My husband was obliged to be at the Commissary Office all day, issuing rations to troops and scouts, and attending to the duties of his position.
But, realizing in a measure the utter helplessness of my situation, he sent a soldier up to lead a wire cord through the thick wall at the head of my bed and out through the small yard into the kitchen.

To this they attached a big cow-bell, so, by making some considerable effort to reach up and pull this wire, I could summon Bowen, that is, if Bowen happened to be there.

But Bowen seemed always to be out at drill or over at the company quarters, and frequently my bell brought no response.

When he did come, however, he was just as kind and just as awkward as it was possible for a great big six-foot farmer-soldier to be.
But I grew weaker and weaker with trying to be strong, and one day when Jack came in and found both the baby and myself crying, he said, man-like, "What's the matter ?" I said, "I must have some one to take care of me, or we shall both die." He seemed to realize that the situation was desperate, and mounted men were sent out immediately in all directions to find a woman.
At last, a Mexican girl was found in a wood-chopper's camp, and was brought to me.

She was quite young and very ignorant and stupid, and spoke nothing but a sort of Mexican "lingo," and did not understand a word of English.