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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 secluded spot； and from the
centre to the outside a trench was dug in the ground； and thinly
covered when a depth had been obtained that would leave an aperture
sufficiently large to admit the class of birds desired。 Along this
trench seeds and other food were scattered； which the birds soon
discovered； and of course began to eat； unsuspectingly following the
tempting bait through the gallery till they emerged from its farther
end in the centre of the trap； where they contentedly fed till the
food was all gone。 Then the fact of imprisonment first presented
itself； and they vainly endeavored to escape through the interstices
of the cage； never once guided by their instinct to return to liberty
through the route by which they had entered。
Among the different kinds of birds captured in this way； mocking…
birds； blue…birds； robins； meadow larks； quail； and plover were the
most numerous。 They seemed to have more voracious appetites than
other varieties； or else they were more unwary； and consequently more
easily caught。 A change of station； however； put an end to my
ornithological plans； and activities of other kinds prevented me from
resuming them in after life。
There were quite a number of young officers at the post during the
winter； and as our relations with the Mexican commandant at Piedras
Negras were most amicable； we were often invited to dances at his
house。 He and his hospitable wife and daughter drummed up the female
portion of the elite of Piedras Negras and provided the house； which
was the official as well as the personal residence of the commandant；
while wethe young officersfurnished the music and such
sweetmeats； candies； &c。； for the baille as the country would afford。
We generally danced in a long hall on a hard dirt floor。 The girls
sat on one side of the hall； chaperoned by their mothers or some old
duennas； and the men on the other。 When the music struck up each man
asked the lady w