“It was the summer of 1861; the place, a camp
on the
“Dr. Smythe and the other men of the
regiment had been called up for one year of duty. Their job
was to enter treaty negotiations with the Indians. It
apparently was not much of a challenge. “He wrote, ‘some of the latter (Choctaws, Chickasaws, other civilized tribes and Comanches) are reported to have already come in and to show a willingness for peace. Should this prove true it may change our entire operations for the future.’
“To an educated man like Smythe, life in the
camp was dreary. News of the country and especially the
threatening word of the Civil War was fleeting. Reading
material was scarce.
“His plight was much like that of the military
personnel today - his loneliness for his wife and two children is repeatedly
reflected throughout the letters. Following are excerpts
from the letters.
“Camp on
“Rumor says there are seven or eight hundred
warriors embodied and waiting the order of Kansas
“I have not yet crossed
“This portion of
“ ‘I could be entirely contented in camp if you
and our dear little ones were here but without you all else is as nothing.
How I will be able to bear so long a separation I can not now fully
realize and nothing but a strong sense of duty to my country could ever induce
me to sacrifice my feelings, but the cause is a holy one, one for which we
should willingly sacrifice personal comfort and ease, endure all manner of
hardships.
“ ‘It is a cause that meets the approval of my
conscience, my judgement and my warmest affections. It is a
cause for which I have labored long and jealously and with whatever of ability I
possessed and now that perils cluster in thick clouds around the star of Liberty
it behooves all her true Votaries to come to her rescue and if needs be, baptize
her robes in their hearts’ best blood.
“ ‘What our future movement will be I cannot say.
No amount of sagacity can foresee what new move will be made on the
military stage. Time alone can unravel those mysteries of
the future.’
“Smythe wrote of missing his children, Harry and
Ida. ‘Cheer up, my love, and do not give way to despondency.
Trust in the goodness and mercy of God and he will guard and protect you.
“ ‘This letter will be mailed from Montague, our
nearest post office. Some 45 or 50 miles east.
You will continue to write and direct as heretofore and write at least
once a week and send me those newspapers.’
“The second letter was written from
“ ‘It was a stirring scene; all was bustle and
hurry to save our forage and subsistence. Wagons were
rushing wildly along to and fro - assisted by 250 horsemen each with a sack of
flour, oats or beans thrown across his saddle and dashing rapidly through the
fast encroaching flood.
“ ‘Soon all was safe from the devouring element.
When we had got safely beyond its reach it was sublime to look upon, the
foam crested waves proudly and impatiently dashing against the trembling banks
and breaking down all barriers to the raging torrent.
“ ‘To enable you to judge of the suddenness and
extent of the rise it will be sufficient to say that in one hour it rose 15 feet
and spread to a width of 300 or 400 yards. “ ‘Other news: Co. McCulloch returned without a treaty with the Comanches; stealing and murder was going on at the border settlements; a supply train with 300 or 400 men was due; two men, Capt. Davidson and Andrew McCarthy, were killed by an ambush of 150 Indians; and that should old Abe not send us work from Kansas it is intended to make a ground campaign of the entire regiment against the red rascals in the autumn. So you see, we have plenty of work on hand.’ “
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