e-schooners, and all the officers' wives
were glad to go into the post, where we were most kindly entertained.
Fort Whipple was a very gay and hospitable post, near the town of
Prescott, which was the capital city of Arizona. The country being
mountainous and fertile, the place was very attractive, and I felt sorry
that we were not to remain there. But I soon learned that in the army,
regrets were vain. I soon ceased to ask myself whether I was sorry or
glad at any change in our stations.

On the next day the troops marched in, and camped outside the post. The
married officers were able to join their wives, and the three days we
spent there were delightful. There was a dance given, several informal
dinners, drives into the town of Prescott, and festivities of various
kinds. General Crook commanded the Department of Arizona then; he was
out on some expedition, but Mrs. Crook gave a pleasant dinner for us.
After dinner, Mrs. Crook came and sat beside me, asked kindly about our
long journey, and added: "I am truly sorry the General is away; I should
like for him to meet you; you are just the sort of woman he likes." A
few years afterwards I met the General, and remembering this remark,
I was conscious of making a special effort to please. The indifferent
courtesy with which he treated me, however, led me to think that women
are often mistaken judges of their husband's tastes.

The officers' quarters at Fort Whipple were quite commodious, and after
seven weeks' continuous travelling, the comforts which surrounded me at
Mrs. Thomas' home seemed like the veriest luxuries. I was much affected
by the kindness shown me by people I had never met before, and I
kept wondering if I should ever have an opportunity to return their
courtesies. "Don't worry about that, Martha," said Jack, "your turn will
come."

He proved a true prophet, for sooner or later, I saw them all again,
and was able to extend to them the hospitality of an army home.
Nevertheless, my heart grows warm whenever I think of the people who
first welcomed me to Arizona, me a stranger in the army, and in the
great southwest as well.

At Fort Whipple we met also some people we had known at Fort Russell,
who had gone down with the first detachment, among them Major and Mrs.
Wilhelm, who were to remain at headquarters. We bade good-bye to the
Colonel and his family, to the officers of F, who were to stay behind,
and to our kind friends of the Fifth Cavalry.

We now