Chapter 3

October 2, 1865

Henry POV

As I rode back into the fort from my morning perimeter check, I reflected on the events of the past several months. Every morning, I would ride out and make a large perimeter sweep, the goal being to make sure that none of the area was in danger of being invaded. The Comanche Indians were the angriest of all the tribes in the area, therefore they posed the greatest threat.

I had tried many times to reach out and to assist them in any way I could. Officially, I was under orders to make the Indians comply no matter what it took, even if that meant killing each and every one of them. Unofficially, I just wanted peace. I was grateful for the soldiers under my command. They too, had seen enough war and devastation to last two lifetimes. I had a meeting upon my arrival last year and was able to ascertain that none of them really wanted to force the Indian’s out any more than I did. So, it was decided that while the United States government might want us to eliminate all threats, we would each do what we could to secure peace in the area. With that attitude, we had met with the chief of each of the tribes in the area. Unfortunately, only the Comanche were uninterested in peace and to date, refused to meet with us.

In the last six months, the Comanche had attacked not only Fort Sill, but also Fort Cobb, which was located about thirty miles north of us. Fort Cobb had not seen as many attacks as we had, but they had sustained heavy losses of supplies. This was the reason that I had sent a request to St. Louis for more supplies to be sent prior to the snow that would come this year.

Here at Fort Sill, we had not sustained any damage or loss of life. We realized early on that the Comanche were in need of blankets and food stuffs, so we made it very easy for them to take what they needed, therefore limiting the loss of life and suffering only minor injuries. The Comanche wouldn’t allow us to give it to them but chose instead, to steal from us. My good friend, Wohali, told me that their pride would not allow them to take charity and the feeling was that if they took without asking, they were hurting the government that had forced them from their ancestral home’s years prior. To limit destruction and injuries, I instructed my men to make sure to leave clothing, blankets, and food items within easy access to the gate of the fort. So far, this technique has worked.

It was a quiet morning for a change. I was able to enjoy the sunrise and the golden hues had me thinking about my Abigail. Her last letter came over five weeks ago. In that letter, she had told me that she was ready to come join me here in Indian Territory. I remember the day her letter arrived. I was excited to read her words. Finally, I would be able to make her mine. She has been a part of every thought since the day we met.

Ever since she told me that she would consider me as a husband, I had been working on making my little house here at the fort a home for her. One of the soldiers under my command is skilled with wood and I commissioned him to build a larger bed. Once it was finished, he and I moved it into the only bedroom in the house. Last week, he finished a matching armoire, which would be a wedding gift for my Abigail. I just needed her to agree to come. We had spoken of it for months and I was impatient waiting for her response to my last letter.

I had sent her a letter about five weeks ago and I was beginning to worry. Typically, she would respond to my letters within a day or two and I would receive it within about three to four weeks. It depended on the mail delivery. I hadn’t heard anything from her. In my last letter, I asked her to send a dispatch via telegram and if she had, I would have received it almost two weeks ago.

I rode Slingshot up to my house, affectionately known by the soldiers as “Captain’s Quarters” and dismounted, then tied him to the hitching post. As I rubbed his neck, I quietly told him, “Hey boy. Good job this morning. I’m worried about Abigail. If we don’t have any news today from her, we’re gonna ride to Cobb and send a wire. I don’t like not knowing what is happening. I’m starting to worry that her father found her.”

As I rubbed near his head, Slingshot nuzzled me and I patted him twice and moved into the house, which also served as my office. I worked through the morning and skipped lunch; my stomach was twisted in knots with worry about Abigail. I rose from my desk and took a stroll around the inside of the fort to try to ease my mind, but nothing helped.

I realized that it was getting close to supper and I needed to finish my monthly report of activities during September. I would need to send that off to my superiors so they are aware of what is happening. I turned and made my way back to my house. I had no sooner sat down at my desk and I heard horse hooves charging toward the house.

“Captain Spertzel! Captain!”

I ran to the door, hearing my name and threw it open and a young private jumped from his horse, waving a dispatch in his hand.

“Captain Spertzel! I have a dispatch from Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis!” he shouted once again.

I held up my hands in an attempt to slow him down, and said, “First of all soldier, no need to shout. I’m right here. Secondly, how do you approach an officer?” I had to admonish him, not for my sake but for his own sake. Another captain would not be so lenient.

He immediately flushed, lowered his head, and said, “Apologies, Captain Spertzel, sir.” He quickly stood at attention and waited for me to give him permission to continue.

“Private. Please continue,” I told him.

“Captain Spertzel. I have a dispatch from Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis. I was told it was urgent that you receive it today,” he informed me, obviously proud of himself for delivering the dispatch, as he pointed the dispatch in my direction.

I reached and out took the offered dispatch, nodded to him, and said, “Thank you, Private,” and I turned to walk back into the house.

The soldier stopped me when he said, “Sir. Um, I was told to wait to see if you have a reply.” He stuttered, unsure if I would once again admonish him.

“I’m sure I will, go to the dining hall and grab some supper. I’ll come find you when I have my reply ready,” I stated, dismissing him. I continued into the house, not caring if he left or stayed. My only thought was that finally I had word from my Abigail. I opened the envelope that held the dispatch and found several sheets of paper. The one on top was a telegram that read

               

“Meine Leibe is traveling, Seulement les tiens”

I gripped the page so tightly as I smiled from ear to ear. Abigail was coming! This telegram was from her! No one knew that I called her my love. And she had been ending all of her letters with Seulement les tiens, which I found out from one of the men in my command, meant ‘Only Yours’. I sank into my chair behind my desk and took a deep breath that I didn’t realize I had been holding. Suddenly, the weight that I had felt the last couple of weeks, left me. She was okay. She was coming. But why the delay in her response, I wondered quietly. I decided I didn’t care.

I gently placed her telegram to the side and opened the second folded telegram. It was from Sergeant Major Levi. It read:

                Lady was in Texas. Returned yesterday. Came today. We leave 25 Oct ‘65

So that is why she didn’t respond for two weeks! I scrubbed my hand over my face and blew out another breathe. She had gone to Texas, maybe to see her friend Hannah. I would have to find out when she arrived. At least I know that she is alive and well.

I laid the second telegram down and leaned back in my chair, my head resting on the top. I quietly spoke into the silence of my office, “Lord, thank you for keeping her safe. I have no idea why she was in Texas, but right now, I really don’t care. Please protect her as she travels to be by my side. I miss her so much. We have spent such little time together, but I feel as if she is a part of me. As if she is my soulmate, if such a thing exists. Keep her safe and give her sweet rest tonight. Amen.”

I had just finished my prayer when I heard Slingshot nicker and then he snorted. I knew that someone was outside. I quietly got up from my chair and moved to the door. Just as I was about to grab the door knob, I heard, “still not so quiet, Henry. I know that you are now standing by the door.”

I smiled and shook my head, recognizing the voice of Wohali. I opened the door and smiled at my friend, “Neither are you friend. Come on in.”

He snickered and said, “Your horse gave me away. If he hadn’t made any noise, I would have gotten the drop on you.”

“That’s true. I was definitely not paying attention,” I said as I made my way back to my office, Wohali following close behind. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today? You aren’t due for another week or so.”

“I came because I have heard that the Comanche are planning another attack on the fort.” he answered.

“So, what do we do? Do you think I should send the men out on patrol at the same time, so that the fort is empty?”

“That is a good idea, but I do not know when they will attack,” Wohali stated. He was also frustrated that we had not been successful in finding peace with our neighbors.

He was right. We could be attacked tomorrow or not for weeks. We had no way of knowing. The Comanche were intelligent and rarely attacked without a plan. Their attacks were methodical and seemed well planned, at least to the trained eyes of a soldier such as myself. Once again, I scrubbed my hand over my face. I was growing tired of fighting a never-ending battle.

“I will again try to talk with them and make them see reason. But I make no promises, friend. Now what of your lady? Have you heard from her?” Wohali asked, knowing that nothing could be done about the Comanche and that I needed to focus on something else.

Excitedly, I grinned at him and showed him the telegram, “she is coming! She should be here by the end of November!”

Wohali smiled and nodded his head, “Good. Good. It is time for you to make babies and leave the war behind.”

“I need a favor my friend,” I began and he nodded for me to continue. “I am needed here. I would ask that you be at Fort Gibson when she arrives. Will you escort her to me? I do not want her traveling alone and I trust you to see her safely to my side.”

“Of course, my friend. Will she trust me?”

“I have spoken of you often in my letters. You only have to tell her your name, tell her that I call her Meine Liebe and she will know,” I told him.

We chatted for a bit longer before it was time to go to the dining hall for supper. Before we left my office, I quickly wrote a response to Levi.

                Take care of the lady. Wohali will meet you at Fort Gibson.

I found the private from Fort Cobb in the dining hall, talking with several of the other men. When Wohali and I walked into the room, every one of the men stood at attention and said, “Good evening, sir.”

“Be seated. Go about your business,” I responded, not wanting to interrupt their meal time. I walked over to the soldier and said, “Private. Here is my response. Please take it straight to the telegraph office upon your return. Jefferson Barracks is expecting a response. You can leave once you have finished your meal.” I handed him the dispatch and he stuffed it inside his shirt, as was custom here on the prairie. The wind constantly blew and traveling by horse, it was easy for things to be lost if not secured.

“Yes, sir. Thank you. The meal was delicious and I will head out momentarily,” he told me. Then turned to the others and said, “See you soon” and was out the door before I could blink. He was a fine young man and if he kept his wits about him, would do well.

Following our meal, Wohali and I went back to my house so that I could retrieve Slingshot. I kept him saddled during the day because I never knew if I would need to ride out at a moment’s notice. Wohali’s pinto was hobbled next to Slingshot. We both mounted up and took off for the perimeter of the fort. It was time for my evening perimeter run and Wohali would ride with me.

Several hours later, nothing was amiss and so I bid farewell to my Cherokee friend as he headed northwest, presumably back toward Fort Gibson. His tribe had previously been settled close to forty-five miles from the fort. But a few months ago, they decided it was better to be closer so they relocated to approximately fifteen miles from the fort. He would have a hard couple of days ride to return home, but he spent most of his time on a horse, so it was no hardship.

The next few days went by rather quickly. I informed all of the men that my wife was finally joining us. Each one gave a look of longing and I knew they also wished for a wife to settle down with. My hope was that if they chose to leave the army, they would relocate to a town full of women to choose from. Most of them had been with me since Gettysburg and they were all good men.

I hadn’t received word from command, but I knew that my time here at Fort Sill was coming to an end in the spring. Abigail and I would be moving to a new fort somewhere in the Territory, I just didn’t know where yet. I had only two years left before the end of my commission. I was ready to settle down.

I had just returned to the fort from my perimeter ride on Friday morning, when I heard the cry from the watch tower, “Comanche!”

I turned Slingshot around and rode back to the gate. Indians were riding up to the gate. They were not acting aggressively this time.

“Let them pass,” I yelled to my men. I dismounted, hoping to show that I wanted peace. I continued walking toward the gate and motioned for the Indians to enter.

As they entered the fort, I took in the leader. He seemed of average build, with somewhat broad shoulders. He sat tall on his horse, as if he were meant to be there. He had a slightly oval shaped face with strong, high cheekbones and a firm chin. His eyes were wide as he watched me, most likely sizing me up also. His long hair was parted in the middle and tied with a leather lashing by each ear. Although he appeared to be only about sixteen years old, he had a commanding presence. He wore a headdress of feathers, not as full as some I had seen in the past. This led me to believe while he was important, he was not the chief.

He and his warriors stopped directly in front of me. He said something to his companions that I did not understand, then he dismounted from his horse. I was correct in assuming he was of average height for a man as we were able to look each other directly in the eye.

“I have come to speak to the captain,” he said in a commanding tone.

“I am Captain Heinrich Spertzel. Welcome to Fort Sill. How may I help you?” I replied, hoping to sound confident, even though I had no idea what to expect.

“I would like to speak with you about peace,” he replied.

“Would you like to follow me to my house? Your men are welcome to join you. I just live over there,” I told him, pointing to my house on the other side of the small fort.

“My men will stay here. But, yes, I will go to your house,” he told me and then turned to his men and said something in his native tongue.

I waited for him to finish, then turned to one of my men standing nearby, “Private, take Slingshot to the livery and ready him for the evening.” The private strode over and took Slingshot’s reins from me and led him off to the livery. I then turned slightly and gestured toward my house, “shall we?”

The Indian leader nodded and we made our way to my house, side by side. I was slightly apprehensive, unsure of the nature of this meeting. But I decided that so long as he was calm and peaceful, I would be as well.

Once inside, I offered him a seat on the chair in the sitting area. “What would you like to speak with me about?” I asked, hoping to discover the nature of his visit.

“I come on behalf of my chief and my people. We have watched you and your men for many moons now. My people have taken from you, yet you continue to show us kindness. Why?” he asked.

“I served in the war and have seen the meanness in men. While I want to continue to serve my country, I also want to see peace for all men,” I paused, then cocked my head to side, contemplating something. I decided to ask him, “I am curious as to how you speak English so well.”

“My mother is a white woman. She was raised by my people and married my father. My father is Chief Peta Nocona of the Kwahadi people. I am Quanah,” he told me and sat a little taller as he told of his importance to his tribe.

“Quanah, it is a pleasure to meet you. As I said earlier, I am Captain Heinrich Spertzel, but you may call me Henry,” I told him with a smile. It was nice to be able to converse in English.

“Henry. Yes, I hope that our talk today can be beneficial to us both. Do your men also believe as you do? That peace is needed,” he questioned.

“Yes. They do. That is why I sought to bring them with me. Even before I journeyed from Virginia, we had heard of the horrid treatment of the natives. Of course, many in positions of power believe differently and that is why so many forts have been established over the last few years. I was careful in who I selected to bring with me. I didn’t want to cause further harm. I want to help bring peace. I believe that this land is large enough for all men to have a small plot of land and still have room to share with their neighbor.” I hoped my explanation was encouraging to him.

He nodded as I spoke and then said, “We see that happening here. You and your men have allowed us to take what did not belong to us. Yet, you did not retaliate. Your men did not harm us. You have shown nothing but peace and kindness. For that we are grateful. I wish to ask that you would continue to provide blankets and food. This year has been difficult. The buffalo are moving out of the area and that is limiting our food source. I fear the winter will be harsh.”

“I understand. I have already sent for additional supplies. They should arrive in about a month, if all goes well,” I told him. I was careful not to mention Abigail because I didn’t know if they had plenty of women in their tribe and I didn’t want to make her a potential target.

We continued to talk for several hours getting to know one another and I felt that I had made a new friend. As noontime approached, Quanah and I completed our discussion and he rose to leave. As we walked back to his men, who were still standing in the same place we had left them hours before, I asked, “would you and your men join us for a meal? We have plenty.”

“Thank you, but not this time. I must return to the tribe and talk with my father. I will return soon. Be safe, Henry,” he replied as he mounted his horse.

I stood and watched as he and his men quickly left the fort. My First Lieutenant, Adam Williamson, strode up to me and asked, “Well? How did it go?”

I turned and smiled at him, “It went very well. I think we may have peace.”

“As long as the government stays out of it,” he chuckled.

I chuckled with him and said, “exactly. But until then, we will have peace. Let’s go eat.” With that we turned and made our way to the dining hall for lunch.

The days passed quickly, and soon it was the twenty-fourth of October. I was in a joyful mood all day, knowing that the next day, my Abigail would begin her journey. I thought back over the last several weeks and my preparations for Abigial’s arrival. The men continued to work hard to ensure we maintained peace with all of the tribes in the area.

Wohali had come to tell me that he would be a father for the first time by the time summer arrived. His wife, or squaw as he called her, had told him when he returned home after our last meeting. He also told me that Matthew was making a place for Abigail’s arrival. He assumed I would want to allow her a couple of days to rest before completing the final part of her journey. While I agreed that she deserved a couple of days rest, I was impatient for her to arrive. My only consolation was that Wohali offered to have her stay with the tribe, if it made me feel better.

When I told him that the only thing that would make me feel better was Abigail in my arms, he laughed at me and clapped me on the back. I shook my head and told him to tell Matthew that while I was eager for her to arrive, he was correct and she should have at least two days to rest before the final three-day journey. Wohali would travel, as her escort, by horse. The supply wagons and six new soldiers were joining us, one of them being Sergeant Major Levi, would arrive several days later. Wohali knew my urgency in having her by my side. The supply wagons would add at least another week to her trip, and that wouldn’t do.

Later that evening, I sat reading a few chapters of “Pride and Prejudice”. It took some time, but I was finally able to obtain a copy and since it was one of Abigail’s favorites, I wanted to read it. My hope was that we could talk together about the books we had read. It was definitely a different sort of tale than I had anticipated. A story of love, betrayal, and hostility. I couldn’t wait to talk with Abigail about it. I wanted to know what about it fascinated her interest.

Finished, at last, I closed the book and laid it on the bedside table. I turned down the lamp and laid back down in my bed. As I closed my eyes, Abigail’s face, though distorted in my memory by time and distance, appeared before me. Oh, my sweet! Your journey to me begins in the morning. And in just a few short weeks after that, you will arrive at Fort Gibson. And by November months end, you will be here in my arms. Mein Leibe, I love you and can’t wait, I thought to myself as sleep overcame me.