Their particular hopeful character and you can passion for community let their in order to survive within new world one represented a harsh move from their comfortable Pewee Valley house
They became engaged in September, 1881, only 6 months immediately after their first meeting, while you are Mamie try visiting family unit members relatives John and you may kanadensisk internetbrudar Ida Wilcox in the Fort Clark, Colorado, in which Henry was then serving. The delighted chaperone, that has recognized Henry consistently, stated returning to Mamie’s mother with effusive supplement to possess their own future the young man-in-legislation. ..their daughter becomes a prominent husband and you an excellent son-in-law away from who you is generally first proud. Nevertheless package changed in the slide regarding 1881 whenever Mamie penned so you’re able to Lawton to come calmly to Pewee Valley when you can since their own more youthful sister, Alice, had been given serious attention ill.
Dreading dying, Alice desired to be present when Mamie and Lawton was in fact hitched along with asked that wedding date become moved right up. Lawton requested an escape from absence to have ie and you may Henry Lawton was indeed hitched in the Edgewood on the twelfth off December, 1881. The service is actually a simple, hushed, and bittersweet skills from the Alice’s bedside within the higher-ceilinged upstairs rooms. Minister S. E. Bass-Lawton’s former chief out-of their Civil Conflict regiment, new 30th Indiana-presented new service. Annie Craig supported because the witnesses, and Alice’s doctor and you may husband was in fact and additionally introduce. Alice passed away the next day. Once, Mamie manufactured their unique something and you will, likely pursuing the a tearful farewell at Pewee Valley’s train depot, boarded a subway so you can Louisville with her partner en route to help you an alternate life because a military spouse about West.
Mamie due to the fact an army Spouse on the West 1912 postcard glance at of Foot. Huachuca, in which the Lawtons stayed whenever you are Henry is going after Geronimo
Louis the day immediately following appointment Mamie, depending on the page the guy later on composed in order to their buddy, but they stored in touch
?Immediately following its wedding, Mamie then followed Henry to help you a succession of armed forces posts across the southwest. They went on first toward headquarters of your Armed forces Region out of The latest Mexico when you look at the Albuquerque, The fresh new Mexico Territory, where Lawton offered since Acting Professional from January, 1882 in order to October, 1883. They afterwards transferred to Fort Stanton, This new Mexico Region, where Lawton required troops up to Could possibly get, 1884. In the end, responsibility got them to Fort Huachuca, Arizona Territory, and therefore turned their property up until ie’s sibling, Merton Craig, years afterwards told a reporter you to “my personal sister’s dedication to help you their own spouse is admirable. She constantly desired to getting which have him, and you can she believed that she you will brave people possibility which he you may . . . When he carry out rating instructions to visit anyplace Mrs. Lawton perform instantaneously beginning to finish off and have now willing to supplement your.” Particularly dedication included give up. Lives towards the an armed forces article is harsh for even new toughest soldiers, which commonly reported away from extreme heat, dirty requirements, crappy eating, and you can pervasive state. Henry’s performs will grabbed your from the fort for several days, weeks, if you don’t days at the same time, leaving Mamie to look after your family by yourself.
Departing Pewee, Mamie exchanged groomed lanes that veined gentle hills for dirt roads that scored dusty grassland. She swapped dignified trees that blotted shade across civilized lawns for starving oaks that twisted toward white-hot sky. Fortunately, Mamie’s optimistic bent and eye for the beauty around her found plenty to enjoy in the dramatic western expanse. If Annie Fellows Johnson’s descriptions of fort life in her Little Colonel books are, indeed, based on comments Mamie shared with her, they recount a world in which rugged nature offered freedom and joy. Henry understood his wife’s pleasure in noticing the beauty of her surroundings and helped feed her interest. While away from Fort Huachuca on campaign, he once wrote to her about the interesting birds, bugs and plants he encountered, including “a great variety of doves” and another bird “that makes a noise just like a kitten mewing, not like a cat but a little kitten, and if you did not know it was not you would be certain a kitten was about.” He even planned to send her specimens of an interesting red bug, expecting that “you could color your lemonade and make strawberry ice cream without strawberries.”