrifty my sisters are! What lots of little nephews and nieces I am going to
have. He wrote that [George's brother?] Charly Palmer had been heard from and
that he was still in Little Rock in some way connected with the Board of Registration
(2).
January 8th My darling today has been very cold, in fact yesterday and the day
before were very cold days. I have remained indoors most of the time. I was
to devise means whereby to pocket the money appropriated by Congress to make
peace with the Indians.
I am glad that you find so much comfort in your religion. I would not turn you
aside from it. I know it is good because you adopt only that which is good.
I used to discuss your religion with you and often provoked you and regret it.
I expect I will do the same again but I hope not to influence you to discard
it. I hope you will practice on your guitar. You know how
(5) There is no copy of this page this is from the original
much I love to hear you sing. Your voice to me is sweeter than any other in
the world. I received by the last mail a large envelope full of something franked
by A.C. Harding. Upon opening it was much disappointed to find only a newspaper
in it. Not a word written. Again has he opened his heart! It shows that one
day while he had nothing to do he thought of his distant nephew and before the
thought should slip his mind he bundled up a piece of paper and drew his nephew's
name across it. I have written him but one letter to which I have had no reply.
Two new Lieutenants have joined the regiment. One is Mr. Cole, who was married
just one month before he left home. The other is Mr. Fe---ble[?] from New York
City. His father is an officer in the Navy. He has never been in the army before
and is rather awkward at soldiering. He seems to be a fine fellow and I think
will soon learn strings. Gen'l Bradly at Fort Smith has received a Leave of
Absence to go home and marry. He has not gone yet and may not go this winter.
He will bring his wife out
1/3 of the page is missing
in the drill". We have had but little snow this winter. There is now just
enough to make the country assume a more lonely and dismal appearance. There
is deep snow on the mountains and they tower above us like great icebergs. They
look very cold. When the sun shines on them they look like dazzling silver.
But to go to them would be to go to the cold embrace of death. If one were up
there he would soon freeze and inevitable snow would soon bury him in a pure
and beautiful grave. Last winter at this time the snow was very deep in and
around the Fort. It was as high as the top of the stockade. The Crow Indians
have almost all gone to their village today but one teepee remains. The squaws
have been our house today as usual and brought a leg of beef and laid it on
the floor while she made a trade for some have hardly anything to do but to
stay in the house in this cold weather. If it was warm we would have to drill,
so I am content to have it remain cold a little while. The Crow Indians can
not return to their village until the weather moderates. The tepees which they
have with them are very poor and they suffer from the cold. Many of them come
into the Fort to keep warm by our fires and a number of them have slept in my
house the past two or three nights. An old squaw and her little daughter slept
last night on the floor right by my bed. You needn't think I fell out of bed
on top of her because I didn't do any such thing. The old lady when she got
up in the morning took a drink of water out of our wash pan Upon seeing her
I said "cow-eek" which means "no good or bad" and showed
her that we washed our hands and faces in it. Her only remark was a long grunt.
I have shown some of them Guy's picture and they ask many questions about my
squaw (meaning you) and my papooses. I told one that Mary (I have her photograph)
was your sister. She wanted to know if Mary had a papoose. Some of the squaws
have lofty names-Here are some of them Ba-sash meaning "The runner' A-puck-a-dis
meaning one who lives in the clouds-Con-na-hoots-meaning white tail. Conna-hoots
lives at Fort Smith and she is called by the white-white tail O-ma-tapi-e-is
meaning woman with a big neck. Today a young man and young woman came into our
house seated them selves on my trunk and went through a scene in courtship.
He took her hair brush and combed her hair, put his arms around her and fondled
for some time and seemed to love her very much. Before he left he sold her to
Lt. Belden for a (penny-pony) and seemed delighted with his bargain. About this
time Capt, Wishaart came in and we had a mock marriage ceremony. Wishart doing
the thing up and giving her a new name. A little water was sprinkled on her
face which looked as if it had never seen water before and called her Pink.
Belden undid the affair by having us tell the Indian that the [penny-pony] was
worthless. He seemed to care but little and took every thing as a matter of
fact. These Indians never betray, by look or act disappointed, joy or sorrow.
They look upon all things with stoical indifference. Here I stopped writing
to take a smoke with the five young Crows who have just entered and invited
me to smoke with them.
(3)
With the Indians smoking is an important thing. It is a sober ceremony. He only
smokes with his friends. When friendship is made or renewed he smokes. In Council
he smokes, after a victory he smokes. Their pipes are made of red clay which
is found only in Minnesota: The stem of the pipe is about 2 or 3 feet long and
about as large as a broomstick, Here is the shape of the pipe made be Belden.
They smoke dried willow, and the leaves of a little vine which grows on the
mountain abundantly and which they call 0pe-sha [?] and we call "Larb".
Either of these herbs are mixed with tobacco and the odor which they give is
very pleasant. The pipe was filled with larb and tobacco and our smoke commenced.
The one who light the pipe gives it a few whiffs and passes it to the next who
also takes a few draws and passes it to the next and so on to the last when
the pipe is returned to the first smoker and is sent round again and so continued
until the tobacco is consumed. When the owner of the pipe cleans it very carefully
and puts it away in his leather bag which is always carried with the pipe. Sometimes
a little buffalo manure is sprinkled on top of the tobacco and this gives forth
a strong and peculiar odor. I don't smoke when this odiferous condiment is used.
In smoking the Indians suck the smoke into their noses and blow it out through
their nostrils in perfect clouds. None of them chew tobacco and none of the
women smoke I think the Sioux women smoke but the men never pass the pipe to
their women or children. The boys can not smoke until they have preformed some
noble deed in battle which would entitle them to this honor. January 9th My
Darling today has been warmer than the past few days. We had the men out of
quarters drilling. I am getting along with my company very well. I have but
little to do and none of my duties call me outside of the fort,. I get up in
the morning at daylight (I have a warm fire to dress by) attend the Roll Call
of my company which occupies about twenty minutes. At noon I go to the Company
and inspect the quarters and the kitchen and the cooking. When the weather is
mild we drill 2 hours each day. I have a 2' Lieutenant who is junior to me and
who attends the other Roll Calls and assists me in the in the other Company
duties. Every Sunday morning we have an inspection of the troops. If the weather
is pleasant all appear in full uniform. The men are required to keep their persons
and clean and in perfect order. You may know that their guns are clean when
I tell you that I handle over 60 guns without soiling my clean white gloves.
If a man comes out with dirty clothes or guns or unblackened boots he carries
a log or gets some severe punishment. I write this stuff thinking you will perhaps
be interested with it and because I have nothing to write.
(4)
My Darling This evening I have been reading your last letters and find some
things that I can talk to you about You complain of the want or interest your
letters contain I assure you my dear Stelle that your dear letters are full
of interest to me and I treasure them above all things else in this country.
The only fault that I can find is that they are too brief and come to me not
often enough. You felt very bad the night you wrote one of the letters. You
must not feel so again love I know you love me and the knowledge of this is
all that cheers me in this miserable country. On that night I was safe love
and am safe now and I expect to return to you safely in the spring. You must
not get these spells again. You must be cheerful and let the thought that ere
many months I shall be with you make you content to wait patiently for that
day of happy meeting. You write a great deal about Guy which I like to hear.
I am happy to know he is healthy, smart and good. That was funny about his lying
so quietly in bed while you were dressing with his legs bare and cold. When
I read this I wished I had been in bed with him in my arms and looking as I
used too, to see my little Stell dressing herself. He will be a year old when
I see him. I can't comprehend how it is that my first look upon my boy will
be when he is a year old. Not having seen him makes me wonder if I have him.
I wish I could take him away from you a little while. What great sin have I
committed that I should be banished so long and so far away from my young wife
and child.. .I hope you have sent me your photograph. I have been expecting
it for some time. I want one of you now very much. I gave the only one I have
of myself to Capt Wishart and he sent it to his wife. I have not received the
Harper's Magazine which you sent. Perhaps it will come with the next mail. Neither
have I received any Heralds lately. I suppose they have been taken from the
mail at the Posts below here. Many of the newspapers destined for these far
off Posts are taken from the mail before it reaches here. You speak in your
letters about the reports in the papers that peace has been made with the Indians.
It is possible the Commissioners succeed in making peace with some of the Southern
tribes who were either already at peace or if at war were not very powerful.
We who live in this country know that the commissioners signally failed in their
efforts at the Council at Laramie to make peace with the Northern Indians the
most powerful and warlike in the whole country. We look upon the whole affair
as a farce. Which has been played by men whose only thought
(6) Back of page 5
beads with Mrs. Belden. I am tired of them and often lock the door to keep them
out. I have written two letters to the Chicago Tribune one written from Fort
Smith about the country there about and a description and history of the Fort.
The other written from this place, giving accounts of the Laramie Treaty and
Indian affairs in this country. I sent them on the 26th of December. I think
they were to be published in the weekly issue sometime in this present month
if they are worthy of publication. Perhaps they will be published and you will
see them. On the first of January 260 Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahos came into
the post and we held a Council with them. They had heretofore been hostile and
only a few days since attacked five men 4 miles from this post and wounded three
of them. Last week they stole a herd of mules from Fort Smith and killed one
of the herders.
1/3 of page missing
just outside the stockade but learning from a Crow squaw that the Sioux would
fight as soon as they got their presents it was deemed best to hold the Council
in the Fort. The ceremonies were opened by Dr. Mathews who made a grand effort
and brought forth a mouse. After him the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahos made speeches.
Their speeches were about alike in substance. Synopsis of all in one. A Sioux
Chief named Stabber spoke as follows. "Whoever our Father is he is a good
man (meaning Dr. M.). We have been told that he sent you to tell us that the
white man would leave our country in spring. We want you to hurry and send word
to our Great Father that this pleases us; but we want you to leave with the
snow or right away if you can so that we can bring our old men and children
to live on this ground as they did before the white men came here. The Sioux,
Arapahos, Cheyenne and Crows never fought each other until the white man came
into the Fort Phillip Kearney, D.T.
January 1868
My Darling Stelle,
I have just come from Mr, Wishart's house. There I have been hearing him read
from some of his wife's letters,. She mentions you in some of them. Says you
write about Guy and about coming to me, that you sent Guy's photograph &
pieces of his dress. She said she wanted to see you very much and thought she
would love you. She wants to come to her husband very much and writes about
it just as you do to me. Mr. Wishart received 15 letters from her. He has commenced
a letter to her- he will tell her to make preparations to come to him in the
spring. She thought it would be nice to have you in company with her. She expects
to come with Lt. Shurly but from what I have learned from Wishart tonight I
hardly think he will again come to this country and perhaps not to the Regiment,
It is reported that he used abusive language at the Post below here, about Gen'l
Smithh & Genl Bradly who will , I fear, prefer charges .against him. Lt,
Shurly went away owing me $45.00 and other officers various amounts. He said
nothing about paying me and I hardly expect to get it from him. He is very extravagant
and his pay in the army is all he has to live on. I have charge of his baggage.
What I have written concerning him is private my deary. This is only the beginning
of my letter. Tomorrow is Sunday and I shall write you a long letter. I wrote
you a very long letter. 10 pages closely written which I sent by the last mail.
I will now bid you good night my Sweet Stelle and Guy. Your George loves you
above all things in the world. May you sweetly dream of George and he of you.
Good night
George
Across the top
.Jany 21st
I have but little to add to my letter. Ft. mail goes tomorrow with Dr. Mathews
who goes to Washington with some of the Indians. He thinks he will be back here
in March. I wish you would send me Harper's Monthly for Feby if it is out- I
forgot to tell you of an incident that occurred last week. Mrs Major Gordon
of the 2' Cavalry gave birth to a boy and at the suggestion of the Officers
he is named-Philip Kearney Gordon. I am well. Hope to see you ere long. Time
is passing rapidly and our happy meeting will soon come. Good by Darling-Good
bye Guy. Your faithful and loving
George
Sunday 19th
My Darling,
This beautiful day I am Officer of the Day. This is a summer day, the sun shines
warmly and everything looks bright. There are now at this Post 200 Arapahoe
Indians. I have been down to their camp. I rode my pony down. Today is the first
time I have rode him since arriving here. I could not ride him because his back
has been very sore caused by riding from Fort Smith in a bad saddle. That we
are to leave this country in the spring I think is certain. We will either abandon
the country or be relieved by another Regiment. In the spring you shall be with
me. We have no ideas where we will be stationed, but very likely on the line
of the U.P. Rail Road. By the 1st of April we shall know where we are to go.
In the meantime you must be getting ready to come. You must not buy anything
for me but buy clothes for yourself And don't be excited about it thinking you
can never get ready. The things you paid to get can be easily sent for if we
are stationed on the Rail Road. You will require about the same clothing in
this climate that you do in New York. Find out what things were left at Monmouth.
Some of them I think we will require. I have got here a few of our dishes, but
not enough. These we can buy here. You will want spoons. I have 3 or 4 sheets-2
pillow cases-1 pillow-1 table cloth, the fine one, 2 bedspreads white and my
shawl. I have sold a few of the things which came in the trunk. Here is a list
of the dishes I have as nearly as I can recollect. My sugar bowl- 1 sauce dish-
the spoon glass-your pickledish-3 large and 3 small plates-2 cups and saucers-1
vegetable dish-broken-4 knives-ands forks-your little porcelain pitcher and
your little mug-2 salt cellars-nutmeg grater-little scoop-tea pot stand and
server-some tin dishes. These are all I believe. The silver spoon you gave me,
I of course have. These things need not worry you only get every thing you and
Guy will want. When we know what is to be done with us I can advise you further.
We will want a folding mattress-made of hair I think. I saw them advertised
in the Army and Navy Journal-by the way Stell-buy the Army and Navy Journal
and after you read it send it to me. You will find it in Utica. It is published
weekly. Capt. Wishart has written for his wife to commence getting ready, and
has told her that it is probable that Mr. Shirty will not return. When we leave
here and arrive at the Post where we are to be stationed, I shall apply for
a Leave of Absence to come for my Stell. If you can get a girl to come with
you, get her. Where is the little girl, Mrs Stevens had. I wish you could get
one as good as she and of her age to bring up. Secure one if possible. My dinner
is now ready. Will you dine with me. If you will you shall have a chair to sit
at the table in. I sit on an empty box. Not very comfortable for the legs and
back but it doesn't interfere much with my eating. Will you decline my invitation.
Well all right. I shall see the day when you will be glad to sit by me on a
candle box. 0 Stell, our first supper at the Porter's. Can I ever forget it.
No! Good bye dear. I will write more this evening.
7 oclock P.M. Dear Stell this evening I will renew my writing. There have been
many Arapahoe Indians in the Fort today and although it is Sunday, a lively
trade has been carried on with them at the sutlers and among some of the officers.
I swaped for one robe and now I have six of them.. I have also quite a number
of Indian curiosities. Dr. Mathews gave them quite a large amount of clothing,
flour, lard, bread etc. Mathew will leave for the States the day after tomorrow.
We shall send our mail down with him. Our last mail reached us on the --------How
many letters do you think I got from you? Ten! This mail came quicker than any
mail that came here. I had one letter written from you on the 28th if December.
How glad I was to hear from you and so lately. All other letters have been almost
two months old before I got them. I also received a letter from Mary. I will
write to her by this mail, if I can. I received a paper from AC and a letter
from Dan'! Clark He is clerking in a store at a Salary of $600 per year and
running his Soap Factory for $600 per year in all 1200 per year. He does not
say that he has any children. He thinks he would like to be in the Army but
doesn't want to come to the Indian Country. Capt. Wishart just came in, he says:
"Well George tell your wife to make arrangements to come with my wife".
He has told her to make preparations to come and she will know about the first
of April where she is to come. He told her about the same I have told you about
making preparations-You can meet at Chicago at the Adams house. You know it
is near the Depot and the road on which she will come to Chicago on, runs into
the same Depot. I write this in case I can not come for you or we do not return
to the States, you can make arrangements accordingly. Our mails will now come
often and more regular and we can hear from each other oftener and thus make
our plans in time. I must now go to the Guard House for a little while. Good
bye little Stelle
Sunday, March 27, 1868
My Darling
Today we are having beautiful weather. Warm and pleasant. Affairs here are rather
monotonous. We are waiting for the teams to come up from below to move us out.
I have just been talking with Dr. Mathews. He says he saw A.C.H. Aunt Susan
& Mrs Beach in Washington. He says our Regiment will stop at Cheyenne —and
that the troops there have good quarters. The officer's quarters are good frame
houses and every officer has 4 or 5 rooms. The wind blows hard and the dust
flies like fury sometimes. Cheyenne is to be our home for a time. It is not
pleasant country by any means. The soil is dry and sandy and there are scarcely
and trees-but we shall have a good house and I think you will be comfortably
situated. I can be happy there with you with me.
You say that Gen Nye wrote that A.C. would run for Governor of Ills-This is
the first intimation I have had of it but I have thought he
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Of course he will not come out here now. If he could he would remain at Cheyenne
until the Regiment arrives there. I don't think it advisable for Mrs Wishart
to start before hearing again from her husband. Though she may hear from him
in the mail which carries this letter. As our own mail will not leave until
the mail from Fort Smith comes down. Lt. Coale says his wife has received a
letter from you.
How funny about Guy, and the chamber. He is a live boy isn't he? How much I
want to see the little fellow! I hope you don't let the remarks of some people,
"that Guy has never seen his father" trouble you. You must not. You
know he has a father and of course I am his father-and he is going to see me
before long. I can't say when-but I will put the time two months from today.
This is a long time I know but I dare not say that it will be sooner. If
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April2d 1868
My Darling Wife-
I am Officer of the Guard today-and to night I am alone in the house which is
occupied by the Officer of the Guard. The Garrison is sleeping and all is still
except the Sentries one of whom is walking up and down in front of my house.
I have been thinking a great deal about you lately. You are constantly in my
thoughts. I am looking forward to the time when I shall be with you and thinking
of the great happiness awaiting us when we meet. At the moment I suppose you
are sleeping and perhaps dreaming of me. One year ago now we were in Momnouth
waiting for my orders that carried me so far away from you. I hope my leave
will come so that I can be with you by the middle of nest month. It was on the
15 of May that I left you in Utica and one year from that time I went to meet
you in Chicago and if all goes well
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Our mail will be sent to Reno and one will be brought from there for us but
I do not expect my leave to come in that one-but in the next one I shall begin
to look for it. Dr. Mathews has gone to Fort Smith to distribute presents to
the Indians. I have heard nothing from Capt, Wishart lately-but expect a letter
from him by the next mail from Smith. We are having fine weather here —
I am becoming attached to the Country on account of its climate.-Since I have
been here we have not had rain enough to make mud - And if it did rain a week
there would be but little mud. The air is dry and healthy and on some accounts
I am glad that we are to remain on the Plains. I think it will be beneficial
to your health and make you strong again — I want you to try it any way.
I know you will be healthy here. We are still having fine weather — no
snow nor rain but bright sunny weather- I must bid you
April 4th 1868
My Darling,
Last night Genl Smith arrived from Fort Smith. Genl Bradley and Maj. Burrows
came with him — they are going home on Leaves — Geni Bradley goes
to Chicago to be married -- he
Missing portion
Sedwick — both of which are on the Rail Road. McPherson is 300 miles from
Omaha. Though he is not certain where we will go — But some where on the
Rail Road. The last of next week I shall begin to look for my Leave - When it
comes I shall be off like a shot —
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I think I have written you all the news. You will get other letters from me
if my Leave comes — when it comes I will write to you immediately. If I
go I shall telegraph to you from Omaha and you can start immediately on receipt
of it and come to the Adams House and there I will be to meet you. Mrs Fisher
can if I come before the Regiment moves
Missing Portion
Has made application for transportation which she will get from Washington by
waiting a little while — It will save her 100 dollars — by having
the order for transportation. You can write to her and tell her what I say about
it. Now darling I must again say good bye — I send you and Guy all my love
— I hope you are both well —be ready when I send for you -
George