But I
have never tasted it, although Hang has never failed to save a nice
piece for me. He was with Mrs. Pierce two years, and it was some time
before I could convince him that this house was regulated my way and
not hers. Major Pierce was promoted to another regiment and we miss
them very much.
FORT SHAW, MONTANA TERRITORY,
July, 1882.
THE garrison seems lonesome since the two companies have been out, and
I am beginning to feel that I am at home alone quite too much. Faye
was in Washington two months, and almost immediately after he got back
he was ordered to command the paymaster's escort from Helena here, and
now he is off again for the summer! The camp is on Birch Creek not far
from the Piegan Agency. The agents become frightened every now and
then, and ask for troops, more because they know the Indians would be
justified in giving trouble than because there is any.
An officer is sent from the post to inspect all the cattle and rations
that are issued to them--yet there is much cheating. Once it was
discovered that a very inferior brand of flour was being given the
Indians--that sacks with the lettering and marks of the brand the
government was supposed to issue to them had been slipped over the
sacks which really held the inferior flour, and carefully tied. Just
imagine the trouble some one had taken, but there had been a fat
reward, of course, and then, where had those extra sacks come
from--where had the fine flour gone?
Some one could have explained it all.
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