Glass. 
 Book. 
 
 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 
 
PERCIVAL G. LOWE. 
 
Five Years a Dragoon 
 
 ('49 TO '54.) 
 
 AND OTHER ADVENTURES ON 
 THE GREAT PLAINS. 
 
 BY 
 
 PERCIVAL G. LOWE. 
 
 kansas city, mo. : 
 
 The Fkanklin Hudson Publishing Co. 
 
 1906. 
 

 LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
 Two Copies Received 
 
 APR 16 1906 
 
 Copyright Entry 
 CLASS 'tC XXc. No. 
 I COPY B. ' 
 
 Copyright 1906, 
 By PERCIVAL G. LOWE. 
 
TO THE MEMORY OF MAJOR DAVID H. HASTINGS, U. S. A., 
 WHO DIED IN RETIREMENT AT HIS HOME IN BATH, NEW 
 YORK, TO WHOM I OWE MORE THAN TO ANY OTHER 
 FOR HIS KINDLY GUIDANCE IN MY YOUTH AND 
 INEXPERIENCE WHILE SERVING UNDER 
 HIM, AND WHOSE FRIENDLY CARE LED 
 ME THROUGH THE GREATEST DIF- 
 FICULTIES, THIS VOLUME IS 
 GRATEFULLY DEDICATED 
 BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 At the close o^f a busy life, interspersed with exciting 
 adventures, I find myself living in the past enjoying the 
 recollections of old comrades and business associates, the 
 scenes in which Ave mingled in early manhood, the bivouac 
 under the blue sky, the faithful vigil of tlie weary sentinel 
 for the safety of all. 
 
 The living who know of the truthfulness of statements 
 herein made are few, but the records live. 
 
 Always blessed with a good memory, it seemed to be 
 renewed — to come to my assistance, as, step by step, I travel 
 the old roads and recount the incidents of long ago. 
 
 Fortunately I kej)t an accurate daily journal of some of 
 the campaigns of which I write, and have only to copy 
 extracts, brief, but comprehensive enough without being 
 too voluminous. 
 
 My recollection of Fort Riley were first embodied in 
 an address delivered before the Kansas State Historical 
 Society, lieferring to this address I received many letters 
 of congratulation and approval. The Journal of the 
 United States Cavalry Association did me the honor to 
 publish it and a number of Army friends signified their 
 approval and urged me to write more, which T did w'th 
 considerable reluctance, mistrusting my ability ; the Jour- 
 
nal coiitinuefl to encourage me and publish my articles and 
 the result, with all of its imperfections, is here given to 
 the world. Whatever may be its fate in the hands of civil- 
 ians, I earnestly hope that it may be read by soldiers, who 
 may find some consolation in comparing" their present com- 
 fortable homes, pay and emolnments with what soldiers en- 
 joyed fifty years ago. 
 
 The stories here told, the scenes and incidents referred 
 to, will never be repeated. 
 
 The great plains have been transformed into cultivated 
 fields producing food for millions and sending to the mar- 
 kets of the world the finest animals known to the meat- 
 consuming nations of the earth. ''J."'he wild herds and sav- 
 age men have all passed away, never to' return. Instead 
 of the wigwam we have the modern home, farm, factory, 
 school and church — instead of savage isolation and war, the 
 railroad, telegraph, telephone, rural mail delivery, and the 
 highest intelligence and refinem'cnt known to civilization. 
 
 P. G. Lowe, Leavenworth, Kansas. 
 December 25, 1905, the fift3^-sixth anniversary of my 
 arrival at Fort Leavenworth. 
 
PART i. 
 
 1 
 
 HAD been raised on a farm 
 until fifteen; had been news- 
 boy and sold papers 
 about the streets of 
 Low ell, 
 Mass.; 
 L^ had been 
 t h r e e 
 ■ years 
 a sailor, 
 including 
 
 a whaling voyage, ard learned the daguerreotype busi- 
 ness in the gallery of Mr. Plumb on Washington Street, 
 Boston, and became a first-class operator. I was a per- 
 sistent reader of voyages, travels, campaigns, explora- 
 tions and history, and novels such as Marryat's, Coop- 
 er's, Scott's, etc., and the spirit of adventure was so 
 strong that I determined to enlist in the mounted service, 
 which was sure to place me on the great plains of the 
 West, among Indians, buffaloes, and other big game, and 
 the mountaineers and trappers of whom I had read so 
 much. Fremont's Narrative of 1843-4, and Captain Bon- 
 neville's Adventures gave the finishing touches to my 
 inclination. It seemed to me that five years in this kind 
 of field would round out my education, so to speak, and 
 if I lived would then be readv to settle down to some- 
 thing permanently. 
 
^ PtVt^ YFjAUS a DRAGOON' 
 
 Having determined npon this course, J presented my- 
 self at the recruiting oihco in Boston, giving my occupation 
 as a farmer. Tlio reeruiiing ofTicer, Major Sibley, of the 
 Second Dragoons, thought that 1 was not twenty-one, and 
 by my general appearance not a farmer — did not look like 
 one, and did not dress like a young mail just olf the farm. 
 T told him that I was born on the 29th of Septomber, 1828, 
 hence, this being the l')lii of October, 18-L9, I had a safe 
 margin, of eighteen days. The Major assured me this was 
 probably the least funny business I would ever attempt; 
 "And, mark me, young man," said he, "if you take this 
 step you will regret it only once, and that will be from the 
 time you become acquainted AAith your position until you 
 get out of it; and another thing, a large percentage of men 
 never return to their friends. If you have no friends you 
 ouglit to have, and if for any reason you waiit to hide your- 
 self from the world, try something from which you can free 
 yourself if you so desire. You may come back to-morrow." 
 
 I was not pleased at the thought of forcing myself into 
 trouble in spite of the admonition given me, and spent an 
 anxious night, but brushed all aside in the morning, and 
 assured the Major that I hoped he w^ould accept me; and 
 by way of recommending myself, informed him that I was 
 not only a farmer, but had been three years at sea, giving 
 him something of my seafaring experience. He admitted 
 that a man who could stand all of that might have some 
 show as a soldier, and T was accepted. 
 
 My descriptive roll said twenty-one years, five feet 
 eleven inches high, dark-complexioned, dark brown hair, 
 gray eyes, weight one Innidred and seventy-five pounds, and 
 in pei'fect health. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 7 
 
 I gave a large trunk full of clothes to the recruiting ser- 
 geant, who was just my size, and in return he had the 
 iailor fit for me two complete suits of fatigue uniform and 
 an overcoat. I retained a large valise, with its contents — 
 books — with Avhich I would not part until compelled to. I 
 was, therefore, well clothed, and had about one hundred 
 and twenty-five dollars in money, which no one suspected. 
 It proved a great convenience to be able to buy something 
 good to eat for myself and one or two modest greenhorns 
 who had not learned to quench tliirst, subdue hunger, and 
 otherwise obliterate their misery with whiskey. 
 
 Unlike the recruits of to-day, the fact that a man would 
 get drunk was no bar to his enlistment, and his moral char- 
 acter was of little interest. Once enlisted, the proper au- 
 thorities would attend to the rest. Being physically all 
 right, his habits cut little figure. Family trouble, disap- 
 pointment in love, riots and personal difficulties, making 
 one amenable to the law, often caused men to enlist who 
 proved to be the best of soldiers. In my troop there were men 
 isolating themselves from society for all sorts of reasons. 
 A man drunk would not be enlisted; but however tough 
 looking, if he were sober at the time of presenting himself, 
 and physically able, he would pass. Uniformity of size was 
 not considered. In my troop one man weighed one hun- 
 dred pounds, and was five feet four, while several were 
 above six feet and weighed from two hundred to two 
 hundred and twenty-five pounds. Endurance was the 
 test; all else was waived. 
 
 A few days after enlisting I was sent, with fifteen 
 others, via New York (where as many more joined us) to 
 Carlisle Barracks, Pa., then a school for mounted service 
 
g FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 recruits — First and Second Dragoons and Mounted Eiflcs — 
 all of which were stationed at various points in the Indian 
 Territory, Texas, New Mexico, or on the Pacific Coast. 
 
 At Carlisle there were two troops — A and B. I was 
 assigned to A. Colonel Piiilip St. George Cooke conimianded 
 the post; liieutenant D. II. Hastings was adjutant. There 
 were several West Point graduates hrevot second lieutenants 
 — who were waiting assignment or an opportunity to join 
 the regiment to which already assigned. All of the non- 
 commissioned officers were Mexican War veterans, and at 
 Carlisle because of thoir supposed special fitness to disci- 
 pline recruits. 
 
 It fell to ]ny lot to drill under Lieutenant Beverly Rob- 
 ertson, late major-general in the Confederate Army. He 
 was, to my fancy, a splendid man; gentle, firm, persistent, 
 never seeming to lose patience, yet never yielding to any- 
 tliing short of the most perfect' performance possible of the 
 movement undertaken. Carbine and saber drill came in 
 the forenoon, on foot, and mounted drill in the aftei;noon. 
 As a boy, I had good horses to ride. The prediction that 
 I would sooner or later liave my neck brokejii, was believed 
 by most of the careful mothers in my neighborhood, and 
 youngsters were forbidden to ride with that "Lowe boy." 
 This is about the way all bo3^s with energy enough to enjoy 
 life are looked upon. 
 
 Horses were kept for use in drilling, and among them 
 a beautiful bay, apparently gentle, bright eyes, long thin 
 neck, fine head, high withers, fine sinewy legs, and stand- 
 ing out by himself a perfect picture of a horse. I chose 
 him when we came to drill, and he was assigned to me. 
 The man in charge of the stable said tliat he would run 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 9 
 
 away, and had thrown several men, but I thought this an 
 attempt to frigliton a recruit. Commencing with mounting 
 bareback, then with saddles and crossed stirrups, and go- 
 ing tlirough the evohitions at a walk, in a few days quite 
 a squad, perliaps tvv^enty, had advanced so that they were, 
 while still riding with crossed stirrups, drilled at a trot, 
 and then at a gentle gallop. At the command "gallop" 
 my horse, in spite of all I could do, ran across the parade- 
 ground, and out towards the town. I could turn him, but 
 could not check his speed. Here and there I went, turn- 
 ing at pleasure, but failing to check him. Finally I turned 
 toward a plank fence, thinking I might istop him there, but 
 the fence did not bother him a bit — over he went, and with 
 scarcely a heart-beat, kept on, going over the fence on tlie 
 other side, and then off like the wind. At last I got headed 
 towards the squad, standing at rest, ran into it and stopped. 
 Lieutenant Eobertson had sent the non-commissioned offi- 
 cers to look for me, but they could scarcely keep in sight. 
 An order was issued forbidding the use of this horse ("Mu- 
 rat") by any of the recruits. Of course, everybody at the 
 post talked about it, and a witty Trishman wrote a parody 
 on "John Gilpin's Eide," in which the recruit and his 
 steed were shown up in humorous style. 
 
 The following Sunday^ having invited two friends — 
 Wagner and O'Shea — to breakfast with me at the "Little 
 Brick House'' just out of the post, we had agreed to go 
 direct from the parade-ground when dismissed from inspec- 
 tion. We took no breakfast at mess except a cup of coffee, 
 and saved our appetites for the feast. I had arranged with 
 the man who kept the place to have fried chicken and nec- 
 essary accompaniments. We looked forward to our ten 
 
10 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 o'clock breakfast with pleasant anticipations. Wagner was 
 a Kentuckian, about thirty- three years of age and well edu- 
 cated. He had met with business reverses in Louisville, 
 and after going to New York to straighten out his affairs 
 met with so much discouragement he concluded to enlist. 
 He wanted to hide himself from all his friends and have 
 time to think, as he said, without restraint. O^Shea was 
 about twenty-five, came to New York after the Irish riots 
 of 1848. Found himiself among strangers, without money, 
 and believing the Army was the place for him, enlisted. 
 I never knew a handsomer man or more perfect gentlemen. 
 The parade over, we went to breakfast. I sat at the 
 end of the table with my two friends on either side. The 
 breakfast was before us and I about to serve, when in came 
 a noisy band of rufhans, swearing and making themselves 
 generally disagreeable. The leader, or chief bully, six feet 
 two inches high — a giant weighing two hundred and twenty- 
 five pounds — came straight to our table and said: "Here, 
 b'ys, is a foine lay-out; here, Tom, take a leg; here Jimmy, 
 take a wing ; here, Slathery, take the breast that ye 're so 
 fond of," as he proceeded to talvc in his dirty fingers the 
 parts named and pass them to his friends. Not a word 
 was spoken by our party, but about the time the dish was 
 nearly empty, seeing my astonished look, the bully said 
 to me, in a sneering soi't of tone, "Ye 're a foine child, 
 sure." Then I sprang to my feet, drew my saber and 
 went for him with all the venom and fury of which I was 
 possessed — cut and thrust. The fact that the saber had a 
 dull edge, as all sabers had at that time, accounts for his 
 not being killed. His companions tried to save him, and 
 two of them received scars on account of it. My two friends 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. H 
 
 drew their sabers and vowed to kill any one who interfered, 
 and I pounded the howling wretch nntil he lay prostrate, 
 begging for his life, and I was exhausted. From that day 
 to this I have never ceased to be thankful that I did not 
 kill the poor unfortunate creature, and in my thankfulness 
 he was fully forgiven. A file of the guard came at ^^double 
 quick.'' "The recruits are killing each other/' was the cry. 
 The officer of the day,. Lieutenant Fields, came just as the 
 guard was about to take all hands to the guard-house, and 
 took things coolly. The first move was to send "Big Mit," 
 as he was called, to the hospital, covered from head to foot 
 with cuts and bruises. It took all of his party of ruffians, 
 half-drunk as they were, to c^rry him off. A file of the 
 guard went along, and when "Mit" was deposited in the 
 hospital his friends were confined in the guard-house. Wag- 
 ner and the man who kept the place explained the affair 
 to Lieutenant Fields, who directed us to stay and get our 
 breakfast and then report to First Sergeant Smart; the 
 sergeant of the guard was to take charge of us until that 
 time, but not to take us to the guard-house without further 
 orders. We were too much wrought up to enjoy break- 
 fast, and I told the lieutenant (the first words I had spoken 
 •during the whole affair) that we would go now. LTnder 
 guard we went, and the story was told in full and written 
 down. The ruffians were also interviewed and did not 
 deny the outrage, but said they had not intended to have 
 any trouble, which was doubtless true, for the same gang 
 had terrorized everybody that came in their way. Every 
 new batch of recruits must be hazed and bulldozed; to re- 
 sist was to be knocked down, kicked and adorned with a 
 black eye. These three innocent-looking fellows were the 
 
12 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 first real snags they had stmck. The doctor reported "Mit" 
 not necessarily dangerously wounded, but that he was badly 
 bruised about the head, hands and arms. The adjutant was 
 present with Lieutenant Fields, and wrote a report of the 
 affair. When the whole matter was explained to the com- 
 manding officer, the guard was withdrawn from Wagner, 
 O'Shea and myself, and that ended the matter so far as we 
 were concerned. 
 
 But I was getting too much notoriety and it troubled 
 me. I had no taste for the sort of heroism growing out of 
 brawls and fights. I had never made intimates easily, and 
 now I shrank from, the curiosity seekers who wanted to 
 O'Shea and myself, and that ended the matter so far as 
 we were concerned. 
 
 At Carlisle quite a number of the best behaved men 
 were retained to do regular duty, as in a company. They 
 were called "the permanent party.'' Of course they were 
 liable to be sent away to join some troop in one of the 
 mounted regiments. A large percentage of them were made 
 *T[ance" non-commissioned officers — corporals or sergeants. 
 Some men served there for years. The chances seemed good 
 for all of us to stay all winter, in which case a large gar- 
 rison would accumulate. I grew depressed at this pros- 
 pect. But finally an order came to send seventy-four men 
 to Fort Leavenworth for the First Dragoons — sixteen for K, 
 then at Fort Leavenworth, thirty-four for F, then at Fort 
 Scott, one hundred and twenty miles south of Fort Leaven- 
 worth, and twenty-four for B, three hundred miles west of 
 Fort Leavenworth, at Fort Kearney. 
 
FIVE 7EAR8 A DRAGOON. 13 
 
 It was the rule at Carlisle to send off all the troublesome 
 characters with each batch going to join troops. This was 
 probably the last chance to unload this class before spring, 
 and a dozen or more of them were booked, including my 
 friend "Big Mit^' and his gang. Lieutenant Fields was to 
 go in command of the seventy-four. "Mit" came from the 
 liospital, head bandaged and right hand in a sling. His 
 comrades fell in from the guard-house. When the roll was 
 caUed I found myself, "Big Mit" and one of his comrades 
 of the same name (a smaller but more vicions man) in B 
 Troop. I was not pleased, but said nothing. Wagner, to 
 whom I had ])ecom.e attached (a man so superior that daily 
 association with him was a positive pleasure and a great ad- 
 vantage to me), was assigned to K and O^Shea to B Troop. 
 
 We went from Carlisle to Harrisbnrg by rail, thence by 
 canal boat to a point in the Alleghanies where a railroad 
 ran over the mountain, the motive power being a station- 
 ary engine on top of it. We marched from where we left 
 the canal boat, over the mountains to St. Johnsberg on 
 the other side, and there took canal boat to Pittsburg, 
 thence by steamboat to St. Louis, where we transferred 
 to another boat, the Haidee, to go up the Missouri Eiver. 
 This, we all hoped, would be our last change, and in a 
 week we should land at Fort Leavenworth. 
 
 N'ot far above St. Louis, after several days of hard strug- 
 gle with the ice, our boat was frozen in at Portland, Mis- 
 souri: and now we were told that the way the conntry roads 
 then ran, we were three handred miles from Fort Leaven- 
 worth. The country was covered with snow and ice. For 
 two weeks we had been on canal and steamboat, with no ex- 
 
14 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ercise, and were in no condition to march. From Portland 
 to Fulton wap nineteen miles, over rongh hills, with no 
 place between the two towns to stop, so that we must walk 
 all of that distance the hrst day. A couple of wagons were 
 hired to haul our baggage. A few men rode in the wagons. 
 "Mit" was recovering from his injuries rapidly, but he rode. 
 Wagner and T arrived at Fulton at dark, but many did not 
 get in until very late. The icy roads had exhausted me. 
 The long one-story hotel had a long dining-room table with 
 plenty to eat — a whole prairie chicken for each man — ^but 
 not a mouthful could I eat. I doubled my blanket, spread 
 it on the floor in one corner, took oif my shoes and lay down 
 with all my clothes on, including overcoat. I was too fear- 
 fully weary to rest v^eW on the hard oak floor, but was as- 
 tonished at my improved condition in the morning. I 
 really enjoyed the breakfast. 
 
 The second day, from Fulton to Millersburg, was twelve 
 miles. Snow fell all day, but the roads were better, weather 
 milder, and we did not suffer so much. We were scattered 
 about the httle village, myself and half a dozen others at a 
 comfortable brick house with good fireplaces. I asked the 
 good lady for hot water and some towels, and after a delight- 
 ful bath, put on clean clothes, ate a good 4 o'clock dinner, 
 and slept in a good bed, where every time I woke I could 
 see the bright fire. Oh, how I enjoyed that night! In the 
 morning my troubles had vanished; but how I did hate to 
 leave this good home to launch out again on the ice and 
 snow ! But there was no more trouble from this point to 
 the end of the journey. I was sometimes cold, and endured 
 many inconveniences, but never complained, and was never 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOOX 
 
 15 
 
 tired after the second day. Wagner, O'Shea and I nearly 
 always closed the day's journey ahead of the others. If we 
 wanted a lunch we bought it. We could buy a pair of home- 
 made woolen socks at almost any farm house, and not a day 
 passed that I did not give one or more pairs to some sufferer. 
 
 I do not remember all of our route through the grand 
 old State of Missouri, nor every stopping place. Sonie of 
 them were Fulton, Millersburg, Boonville, Columbia, Mar- 
 shal], Le>:ington, Tlambrights, Independence and Westport. 
 
 At Grinter's Ferry crossing of the Kaw Eiver, the old 
 ferryinan and his wife lived on the south side. He was an 
 old soldier and fond of talking, and while we waited until 
 all c-aught up, he explained that the Military Eoad that we 
 had come into betv/ecn the ferry and W^estport, ran south to 
 Fort Scott, about one hundred mile^ and thence to Fort 
 Gibson and other ^ints south, and after crossing the ferry 
 ran west of north twenty-two miles to Fort Leavenworth. 
 
 AYe crossed the ferry tovrards evening, and Mr. Mundy, 
 government blacksmith for the Delaware Indians, furnished 
 us a good supper. And what a managing housekeeper ^Irs. 
 Mundy must have been. Seventy-live hungry men were fur- 
 nished a supper they could never forget, and not one failed 
 to have plenty. To this day I remember liow delicious the 
 biscuits were, and then we had honey with them; and the 
 venison, ham. and cofTce I Just think of it ! A lot of rough 
 fellows meeting such a feast. I felt sorry for Mrs. Mundy, 
 but there seemed no end to her supplies. Isaac Mundy and 
 his wife were born in Virginia and married there. He was 
 a great hunter ; accidently shot himself, and was buried 
 with Masonic honors at Wliite Church, in Wvandotte Coun- 
 
 2- 
 
16 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 tj, Kansas, February 27, 185S. x\t the request of the In- 
 dians he was buried at the foot of the grave of Chief Ket- 
 chum. Mrs. Mund}^ raised a good family of seven children 
 — four 'daughters and three sons. All except one married 
 and raised families^ and they are among the best and most 
 prosperous people of Platte County, Mo. Mrs. Mundy is 
 living with her daughter and son-in-law, Hon. Lot W. 
 Ringo, of Weston. She is nearly ninety years old.* 
 
 The Mundys accommodated all that they could in the 
 house^ and a lot of us occupied an old storeroom boarded 
 up and down, wide cracks in sides and floor. We shivered, 
 but did not sleep. It was the 24th of December and cold, 
 with plenty of snow on the ground — certainly a dreary 
 Christmas Eve — and a hard freezing night. At midnight 
 we came out and huddled around a big fire until break- 
 fast. Some of the men kept it burning all night. The 
 breakfast was a duplicate of the supper, and the Indian 
 girl who waited on me at both meals, wearing a clean 
 calico dress, looked charming. 
 
 This was expected to be our last meal until we reached 
 Fort Leavenworth, but we hoard such good accounts of the 
 fort that there was no complaint, and the pro'spect of any 
 kind of a home kept all in good humor. 
 
 Interesting incidents of this trip by rail, by canal boats, 
 by steamboats, and on foot, were numerous, and the oppor- 
 f unity to study human nature excellent. I had a hundred 
 dollars on leavins^ Carlisle, and do not think there were 
 twenty-five dollars more with the whole party, except what 
 Corporal Wood and Lieutenant Fields had. A few who had 
 
 *Mr3. Mundy died a year after this article was published in the JoumQl. 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 17 
 
 been at Carlisle some time and had been paid off, possessed 
 a dollar or two, and as a canteen could be filled with whisk- 
 ey for twenty-five cents, there was enough tO' make a good 
 deal of noise and get up a fight once in a while. It was for- 
 tunate that there was no more money among fne tough ele- 
 m.ent (about twenty), who made all the trouble, did nearly 
 all of the complaining, and caused all of the comxplaints 
 from citizens along the road. 
 
 As I look back after long 3^ears of experience, I think 
 that no young officer could have managed better than did 
 Lieutenant Fields, with the assistance of Oorporal Wood. 
 He had graduated the previous June from AV^est Point and 
 reported at Carlisle in the fall, hence this was nis first "cam- 
 paign," and T venture to say that throughout his active In- 
 dian campaigns in Texas and elsewhere, his experience as a 
 general in the Confederate army, and in the service of the 
 lOiedive of Egypt after the Civil War, he never had a more 
 trying trip than this. Throughout all of it he showed the 
 utmost good judgment and common sense, with which he 
 was abundantly blessed. Corporal Wood had been a pork 
 packer in liOuisville, where he failed in business. ITe en- 
 listed in the First Dragoons and served through the Mexi- 
 can War. He had but six months to serve, and wanting to be 
 discharged as far west as possible, was sent out with us. He 
 was a fine clerk ; understood government accounts, and was 
 fully competent to act as commissary and quartermaster 
 for our detachment. It was all plain sailing on canal boats 
 and steamboats, where he managed to give us fairly good 
 meals for the small government allowance, and no man 
 had just cause to complain. He was a determined, lion- 
 
18 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 hearted men, who would brook no nonsense, and on two 
 occasions settled rows and insolent complaints with a cluh. 
 the moral effect of which was to insure quiet, peace and 
 fairly good order. He was that peculiar type of man who 
 -wipuld have commanded as completely as a private as he 
 would as a captain. While gentle and soft of voice, no 
 man could be intimate with him without his consent. 
 
 When we took the steamer at St. Louis, Lieutenant 
 Fields said to Wood: "Well, barring accidents, Corporal, 
 we should have little trouble from here to Fort Leaven- 
 worth.'^ When we became frozen up at Portland a hard 
 problem was befoTO him. The whole face of the country 
 was covered with snow and ice. As the miserable road* 
 then ran, the distance was estimated to be about three 
 hundred miles to Fort Leavenworth, country thinly settled 
 and towns wide apart. We must be on the road about 
 twenty days, and how was he to subsist us ? Corporal Wood 
 had saved his money during his four and a half years' ser- 
 vice, mostly as clerk, and now revealed to Fields the fact 
 that he had considerable, and it was settled that he should 
 furnish the command necessary subsistence, arrange for 
 Lieutenant Fields to give voiichors wherever they would be 
 acceptable, and pay his own money when necessary^ taking 
 proper vouchers for his own protection. He bought a cheap 
 horse, rode ahead each day and made arrangements in town 
 or village or on plantation to feed us — dinner at the end of 
 the day's march, and breakfast, and to furnish the best 
 lodging practicable. We had an abundance of everything 
 that the country through which we passed afforded. Our 
 sleeping accommodations were necessarily poor in some 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 19 
 
 places, on plantations where there was not room in the 
 houses, but the people throughout the journey were very 
 kind, and none of us would have gone hungry if there 
 had been no pay in it. After our arrival at Fort Leaven- 
 worth, Wood told me that his vouchers were all paid. 
 
 Lieutenant Fields bought a fine horse as we came by 
 Cincinnati, but seldom rode him, nearly always giving a 
 ride to some weary straggler. Some men were always rid- 
 ing in the wagon; probably half of them rode more or less 
 during the trip, and it was noticeable that, while a few rode 
 for want of good shoes, the tough gang, from temporary 
 illness, caused by whiskey, did the most of the riding, while 
 the fellows who made no noise, walked without complain- 
 ing. Of course, the non-commissioned officers were 'lance,'' 
 made for the trip, chief among them being the acting first 
 sergeant. He had been at Carlisle some time; was believed 
 to have been a deserter from the British army in Canada; 
 at any rate he had been a British soldier, and was an all- 
 around brute— big, burly and noisy. He was quite efficient 
 among toughs, but could be induced to "let up" for a bottle 
 of whiskey. However, I had escaped his special notice, in 
 my quiet way, and had nothing to complain of, but was 
 glad he was going to K instead of B Troop. 
 
 And now, on this beautiful Christmas Day, about 8 
 o'clock, we left the ferry, our kind host and his family, 
 on our last day's march— twenty-two miles to Fort Leav- 
 enworth. Up over the Wyandotte hills, past a few Indian 
 cabins, out upon the prairie by the military road; and ex- 
 cept that it was sloppy, caused by the melting snow in the 
 afternoon, marching was good. We had been cautioned not 
 
20 
 
 FIVE YEAR8 A DRAGOON. 
 
 to stroll on ahead, as we had heretofore been permitted to 
 do, but to keep near together so as to march into the gar- 
 rison in good order. Edward Brydon was our trumpeter — 
 and perfection in his line — an Irishman by birth, printer 
 by trade, now entering upon his third enlistment, and re- 
 turning to Troop B, from which he had been twice hon- 
 
 SuMFER Place, Looking Northwest (1865). 
 
 ora,bly dischargeJ. He had tried to live out of the army, 
 but his good nature and convivial habits broughtl him back. 
 He was loyal to his troop, had served under Captain E. 
 V. Sumner, tlien lieutenant-colonel, commanding Fort 
 Leavenworth, and thought him a great captain; did not 
 know the present captain, and did not expect to find many 
 of his old friends in the troop. 1 liked ^^Old Ned," as he 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 21 
 
 was called, always kind and intelligent. He assured me 
 that B was the best troop in the service. I had occasion 
 to do jiim a few little favors on the trip, which he never 
 forgot, and as we walked along together that day he pointed 
 out the lay of the country, the location of Indian tribes — 
 the Shawnees south of the Kaw Riyer where we crossed, 
 the Wyandottes in the forks of the Kaw and Missouri, the 
 L^elawares west of the Wyandottes and the little band 
 of Muncies just below the Fort where is now Mount Mun- 
 cJe Cemetery and the Soldiers' Home, and the Kickapoos 
 west of the Fort in Salt Creek Valley. Pilot Knob, stand- 
 ing out a hundred and fifty feet above the plain, five miles 
 south of the Fort, was in sight early in the day, but it took 
 us a long time to get east of it. Six miles south of the 
 post, on high ground, stood a one-room log cabin, and in 
 the door, completely filling it from side to side and top to 
 bottom, like a picture in a frame, stood a big Delaware 
 Indian woman. She smilingly scanned the ranks for some 
 one she knew, when Brydon said: ^'By the holy horn 
 spoons, there 's Indian Mary !" and he went up and shook 
 hands with her. She had from time to time been a ser- 
 vant in some of the officers' families, had grown old 
 in the service, and was well liked. 
 
 And now the llag at the Fort was plainly in sight. We 
 crossed Five Mile Creek (in measuring the military road 
 from Fort Leavenworth the starting-point was the flag 
 staff and the creeks and landmarks were spoken of as so 
 many miles from that point), then Three Mile, and up the 
 hill to what is now the head of Broadway, Leavenworth, 
 and on across Two Mile Creek and up the long grade to 
 
22' FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 the top of the Jiill, where the flag was near, little more than 
 a mile away, and tlie buildings plainly in view. Our jour- 
 ney was nearly ended. Half a mile before reaching the 
 post we heard a bugle sounding retreat and Brydon joined 
 ii\, the ranks were closed up, the roll called, and we marched 
 ill good order in front of the commanding officer's quar- 
 ters, halted, faced the quarters and stood at attention, while 
 Colonel Sumner heard the roll called and saw the names 
 checked off. The men for B Troop stood on the right, 
 Brydon on the extreme ri^ht, and the Colonel recognized 
 him, shook hands, and said: ^'Well, Brydon, you are back 
 again.'^ "Yes, Colonel." "Couldn't keep out?" queried 
 the Colonel. "IN'o, Colonel, I had to come back." "Well," 
 said the Colonel, "I am glad you returned to your old 
 troop." 
 
 We were not detained long; marched down to the brick 
 quarters occupied by K Troop and filed into the dining- 
 room for supper. On a table bread and boiled pork were 
 cut in slices, a big kettle of coffee was there, and each man 
 passed his tin cup, which was filled. All of us stood and 
 received our rations, fell back as soon as supplied, and ate 
 our supper — not half as much nutrim.ent as we needed. 
 The British deserter had l^een supplied witli whiskey since 
 li.is arrival, and he officiated in handing each man his ration, 
 taking a slice of pork, putting it on a slice of bread and 
 handing it to the nearest man — a Christmas dinner long 
 to be remembered. 
 
 We were assigned to the brick quarters south of K 
 Troop, where we found a detachment of six men of I Troop, 
 First Dragoons, just in from Riado, New Mexico, with the 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 23 
 
 mail. Wood had reported our approach early in the after- 
 noon, and with these men had our bed sacks filled and the 
 squad room warm. We had to thank the first sergeant of 
 K Troop for our miserable supper. He was making com- 
 pany funds; soon after deserted with horse and equipments 
 and most of the funds. Little more than a year later, when 
 
 Dragoon Quarters of 1840. 
 
 a corporal, with two comrades who had suffered with me, 
 I was sent to Platte City after this man, the commanding 
 officer having heard that he had been seen there. Sure 
 enough, we found him, and after a brief struggle, brought 
 him back riding behind one of the men, and placed him 
 in the guard house. I told him that nothing paid better 
 
24 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 than common humanity and decency, and that but for our 
 miserable reception at the end of a throe-hundred mile 
 march in cold winter, we miglit not have felt it incum- 
 bent upon us to invade a man's house to capture him. Our 
 duty hardly justified the trouble and risk we took. I am 
 sorry to say that he made his escape from the guard house 
 before he was tried and drummed out, which he surely 
 would have been. 
 
 A dozen overcoats had disappeared from as many un- 
 fortunates since we left Carlisle — all sold for a mere song, 
 to get money to buy whiskey, and this in the face of the 
 cold the losers were exposed to. One mile above the Fort, 
 on the opposite side of the Missouri River, was a place 
 called "Whiskey Point,'' where anything could be sold or 
 traded for whiskey, and an enterorising pilot interested a 
 few of the new arrivals, and a couple more overcoats were 
 gone, and a man each from B. F. and K Troops found 
 themselves in the guard house at daylight. The next day 
 transportation was furnished and the detachment for F 
 Troop started for Fort Scott, one hundred and twenty 
 miles south. The detachment for K Troop had found their 
 places on arrival. And now it was settled that the de- 
 tachment for B Troop would remain until spring. The 
 detachment of six men of I Troop would also remain un- 
 til spring. And strange as it may appear, I remember 
 the names of these men fifty-six years later. Jones, a 
 lance sergeant; Privates Talbot, Worrel, McKenzie, Fox 
 and Byrns. Except Byrns, these men had all passed 
 through the Mexican War, and I may as well tell of their 
 eijd now. Worrel died on a farm in Leavenworth Coun- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 25 
 
 ty, Kansas, about 1880; he had served ten years. Mc- 
 .Kenzie and Fox were killed by Indians. Jones and Tal- 
 bot were discharged at Riado, New Mexico. Byrns, who 
 was then (1849) twenty-one years of age, was killed in the 
 battle of the Wilderness while colonel of a volunteer regi- 
 ment and commanding a brigade in the Union Army. He 
 served in all the grades of non-commissioned officer, was 
 badly wounded in 1854 in Xew Mexico by Indians, and 
 secured his commission as second lieutenant in the regular 
 army at the commencement of the Civil War. An Irish- 
 man by birth, well educated, and my warm and constant 
 friend from our iirst meeting to the time of his death. 
 
 And now the two detachments were thrown 'together — 
 B and I — with Sergeant Jones in charge and Lieutenant 
 Fields the detachment commander, and under their man- 
 agement our quarters were made comfortable, and our own 
 mess and food properly prepared. We were paid off in 
 Januar}', 1850, to end of December, 1849 — $8 per month, 
 with $1 retained each month. A couple of dollars from 
 each man to bu} extras for the mess did wonders. Huck- 
 sters from Mi.-souri brought vegetables, aud we fared fair- 
 ly well. Three months we had ahead of us before we could 
 cross the plains to join our troop. Lieutenant Fields or 
 Sergeant Jones drilled us on foot twice a day. We had to 
 do our share of guard and other duty, but had no horses 
 to care for. I took great pride in saber exercise, and prac- 
 ticed much with small swords made of tough hickory with 
 Miller, Byrns, O^Shea and others. Miller was an English- 
 man, who had seen better days, and enlisted in New York 
 because he was absolutely hungry — ^'too proud to beg and 
 
25 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 too honest to steal" — a teacher by profession and master of 
 several languages. O'Shea was a graduate of Dublin Col- 
 lege, and a better all around man I never met. He was 
 the champion boxer, and that was a leading branch of our 
 exercises. Eules of good behavior were strict and well ob- 
 served. I never had more congenial companionship, and 
 that kept us alive and fairly happy. We made the best of 
 everything, and did no grow^ling; found some good books 
 in the post library and did much readiag. In fact, I was 
 getting along quite contentedly, until one Saturday I had 
 cleaned up carbine, saber, belts, etc., for Sunday morning 
 inspection, and left them in my "rack." Wlien I came up 
 from supper [ found in their place very dirty equipments. 
 At first I thought it a joke, and glanced around quietly. 
 Byrns was lying on his bunk, and told me that he saw "Big 
 Mit" take my "kit" and put his in place of it. I took mine 
 from his rack, and was in the act of adjusting it, when he 
 came in, rushed at me like a roaring maniac, and raised his 
 carbine to strike. In less time than it takes to tell it, I 
 was all over him with my saber. Men came rushing up 
 from supper; word passed that the men of the "detach- 
 ment," as it was called, were killing each other, and a file 
 of the guard was called; but Jones came first, and made 
 a detail to carry off "Mit." Lieutenant Fields came with 
 the officer of the day, and Byrns told the story in good 
 shape. When they left Lieutenant Fields said to the officer 
 of the day : "I think that brute will leave that young fel- 
 low alone hereafter." 
 
 'A m.onth later "Mit" returned to the squad room and 
 I went over to him and said: "Well, how are you?" He 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 27 
 
 replied, "Sure I 'm sore, and will be for some time." 
 "Well/^ said I, "I am sorr}' for you and hope you will soon 
 be well again/^ After an embarrassing pause I said, "And 
 now, 'Mit,^ how does it stand between us? Are we to live 
 in peace, or have I to look out for you and be ready to kill 
 you som.e day — I want to know just what to expect?'' 
 
 First Permanent Hospital, Later Hancock Hall. 
 
 "Sure," said he, "don't be too hard on me; sure, only that 
 I was drunk I would have no trouble wid ye." "Well," said 
 I, "you are sure to get drunk again; I expect that; but it 
 won't be any excuse for crossing me; you have had two 
 chances with me, and I don't want to stand guard over 
 myself all the time; I hold no malice toward you; don't 
 anything about the past, but what of to-morrow or some 
 
28 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 other day when you feel like breaking some fellow's neck — 
 am I to be the victim ? I want it settled." "Sure/' said 
 he, "I like ye first rate, and ye '11 find me yer friend all 
 the time." ''^All right," said I, "let's shake," and we did. 
 From that time on he tried to be kind to me. 
 
 Leaving out of our squad a few who could find nothing 
 in life worth living unless able to procure whiskey, we had 
 a remarkably good set of men, some scholars, some good 
 singers and quite a smattering of theatrical talent, out of 
 which was organized a so-called Thespian Society. War- 
 ren Kimball, Eogers, Glennon, Miller, O'Shea, Hill, "Lit- 
 tle" Duffy and others made up the actors, and gave a per- 
 formance once a week durinsf Februarv and March in our 
 dining-room. A little assistance came from "K," but the 
 "detachment" contained more genius in that line than the 
 balance of the Post. All officers and ladies at the Post 
 came to the performances. 
 
 "K" Troop was commanded by Captain and Brevet 
 Major Caleb Carlton, a fine officer and strict disciplinar- 
 ian; he had a good troop and fine non-commissioned offi- 
 cers. How he happened to have a thief and all around 
 tough for a first sergeant I never knew. When this ser- 
 geant deserted he was succeeded by a fine man, and my 
 friend Wagner ^vas made coTporal. Two 3^ears later he 
 was m.ade first sergeant, and soon after a relative died in 
 Baltimore, leaving him a large fortune, and the Secretary 
 of War discharged him so that he might look after it. On 
 his return from New Mexico, on his way East, he spent 
 one night with me at Fort Leavenworth, where I had be- 
 come first sergeant of B Troop. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 29 
 
 FORT LEAVE^rWOPiTH AS I SAW IT IN" 1849. 
 
 At the corner of what is now Kearney Avenue and 
 Sumner Place, the south end on Kearney Avenue and west 
 front on Sumner Place, stood a two-story brick building 
 with wide front porches abo^ve and below, used as dragoon 
 quarters — the building that our detachment occupied. Im- 
 mediately north of this, fronting the same way, was a sim- 
 ilar building — "K" troop quarters.* Eunning east from 
 the southeast corner of first mentioned building was a stone 
 wall with portholes looking south. A two-story bloclv 
 house stood a little south of the east end of the wall. South- 
 east of the block house, about where the chapel now stands, 
 was the sutler's store, kept by Colonel Hiram Rich. There 
 is a marked contrast between an old-time army sutler's 
 store and a church, especially if both be first-class. South 
 of the store was the parsonage, in those days occupied by 
 Chaplain Kerr. The house was of logs, and still stands, 
 with several additions, and all covered like a frame house. 
 A little west of the parsonage, across what is now Scott 
 Avenue, was the residence of Colonel Eich. Southeast 
 01 that was the home of the veteran Ordnance Sergeant 
 Fleming. • 
 
 *These two buildings were the first permanent structures 
 of the Post occupied by troops, and were built in the early 
 '40's. Later they were used as the headquarters for the De- 
 partment of the Missouri, where Sheridan, Hancock and Pope 
 commanded. In 1881 the buildings were vacated by the head- 
 quarters and fitted up for quarters for student officers for the 
 Infantry and Cavalry School, established the same year. 
 Two years ago these buildings were torn down, and the site 
 has been chosen for the Administration Building of the Post, 
 which is to be erected at an early day. — [Editor.] 
 
30 
 
 FIYE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 At the northeast corner of what is now Snmner Place 
 stood a one-story and basement building fronting west, 
 nsed as officers' quarters. It is still standing, with another 
 story added. On the opposite corner, north side, fronting 
 south on Sumner Place and parade ground, was another 
 building used as officers' quarters, since rebuilt and much 
 
 First Permanent Officers' Quarters (North Side.) 
 
 enlarged. West of that was the l)est building at the Post, 
 then the commanding officer's quarters, very much the 
 same as it now is, though enlarged and improved from time 
 to time. The last three buihlings referred to, and the logs 
 in the parsonage, and the wall, are all that is left of the 
 Post of 1849. Between the commanding officer's quar- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON- 31 
 
 ters and the northwest corner of what is now Sumner 
 Place, fronting south toward the parade ground, were 
 four or five buildings used as officers' quarters. West of 
 the parade ground, on what is now a part of McClellan 
 Avenue, fronting east, were four or five one-story and 
 basement buildings generally used as quarters for soldiers' 
 families or citizen employees. 
 
 Between the first above mentioned brick building and 
 south end of west row of 1)ui1 dings stood a row of log sta- 
 bles — ^six, I think — main entrance in end fronting south 
 on what is now Kearney Avenue, which was then a thor- 
 oughfare from the steamboat landing west out on to the 
 plains. Each stable was about 36x100 feet. Immediately 
 north of these stables, south of the middle of the parade- 
 ground, was a magazine, mostly underground, over which 
 a sentinel was always posted. 
 
 I have mentioned all of the buildings around the 
 parade ground as it then was, and all south of the stone 
 wall. West of the line of stables and south end of west 
 line of buildings stood "Bedlam"— correctly named— a 
 large two-story frame, with front and back porches and 
 stone basement. It was the quarters of unmarried offi- 
 cers, with an officers' mess attached. (A lieutenant in 
 those days would be content with one room, and all of 
 his furniture would not be worth twenty-five dollars.) 
 'I'was here they foug^ht their battles o'er, from West 
 I'oint and the girls they left behind them, through the 
 swamps of Florida, the wilds of Texas, over the great 
 plains, the mountains, on the Pacific Slope and the fields 
 of Mexico. 'Twas here they met after tedious campaigns, 
 
 3— 
 
32 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 recountered their triumphs, disappointments and hard- 
 ships; through heat, cold, hunger and disease — and now 
 the feast, if not always of reason, at least the flow of 
 soul — and other things. 
 
 Southeast of ^'Bedlam" about one hundred yards stood 
 the guard-house, an unmerciful dungeon, stone basement 
 and heavy log superstructure. Southwest of the guard 
 house and south of ^'Bedlam'' stood the hospital, built of 
 brick, with porches all around, and quite comfortable. On 
 the ridge, about where the riding school now is, was a block 
 house similar to the one heretofore mentioned. Where the 
 hop room now is stood a one-story stone building, used 
 as commissary and quartermaster storerooms and offices, 
 about one hundred feet on what is now McPherson Avenue 
 by about fifty feet on what is now Scott Avenue. A little 
 northwest of this a two-story stone building, now emb ace 1 
 in the Military Prison, was built in 1850 and used as quar- 
 termaster's stores and offices. Still farther north, covering 
 the ground beyond the buildings now composing the south 
 front of the Military Prison, were a few homes of em- 
 ployees, the wagon, blacksmith, carpenter, saddler, and other 
 shops and quartermaster's stables and corrals. Also scat- 
 tered here and there were a few small houses ; at the steam- 
 boat landing a warehouse. The flagstaff and sundial stood 
 just south of the west end of the present hop room. There 
 was generally a sentinel posted there, and it was said that 
 a sergeant of the guard regulated his watch by the dial 
 on his rounds with the midnight relief. 
 
 This is as correct an account as I can give from mem- 
 ory of Fort Leavenworth fifty-six years ago. 
 
PART II. 
 
 T 
 
 HE road from Fort Leaven- 
 worth to N'ew Mexico ran 
 through what is now Easton, at the 
 crossing of Stranger Creek; then 
 through what is now Winchester, Oza- 
 kee at the crossing of Grasshopper, 
 now Delaware Eiver and Soldier Creek, 
 four miles north of where now stands 
 Topeka. There it crossed the Kaw on 
 Papan^s Ferry, ahont sixty miles from 
 Fort Leavenworth, thence to Council 
 Grove, sixty miles farther, intersect- 
 ing the main Santa Fe trail from 
 Independence, Missouri, east of the Grove. 
 
 To reach the "Oregon Trail,'' T quote from General 
 Cook's "Scenes and Adventures in the Army," page 283 : 
 "We followed for two days the tr.ails of former marches, 
 guiding us through the intricate and broken bnt picturesque 
 grounds which border the Missouri. rhe third day we 
 struck ont boldly into the almost untrodden prairie, bear- 
 ing quite to the west. The sixth day, having marched about 
 ninety miles, we turned towards the south, crossing a vast 
 elevated and nearly level plain, extending between two 
 branches of the Blue Eiver. Thus without an obstacle for 
 fifteen miles, we Teached and encamped upon its banks. 
 The seventh day, leaving the Blue and turning to the north- 
 west, between two tributaries from that direction, we soon 
 
34 FIVE FEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ospied on a distant ridge the wagon tops of emigrants; 
 gradually converging, in a few hours we met. Here was a 
 great thoroughfare, broad and well worn, the longest and 
 best natural road perhaps in the world." 
 
 The above had reference to the route taken by Colonel 
 Kearney in his cajupaign' to the Kocky Mountains and back 
 in 1845. 
 
 Sometimes Government travel crossed the Missouri 
 Eiver at the Fort, went up on north side to about opposite 
 the mouth of the Platte and thence up that stream. St. 
 Joseph, Missouri, had become an important outfitting and 
 starting-point for trips across the plains, and a good road 
 ran southwest from that place, crossing the Big Blue where 
 is now Marysville, Kansas. 
 
 Major Ogden, then quartermaster at Fort Leaven- 
 worth, was ordered to lay out a road from that point to 
 interseet this St. Joe road. He employed a lot of Kicka- 
 poo Indians as guides, with a negro named Morgan, who 
 lived with them, as interpreter. A detachment of B Troop 
 came in from Fort Kearney with the mail, and with ours, 
 less two men who had deserted, and some infantry recruits 
 en route to Kearney and Laramie, acted as escort to Major 
 Ogden's road surveying party, and a number of oiRcers and 
 their families en route to Kearney and Laramie. 
 
 We left Fort 'Leavenwoirth on the 2d of April, 1850. 
 The first night out we camped at the springs near where 
 Lowemont, Kansas, is now located. We followed the mil- 
 itarv' road to Santa Fe about eight miles, and from there 
 to the intersection of the St. Joe road about one hundred 
 and twenty miles; we followed the divides on account of 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 3 5 
 
 excessive wet weather, heading, or crossing near the head 
 of the streams running northeast into the Missouri and 
 those running southeast into the Kaw, crossing the Dela- 
 ware where is now Kiimekuk, the N'eniaha where is now 
 Seneca, intersecting the road from St. Joe between Seneca 
 and Marysville. 
 
 Of the officers en route to Iveamey and Laramie on 
 this trip, I remember only Colonel Loomis, of the Sixth 
 Infantry, Captain Wharton of the Sixth Infantry and fam- 
 ily, and Captain Dyer of the Artillery, who was. Chief of 
 Ordnance during the war between the States. 
 
 Major Ogden and the Kickapoos left us at the cross- 
 ing of the Blue and returned to Fort Leavenworth. We 
 arrived at Fort Kearney and joined our troop in due time. 
 Captain and Brevet Major K. H. Chilton* command- 
 ed the post and troop. Of all troops in the service this, 
 its members claimed, was the most distinguished. Its first 
 captain was E. V. Sumner, major-general during the War 
 of the Eebellion. It had been continually in the Indian 
 country or ]\Io.\ico since its organization. It had many 
 traditions of lurd campaigns, skirmishes, night attacks by 
 Indians, battles, cold, heat, hunger and feasting, from the 
 Missouri Kiver to Old Mexico, through Texas and all of 
 the Indian Territory from Missouri to Utah and from Min- 
 nesota to Texas; and now it was located in the heart of 
 
 *Robert Hall Chilton was a native of Virgfinia and a 
 graduate of the M.A. in 1837. He was assigned to the First 
 Dragoons, became major and paymaster in 1854 and resigned 
 April 29, 1861, to enter the Confederate States army. He was 
 appointed brigadier-general, serving on the staff of General 
 Robert E. Lee as adjutant general. He died February 18, 1879. 
 
36 FtVi: YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 the Pawnee country. At that time the Pawnees were the 
 most dangerous of an}^ Indians on the overland trail to 
 California. Its last battle was the fall before on the Lit-- 
 tie Blue Biver where a dozen men were wounded, one fatal- 
 ly, and a dozen or more horses killed or wounded. A num- 
 ber of Indians were killed and many wounded. 
 
 Soon after the battle above referred to, Major Chilton 
 became aware of the presence of some Pawnees on an island 
 in the Platte about two miles from the post, and took 
 twenty men with him, intending to surround, and make 
 them prisoners. His orders were emphatic not to shoot — 
 he wanted prisoners so as to induce the tribe to come in 
 and make terms that would insure peace and safety to the 
 immense emigration sure to move over the trail to Cali- 
 fornia the following spring. After a good deal of skirmish- 
 ing through tall grass, wild grape vines and willows. Ser- 
 geant Martin, Corporals Half and Cook and Bugler Peel 
 found four Indians on a dry sandy branch of the river and 
 attempted to carry out the Major's instructions by motion- 
 ing to the Indians to lay down their arms, which they 
 "showed a determination not to do. One ran up a dry 
 branch followed by HafI, who soon shot him. Another ran 
 towards a tall cottonwood with Cook after him. At the 
 tree the Indian stopped with his back to it ready to fire. 
 Cook had him so closely covered with cocked pistol, not 
 twenty feet away that the Indian was afraid to lower his 
 gun, and Cook parleyed with him by signs to induce him 
 to lay it down, but all to no purpose. Finally his robe 
 dropped from his shoulders. Cook knew this meant a des- 
 perate condition of the Indian's mind, and as he gave his 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 37 
 
 General Stephen W. Kearney. 
 
 filial war-whoop and dropped the muzzle of his gun, Cook 
 fired. The Indian fell dead, his rifle being discharged so 
 near the same time that but one report was heard. Cook's 
 
Og FIVPj TEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 bullet entered the Indian's mouth without hitting a tooth 
 and came out at the back of his head. Cook was unhurt 
 and sat coolly reloading his pistol when Major Chilton 
 and half a dozen men rode up, and the Major cried out, 
 ^'Who killed that Indian?" "I did/' said Cook, ramming 
 clown his cartridge. "Why didn't you make him lay down 
 his arms?" Poor Cook felt terribly outraged; he had risk- 
 ed his life trying to obey orders, and angrily said, "Why, 
 he wouldn't lay down his arms." At this juncture Bugler 
 Peel rode up, and saluting the Major reported that Ser- 
 geant Martin had been killed. Martin was the oldest sol- 
 dier in the troop, had served with the Major in Mexico, 
 and was a great favorite. Peel reported that after Half 
 and Cook had left him and Martin, one Indian escaped in 
 the brush while Martin was trying to carry out the Major's 
 orders, and Peel seeing that the other Indian was about to 
 fire, shot him near the heart and he fell on his face, im- 
 luediately raised himself on one elbow, fired, and shot 
 Martin through the heart, and fell dead. Martin fell from 
 his horse and was borne back to the post to a soldier's 
 grave, a victim of obedience to orders. If he had taken 
 Peel's advice all four of the Indians would have been 
 killed and ^fartin would have lived to aid in the discipline 
 of the troop. 
 
 Tlie percentage of good material for mounted service 
 in our squad of recruits was fully equal to that found in 
 . the troop when we joined, all the advantage being in ex- 
 perience and discipline, and my sailor experience led me 
 to believe the latter not very complete. A man ordered to 
 do a tiling on board of a ship did not stop to think of the 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 39 
 
 reason why, but moved promptly, if he was not waiting for 
 a "rope's encV' to catch him, which, or something worse, 
 was sure to follow the slightest hesitation to ol>ey orders. 
 The life of the ship and all on board might and often 
 does depend on quick ol>edience. The man who walks the 
 quarter-deck is a prince supreme, and subordinates see 
 that his will is executed — no friction and no questioning 
 authority. 
 
 However, the troop as I remember it, was more than 
 equal to any 1 met afterwards during my enlistment. Two 
 of our detachment transferred to the infantry during the 
 first year because of their inability to ride. There was so 
 much old material in '"B,'' that the riew Avas soon moulded 
 into fair shape. The recruits got horses and drilled indus- 
 triously. One hour mounted drill before breakfast gave us 
 appetites to eat the slice of bread and boiled pork with 
 pepper, vinegar and colfee. Boiled beef and soup (bean or 
 rice) for dinner. Plenty of beef, because the contractor 
 killed buffalo instead of domestic cattle, and gave us all 
 we wanted. 
 
 And now it was the middle of May. The road was 
 lined with white wagons, herds of cattle, horses and mules 
 en route to California and Oregon. Some stock had been 
 run oif by Pawnees, some robberies committed and a few 
 venturesome hunters said to have been killed. Major Chil- 
 ton sent old Jeffries, the interpreter, into the Pawnee vil- 
 lages to induce the Indians to come in and have a "talk." 
 Jeffries was a negro who came into the Pawnee country 
 when a boy with Mr. Sarpie, or Sarpa, of St. Louis, an 
 Indian trader, and had been there more than tliirty years. 
 
,Q FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 He was very reliable and useful, because the Indians be- 
 lieved what he told them. A number came m, but a strong- 
 hand that ranged on the Kepublican River, south of Kear- 
 ney, did not coniG. Tire main villages on Wood Eiver and 
 Loup Fork, north of the Platte, did not show up. The talk 
 with those who did come in lasted several days, during 
 which they feasted, danced and indulged in sham battles. 
 The chiefs made fine promises, and the Major made threats 
 of what he would do if the road was not left clear for 
 emigration. 
 
 Then the troop went in search of the band that re- 
 fused to come in. Southeast to the Little Blue, about 
 forty miles south to the Republican, up that river one hun- 
 dred and fifty miles, several times in hot pursuit of the 
 delnquent Paw. e.s, the tioop marched and finally brought 
 them to a parley. This was a strong band, but had few 
 horses. That is why we caught up with them. Another 
 reason, we were driving them into the Cheyenne and Sioux 
 country, and they were afraid of being caught between two 
 fires. The Sioux and Cheyennes were perfectly friendly 
 with the whites at this time. Major Chilton's movements 
 were with a view of driving the Pawnees in that direction 
 and he succeeded well. Jeffries got the chiefs to come into 
 camp for a talk. The Indians were much frightened, be- 
 cause they were the bad lot. were guilty of outrages, and 
 now they were where the dragoons had the advantage. 
 Finally Major Chilton held the head chief and another and 
 told them to instruct their people to be at Fort Kearney 
 en a certain day and to notify all the other bands to be 
 there for a "big talk," and if they were not there he would 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON- 41 
 
 "turn loose" on the whole nation and "wipe them off the 
 face of the earth," a favorite expression of his when talk- 
 ing to bad Indians. The next day we saw the Pawnees go- 
 ing northeast at a rapid rate, and a few hours later met a 
 war party of Cheyennes, the finest band I ever saw — about 
 300 — well mounted and equipped. One would think them 
 all picked -men, from twenty to forty years old — perfect 
 specimens of the finest and handsomest Indians on the 
 plains, in war naint, fierce and confident-looking — coming 
 down to fight the Pawnees, and if we had driven the latter 
 twenty miles farther west these mortal enemies would 
 have met. The Cheyennes had a band of extra horses; 
 but were without women or other encumbrance. Evidently 
 some Pawnee scouts had discovered the Cheyennes with- 
 out being seen by them, hence the Pawnees' hurry in get- 
 ting away. Our prisoners and old Jeffries were kept out 
 of sight in a wagon while the Major held a big sign talk 
 with the Cheyenne chief and a few braves, and persuaded 
 them to go no farther east, but to go north across the 
 Platte to Wood Kiver, where he thought the most of the 
 Pawnees were. This was true, and the Major knew that 
 if worried by the Cheyennes they would be more likely to 
 come in, and seeing their -peril from Cheyennes and troops 
 would come down humbly for the sake of Government 
 protection. And thus it worked, the Cheyennes little 
 dreaming of the good they were doing. 
 
 Major Chilton's movement on this short campaign had 
 been bold strategy, as I view it after so many years, and 
 the fortunate meeting with the Cheyennes helped his cause 
 
42 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 very much. We were out about three weeks, during which 
 time we traveled about four hundred miles without forage 
 other than grass. In two wagons we carried tents and half- 
 rations, so that half of our living consisted of fresh meat— 
 mostly buffalo, of which there was an abundance. We had 
 no sickness except a few cases of diarrhoea and a little 
 fever. The principal medicines in the Major's "case" were 
 opium, salts and quinine. About seventy men in the party, 
 liable to accidents and casualties of battle, and no doctor. 
 And here I will say, once for all, that with the exception 
 of the trip to Mexico in 185-1 and the treaty at mouth of 
 Horse Creek in 1851, in my whole five years of service while 
 on the plains, every summer on a long campaign, liable to 
 battle and always expecting it, we never had a doctor. Let 
 soldiers of to-day congratulate themselves on the liberal- 
 ity of the Government, the humanity and Christianity of 
 the Red Cross, and the universal demand that soldiers 
 have every comfort that our modern civilization affords. 
 
 Our horses at the end of this campaign were, with few 
 exceptions, in good condition. The horse of the dead ser- 
 geant (Martin), the beautiful chestnut isorrel, trained by a 
 level-headed, painstaking soldier, was mine, and the best in 
 the troop. 
 
 According to Major Chilton's calculation, in about ten 
 days nearly all the Pawnees were near Fort Kearney, and 
 the ensuing pow-wow lasted several days, during which the 
 Indians were made to understand the greatness, goodness 
 and power of the white race, and of the Great Father in 
 Washington in particular, and how wicked, ungrateful and 
 foolish the Pawnees were to disturb the white man or in- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON- 43 
 
 terfere with his peaceful travel through the country in any 
 ^yay — all winding up with solemn promises and a grand 
 feast. Of course I took great interest in this new experi- 
 ence and made the most of it as opportunities offered. I 
 learned much from old Jeffries, and sympathized a great 
 deal with these wily, devilish fellows, who were at war 
 with all the wild tribes — constantly on guaTd against 
 the Sioux, Chevennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas and Comanches 
 on the west and south of them. I am sure that Major 
 Chilton's administration of affairs about Kearney settled 
 the Pawnees so far as their hostility to the whites was 
 concerned, with the exeception of the lawlessness of 
 small bands of young bucks once in a while along the 
 Little Blue. 
 
 And now the road was crowded with emigration west — 
 long trains of wagons, herds of cattle, etc. I got Lieu- 
 tenant Stanbury's map and list of distances and copied the 
 distances. One day an emigrant inquircid about the route 
 and I handed him my list. He insisted upon buying it of 
 me and I let him keep it. I told J3ugler Grant, and we 
 went into partnership. T wrote the guides, he sold them, 
 and we soon divided over $50 between us. 
 
 The middle of July three of the best men in the troop— 
 a sergeant, the farrier and a bugler deserted, taking horses 
 and equipments. Corporal Cook and others followed them 
 a hundred and fifty miles west and brought back the horses, 
 but not the men or equipments. There was much excite- 
 ment in the troop, and two weeks later another good man 
 deserted, taking two horses. He seemed to have had a 
 citizen confederate. Cook followed and brought back the 
 
^^ FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 horses, but nothing else. Up to this time there had been 
 one sentinel at the stable, which was two hundred feet 
 long and forty feet wide, built of sod, with three doors at 
 each end and one in center of building on each side — open 
 windows on both sides about thirty feet apart. Of course 
 no sentinel could get around fast enough to watch all of 
 these openings in this large building, and this fact at last 
 dawTied upon the Major, and thereafter the quartermaster 
 sergeant and one company teamster slept in the stable, and 
 two men — ^both infantr}- — walked post, showing that the 
 Major was not trusting his troop. He was doing what 
 ought to have been done all the time, for with the Cali- 
 fornia fever then prevailing, the constant stream of em- 
 igrants passing, these horses weTe too much of a tempta- 
 tion to be resisted by men who would, under any circum- 
 stances, desert. There were no desertions from the 
 infantry. 
 
 In October, 1850, the troop moved to Fort Leavenworth, 
 and occupied the quarters used by our detadhment the pre- 
 vious winter. Major Theophilus Holmes, with four com- 
 panies of the Seventh Infantry, came about the same time 
 that "B" troop did, and left in the spring. Like all I saw 
 of the Sixth, the Seventh was a well disciplined, well be- 
 haved organization. 
 
 The Kaw Indians near Council Grove had been com- 
 mitting some depredations — stealing horses and other- 
 wise making theniselves troublesome — and in January; 
 1851, ]\Iajor Chilton, with about fifty men of his troop went 
 to Council Grove, a hundred and twenty miles, had a "big 
 talk," took four of the principal chiefs of the Kaw Na- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 45 
 
 tion prisorters and brought them to Fort Leavenworth. 
 About half of the men on this trip were more or less frost- 
 bitten, several of them severely. It was a horrible trip for 
 men so poorly provided for a two hundred and forty mile 
 
 Major David H. Hastings. 
 
 march in such severe weather. Overshoes, mittens, gloves, 
 leggings or other extra wraps were not then provided by 
 the Government, nor kept for sale, and men made for them- 
 selves out of old blankets, skins, pieces of old canvas and 
 
^g FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 cast-off clothing, anything that necessity prompted them 
 to invent for protection from the bitter cold. Not a house 
 between Fort Leavejiworth and Papan's Ferry across the 
 Kaw, sixty miles, and none between the ferry and Coun- 
 cil Grove— the whole country an expanse of snow. Plenty 
 of fuel in every camp, and fires kept burning all night. 
 The horses were huddled together in best sheltered places 
 and fires built to windward so that the rays of heat would 
 float towards them. Com was hauled for them, and as 
 there was no hay, cottonwood trees were felled to browse 
 on, the limbs trimmed off and piled befoTe them. Noth- 
 ing was left undone that could be done under the circum- 
 stances for the comfort of men and horses, but with all 
 that there was great suffering. 
 
 On the 17th of March, 1851, I was promoted to cor- 
 poral. 
 
 About this time Second Lieutenant D. H. Hastings* 
 joined "B" Troop. He brought with him a fine reputa- 
 tion for long and faithful service, and looked every inch 
 an officer to be respected. He served many years as a first 
 sergeant, won his commission in the Mexican War, where 
 one heel was shot off, and he wore a cork one. A man of 
 iron will and nerve, he wa? all that a good soldier could 
 wisb in a good officer. 
 
 'VUg April following Major Sackfield Macklin, paymas- 
 
 *David H. Hast" n^s was born in Ireland, and appointed 
 second lieutentant, First Dragoons, in 1848. He had served as 
 an enlisiod man in Company B, Second Infantry, Company K. 
 Third Artillery, and Company A, Engineer Corps. He retired 
 in December, 1863, and died September 22, 1882. He was the 
 father of Mrs. Morton, the wife of Major A. G. Morton, Sixth 
 Infantry. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 47 
 
 ter TJ. S. A., left Fort Lea^^enworth for Forts Kearney and 
 Laramie to pay off troops, and carried with him the money 
 necessary for that purpose. I never knew the amount, hut 
 as there were two companies of Sixth Infantry at Kearney, 
 and one of Sixth Infantry and three of mounted rifles (now 
 Third Cavalry) at Laramie, and the ^verage in each com- 
 pany about sixty men, and when we reached them there 
 would be six or eight months^ pay due, the amount carried 
 must have been quite large, though soldiers then averaged 
 but about half as much pav as they get now — $8 per month 
 for mounted privates, $7 for infantry ($1 per month re- 
 tained from privates until end of enlistment), corporals 
 $10, sergeants $13, first sergeants $16. The escort con- 
 sisted of one corporal and seven privates from "B" Com- 
 pany, Sixth Infantry, and a corporal and three privates 
 from "B" Ttoop, First Dragoons. Of the infantry I re- 
 member only the name of the corporal — Barney Dun- 
 nigan, a thoroughly good, intelligent, reliable young Irish- 
 man; his whole detail was remarkably good. The dragoon 
 detail consisted of Corporal Lowe and Privates Charles 
 McDonald, John Eussel, and Edward O'Meaia. The 
 personnel of the last three was remarkable among en- 
 listed men of those days. They enlisted about one year 
 ahead of me, hence had greatly the advantage in expe- 
 rience. O'Meara had been wounded in the battle of the 
 Blue in the fall of 1849, losing two front teeth knocked 
 out by an arrow that cut his lip badly. He was the only 
 man I ever saw whose beauty was not marred by the loss 
 of front teeth. The scat on his lip made his smile all 
 
 the more attractive. He was an Irish lawyer; by birth, 
 4— 
 
^ FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 •8 
 
 education and instinct a gentleman. The troubles of 1848 
 drove him to America; he secured a position as clerk 
 in a law office in New York and seemed to he well started 
 on the road to prosperity, when some of his young college 
 chums, in this country for the same reason that he Was, 
 determined to enlist in the army for want of something 
 better, and he went with them. This man, this private sol- 
 dier, entering upon his third year of campaigning, possessed 
 one 'of the most genial, kindly and attractive temperaments 
 I ever knew. His reading and travel had made him a most 
 companionable man. With the opportunities now afforded 
 he would have stood an examination and been commis- 
 sioned. But there was no such privileges in his time. 
 Eiissel was a Philadelphian, a printer and jolly jokeT, had 
 been a sergeant, and volunteered to go on this trip to 
 get awav from the troop and temptation. He was the 
 eldest of the party, as I was the youngest. McDonald was 
 a New Yorker, of Irish parentage, and was a genius — a 
 fine draughtsman and caricaturist. Not a man of our 
 party escaped his pencil. If these three men lacked any- 
 thing to insure a bright future, it was the strong will 
 and sound judgment to act independently — to blaze the 
 way and decide their own destiny. 
 
 Our transportation consisted of the Major's four-mule 
 ambulance for himself and clerk (Mr. Reed), one six-mule 
 t<'ain for the infantry and their baggage and provisions, O'ue 
 six-mule team for the dragoons' forage, provisions and teni 
 and the Major's baggage and servant. The Major had a 
 wall tent and Hy for himself and clerk, and a small cook 
 t^nt. The dragoons had one A tent and infantry two,^ In 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 49 
 
 all, the Major, hi? clerk and servant, three teamsters, eight 
 infantry, four dragoons, eighteen. Sixteen mules and four 
 horses. Not a very large escort to take so much money 300 
 miles to Fort Kearney and 350 more to Laramie. As I 
 ranked my friend Punnigan by a few days in our apoint- 
 ment the Major gave his orders to me. He was a pleasant, 
 even-tempered man, under whom it was a pleasure to 
 serve, and on the whole trip I never heard him complain. 
 Having seen enough of his escort to satisfy himself thai 
 all duty would be carefully attended to, he was content. 
 
 There was no boistrous rowdyism, but the dragoon camp, 
 with O'Meara in tragedy, "Sallie" Eussel in comedy, and 
 McDonald as scenic artit^t, was the center of attraction. The 
 infantry had several fair singers, every one could tell a 
 story, and the time passed merrily away from dinner, as 
 soon as pTacticable after coming into camp, until bed time, 
 soon after dark. We were on the road about 7:00 and in 
 camp between 1 :00 and 3 :00. Our animals had no forage 
 other than grass after the first week. There was much 
 rain during the first part of the journey, roads bad, no 
 bridges over streams and mud holes, sometimes doubling 
 teams and at others hitching lariat ropes on each side 
 of wagon bed and all hands helping to pull, our progress 
 was slow. 
 
 After noon of the fifth day we reached Walnut Creek 
 about fifty-five miles northwest of Fort Leavenworth. We 
 had no rain during the day and did not expect to find the 
 creek high, and though it was running banlv full and one 
 hundred feet wide, caused by rains higher up the creek, 
 none of us seemed to remember that its bed was very deep. 
 
5Q FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 I rode forward to feel the way across, and though very cau- 
 tious and slow in my movements my horse suddenly began 
 to slide and in a moment nofhing but my head was above 
 water. But tlie noble animal being a well trained swimmer 
 came up as suddenly as he went down and struck out boldly 
 for the oposite shore, which he inade safely about one hun- 
 dred yards lower down. Though I had navigated the quick- 
 sands of the Platte and Eepublican and had been in water 
 so deep that my horse had to s^^nm from one sandbar to 
 another, this was my first experience in swimming a horse 
 in a rapidly flowing stream, and the venture was so sudden 
 that the good horse-sense of the noble brute under me was 
 my only salvation. In that minute of peril to ]>oth of us, I 
 thought of all the rules of action in similar emergencies that 
 1 had ever heard, the main point being to cling to the mane 
 and the saddle and leave the horse as free as possible, guid- 
 ing him only to give the right direction. In this case the 
 current took him on to a sloping bank in tlie bend oi the 
 creek, where he landed easily. Tf 1 had expected to swim 1 
 should have divested myself of saber and belts, pistol, car- 
 bine, and every unneccessary thing, even to outer clothing, 
 and strapped all firmly on my saddle. If the west bank had 
 been steep as the east bank was, rider and horse would have 
 been lost, unless some projecting limb gave me a chance to 
 escape. All was so sudden and so quickly over that my 
 comrades had scarcely time to think, as they expressed it, 
 thougli they instinctively spurred their horses down the east 
 ))ank in hopes to assist me. Immediately on landing I dis- 
 eliarged my pistol and carbine so that the water would not 
 soak in under the percussion cap to the powder. The Major 
 
FtVE TEARS A DRAGOON- 51 
 
 and the dragoons knew why I did it, but it added to the ex- 
 citement of others who were without experience. 
 
 The Major went into eau^p to wait until the creek run 
 dowTi. I stripped everything from my horse except the 
 h^ad halter and lariat, and from myself everything except 
 underclothes, and cached them with my arms in some thick 
 brush. Then I looked carefully for a good place to cross. 
 The east bank was such that I must land at the road or 
 my horse could not get out. The current was so swift 
 that if carried below the road I must go down stream. 
 No one could throw a lariat across, and the men took 
 the small ropes from the ends of the wagon covers, 
 knotted them together, tied a stone to one end, care- 
 fully coiled the rope close to the bank and stalwart, 
 broad-shouldered Corporal Dunnigan threw it to me. 
 I was afraid to trust the small rope to null on and told 
 the men to tie several lariats together and to the east 
 end of small rope^, which they did, and I hauled them over 
 ard tied to the end of my lariat, and they hauled the rope 
 taut on the east side. I then rode to the edge of the stream 
 some distance above where I must land, the men in the 
 meantime keeping the rope taut and ready to quickly haul 
 in all slack. I stuck my toes in behind the horse's elbow 
 joints, and taking a firm hold of the mane with my left 
 hand, urged the horse with my right, and he plunged in 
 and struck the landing nicely; but he could not have stem- 
 med the current, and, slippery and steep as it was, he 
 could not have carried me out without the assistance of 
 the men at the ropes. The Major stood by and watched 
 
go FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 carefully to see that no mistakes were made, but did not 
 interfere. By this time the Major's and the infantry camp 
 had good fires. The water was cold that April day, and 
 I was thoroughly chilled. After washing in hot water and 
 putting on dry clothes, I drank hot coffee and ate a good 
 dinner with the infantry, and as my comrades had been 
 devoting their time to me, they too were fed. Of course 
 I was congratulated very much, not the least by the 
 Major and Mr. Eeed. I deserved little credit, but rather 
 censure, and said so, for not dismounting and trying the 
 crossing of that swift running stream with a pole or 
 stone on a rope — anything to make sure of what I was 
 undertaking. 
 
 There is no place on earth where a man gets fuller cretl- 
 lor every reasonable effort, or where exposure to danger is so 
 liberally rewarded as among his comrades in the army. That 
 little adventure became one of the traditions of '^'B" 
 Troop, and lost nothing in the telling. McDonald had it 
 down in good shape on paper, and while all three of them 
 would hatch a joke at my expense, it was always in a 
 way that left no sting. 
 
 These prairie streams run down as quickly as they rise, 
 and by noon the next day we crossed with little difficulty, 
 more than doubling teams and all hands at ropes, and camp- 
 ed on the west side. 
 
 Except continuous rains and bad creek crossings we had 
 no more dilliculty until we reached Big Blue River, now 
 MarysviUe, about 150 miles from Fort Leavenworth. We 
 found it bank full-a wide turbulent torrent, and no pros- 
 pect of Its running down. The Major was anxious to get 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON- 53 
 
 oVer and seelned to think we couM make a raft on which to 
 lash one or two wagon beds and cross over a little at a time, 
 and finally swim the animals. I set about getting some dry 
 logs and lashing them together. ^ly comrades, of greater 
 experience, could see no use in our efforts, though they took 
 hold wherever I asked them to, but I worked with energy 
 all afternoon and fell into the river several times. I went to 
 camp thoroughly exhausted and wet; was going to change 
 my clothes, but lay down in the tent and fell asleep. The 
 next morning when T awoke the sun was high. I heard my 
 comrades talking by the camp-fire wondering how I slept so 
 long. My head seemed perfectly clear, but I could neither 
 speak nor move, though in no physical pain. Russel looked 
 in and seeing my eyes open, spoke. Jleceiving no answer, 
 he came nearer and spoke again ; then he was alarmed, and 
 reported to the Major, who came to the tent, spoke to me, 
 felt my pulse, raised me up, put a flask of brandy to my lips, 
 a little at a time, in the meantime a man at each limb rub- 
 bing, me thoroughly. I made a spasmodic effort, turned 
 over on my side, circulation seemed restored, and soon I 
 could speak. Having been thoroughly rubbed and properly 
 clotlied, I could sit up, and before night could help myself in 
 a feeble way. The Major told jne not to worry about any- 
 tliing, he would wait. I doubt if any doctor could have 
 treated me better. In the meantime some large freight 
 trains came along, stretched a rope across the river, lashed 
 two large wagon beds together, and in a few days ferried 
 over fifty wagons and their contents, and our little outfit — 
 all the animals, oxen, mules and horses being compelled to 
 swim. 
 
g. FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Major Dougherty, of Clay County, Missouri, en route to 
 Kearney and Laramie, where he was post trader, camped 
 near us, and a young negro man belonging to him fell into 
 the river and was drowned. The Major had raised the boy, 
 his mother belonging to him and employed in his family, 
 and he felt keenly the distress that the news would bring to 
 his household. 
 
 Having crossed the Blue and left the danger of bad roads 
 and high water behind, Ave made good time. I had recuper- 
 ated a good deal, but was weak and feverish. The Major, in 
 the goodness of his heart, made me ride in the ambulance 
 more than half of the time the balance of the way, while he 
 Tode my horse to Kearney, where we spent several days. 
 Captain Wharton, Sixth Infantry, commanded the post. 
 
 From Kearney to Ijaramie, 350 miles, the journey was 
 pleasant. At the crossing of the South Platte we met sever- 
 al caravans of trappers and traders hauling furs and hides 
 to the Missouri Eiver. These outfits were more remarkable 
 as showing how nmch a man can make of a little than for 
 their elegance. These men had picked up broken down and 
 abandoned emigrant wagons, crudely repaired and made a 
 large number of carts and wagons, which enabled them to 
 move great quantities of goods to steamboat navigation, 
 tbcir motive power being oxen that they had found broken 
 down and abandoned or had traded for with the emigrants 
 the year l)efore. This was to them luxurious transporta- 
 tion, for until the heavy emigration of 1849 there had been 
 })ut few cattle in the country. Heretofore traders and trap- 
 pers had worked their way down the Platte and Missouri in 
 bull boats during high water in May or June, or packed on 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 55 
 
 mules or ponies. We were fortunate in meeting these car- 
 avans at the crossing. Here I learned a good lesson in navi- 
 gating a quicksand river. We reached the crossing on the 
 south side and camped as the traders^ trains went into camp 
 on the north side. The river was quite deep for the Platte, 
 caused by melting snow in the mountains, half a mile wide 
 and from one to four feet deep — quicksand bottom. To- 
 wards evening several of the traders rode over to our camp 
 to "try the river/' as they said. 'Twas here T first met Maj- 
 or Fitzpatrick, "Tim" Goodale, John Smith, and other 
 celebrities with well established reputations as traders, trap- 
 pers and Indian fighters. I went with them to their camp. 
 "Now," said Major Fitzpatrick, "if we should hitch up and 
 start to cross with a load without beating down the quick- 
 sand, thereby making a firm roadbed, we would get mired 
 in the sand; one side would settle and upset the wagon, 
 or the whole wagon sinl? ; in short, ^t would be impracticable 
 to cross in that way. N'ow, the way to pack the sand and 
 make a firm road}>ed is to travel over it with a lot of ani- 
 mals until it is well beaten down, and then crosd your wag- 
 ons ; the more travel over it the better the road gets. Now, 
 in the morning we will have a lot of men mounted and 
 drive all of our cattle over and back, keeping them as 
 near together as possible, and then we will cross as fast 
 as we can, giving the roadbed no rest, and a good way for 
 you to do with your little outfit will be for you to follow 
 us when we drive the cattle back." And this we did, 
 crossing without trouble. 
 
 Fifteen miles from the crossing of the South Platte, 
 we entered Ash Hollow and struck the North Platte, up 
 
56 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 which we traveled to Fort Laramie, passing Court House 
 Eock, Chimney Eock, Scotch Bluffs and other interesting 
 points, all of which have heen so well described by Gen- 
 erals Fremont, Cook and others that I need say no more 
 than that no one can reahze how wonderful they are with- 
 out having seen them. 
 
 /or/' /dfd/p/e 
 
 The Laramie Eiver is a lovely, clear mountain stream, 
 about the volume of the Little Blue or Pawnee Fork ^f the 
 Arkansas. The post of Fort Laramie is located on its west 
 bank, above and south of where it flows into the North 
 Platte. Our infantry detachment was quartered with Com- 
 pany G, Sixth Infantry ; Major Macklin and his clerk were 
 quartered with Captain Ketchum, commanding Company 
 G and the post, and I was sent up the Laramie where the 
 dragoons and teamsters with all the animals were to camp 
 during our stay. Four miles above the post, on the oppo- 
 site side of the river, which was fordable almost any place, 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 57 
 
 I found a camp, as O'Meara expressed it, ''Fit for the 
 gods''— one of the most lovely spots I have ever seen. We 
 owed our good fortune in not being attaclied to one of the 
 three troops of mounted rifles stationed at the post to the 
 fact that there was no forage except grass, and that was 
 eaten off close to the sandy ground for some miles, and to 
 tlie fact that most of the rifles were camped out for the 
 purpose of foraging their horses. That was why \ went 
 so far from the post and camped on the opposite bank. 
 Here the teamsters had nothing to do but take care of 
 themselves, herd their mules during the .day, picket them 
 out at night, and take their turn with the dragoons stand- 
 ing guard. The dragoons had nothing to do except to take 
 care of themselves and horses, and do their share of guard 
 duty. I reported to the Major at the post every day about 
 ten o'clock. 
 
 And now followed one of the most happy months of 
 my life. O'Meara described this camp in prose and poetry 
 that would be fine reading to-day, but alas, in youth how 
 little we think of the future ! Of all of our trip there is 
 no record, not- even a morning report, as with the troop. 
 That report shows Corporal Lowe and Private Russel, 
 O'Meara and McDonald on detached service escorting pay- 
 master to Fort Laramie, and that is all there is of one of 
 the most interesting trips I ever participated in. But I 
 can .see the camp now, fifty-five years later, in memory, 
 lovely, green and beautiful as ever — an amiphitheater of 
 rugged hills, the pure, clear river with its pebbly bottom 
 running gently by, fringed with willows, orchards of box 
 .elders in the bottoms, cedars and pines upon the hills, 
 fragrant flowers on every hand. Any good hunter could 
 
58 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 bring in a black-tailed deer in a few hours, and the river 
 afforded plenty of fish. 
 
 All of our party could cook, but McDonald was excel- 
 lent, Eussel made good bread, and O'Meara, well, he was 
 the epicure of the party; the coffee must be browned just 
 so, a certain quantity of ground coffee to a given amount 
 of water; the venison must be seasoned right, whatever 
 that was, and ^twas always good. Everything was clean, 
 tin cups and plates included. We had new forks at every 
 meal; McDonald insisted on that, and O'Meara whittled 
 them out of tough dry willow — straight sharp sticks. We 
 stretched the Major's tent fly for a dining-room, drove down 
 four stakes to lay the endgate of the wagon on, and that 
 was our table; water-buckets and boxes for seats. Eussel 
 tore a flour-sack into squares, hemmed them and put one 
 at each man's plate. "Crcntlemen," he said, "must use 
 napkins," and he changed them as often as was necessary. 
 Another flour-sack ripped open made a table-cloth. Eus- 
 sel and O'Meara? did most of the hunting, and we were 
 seldom without venison. McDonald put out the hooks at 
 night and was almost sure to have nice channel catfish for 
 breakfast. I frequently took down a quarter of venison 
 to the Major. Except reporting to him daily I made it a 
 rule not to be out of sight of camp long at a time. I ex- 
 plored every nook for several miles around and reveled in 
 the pure air, the delicious water and the delightful scen- 
 ery. We moved a short distance and made a fresh camp 
 every few days for cleanliness and good grass. The Major 
 gave me some papers out of the semi-monthly mail, and we 
 borrowed a few books from G Company. We furnished 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 59 
 
 our three teamsters meat and fish. One of them, "Bill" 
 Anderson, was six feet four inches tall, a comical, good- 
 natured Missourian. One day I sent him down to G Com- 
 pany with one big buck and half of another. When he 
 found the first sergeant he was on parade at guard mount- 
 ing, standing at "parade rest." Anderson slouched along 
 down to the sergeant and said, "See here, the boss sent 
 me down with some meat and I don't know what to do 
 with it ; I 'm 'feared my mules '11 git skeered when this 
 here drum beats." The Sergeant said, "Well, you run 
 for your mules and I '11 see you later." And Bill ran 
 and got there in time to be escorted off the parade-ground 
 by Captain Ketchum's order, ^dth the threat to put him 
 in the guard-house if he was caught here again. This 
 man stayed in Government employ, was with me in the 
 Kansas war in 1856 and on the Cheyenne expedition in 
 1857 — served in the volunteers in the war between the 
 States, and died in the Soldiers' Home in 1900, always 
 a faithful, reliable man. 
 
 One night there was a heavy storm of rain, thunder and 
 lightning, lasting till morning, when two mules were miss- 
 ing. We had been in the neighborhood two weeks and 
 these mules had not been out of it except when Anderson 
 went with meat or for rations, and no one thought they 
 would leave. O'Meara, Eussel and I mounted an-d circled 
 around awhile without finding their trail. I then told 
 Eussel to go down the river and O'Meara up, while I crossed 
 over and struck out toward the post. They were dragging 
 long lariats fastened to picket pins, and the trail ought to 
 
60 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 be easily found. On an old wood road haif-way to the 
 post 1 found such a trail as they would make, but rain had 
 fallen upon it, and if the trail of my mules, it had been 
 made in the night during the storm. I followed it, pass- 
 ing west of the post to the ferry across the North Platte. 
 The ferryman was just up and had not seen any mules. 
 He was a good-natured fellow who knew everything and 
 didnt "believe no durned mule would do such a fool thing 
 as ter leave camp 'n all his friends 'n pass the post 'n come 
 down ter my ferry ter swim when therms er boat wait-" 
 in' f er ^im.^^ However much I might respect the fer- 
 ryman's knowledge of mules, the faet remained that I had 
 followed this trail more than three miles. I knew a mule's 
 peculiarity for following a trail when once on it, and in- 
 sisted on crossing and taking a look on the other side. 
 The ferryman crossed me reluctantly, protesting that I 
 would have my trouble for nothing. 
 
 Having landed, I pointed out to him the marks of two 
 ropes with pins attached going up the, bank. He insisted 
 that it was something else, and 1 left him, following the 
 trail with ease for several miles along a broad lodge pole 
 trail made by Indians. It- was as easily followed as a plain 
 wagon road. Then the trail left the' road and the mules 
 had grazed, zig-zagging here and there, but finally came 
 into the Indian road again, and here their trial was fresh 
 —made since the rain; one or two shoes were off as shown 
 by the tracks. I Imew that some of our mules were in that 
 condition, and felt sure that, strange as it might appear, I 
 was on the right trail, and urged my horse forward rapidly 
 for some time, hoping every high point I reached to see 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 61 
 
 the mules. The farther J went tlie more mystified I was, 
 for this trail ran west up the north side of North Platte— 
 straight away from any place these mules had ever been, so 
 far as I knew. Much of the way the trail showed that they 
 were traveling at a trot; and going down some hills there 
 were marks showing that occasionally a picket pin had 
 caught on a tuft of grass and bounded forward several 
 feet, a thing that would not occur at a walk. It was evi- 
 dent they were traveling of their own free will, because 
 there were no other tracks, and if ridden the lariats would 
 have been gathered up and not allowed to drag. As the 
 forenoon dragged along my horse advised me that I was 
 asking too" much of him. I had had no breakfast, was feel- 
 ing keenly the want of it, and while I must do without I 
 must not destroy my horse's usefulness; and so I grazed 
 him awhile, meantime taking off the saddle, smoothing 
 down his back with my hand, adjusting the blanket, wash-' 
 ing his legs in a pool of water, and he thanked me, the 
 poor brute, for every kindly touch. 
 
 '-^^ '^In half an hour I mounted again and started on; and 
 liow I settled down to studying my horse's strength and 
 doing all I could within it. The day was lovely, the land- 
 scape green and beautiful, the air pure and fresh and not 
 too hot— just right for a long ride. I grazed my horse a 
 ■ little several times, peering anxiously from the top of ev- 
 ery rise. Along in the afternoon I found myself on a grad- 
 ual rise going steadily up, up, for miles, the ridge ahead 
 seeming little nearer for a long time. I knew that when 
 I reached the top of that ridge I would see a long distance 
 unless the country was broken, and so my thoughts and' 
 
Q2 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 eyes were forward, anticipating the scene that Avas to open. 
 Coming up on the level ground my horse stopped, head 
 high, nostrils distended, ears pointing forward, and every 
 muscle strained to the fullest tension — mo fear, but eager- 
 ness seemed 1o possess him. In the last ten miles I must 
 have risen three hundred feet, most of which I would go 
 down in one mile farther. Then commenced the river bot- 
 tom extending as far west as T could see, and one mile wide 
 from river to bluff. On this bottom an Indian camp ex- 
 tending perhaps two miles along the river' — a nomadic city 
 of magnificent dimensions. It was a mile to the lower end 
 of this vast camp, and I looked down upon every part of 
 it. Many lodges were just being put up; quite a number 
 were coming in over the hills from the north. Evidently 
 this was a new camp, growing larger all the time, but none 
 of it had passed over the trail that I had followed. Great 
 herds of horsos were grazing above and north of the camp. 
 The scene before me was one of great activity, the build- 
 ing of a new city, and under more pleasant circumstances 
 would have fen an interesting study, but to me there was 
 nothing i>leasant about it. I dismounted and rubbed 
 "Chub's"* nose. I felt the need of friendly company, and 
 he was all I had. 
 
 My journey seemed to be ended. Plere I was upon the 
 trail, my mules probably with one of the Indian herds, but 
 could I get them? And how? I did not believe the In- 
 dians would give them to me without a reward, which I 
 could not give, and possibly some mourner who had lost a 
 friend might try to get even by taking my scalp; this was 
 a way they had of doing, and I hesitated. I could not bear 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 63 
 
 the idea of trailing my mules to the very edge of this camp 
 and then giving it up^ — ^weakening, as the boys say. But 
 what hope had I of accomplishing anything? My judg- 
 ment said, get back to Laramie and let the mules go; m} 
 pride caused me to hesitate, and the longer I hesitated the 
 firmer my pride held me. In this frame of mind I led 
 my horse behind a low bluff and sat down while he grazed. 
 
 It was now probably five o'clock. Suddenly my horse 
 threw his head high as under great excitement. Without 
 looking for the cause I sprang into the saddle. All around 
 me were mounted Indians — twenty or more young bucks — 
 bows and amows in hand. I was completely surrounded, 
 and to run might insure being riddled with arrows, and so 
 I put on an air of indifference, showed the trail of my 
 mules, and tried to beat into their stolid heads the fact 
 that I wanted them. They let me go through, the mo- 
 tions for five minutes with perfect indifference. Finally 
 one of them said, "Kig-e-la." Seeing that I did not un- 
 derstand, he said, "Wa-se-che kig-e-la etoncha tepe," 
 pointing to the Indian camp, all of which was Greek to 
 me, but which I afterwards learned meant: '^'White man 
 go to chief's tepe (lodge), and I drifted along with them 
 in that direction. 
 
 Having arrived at headquarters, the chief saluted me 
 with, "How, how, cola, how!'' and shook hands; numerous 
 others did the same. My escort melted away, and in re- 
 sponse to his pantomimic invitation, I dismounted and en- 
 tered his palace, where he invited me to rest on a pile of 
 robes and furs. A squaw took the saddle and bridle from 
 my horse and led him awav. After awhile she returned 
 
 5— 
 
64 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 with the picket pin and laid it inside the lodge. Looking 
 where she laid it I saw two others, worn bright from drag- 
 ging on the ground, and was sure they belonged to the 
 mules. I gave special attention to the dried venison and 
 buffalo laid before me, hardly realizing how' hungry I was 
 until I struck that soft couch and food. A squaw brought 
 me some soup, probably dog, but it was good. I had been 
 twenty-four hours and had ridden all day without food. 
 Women and children peeped in to gratify curiosity, and 
 the warriors and braves canre and went continually. A 
 
 circle of apparently 
 distinguished men was 
 formed, the chief oppo- 
 site me, a pipe was light- 
 ed, passed and smoked 
 by all. Whatever nerv- 
 ousness I had felt was 
 gone. I seemed to be tak- 
 ing on the stolidity of an 
 Indian. Seeming to real- 
 ize that I must be tired, 
 the lodge was soon va- 
 cated and in spite of my 
 peculiar surroundings I 
 slept. When I awoke it 
 was dark inside, but bright fires burning outsiide all over 
 the camp, and from end to end tremendous excitement. 
 This was my first night with the great Sioux Nation, and 
 T knew little of them, but enough to convince me that 
 something exciting had occurred. I sat down outside of 
 
 (. 
 
 
 '^i^.^P 
 
 Sioux. 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 65 
 
 the lodge, leaning against it so that 1 could see a long dis- 
 tance into the camp. The scene before me was one never 
 to be forgotten — in short, it was a war dance. A war party 
 of Sioux had killed six Crows and brought in their scalps ; 
 but it was not all a Sioux victory, for there was mourning 
 for some of the Sioux who never returned. 
 
 I will not attempt to describe it. Not all the demons of 
 the infernal region, with sulphurous torches, horns and 
 cloven feet, nor anything else the imagination can picture 
 could excel the beastly liuman nature here displayed. Grad- 
 ually the clans joined in until the main display was near 
 the chiefs headquarters ; the victors came near and shook 
 the bloody scalps almost in my face as they danced and 
 paraded up and down, beating tom-toms and emitting un- 
 earthly yells, whether to honor or to intimidate I did not 
 Icnow, but afterwards concluded that it was neither. The 
 warriors just wanted to show the wa-se-che (white man) 
 by the war dance what they could do, and the weeping and 
 howHng of the squaws and near relatives of the dead repre- 
 sented genuine grief. This din was kept up long past mid- 
 night, and gradually died out froiu sheer exhaustion of the 
 
 actors. 
 
 On that couch of furs I fell asleep toward morning, 
 and was awakened l^y the sun shining into the lodge. I sat 
 up and took an inventory of my surroundings. The old 
 monarch, one squaw, with baby at her breast, and a half a 
 dozen youngsters — ^iDoys and girls — were asleep. An adjoin- 
 ing lodge held two or three more squaws and several young- 
 sters of his family; outside was a solitary squaw boiling 
 some meat. From end to end the camp was silent — even 
 
^^ FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 00 
 
 the thousands of dogs that had lent their aid to the hellish 
 din during the night were all asleep. I came out and sat 
 down; the old squaw brought me some meat from the ket- 
 tle on a stick and some of the soup in a cup. I enjoyed it 
 so much that she brought more, and I feasted. We seemed 
 to be the only people awake. Indians never get up early 
 without some special incentive; they want the dew off so 
 that their moccasins will not get wet. Between seven and 
 eight o'clock a couple of bucks came in from a herd driv- 
 ing some horses and nmles, and as they drew near I saw 
 mine. Here they came at a rattling gait, my two mules 
 and horse looking little worse for the previous day's fa- 
 tigue. The old squaw who gave me breakfast caught the 
 lariat of my horse, led him to the lodge, reached in and 
 pulled out my saddle, blanket^and bridle, while the men 
 helped themselves at the kettle. The squaw was going to 
 saddle my horse, but I did it to suit myself, while she chat- 
 tered and laughed with the men. The people in the lodge 
 came out and a few from other lodges gathered around. 
 The big e-ton-cha looked as if he had spent a rollicking 
 night at the club; his eyes were bloodshot and he looked 
 drowsy. He and the men talked some together; he evi- 
 dently asked the squaw if T had eaten plenty; went to a 
 pile of dried meat, selected a lot of nice pieces and put 
 them in my holster. Then he shook hands with me and 
 said, "How cola, kig-e-la wa-se-che tepe." "How" was the 
 common salutation on meeting or parting with white men, 
 and all the English most Indians knew; the other words 
 meant: "Go, friend, the white man's tepe." 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 67 
 
 I did not stand upon the order of going, but wanted 
 to reward this prince to whom I was under so many obli- 
 gations. . I had on a very large red and yellow silk hand- 
 kerchief, a luxury I always indulged in on the plains. 1 
 often tied it around my hat and brought it around so as 
 to cover my neck and most of my face to keep off the sun 
 and the nestiferous gnats. If not in use any other way 
 it hung loosely around my neck to keep off the sun and wipe 
 away perspiration. Though it cost me $2.50 out of my 
 munificent salary, I could afford it, for it was cheaper than 
 whiskey at twenty-five cents a gallon. This handkerchief 
 I wanted to give to the chief, placed it around his neck, 
 pulled out m.y fiour-bladed knife and* put it in his han'd. I 
 was the most thankful of men and anxious to prove it. If 
 any one thing m^ore than another would tempt an Indian 
 to commit murder or any other bad act, it would be to 
 possess himself of such a beautiful handlcerchief. If I were 
 in battle against Indians, I would hide such a temptation 
 c^uickly, for loar that every effort would be centered upon 
 destropng me to possess it. The chief felt of it, looked 
 at the sun through it, rubbed it over his face and handed 
 it back to me. I opened the blades of the knife; he felt 
 of them slowly and said : "Wash-ta" (good), and handed 
 it back. I pressed them on him, but he only said: "Was- 
 e-che washta" (white man good), and declined to accept. 
 I offered the handkerchief to his squaw with the suckling 
 babe^ but she laughed, shook her head and would not touch 
 it. I could not pay this nobleman for his hospitality, trou- 
 ble and protection; I even feared that he thought less of 
 me, this savage king, than if I had gone away with more 
 
68 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 dignity and less patronizing display. Well, having said 
 "good-bye," I coiled the lariat ropes carefully about the 
 mules' necks, fastened them securely, mounted my horse 
 and started. The two Indians who brought in the mules 
 started with me and drove them over the bluffs where I first 
 saw the camp and then said, "How," and turned back. I 
 persuaded one of them to stay with me, thinking that he 
 might be of service in case I met other Indians. On we 
 came, dowm the long slope, m.aking what time I thought 
 my horse would stand, grazing a while two or three times, 
 and reached the ferry while the sun was an hour high. I 
 fully expected my Indian friend to go to camp with me, 
 but he refused and said, "How cola." I bought him two 
 loaves of bread from the ferryman, which he tied in the 
 corner of his blanket, and said, "Skaw-papoose"— that is, 
 he would save it for them, his wife and child, I tried in 
 vain to press my handkerchief upon him, but he refused, 
 and took anotlier loaf of bread, all the ferryman had. 
 
 This benighted ferryman had seen no one from the 
 post, and supposed I had recrossed at a ford some miles 
 above. "Well, dog me! ef them mules ain't h— 1, 1 '11 never 
 ferry another pilgrim, durn my buttous." I wanted to go 
 through the post to repor: to the Major, but instead of 
 keeping outside of the parade-ground the mules set up an 
 imearthly braying and ran directly in front of the com- 
 manding officer's quarters. Of course, I must follow them, 
 and as I got there Captain Ketchum ran out and said: 
 \Vliat are you riding over this parade for?" I halted to 
 explain,, when he recognized me. I told him how it hap- 
 pened, which was satisfactory, and asked him to please say 
 
FIVE, YEARS A DRAGOON. 69 
 
 to the Major that I had returned with the mules a,n;d would 
 report in the morning. 
 
 I reached camp about dark. Russel washed "Chub's" 
 back and legs, and rubbed him down good. McDonald 
 got liot water, O'Meara rubbed me down in a hot bath, 1 
 got on clean clothes, ate a good supper, rolled myself in 
 the blankets, and told them to w^ake me in time to get to 
 the post by ten o'clock. Rus&ei had reported to the Major 
 the day I left and the day I returned; all were consider- 
 ably worried and puzzled at my absence. No one had 
 thought of looking in the direction of the ferry. Russel 
 had been down the road east of the post eight or ten 
 miles, talked with some traders, and concluded that they 
 had not gone in that direction. 
 
 I rode McDonald's horse, reported to the Major next 
 morning and told my adventures to him and Captain 
 Ketchum. A guide and interpreter was called in to listen 
 to my description of the camp, and he said it was over fifty 
 miles from the ferry across I^orth Platte, and several trad- 
 ers familiar with the coimtr}^, with whom I talked, did not 
 put any lower estimate upon it. The puzzle was, why did 
 the mules go there ? It turned out that a lot of troops had 
 been camped there about a year before, and it was believed 
 that these mules belonged to that command and had been 
 taken to Fort Leavenworth in the fall, as all stock that 
 could be spared was taken there to winter. This seemed 
 the only goluticn to such a frealv on the part of these two. 
 Estimating that I lost ten miles in hunting the trail go- 
 ing, would make sixty-five miles the first day and fifty-five 
 the next day — one hundred and twenty miles. 
 
70 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRACtOON- 
 
 All too soon the time came for us to start on the return 
 trip to Fort Leavenworh, and we left "Camp Macklin/' 
 named by me in honor of Major Macklin, with many re- 
 grets. We had enjoyed a month of positive pleasure and 
 happiness, the like of which we might not hope for soon 
 again. 
 
 At Laramie we were joined by Mrs. Ehett, wife of 
 Brevet Captain Ehett,* of the mounted rifles, and her two 
 small children and a servant, her transportation being a 
 light wagon and four-mule team. Having crossed to the 
 east side of Scotts Bluffs, about fifty miles east of Laramie, 
 we turned south and camped near a trading-post belong- 
 ing to Major Dripps, who was or had been an Indian agent. 
 He was to join us the next morning and travel in our com- 
 pany to the Missouri River. Our camp was made about 
 noon on a plateau where grass was very short. A ravine 
 twenty-five feet deep ran by the camp, sixty feet wide at 
 bottom, with steep banks. At the bottom of this ravine 
 wa-s a small spring from which we got water. It also con- 
 tained fine grass, and in it we picketed our animals. 
 
 About two o'clock. there was sharp lightning and loud 
 thunder, evidently a heavy storm some distance in the 
 bluffs, which kept gathering force and coming nearer to 
 our camp. But while the sun was stiU unobscured by 
 clouds where we were, water which had fallen a long way 
 off came do wn the ravine, increasing rapidly. We hurried 
 
 and 7^T^^^.^''''?^u ^"^.^^^ ^^' ^ "^^i^^ ^f South Carolina 
 and a graduate of the M.A. in 1845. He resiened in AdiII 
 
 j^utant General from 1801 to the close of the war. He died July 
 
PtYl! YEARS A DRAGOON. 7I 
 
 to the animals and got about half of them out and tied 
 to the wagons before the water was ten to fifteen feet deep, 
 and the other animals on the other side of it where we 
 could not reach them, and if their frantic exertions had 
 not enabled them to pull their picket pins they must have 
 drowned. Before the storm struck us the water was twen- 
 ty feet deep, and great logs coming down at the rate of 
 twenty miles an hour. The ^Tajor and Mr. Keed got Mrs. 
 Rhett and her children into her wagon, we drove picket 
 pins into the ground and tied ropes to the wagon-wheels 
 and had ever^'thing as safe as could be made, when one 
 of the most fearful storms I ever experLenced struck us. 
 The wind did not blow very hard, but rain with heavy hail 
 came down in torrents. Standing in our tent I dipped up 
 a hat full of the mixture and after the water ran out 
 through a hole, the hat was two-thirds full of large hail. 
 On the slightly sloping ground the water was half-way 
 to one's knees, from which mav be inferred what a deluge 
 was falling. Fortunately the storm passed nuickly, and 
 by five o'clock the sun was smiling as sweetly as ever; the 
 creek ran down as quickly as it came up. 
 
 We had two horses, mine and O'Meara's, and on them 
 we started to find the lost animals. The storm obliterated 
 the trail, and we had no guide but the direction of tlie 
 storm. It came from the southwest, and the stock must 
 drift before that pelting hail to the northeast, and in 
 that direction towards a line of high red bluffs we rode. 
 We must find them before dark if possible, as if they had 
 all night the start we might have a long chase. Fortunate- 
 ly we found them about eight miles from camp on the 
 
72 FIVE TEARS A URAGOON. 
 
 west side of an ampitheatre of perpendicular bluffs, all to- 
 gether, grazing contentedly at sunset. We managed to 
 catch all of them and take off their picket pins. Except- 
 ing a few slight wounds, none of the animals were hurt. 
 We fixed the ropes around their necks and started for camp 
 about dark, where we arrived two hours later. 
 
 I had asked McDonald and Eussel to keep a bright fire 
 of pine knots, of which they had plenty, so that we could 
 see the light, which was a great help. When the stock 
 was all caught and made safe Bill Anderson said : "Well, 
 I ^11 be gol durned if they hain't got the last one on ^um/^ 
 This was one of the best lessons I ever learned, never to 
 camp in a ravine or where the camp could possibly over- 
 flow by a sudden rise, never to trust stock where by any 
 possibility one can not reach them. I have seen thousands 
 of camps in attractive places like that ravine, for conven- 
 ience of water and wood, because the people were too lazy 
 to carry water or wood, and I have almost every year read 
 of some of them being drowned and their outfits destroyed. 
 There was no other incident worth mentiouing on the trip, 
 no accidents, no losses and no friction. 
 
 We met emigrants continually, in great numbers, en 
 route to California, Oregon and Salt Lake. 
 
 Before leaving Laramie, Major Macklin had informed 
 me that soon after we left Fort Leavenworth B Troop had 
 been ordered on a forced march to Fort Adkinson, on the 
 Arkansas River, to relieve D Company, Sixth Infantry, 
 quartered in a sod fort (Adkinson), which was surrounded 
 and threatened by the Kiowa and Comanche Lidians. 
 Nothing further had been heard from them. He also in- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 73 
 
 formed me that there was to be a great assemblage of In- 
 dians near Fort Laramie early in the fall, at which all the 
 tribes that could be induced to come were to meet, smoke 
 the pipe of peace, make treaties between tribes and the tribes 
 with the Government, and to wind up with a general dis- 
 tribution of presents from the Great Father. At Kearney 
 we heard the same report and nothing more. 
 
 At what is now called "West End," then the dragoon 
 drill-ground, the ]\[ajor halted and made us a little speech, 
 in which he recounted the uniform good conduct of his es- 
 cort and the pleasure and freedom from care they had given 
 him during the trip. The dragoons had taken upon them- 
 selves to look after Mrs. Rhett's camp, pitch and take down 
 her tent, and soon after our arrival at Fort Leavenworth 
 Mrs. Ehett sent for me, and through me sent her thanks 
 and a nice present to each of the dragoons for special 
 kindness and attention to her and her children during 
 the trip. 
 
 And now we heard that B Troop, having relieved Ad- 
 kinson without serious trouble, had been ordered back, 
 and would, after its return, proceed to Fort Laramie. 
 
 The infantry part of the escort was at home with its 
 company. I reported to the commanding officer of the post, 
 Colonel T. T. Fauntleroy, and he excused us four dragoons 
 from all duty except the care of ourselves and horses until 
 the arrival of the troops. We took possession of our quar- 
 ters and stables, and when the troop arrived ten days later 
 we had everything in good order. Sergeant Hooper was 
 now first sergeant. This was a change extremely gratify- 
 ing to me. He was serving in his tenth year — a level 
 
74 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 headed, sober, honest, active man, of good judgment and 
 even temper. I looked forward hopefully. 
 
 Private Wiggins was drowned in Grasshopper Creek 
 (now Delaware Elver) on the way out. After everything 
 else was over, the horses and mules had to swim. They 
 were driven into the river, Sergeant Cook and Private Wig- 
 gins bringing up the rear, mounted. Both were washed 
 from their horses. Wiggins stiiick out to swim to shore, 
 which he would have done, but his horse struck him with 
 his feet, knocked hini under and he was never seen again. 
 Cook cauglit his horse's tail and was pulled ashore. Wig- 
 gins was an excellent soldier, a man of good habits, and 
 well liked. No other casualties or serious accidents. The 
 forced march out had pulled the horses down some, but 
 they were in fair condition. At stable call the Major in- 
 spected the horses of my detachment critically and found 
 them almost as fleshy as when we started out — not a sore 
 spot on them. As the Major expressed it, "No one would 
 think they had been on a long march." We had traveled 
 over one thousand three hundred miles; my horse had 
 traveled eight miles a day for thirty days from the camp 
 at Laramie to the fort and back, two hundred and forty 
 miles, besides my trip to the Sioux camp after the mules, 
 one hundred and twenty miles, making in all more than 
 one thousand six hundred and sixty miles. The troop un- 
 der Major Chilton had traveled eight hundred miles and 
 the horses looked well, with few sore backs. Two or threa 
 horses were changed by the quartermaster, some shoeing 
 done, a little replenishing of clothing, and in a week we 
 were ready for the field again. For my twenty animals 
 
76 FIVE YEARS A DBAaOON. 
 
 six sacks (384 quarts) of corn were taken. One quart each 
 night and morning (fort)^ quarts per day) fed until all 
 was gone, and from that time to the end of the trip grass 
 only. Being used to corn, this two quarts per day kept 
 them up until they became used to the grass and until 
 the early grass gained substance. Major Chilton^s com- 
 mand took extra transportation to haul half rations — five 
 pounds of corn for each animal per day to Council Grove; 
 one-fourth rations from there to Adkinson and back. 
 
 We were to escort the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, 
 Colonel D. D. Mitchel, who arrived at Fort Leavenworth by 
 steamboat with Colonel George Knapp, of the Missouri Re- 
 puhlican, and Mr. B. Gratz Brown, correspondent of the 
 Repiihlican, and late Governor of Missouri, who was to and 
 who did write up the campaign, the treaty, etc. ; in short, a 
 full and well written account from start to finish, and if 
 published to-day would be read with great interest through- 
 out the world. Colonel Cooper, Adjutant General of the 
 Army, was a guest of Major Chilton during the whole cam- 
 paign to Laramie and back. The Major had my four horses 
 brought up for Colonel Cooper's inspection, and explained 
 to him the service they had performed, and the Colonel 
 seemed surprised at their freedom from sore backs, and their 
 fine condition. 
 
 I was questioned, and made this statement: "When 
 near Fort Kearney, on the way out, a Californian en route 
 to 'the States' camped near us and he showed me how he 
 kept a sound back on his horse. In the first place, he had 
 the California saddle-tree, old Spanish style, high ^nd wide 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 77 
 
 at the withers, and otherwise fitting the hack. He used a 
 gunnysack — tlie coarse kind, made of loose soft fiher — the 
 old - fashioned corn 
 sack, clean and put 
 on next to the hack, 
 and a common blank- 
 et between it and the 
 saddle. The claim 
 Avas that the gunny- 
 sack absorbed the 
 moisture without 
 scalding, as would 
 the blanket if worn 
 next to the back. 
 We tried this with 
 great success, always 
 taking care to have 
 a clean sack, lb it is, wash the sack occasionally and keep the 
 grit or sand out of it." After that the gunnysack was 
 Avorn by every horse in the troop. Although o:ir "Grimsley" 
 saddle could not compare with the California tree, the sack 
 was a Avondcrful help. 
 
 As I cannot have access to tlie records which would en- 
 able me to give dates, I am compelled to state the events as 
 they occurred throughout the season, one event following 
 another, regardless of dates. It was July when we returned 
 from Laramie, and the troop from Adkinjson and July when 
 we left Fort Leavenworth, and August when we arrived at 
 Fort Laramie. I had been consulted a good deal about 
 camping places because of my recent trip over the road, and 
 
 Cheyenne. 
 
78 
 
 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 now when asked by the Major I recommended "Camp Mack- 
 lin," and there we camped. The Indians were gathering in 
 great numbers. The plain between our camp and Laramie 
 was filled with Indian lodges, mostly Sioux, but there was a 
 large camp of Cheyennes and Arapahoe 3. Here and there 
 were interpreters, squaw men (men married to squaws and 
 living with or near the tribe for the purpose of trading). 
 Now, this was an effort on the r)art of the Government to 
 get all the tribes together and have them to make peace 
 with each other, swear fealty to the Great Father, and gen- 
 erally to fix up matters so that there should be no friction 
 between tribes, nor between the various tribes and the 
 Government. Runners had for months been circulating 
 throughout the Indian country, from the Missouri River 
 to Fort Bridger and from Canada to the Arkansas. This 
 Vv^as in the heart of the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapahoe 
 country. Thousands came, even from the far northwest, 
 from the upper Mississippi, from headwaters of the 
 Missouri and the Yellowstone. 
 
 The grand old Sioux Nation with its numerous 
 branches and bands furnished the greatest number; then 
 the handsome, the dign'fied, the wiry, agile, intelligent and 
 brave Cheyennes in large numbers, and rich in equipment. 
 The Arapahoes were interesting but less numerous. These 
 three tribes were friends and allies, and ruled the country 
 from Minnesota to the Arkansas River and from the Rocky 
 Moimtains to a line drtiwn north and south some forty miles 
 west of Fort Kearney at their own sweet will. They did 
 not want peace with other tribes. Why should they ? Their 
 pastures were well stocked with game, the supply of buflalo 
 was unhmited, the way they hunted inexhaustible. They 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 79 
 
 were rich in everything that people of nomadic habits need- 
 ed, and as to peace, why, what w^ould life be to them without 
 war? Mature supplied all their needs. They did not hunt 
 for the sake of wantonly destroying the lives of animals as 
 did the white man, and how could they amuse themselves? 
 Of what use to live ? And how could they hope to raise 
 young men without war ? And "of what use were men if not 
 warriors ? But the Indian Department had become a great 
 branch of the political machine, large amounts of money 
 were appropriated, growing larger annually, and it must be 
 spent. There were many beneficiaries interested — manu- 
 facturers of Indian goods, merchants, freighters, officials 
 and hangers-on in large numbers. Whether it led to trag- 
 ed}^ or ended in a farce, here was a well laid plan for the 
 largest assemblage of Indians ever gathered at one council 
 or on one treaty ground. The Pawnees and some 'others 
 were invited but none O'f them came, presumably because 
 they were afraid to risl; it. But the Snakes came. Their 
 headquarters was about Fort Bridger. The Sioux and 
 Cheyennes had promised to make peace with them, and to 
 take no advantage of them while the treaty was going on. 
 About noon one bright day, a long line of dust was 
 seen from our camp, looking west, towards Laramie Peak. 
 Soon a long line of Indians came moving slowly down 
 in battle array, arms ready for use and every man ap- 
 parently expectant, the women and children and baggage 
 bringing up the rear well guarded. It turned out that 
 Major Bridger, the interpreter, had reported to head- 
 quarters the approach of the Snakes, and he had been 
 directed to lead them down near to our camp. All the 
 
80 
 
 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 head men of the Sioux and Cheyennes had given as- 
 surance that they should not be molested, so down the} 
 came, moving very slowly and cautiously, the chief alone 
 a short distance in advance. They were dressed in 
 their best, riding fine war horses, and made a grandly 
 savage appearance. In the absence of Major Chilton down 
 at the post, seeing all this caution on the part of the Snakes, 
 Lieutenant Hastings had "boots and saddles" sounded so as 
 to be ready whatever happened. J u.-t below us was a large 
 Sioux camp, and the people were showing great interest and 
 some excitement at the anproach of their hereditary ene- 
 mies, and a few squaws howled in anguish for lost friends 
 who had died in battle with these same cautiously moving 
 warriors. When the Snakes reached the brow of the hill 
 overlooking the beautiful Laramie, less than a mile away, 
 and the chief commenced the descent, a Sioux sprang upon 
 his horse, bow and arrows in hand, and rushed towards 
 him. A Frenchman, an interpreter, had been watching 
 this Sioux, expecting trouble, and he, too, mounted his 
 horse and was instantlv in pursuit. The Snake column 
 stopped and sent up a wild shout of defiance, the chief 
 moved a few steps farther and raised his gun ready to 
 fire just as the intrepid Frenchman reached the reckless 
 Sioux, pulled him from his horse, disarmed and stood 
 over him. Then ensued a harangue between interpre- 
 ters and chiefs. The wild Sioux, who sought to revenge 
 himself on the Snake chief who had killed his father 
 some time before, was led back to camp while the 
 Snakeg held their ground. Their position was a good 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. gl 
 
 one; every man had a good gun, plenty of ammunition, 
 besides bows and arrows. Not one out of a hundred Sioux 
 had guns, and the Snakes, though not one to five of the 
 Sioux, would have defended themselves successfully, and 
 the battle would have been the most bloody ever known 
 amongst the wild tribes. They had come prepared for 
 treachery, and with their splendid equipments felt full con- 
 fidence in their ability to cope with any band upon the 
 plains. Having quickly inounted the troop, Hastings took 
 a position where he could overlook the actions of the tribe. 
 
 Here 1 met Bridger the first time. He spoke on behalf 
 of the Snakes, aiid told Lieutenant Hastings what he al- 
 ready knew, that the Snakes had been assigned a posi- 
 tion near his troop and asked where they could camp 
 without interfering with the dragoons. Hastings told him 
 that I knew tlie ground all about there, and turning to me 
 said : "Corporal Lowe show Captain Bridger the limits of 
 our camp and give hiiii all th.e assistance you can.^^ That 
 order was license for me to stay on Bridger^s staff until a 
 camp was made. Then and there Lowe became a Snake, 
 and the other tribes were not .in it. 
 
 I galloped off with the great mountaineer, whose fort I 
 had seen dotted on my atlas at school a few years before, I 
 showed him the finest camj) imaginable, and he was pleased. 
 I asked him if he had any objections to my staying with him 
 until the camp was formed. "No, young man, these are the 
 finest Indians on earth ; stay with me and I ^11 show 'um to 
 you.^^ Soon the column was in motion, and they went into 
 camp in their own peculiar way. Every prominent point 
 was dotted by a sentinel, quietly wrapped in his blanket. 
 
82 
 
 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 gun ready for use. Bridger said: "Well, you seen that 
 fool Sioux make tlie run, didn't you?" ''Yes sir." "Well, 
 — — ," referring to the brave interpreter, whom he knew 
 well, "saved that fellow from hell ; my chief would ^er killed 
 him quick, and then the fool Sioux would 'er got their backs 
 up, and there wouldn 't have been room to^ camp 'round here 
 for dead Sioux. You dragoons ac-ted nice, but you wouldn 't 
 have had no show if the fight had commenced — ^no making 
 peace then. And I tell you another thiug : the Sioux ain t 
 o^oin' to trv it ao^ain. Thev see how the Snakes are armed. 
 I got them guns for 'um, and they are good ones. It '11 be a 
 proud day for the Snakes if any of these prairie tribes pitch 
 into 'um, and they are not a bit afraid. Uncle Sam told 'uni 
 to come down here and they 'd be safe, but they ain't takin' 
 his word for it altogether. They '11 never be caught nap- 
 ping, and they 're prepared to travel anywhere. Awful brave 
 fellows, these Snakes ; got the nerve ; honest, too ; can take 
 their word for anything; trust 'em anywhere; they live all 
 about me, and I know all of them." 
 
 I returned to the dragoon camp, in a couple of hours 
 just as Major Chilttm, with the Indian commissioner. Colo- 
 nel Mitchel, and some others came in, and I was sent baek 
 with Colonel Mitchel's compliments to request Captain 
 Bridger, as he was then called, to come over. I delivered 
 the message, and returned with Bridger, who spent some 
 hours with the Commdssioner's party. Somehow, I had con- 
 ceived a great liking for and felt great confidence in Brid- 
 ger. The acquaintance had been short, but he impressed 
 me as a master in his line, and when I related to Sergeant 
 Hooper and others what he had said to me, all seemed to 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 83 
 
 partake of the same feeling, and whatever anxiety was stir- 
 red up by the incidents of the day quieted down. While 
 conceding his courage, no one admired the judgment nor 
 the treachery 
 of the Sioux, 
 who fully ex- 
 pected to 
 arouse his 
 tribe to bat- 
 tle, and but 
 for the brave 
 interpreter h.e 
 might have 
 done so, 
 though sure 
 death awaited 
 him. The at- 
 titude of the 
 
 Snakes, the cool, deliberate action of the chief, the 
 staunch firmness of his Avarriors and the quiet demeanor 
 of women and children, who were perfectly self-possessed — 
 not a single outcry from that vast parade save the one cry 
 of defiance that went up spontaneously as the chief raised 
 his gun to take aim at the Sioux. The scene was impres- 
 sive, as showing the faith that band of warriors had in each 
 other; the entire confidence of their families in them; the 
 self-reliance all through. It was a lesson for soldiers who 
 might never again see such a grand display of soldierly 
 manhood, and the lesson was not lost. Every dragoon felt 
 an interest in that tribe. 
 
 Pueblo. 
 
g4 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Major CMlton told me to report to Captain Ehett, 
 which I did, and he very cordially thanked me, and through 
 me my comrades, for kindness to his family while en ronte 
 to Fort Leavenworth. He impressed me very much — was 
 a good officer and a perfect gentleman. He could show 
 kindneSiS to an enlisted man without the risk of invoking 
 undue familiarity. 
 
 Colonel Mitchel and his party left for the fort before 
 sunset. As our camp was rearranged, we were between the 
 Snakes and the other tribes, and half of the troop on guard. 
 Every half hour was called thus : "Number one, — o'clock ! 
 All 's well !" Morning dawned on peace and quiet. There 
 had been some anxiety for fear the Sioux would malce a 
 general break. Bridger told me some time afterward that if 
 tliey had they would have found every Snake ready. In 
 about a week after the incidents a,bove related we moved 
 thirty-four miles east of liaramie to where Horse Creek 
 flows into the North Platte. It was a better camping ground 
 for this great mass of Indians because of more room, grass 
 and water. Horse Creek came in from the southwest, and 
 on the north side of the Platte was another creek coming 
 in from the northwest, so that the camps could spread out. 
 
 Being in command, the Major placed his own troop 
 and Captain Ketchum's company below the mouth of Horse 
 Creek. This remained headquarters. Two troops of mount- 
 ed rifles, now Third Cavalry, were a short distance above. 
 One troop remained to garrison Fort Laramie. The Snakes 
 followed us on the march down, and camped near us. One 
 thing was plain: if there wais any trouble beitween troops 
 and Indians, it would not be between troops and Snakes, 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. g5 
 
 and the Snakes in numbers and efficiency were largely in 
 excess of all the troops, so that in case of trouble they were 
 our best dependence. Strategically the arrangement was 
 excellent. The mounted ritles averaged about sixty men 
 to each troop, "B" Troop about seventy-five and ^'G" Com- 
 pany, Sixth infantry, about seventy-nve^ — 270 soldiers. 
 Considering that there were within fifteen miles of our 
 headquarters more than 60,000 Indians, of whom prob- 
 ably 10,000 were fighting men, ours seemed a slim array 
 of troops. In fact, if there was any disposition on the 
 part of the Sioux, Cheyennes and Arapahoes to destroy 
 us they could have done so in an hour if given a chance 
 to camp around us. But this was not done. Our camp 
 was formed with great care. The Sioux, Cheyennes and 
 Arapahoes were allowed to camp anywhere on the south 
 side of the Platte not occupied by troops above the 
 mouth of Horse Creek and anywhere on the north side 
 of the Platte or on streams coming in from the north. 
 Horse Creek and the south side of the Platte below it 
 was reserved for troops, transportation, p/arade and treaty 
 grounds, Snake Indians and such other visiting tribes 
 as might come in. Lines of sentinels were placed, in- 
 side of which no one might come without permission. 
 
 Major Chilton was a man well fitted for a command 
 of this kind. He was bold, unyielding, self-reliano, quick 
 to comprehend an emergency, and so vigilant that he 
 could not be surprised. No people on earth will discover 
 a commander's weakness quicker than Indians; to hes- 
 itate or to show fear of lesults in their presence is fatal. 
 On the other hand a bold front, to keep them at a dis- 
 
86 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 tanoe, treating them well las long as they behave them- 
 selves, and drawing the line at the slightest encroach- 
 ment — to locate them and say: "Thus far shalt thou 
 come, and no farther/' is the only policy practicable. It 
 will apply in many places in dealing with men other 
 than Indians. Of course Major Chilton had experienced 
 advisors in abundance if he chose to ask advice. Col- 
 onel Mitchel, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, had 
 spent many years with the Sioux of the Upper Missouri. 
 Then there was Bridger and Fitzpatrick with their great 
 experience, and always reliable and any number of long- 
 haired mountaineers — a large percentage of them worth- 
 less characters — but many traders, trappers and guides 
 of good, well earned reputations. Captain Ketchum, 
 commanding Company G, Sixth Infantry, had been sta- 
 tioned several years, at Laramie, and few men knew the 
 Indians and the country better than he. 
 
 This camp, and incidents connected with the treaty 
 was well written up at the time by Mr. B. Gratz Brown, 
 heretofore referred to, and published in the Missouri 
 Republican. So far as I know, no other paper had a 
 correspondent on the ground. To-day such an event 
 would draw reporters from most all of the leading pa- 
 pers in the country, including the illustrated papers; 
 the whole camp, including daily incidents, war dances, 
 squaw dances, sham battles, etc., portraits of the prin- 
 cipal chiefs and the officials would be seen in these great 
 periodicals, and all the reading public would be familiar 
 with it. 
 
 We remained a month in this camp, awaiting the 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 37 
 
 arrival of the ox train that hrought the presents from 
 the Missouri, they having been first brought from St. 
 Louis by steamboat to Fort Leavenworth. During the 
 time we were waiting the Commissioner was having made 
 a list of all the head men and the number of each band, 
 and ranking them according to their power and influ- 
 ence, judging by the number of followers; then taking 
 an invoice of the goods to be distributed parceling them 
 off to each band, turning them over to the chief or sub- 
 chief for distribution. 
 
 This listing of the bands was an immense job, and 
 the distribution must be made with as little partiality 
 as possible. The chiefs having been given rank accord- 
 ing to influence and following, they all sat in an im- 
 mense circle, smoking with great dignity and passing the 
 pipe, meanwhile some orator entertaining them with a 
 bombastic account of some of his or his tribe's adven- 
 tures. This part of the entertainment was equal to a 
 political convention waiting for the committee on reso- 
 lutions to report. Amidst the grunts of approval as the 
 oratory wen+ on a chief was called in to headquarters 
 and soon Returned decked off in full major-generaFs 
 uniform from head to foot. There the line was drawn 
 by the Indian; he still wears his moccasins — he could 
 not walk in boots — wearing a saber, medal with the head 
 of the President on one side and clasped hands on the 
 other, he carries a document with an immense seal and 
 ribbon thereon — enclosed in a large envelope, that he 
 may show all comers what the Great Father thinks of 
 him — what rank and power he wields among his fellow- 
 
88 
 
 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 men. Tliis and his medal lie values more tlian all else. 
 They give him the entree to the camp of the emigrant, 
 who must, perforce, have confidence in and feed him 
 since he comes with these proofs of the love the afore- 
 said Great Father has for him. Then follows another 
 major-general with decorations substantially the same. 
 Having exhausted the list of major-generals, then fol- 
 lowed the brigadiers, then numerous colonels, lieutenant 
 colonels, majors, captains and lieutenants — as Bill An- 
 derson said — "Till yer can't rest," all with medals of 
 some kind and all with a paper — "Certificate of Charac- 
 ter,'' Corporal Ferguson called it. These papers had 
 been prepared, probably, in the Indian office in Wash- 
 ington, with a blank space left to fill in the name. Then 
 there were great numbers of braves^ — a multitude who 
 were entitled to and received some distinguishing mark 
 in the way of medal or other decorations or paper. 
 
 Several days were given to this "dignity business,'^ 
 as McDonald called it, and then followed the distribu- 
 tion of goods. In this the roll was called as before, and 
 the pile turned over to the head man, who shouted out 
 his instructions and parceled out the goods> and strange 
 to say there seemed to be little wrangling or dissatis- 
 faction. In each case the goods were packed on ponies 
 and taken to the camp where they belonged. The pro- 
 visions were given out last and in great quantities, and 
 the feasting and good humor was general. The daily 
 scenes and incidents of our stay there were of the great- 
 est interest, often very exciting; sham battles were a 
 feature daily, and they showed their prowess to the white 
 
riYE YEARS A DRAGOON. 89 
 
 men, and one tribe to another, with all the savage en- 
 erg/ of their bombastic natures. No human being can 
 out-brag an Indian, and they spend hours in oratory over 
 the most trifling occurrences, and often tell monstrous 
 lies in their illustrations. 
 
 The presents having all been distributed, the feasts 
 being over, the long talks ended, the great oiators hav- 
 ing ventilated themselves, while the white dignitaries 
 listened and grunted their approval with tlie dignity be- 
 coming the representatives of the Great Father in Wash- 
 ington, the great camp began to disintegrate, band after 
 band began to move out, until all but a straggling few, 
 camp scavengers who hang around to pick up anything 
 left behind, were gone. The Sioux moved in many di- 
 rections, some for the far north and northwest, others 
 for various points for winter quarters. The Cheyennes 
 seemed to keep well together and moved off up Horse 
 Creek, the Arapahoes soon following. The Snakes were 
 amongst the first to move, and though the head chief 
 and a few others had talked a little in their turn to the 
 Indian Commissioner, their story was soon told. Few 
 complaints, as Bridger told me, were made, and they 
 had no bombastic threats nor false promises to make. 
 All they wanted was to be left alone, but would endeav- 
 or to care for themselves; they had never injured the 
 white people and had no desire to do so. Every Sunday 
 the Snakes had church service. They had a minister 
 who had been with them twenty years; preached to them 
 in their own language; several times I heard him. 
 Bridger interpreted to me, and I could readily understand 
 
90 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 why every one of those people listened to him with close 
 attention. He taught them true Christianity, kindness, 
 brotherly love, honesty, and all the precepts calculated 
 to make men better. No orthodox mysteries, no unnat- 
 ural or miraculous plan of salvation, nothing that they 
 could not understand. "Now," says Bridger, "I don't 
 know nothing about religion as I used to hear it in the 
 States; but me and the Snakes don't have no trouble 
 in believing what he says, and I tell you he just leads 
 the Snakes about right." 
 
 Bridger pointed out to me one day a quiet listener, 
 a man thirty-five years old, six feet, about one hundred 
 and seventy-five pounds, gentle face and manner, and 
 told me that this was the most modest and unassuming 
 man he had ever met. A few years before, some Sioux 
 had run off a lot of Snake horses and taken one scalp. 
 This man with others started on the trail. In about a 
 week they all returned except he, they having separated. 
 Another week and he was given up for dead, and there 
 was loud lamentation amongst his friends, lasting for 
 days. One night in the midst of the weeping and wail- 
 ing this man rode into camp driving all the lost Snake 
 horses and six more and with six Sioux scalps dangling 
 from his bridle and belt. The story was quickly told. 
 Having struck a "hot trail," he followed it down into 
 the foot hills on the east side of the mountains, until 
 one evening he saw a band of horses and one lodge. He 
 watched; he knew the Snake horses, and found that 
 there were six Sioux. Evidently these six had left the 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 91 
 
 lodge standing while they made the raid 200 miles into 
 the Snake country. Here they thought themselves safe. 
 They feasted around a fire in front of the lodge, and 
 
 howled and danced 
 around the Snake 
 scalp until midnight, 
 when all went into 
 the lodge and slept. 
 Towards morning the 
 Snake crept to the 
 lodge, ripped it open 
 with his scalping knife 
 and in the darkness 
 killed all, scalped 
 them, and alone man- 
 aged the herd of 
 Arapahoe. horses, averaging sev- 
 
 enty-five miles a day until he reached home. 
 
 "Now," says Bridger, "how many fellows can you 
 pick out of your troop that could do what that Indian 
 did and make no fuss about it?'^ I did not know, had 
 not seen them tried, and gave it up. I thought it an 
 inspiration to meet one who possessed such reckless 
 nerve. I parted with Bridger with regret, and when 
 he shook my hand he said, looking at me keenly, "Young 
 man, don't you stay in the army no longer than your 
 time 's out, but come right up to Bridger. Thar 's more 
 money in the mountains than in all the rest of the world 
 — gold till you can't rest, and I know where some of it 
 is. Now be sure to come to me. Good bye." I certainl^^ 
 
92 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 thought I would^ and told him so. His life suited my 
 notion; he was a genuine article with no alloy. 
 
 Colonel Mitchel and his party stayed behind and 
 came down with the mounted rifles, while Colonel Cooper 
 came down with B Troop. No incident worth mention- 
 ing occurred until coming along the Little Blue one 
 afternoon, Major Chilton wearing huntmg clothes and 
 Colonel Cooper in citizen's dress, riding in a little one- 
 horse spring wagon, belonging to the Major, the Ma- 
 jor's servant driving. About a mile ahead of the troop 
 four Pawnee Indians stopped them, highwayman style, 
 one seizing the horse's head, the others demanding that 
 the occupants get out and give up everything. The Major 
 seized his shotgun and would have killed two of them 
 but Colonel Cooper stopped him. The Indians did not 
 seem inclined to kill, but to rob. At the critical moment 
 one Indian saw the troop, and they all ran. 
 
 When we returned to Fort Leavenworth we occupied 
 our old quarters and stables of nrevious Winter. There 
 was one company of Sixth Infantry and Light Battery 
 G, Fourth Artillery, at the Post. 
 
 A few days later a detail of twenty men of B Troop 
 was ordered to go to Uniontown, a Pottawatomie village, 
 a few miles south of the Kansas Eiver and west of where 
 Topeka now stands. We crosseu at a rocky ford near 
 Silver Lake and went a few miles south, distant from 
 Fort Leavenworth about seventy miles. Lieutenant Cu- 
 vier Grover, of the Fourth Artillery, commanded the 
 detail. At Uniontown we were to guard the paymaster 
 or agent and his money while distributing cash annuities 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 93 
 
 to the Pottawatomies — so much per capita to be paid 
 to heads of families or to individuals of age having no 
 families. We were there ten davs in glorious Indian 
 summer. The lists of persons to whom money was to 
 be paid were so complete that the work went on from day 
 to day, with the aid of interpreters, as smoothly as if it 
 were the paymaster paying off troops. I liked these Pot- 
 tawatomies; all well behaved men, women' and children. 
 All had good horses, seemed to be well clothed and fed, 
 lived in comfoTtable cabins, did considerable farming in 
 a small way, especially in com and pumpkins. Every 
 cabin had great quantities of yellow strips of pumpkin 
 hung up to dry. We had seen no vegetables during the 
 last six months, and would steal them if given half a 
 chance. I had charge of the quartermaster and commis- 
 sary department of our little command, and schemed in 
 every way possible to supply our wants. An influential 
 Frenchman whose acquaintance I made on the way over, 
 who had two Pottawatomie wives and a large family of 
 children — the more children the more money — intro- 
 duced me to Joseph LeFramboy, fourth chief of the Na- 
 tion, who lived near Silver Lake, was wealthy and had 
 great influence. He had two wives, one a Pottawatomie 
 and one a Frenchwoman. My French friend made known 
 to this chief, who talked good English, the fact that we 
 had been on the plains the whole season on soldiers' 
 rations and wild meat, and the fact that we probably 
 had nothing to pay with. I asked LeFramboy if the 
 hogs we saw cracking nuts in the woods were wild. He 
 answered, "Yes, so you not let him squeal too much/' 
 
94 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 He soon brought an Indian who pointed out a lot of half 
 grown pigs and said, "Eat plenty/' In short, our camp 
 was soon supplied with fresh pig, pumpkin, cabbage and 
 potatoes in abundance. It was too late in the season for 
 anything else. All temptation to steal, was removed, and 
 we lived high. 
 
 If the reader has never been similarly situated, has 
 never lived for six months at a time on bread, rice, beans 
 — no other cereals and no vegetables — a little sugar and 
 coffee, not half what soldiers get nowadays, bacon and 
 such game as could be killed, he has not the slightest 
 conception of the excellence of pumpkin sauce, with salt 
 and pepper, flavored with a little bacon grease, boiled 
 cabbage, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, potatoes baked 
 in the ashes by the campfire, eaten with salt or a thin 
 slice of bacon broiled on a stick. Of all the army of to- 
 day probably not one ever had our experience and never 
 will have. I sent Lieutenant Grover his dinner every 
 day in our best style. He sent back his thanks and asked 
 no questions, but I told him how nicely we were being 
 treated. Our rest at Uniontown was a great relief from 
 the everlasting march, march, day after day, until horses 
 and men were weary, oh, so weary. In going to Union- 
 town, our stay there, and return, we had enjoyed two 
 weeks of absolute peace, and were sorry when we had to 
 return. 
 
 And now the winter was before us, and we hoped for 
 rest — ^rest that every man and every horse needed. To 
 sum up the summer's campaign: I had ridden one hors.3 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 95 
 
 twice to Laramie and back — 2,600 miles; eight miles a 
 day for thirty days at Laramie, 240 miles; to and from 
 Sioux camp, 120 miles; to and from the Pottawatomie 
 payment, 140 miles; total, 3,100 miles, besides consider- 
 able riding abont from our camp to the Snakes, etc., that 
 the others did not do. McDonald, Knssell and O'Meara 
 had ridden 360 miles less, making them 2,740 miles. All 
 the balance of the troop had been to Adkinson and back, 
 800 miles, and to Laramie and back, 1,300 miles — 2,100; 
 and sixteen of them had been to the Pottawatomie pay- 
 ment, 140 miles, making for them 2,240 miles. The 
 horses that went first to Laramie were exceedingly leg 
 weary, but looked well and were sound. All the horses, 
 with the exception of a few slightly sore backs, were 
 sound. All they needed was rest, feed and good care, 
 and they got it. The grooming, leg washing and rub- 
 bing down with strips of gunnysack that they got was 
 something that any lover of horse flesh might be proud 
 of. The dirt stalls that they stood in were kept level, 
 each man held accountable for the condition of his own 
 stall. 
 
 An officer said to me when talking of this campaign, 
 "Well, you did not have any mounted drill for some time 
 after that!" In a week we drilled an hour mounted in 
 the forenoon and on foot in the afternoon, but we drilled 
 carefully; went through the evolutions, saber exercises 
 and pistol practice at a walk; in a few weeks a part of 
 the time at a trot, and in a couple of months all of the 
 gaits, never missing mounted drill every forenoon when 
 7— 
 
96 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 weather and ground was suitable on week days, and, ex- 
 cept Saturday, afternoons on foot, with inspection mount- 
 ed on Sunday morning. One hour drill each time. In 
 case of rain or snow we drilled on foot in quarters. Our 
 horses were ridden to the river for water morning and 
 evening before corn was fed to them which, with the 
 hour's drill, gave them good exercise. They always went 
 to and from water at a walk. I saw other mounted troops 
 go yelping down the hill in outrageous disorder, running 
 races up the hill after watering. B Ttoop was as orderly 
 and well behaved going to and from water as if on parade ; 
 talk was free but no noise. I can say the same for Cap- 
 tain Hunt's Light Battery O, Fourth Artillery. We used 
 the watering bridle bit (snaffle), surcingle and blanket, 
 but no saddle, going to and from water. 
 
 And now we were settled down in comfortable quar- 
 ters for those times. A bed sack, refilled with prairie hay 
 (Arnold called it prairie feathers) once a month, and a 
 pair of soldier blankets, with overcoat, or anything else 
 one could utilize for a pillow. If the Government allow- 
 ance of wood was not sufficient, we took a company team, 
 made a detail, and hauled more from above the post. In- 
 defatigable commissary and quartermaster Sergeant Cook 
 managed our rations and forage so that men and horses 
 fared well. We got vegetables and apples from Missouri. 
 Nothing of the kind was then furnished by the commis- 
 sary. Cook got some barrels and had them sawed in two 
 for bath tubs, which we could use in the dining room be- 
 tween supper and tattoo. The troop moved about so 
 
FIVE TEARS A DBAQOON. 97 
 
 much that there was little company fund, and from our 
 small pay we ''chipped in" for nearly all the extras. 
 
 A Thespian Society was formed, and our troop fur- 
 nished the lion's diare of actors, cmong them Jim Gien- 
 non, Warren Kimball, Forrest, etc. Officers and their 
 families had as much fun out of it as did the men, and 
 the performances did a great deal of good. Our troop 
 raised money for a hall, and I was treasurer. We wanted 
 things that must he gotten from Weston, and I made the 
 purchases. Mr. Ben Bishop, who was first sergeant of 
 "B" Troop before I joined, was now in the cattle busi- 
 ness, doing well and living in Weston, gave me much as- 
 sistance and took me to the "Weston Club" for dinner, 
 where I was introduced to a lot of gentlemen Avho would 
 be a credit to any town of 10,000 people, whose friend- 
 ship I retained. Most of them are now dead — Dick Mur- 
 phy, Joe Murphy, Perry Wallingford, Merrit L. Young, 
 George Belt, Charles A. Perry, etc. Weston was a won- 
 derful business place— fine stores und heavy stocks of 
 goods. It was at that time the best business town be- 
 tween St. Joseph and St. Louis except Lexington. 
 
 Our ball came off, and was a great success from the 
 soldier's standpoint, and did a great deal of good. The 
 men were on their good behavior — their pride was ap- 
 pealed to, and even the roughest seemed to rise a little 
 higher and to think better of themselves. 
 
PART III. 
 
 IN THE winter of 1852 Major Chilton went on a six 
 months' leave, which left Lieutenant Hastings in 
 command of the troop. Sergeant Hooper went on a two 
 months' furlough, to the end of his time. Every good 
 man in the troop felt his absence a personal loss. It 
 wound up his ten years' honorable service, and he would 
 never return. It was time for him to make a home for 
 himself and family, which, with land warrants and some 
 money that he and his industrious wife had saved, he 
 did in Iowa, and became a prosperous and prominent 
 man. Sergeant John Cuddy was made acting first ser- 
 geant until Hooper's time should be out, and three- 
 fourths of the troop hoped he would keep the place. He 
 was born in Ireland, was well educated, bright, clear 
 headed, and a good judge of men, six feet tall, hand- 
 some, and a perfect picture of manhood, witty, cheerful 
 and self-reliant. I never saw a better specimen for a 
 first sergeant. He was just what our troop needed. 1 
 knew that good order would reign under Cuddy; but 
 there was an element that did not want such a man, and 
 a few of them would do anything to destroy him. After 
 he had been acting first sergeant a couple of weeks, he 
 was visiting a friend across the parade ground, out of quar- 
 ters in the night without permission. Some miscreants 
 
 ^98 
 
FIVE YEAR^ A DRAGOON. 99 
 
 managed to get fire into liis orderly room, and the gar- 
 rison was aroused at midnight by the alarm of fire. 
 When Sergeant Cook and I reached the door and broke 
 it down, the room was in flames. The fire was soon 
 quenched, but Cuddy's enemies had gotten their work 
 in; this was sure to prevent his promotion. He was 
 placed in arrest and Sergeant Drummond took his place. 
 Cuddy was released in a couple of weeks and returned 
 to duty, but Colonel Fauntleroy would not consent to 
 promote him. 
 
 In April, 1852, Major Macklin, the paymaster for 
 Kearney and Laramie, called for an escort and Sergeant 
 Cuddy and ten privates were detailed. Cuddy was glad 
 to get away with his little command, and did not object 
 to some of the toughest cases detailed to go with him, 
 to get them away from the troop. The man who was 
 the instigator of the fire in the orderly room deserted, 
 and with his wife located in Weston. More of him 
 hereafter. 
 
 There was a custom at Fort Leavenworth to detail a 
 non-commissioned olTieer each month who was called 
 "provost sergeant,'' and whose duty it was to work the 
 prisoners in policing the garrison, cleaning up generally, 
 and to do anything that there was no hired employees 
 to do. If there was a death the provost sergeant had 
 the grave dug. My turn came and I served during April. 
 It was an odd coincidence, to say the least, that three 
 men died of delirium tremens during that month, two 
 of Light Battery "G," Fourth Artillery and one of the 
 
100 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Land. I remember the names of these men and can 
 see how they looked as well as if it happened yesterday. 
 These were the only men I ever saw after death from de- 
 lirium tremens, and the only deaths at the post during 
 the month. I had two prisoners digging a grave in the 
 soldiers' cemetery where now stands the commanding 
 officer's quarters. They had gotten down half deep 
 enough when one of them, an infantryman, leaned on 
 his spade, turned to me with a sorrowful expression, 
 and in a sad tone said: "Arah, Corpler, aren't it lucky 
 J am?" I could not see his good luck, it was not appar- 
 ent on the surface, and so I said, "How is that, Mike, 
 have you struck a gold mine?" My question brought 
 no smile. Poor Mike shook his head; leaned harder on 
 his spade, and said: "If I hadn't got in the geard house 
 I might 'ev shared the fate of poor Tom, and yez w'u'd 
 'ev had somebody digging me grave as I am his." 1 
 said I hoped that such a misfortune would never befall 
 any of us. Straightening himself to his full height, 
 looking at me earnestly, he said: "No danger of yez, 
 Corpler, but look at poor Mike." I suggested that this 
 was a good time to swear off. He sighed and went on 
 with his work. I pitied him with all my heart. The 
 only enemy he had was whisky, and he needed a guar- 
 dianship that would keep him from it, or keep it 
 from him. 
 
 Several men deserted the first pay day after coming 
 in from the summer's campaign of 1851. In March, four 
 of the best men in the troop deserted, and as they had 
 
 •' • • 
 
: ' FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. IQI 
 
 been my friends from first to last, I felt the loss keenly. 
 They made a big gap in the efficiency of the troop. A 
 batch of recruits from Carlisle joined about this time, 
 and special attention was given to drilling them pre- 
 paratory to the summer's campaign sure to follow. They 
 bad spent tlie winter at Carlisle and were pretty well 
 drilled. They came up on a steamboat. 
 
 On the 20th of June I was made sergeant; on the 
 23d, first sergeant. After the order making me first 
 sergeant was read and the troops dismissed, as I was 
 passing a group of men on the way to the steps lead- 
 ing up to the squad room I heard one man say: "WeH, 
 we may as well desert now.'' The man was slightly un- 
 der the influence of liquor and evidently intended that 
 I should hear the remark. I walked over to where they 
 were sta.nding, and said: "See here; I don't care what 
 anyone says of me so that I do not know that the words 
 are intended for me to hear. In his case you said what 
 you did purposely for me to hear. Now, it lies entirely 
 with you whether or not you may as well desert. If you 
 intend to be a decent, respectable soldier, there is no oc- 
 casion for you to desert. On the other hand, if you 
 want to make things disagreeable generally, and for me 
 in particular, the future for you is not bright. Now 
 take your choice, for I tell you plainly that I will not 
 be harassed, worried and annoyed by men who can see 
 no good in anything but whisky, noise, opposition to good 
 order and discipline, and other things that make the 
 troop and all connected with it miserable. I may not 
 
H)2 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 succeed in having everything my own way, but I will 
 come as near to it as I can, and the nearer I come to 
 it the less cause any one will have to talk as you have/' 
 The man was about to speak, I do not think disrespect- 
 fully, when a man said quietly, ^'Shut up^' and two of. 
 them walked him off. Though I spoke in a low tone, 
 probably half the troop heard what I said. The next 
 day this man made an apology and said he would never 
 give me any trouble, and he never did. 
 
 I called the roll at ''tattoo'' without a light, the first 
 time I had seen it done, and without a mistake — called 
 two absentees the second time and reported them ab- 
 sent. I never used a light, nor read from a list at roll 
 call. A general good feeling seemed to develop from 
 day to day, and many men said they were glad it was 
 settled. The most experienced said they would know 
 about what to expect for the next two years, and there 
 was a great deal in that. Lieutenant Hastings had the 
 confidence and respect of all the men whose opinions 
 were worth anything, and that was a tower of strength 
 to me. 
 
 The day of departure soon came and we found our 
 way to the Arkansas via Pappan's Ferry across the Kaw 
 and thence through Council Grove. 
 
 Arrived in the vicinity of Cow Creek, now in Eice 
 Countv, Kansas, it became evident that the Kiowas and 
 Comanches were as energetic as usual, annoying trains, 
 surprising small parties, and driving off stock. Several 
 trains were compelled to corral and stand them oS until 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 103 
 
 relieved by the Dragoons. Generally the Indians did 
 not stand much upon the order of going when the "long 
 knives'^ came in sight. Some inexperienced people have 
 charged Indians with possessing less real courage than 
 white men. There never was a greater mistake. The 
 Indians knew that bows and arrows, good at forty yards, 
 could not compete with musketoons and pistols at 100 
 or 200 yards, so they skirmished for the advantage, and 
 took it whenever they could, as became the sensible rob- 
 bers and bandits that they were. 
 
 Arrived on the Arkansas, from the mouth of Walnut 
 Creek west the danger to trains was great. Nothing 
 short of constant, intelligent, determined effort on the 
 part of the commanding officer, Lieutenant Hastings, 
 served to protect the trains from destruction until he 
 compelled their owners or managers to concentrate in 
 large caravans and proceed with the greatest caution in 
 double column. 
 
 One morning near Pawnee Eock, now near the corner 
 of Barton, Stafford and Pawnee Counties, a Mexican 
 train of ten mule teams pulled out of camp. The rear 
 team was made up of seven little mules and three burros. 
 The load was heavy and the team lagged. Suddenly a 
 small band of Indians was seen charging toward this 
 train. The train master did the usual thing, hurried 
 into corral as fast as possible, and succeeded very well 
 except as to this last team, which all expected to see 
 captured and the man and his ten-year-old son scalped. 
 Seeing his desperate situation, the father hid the boy 
 
104 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON' . 
 
 in the wagon under some blankets, in hopes that relief 
 might come to his son, though he must die. The Dra- 
 goons had camped west of Walnut Creek, near where 
 Great Bend, the county seat of Barton County, now is, 
 and had made an early start in order to halt this train 
 until others should come up. A few skirmishers on the 
 high ground saw the situation, gave the alarm and 
 charged in time to drive off the robbers, though a 
 shower of arrows had already hit the wagon and slightly 
 wounded the man. One pony was killed, and it was 
 believed that some Indians were wounded, though all 
 got away. 
 
 This team was owned by the driver and traveled with 
 the big train for company and protection, and the team 
 being weak for the load it had to haul, was compelled 
 to travel behind, so as not to retard the progress of the 
 train, and frequently lagged. Numerous small freighters 
 were in the habit of traveling in this way. 
 
 Probably no better officer than Lieutenant Hastings 
 ever commanded a troop. This was his second cam- 
 paign with this troop. And now he was approaching 
 ground sacred to the memory of brave men, and there 
 was still with the troop a remnant of those who fought 
 desperately at the mouth of Coon Creek, now in Pawnee 
 County, when in 1846 twelve men out of a detachment of 
 twenty under Sergeant "Ben'^ Bishop were wounded, some 
 of them fatally, in recovering cattle that had been driven 
 off by Indians. Bishop was shot through the body with 
 an arrow, but survived and was discharged first sergeant 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 105 
 
 ir 
 
 of the troop in 1849. Sergeant Peel and Bugler Brydon 
 kept alive the fires that burned in memory of their 
 fallen comrades^ and the spirit that peryaded the little 
 command boded no good to the reckless robbers that 
 infested the Santa Fe Trail from the Little Arkansas 
 River to Mexico. The Indians knew the troop, the 
 sorrel horses, the blue shirts worn in the field in place 
 of the regulation uniform, the drab hats — the horses 
 and men seen when they by forced marches relieved 
 Fort Adkinson. In fact they had not forgotten the sor- 
 rel troop since 1846. 
 
 Having concentrated the trains and escorted them 
 via the so-called Cimarron crossing of the Arkansas, 
 about where Cimarron station on the Santa Fe Railway 
 now is, to about sixty miles southwest of that point, the 
 troop returned and went into camp about where Dodge 
 City now is, and about four miles below Fort Adkinson. 
 Here the whole Kiowa and Comanche tribes seemed to 
 have concentrated in one vast camp on the south side 
 of the river, opposite the Dragoon camp. 
 
 Sergeant Cuddy and his party joined from detached 
 service a day or two later. I quote from what he and 
 others told me: When he returned from Laramie to 
 Fort Leavenworth in July, he was, after a few days^ rest, 
 ordered to join his troop. In the meantime the "toughs^^ 
 of his party got drunk and Colonel Fauntleroy ordered 
 four of them to confinement in the guard house until 
 ready to start — actually had four horses led to the guard 
 house for the prisoners to mount and ride away. Their 
 
106 
 
 FIYE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 arms were boxed up in the wagon. The men were mad ; 
 they had been kept from liquor, could not get any now, 
 and were going across the plains with no rest except 
 what they got in the guard house. A few miles on the 
 road the mutinous disposition was at fever heat. Four 
 good men rode behind and two in front of them, while 
 Cuddy rode ahead. They cursed the men in the rear 
 because they were not allowed to fall out of ranks, and 
 finally got so bold that they addressed themselves to 
 Cuddy. Then he ordered a halt, wheeled his horse so 
 as to face them, loaded two pistols, placed one — army 
 size — in his holster with flap thrown back ready for use, 
 the other — navy size (his private property) — in his belt, 
 and addressing them reviewed all of their misdeeds dur- 
 ing the time he had known them, especially the trouble 
 they had given him during the trip and since returning, 
 and wound up by telling them that now they were sober 
 and had not the excuse of drunken men for being inso- 
 lent, showing that, drunk or sober, they were utterly 
 bad and unfit to live, and then and there assured them 
 that the first man who did or said anything to him or 
 in his hearing in the least disrespectful he would hill 
 him — he should die like a dog; he knew they intended to 
 desert and would do so if permitted, but that he would 
 return them to the troop or give their worthless carcasses 
 to the wolves. A desperate man, fearless, outraged and 
 thoroughly aroused, is dangerous, and these villains saw 
 that their race was run. He brought them 400 miles in- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 107 
 
 to camp and they were placed in the guard house at Ad- 
 kinson. He told me that these desperadoes had caused 
 him the loss of many nights' sleep on the trip to and 
 from Laramie and from Fort Leavenworth to the troop. 
 Cuddy and six good men were a valuahle addition to the 
 troop at this time. Cuddy knew that these scoundrels 
 should not have been let out of the guard house to go 
 with him, but fearing that Colonel Fauntleroy would 
 place a ^vrong interpretation on it if he asked him not 
 to send them, his pride kept him silent; he would not 
 do anything that would reflect upon his nerve; if noth- 
 ing else would do he would kill them. He would have 
 been amply justified in doing so. The Colonel meant 
 well, but he had not been in Cuddy's place, and could 
 not see into his fine character, nor could he imagine the 
 character of the villains he had to deal with. 
 
 Company D, Sixth TJ. S. Infantry, was at Adkinson, 
 Brevet Captain S. B. Buckner commanding (late gov- 
 ernor of Kentucky and candidate for Vice-President on 
 the Sound Money Democratic ticket with General John 
 
 M. Palmer). 
 
 Guard duty was extremely arduous, nearly half the 
 men being under arms among the horses or on post day 
 and night. This constant strain told on the disposition 
 of the men more in camp than on active march. They 
 became tired and morose, and with the cause of their 
 trouble constantly before them, somewhat reckless, and 
 would have welcomed almost anything for a change. 
 
 There was no active war. Every day some of the 
 
108 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 head men of the tribes came into camp to talk with the 
 "white chief/' always expressing regret that they 
 could not "control their young men." One day while 
 this kind of farce was being enacted a young buck 
 rushed across the river and reported to the chief, who 
 was talking with Lieutenant Hastings, that a few 
 miles away some of the ^^Dad younac men" were at- 
 tacking a train. Hastings' information led him to be- 
 lieve that there were no trains within 150 miles of 
 him. That a Government train and escort was on 
 the way, with which a caravan of freighters had joined 
 at Council Grove, he knew, and he also knew it 
 to be too strong to tempt the Indians to attack. The 
 actions of the Indians and the commotion in their camp 
 made him believe there was something wrong. When 
 "boots and saddles" sounded the interviewers broke for 
 the other side of the river, and their whole camp seemed 
 to be under arms. Their horse herds were rounded up 
 and hundreds of the horses saddled. Hastings concluded 
 that all of their fine talk for some days had been to 
 gain his confidence, and this report was to induce him 
 to send a detail to the relief of the train said to be 
 besieged, thereby dividing his command, so that a sud- 
 den rush could destroy the Dragoon camp and probably 
 wipe out the detail afterwards. But instead of dividing 
 his command, Hastings made it more secure by tying all 
 horses to the picket line, all mules to the wagons, and 
 doubling the line of sentinels along the river, thereby 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 109 
 
 plainly indicating that he understood their little ruse. 
 
 And now all grass for the animals was cut with 
 butcher knives. Fortunately the grass was abundant, 
 and by moving a little up or down the river it could be 
 had within convenient distance. This episode some- 
 what dampened diplomatic relations between the wily 
 waniors and the "long knife chief/' and the effect on 
 Ihe soldiers mowing grass with butcher knives was any- 
 thing but pleasant. Such strained relations could not 
 last very long. We soon got a scythe from Adkinson 
 and relieved the butcher knives. 
 
 Guard mounting while on campaign was always in the 
 evening. When the old guard was relieved it was marched 
 to the river below the camp, and the musketoons dis- 
 charged down stream. One fine evening, a few days 
 after the incident above referred to. Sergeant Cuddy 
 marched the old guard off, and having given the com- 
 mand "fire" some of the men deliberately turned their 
 pieces and fired across the river into the Indian camp, 
 not at the people, but hitting the tops of some lodges. 
 Having dismissed the guard. Cuddy reported to Lieu- 
 tenant Hastings and explained the occurrence. The men 
 were called to account and claimed an accident — a false- 
 hood, of course, but might as well go at that. Every 
 
 precaution was taken, and with the river on one side 
 and a big ditch running from it, there was perfect con- 
 fidence in the ability of that camp to defend itself. 
 About nine or ten o'clock, as the gentle south breeze 
 
no FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 blew across the river, the rattling of lodge poles was 
 heard — not loud rattling, as if being carelessly handled, 
 but an occasional click, as if great care was being exer- 
 cised to avoid making a noise. The Indians were surely 
 taking down their lodges. The sound of '^tom-toms,'' 
 that made barbarous music for the monotonous chant 
 and dance — the war dance, the scalp dance, the squaw 
 dance, and every other dance that had hitherto made 
 their camp hideous till the wee small hours — was not 
 heard on this lovely night. Nothing but the slight rat- 
 tle of lodge poles; even the dogs were silent. A mounted 
 messenger left camp with a letter to the commanding 
 officer at Adkinson informing him of what seemed to 
 be taking place. Hour after hour passed, and silence 
 reigned supreme — silence that was oppressive. It was 
 like a dead calm when storm laden clouds hang thick 
 and threatening. The hours from midnight to dawn 
 seemed long and tedious. When the sun sent its glim- 
 mering rays up the beautiful valley, not a lodge, not u 
 soul or an animal was in sight. Where a few hours be- 
 fore had stood a large city in all of its savage grandeur, 
 with great herds of horses and .mules grazing in the 
 vicinity, not a living thing remained save the prowling 
 coyotes — all had silently stolen away. The Dragoons 
 were puzzled. 
 
 Mounted vedettes went to their posts upon the bluffs 
 north of camp; from there and from the tops of wagons 
 the Indian camp ground was carefully examined. Peel, 
 Cuddy and I crossed over at some distance apart, for 
 
I'lVE TEARS A DRAGOON. HI 
 
 fear of an ambush, while a line of men on the river 
 hank stood ready to support us. For half a mile from 
 the river bank towards the hills and two miles along 
 the river lodge poles and every kind of Indian equipage 
 lay scattered upon the ground. Where each lodge had 
 stood more or less of the family property was left. The 
 poles were all there. In their haste they had taken 
 their best lodges and whatever they could pack that was 
 of greatest necessity to them. In a few hours they had 
 packed hundreds of horses, and mounted on others had 
 scattered in all directions, to meet at some appointed 
 rendezvous, probably hundreds of miles away. Not a 
 lodge pole trail led from the camp. 
 
 The men were in high spirits, notwithstanding th'3 
 probability that after their families were at a safe dis- 
 tance the warriors under the great war chief Satanta 
 (Sawtanta) might make it warm for them. In two days 
 everything desirable for comfort or pleasure had been 
 moved to the Dragoon camp and the rest burned. Not 
 a vestige of the great Kiowa and Comanche camp re- 
 mained. The soldiers had killikinnick by the bushel and 
 Indian pipes to smoke it in, and buckskin in every style. 
 Buffalo chips were no longer gathered in sacks for fuel, 
 lodge poles having taken their place. 
 
 But these Dragoons were not without sentiment and 
 sympathy. Emblems of motherly love and helpless in- 
 fancy were found in abundance. Pappoose cribs, buck- 
 skin clothing for infancy, maidenhood and old age, robes, 
 
112 FI^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 moccasins, and trinkets of all kinds, told of the terrible 
 sacrifice the women and children had made, and there 
 was general regret that the helpless ones had left so 
 much of home and comfort behind. 
 
 The Indian movement could only be explained by 
 supposing that they considered firing into their camp u 
 declaration of war. But the Dragoons could not under- 
 stand why so many warriors should be so easily bluffed. 
 They had heretofore been very independent and saucy. 
 While very diplomatic and deceitful, ihe chiefs who 
 visited camp acted in a patronizing sort of way, leaving 
 the impression that they held the soldiers in utter con- 
 tempt. Thev had learned enough to convince them 
 that the superiority of the soldier was in his arms, not 
 in his horsemanship (for the Kiowas and Comanches 
 were the finest horsemen in the world), nor in his 
 strength and prowess as a warrior. These athletic, sin- 
 ewy sons of the plains were from an ancestry that had 
 been warriors since the race was created, so far as known, 
 and from their infancy through every stage of their ex- 
 istence their normal condition was that of warriors and 
 champions of the chase. From, instinct and education 
 they were alert, cunning, strategic, recklessly brave, and 
 capable of subsisting where white men would utterly 
 perish. To say that ?^uch men given equal arms and 
 supplies, are not the equals, as rank and file soldiers, 
 of any race known to history is bald nonsense. 
 
 Two days after the Indian movement the train and 
 escort heretofore referred to, including some artillery, 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 113 
 
 came up en route to New Mexico. Lieuenant Hastings 
 was not expecting them so soon. It seems that Indian 
 runners brought the news of their approach, and their 
 conclusion was that the troops were coming to help 
 clear them out, and firing into their camp confirmed 
 this belief, hence their sudden departure. It was an odd 
 coincidence. 
 
 Major Chilton joined from a six months' leave. 
 
 Two weeks had passed, no Indians had been seen, and 
 the two great tribes that harassed the travel and were 
 a standing menace to the commerce of the plains were 
 believed to have gone to Texas, and would probably ex- 
 tend their raid into Old Mexico, as was their habit. 
 This had been a bad season for them. They had cap- 
 tured no trains, no fresh scalps dangled at their bridle 
 bits, and they had met with heavy loss in the destruc- 
 tion of their camp. Peace seemed assured for the bal- 
 ance of the fr3ighting season. 
 
 Owing to the great amount of travel, the buffalo 
 kept away from the road, and to procure fresh meat 
 (which we needed very much) it was necessary to go a 
 few miles from it. One bright morning Sergeant Peel 
 and a comrade got permission to go on a hunt as far 
 as what Sergeant Ferguson called "Angel Spring," the 
 head of what is now known as South Fork of Pawnee 
 Fork of the Arkansas, six miles north of camp, it Le- 
 ing understood that Sergeant Cook would be out there 
 with a six-mule team about noon to haul in whatever 
 the hunters killed. 
 
114 FIVE YEARS A DRAQ00:N. 
 
 At seventeen years of age Langford M. Peel enlisted 
 at Carlisle Barracks as a bugler. His father was a sol- 
 dier, and Peel was practically raised in the army. He 
 was assigned to ^'B" Troop, commanded by Captain E. Y. 
 Sumner. In the spring of 1846, in a battle at the mouth 
 of Coon Creek, heretofore referred to. Brevet Captain 
 Lovel commanding the troop, Bugler Peel, then not twen- 
 ty years of age, was credited with having killed three 
 Indians. Three years and a half later, in a battle with 
 Pawnees near Fort Kearney, he killed two, and a month 
 later, one. He was the best specimen of one hundred 
 and sixty pounds, five feet nine inches, naturally bright, 
 clear headed, cheerful and helpful always; as keen as an 
 Indian on the trail, well up in every branch of prairie 
 craft, a perfect horseman, possessing unlimited courage 
 and endurance, he was a man to be relied on and trusted 
 in every emergency. A full set of such non-commis- 
 sioned officers under a good commander would make a 
 troop invincible against any reasonable odds. 
 
 Peel and his companion arrived early, drank from the 
 lovely spring, watered their horses, and hobbled and 
 picketed them for safety. Buffalo were plentiful, and 
 seemed perfectly at ease on the grazing ground, indicat- 
 ing that they had not been disturbed, and giving assur- 
 ance to the hunters that no Indians were in the vicinity. 
 Waiting, patiently for the buffalo to go to water, in a 
 couple of hours they had two fine ones within a short dis- 
 tance of the spring, cut up ready for tTansportation. 
 Then they built a fire of buffalo chips, broiled meat^ and 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 115 
 
 feasted as only an Indian or a plainsman can; smoked 
 and recounted their adventures. Noon, and Cook and 
 the wagon not in- sight. The creek from Angel Spring 
 runs a little east of north; on the east, bluffy; in some 
 places, vertical, rocky bluffs from ten to thirty feet above 
 the level of the creek; to the west, some bottom, gradual- 
 ly sloping to high ground. Along the creek, which hugged 
 the bluffs pretty closely, was scattered trees, choke cher- 
 ry and wild plum bushes, with numerous wild grape 
 vines, forming patches of dense thicket in some places. 
 Little more than a mile north of the spring a herd of 
 buffalo lay in the open bottom. The land lay so that it 
 was easy to approach them, and the wind favorable, the 
 temptation was great. 
 
 The campaign had been one of monotonous care and 
 drudgery, and no mounted hunting had been allowed 
 on account of the necessity of keeping the horses in the 
 best possible condition, and this was the first good oppor- 
 tunity to have some real sport. They agreed to make a 
 ten minutes' run to see which could kill the most in that 
 time, the pending bet being a good dinner when they 
 reached "America.'' Such was civilization called among 
 plainsmen. They approached the herd at a walk, and 
 were within easy pistol shot before the buffalo saw them. 
 Then each went his way. Peel to the west, his companion 
 to the east. The latter dropped his first buffalo in the 
 bottom, the second ran east to the top of the bluff where 
 he fell. The man was down cutting out the tongue, al- 
 
Jj(i FIMJ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 wa}s llie sportsman's trophy, when the voice of Peel ran 4 
 out, as he came np the hill, ^^Get on your horse !'^ No 
 time was lost, and looking east he pointed to fifty or 
 more Indians in a half circle half a mile away, their left 
 wing so far advanced that retreat towards camp was cut 
 off. Consultation was brief. Peel led the way down the 
 hill, circling around a thicket, carefully selecting the 
 firm buffalo grass sod so as to leave no trail, and drew 
 into cover not twenty yards from where some of the In- 
 dians were sure to come down. Here they sat on their 
 horses, pistol in hand. They had no future plans; they 
 might have to fight to death under that bluff; they 
 would do whatever circumstances seemed to dictate. 
 
 They had not long to wait. The Indians came rat- 
 tling down the rocky trails leading into the bottom, send- 
 ing out their blood-curdling war-whoop at every jump. 
 They seemed to think the fleeing men would try to escape 
 towards camp, and be enveloped in the circle; did not 
 think they would stop to hide, or that they would do 
 anything but run for their lives, which would be sure 
 death. Their greatest success had been against demoral- 
 ized men who had given up hope and lost their heads, 
 which soon made their scalps an easy prey. One brawny 
 brave drew rein at the foot of the trail where the men 
 had come down, raised himself in his stirrups and looked 
 sharply towards them. PeePs companion, believing they 
 were discovered, and that a signal would bring the whole 
 pack of howling demons, raised his pistol to shoot; but 
 I'eel quietly reached ovet, and placing his hand on his 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 1J7 
 
 comrade's arm gently pressed it down. In less time than 
 it takes to tell it the Indian was off to the west, showing 
 by his actions that he had not seen them. Hearing no 
 more noise from the east, the way seemed clear in that 
 direction. Peel led the way out, and they quietly walked 
 their horses up where they had gone down a few minutes 
 before, turned south, and gently trotted towards camp, 
 saving their horses' wind for the critical moment which 
 they knew must soon come. 
 
 By this time the Indians seemed confused. The hunt- 
 ers could see most of them riding helter skelter and peer- 
 ing from the highest points to the west of the creek, 
 never dreaming that they had passed the game. More 
 than half a mile had been covered, not away from the 
 enemy, but directly south, slipping by, when suddenly 
 they were discovered, and every Indian charged toward 
 them furiously. But the hunters' horses were compara- 
 tively fresh; they were on the high ground, and as far 
 south towards camp as the most southern Indian, with 
 four or five miles of nearly level stretch ahead of them, 
 while the Indians had to oblique to the east and rise con- 
 siderably to gain their level, and they felt that while the 
 race would be interesting, barring an accident they were 
 pretty safe. The greatest danger was that a horse might 
 step in a prairie dog or badger hole and fall, hence they 
 rode with great care. 
 
 When fairly under way and all on a level the soldiers 
 were a quarter of a mile ahead. Soon the wagon was 
 seen. Cook's horse tied behind, while he rode witli Mat- 
 
118 FIVE TEARS /t DRAGOON. 
 
 thews on the ^lazy board," as they smoked and chatted. 
 Then, to attract Cook's attention, and not lose a shot, 
 the two hunters turned in their saddles and fired at the 
 Indians. Quickly Cook was seen to mount his horse, 
 Matthews turned his team, and Cook "interested'' the 
 mules with a "blacksnake" whip. About two miles further, 
 and the hunters were close to the wagon. A vedette on 
 the high point north of ca.mp saw something wrong in 
 the distance and discharged his musketoon; then the oth- 
 er vedette on another high point discharged his. In the 
 meantime the Indians had not been gaining on the men 
 until within the last mile, and then only because the 
 team impeded their progress a little. Not half of them 
 had kept to the front; some were a mile behind. Arrived 
 near the vedettes, Matthews was allowed to go down the 
 hill alone to camp not half a mile away. Cook joined 
 the hunters and shooting began in earnest, including the 
 two vedettes, who had been using their musketoons at 
 long range for all they were worth. Seeing the hope- 
 lessness of capturing their game, and knowing that a 
 strong force from the troop would soon be up the hill, 
 having lost two ponies and had some of their number 
 wounded the Indians retreated. At the risk of their lives 
 they always carry off the dead and wounded if possible. 
 When Lieutenant Hastings with half of the troop came up 
 the steep hill the Indians were well on the retreat, and 
 he followed them only a short distance beyond the crip- 
 pled ponies. Horse flesh was too precious to be wasted in 
 a pursuit that could accomplish nothing. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 119 
 
 No fresh meat cheered the camp that night, but it 
 was a jolly camp. All answered to their names at retreat 
 roll call. There was something new to talk about, as the 
 men sat around lodge pole fires and related the tradi- 
 tions of the grand old troop. 
 
 The next day Major Chilton with a part of the troop, 
 including those in the excitement of the previous day, 
 went to the spring, killed more buffalo and returned 
 with a wagon load. No Indians were seen, and the 
 wolves were feasting on the buffalo killed the day before. 
 Of course. Major Chilton examined the ground that Peel 
 and his companion had gone over, including the hiding 
 place and the race course. 
 
 Now, when Peel discovered the Indians he was half a 
 mile west of his comrade and nearly one and a half from 
 the Indians. He could have easily escaped by going 
 south -towards camp. He had scarcely one chance in ten 
 to save his friend, but he took that chance, such as it 
 was, in the face of almost sure death. He saw the thick- 
 et and the steep shelving bluff as he went up the hill. To 
 hide there seemed the extreme of recklessness, but he 
 builded better than he knew. Until that moment he 
 had no idea how to act unless they got on a high point 
 and with their pistols stood off the Indians until help 
 should come. The latter was all he hoped for, and he 
 knew that if Cook saw the situation, that hero in every 
 emergency would join the two or die. One iota of weak- 
 ness would have induced Peel to abandon his friend and 
 save himself, and how easily Cook could have left the 
 
120 FI^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 teamster and rode to camp for the troop, as many a cow- 
 ard has done, and been counted a hero for the noise he 
 ' made. But no such weakness troubled his manly soul. 
 Like Peel, he was a born hero. The vedettes on the 
 bluffs could have pulled their picket pins, mounted their 
 horses and rode into camp after discharging their guns — 
 such were their general instructions; but they saw their 
 comrades in trouble, and Charles McDonald and Edward 
 O'Meara confirmed the faith that they had in them. 
 
 And what became of the Indians who pursued the 
 hunters? A freight train returning from New Mexico 
 saw a band of Indians^ — ^^supposed to be the same — some 
 distance south of the Cimarron Crossing a day or two 
 later, and corralled to stand them off, but the Indians 
 seemed in a hurry and did not trouble the train. These 
 were the last Indians seen on the trail that season. 
 
 To put in a little more time and make sure that there 
 was no further danger to trains, Majo'r Chilton went up 
 the river about ten days, traveling about five miles per 
 day — going through the skirmish drill all the way — the 
 principal object being to get fresh grass and exercise for 
 the horses and practice for the men. We returned leis- 
 urely along the trail, met F. X. Aubry, the champion rid- 
 er of the plains. Colonel William Bent, of Bent's Fort, 
 and Maxwell, of Riado, New Mexico. All were of the 
 opinion that the Indians would not return to the trail 
 that season. From Pawnee Fork we made time for home 
 — Fort Leavenworth. 
 
 At Council Gr/ove we got corn — the first in two 
 
FIVS YEARS A DRAGOON. 121 
 
 months — and fed a quart to each horse and mnle night 
 and morning from there in. Our horses were thin in 
 flesh but otherwise in good condition. We had but the 
 two company wagons for transportation of rations, tents 
 and other camp equipage. Of course, we drew rations at 
 -Adkinson when necessary. 
 
 All the way in the grass was dead. Plenty of buifalo 
 from Pawnee Fork to the east line of what is now Mc- 
 Pherson County, and turkey on every stream. They 
 had never been hunted, hence not easily scared, and were 
 big and fat. 
 
 On arriving at the fort the Major found an order 
 waiting for him to escort and act with Major Ogden, 
 quartermaster, to locate a new military post near the 
 junction of the Republican and Smoky Hill branches of 
 the Kaw River. In three davs fifty men had clothing 
 replenished, rations and forage drawn, some horses shod, 
 and were on the road. Sufficient transportation was 
 taken to haul corn for the animals. The most unservice- 
 able men and horses were left behind. Lieutenant Hast- 
 ings in charge of them. The Santa Fe Trail was follow- 
 ed to the crossing of Soldie'r Creek, four miles north of 
 Pappan's Ferry, thence to Silver Lake — ^up the Kaw 
 through St. Mary's Mission, where Father Deurinck had 
 a flourishing school for Pottawatomie children, thence 
 fifty-two miles to the junction of the rivers above men- 
 tioned. A week was spent in that vicinity, resulting in 
 the location of the new post, afterwards named Fort Riley, 
 about 130 miles from Fort Leavenworth. A band of 
 
122 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON, 
 
 Delaware Indians returning from a buffalo hunt said 
 there were plenty of buffalo twenty-five miles west of the 
 new post. We were never wiihout turkey a^ter reaching 
 the Big Blue River until our return. It was a little late 
 in the season, nights cold, but no rain or snow, and with 
 big fires and plenty to eat, the trip was rather pleasant. 
 Having arrived in Salt Oreek Valley, three miles from 
 Fort Leavenworth, Major Chilton made a speech to the 
 troop, in which he gave them excellent advice concerning 
 their conduct in garrison. (Major Ogden v, as a strictly 
 temperate, religious man, and I always thought that he 
 inspired this speech.) They had made a good campaign, 
 a campaign that should be a credit to any troop. Un- 
 fortunately there were men who would become intoxi- 
 cated, get in trouble and cause trouble for every one 
 hiiving anything to do with them. He advised them that 
 whiskey was their worst enemy, and if they drank at all 
 not to get drunk, and assured them that leniency for 
 those who did need not be expected, for he would not 
 have his troop destroyed in that way. I think that speech 
 did much good; moderate drinkers watched the fellows 
 who had little control of themselves, and curtailed the 
 excesses. 
 
 Heretofore during winter about ten per cent, of the 
 troop were undergoing punishment in the guard house, 
 much of the time by sentence of garrison court martial — 
 forfeiture of pay and time in the guard house — nearly 
 all of the offenses growing out of drinking whiskey. I 
 talked with the noncommissioned officers about it, and 
 cautioned each one in charge of a squad to give personal 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 123 
 
 attention to their men and stop any man who seemed to 
 be verging on the danger point in drinking, and if he 
 could not control him bring him to me. Sometimes a 
 man was brought to me and I shut him in a store room 
 to sober off and then put him on extra duty for punish- 
 ment. During the winter we had several company courts 
 niartial, three noncommissioned officers sitting in judg- 
 ment;, and the proceedings reviewed and acted upon by 
 the first sergeant. Of course, the written proceedings 
 were not very voluminous. The result was, no man was 
 ti'ied by general or garrison court martial; summary 
 courts were unknown. Another result, some men were 
 doing extra guard and fatigue duty instead of loafing in 
 the guard house and letting better men do their duty. 
 When a man could not be managed without violence he 
 went to the guard house, but much of the time "B" Troop 
 was not represented there. 
 
 If punishment was not immediately meted out to an 
 offender, his record was fairly kept and he was sure to be 
 called on for the next fatigue party (details for fatigue 
 to do some kind of dirty work), and during the whole 
 winter scarcely a decently clean soldier was called upon — 
 always the troublesome fellows got the job. Twice the 
 findings of a court and the approval of the first sergeant 
 were appealed from and the parties sent with a noncom- 
 missioned officer to the Major, who heard their com- 
 plaint, and sent back word to me that if I had any more 
 trouble with them to put them in the guard house.' No 
 officer ever saw the proceedings of the company courts; 
 
124 ^lyE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 they did not want to. I gave all the dissatisfied ones to 
 raiderstand that if they had any grievance I would send 
 them to the Major to make their own statement. 
 
 Of course we did not always have peace and happi- 
 ness, nor freedom from drunkenness, but we came nearer 
 having home rule — self government — government within 
 the troop and by the members of it than any of the old- 
 est members had before seen. It was a little binding on 
 ten per cent, of them who were taught many good les- 
 sons in respectful demeanor and language towards non- 
 commissioned officers; they could not hide insolence and 
 abuse under the cloak of drunk, and hence not account- 
 able. There was much whiskey drunk and no effort made 
 to conceal it. "Budgen-ken," a sort of company club, in 
 a place fixed up between the two stables, was always sup- 
 pilied, each drinker "chipping in" to buy whiskey, and 
 the men were given to understand that any abuse of the 
 privilege would insure its destruction. No whiskey was 
 allowed in the quarters, a rule which was closely lived 
 up to. 
 
 Soon after returning to quarters, the Major came to 
 the orderly room and broached the subject of a company 
 library. He had learned the cost of "Harper's Classical 
 and Family Libraries"; a pair of book cases, with hinges 
 closing the edges on one side, and two locks the edges on 
 the other side, held the library of uniform size and bind- 
 ing. When open the title of each book could be read, 
 and when closed no book could move or get out of place; 
 the books were all the same length and breadth, and an 
 excellent collection. The Major led off with a subscrip- 
 
FIVE TEAR& A DRAGOON. 125 
 
 tion of $25.00. I followed with the same, Peel the same, 
 then followed a calculation of what percentage would be 
 due from each man in proportion to his pay to make up 
 enough to pay for the whole. I took the list with each 
 man's name. The Major spoke to the troop on the sub- 
 ject at the retreat roll call, explaining to them the advan- 
 tages of so much good reading matter, and before dismis- 
 sing the troop I requested each man who wanted to sub- 
 scribe to come to the orderly room and sign the list pledg- 
 ing himself to pay the amount opposite his name on pay 
 day. Most of the men off duty and at liberty signed im- 
 mediately and the others soon after, and the library was 
 assured with scarcely an effort. The Major collected the 
 money at the pay table, and the books in their cases 
 came on the first steamboat in February. Of course the 
 library was sure to give me some trouble, but it was so 
 popular and had such a good effect that with Bugler Bry- 
 don's help I got used to it and ceased to look upon it as a 
 burden. Compared to present usage there was little 
 Avriting to be done in transacting troop business, and 1 
 never had a regular clerk. Lieutenant Hastings always 
 assisted with the muster rolls and anything else that I 
 asked him to; he liked to do it; and by calling in a man 
 for two or three days in a month I was never much crowd- 
 ed with writing. 
 
 Our troop ball came off — a decided improvement 
 over that of the previous winter. 
 
 A few recruits from Carlisle came up on a steamboat 
 soon after we came in. The lance sergeant in charge, a 
 cultivated gentleman, said little about himself except 
 
126 FI^^ YaiARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 that he had experienced ups and downs in business; had 
 lived some time in Cuba, and knew considerable of the 
 business world. He seemed to have no bad habits, and 
 was soon made a corporal. He made the next summer's 
 campaign and spent the following winter with us, and was 
 discharged in the spring of 1854 by order of the Secre- 
 tary of War. He was the son of United States Senator 
 Clark, of Rhode Island. He was commissioned first 
 lieutenant First — now Fourth — Cavalry when it was au- 
 thorized in 1855, served a couple of years and resigned to 
 take a position in a business house in Leavenworth. Drift- 
 ing along with varying fortune, he became hospital 
 steward of the Military Prison when it was established, 
 and died there several years ago. I have mentioned this 
 case to show the ups and downs in some good men's lives.* 
 
 ■*Hartford T. Clark was born in 1827, and is a descendant of 
 Revolutionary stock of prominence. His maternal great grand- 
 father was none other than Stephen Hopkins, one of the two 
 delegates from Rhode Island who signed the Declaration of 
 Independence. After learning the trade of a pharmacist he 
 enlisted in the army in New York, and was sent to Carlisle 
 Barracks, Pennsylvania, from which he in due time reached the 
 First Dragoons. Upon his discharge from the service he was 
 appointed a first lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry, the date in the 
 records being given as March 3, 1855, an appointment which 
 expired by limitation May 1, 1856 He again enlisted in the 
 array, and his knowledge as pharmacist being valuable, was 
 appointed a hospital steward in January, 1860. He served as 
 such much of the time at Jefferson Barracks, having been 
 transferred there from Fort Leavenworth, and was discharged 
 July 30, 1' 63. He is again found in the army in 1875, for 
 early in that year he was appointed hospital steward again 
 and assigned to duty at the U. S. Military Prison at Fort 
 Leavenworth, where he served until the date of his death, June 
 7, 1881. Prior to his death he made a request of the military 
 authorities that upon the death of his wife her burial at his 
 
FIYE TEARS A DRAGOON. 127 
 
 Another man in this same squad of recruits was a 
 tall, fine looking, rather polished man, with a fine set of 
 dental instruments, and proved to be a fine workman; a 
 genial, cheerful fellow, he made friends easily (Worrell 
 by name), became a corporal, then a sergeant. But I skip 
 his history until I left the troop, of which he hoped to 
 be first sergeant at the expiration of my time, but through 
 my influence failed, and was the only man that I did not 
 shake by the hand and say ''good by" to when I left the 
 troop. To be brief, lie got discharged, and when the 
 First, now the Fourth Cavalry, was raised, enlisted and 
 was made first sergeant of one of the troops, served about 
 a year and then with some company funds and the farrier 
 of his troop deserted, taking with them horses and equip- 
 ments and pistols. Down towards Jefferson City, Mis- 
 souri, they stopped at a plantation for the night and there 
 met a Mr. Gordon, chief engineer of the Missouri Pacific 
 Eailroad, then being built between St. Louis and Jeffer- 
 son City. In the morning all three left the plantation 
 on horseback traveling the same road. A few miles on 
 the road Worrell shot Gordon from behind, robbed him 
 of considerable money and hid his body in some brush. 
 But the history of this case, the capture of the murderer 
 
 side be permitted. A lot was so left vacant, and upon her 
 demise, in 1897. her body was deposited in the spot she had 
 hoped some day to be placed to be near her husband. She 
 \\as the grand-daughter of Count DeSanno, who came to the 
 United States with Lafayette and later located in Pennsyl- 
 vania. Mr. John Clark, the eldest of two sons and the second 
 of five children of Hartford T., is at present employed as as- 
 sistant engineer in the Quartermaster's Department at Fort 
 Leavenworth. — [Editor.] 
 
128 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 and his execution after several trials, in which his good 
 father and mother spent much money, is recorded in the 
 proceedings of the courts, and I refer to it here to prove 
 the correctness of my judgment in regard to this man's 
 character. 
 
 Spring came, and early in April we were on the way 
 to the Arkansas. The desertions during the winter were 
 not numerous, and they not damaging. A few horses 
 had been turned over to the Quartermaster and new ones 
 received, so that we were again well mounted. 
 
 Fort Adkinson was to be abandoned, and in its stead 
 a camp established on Walnut Creek near its confluence 
 with the Arkansas. We took along teams and citizen 
 teamsters to transport the Government property from 
 the Arkansas to the new camp, and utilized them to haul 
 forage for our horses, so that we were able to feed twb 
 quarts of corn to each horse every day for some time, 
 and finally came down to one quart. We were supplied 
 Fo that we had some corn all summer. 
 
 This was one of the most trying seasons in my ex- 
 perience. 
 
 Having spent the night at Cow Creek, the next 
 camp would be ^'Big Bend" of the Arkansas, eighteen 
 miles. About midway between these points, now in Eice 
 County, was a line of high sandy hills, called "Sand 
 Buttes," sometimes "Plum Buttes." With his usual 
 prudence and fore-thought in passing through broken 
 country and in crossing streams, a habit which had en- 
 abled him to travel with one troop through all the tribes 
 from the North Platte to Mexico, and from the Missouri 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 129 
 
 tc the mountains without being surprised, the Major 
 threw out skirmishers;, a corporal and four men, riding 
 twenty-five or thirty yards apart. Having reached the 
 highest "Butte'^ the corporal discharged his pistol, the 
 four men rallied on him, the troop moved forward quickly, 
 part thrown out in line of skirmishers. Ten yards from 
 the corporal was a dead Mexican, and within a hundred 
 yards two more. One was still breathing, and blood was 
 trickling from their scalped heads. Away down towards 
 the Arkansas was a large Mexican train. The dead men 
 belonged to it, and were hunting antelope in the hills 
 when killed. Ponies and arms were gone. They were 
 evidently completely surprised. After following the 
 Indian trail a short distance it was completely obliterated 
 by countless thousands of buffalo- tracks. The Mexican 
 train was corralled on the plain below and the Dragoons 
 moved to it, but they had corralled to let the herds of 
 buffalo pass by, and had not seen any Indians. 
 
 From Cow Creek to Coon Creek travel was nearly 
 blocked by buffalo. Standing on any high point as far as 
 the eye could reach, a vast moving mass could be seen, 
 making the earth tremble with their trampling and bel- 
 lowing. 
 
 We arrived at camp near Adkinson; "D^^ Company 
 Sixth Infantry moved to the new camp on Walnut Creek; 
 Major Chilton and Lieutenant Hastings located in the 
 commanding officer's quarters, which was a pretty com- 
 fortable sod building, and the men of the troop occupied 
 the soldiers^ quarters. 
 
130 ^I^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Sergeant Cook, acting wagonmaster, made regular 
 trips to and from the new camp, moving everything that 
 could be utilized in completing it. On one of his trips, 
 one morning after leaving camp on Pawnee Fork, Cook 
 was asleep in the front wagon ; he never got a good night's 
 sleep on these trips. His little escort of two infantry- 
 men to each wagon was also asleep. The teams were mov- 
 ing along up the incline from the Pawnee Fork bottom 
 to the "dry route," by the head of Coon Creek, when 
 suddenly a band of Indians came up, stopped the train 
 and demanded a feast, etc. Cook hurried out and mount- 
 ed his horse. He was pointed out as the chief, and to 
 their demand for "tobac"' he said "No,'' when the leader 
 hit him a vicious blow with his "quirt" or riding whip 
 and raised his bow and arrow. Cook shot the Indian, 
 who fell from his horse, and shot two more who clung to 
 their horses as they ran off. The escort was out of the 
 wagons by this time, but Cook had done the work and 
 the band was gone, about a dozen. Realizing that prob- 
 ably this was only a small party from a larger force near 
 by. Cook straightened out his teams, left the dead Indian 
 and made the best time he could. This happened about 
 9 a. m. The next morning before sunrise a vedette call- 
 ed attention to a train down the road some miles traveling 
 unusually fast. I reported to Major Chilton, who told 
 me to mount ten men and go down to meet the train, 
 which I did, and met Cook two miles below camp. He 
 had traveled over fifty miles in twenty hours, watering 
 and feeding a little twice. He knew the Indians to be 
 Osages, supposed to be entirely friendly, but stealing and 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 131 
 
 robbing whenever they could bluff a small party. A de- 
 tachment of dragoons accompanied the train the next 
 day, which wound up the moving. 
 
 News had come that a ^'pow-wow^' was to be held at 
 or near Adkinson during the summer, and large amounts 
 of presents would be distributed; that in addition to the 
 Kiowas and Comanches, the Prairie Apaches would be 
 there, and that Major Fitzpatrick on the part of the In- 
 dian Department would superintend the distribution. Of 
 course it meant the three tribes in full force. 
 
 Until the final movement of Indians after the 
 distribution of presents one-half of the troop was on 
 guard at night and one-fourth during the day. Sentinels 
 called the number of post, the hour and "All ^s well !" 
 every half hour during the night. In daytime the horses 
 were herded a short distance below the post. The In- 
 dians were not allowed north of the river unless visiting 
 by permission. 
 
 This condition of things lasted two months. Major 
 Chilton had a great many talks with leading men of the 
 Kiowa and Comanche tribes. Satanta, the war chief of 
 the Kiowas, always came rather neatly dressed in fine 
 buckskin, and wore a handsome cavalry saber and belt. 
 He was a man about five feet ten, sparely made, muscu- 
 lar, cat-like in his movements — more Spanish than In- 
 dian in his appearance — sharp features, thin lips, keen 
 restless eyes, thin mustache and scattering chin whiskers 
 that seemed to have stopped growing when one to three 
 inches long. At the time of which I write he was about 
 thirty-five years old. He invariably came with one ser- 
 
132 FiyE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 vant, a Mexican Indian, to the line of sentinels, dismount- 
 ed, leaving his handsome horse and Spanish equipments 
 with the servant. Always before allo^^ing an Indian 
 to come inside the line of sentinels the sergeant of the 
 guard was called, who escorted the visitor to the com- 
 manding officer, permission having been given for the 
 visitor to come in. 
 
 Usually the conversations between the Major and 
 Satanta were apparently pleasant, though sometimes the 
 latter became somewhat emphatic. He complained of 
 the treatment the Indians received from the whites, the 
 manner in which they overran the country, destroyed the 
 game and ignored the Indians' rights, and his eyes 
 flashed as he jammed the end of his saber scabbard in- 
 to the ground. Sometimes the Major recounted the 
 efforts made by the Government to look after the wel- 
 fare of the Indians, and the treacherous manner in 
 which such efforts were taken advantage of. Satanta, 
 excited, and his black eyes flashing, was scarcely a match 
 for the Major, whose big black eyes fairly blazed when 
 he chose to be emphatic. The Major always tried to 
 be pacific and just, admitting many wrongs complained 
 of, but never permitting a threat, even by innuendo, to 
 pass without an emphatic rebuke. He felt that Satanta 
 was a superior, intelligent man, and treated him as such. 
 There was a good deal in common with these two men. 
 Both had tempers easily excited, unbounded energy, 
 boldness and courage. Educated and civilized, Satanta 
 would have been a match for the Major anywhere. In 
 cunning, Indian duplicity and shrewdness he was a full 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. I33 
 
 match; but the Major was not a man to be trapped, flat- 
 tered, coaxed, driven or bluffed, and if the combined 
 Kiowa and Comanche tribes had him surrounded he 
 would roll his black eyes with their broad white borders, 
 def}^ them and threaten to "wipe them off the face of 
 the earth,'^ and no man living could come nearer making 
 them believe it. Every man of his troop capable of im- 
 bibing a stern determined spirit of defense knew that 
 his threats, though sometimes extravagant in the face 
 of overwhelming thousands, would be defended to the 
 bitter end. His watchfulness, care, prudence and clear 
 conception of Indian character were his best safeguards. 
 He could never be caught napping; there was no earthly 
 danger of surprise, and no seventy-five men under such 
 discipline, with such a commander, armed as we were, 
 had been overwhelmed by men carrying bows and arrows 
 and lances only; hence staunch, steady confidence, from 
 which there' was no swerving, reigned supreme in our 
 camp, and men endured the hardships without complain- 
 ing. About the most comfortable place during the heat 
 of the day was under a tent fly stretched near my order- 
 ly room, and there I had a good opportunity of seeing 
 and hearing what passed between the Major and others. 
 One day when the conversation had been quite ani- 
 mated, the Major looked steadily at Satanta and made 
 an emphatic assertion of what he would do if certain 
 trains then on the road were interfered with. Satanta 
 always spoke Mexican Spanish in talking with the Ma- 
 jor, who could understand fairly well what he said, but 
 
134 FiyE TEARS A DRAGOON, 
 
 when in doubt had the interpreter tell him. The inter- 
 preter talked wholly hj signs, never speaking a word 
 to Indians. He was a wonder in that way, and under- 
 stood the sign language of every tribe on the plains. 
 The Major talked entirely through the interpreter. Al- 
 though a mountaineer and desperado, the Major^s threat 
 was so bold that he was afraid to interpret it correctly, 
 hesitated and made few motions, all of which the Major 
 noticed, and Satanta's mild, unconcerned attitude con- 
 vinced him that he had not been fully interpreted, and 
 he called for a file of the guard, which came quickly, 
 and Pyle (the interpreter) found .himself tied to the 
 wheel of a cannon which stood near by, and there he 
 remained until dark, when he was confined in the guard 
 house, to remain, as the Major said, "until he could tell 
 the truth.'' "A life sentence,'' said O'Meara. Satanta 
 was made to understand the threat, and why the man 
 was tied to the wheel. He soon took his departure, and 
 did not come again until Major Fitzpatrick came to 
 make the ''big talk," as the Indians called it. Strange 
 as it may appear at this time, there was no representative 
 of the Indian Department except Major Fitzpatrick, 
 none of the army except the officers of "B" Troop, and 
 no correspondent to write up the grand "pow-wow" — 
 30,000 Indians, Apaches, Kiowas and Comanches. To- 
 day the principal newspapers of the country, including 
 the illustrated papers, would have special correspondents 
 on the ground. At that time any one except the nec- 
 essary officials, attaches and military officers would have 
 been an incumbrance. 
 
FIYE TEARS A DRAGOON. 135 
 
 In a smaller way this was as important a distribu- 
 tion of presents to the Indians as was that in 1851 
 at the month of Horse Creek. If it had any newspaper 
 record I never heard of it. The big ox train came in, 
 the wily Apaches (called Prairie Apaches to distinguish 
 them from those ranging in southern New Mexico and 
 Arizona), the Kiowas and Comanches having assembled 
 in full force, the goods were unloaded, boxes and bales 
 opened, the nabobs of the tribes decorated in brilliant 
 uniforms, medals and certificates issued, goods parceled 
 •out, winding up with plenty to eat, feasting, sham bat- 
 tles, etc. The Apaches were off their home ground and 
 anxious to return. Major Fitzpatrick seemed equally 
 anxious to have the job over with and kept his little 
 working force and a couple of clerks pushing things. 
 The long drawn out dignity of the Horse Creek treaty 
 was lacking. 
 
 Major Fitzpatrick had the confidence of these as he 
 did of all other Indians on the plains. They claimed 
 that in the twenty years they had known him as agent 
 or trader he had never lied to or tried to deceive them 
 in any way, and that his advice had always been good — 
 a certificate of character that few coud get. 
 
 The presents having been distributed, the Indians 
 went south, probably not to return during the season; 
 all the available material at Adkinson had been moved 
 and the sods level to the ground. We had not seen a 
 buffalo in more than two months or any fresh meat of 
 any kind except some prairie dogs which Peel and I 
 killed with the only rifle in the troop; no one hunted 
 
136 F^^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Avith it except us. The musketoons did not shoot accu- 
 rately enough^ and no one was permitted to waste am- 
 munition. From time to time we killed enough of the 
 little barkers to make a stew, and found them quite as 
 good as the common gray squirrel. Parboiled and then 
 stewed with a little fat bacon made them taste pretty 
 well to men who had been so long without fresh meat. 
 Owing to the proximity of the Indians there was no 
 other game to be had. 
 
 From our surroundings during the last month we 
 were in a critical position. It would take but a spark 
 to inflame the powerful tribes confronting us, and sev- 
 eral happenings seemed to have brought the climax. A 
 lot of trains were corralled a little below and not per- 
 mitted to pass on until the distribution of presents and 
 the Indians had moved off. To detail the incidents would 
 be tedious and unnecessary to this narrative. For a 
 month Lieutenant Hastings and I divided the night be- 
 tween us, half and half, each acting as officer of the 
 guard and often walking from sentinel to sentinel all 
 the way around the line, half the company on guard and 
 half the guard on post at one time. I relieved Lieuten- 
 ant Hastings at midnight and tried to make up sleep 
 by an afternoon nap. The quarters were full of fleas, 
 the old sod walls full of mice and snakes, and were soon 
 abandoned for the more comfortable tents. Compared 
 to fleas, bedbugs are pets. Spread out a soldier's blanket 
 and see thousands of fleas hopping from an inch to a 
 foot high, enjoying the warm rays of the sun and ex- 
 ercise, after a successful night with a soldier. The two 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 137 
 
 dozen cats that Lieutenant Heath brought from Fort 
 Leavenworth two years before were perfect wrecks; they 
 could not digest mice enough to counteract the ravages 
 of fleas, and moped about utterly discouraged. 
 
 The Indians had been gone a week, the Mexican 
 trains straightened out up the river, the troop escorting 
 them to the Cimarron crossing and two days south of 
 it, returned to the crossing and went up the Arkansas 
 to "Big Timbers" (Bent^s new fort), and returned to 
 Adkinson, now only heaps of broken sod leveled to the 
 ground, so that from it the Indians could not ambush 
 mail carriers, express riders or other small parties. 
 
 It was the 1st of October when we left the vicin- 
 ity of the dismantled fort to return to Fort Leavenworth. 
 One day we camped at the mouth of Coon Ct-eek, on 
 the Arkansas, about noon. This was "B" T'roop's bat- 
 tle ground, where in the spring of 1846 Sergeant Bishop 
 with twenty men recovered a herd of 400 oxen that had 
 been stampeded by Indians heretofore referred to. Peel 
 explained to the Major aU the interesting features of 
 the fight. 
 
 On the opposite side of the river was a line of high 
 bluffs, craggy and abrupt, with some buffalo trails lead- 
 ing out on to a narrow strip of bottom land between 
 the river and the bluffs. Buffalo on the south side were 
 numerous, and little bands came out of the bluffs across 
 the bottom to the river to drink. I took Company 
 Teamster Matthews with his saddle mule with me and 
 crossed over. When a buffalo had been killed we were 
 to pack Matthews^ mule and bring to camp all the meat 
 
138 FIYB TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 he could carry. After winding aronnd through the trails 
 in the bluffs for some time I killed a fat cow between 
 the bluffs and the river. We picketed our animals and 
 proceeded to prepare the meat for transportation to 
 camp. We were busy cutting up the buffalo when we 
 heard a splashing in the water; looking up we saw Lieu- 
 tenant Hastings with half the troop coming at a trot. 
 This trotting crossing the river meant urgency, and we 
 mounted at once. It was all clear to me that nothing 
 less than Indians skulking after Matthews and myself 
 induced the rapid movement towards us. We joined 
 Lieutenant Hastings, who said that some Indians had 
 been seen watching us, and the last seen of them they 
 were creeping towards us through the bluffs. Lieutenant 
 Hastings wanted to get around them or behind them 
 so they could not escape. I showed him a trail that I 
 thought might lead to their rear. He left half the men 
 to watch the trail that the Indians were believed to be 
 on while we moved quickly on the trail that I believed 
 would cut off their retreat. Sure enough we drove them 
 out, found them to be Osages, four in number, and did 
 some loud talking to keep Cuddy, Cook and others from 
 shooting them as they came out. They professed all 
 sorts of friendship, but did not succeed in convincing 
 any one but that Matthews and I owed the safety of our 
 scalps to the fact that they were seen by a vedette near 
 camp, and the prompt action of the troop. We finished 
 the buffalo, loaded the mule with all he could carry and 
 brought the Indians to camp. Major Chilton turned 
 them loose with a threat to 'Svipe the Osages off the 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. I39. 
 
 face of the earth" if they did not keep off the traveled 
 road and leave white people entirely alone. 
 
 I^othing of special interest occurred nntil we reached 
 Diamond Springs, now in Morris County. The weather 
 had been frosty at night and days sunny — a continuous 
 Indian summer all the way — grass dry as powder. We 
 had barely a quart of corn per day for each horse, and 
 they were poor. All day we had seen little bands of 
 Indians a mile or two off the road traveling the same 
 direction that we were and apparently watching us. This 
 was the Kaw country and rrobably no other Indians were 
 there, and we could hardly understand why they kept 
 aloof and watcted our progress. Of course the Kaws 
 knew our troop by the horses, and we knew they had 
 no love for it, but were slow to believe they would at- 
 tempt to do us any harm. We camped on high ground 
 a little east of Diamond Springs, on the south side of 
 the road. We had been very careful of fire all the way 
 in, and here we were especially careful on account of 
 the dense growth of grass and consequent danger of 
 burning the camp. We had finished dinner, about two- 
 hours before sunset when, as if by one act, fire broke 
 out in a circle all around us not more than a mile from 
 camp. A stiff gale was blowing from the south, and 
 when we noticed it the fire in the tall grass was roar- 
 ing furiously and the flames leaping twenty feet high.. 
 Quickly we commenced firing outside of our camp, whip- 
 ping out the fire next to it, thereby burning a circle 
 around it. Every man used n gunnysack or saddle 
 blanket and worked with desperate energy. The utter- 
 
140 I^iyE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 destruction of our camp was imminent, and we faced 
 the fire like men who had everything at stake. Success 
 was ours, but the battle left its scars on nearly all. I 
 have never seen fifteen minutes of such desperate work 
 followed by such exhaustion — scarcely a man could 
 speak. Blinded by smoke, heat and ashes, intuitively 
 we found our way to the creek, bathed our burned hands 
 and faces, many of us terribly blistered. My hands and 
 face were blistered in several places; my mustache and 
 whiskers, the first I had ever raised, were utterly ruined; 
 even my eyebrows were badly scorched. I could not 
 wash on account of the blisters, and dipped my face and 
 head deep down into the lovely spring water and held 
 my hands under to relieve the pain. My experience 
 w^as that of most of the troop. We had quite a quan- 
 tity of antelope tallow, which was warmed and gently 
 applied to our sores. Undoubtedly the Kaws had set 
 the fire to burn us out, and while they did not quite 
 succeed^ if thej had seen us they should have been fairly 
 well satisfied. I think that Major Chilton and Lieuten- 
 ant Hastings were better -satisfied with the troop than 
 they had ever been before. Men who could stand to- 
 gether in such a fight and win could stand against des- 
 perate odds anywhere. I was instructed to notify the 
 troop at retreat roll call that we would start at day- 
 light. The guards were doubled, and we rested as best 
 we could. 
 
 Just out of camp we met the sun squarely in the 
 face, but fortunately it soon became cloudy, which was 
 a great relief. At Council Grove we got some corn from 
 
' FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 141 
 
 Hays & Company and went on to Big John Spring, three 
 miles east, where we camped at noon. 
 
 Major Chilton told me to be ready to go back to 
 Council Grove right after dinner. When I asked if I 
 should take any one with me, he said, "No, you will go 
 alone/^ About half past one I reported myself with 
 horse saddled (an extra one which I took to save mine). 
 He gave me a sealed letter directed to myself, and told 
 me I could read it on the road to save time. Inclosed 
 in my letter I found one directed to Mr. Hoffaker, a 
 young man who was school teacher of the Kaw Indians, 
 requesting him to furnish me an interpreter which he 
 (the Major) had spoken of when he came through the 
 Grove. My instructions were to proceed with the inter- 
 preter to the Kaw village, said to be three miles down 
 the Neosho Eiver, and there make a demand of the 
 chief that he have five horses, stolen the spring before 
 from some "mounted rifles" camped at Walnut Creek 
 (now in Barton County), brought to his (Chilton^s) camp 
 at Big John Spring. 
 
 Mr. Hoffaker had the interpreter ready, one Bat- 
 teese, a Pottawatomie by birth, but married to a Kaw 
 and living with them. Batteese talked good English and 
 was quite intelligent, but when I told him that I was 
 after stolen horses and would make a demand on the 
 chief he seemed reluctant to go or would rather go with- 
 out me (he lived with the Kaws and was afraid to make 
 enemies). Of course, I could not send him; my orders 
 were to go myself. When we arrived at the village 
 three miles down, we learned that the chief was at the 
 
142 FIYE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 lower village^, two miles farther down, and there we 
 went. We found the chief, whose name I regi'et to have 
 forgotten, in a round house huilt of mud and willows 
 at the west end of the village. An Indian woman came 
 out as we went to the door and we found the chief 
 alone, lying on a willow mattress, not feeling very well, 
 as he told the interpreter. However, he was dressed 
 and talked pleasantly in reply to all I said. He be- 
 lieved there were some Government horses among tha 
 Kaws that some of the young men claimed to have 
 found. While we talked, Indians came in and packed 
 the house full, and a crowd stood outside. Most of them 
 had no arms. 
 
 My appearance seemed to be quite a source of 
 amusement for a lot of young bucks, and they nodded 
 and chatted about me in a merry way, and I knew they 
 had reference to my burnt face and hands tied up in 
 rags, and doubtless the scoundrels who set fire to the 
 grass were before me. For some time I had not said 
 anything; I wanted to kill a lot of Kaws; they seemed 
 to know that I was suffering mentally as well as phys- 
 ically, and were amusing themselves at my expense. I 
 could see that the chief was embarrassed. He seemed 
 to be a sensible, good man, and these thieving scoun-^ 
 drels were riding over the country committing depre- 
 dations and causing him a lot of trouble, rinallyl rose 
 to go, and told the interpreter to say to the chief that 
 my captain knew the Kaws had the five horses, and that 
 they stole them from a camp on Walnut Creek last 
 spring, and that unless they were delivered in camp at 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. I43 
 
 Big John Spring the troop would come down and take 
 them. I did not want to offend the chief, but to impress 
 the thieves. I spoke in rather an angry tone, and the 
 interpreter hesitated. I turned to him abruptly and said: 
 "Interpret what I say, quickly, every word of it.^^ An 
 Indian about thirty years old, who was known as Clark, 
 had been watching me closely, and at this juncture he 
 spoke in plain English: "Who tole you I stole um 
 horses?" "No matter," said I, "who told me, I knoW' 
 you stole them, and unless they are in my camp by the 
 time I get there 1 11 make you sorry you did steal 
 them." I shook the chief^s hand and said "good by" 
 and came out through the crowd, the interpreter fol- 
 lowing. We mounted and galloped off. About four or 
 five miles, mostly up Big John Creek, brought us to 
 camp. 
 
 I reported to Major Chilton all that had happened, 
 and wound up by saying that I hoped my threat would 
 be carried out. The interpreter was much agitated, and 
 said that he thought the horses would be brought in by 
 to-morrow. "To-morrow!" said Major Chilton, "they'll 
 bring them to-night, or 1 11 teach them a lesson they Tl 
 never forget, the thieving scoundrels. I don't propose 
 to make another campaign against the Kaws in winter. 
 I am here now, and while I don't want to hurt innocent 
 men, half the Kaws ought to be wiped off the face of 
 the earth, and my men have a mighty good excuse for 
 doing it. Sergeant Lowe, take twenty men and bring 
 the horses or the chief ; 1 11 show them." 
 
 My saddle was changed from the extra horse I had 
 
 lU- 
 
144 FI^E I'EARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 been riding to my own, and in a few minutes twenty 
 as good men as ever roamed the plains were in colunm 
 of twos on the way with me to the Indian camp. We 
 left our sabers in camp, they rattled too much, taking 
 our revolvers only and plenty of ammunition. The in- 
 terpreter was cautioned by the Major to interpret as T 
 directed him. As I rode away the Major cautioned me 
 to be prudent, and not hurt the chief. A low line of 
 bluffs or hills formed the east bank of Big John Creek 
 to within half a mile of the chief's house, which was 
 at the upper or west end of this village. Before pass- 
 ing this point I halted and told the men to follow the 
 leader in each rank, pistol in hand but not cocked, to 
 keep their ears open for orders, and to do just what 
 they were told and no more. Privately I told Cuddy I 
 would go to the left door, which was on the east side, 
 and he would go to the right and meet me. This part 
 I did not want the interpreter to know, fearing that 
 he would not go with me if he did. Sergeant Peel was 
 in the rear of the line behind Cuddy, and Corporal 
 Ferguson in rear of the line behind me; they would see 
 that my plan was carried out, good or bad. We passed 
 the point at a walk, then ^'T^ot!" "Gallop!" "Charge!" 
 came in quick succession. 
 
 I sprang from my horse at the door just as it was 
 opened by the chief, who ran out at the sound of the 
 horses' hoofs. Cuddy dismounted almost at the same 
 instant. I seized the chief by the left arm and Cuddy 
 by his right, and placed him on a horse behind another 
 man, we mounted and were off in less time than it 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 145 
 
 takes to tell it. The chief saw at once that he was a 
 prisoner and went willingly. Instantly there was an up- 
 roar all over the village, men, women and children howl- 
 ing in every style. The bucks rushed out with guns 
 and hows and arrows as if to give battle. The chief 
 turned on the horse and rode backward, gesticulating 
 and talking at the top of his voice. I told the inter- 
 preter that if a shot was fired at the dragoons I would 
 kill the chief and him too, and impressed upon him the 
 importance of repeating this, which he did vigorously 
 and continually, and the chief kept up his exhortation 
 till we were out of reach. 
 
 We moved off at a walk in extended line a pace 
 or two apart, every man with pistol in hand turned in 
 his saddle ready to shoot, Ferguson and Peel giving 
 strict attention to the men. Just as we reached the 
 point of bluff heretofore referred to, a man was seen 
 coming as fast las his horse could bring him riding bare- 
 back. It was O'Neil, and he had been sent in haste by 
 the Major to tell me to return, that three of the horses 
 had been brought in and the other two promised. It 
 was too late, "and we took the chief to camp. He was 
 one of the Major^s prisoners of January, 1851, and they 
 shook hands. The chief was much agitated and dis- 
 tressed. As I made my report, I felt sorry for him. 
 
 While the troop^s verdict was a justification of the 
 action, the more I thought of it the more I did not feel 
 at all proud. Only for smarting from the outrage of 
 attempting to burn our camp and the wounds from which 
 
146 FiyE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 we were suffering, we would all have condemned it, and 
 I beeame convinced that I had been guilty of an out- 
 rage on a man who had been guilty of no wrong, in order 
 to recover some horses that had been stolen by some 
 thieves of his tribe. And now came the other two 
 horses and some head men and sub-chiefs, but none of 
 the thieving young bucks. A very earnest talk followed, 
 in which the Major recounted the wrongs they had been 
 guilty of, including the attempt to burn his camp the 
 day before, and promised them if he had to come from 
 Fort Leavenworth another cold winter to look after 
 them he would "wipe the young bucks off the face of 
 the earth." And he exhorted the chiefs and head men 
 to control the bad young men in their tribe, if they had 
 to kill them. This story has been told ever since the 
 occurrence in various forms, often greatly exaggerated. 
 The reckless element undoubtedly predominated with 
 all of us at that time. Smarting as we were, we were 
 unfit to be trusted to deal out justice in such a case. 
 Whatever of wrong was committed the blame was all 
 mine, and it took me some time to realize the extent 
 of the outrage upon a harmless man. In camp and quar- 
 ters men delighted to relate the incident, never for a 
 moment dreaming that a wrong had been done; but 
 fifty-three years later, while few remember it (probably 
 I am the only living member of the party), all false 
 pride has passed, and I see nothing to be proud of save 
 the faithful conduct of those who followed me. While 
 painfully smarting under the cowardly and treacherous 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 147 
 
 outrage of the day before, they kept themselves under 
 perfect discipline and self-control. I do not believe a 
 word was spoken on our side save by myself and 
 the interpreter. 
 
 In. Salt Creek Valley, before marching into Fort 
 Leavenworth, the Major made quite a little talk to the 
 troop, recounting the hardships of the campaign and 
 the faithful and creditable service rendered, cautioning 
 them to remember that they were men capable of he- 
 roic acts and not to brutalize themselves with whiskey, 
 but try to keep up the good name they had so well won 
 on the plains, at the same time reminding them that no 
 amount of service rendered would condone future wrong 
 doing; good behavior should be continuous. 
 
 Few incidents worthy of note occurred during the 
 winter of 1853 and 1854. The traditional "B'^ T^oop 
 ball came off, routine of drills, etc. Not a man was 
 tried by court-martial during the eight months we re- 
 mained at the post, except by company court. One 
 night at "tattoo,'' as I was calling the roll I heard the 
 click of a pistol as if being cocked in front of me. It 
 was quite dark, but standing close to a man I could rec- 
 ognize him. I stopped in the midst of the roll call, 
 stepped forward to where I thought I heard the noise, 
 reached over to the rear rank, seized a man, jerked him 
 out in front of the troop and caught his right hand in 
 his pocket holding a cocked pistol, which I took from 
 him. All was done so quickly that hardly any one real- 
 ized what was going on. Several seized the man, and 
 I was obliged to protect him. I sent him to my orderly 
 
148 FI^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 room with Sergeant Peel, finished the roll call and dis- 
 missed the troop after cautioning the men not to allow 
 the incident to create any excitement, but all go to bed 
 as usual. In the orderly room the man clained that he 
 bought the pistol (Derringer) to shoot rats with and had 
 no definite object in cocking it at that time. He was 
 pretty drunk, or pretended to be — an all around ^bad 
 man, who had done an unusual share of extra duty for 
 punishment. He had been a good while in the army, 
 and had the reputation of having murdered a comrade 
 during the Mexican War. I let him go and gave him 
 his pistol the next day, at the same time telling him 
 that I believed him to be at heart a cowardly murderer. 
 I had no doubt but that he intended to shoot me as I 
 passed him on the way to my quarters, which I would do 
 as soon as I dismissed the troop. He had braced up 
 with whiskey for the act and rather overdid it. I could 
 not prove that he intended to murder me, and if I sent 
 him to the guard house the verdict would have been 
 that I was afraid of him. 
 
 I may as well dispose of this man here. He would 
 have deserted, but was anxious to go to New Mexico, 
 where he had served before, and where the troop and 
 regimental headquarters were now under orders to go. 
 And from the happening of the incident above related 
 he was silent, sullen and on his good behavior, having 
 little companionship in the troop. It leaked out that 
 in his drunken moods he had said he would desert when 
 he got to New Mexico, accompanied with many threats. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 149 
 
 He never again gave me any trouble, but I was keenly 
 on the lookout for him always. 
 
 When I left the troop Corporal Ferguson was made 
 first sergeant. He joined the year before I did and re- 
 enlisted a vear before my time expired. He was a re- 
 markable fine man, an Irishman by birth, had been clerk 
 at regimental headquarters a good deal and was familiar 
 with all company and regimental papers. Up to within 
 a year he had never cared to serve as a non-commis- 
 sioned officer. He had been made corporal once before, 
 but resigned. He was a fine horseman, an excellent shot, 
 a superior drill and all-around athlete; a man who would 
 attract attention anywhere. Not much given to words,, 
 he held a quiet control of all around him without an 
 effort. The last time he was made corporal was about 
 a year before my discharge, through my influence, and 
 I held up to him the fact that Sergeants Cuddy, Cook, 
 Drummond and others would not reenlist. Peel would 
 not accept first sergeant, and the timber for that place 
 in the troop was scarce, and I had no doubt but that he 
 would be appointed if he would take interest enough 
 to accept it. And he did take interest, and showed so 
 plainly his superiority that the appointment came to 
 him almost as a matter of course. The troop and its 
 commander knew that it was my wish, all became edu- 
 cated up to the idea and expected it. And so when I 
 was furloughed I left him acting first sergeant. 
 
 One night after "tattoo'^ roll call the man of the 
 pistol above referred to plunged a knife into Ferguson^s 
 heart, killing him instantly. By great effort the mur- 
 
150 J^I^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 derer was saved from being mobbed by the troop; was 
 tried by civil court and sentenced to hang. I have re- 
 frained from mentioning the names of men of whom I 
 had to speak in uncomplimentaTy terms, for the reason 
 that most men have family relations and friends, and 
 to mention them in a way to leave a stain upon their 
 character might be unjust and is altogether unnecessary, 
 and most men who have come under my observation 
 in the army and on campaigns pulled out in fair shape 
 and led good lives, many of them raising families after- 
 wards. But this murderer had no friends on earth that 
 his comrades ever heard of, and sure I am that he had 
 no family near or remote to weep over his crimes. His 
 name was Jackson, and it is but just to his comrades 
 that no mistakes be made in the name. 
 
 Sergeants Cuddy, Cook and Drummond were dis- 
 charged towards the last of the year 1853, and new non- 
 commissioned officers took their places. All three were 
 employed by the quartermaster, and the following spring 
 Cook and Cuddy went with Colonel Steptoe^s command, 
 the former as wagomnaster and the latter in charge of 
 strings of lead horses to Salt Lake the first year (1854), 
 wintering there and going through to California the fol- 
 lowing season. 
 
 When Walker went on his filibustering expedition 
 to Nicaragua, Cook served as a captain in his command, 
 escaped when Walker was executed, came back to San 
 Francisco and died in poverty. He was a native of Nova 
 Scotia, had been a sailor, and I never knew a stauncher, 
 braver man. 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 151 
 
 Cuddy was a shrewd man, with money-making ten- 
 dencies, dropped into the cattle ranch business in Cal- 
 ifornia, married a Spanish woman with large Spanish 
 grant, cattle and horses, and the last I heard of him he 
 was raising a good family. 
 
 Russell, O'Meara, McDonald, Bostwick and others 
 were also discharged and went their various ways — Rus- 
 sell to setting type on the Missouri Republican; Bost- 
 wick, the farrier, married a wife and farm in Clinton 
 County, Missouri, and was killed at Vicksburg in 1862, 
 while a major in the Confederate army. O'Meara de- 
 clared he had money enough to take him back to the 
 "Old Dart," and he was going there. I will have occa- 
 sion to mention McDonald later. 
 
 Recruits came from Carlisle before the close of nav- 
 igation on the Missouri. 
 
 The Major applied for and was given authority to 
 purchase twenty-five horses for his troop, subject to 
 his own inspection, and made an arrangement with a 
 Mr. Calvert, of Weston, to furnish them. Two or three 
 times at evening stables the Major pointed out to Mr. 
 Calvert the kind of horses he wanted, the models that 
 suited him best, all to be sorrels of solid color — chest- 
 nut or red sorrels would do, but no light colored ones, 
 no white noses — white feet not absolutely barred, but 
 unless exceptionally sound would be rejected. Sound 
 feet, flat, sinewy legs, sound hocks and knees, arms and 
 quarters well muscled, short, sinewy back, high withers, 
 rangy neck, bony head, bold eye — no ^liog eyes'' — fine 
 ear, deep chest, plenty of room to carry his forage, five 
 
152 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 to seven years old, fifteen to sixteen hands, preferably 
 fifteen and a half, all natural trotters and well broken 
 to saddle — about filled the Major's idea, reserving the 
 right to reject any of them for any reason satisfactory 
 to himself. The quartermaster paid for the horses on 
 the Major's order. They came in fine shape, were put 
 in our stables, and thoroughly tried before being re- 
 ceived. They were a fine lot and the deal satisfactory 
 all around. The old and least serviceable of the troop 
 horses were turned over to the quartermaster to make 
 room for the new ones, and mine was one of them. I 
 saw him sold at auction to a Missouri farmer for $50.00 
 and requested him to see that the horse was well cared 
 for, which he promised to do, told me where he lived, 
 and invited me to see him, which I did two years later, 
 dined with him and told him and his wife the horse^a 
 history. His wife was riding him in her visits about the 
 neighborhood, and she declared that he should never do 
 any other kind of work. In those days everybody rode 
 horseback. A few wealthy people had old-fashioned^ 
 roomy carriages for use on special occasions, but every 
 man and woman, boy and girl, generally rode horseback. 
 I had the choice of the new lot of horses, and chose 
 a deep chestnut, without a white spot, sixteen hands, fine 
 from ear to hoof, a little nervous, but had not been 
 spoiled, and soon became a great pet. And now came 
 the task of adjusting this fine lot of horses so as to make 
 the best use of them. It was an ironclad rule that ev- 
 ery man must be gentle with his horse. Abusing a horse 
 was the unpardonable sin. Peevishness, kicking, jerk- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 15^ 
 
 ing, swearing at, unnecessary spurring or violence of 
 any kind would not be permitted to go unpunislied, and 
 non-commissioned officers were sure to report any in- 
 fraction of the rule. Everything must be done for the 
 comfort of the horse. The non-commissioned officers 
 who wanted to change old horses for new did so, and 
 then came the privates with the least serviceable horses^ 
 If, after assignment, a horse was found unsuited to the 
 man or the man to the horse a change was made, wheth- 
 er the man liked it or not, be he non-commissioned offi- 
 cer or private, and from first to last, whatever would 
 add to the efficiency of the troop was done, whether in. 
 drilling horses or men. Within five miles of the flag- 
 staff west of the river there was not a nook or corner 
 that we did not drill over, giving strict attention to the 
 skirmish drill. 
 
 I have heretofore not mentioned the manner of 
 feeding our horses; they were always watered before 
 feeding. Prairie hay was used — there was no other in. 
 the country at that time — and there was no letter ''rough- 
 ness" for horses. Ear corn was the kind of grain always 
 used in garrison. One can easily see whether corn on. 
 the cob is sound or unsound. Shelled corn might be- 
 musty or some bad corn mixed with it and none but 
 an expert could tell, while any man would know a sound 
 ear of corn; and more than that, horses do not eat ear 
 corn so fast ; they like to bite it from the cob — masticate, 
 relish and digest it better. Of course on the plains one 
 must use shelled corn, but in garrison, in a corn growing 
 country, there is no feed equal to ear corn and prairie^ 
 
154 ^'I^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 hay. I know that now there is a great habit of feeding 
 oats to cavalry horsed; farmers, teamsters and livery men 
 did that in the Northern States when I was a boy; it was 
 the best feed they had and oats were nearly always well 
 cured and free from must and dust, and they did not 
 raise corn as they do in the West. Here oats do not do 
 as well as in New England or Canada, are not so easily 
 cured, and are often both musty and dusty, and as a 
 rule chaffy and light, with little nutriment compared to 
 Northern oats. Corn is the cleanest and best feed; there 
 is nothing equal to it for strengthening or fattening man 
 or beast. Barley and wheat are good feed where corn is 
 not raised, but where it grows in abundance there is noth- 
 ing equal to corn; for man, for horses and mules, for cat- 
 tle, for hogs, for fowls, it is the king of products to make 
 muscle and fat. The Southern planters fed corn and 
 bacon to the negroes because it made them strong and 
 healthy; they fed corn to their plantation mules for the 
 same reason. At the salt mines in the Island of Bonair 
 the strongest negro men and women I ever saw were al- 
 lowed a bushel of corn a month and no other food except 
 some fish that they could catch occasionally. They could 
 parch the corn, grind it between two rocks, or eat it with- 
 out cooking — no mills to grind it with; ^twas corn that 
 made them big and strong. Probably this has nothing 
 to do with cavalry horses, but all the same I have never 
 seen better or more enduring ones than were in "B'^ 
 Troop, and prairie liay, corn and good care mad'C them 
 what they were. The nutriment in prairie hay does not 
 equal that in timothy, clover or alfalfa when well cured. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. I55 
 
 but it is much easier cured; the nutriment is in sound 
 ear corn. 
 
 As heretofore stated, the man who was the instigator 
 of the fire in Cuddy's orderly room deserted, and with 
 his wife stayed about Weston. His occupation was "re- 
 cruiting d'eserters" ; that is, he would find men with mon- 
 ey after pay day, persuade them to desert if he could, 
 and often robbed them. One Sunday I tried to capture 
 him but he escaped on horseback while I was hunting 
 him. I found the shanty where he lived with an ill-as- 
 sorted set of vagabonds in a little corn-field, and repre- 
 sented to Major Chilton that a dozen men could surround 
 it and effect his arest. The next Sunday Lieutenant 
 Hastings and a dozen men, including Sergeant Peel, went 
 over to Weston, surrounded the house, half the men dis- 
 mounting and hunting through corn shocks. Out of a 
 shock ran the man into the house, with Peel after him. 
 Peel searched thoroughly in vain. A man and half a 
 dozen women, including the deserter's wife, were sitting 
 at a table apparently in the act of commencing to eat 
 dinner. 'Twas when big hoop skirts were worn, and be- 
 ing a small man Peel felt sure that he was under his 
 wife's skirts and a blanket thrown round her lap and feet, 
 told her so, and declared that he would have him if he 
 had to go under her skirts. At this juncture Lieutenant 
 Hastings rode up and called Peel out, told him he had 
 no right to enter and hunt through a man's house with- 
 out a search warrant, which he did not have, and now 
 that he had laid himself liable to arrest they must mount 
 and get across the river, which they did. It was under- 
 
156 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 stood that an indictment was found against Peel, and af- 
 ter that he kept away from Weston. A month later the 
 man gave himself up, a consumptive wreck, and died soon 
 after. He confessed that he was under his wife's skirts 
 when Peel was after him. 
 
 In March, 1854, I was made a Mason in the Weston 
 lodge and took the first three degrees. I have seen some- 
 thing of masonic lodges since that time, but have never 
 seen a finer set of men or brighter Masons than that 
 lodge contained. ^^Old Jimmy'' Miller was the secretary 
 and "father" of the lodge, and Perry Wallingford con- 
 ferred the degrees in a manner that the "novice" could 
 never forget. One night every week, when it was con- 
 venient for me to be absent, I spent in Weston and at- 
 tended the lodge. I asked the captain's permission to 
 ride over to Weston in the evening and back in the morn- 
 ing, and it was cheerfully given. 
 
 And now the time was approaching for the annual 
 campaign. Headquarters, staff and band and "B" and 
 "D" Troops were ordered to New Mexico and would leave 
 about the first of July. Brydon reenli&ted and was trans- 
 ferred to the band. He was getting old, and settled 
 down to the fact that the best way to provide for old age 
 was to go to the Soldiers' Home in Washington. The 
 Grovernment had just commenced to collect 12^/^ cents 
 per month from each soldier for its support. While re- 
 gretting to part with him I encouraged him to take the 
 step, for, old and out of the army, he would 'be helpless. 
 He was the only man who had shared my tent for the 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAQOON. 
 
 157 
 
 last two years, except on a few emergencies, and had 
 iDcen my constant friend since we joined the troop. 
 
 Towards the last of May "D" Troop, Captain John 
 Adams, came from Fort Snelling by steamboat and camp- 
 ed on the "bine grass," a little southwest of where is now 
 <^Merritt" Lake, and the month of Jnne was a busy one 
 ior every one preparing for a move that admitted of no 
 return for probably some years. 
 
 
PART IV. 
 
 ON THE second day of July, 1854, headquarters 
 First Dragoons, ''B" and "D" Troops, with a large 
 number of army officers, somle families, a large supply 
 train and 600 extra horses led on strings of about forty 
 horses each, left Fort Leavenworth for Fort Union, New 
 Mexico, Colonel Thomas T. Fauntleroy commanding. 
 
 From start to finish, the two troops alternated daily 
 in front and rear guard. During my experience I had 
 never campaigned with another troop, hence did not 
 know very much about the management of other troops 
 on the plains and I learned to think "B^^ nearly as per- 
 fect as the conditions permitted. I was as proud of it as 
 I ever have been of anything under my immediate charge. 
 On every hand the troop attracted attention — the manner 
 of marching, care taken of their horses, appearance of 
 horses and men, the short time necessary to put up their 
 tents, and the lightning speed with which they were 
 struck, folded and loaded in the wagons, the neatness 
 and dispatch in everything, and the quietness and lack 
 of confusion on every hand, seemed a wonder to many of 
 the officers of long experience. There was no special 
 effort on this trip more than on others, but somehow we 
 were settled down to one way of doing — a uniformity of 
 thought and action — changes were few and only when 
 circumstances forced them. Officers and non-commis- 
 
 ^5S 
 
FIVE Y^ARS A DRAGOON. 159 
 
 sioned officers did not have to reiterate from day to day 
 and from camp to camp, for no man could plead ignor- 
 ance of a general routine, hence there was little friction; 
 the men had grown into the habit of taking pride in do- 
 ing everything, having "some style about them," as Mc- 
 Donald used to say, and every man had grown to know 
 that he must do his share cheerfully, all working togeth- 
 er fov,Hhe general good. 
 
 "D'' Troop was composed of a fine lot of men and 
 drilled well, but they had been stationed for some years 
 at Fort Snelling, and did not have the long summer cam- 
 paigns that B had, and for that reason were not up to 
 the daily routine of making themselves comfortable. 
 Most of the men were comparatively new to campaigning, 
 and while fine garrison soldiers, had much to learn and 
 to suffer before they could hope to compete with men 
 who had traveled from 1,500 to 3,000 miles every sum- 
 mer, always in an Indian country, always on the alert and 
 obliged to move with little transportation, little or no 
 forage save the grass that grew in abundance everywhere, 
 and with short rations, depending largely on game which 
 was also generally abundant. Of course, more or less 
 recruits were received every winter (generally fore part 
 of winter) from Carlisle Barracks to replace those dis- 
 charged, etc. These recruits had special attention in 
 drill, and imagined they were full fledged soldiers by 
 the time we went on the plains, but soon found that half 
 was not learned. 
 
 A good deal can be done to discipline men in garri- 
 son; but in the field, on the march, in bivouac under the 
 11— 
 
FIYE YEARS A DRAGOON. 161 
 
 blue sky, in storms, cold and heat, on the trail, caring 
 for self and horses, with always a helping hand for com- 
 rades, bearing cheerfully every hardship, — there was 
 where the thorough dragoon was made, and a man in his 
 first year's service was not worth half as much as in after 
 years. This applies to a troop where three-fourths of 
 the men were "old soldiers," which includes all men after 
 the first year. This being true, how about a troop or 
 company where there is not more than half a dozen who 
 have seen service before ? Take the experience of any 
 man who has served in the regulars and volunteers. See 
 the amount of sickness in the latter compared to the 
 former; see the difi^erence between strict discipline and 
 the reverse; see the comfort of one against the suffering 
 of the other under trying circumstances; see the differ- 
 ence between men who accept their instructions as iron- 
 clad law, never doubting the correctness thereof, and 
 men who argue the point in their minds, if not aloud, 
 the instructor himself in doubt, lacking confidence in 
 himself and the men he addresses — "the blind leading 
 the blind." To hear the rabble, and politicians in par- 
 ticular, talk of how "our brave volunteers" performed 
 such and such feats in battle, one would think the regu- 
 lar army did not amount to anything, and were only a 
 stumbling block in the way of the "gallant men" of this 
 or that State. Who ever doubted the courage of any re- 
 spectable American — the peer of any man on earth? 
 Surely, not I. But how can a man know anything un- 
 til he has learned it? Is there any sense in marching 
 young men, after a few months of camp life, into battle 
 
162 ^^^'^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 against disciplined troops? It won't do to tell us they 
 are bravo. AVho doiihtod that? The fact that he is 
 brave does not make his adversary less brave nor his aim 
 less accurate. To stand up and receive the death blow 
 because too ignorant to avoid it, may be admirable, but 
 it is pitiable, and no credit to the nation that places men 
 in such a position. ISTo country on earth has superior 
 material for soldiers, but it is no credit to the United 
 States to expect this material to be transformed from 
 peaceful pursuits to military experts in a few months to 
 meet the stern necessities of battle. 
 
 Some one may point to the performance of the First 
 Volunteer Cavalry ("Eough Eiders'^) at Santiago to prove 
 that the very best work was done by that regiment. Such 
 comparison is no criterion. Nine-tenths of them were 
 men who had lived for years in the field, in the moun- 
 tains, on the plains, accustomed for years to Indian war- 
 fare; the best shots and the best horsemen in the world; 
 accustomed to follow the trail and protect themselves 
 and their property everywhere. Turned loose anywhere, 
 singly or in squads, they were self-supporting. Even 
 that portion of the regiment which came from the col- 
 leges and society circles of New York were remarkable 
 for athletic accomplishments of all kinds, including tar- 
 get practice. Probably there is not on record an organi- 
 zation of similar numbers where each individual was so 
 nearly self-made and self-reliant as this. The Colonel 
 had -distinguished himself as an Indian follower and 
 fighter in the regular army in Arizona and Mexico as 
 few men ever did;, and the Lieutenant Colonel from boy- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 163 
 
 hood up had trained himself in every line of athletics; 
 had ranched with the cowboys of Dakota, AVyoming and 
 Montana, and was the champion hunter of big game in 
 the United States. In his experience in public life he 
 had learned human nature in every grade, and above all, 
 at the age of most complete manhood — not too old for 
 strength and energy nor too young for mature judgment 
 — had learned self-control and the management of men. 
 With their superb courage and patriotism, no wonder 
 Colonel Wood and Lieutenant Colonel Eoosevelt led 
 that magnificent band of men, , equal to those who died 
 with Crockett at the Alamo, to glorious victory. It will 
 not do to compare this regiment with average volunteers. 
 Every man was a soldier, tried in a school than which 
 there is no better in America. But the officers and men 
 of this regiment will ever stand in respectful acknowl- 
 edgment of the grand old regulars, who were shoulder 
 to shoulder with them, and without which there would 
 have been few of the "Eough Eiders" left to tell the tale. 
 Dogged, stubborn discipline came in time to mingh^ 
 with desperate gallantry at the crucial moment. Young 
 America, I honor your courage and manhood, but keep 
 your eye on the regulars, and when you want to be a 
 soldier enlist in a good company, in a good regiment, and 
 go to a home where order and decency prevail, and every 
 well behaved man finds peace and comfort. 
 
 Of course there was the usual confusion of starting 
 a big caravan on a long journey, but things improved 
 from day to day. Our troop had easy times compared 
 to other organizations. After passing Council Grove, 
 
164 ^I^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 guards were doubled, as they always were on the route 
 west, always expecting depredations of some kind from 
 the Indians if the utmost vigilance was not maintained. 
 On Coon Oreek, now in Edwards County, we met 
 Kiowa Indians in great numbers, mounted on fine horses. 
 They cavorted about us, saucy, insolent and defiant, in 
 fact it looked like trouble was inevitable. "B" was ad- 
 vance guard, and as we were strung out on the road, "D'' 
 was more than two miles in rear. Our horses on strings 
 were a great temptation to the Indians, and they could 
 have charged in and stampeded the whole lot with little 
 loss to themselves. Colonel Fauntleroy was riding with 
 Major Chilton and other officers ahead of me, as I rode 
 at the head of the troop', and I heard the conversation. 
 I saw that the Colonel and the Major were disagreeing, 
 and finally the Major lost his temper and said with some 
 spirit, "Well, if I were in command I would corral these 
 trains and horses and wipe these Kiowas off the face of 
 the earth; this is no way to deal with Indians.'^ In 
 answer the Colonel ordered the Major in arrest and to 
 the rear. The Mejor turned, his eyes flashing, his brist- 
 ling mustache looking unusually fierce, and rode to the 
 rear. He had taken his last ride in front of his troop. 
 Lieutenant Hastings was detached from the troop, acting 
 commissary officer, hence, when the Major was arriested 
 there was no officer left in command of it. The Major 
 h^ad been consulted all along about oamps, and had 
 been of great service. Immediately after his arrest, the 
 Colonel called me and said he wanted to go into camp. 
 It was about 11 o'clock. I told him he could not find a 
 
Famous Kaw Chiefs. „, , . , 
 
 All Ur. Wah-ti-an-gah. 
 
 Al-le-ga-wa-bo. nu-^t » 
 
 Kah-he-ga-warti-an-gah, known as the i^ ool OHiet. 
 
166 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 better camp than about where he was, where the town of 
 Kinsley now is, and at his order I rode off to assist the 
 quartermaster, Captain Mastin, to arrange the camp. To 
 the troop I gave the order, "Dismount! Graze your 
 horses!" The Colonel looked surprised, but said nothing. 
 T was carrying out a standing rule to rest and graze the 
 horses at every opportunit3\ I was an hour with the 
 quartermaster, during which time the troop were enjoy- 
 ing the finest grass on the plains. 
 
 This camp was made more compact than any we had 
 heretofore, and the guard considerably strengthened. It 
 was but a few miles from the old battle ground. 
 
 I reported to the Major after retreat and guard 
 mount for any suggestions he might desire to make. 
 Evidently he felt chagrined at the position he was placed 
 in, and anxious that whatever happened his troop should 
 not be found wanting. While we were talking. Lieuten- 
 ant Robert Williams called and stated to the Major that 
 he had been detailed to take command of his troop. He 
 had called to pay his respects and to learn from the Major 
 anything he desired to impart concerning it. The Major 
 thanked him and said about as follows: "This is Ser- 
 geant Lowe, Lieutenant Williams. He has been first 
 sergeant more than two years, knows all about the troop, 
 and will certainly serve under you as faithfully and cheer- 
 fully as he has under me. I congratulate you on being 
 de'tailed to command my troop. You will not be likely 
 to have any trouble with it." Lieutenant Williams com- 
 manded the troop two da^'s, when Lieutenant Hastings 
 took command. Lieutenant Williams was one of the best 
 
FIYE YEARS A DRAGOON. 167 
 
 specimens of manhood I ever met. Nothing ruffled the 
 even tenor of his ways; he always spoke in the same 
 gentle tone, the same perfect English, in the same refined 
 manner. I conceived -a friendship for him that a more 
 intimate acquaintance in future years increased to ad- 
 miration. He was one of the most refined and noble 
 character I ever knew. His military service ended 
 with his retirement as Adjutant-General of the Army 
 in ISO? on -.^ccount of age. 
 
 On leaving the Coon Creek camp we moved out in 
 double columji, troops traveling by fours, wagons and 
 horse strings two abreast. The re^ar guard furnished a 
 line of vedettes along the bluffs, aud orders were strict 
 to keep everything closed up. A few days later we crossed 
 the Arkansas at Cimarron Crossing, thirty miles above 
 where now stands Dodge City, and camped on the south 
 bank. We seemed to have left the Indian-s all behind, 
 twenty miles below, and the talk that the Colonel had 
 with them the evening before indicated no trouble. 
 
 The camp was west of the road, extending up the 
 river fully a mile. "D" Troop was at the upper end 
 (west); "B" was rear guard that day and camped just 
 west of the road, forming the left flank of the camp, 
 the wagon train, except headquarters, company and offi- 
 cers' transportation, M^as well to the front (south), away 
 from the river, and the horse strings immediately in 
 rear, while headquarters, officers' families, etc., were 
 strung along the bank of the river between the two troops. 
 A bend in the river whcte "B" Troop was, threw it north 
 of the east and west line of the other camps. The 
 
168 J^IVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ground occupied by the supply train, the horse strings 
 and "D" Troop was sandy and treacherous. Picket pins 
 went down easily and were easily withdrawn. Our camp 
 occupied firmer ground^, and with care we made our 
 horses perfectly safe, knowing well the terrors of the 
 stampede, taking in the treacherous nature of the ground 
 occupied by all except us, and the fearful effects of hun- 
 dreds of animals with lariats and flying picket pins 
 sweeping over our camp. We hugged the bank of the 
 river below the bend closely, occupying as little room 
 with tents and the two company wagons as possible, and 
 arranging horses so that a direct stampede east would 
 pass them. In other words, a stampede would have to 
 come around tlie bend to strike any part of our camp. 
 It was noticed by all of our troop that the 600 led 
 horses were always badly picketed; that is, picket pins 
 driven half way down and in many cases two or three 
 lariats tied to one pin. A stampede had been feared 
 by all of us. The man in charge of the horse strings 
 was very ill most of the time, and each man in charge 
 of a string of horses seemed to have no conception of 
 the crash that was sure to come sooner or later. ^^D" 
 Troop did little better than the horse strings and "B" 
 was spurred up by me and other non-commissioned offi- 
 cers to see that every picket pin was securely driven 
 in the best s^round. I have seen men stick their picket 
 pins in an ant hill because it went down easily. Such 
 a thing in our troop, or the fact that a horse got loose 
 in any way, unless proven to be no fault of the rider, 
 would insure his walking and carrying his arms the 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 169 
 
 next day. Carelessness in picketing horses would not 
 be condoned on this or any other trip that we ever 
 made. A stampede was the terror of terrors on the 
 plains, and this location was like camping on a volcano 
 liable to erupt at any moment. 
 
 It was a perfectly bright, starlit night, and peace 
 seemed to reign from end to end of the camp. Visit- 
 ing was general among the officers, and a feeling of 
 safety prevailed, now that we seemed to be clear of 
 trouble with Indians. A little before nine o'clock the 
 earth seemed to tremble as if in the violent throes of 
 an earthquake. Like a whirlwind a stampede commenced 
 with "D" Troop horses, rushing down through the ex- 
 tra or "led" horses and on thtough the mules, sweeping 
 everything before it, barely missing officers and B Troop 
 camp. On they went a little south of east down the 
 river, in the mad rush trampling everything under foot, 
 upsetting and breaking a dozen six-mule wagons by 
 catching picket pins in the wheels as the moving mass 
 rushed on; picket pins whizzing in the air struck an ob- 
 ject and bounded forward like flying lances. To con- 
 dense: "D'' Troop lost two-thirds of their horses. All 
 the string horses (600) and 600 mules, besides some 
 private animals, were in the mad rush of destruction. 
 One "B" Troop horse, an extra, succeeded in joining 
 the gang. Realizing the full meaning of the terrible 
 calamity, I ordered "boots and saddles,'' and when Lieu- 
 tenant Hastings, who was visiting some officers, arrived, 
 the troop was ready to mount. The quartermaster ser- 
 geant was left in charge of the camp with a cook an;I 
 
170 
 
 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 bugler. Lieutenant Hastings rode over to headquarters 
 and reported. Eeturning immediate!}^, we mounted, and 
 were off in the direction of the stampede. A few young 
 efficers en route to join their troop in New Mexico, and 
 who were fortunate enough to have their horses down 
 near the river out of the line of the stampede, mounted 
 and struck out. 
 
 "Pioneer Store" on the Trail. 
 
 The stampede was a mystery at headquarters, one 
 opinion being tliat it was caused by Indians, another 
 that wolves had frightened some horses and they had 
 started all the others. There was more experience in 
 "B" Troop than in the balance of the command, and 
 the conclusion was that it would be no trouble to bring 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 171 
 
 about a stampede from either cause. One Indian in a 
 wolf skin might have done it, or one horse frightened 
 at anything running the length of his lariat and scar- 
 ing a few more might bring about the whole thing. We 
 'did not believe that any number of Indians were near 
 us, or were making any hostile demonstrations. In 
 short, the treacherous character of the ground made it 
 unfit to picket a large number of horses and mules, and 
 the stampede was almost a matter of course. We might 
 have escaped such a calamity as inexperienced cam- 
 paigners sometimes do, but the chances, considering the 
 number of animals and want of care were against us. 
 
 It was nine o'clock when the troop started on the 
 trail, feeling its way out through the wilderness of 
 wrecked wagons, crippled and dead horses and mules 
 and their lariats and picket pins, met with in the first 
 two miles, within which nearly a hundred horses and 
 mules were found dead or injured by being pierced with 
 flying picket pins or by being tangled in the ropes and 
 dragged. We did not stop for any of these, but rode on 
 to head off those animals that had escaped in a condi- 
 tion to travel. Within five miles of camp we headed off 
 probably 200 mules. Most of them had broken their 
 lariats and lost their picket pins by being trampled up- 
 on by other animals. We rounded them up and sent 
 half a dozen men with them, following the river bank 
 towards camp. Then we spread out and in a mile or 
 two, rounded up another large band nearly all mules, 
 and sent another squad of men with them. It was my 
 experience then, and always has been in a stampede, 
 
^72 FI^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 that mules tone down after a short run, whereas fright- 
 ened horses never know when to stop, and run until ex- 
 hausted. A herd of mules without horses to lead them 
 in a stampede will hardly ever run more than two miles, 
 circle around a little and then either stop to graze or 
 strike a trail at a moderate gait. Within twelve or fif- 
 teen miles of camp we had turned back with different 
 squads of men probably 400 mules and half as many 
 horses; and now Lieutenant Hastings and three or four 
 men started back with quite a band, mostly horses, leav- 
 ing with me about twenty-five men. Following the same 
 tactics and having driven in whatever we could find with- 
 in a few miles, a small squad of men was started up the 
 river towards camp. A couple of young officers. Lieu- 
 tenants Lloyd Beall and Craig, joined me with 
 
 quite a band of horses about daylight. 
 
 At that time I was with a few men in the sand hills, 
 probably a mile from the river. We swung around driv- 
 ing about sixty horses before us towards the river, and 
 suddenly found ourselves close to an Indian camp, a 
 little below it. There was no changing our course so as 
 to avoid the village altogether without abandoning our 
 captured animals. I put spurs to my horse to get be- 
 tween the horses and the Indian camp, followed closely 
 by Hand and the two officers. The horses did not seem 
 to notice the lodges until close on to them, and we 
 rushed through the south edge of the village at a fast 
 gallop. In the meantime the dogs set up a terrible 
 barking, and as we looked back the whole camp seemed 
 to be alive, as men, women and children hustled out o| 
 
m. _. 
 
174 F'lVE YEARS A DRAGOOX 
 
 their lodges. Attracted by a large number of Indian 
 horseS;, two of onrs started to ioin them. Craig mad3 
 a break to lietul tliem off, and ])istol in hand chased them 
 through the Indian herd. Beall joined Craig and with 
 the two horses joined m}^ party in little more time than 
 is necessary to tell it. And now the sun was coming up; 
 we had ridden our horses at all sorts of gaits seven 
 hours. In the band we were driving were several good 
 ones. We rounded them up in a bend of the river and 
 made a change and helped Beall and Craig to change. 
 Knowing that the Indians would be soon scouring the 
 country for horses^ and with my small party of men I 
 could accomplish nothing, I determined to scatter out 
 200 or 300 yards apart and drive all we could find to 
 camp. I knew that the camp we had passed was com- 
 posed of Kiowas and Comanches, about thirty miles be- 
 low our camp. When about twenty-five miles below our 
 camp^ I saw horses on the opposite side of the river. 
 They must be a part of ours that had crossed over; they 
 were loose and grazing. Through my glass I could count 
 about a dozen. Leaving the balance of the party to go 
 on, driving everything they could before them, I took 
 three men and crossed the river. Below the horses first 
 seen there were no signs of any having passed down. 
 We drove before us all that we saw and probably all on 
 that side and arrived in camp near sunset with thirty- 
 two. At retreat roU call every man of "B'^ Troop an- 
 swered to his name. Among the big bands brought in 
 by Lieutenant Hastings and others the dismounted por- 
 tion of "D" Troop found mounts, and with citizen em- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 175 
 
 ployees did good service in gathering in and caring for 
 horses and mules. 
 
 To the fact that "B" Ttoop was able to mount 
 promptly, and work systematically and vigorously, Col- 
 onel Fauntleroy owed his ability to move without aban- 
 doning many wagons, only those badly wrecked. If 
 pursuit had been delayed until morning the Indians 
 would have had most of the horses. It did not take 
 them long to scour the country and pick up what we 
 left. They brought a good many to the camp, foo* which 
 the Colonel paid them. Two days after the stampede 
 we recrossed the river and found a fine safe camp on 
 the north side. 
 
 Nearly all mules not killed or fatally cripnled were 
 saved, so that we were short only about fifty. About 
 150 horses were dead or desperately crippled, and many 
 more not accounted for, probably found by Indians after 
 we left; shortage, 200 or more. 
 
 Lieutenant Beall had been in arrest ever since we 
 left Fort Leavenworth, and now he Avas released. He 
 volunteered to go in pursuit of the stam-neded stock, 
 and on Craig's report he was restored to clutv. This I 
 understood at the time. Eight ^^ears later Captain Craig 
 told me at Fort Union, N. M., where he was then quar- 
 termiaster, that on the way to camp after I left to cross 
 
 the river, Beall said: "Why the didn't I think to 
 
 lead off after those two horses? Here I am a first lieu- 
 tenant and you just from the Academy; I am under a 
 cloud and ought to have done something to recommend 
 myself.'^ "You did/' said Craig, "you followed those 
 
 12— 
 
176 ^I^E TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 horses through the Indian herd, pistol in hand (which 
 was true, following the example of Craig), and I shall 
 so report." And that report induced Colonel Fauntle- 
 roy to release Beall. 
 
 The history of these two men is interestinar. Beall 
 was a captain of artillery at the commencement of the 
 Civil War, resigned and enlisted in the Confederate Army. 
 Dr. M. S. Thomas resided in Leavenworth previous to 
 the war, joined the Army of Northern Virginia as a 
 surgeon, and after the battle following the capture of 
 General Pope's headauarters, while riding over the hat- 
 tleiield near a Confederate battery he recognized a dog 
 that used to belong to Beall at Fort Leavenworth. He 
 knew that the dog was not far from his master, and pro- 
 ceeded to investigate. He soon found Sergeant Beall. 
 A long conversation followed, in which Beall stated that 
 many times he had been recommended for promotion, 
 but on account of his reputation for drinkinp- his en- 
 dorsements were overruled before they reached the ap- 
 pointing power. I do not know his end. Colonel Craig 
 married a wealthy lady in Ohio, resigned from the army 
 at the close of the war, prosecuted a claim to a large 
 Spanish grant of land in southern Colorado, won it, and 
 was independentlv rich, and died before he was fiftv. ^ 
 
 Colonel Fauntleroy sent for me and said some very 
 nice things to me and of the troop, but there was nc 
 mention of the happenings in "orders/^ I take it foi 
 granted that Colonel Fauntlerov included the stampede 
 in his report to the War Department, and that the 
 quartermaster, Captain Mastin, reported the loss of pnb- 
 
FIYE TEARS A DRAGOON. 177 
 
 lie animals and other property, "but no mention of it in 
 newspapers;, nor in *^^orders" anywhere. Men were sup- 
 posed to do their duty without hope of special com- 
 mendation. A troop that would do now what ^'W did 
 then would be commended by the colonel, by the depart- 
 ment commander, by the division commander and by the 
 general of the army in his annual report. 
 
 After recrossing the river I called on Major Chilton 
 as soon as I could. I never saw him better pleased with 
 the troop. '^B Troop saved the command," said he. 
 "Mr. Hastings tells me that vou had ^oots and saddles' 
 sounded and the troop ready to mount when he reached 
 it after the stampede. I am glad you were so prompt 
 and did not wait." 
 
 And now we moved off up the north side of the 
 Arkansas by easy marches for several days, on up the 
 river to Bent's Old Fort, and crossed; thence south to 
 Timpas, Water Holes, Hole in the Rock, Hole in the 
 Prairie, crossing Purgetwa — generally pronounced Pick- 
 etware — below where Trinidad now is. 
 
 It was nearlv 100 miles farther by this than by the 
 Cimarron route to Santa Fe, hence it had been aban- 
 doned; had not been traveled since the Cimarron came 
 into general use. Trees had fallen across the trail, 
 mountain torrents had made great gulleys, and it took 
 Lieutenant Craig's pioneer party — details from "B" and 
 "D" Troops — several days to make the road passable. 
 Ir. the meantime our animals had the finest gramma 
 grass I ever saw, and I never saw animals improve so 
 much as ours did in so short a time. 
 
178 FI^E TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 One day while camped here Sergeant Peel went 
 hunting; he was riding a mule, and when a mile or two 
 from camp a thunder storm overtook him, and he sought 
 shelter under a thick clump of pines. A flock of turkeys 
 ran under a big, low branched pine, not more than ten 
 yards from him. The rain and hail came down in tor- 
 rents while the wind blew a fearful gale. Peel had tied 
 his gentle mule securely, and deliberately shot seven- 
 teen turkeys, every one in the head. They seemied to 
 think the crack of his rifle a peal of thunder, and the 
 fluttering of the dying turkeys did not frighten them. 
 He finally wounded one and it flew away, the balance of 
 the flock — half a dozen — following. Peel came into camn 
 about dark with all that his mule could stagger under. 
 
 Just before this storm I had marched my detail for 
 guard to headquarters, and guard mounting was just 
 over when the storm struck us. I put spurs to my horse 
 and rode with all speed for camp. I had crossed a dry 
 ravine going, and returning found a mountain torrent. 
 I very imprudently dashed through it, looked back and 
 saw a tree a foot through o-oing down at railroad speed. 
 A second later and I and my horse were hopelessly lost. 
 As it was, nine horses out of ten would have failed, but 
 my noble "Bruce,'' with courage that knew no faltering, 
 having full confidence in his master, landed me safely 
 and bounded away as if there was nothing the matter. 
 This horse was my special pet; every soldier^s horse 
 ought to be. It may be a little hard for a good soldier 
 of fine feelings to pet a miserable plug, and on the other 
 hand, it may be a little hard for a good horse to think 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. I79 
 
 much of his plug master — both combinations that ought 
 not to exist. Grood men and horses having faith in each 
 other will follow the right kind of leader to victory or 
 annihilation without a murmur. The horse need not 
 be of any particular strain of blood so that he is of a 
 saddle horse breed, made to gladden the heart of the 
 proud man who rides him; not a thick shouldered, fat 
 headed, short stepping thing, only fit for a huckster, but 
 a horse with flat, muscular legs, short back, well quar- 
 tered, well cupped sound hoofs, high crest, lean head, 
 bright eyes and brainy. With this latter combination, 
 he may be Spanish broncho, Arabian, Kentucky thor- 
 oughbred, or mixed — never ask a man to ride a plug 
 off the farm where he is used to plow. One of the 
 greatest mistakes this Government is making is in not 
 using a part of the Fort Leavenworth and Fort Eiley 
 military reservations to breed a sample of saddle horse, 
 if for no other reason than to show the farmers of tho 
 surrounding country the kind of horse the Government 
 requires for cavalry and artillery. 
 
 Having gotten the road open and the animals wed 
 rested, we moved over the Ratton Pass and camped at 
 a pond at the foot of the mountains. We were rear 
 guard this day and had a tedious time; some wagons 
 wrecked, and we came into camn late. The next morn- 
 ing w^e were in advance at sunrise. Approaching Eed 
 River, a big flock of turkeys were plainly to be seen on 
 the trees; they had never been frightened and knew no 
 fear. I asked permission of Lieutenant Hastings to 
 
180 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ride ahead and kill one of them, which I did, shooting 
 a big fellow from the tree with my pistol. 
 
 The first settlement that we struck in New Mexico 
 was Maxwell's Eanch, on the Cimarron; the next was 
 Riado, where I Troop was stationed. We here heard 
 
 "Council Oak. 
 
 Under this Oak, at Council Grove, treaty was made 
 
 with ihe Great and Little Osages for right of 
 
 way of Santa Fe Trail, Aug. 10, 1825. 
 
 Estimated age of tree, 250 years. 
 
 the first account of the battle fought six weeks before 
 between I Ttoop and the Apaches, heretofore referred 
 to. I met my old friend Byrnes, whom I had not seen 
 
f^" FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. Igl 
 
 since we parted at Fort Leavenworth the 1st of April, 
 1850. Now he was first sergeant as heretofore related. 
 Headquarters, band and ^'D" Troop stopped here, while 
 "B'^ went on. 
 
 Arrived at Fort Union, we went into camp by our- 
 selves about two miles from the post. And now the 
 troop was under orders to proceed to Fort Stanton in 
 a few weeks. Major Chilton found his commission as 
 major and paymaster, was ordered to report at Wash- 
 ington, and was released from arrest. As my time would 
 be out in less than two months I was promised a fur- 
 lough before the troop would go. Colonel Cook would 
 leave Fort Union for Fort Leavenworth in two weeks 
 with a miscellaneous command, and this was my oppor- 
 tunity to go to the "States.-'^ 
 
 Pitching two wall tents facing each other and 
 stretching a fly to cover the space between, I had a good 
 orderly room and office, and with Corporal Ferguson for 
 a clerk, assisted by Lieutenant Hastings, we proceeded 
 to straighten up all company accounts, and bring every- 
 thing up to date before my denarture. Nothing in the 
 way of clerical work was left undone on Major Chilton's 
 account as well as Hastings'. I had never had a com- 
 pany clerk and no assistance except what Lieutenant 
 Hastings was always glad to render, and assistance from 
 Ferguson or some other in comparing muster rolls. The 
 records will show that when I left the clerical work was 
 complete and there would be no unsettled matters be- 
 tween the troop commander and any of the departments, 
 
182 ^lyE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 and there would be no dispute or confusion about any 
 man^s account. 
 
 I bought a mule, and Hastings gave me a saddle, 
 bridle and blanket. I got permission to put my provis- 
 ions, blankets, clothing, etc., into a Government wagon 
 in which I might sleep at night. Transportation was 
 scarce and teams heavily loaded. A man on furlough 
 had no .status and no rights. The wagonmaster, Mr. 
 Eice, very kindly invited me to mess with him, which 
 I was very glad to do. The dav of my departure came, 
 my last roll call was made at reveille, and I passed from 
 right to left of the troop and shook hands with every 
 man. I was obliged to nerve myself to the utmost to 
 m^eet this trial, one of the greatest of my life. My work 
 was done, I had trrned my back upon my best friends. 
 I would never make better. I never saw any one else 
 similarly affected. I had met and stood as severe shocks 
 as any man of my age that I had ever known, and in- 
 wardly prided myself upon being equal to any emer- 
 gency, but now I seemed bewildered. I went to my 
 tent and pretty soon Hastings came in and said : " ^Tis 
 not too late to reenlist; perhaps you had best recon- 
 sider your determination to leave the troop.^^ This 
 seemed to bring me to my senses. I straightened up 
 and replied: "Lieutenant Hastings, I appreciate all you 
 say and lall oi the good will that you have ever sliown 
 for me, but I have matured my plans for the future. I 
 am tearing myself away from the best friends I ever 
 had and am doing it as a matter of duty to myself. 
 There is nothing in the army for me from my stand- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 183 
 
 point. I am nearly twentv-six years old, and in another 
 five years I would be thirty-one. I have learned all that 
 I can hope to learn in the army that would assist me in 
 civil life. Surely my services will be worth more out 
 of the army than in it. At any rate I have nerved my- 
 self for the trial, the bridges are burned, and there is no 
 retreat." There was one man, Sergeant Worrel, in the 
 hospital. Hastings mentioned the fact thinking I might 
 have overlooked him. I said that I did not have to say 
 "good bye" to him. I had no use for him; he was a thief, 
 and would be guilty of any crime he dared to commit, 
 and I gave the Lieutenant satisfactory evidence that 
 what I said was true, and told him that sooner or later 
 lie would find that I was right. I have heretofore stated 
 the end of this foul murderer, and will now drop him. 
 
 There were two married men in the troop. Sergeants 
 Peel and Espy. Mrs. Peel and Mrs. Espy gave me a fare- 
 well dinner, learning which Mrs. Hastings sent them 
 some delicacies not to be had otherwise. PeePs only son, 
 Percival Lowe Peel, was two years old. Having said 
 '^'good bye" to Lieutenant and Mrs. Hastings and their 
 lovely children, and to Mrs. Peel and Mrs. Espy and their 
 boys, I started out for the first camp, ten miles. When 
 half way I saw Colonel Fauntleroy, staff, band and "D" 
 Troop en route from Riado to Union. The short cut 
 that I was on and the road that they were traveling were 
 a mile apart. I wanted to see Bryden, now of the band; 
 in fact I would have been glad to salute the Colonel for 
 the last time, and the adjutant. Lieutenant Magruder, 
 and to say f^good bye" to genial old Band-master Hooper, 
 
184 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. :^ 
 
 "who had been my dancing master several winters. I got 
 under a clump of pinyons^ sat on the ground and saw 
 them pass. To go down and shake Bryden's liand would 
 never do; it would be a severe trial to say "good bye'^ to 
 him, and I did not want to trust myself. And so I watch- 
 ed the column, the dear old fellow near the front, his 
 trumpet over his shoulder, the cheering notes of which I 
 would never hear again. It was my last look at all of 
 them except Sergeant Candy of "D" Troop, now Colonel 
 Candy of the Hampton Soldiers' Home. 
 
 Arrived in camp Major Chilton's servant came to 
 say that the Major wanted to see me. When I reported 
 he wanted to know how I was fixed for the, trip. I told 
 him I would be all right. 
 
 We came in the Cimarron route, leaving the old 
 trail near Diamond Springs, turned north to Fort Riley 
 and thence to Fort Leavenworth. At Riley I left the 
 command, and arrived at Fort Leavenworth two days 
 later, and by invitation of Levi Wilson, who was general 
 superintendent of teams, etc., I took my meals at his 
 house, a room having been furnished me elsewhere. 
 
 Major Ogden told Mr. Wilson to employ me, and I 
 was put in charge of a small train, five six mule teams 
 for Fort Riley and met Colonel Cook's command ten miles 
 out. I was warmly congratulated on being so well em- 
 ployed. I 
 
 This was the beginning of five years' continuous ser- 
 vice in the Quartermaster's Department, the most inter- 
 esting part of which I will sketch hereafter. 
 
PART V. 
 
 LATE in the fall of 1852, Major E. H. Chilton, with 
 his Troop B, First Dragoons, of which I was then 
 first sergeant, escorted Major E. A. Ogden from 
 Fort Leavenworth on an expedition to looate a new mil- 
 itary post in the vicinity of the forks of the Kansas 
 Ejiver — ^the confluence of the Smoky Hill and Eepublican. 
 The site selected was afterwards named Fort Riley,t now 
 one of the finest militarv posts in America. Some build- 
 ings were erected in 1853 and 1854, most of them tem- 
 porary, and the post was garrisoned by infantry. I quote 
 the following from an address* delivered by me before 
 the State Historical Society, January 14, 1890: 
 
 "Of all charming and fascinating portions of our 
 country, probably there is none where Nature has been so 
 lavish as within a radius of 150 miles, taking Fort Eiley 
 as the center. In rich soil, building material, in beauty 
 of ;|iandscape, wooded streams and bubbling springs, in 
 
 -4^ y-^--^' 
 
 ^' *Addres^ delivered before the Kansas State Historical So- 
 !(jiety, at its twenty-fifth annual meeting, January 15, J901. 
 
 'I'v fThe po§t was named in honor of Brevet Major-General 
 Bennet Riley, U S. Army, who entered the service in 1813, and 
 died in 1863. He distinguished himself in campaigns against 
 Indians in Florida, and was breveted brigadier and major- 
 general for meritorious and gallant conduct in the war with 
 Mexico. — Editor. 
 
 185 
 
r ^^S^%^' 1\- 
 
 MONUMENT AT FoRT RiLEY IN MeMORY OF THE SEVENTH 
 
 Cavalry Officers and Enlisted Men who Died 
 IN Battle with Indians 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. Ig7 
 
 animal life, in everything to charm the eye, gladden the 
 heart, and yield to the industry of man, here was the 
 climax of the most extravagant dream, perfect in all its 
 wild beauty and productiveness; perfect in all that Na- 
 ture's God could hand down to man for his improvement 
 and happiness/^ 
 
 The Congress that adjourned March 4, 1855, made 
 an appropriation for preparing Fort Eiley for a cavalry 
 post by erecting new quarters, stables for five troops of 
 cavalry, storehouses, etc., the plans of which were pre- 
 pared in Washington; and Maj. E. A. Ogden, quarter- 
 master IT. S. A., was ordered to take charge of the work. 
 The buildings were all to be of stone to be taken from 
 quarries in the vicinity of the post. The major made con- 
 tracts with Sawyer & Mcllvain — or Mcllwain, of Cincin- 
 nati, for the necessary woodwork, doors and frames, win- 
 dow-sash, etc., to be made at the factory in Cincinnati 
 and shipped with the necessary lumber, hardware, glass, 
 etc., by boat to Fort Leavenworth, and thence by wagon 
 to Fort Riley. Mr. Sawyer was employed as architect 
 and superintendent. I was post wagon-master at Fort 
 Leavenworth when the order came to furnish transporta- 
 tion for the men to Fort Eiley, and' a request from Maj. 
 Ogden that I be nlaced in charge of it. With fifty-six 
 mule teams, I met, on the Fort Leavenworth levee, about 
 500 men, mechanics, laborers, etc., just landing from 
 steamboats, and camped them in Salt Creek Valley. Ex- 
 cepting a few Mexican War veterans, none of these men 
 had ever been in camp. They were just from their homes 
 
188 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOOW. 
 
 in Cincinnati or St. Lonis, and, as a large percentage of 
 them were married men, this was a novel experience. 
 Fortunately, the day was fine and we got into camp 
 early. 
 
 Without incident of much importance we arrived at 
 Fcrt Eiley in four days, without a storm or other serious 
 discomfort. The men cheerfully walked, turn about, in 
 order to make time and get permanently settled. All 
 were located in quarters or camped under canvas, and 
 work in all branches commenced the first week in July. 
 Excavations for foundations, quarrying rock, burning 
 lime, making brick, cutting wood for burning them, haul- 
 ing rock, sand, wood, etc., burning charcoal — in short, in 
 a few days all of the gangs of mechanics and laborers 
 were adjusted to their work and everything was moving 
 as smoothly as possible. The messing was the most im- 
 portant and the most difficult feature. Some cooks had 
 been brought, but most of them had much to learn about 
 cooking in oamp. The carpenters seemed to get along 
 the best, and were from the first to last a fine lot of men 
 and gave no trouble. It fell to my lot, under Major Og- 
 den's instructions, to look generally after all camps, and 
 from my experience +o advise the cooks about preparing 
 the food — the same as allowed to soldiers — and to see 
 that the camps were well located. 
 
 By the end of July a kiln of brick, lime and charcoal 
 had been burned, and one two-story stone building finish- 
 ed, except hanging the doors and putting in the windows, 
 and a number of others well under way. This completed 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. Igg 
 
 building was taken possession of for offices^ and two iron 
 safes containing the funds for paying the men were put 
 in the front room. By contract, the men hired to work 
 until the 15th of November, and were to be paid hall 
 their wages at the end of each month and the balance at 
 the end of the time for which they were hired. They 
 were then to be returned by wagon to Fort Leavenworth, 
 and thence by boat to St. Louis and Cincinnati, whence 
 they came. 
 
 Major Ogden, on horseback or on foot, was conspicu- 
 ous for his general supervision of everything, ready to 
 call attention to any neglect of work that did not seem to 
 be going on to the best advantage, and in that one month 
 of July I learned more than I ever have during the same 
 length of time. There was very little friction, as the 
 major^s experience with men and material was extensive, 
 and his well-directed energy and good judgment made 
 all of the departments move as nearly in harmony as was 
 possible among men suddenly taken into camp from their 
 city homes. More than half of them lived in tents. The 
 teamsters probably lived better than any other class of 
 men on the work, as they were accustomed to camp life; 
 some had served in the Army, and were therefore fairly 
 vrell disciplined and well versed in cooking Government 
 rations. Towards the end of the month a few men becamr^ 
 ill, and one or two men died of what was undoubtedly 
 cholera. All hands received their half-month's pay on 
 the 1st of August and that evening Major Ogden and I 
 rode from camp to camp inspecting all the messes and the 
 
190 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 manner of living. He talked freely and cheerfully, not- 
 withstanding the feeling of unrest caused by the few 
 cases of sickness, which had been promptly sent to the 
 hospital. He dwelt carefully upon all the details and 
 expressed the opinion that there would be little danger 
 of cholera if the men lived well. He entered into the 
 matter with his usual gentle earnestness, and restored 
 courage and confidence in many whose homes and friends 
 were far away. But this was his last effort; the last 
 cheering words to the men he had brought to this new 
 territory to build what was then considered a great mil- 
 itary post. We also went through all of the quarters 
 occupied by the men, accompanied by Mr. Sawyer, in 
 whom the mechanics had great confidence. When Major 
 Ogden arrived to build the post, all of the troops had 
 left for the summer^s campaign on the plains, so that 
 of the military there were left only the Army surgeon, 
 Dr. Simmons, Chaplain Clarkson, Bandmaster Jackson 
 and a few other members of the band of the Sixth In- 
 fantry, the hospital steward, whose name I am sorry I 
 do not remember, and a young soldier whose term of 
 service would expire in a few months. He acted as 
 orderly for the major. During the night of the 1st of 
 August cholera developed rapidly. The morning of the 
 Sd dawned on a camp in great anxiety and distress. 
 Major Ogden had been taken sick and, although every 
 effort was made to keep this information from spread- 
 ing, it flew like wildfire and caused a panic. A burial 
 party, and a gang of men to dig graves were organized. 
 
MAJOR E. A. OGDEN. 
 
DR. SAMUEL PHILIPS. 
 
o 
 
 > 
 
 > 
 
 CO 
 
 > 
 
 w 
 f 
 
 H 
 
 13— 
 
192 ^1^'E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Several died tha,t day. Work was generally suspended, 
 thongli Sawyer tried to Iveep men at work, and a few 
 did work, without stopping. I have no idea how many 
 men were sick, but much of the illness was caused by 
 mental anxiety. The slightest indisposition was attrib- 
 uted to cholera, and often resulted in bringing it on. 
 All sorts of wild reports were afloat, and a stranger 
 coming in would think half the garrison in a dying con- 
 dition, everything was so exaggerated. 
 
 Sawyer and Hopkins, the chief clerk, gave special 
 attention to Major Ogden. Martin, whose business it 
 was to keep the men^s time, mingled with them in camp 
 and quarters, including the hospital, and gave much 
 attention to burying the dead and nursing the sick. I 
 never saw a cooler or more intelligently nervy man. 
 
 I moved all the teams four miles up the Eepublican 
 Eiver to a fine, dry camp, partly for the safety of the 
 men and partly to prevent mules being stolen to ride 
 rway on, several having been already taken. I instructed 
 the men not to leave camp or allow anyone to approach 
 it; built a corral of the wagons for present use; gave 
 orders to corral the mules every night, and set the men 
 to cutting Cottonwood poles and building a large corral, 
 which was needed. I knew that the distress was great 
 enough to justify sending an express to Fort Leaven- 
 worth for medical assistance. The doctor was utterly 
 unable to meet the demands upon him, and I told Mr. 
 Orton, a wagon-master, to report to me, ready to go, and 
 mounted on his best mule, but not to let anyone know 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON 
 
 193 
 
 that he was going. I called to see Major Ogden in the 
 fore part of the evening. There was no hope for him. 
 Sawyer and Hopkins knew it, and asked me for a reliahle 
 man to carry letters to Fort Leavenworth. I told them 
 that Mr. Orton was ready, and that I had selected him, 
 much as I disliked to part with him, because I knew 
 he would get there as quickly as it was possible to go. 
 He left about 10 p. m., August 2d, and delivered his let- 
 ters at Fort Leavenworth about 2 p. m., August 4th, 
 having ridden 130 miles on one mule in forty hours. He 
 fed himself and mule several times, but did not sleep. 
 After Orton had gone, I went to the hospital with 
 Martin. Sawyer had appointed nurses, with promise of 
 extraordinary pay, and they seemed to be trying to do 
 their best, but all the sick had not been brought there. 
 Many were in the camps. The hospital steward was a 
 good man, and stuck to his post cheerfully, but the doc- 
 tor seemed to have given up, and had not been seen about 
 the sick since morning. Murmuring and discontent were 
 general, and it was known that many men had gone — 
 struck off down the road on foot. About midnight Mar- 
 tin promised to keep moving about if I would lie down 
 awhile, which I did on a buffalo-robe in the office where 
 the safes were I had scarcely closed my eyes when I 
 heard groans in the room next to me. I looked in and 
 found Hopkins in great agony, with a bad case of chol- 
 era. Two men were doing their best for him. I stayed 
 with him a few minutes and then went to the steward, 
 at the hospital, who gave me some brandy. On my way 
 
194 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 back I called at the doctor's quarters. He came to the 
 door himself. I told him of Mr. Hopkins' illness, and 
 asked if he could go and see him. I saw that he was 
 nearly a physical and mental wreck. He shook his head 
 sadly and said, while he shoved up his sleeves and 
 rubbed his arms and hands: "Mr. Lowe, I am unstrung" 
 — unfit for anything. I want to take my family to St. 
 Mary's Mission. I wish you Avould send me an ambu- 
 lance. I want to get off as quickly as possible." I told 
 him I had no ambulance under my immediate charge — 
 in fact, there was not then an ambulance at the post. 
 I returned to Hopkins with the brandy, and then went 
 to Major Ogden's headquarters. Sawyer was about re- 
 ceiving his last message to his wife. "Tell her/^ he said, 
 "that I appreciated her love to the last." 
 
 The distress on August 2d was as nothing compared 
 with the horrors of the 3d. Brevet Major Wood had 
 gone to Fort Kearney with his company, leaving his wife 
 and two children. All had cholera. Brevet Major Armis- 
 tead, afterwards Major-General Armistead of the Con- 
 federate Army, had gone up the Smoky Hill with his 
 company, leaving his wife and two children. His wife 
 had cholera. Additional cases were noted all over the 
 post. Thus the morning of the 3d opened. An ambu- 
 lance had gone after Major Armistead. Eeverend Mr. 
 Clarkson, the post chaplain, with his wife and niece, 
 were the only nurses for Mrs. Wood and her two chil- 
 dren and Mrs. Armistead. I never saw braver or more 
 devoted nurses and friends than the Clarksons. They 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 195 
 
 took Mrs. Armistead^s two children home, and did every- 
 thing that could be done for the others. But Mrs. Wood 
 and her two children and Mrs. Armistead died during 
 the day. Mr. Saw^^er wanted to use the messenger — the 
 young soldier acting orderly for the major — but I found 
 him in the room over the office where I had tried to 
 sleep, dying of cholera. Sawyer procured the lead lin- 
 ings from the tea-caddies in the commissary, and had 
 Major Ogden's coffin made air-tight. 
 
 Fifteen in all died on the 3d of August — Major Og- 
 den, Mrs. Armistead, Mrs. Wood and two children, the 
 major's orderly, and nine workmen. A few men were 
 at work all the time, and Mr. Sawyer encouraged them 
 to continue, but their surroundings were distracting. A 
 delegation waited on Mr. Sawyer and earnestly insisted 
 that the balance due them should be paid and they al- 
 lowed to go. Sawyer explained to them that, even if 
 they were entitled to more pay, it could not be given 
 to them, as there was no one to nay them, and the money 
 was locked up in the safe, which could not be opened. 
 A little after noon I galloped off to my camp on the 
 Republican, found everything all right, and no sickness 
 among the fifty men there. I did not dismount, nor did 
 I allow anyone to come near me. I returned to the post 
 about three o'clock, and saw Mr. Sawyer and Rev. Mr. 
 Clarkson sitting on the latter's front porch looking at 
 e band of men in the middle of the parade-ground. 
 Sawyer called to me, and I hitched my horse and joined 
 them on the porch. Mr. Clarkson made the following 
 
196 J^IVE YEARS A DRAGOON. '% 
 
 statement: Mr. Robert Wilson, the post sutler, who 
 had a very large stock of goods in his store, had locked 
 up everything and taken his family away in the morn- 
 ing, accompanied by one of Major Ogden^s clerks. Soon 
 after I left, about one o'clock, the store was broken 
 into by a gang of men, some goods scattered about, a 
 barrel of whiskey rolled out, a head knocked in, and^ 
 with tin cups, the men helped themselves. When well 
 bquored up, led by a big stonemason, some of them broke 
 open the building used for the post ordnance depart- 
 ment, and armed themselves with guns, pistols, and 
 ammunition. 
 
 And there they were, in a half-drunken condition, 
 on the parade-ground, airing their grievances, threaten- 
 ing to break open the safes and pay themselves, etc. 
 But a small portion of the revelers armed themselves 
 (about twenty-five), and they formed a circle, with their 
 loader inside, while all sorts, drunk and sober, looked on. 
 We could hear piainly most that was said, and they 
 meant that we should hear; and, if carried out, it looked 
 serious. A committee headed by this fellow had waited 
 upon Sawyer before they broke into the sutler's store 
 and demanded the pay they claimed was due them. 
 Sawyer was a man of good courage, but of quiet dispo- 
 sition, and not a very strong man. Seeing the apparent 
 determination of the fellow and his following. Sawyer 
 parleyed a little, and said that when I came we would 
 consult about it. The man said that if I did not come 
 d — d quick, they would not wait. And this violent dem- 
 
198 ^I^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 onstration on the parade-ground seemed to be a warning 
 to accede to their demand. Of course, Sawyer's refer- 
 once to me was a mere ruse to gain time and form some 
 plan of action. I suggested that I go and talk to the 
 njen, since my name had been mentioned. I knew the 
 leader pretty well, and thought he would listen to me; 
 at any rate, I might check him up until we had a little 
 more time, and perhaps bridge over until he would sober 
 lip. I never was more anxious for a good company of 
 soldiers under a good officer. 
 
 Sawyer rather demurred at my trying to pacify 
 these men — it was against his judgment, and might pre- 
 cipitate trouble. I assured him that I would not make 
 matters worse. The day was exceedingly hot and i 
 took Sawyer's umbrella. As I approached, I saw thai: 
 most of this valiant chief's followers were hopelessly 
 drunk. The leader stood in the center flourishing a 
 pistol, which was apparently cocked. A drunken man 
 noticed me, and cried out, "Hurrah for the mounted 
 chief!" a name given me and by which I was generally 
 referred to, because I was always moving about pretty 
 lively on horseback, while others in charge of work or 
 exercising any authority were on foot. I stepped into 
 the circle and said to the leader, "What is the matter, 
 
 Mr. ?" QuicK as lightning he sprang back and 
 
 leveled his pistol, and if it had been at full cock, 1 
 would have been shot. Up to this time I had no defi- 
 nite plan of action — had no arms and no fixed notion 
 of what I would do. Whatever I did dawned upon me 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 199 
 
 instantly. The violent threats of the man caused me 
 to act; the impulse was irresistible. Dropping the um- 
 brella, I seized his pistol, gave him a trip and quick jerk, 
 and his huge body fell so heavily that the breath was 
 knocked out of him. I had his pistol and threatened 
 to kill him if he moved. As soon as he could get breath, 
 he begged for his life. The crowd seemed dumb. With 
 my left hand I jerked a gun from the nearest man, who 
 was so drunk that he fell over. Throwing the gun on 
 the ground, I told the others to pile their guns and 
 pistols on it. I never saw an order more promptly 
 obeyed. 
 
 The mutiny, or rebellion, so far as these men were 
 conc^^rned, was over. I called to a lot of carpenters an<^ 
 asked them to carry the guns and pistols to the quarter- 
 master's office, which they did, and put them by the 
 two iron safes. Quite a quantity of ammunition was 
 disgorged by the disarmed men, and a ridiculous part of 
 it was that much of it was not suitable for the arms 
 they had. But few of the guns were properly loaded, 
 and some not at all. It was a drunken outfit all around. 
 I said but little to them beyond the plain and emphatic 
 statement that no Grovernment property should be mo- 
 lested; no noise or drunken rioting would be permitted; 
 no misbehavior of any kind; and the man who broke 
 one of these rules would do so at his peril, for hence- 
 forth the line was drawn, and this was to be considered 
 a notice to all bad men. While I believed that nine- 
 tenths of all the men employed would do their best in 
 this trying time, I exhorted them to stand by and help 
 
^ 
 
 o 
 
 W 
 
 O 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 201 
 
 each other. The fallen and bruised leader protested his 
 sorrow, laying it all to whiskey. The indignation ex- 
 pressed by many good men reached the manhood that 
 was trying to assert itself through the fumes of the 
 whisk3y he had taken. He was a foreman, a fine work- 
 man, came to Mr. Sawyer highly recommended, and had 
 a respectable family in Cincinnati. The terrible condi- 
 tion so demoralized him that with the heat and whiskey 
 he became crazed. I learned afterwards that he had no 
 hand in breaking into the store, but drank freely when 
 he found the whiskey. There had to be a severe check 
 somewhere, to set the reckless element to thinking, 
 and bring the better element to the front and establish 
 leaders. 
 
 This was the turning - point. It happened oddly 
 enough, but was effective. Men of different trades or- 
 ganized themselves into squads to keep good order and 
 to assist each other. Nurses volunteered for the hos- 
 pital and in the camps. Voluntary help came pouring 
 in, though I found that many men had left the post. 
 There was no way of stopping them, and under the cir- 
 cumstances perhaps it was well that they should go. 
 But where could they go? There was no settlement in 
 the immediate country. There was one family at the 
 bridge across the Big Blue, nineteen miles east, and 
 the Catholic mission and Pottawatomie village of St. 
 Mary's, fifty-two miles east, where good Father Duer- 
 inck had established a college and was gathering in the 
 young Pottawatomies and teaching them, with admirable 
 success, to become good citizens. Here Mrs. Bertram 
 
202 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 kept the only hotel worth the name between Fort Eiley 
 and Leavenworth. Captain Alley's store at Silver Lake, 
 the Pottawatomie homes and the eating-place at Hick- 
 ory Point finishes the list of settlements, save here and 
 there at long intervals a squatter's shanty. (I do not 
 say ''cabin/' because that indicates a home built of logs, 
 with a fireplace, where warmth, comfort and contentment 
 abound in winter and cool restfulness in summer.) Such 
 houses did exist at long intervals along the streams, but 
 seldom on the high prairie. A shanty, boarded up and 
 down, with a stovepipe through the roof, was the rule, 
 and a decent mian ought to have died alone rather than 
 intrude himself on one of these poor families, under 
 the circumstances. 
 
 A small steamboat had run up the Kaw to Manhat- 
 tan, twenty miles east of Fort Eiley. (At the time i 
 write of I had not seen Manhattan, and do not know 
 what settlements were there.) A lot of the stampeders 
 from Fort Eiley took possession of her and ran down 
 the river for a few miles, got aground and had to leave 
 ber. Martin told me of a raft of logs down in the river, 
 tied to some trees. He learned that the men who had 
 made the raft were waiting for night, when they would 
 cover it with lumber from a pile of pine flooring near by. 
 I went with him, cut all the ropes, and set the logs float- 
 ing singly down the river. This saved the lumber. The 
 men probably deserted. 
 
 Major Armistead's quarters were the second west 
 of the quartermaster's office. Mrs. Clarkson and her 
 niece had prepared the body of Mrs. Armistead for burial, 
 
FTVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 203 
 
 but it was not to be coffined until the major's a.rrival. En- 
 tering the hall through the door from the south porch, 
 one walked about ten feet north and entered a room 
 through a door on the left. At the left of the door stood 
 a bed, with head to the east. From the mantel at the 
 west end of the room a candle shed a dim light over 
 the room and the bed, on which lay Mrs. Armistead, the 
 white bed-clothes covering her as if asleep. Her face 
 w:?.s not covered, and to one standing a little way from 
 the bed she seemed to be sleeping peacefully, and no 
 one not cognizant of the fact would have thought her 
 dead — a lovely picture of a lovely woman. Mr. Clark- 
 son informed me that his wife and niece were worn out, 
 but would attend to Mrs. ^Yood's quarters, where she 
 and her children were coffined, ready for burial in the 
 morning, and he asked me to take charge of the Armis- 
 tead quarters, which I promised to do. 
 
 Counting the time that the ambulance had been 
 gone, I expected the major sometime before midnight. 
 T knew thet the faithful driver, K. B. Cecil, now a 
 wealthy farmer of Platte County, Missouri, would spare 
 no eifort to bring him quickly. About ten o'clock 1 
 heard an ambulance rattling over the stony road, knew 
 it was the major, and dreaded to meet him. As the 
 ambulance stopped at the porch, I opened the door and 
 the major sprang out, shook my hand and inquired: 
 •'How about my family?" I hesitated a little, which 
 lie interpreted as a bad omen and continued : "Are they 
 all gone-— wife, children and all?" "No, major," said 
 I, "your children are safe at Mr. Clarkson's. He said 
 
204 i'^I^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 no more then. Taking hold of his left arm, we walked 
 to and stepped inside the room. Taking off his hat, he 
 cried out: '^Oh, my poor wife! Oh, my poor wife!" The 
 agony of that minute during which he gazed on her 
 was terrible. I led him gently away. When on the 
 porch, he said: "I will take my children on the plains 
 with me. I will take them away to-morrow/' I assured 
 him that I would have his quarters cared for, and ho 
 went to Mr. Clarkson's, where his children, a boy ar.d 
 n girl, were located. Martin came to me about midnight; 
 he said he had gotten quite a nap and would relieve me. 
 T went to the office, put an unhung door on the two 
 iron safes, two robes on that, and tried to sleep. I did 
 uot fear an attack on the safes, though I was well pre- 
 pared for it. For two days and nights I had scarcely 
 closed my eyes. I thought I had seen enough suffering 
 Tiud wickedness in this one day to haunt me a lifetime. 
 ]n the room overhead was the dead soldier; Hopkins, 
 in a critical condition, was in the adjoining room; Major 
 Ogden, Mrs. Armistead, Mrs. Wood and her two chil- 
 dren wcTe dead — all within a short distance of each 
 other. Others were still unburied and an additional ono 
 reported dead from time to time. Several new cases were 
 reported to me while at Major Armistead's quarters. 
 At the rate of increase the outlook was alarming. 
 
 How good comes of evil wias illustrated here. The 
 outrage of breaking into the sutler's store and of taking 
 arms from the ordnance building created great excite- 
 ment throughout the post. Disarming the rioters and 
 their probable immediate departure soon after relieved 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 205 
 
 the minds of the hetter element, gave new courage, 
 cemented a brotherhood among those remaining, and cre- 
 ated a determination to help — to assist instead of de- 
 stroy; and I have alwa^-s believed that if I had met 
 nothing but the continued distress prevailing, I should 
 have collapsed. But this exciting episode cleared my 
 head and stirred my energies to greater action, and 
 many others were similarly affected. 
 
 I had not slept long when I was aroused by some 
 loose animals rubbing against the front porch. It was 
 three o'clock by my watch. I was surprised that I had 
 slept at all. I then went over to the Armistead quar- 
 ters. Martin had fastened the door leading from the 
 hall into Mrs. Armistead's room, and he lay asleep in 
 the hall. I mounted my horse, rode to my o^vn tent, 
 where the cavalry stcbles now stand, and got break- 
 fast. I then went over to the hospital. The dead were 
 being coffined and carried out, while others took their 
 places. Heroic efforts were being made to keep the 
 hospital and bedding clean. Mr. Sawyer had made the 
 best arrangements possible, under the circumstances, fcr 
 nursing, washing, cleaning quarters, etc., and it was n 
 surprise to me how well the attendants did. To chang > 
 bedding and attend to the necessities of a long room 
 full of men in the agonies of the fatal disease required 
 attentive and intelligent work. Burial parties were un- 
 der way, and I rode over to the cemetery and found the 
 grave-diggers already at work under a foreman. I am 
 writing now of the morning of the 4th of August. The 
 
>r 
 
 < 
 
 O 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 207 
 
 doctor and his family had gone; fifteen had died on 
 the 3d, and probably fifty were nnder tre/atment. 
 
 In writing this I would like to refer less frequently 
 to myself, but I only tell what camie under my own ob- 
 servation — what I saw or knew of. I went to Mr. Saw- 
 yer and reported the status of affairs as I saw them. He 
 and Martin would attend to the burial of the major, Mrs. 
 Armistead, Mrs. Wood and her two children. Leaving 
 Sawyer, I went to the dispensary in the hospital to get 
 from the steward a bottle each of brandy and port win'^. 
 to carry with me on my rounds among the camps. The 
 steward introduced me to a young man who had just 
 come in on horseback. Doctor Whitehorn. He came 
 from Dyer^s Bridge, nineteen miles east, near which he 
 bad a claim. For fear of doubts of his being a doctor, 
 he was showing the steward his diploma and other testi- 
 monials, including a letter from Mr. D3^er. He was a 
 light-built, wir}^, sunburned youth, and carried on his 
 saddle the old-fashioned doctor^s saddle-bags. I told 
 him that Mr. Sawyer was now at the head of affairs, bur. 
 that I would introduce him and then show him around, 
 which I did, and he was warmly welcomed. Cholera was 
 a new disease to the doctor, and he was very young; but 
 he was cool, quiet, self-reliant, intelligent, and pos- 
 sessed good judgment. When he entered the hospital, 
 word passed from one to another, "We have a doctor/*' 
 and this had a good effect. He soon impressed them 
 very favorably. A spoonful of brandy or port wine by 
 the doctor's order would do more good than from me. 
 
 i4- 
 
208 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 1 spent the forenoon with him^ and showed him the 
 quarters, camps, etc. 
 
 I then rode to my teamster camp on the Eepnblican 
 River during the afternoon, and found all well. Towards 
 evening, while riding around, I stopped to talk with a 
 joung stone-cutter from St. Louis. I had often talked 
 with him and liked him. Major Armistead had selected 
 a stone to be put up at his wif e^s grave, and this young 
 man was cutting the letters and figures on it. He 
 seemed well and said that he felt so, but he was not as 
 cheerful as usual and I tried to encourage him. The 
 next morning this handsome young fellow joined those 
 on the side of the hill beyond the deep ravine. I men- 
 tion this instance to show how suddenly and unexpect- 
 edly the strongest and best were taken away. I do not 
 know just how many died this day, but about the same 
 number as on Aus^ust 3d. Miss Fox, step-daughter of 
 Foragemaster Lowe, was among those who died on the 
 4th. I am sorry that I do not remember the names of 
 the men who worked day and night to help those who 
 could not help themiselves. 
 
 George W. McLain, a newspaper man of Weston, 
 Mo., was driving through the country in a buggy, and 
 came into Fort Riley from Council Grove. On asking 
 for the commanding officer, he learned that he was 
 dead. He found me, and I advised him to drive on 
 and to hold his breath until miles away. He seemed 
 inclined to do that, but could not resist the temp- 
 tation of getting items enough to write up the con- 
 ditions. As we passed a small house on our way to 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 209 
 
 liis buggy we heard a female voice in great distress. 
 On going in, we saw a woman, wife of a corporal 
 who was away with his company, apparently in the 
 agonies of death. On a bed, with hands, feet and limbs 
 cTamped, and a frenzied expression, she was a terrible 
 picture. She had been ill but a short time. There 
 was no one to help her — a woman could not be found 
 to attend her. McLain took off his coat and hat, laid 
 them on a chair, rolled up his sleeves and went to the 
 gtove, where there was a kettle with warm water in it 
 — in short, took an inventory of the surroundings. I 
 went to the hospital for brandy and port wine, and when 
 I returned McLain was rubbing the woman vigorously 
 and talking to her in the most cheerful manner ; told 
 her he was a doctor and would surely cure her. No 
 woman could have handled her better than he did, and, 
 being a strong man, he was not easily tired. He gave 
 her some brandy, and turning to me, said in a low tone: 
 ^'Lowe, my heart is in this thing. This woman, with- 
 out a friend within reach, her husband serving his coun- 
 try in the Army, must not be left here to die. She is 
 going to live ; I ^11 see that she does." Turning to her, 
 he said: "1^11 wait on you all night and all day to- 
 morrow, until you are well." 
 
 I left him in a few minutes, had his team cared for, 
 sent him something to eat, and called early the next 
 morning. The woman was asleep, and McLain said that 
 her symptoms were good. She got well. If she had not 
 tliought him a doctor, the shock would have been fatal. 
 This man afterwards became very prominent. He was 
 
210 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 l:nown throughout the country as General George Wash- 
 ington McLain, started newspapers^ and was always a 
 correspondent. He was generous when plenty smiled, 
 and patient when poverty stalked abroad, and after a 
 life of ups and downs, he balanced his accounts, paid oft 
 all his earthly debts and passed to his reward a few years 
 ago in Leadville, Colo. He had lived much at the nation- 
 al capital, knew the prominent men from every State in 
 the Union, and had friends everywhere. He possessed a 
 brilliant mind, and with an unlimited fund of information, 
 was a most charming companion. I never knew his 
 lineage, but the blood that coursed through his heart and 
 fed his brain was not of the common sort. Whatever hi:, 
 faults, and he had them, he deserved a better fate than 
 than that which overtook him. His virtues covered his 
 faults miles deep. 
 
 Hopkins improved. I firmly believe that much of 
 the sickness was caused by mental trouble — the horrors 
 of the surroundings. There were not so many deaths 
 on the 5th as on the 3d or 4th, but a good many. The 
 outlook was better. We had lost 150 or mote men by 
 desertion. All discordant elements were now gone, and 
 we were getting used to working together. 
 
 We had a good deal of pine tar in barrels, brought to 
 the post to mix with gravel as a covering for the stable 
 roofs. Someone suggested that it was a good disinfect- 
 ant, and on the evenings of August 4th and 5th, when a 
 gentle south wind favored, we had fires built where the 
 fumes and smoke would float into the open windows, and 
 burned tar at all of them. Whether this did much good 
 
X 
 > 
 
212 F^y^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 or not, it counteracted offensive odors. The doctor 
 thought well of it. The night of the 5th I slept well 
 on the top of the safes. There were not so many 
 new cases reported the morning of the 6th, and every 
 good report gave renewed hope. As the 6th wore on I 
 thought it time to hear something from the message 
 sent by Orton. Down the roiad I saw a four-mule Govern- 
 ment ambulance a mile and a half away. I knew it must 
 contain a doctor and probably an officer, and I galloped 
 down to meet it. Just before I met the ambulance my 
 horse sprang suddenly to one side and came near throwing 
 me. He was frightened by a dead negro, who had died of 
 cholera and been buried in a shallow grave, and the 
 wolves had dug him up and pulled him into a leaning 
 posture, his body mostly uncovered and one arm raised 
 above his head. He w^as a horrible-looking sight. This 
 had been the camp of the Government hay contractors, 
 Messrs. Dyer & Co.; the negro was their cook. All the 
 other members of the party had left for their homes 
 in Clay County, Missouri. 
 
 The ambulance contained Lieutenant Carr, now Gen- 
 eral Eugene Carr, retired and Dr. Samuel Phillips,* my 
 room-mate at Fort Leavenworth, a young contract doctor, 
 
 *Dr. Phillips volunteered for this duty to General E. V. 
 Sumner, then commanding Fort Leavenworth, every one 
 of ■ the many young physicians practicing" in the city at 
 Leavenworth declining this service. For this professional 
 work Dr. Phillips was paid by General Sumner less than forty 
 dollars, though his inclinations to pay him a much larger sum 
 were the best. It was all he had at his disposal. Dr. Phillips 
 continues to practice his profession in the city of Leavenworth, 
 and is a vigorous man for his advanced years. — Editor. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 213 
 
 1 never was more pleased to see a man in my life. Oarr 
 I knew as a young officer en route to New Mexico the 
 year before. I was anxious for a commanding officer 
 with authority. The discretionary power of the military 
 commander is very great, no matter what his rank. If 
 not hampered with instructions, he can often do what a 
 man with less power would hesitate to do. I have always 
 admired a man who would not hesitate to take responsi- 
 bility. Lieutenant Carr was not sent to replace Major 
 Ogden permanently, but to take charge in the emergen- 
 cy and do whatever a good officer could do under the 
 stress of circumstances. These remarks apply also to 
 Phillips. Ko better man could have been selected for 
 such an emergency. While Carr received from Sawyer 
 an account of the situation, Phillips proceeded at once 
 to the hospital, met Doctor Whitehorn, and went from ^ 
 place to place to examine tlie sick. The medical depart- 
 ment was now under Phillips' control — it had a head'' 
 with authority. To show the effects of coiifidence in 
 a doctor, good nursing and encouragement/ each day 
 brought fewer cases, mien settled down to work mord 
 cheerfully, until there was no more cholera. I do not 
 know how many died — in fact, I think I never did know, 
 but the number was not less than 75 nor probably more 
 than 100. Of the men who left in the excitement, a 
 few were known to have died. I presume the records 
 show all who left, all who died at the post, and all who 
 remained. 
 
 The post, since its establishment, had been supplied 
 with water from the Kaw Eiver, just below the junc- 
 
214 ^ly^ TEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 lion of the Smoky Hill and Eepublicajn. The Smoky 
 Hill wias milky and brackish^ the Eepublican clear. The 
 two mingled where the water was dipped up. On the 
 inorning of the 2d I went with the water-wagon and 
 showed the m^en where they would get water until 
 further notice. Surely the Republieain was clear and 
 pure; but feeling some delicacy about assuming author- 
 ity in a matter of so much importance as the water 
 supply^, I took a jug full from each place, and one from 
 a large spring, to DoctoT Simmons, and asked him to 
 examine and see which was best. He seemed in great 
 distress about his family, and said that he could give 
 me no advice. Sawyer, Hopkins, Clarksoai and Martin 
 thought it a good move, and often afterwards ex- 
 pressed the opinion that, while the water formerly used 
 did not cause the cholera, the Republican water was 
 much safer and probably had something to do with re- 
 storing health. For several nights before the cholera 
 broke out, and continuing to the night of the 3d, we 
 had violent storms of rain, thunder and lightning, last- 
 ing several hours and ending about midnight. One 
 would think that this would purify the air — perhaps it 
 did. I do not suggest that the cholera grew out of it, 
 but merely mention it as a peculiar circumstance. No 
 doubt the germs of the disease were brought originally 
 with the men. 
 
 Near a spring west of where Junction City now is, 
 two men were attending a lime-kiln. On August 5th I 
 sent a team over after a load of lime. A little Ger- 
 man from Herman, Mo. (I cannot remember his fullj 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 215 
 
 name — Henry, we called him), one of the most faith- 
 ful men I ever knew, drove the team. As he did not 
 come in as soon as I expected, I rode down to the river 
 about dark and met him coming across. He said that 
 one man was "bad sick" when he got there. He helped 
 the other man care for the sick one until he died. They 
 put the dead man in the wagon and started, and the 
 other one was now sick. The teamster had to stop 
 many times to help the sick man, who "go died'' just 
 before the team reached the river. The poor teamster 
 v>^a& greatly distressed, and apologized for not bringing 
 the lime. He had volunteered to go because the lime- 
 burners were his friends, and he wanted to see how 
 they were getting along. He lived through and con- 
 veyed the dying messages of the two to their friends. 
 From day to day there was improvement, work 
 went on in all departments, and more men were sent 
 from , Fort Leavenworth to itake the places of those 
 who died or deserted. Lieutenant Corle}', Sixth In- 
 fantry, relieved Lieutenant Carr, and by the 1st of Ssp- 
 tember everything was in full blast and work progress- 
 ing rapidly. Some building supplies were needed and 
 work would be retarded unless they were brought quick- 
 ly. I was ordered to take thirtv-six mule teams and go 
 after them. I got the order at three o'clock n. m. The 
 wagons were all dismantled, covers and bows stored away, 
 and the beds arranged for hauling stone, sand, lime, 
 wood, brick, ot any sort of building material. By sun- 
 set I had thirty wagons full rigged, thirty of the beat 
 
21Q FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 mule teams ready to hitch to them, and rations and 
 forage drawn^, all ready to start. 
 
 An expressman started about that time with requi- 
 sition for the supplies that I was to bring, and I told 
 him to say to the shipping clerk at Fort Leavenworth 
 that I would not be long behind him, and would start 
 back as soon as I could load, and to please have the 
 loading so arranged that there would be no delay. I 
 wrote a note to my friend, Levi Wilson, general super- 
 intendent, requesting him to look a little after the 
 requisition, because several hundred men might be de- 
 layed more or less on the work at Fort Riley, and I 
 wanted to make a trip that would beat any record for 
 moving six-mule teams. The expressman laughed at 
 the idea of my reaching our coanmon destination soon 
 after he did. I started at sunrise the next morning 
 and camped in Salt Creek Valley, three miles from Fort 
 Leavenworth, the third evening — ^127 miles in three 
 days — about 43 miles per dav. I rode to the post that 
 evening, only twenty-four hours behind the expressman; 
 and he had started eleven hours ahead of me on a good 
 saddle-mule. I spent the evening with friends talking- 
 over the exciting; events at Fort Riley, of which they 
 had heard many exaggerated accounts. I had been re- 
 ported dead of cholera at one time and killed by a mob 
 at a,nother. I returned to camp at midnight, and at 
 seven o'clock the next morning was loading at the ware- 
 houses and steamboat landing, and by four in the after- 
 noon I was back in Salt Creek Valley, heavily loaded. 
 There was much talk that day about the quick trip I 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 217 
 
 had made, and everybody expected to see the mules m 
 bad condition, and was surprised to see a fine lot of 
 mules and active, wide-awake teamsters — ^no one hang- 
 ing back in a tired way, but all pushing and trying to 
 help alomg. I rolled out of Salt Creek Valley the next 
 morning, and before sunset of the fourth day parked 
 my train at Fort Eiley. having made about thirty-two 
 miles per day. The mules were turned into the herd 
 up the Eepublican, tired but uninjured. We had been 
 eight days and seven nights traveling 260 miles, includ- 
 ing loading. No one expected me foir two davs more, 
 and the fact that no mules were killed or injured, be- 
 yond being tired, which they would make up in a week's 
 rest, was a surprise. 
 
 Government teams generally make one drive per 
 day. I have seldom met an Army man who did not in- 
 sist upon doing his day's work, long or short, and then 
 going into camn. I had learned on the Santa Fe trail 
 how Aubrey, Bent, Maxwell and all the Mexican freight- 
 ers worked their teams — ^two and three drives a day. To 
 drive teams with empty wagons forty-two miles a day, 
 or loaded thirty-two miles a day, would soon ruin them, 
 if the drives were continuous. Having made about one- 
 half of my day's drive, I halted, took off harness, and 
 turned the mules loose with lariats on, but without 
 picket-pins. They rolled, drank freely, and grazed an 
 hour, while the men ate dinner. Arrived in camp for 
 the night, the mules were turned loose again the same 
 way, and before dark were caught up, fed corn, and 
 picketed for the night. The first thing in the morning 
 
218 FIVE YEARS A DRAaOON. 
 
 they were watered, then fed corn, and, breakfast ovar, 
 were hitched nry and started "Qsnally by sunrise. No 
 corn was fed at noon, but the grass was fine a.nd much 
 better for them. On the evenino- of my return I showed 
 the quarter master and Mr. Sawyer mv memorandum of 
 the contents of each wagon — each numbered and its con- 
 tents put down under the number. From this they knew 
 where each wagon should be unloaded. 
 
 From this time there seemed to be no check, de- 
 ficit, or friction: a sort of steady discipline, rare among 
 large numbers of men of various trades in civil life, pro- 
 vailed all the wav through, and all that could be ex- 
 pected was accomnlished. Undoubtedly the retained pay 
 had a steadying influence, but I think that after the 
 exodus, during the prevalence of cholera, there was a 
 remarkably good set of men left. I have alwavs thought 
 that sending the ttroops away during the building of the 
 post was a mistake. Taking 500 men there who were 
 governed only by self-interest, with no law to curb the 
 bad element sure to exist in any body of men, seemed 
 to be not a wise move, when Armistead and Wood, with 
 their companies, could just as well have remained in the 
 vicinity, changing camp from time to time, and been 
 within call if needed. 
 
 I will now refer briofly to the Ogden moinument. 
 The original was designed by Mr. Sawyer, and prepared 
 and erected by quarrymen, stone-cutters, laborers and 
 teamsters, under the direction of Mr. Sawyer and my- 
 self, without other cost to the Government than the pay 
 of the men while the work was being done. The stone 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 219 
 
 was of the kind used in the buildings of Fort Kiley. In 
 time, neither the Government nor anyone else heeding 
 it, cattle made of it a rubbing-post, vandals chipped 
 pieces from it and scratched their names on it, and it 
 became a wreck. It was not expected to be permanent, 
 the hope of the builders being that it would be replaced 
 with something worthy of the man whose memory it 
 was intended to perpetuate — commensurate with his 
 ability and devotion to duty; a monitor to all entrusted 
 with the care and control of others. Another shaft was 
 afterward erected, much better than the original, but 
 not what it ought to have been. I do not know how 
 nor where the money was raised, nor under whose direc- 
 tion it was put up. This, too, was neglected, left a 
 rubbing-po'st for cattle after the wooden fence around 
 it rotted down; and vain simpletons, who like to "see 
 their names and faces in all public places,'^ defaced 
 the stone. 
 
 In 1887 General James W. Forrsyth, then colonel of 
 the Seventh Cavalry, took command of Fort Eiley. He 
 had never known Major Ogden, and until I, while on 
 a visit to Fort Eiley, told him the story of the death 
 of Ogden and the erection of the shaft, he did not know 
 its history. He then knew that it was in memoTy of 
 a brother ofPi.oefr who died at his post in the discharge 
 of duty under the most trving circumstances, and he 
 took prompt measures to preserve it. He secured a 
 small allowance from the Quartermaster^'s Department 
 with which, and some labor within his control, he had 
 
220 
 
 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 it repaired — scratches worked out and a permanent iron 
 fence put around it. 
 
 About the 1st of November, Major Ogden's remains 
 were disinterred and shipped to TJnadilla, ISTew York, 
 where they now rest under a beautiful monument 
 
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 M 
 
 Monument op Major E. A. Ogden, Quartermaster U. S. 
 Army, Located at Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1855. 
 
 erected by his brother officers and friends. Requiescat 
 in pace. 
 
 A part of the Second Dragoons came up from Texas 
 in October, 1855. Colonel Cooke came in from the 
 Harney expedition against the Sioux, with more of the 
 Second Dragoons, to take command of the post. On 
 iJie 15th of November, all of the workmen who were 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 221 
 
 entitled to be paid ofl and transported back to St. Louis 
 and Cincinnati loaded their effects into wagons that I 
 had ready for them — fifty six-mule wagons — ^and in four 
 days I landed them on the levee at Fort Leavenworth, 
 where boats were waiting to take them away. 
 
PART VI. 
 
 AND now tho Kansas War was on. I was acting 
 post wagomnaster at Fort Leavenworth, when 
 one night in May, about 10 o'clock, Lieutenant J. E. B. 
 Stuart, regimental quartermaster. First Cavalry, rode 
 in with a requisition for foTage and rations for Colonel 
 Sumner's command, camped southwest of Westport, Mis- 
 souri. He had ridden from there, thirty-four miles, 
 since noon. The command would be out of forage and 
 provisions the next day, and the order was to have the 
 supplies there in time for issue the day after. I was 
 instructed to have teams in from the nearest train, 
 camped nine miles south, as early as possible. I sent 
 woird to the watchman at the stable to bring my horse 
 and wake me at 2 o'clock, which he did. 
 
 At 3 :30 in the morning I was in nine-mile camp, 
 breakfasted and started back at 4:30, and before 7 we 
 were loading at the forage yard and commissary. At 
 9 o'clock the train started down the road. We arrived at 
 nine-mile camp, fed and watered the mules, and lunched 
 and at 1 :30 were on the road again. I did not expect to 
 go any further, but Stuart came along just then and said 
 the quarter master had left it with him, and he wanted 
 me to stay with him all the way through, which I did. 
 Tbe roads were exceedingl}^ bad the last few miles be- 
 fore reaching the ferry, and it was dark when we got 
 the last wagon over the Kaw. The way to Colonel Sum- 
 ner's camp was over a crooked road little traveled, 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 223 
 
 much of the way chroiigh timber and mnd holes, with 
 no bridges over creeks and deep gullies. Fortunately, 
 the moon gave a dim light. Several wagons were upset, 
 several trees had 
 to be cut down 
 where the road 
 was too narrow 
 and crooked, and 
 in many places 
 limbs must be 
 cut to give room 
 for wagons to 
 pass. In short, 
 at 1 a. m., af- 
 ter the most in- 
 cessant toil, we 
 camped near Col- 
 n e 1 Sumner's 
 command. I rode 
 with Stuart to 
 head quarters, 
 where he re- 
 ported his arri- 
 val with train 
 and supplies. He 
 loaned me a pair 
 
 General J. E. B. Stuart.* 
 
 of blankets, and we both lay down in his tent for a nap. 
 
 1 was nearly worn out. Stuart had been a quiet witness 
 
 *Janies E. B. Stuart was born in Virginia and graduated 
 from the Military Academy at West Point in 1854. He was 
 then promoted brevet second lieutenant of United States Mount- 
 15— . 
 
224 ^'^''^' >7<;m/i'.s a dragoon. 
 
 of a very hard struggle^ and but for his piloting we 
 should not gotten there that night, for he was the only 
 one of the party who had been over the road. 
 
 At sunrise I started for my camp about two miles 
 out and overtook Lieutenamt Ransom, late General Ean- 
 soni of the Confederate Army, and said "Good morning,'^ 
 calling his name. He looked at me very sharply and 
 returned my greeting pleasantly enough, but I thought 
 coolly, as we were on the best of terms. I asked where 
 he was going so early, and he said "To Fort Leaven- 
 worth." I replied that I was going there too. Just then 
 ^Ye crossed a clear stream of water, I dismounted, dropped 
 my horse's rein, and remarked that I would bathe a 
 little and overtake him. He looked askance at me and 
 turned off to ride up to a group of officers' tents on the 
 
 ed Riflemen and reported to his regiment in Texas. In March 
 1855 he was promoted second lieutenant of the First United 
 States Cavalry (now the Fourth), and served as quartermaster 
 of that regiment from July 1855 until May 1857. He became 
 first lieutenant of the First Cavalry in December 1855, and 
 captain in April 1861. 
 
 In May 1861 he resigned and accepted a commission in 
 the Confederate service as lieutenant-colonel of a Virginia reg- 
 iment. His promotion in the Confederate army was rapid, 
 and he was a lieutenant-general commanding the cavalry of 
 General Lee's army when he received his mortal wound at 
 Yellow Tavern. He died May 12, 1864. 
 
 Stuart saw varied and active service during the time that 
 he was a lieutenant in the First United States Cavalry. He 
 was in several expeditions and combats with various Indian 
 tribes, and was severely wounded in a fight with the Cheyen- 
 nes in 1857. He took an active part in the Kansas disturb- 
 ances of the fifties, and was in Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston's 
 Utah Expedition in 1858. He was at home on leave of absence 
 in 1859, and accompanied Colonel Robert E. Lee as a volun- 
 teer aide-de-camp in the expedition to suppress John Brown's 
 Raid. 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 225 
 
 hill near by. In a clump of willows I took a pretty 
 good bath., wiped niy&elf with a towel that I carried in 
 my holster, combed my hair and whiskers with my fin- 
 gers, and went on to the group of tents where Eansom 
 had stopped. With him were several officers in front of 
 a tent, seemingly paying considerable attention to me. 
 As I rode up they all laughed heartily. The joke seemed 
 to be on Eansom. He isaid that he had no idea who I 
 was, but that I was the hardest looking man he ever 
 saw. I was haggard and weary from want of sleep, my 
 hands and face were black with dust and mud, my 
 clothes muddy from head to foot, and my horse and 
 equipmient no better. Eansom^s description of me was 
 weird indeed, and he declared that he was afraid to 
 ride with me. He had started without arms, and called 
 on Lieutenant Johnson to borrow a pistol. Now that I 
 was cleaned up a, little they all knew me. At my camp 
 we got some breakfast and rode to Fort Leavenworth, 
 where we a.i^rived about 2 o'clock. I was as good as 
 new the next day. 
 
 Things kept getting worse in Kansas; marching 
 columns and guerrilla bandsi of both parties (Pro-Slavery 
 and Free State) were moving about all along the border. 
 Outrages were committed by both parties, but the worst 
 feature of the warfare was the raids on homes, osten- 
 sibly for politioal reasons, really very often for robbery 
 and plunder. It seemed necessary to keep United States 
 troops in camps and on the move as protection to good 
 citizens of both parties and to keep the threatening 
 columns apart. United States troops were stationed near 
 
226 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 Westport, Franklm, Prairie or Baldwin City, Lecomp- 
 ton, etc. These camps were headquarters from which 
 troops could move quickly when necessary, and must 
 be supplied every ten days with forage and provisions. 
 Something like 100 wagons were required for that pur- 
 pose, and I was detailed hy the quartermaster, Major 
 Sibley, to look after them. Most of the supplies went 
 by Lawrence, crossing the fei'ry there, when the wagons 
 for Franklin were sent off under an assistant wagon- 
 master, those for Baldwin City under another, and those 
 for Lecompton, the largest command, under another, etc. 
 
 After crossing at Lawrence, I generally went on to 
 Lecompton, ten miles, and after finishing there, rode 
 across country to other camps if necessary, returning to 
 Lawrence about the time the wagons from different 
 points reached there, and then to Fort Leavenworth for 
 another ten days' supply. While the teams were not 
 overworked, I was very much so. I never worked so 
 hard and so continuously from May to October as I did 
 This season; five months of exposure and overwork, which 
 would have ruined any man of weak constitution; and 
 it nearly ruined me. 
 
 The Last trip I started on was with a train of sup- 
 plies for some troops opposite Topeka. Having deliv- 
 ered them I was to ride across to Lecompton and then 
 to Lawrence. The train under Mr. Beery started early, 
 but I did not get off until afteirnoon. I was ill enough 
 to be in bed, but said nothing of it. I rode alone, and 
 vras so sick that I could scarcely sit my horse, and afraid 
 to dismount lest I could not mount again. In this con- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 227 
 
 dition I arrived at a house on Stranger Creek, east of 
 the crossing near Easton. I did not know the people, 
 but dismoimted, staggered into the house, and was un- 
 conscious. About 8 o'clock the next morning I opened 
 my eyes and recognized the woman standing over me 
 bathing my temples and forehead as the one I had seen 
 when I dismounted. I felt a little light headed, but my 
 mind was clear. I imagined, however, that I had been 
 there three days, from Tuesday to Friday. 
 
 The supplies in the train 
 were for tw^o commands some 
 distance apart, and I had the 
 papers, invoices, number of 
 wagons to go to each place, 
 the contents of each wagon, 
 etc. The wagonmaster knew 
 nothing about the distribu- 
 tion of goods, and, if this was 
 Friday, they were a day be- 
 hind and there would be con- 
 fusion. However, I soon 
 learned that my idea of the 
 time I had been there w^as 
 but a delirium, and this was Gen. Edwin V. Sumner.* 
 Wednesday morning. I had been there from 5 o'clock 
 Tuesday to 8 o'clock Wednesday. This good woman 
 
 *Edwin Vose Sumner was born in Boston in 1797 and 
 educated at Milton Academy. He was appointed second lieu- 
 tenant of the Second Infantry in March 18 1 9, became first lieu- 
 ten ant in 1823, and was promoted to captain First Dragoons 
 (now First Cavalrv) at the organization of that regiment in 
 M arch 1833. In 1846 he was promoted major Second Dragoons 
 
228 ^I^E TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 had watched over me all night. Mr. and Mrs. Martin 
 Hefferlin were the people, and I might have died but 
 for their kindness. My fever lasted nearly all night, 
 during which I was quite violent, requiring close atten- 
 tion; and now I was nearly helpless, but my mind was 
 clear. I inquired what time the stage for Fort Eiley 
 would pass, and Mrs. Hefferlin said in about an hour. I 
 bundled up mv papers and memorandum book, wrote a 
 short explanation and gave it to the stage driver, whom 
 I happened to know, and who nromised to give them to 
 the wagonmaster. I found I could not ride, and re- 
 turned to the fort with Lieutenant Buford (afterwards 
 General Buford) who was en route from Fort Eiley in 
 an ambulance. For two weeks I alternately shook with 
 chills and burned with fever, but finally pulled out. 
 
 (now Second Cavalry), and in 18iS Jieutenant-colonel First 
 Dragoons; and when the First Cavalry (now the Fourth) was 
 created in 1855, he was appointed its colonel. He was ap- 
 pointed brigadier-general in March, 18GI, and major-general 
 of volunteers in June of the same year. He died in March, 
 1863. 
 
 General Sumner had his share of wars. He distinguish- 
 ed himself in the Black Hawk War, and took part in numerous 
 expeditions against Indians. He participated in every en- 
 gagement of General Scott's army in its advance from Vera 
 Cruz to the City of Mexico, was wounded while leading a cav- 
 alry charge at Cerro Gordo, and for gallantry in holding 
 back %000 Mexican lancers at Molino del Key, was brevetted 
 colonel. 
 
 In the Civil War he commanded the First Corps of the 
 
 Army of the Potomac, and was in about all the battles that 
 
 army engaged in, till General Hooker was placed in command 
 
 f it. Thereupon he asked to be relieved and was ordered to 
 
 ommand the Department of Missouri, but he died suddenly 
 
 while on his way to his station. 
 
 He was twice wounded in the Seven Days' Battles before 
 Richmond, and received his fourth battle- wound at Antietam. 
 
FIVE 7EAR8 A DRAGOON. 229 
 
 The incidents of this summer's work were numerous, 
 but would be mostly uninteresting now. The history 
 of the Kansas War has been written by many able penj, 
 some truthful and some garbled and exaggerated. M; 
 part in it was that of an humble employe of the Gover..- 
 ment. It was not my right or privilege to carry the 
 news from Lawrence, the Free State headquarters to 
 Leavenworth, the Pro - Slavery headquarters, nor vice 
 versa. Of course a great deal came under my observa- 
 tion that might have been useful to either party, but 
 my life was at stake every day if I became a news- 
 bearer in either direction. Both parties contained zealots 
 and enthusiasts who would hesitate at nothing to crown 
 themiselves with glory by killing some one on the other 
 side. Most of the men on either side were merely strug- 
 gling for a principle — whether Kansas should be a frea 
 or a slave State — whether they should build homes, as 
 most of them wanted to, in a free or a slave State; and 
 most of both parties were honesty and willing to abidj 
 the result of a fair vote; but neither could shake off the 
 element that joined for adventure, for revenge, for rob- 
 ber}^, for murder; and that element was a curse to both 
 parties. 
 
 I was present at Lecompton when the compromise 
 was effected, and both parties settled down to peace in 
 the fall of 1856. Pro-Slavery and Free State agreed tj 
 keep the peace and frown down every disturbing ele- 
 ment. Captain Sam Walker was placed in command cf 
 a company of Free State men, and Captain John Wal- 
 lace in command of a company composed of the best 
 
230 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 element of the Pro-Slavery party — ^all pledged to act 
 together for the common good and the peace and pros- 
 perity of the Territory. Homes became safe, murder 
 and arson were unpopular. 
 
 One lovely Sabbath, while encamped near Lecomp- 
 ton, I saw half a dozen houses burning — all belonging 
 to Free State people, who were afraid to remain at 
 home and were at Lawrence. Colonel Cook entrusted to 
 my care a Free State minister who had been captured 
 by the Pro-Slavery party, and whose home was near 
 Leavenworth, and requested me to see that he got home 
 to his family. He was the Eev. J. H. Byrd. I kept him 
 concealed in a wagon, and he got home safely, was in 
 charge of the Government farm at Fort Leavenworth 
 during the Civil War, and died on his farm near Law- 
 rence in September, 1897. 
 
 The ferrv at Lawrence was a flat-boat run by pul- 
 leys on a rope stretched across the river and fastened 
 to a tree on either side and propelled by the force of 
 the current. The boat was not large enough to hold a 
 wagon and six mules, so the leaders were detached from 
 the team and led around to a shallow ford higher up 
 stream, where one mi^'ht cross on horseback or with 
 loose animals, but could not cross wagons. A Frenchmau, 
 married to a Delaware woman and living with the Del- 
 aware Indians on the north side of the river, built a 
 boat and stretched a rope; and when I came along one 
 day he met me two miles north of the ferry and wanted 
 me to cross some of my wagons on his boat. I galloped 
 on and found that he had made a good road and had a 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 231 
 
 good boat that would carry a wagon and six-mnle team, 
 with room to spare; so I divided the train, going to the 
 new ferry, about forty rods below the old one, myself 
 with Mr. Lanter, " an assistant wagonniaster, while Mr. 
 Beery went to the old ferry. Just as the first wagon 
 got on the ferry, I noticed that the old boat was on the 
 south side and Beery was calling the ferryman. As we 
 were about shoving off, the man who ran the old ferry 
 called to me not to attempt to cross wagons on that 
 (the new) ferry; if I did, he would cut the rope and 
 send me down the river; and suiting the action to the 
 word, he caught up an ax and started at a run for the 
 big Cottonwood tree where the rone was fastened. Wo 
 were now in the stream and rapidly nearing the south 
 bank. Standing on the front of the boat with pistol 
 ready, I warned him to stop, and that if he attempted 
 to cut the rope, I would surely kill him. 
 
 The boat landed and he stopped within ten feet of 
 the tree. I ordered him back to his boat, at the same 
 time asking him what he meant. He declared that the 
 Frenchman had no charter to run a boat, hence, no 
 right, while he had a charter from the Territorial Leg- 
 islature for fifteen years. On the other hand, the French- 
 man claimed that the Delawares owned the land on the 
 north side, and had just as much right to land on the 
 south side without any charter as the other fellow had 
 to land on the Delaware reservation, over which he claim- 
 ed that the Legislature had no jurisdiction. I ended the 
 controversy by telling the Frenchman to cross all the 
 wagons he could, and that I would protect him. I told 
 
Major-General John Buford * 
 
 *John Buford was born March 4, 1826, in Kentucky, and 
 graduated from the Military Academy at West Point in 1848. 
 He was then promoted brevet second lieutenant of the birst 
 
FI73 TEARS A DRAGOON. 233 
 
 the old ferryman to get his boat in motion qnickly or 
 I wonld run it with my men, and that the ferry which 
 crossed the most wagons would get the most money. As 
 to their quarrel, they could settle that before the courts 
 or any other place — I knew nothing, nor did I care any- 
 thing about their rights or the law; here were two fer- 
 ries, and I was going to use them. I had the teamster 
 of the first wagon drive close to the tree and told him to 
 shoot any one attemntins: to approach it; and he, that 
 same gentle, auiet, nervy "Bill" Curran, would have 
 
 Dragoons, and the next year second lieutenant of the Second 
 Dragoons. In 18 )3 he became first lieutenant, and in 1859 cap- 
 tain of the same regiment, in 1861 he was appointed major in 
 the Inspector General's Department, brigadier-general of Vol- 
 unteers in 1862, and major-general of Volunteers on the 16th 
 December, 1863. He died in Washington a few minutes after 
 his major-general's commission was placed in his hand. 
 
 There are no names upon its honor-roll in which the 
 American cavalry feel a keener and a juster pride than in that 
 of General Buford. He was an example to emulate from the 
 beginning to the end of his brilliant but too short career. He 
 died at the age of thirty-seven. ^ 
 
 Prom the date of his graduation until the outbreak of 
 the Civil War he was constantly and actitvely engaged with his 
 regiment on the "Vestern frontier in various Indian wars, the 
 Kansas disturbances, and the Utah expedition. As an in- 
 spector he remained on duty about the defenses of Washing- 
 ton during the first year of the war, but was then assigned to 
 the duty his active spirit yearned for— the command of cavalry 
 in campaign. He was severely wounded at the second battle 
 of Bull Run, but in less than a month was back on duty as 
 chief of cavalry in the Army of the Potomac in the Maryland 
 campaign. A history of this cavalry is a history of Buford 
 from the time he joined it till he was borne away from it to die 
 of a brief illness. 
 
 Buford chose the field for the battle of Gettysburg, and 
 with his cavalry divison held back Heth's Confederate infantry 
 division until General Reynolds arrived with his corps. The 
 Union owes to him, more than to any other man, its victory at 
 Gettysburg. 
 
234 ^I^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 done it if necessary. Then I got aboard the old ferry 
 and gave the ferryman one more chance to rim his own 
 boat, and just as I was about to let go, he and his man 
 jumped on. He was sulky and threatened to report me 
 to Colonel Cook at Lecompton. I cut him off short 
 
 with the answer, that I did not care a what he 
 
 did, so that he lost no time with the ferry; and I told 
 Beery to push things with the new ferry, while I stayed 
 with the old one. All worked with a will, but the old 
 ferry lost two trips to start with, and in the end the 
 new ferry had six wagons the most. All, more than 
 seventy wagons, were crossed in time to camp south of 
 town before dark, whereas without the new ferry half 
 of them would have camped in the bottom north of 
 the river. 
 
 The next day, after finishing my business at the 
 camp at Lecompton, I called at Colonel Cook's head- 
 quarters, as I always did before leaving his camp, and 
 there was the complaining ferryman. Having finished 
 
 his business with me, the Colonel said that Mr. 
 
 liad made serious charges against me. I asked what 
 they were, and the Colonel told the man to state his 
 case in my presence. He did so with a good deal of 
 feeling, but substantially correct, and I so admitted. 
 "Well, what did you do it for?" asked the Colonel se- 
 verely. I then stated that being in charge of a train- 
 load of supplies for troops in the field, some of whose 
 rations and forage would be exhausted the next day, I 
 came to a river where I had been in the habit of using 
 the ferry, and found another one complete and ready 
 
FIYE YEARS A DRAGOON. 235 
 
 for nse. Knowing nothing of any one's rights, and car- 
 ing for nothing hut to nse all the means within my 
 reach to get across with the least delay, I had nsed 
 hoth ferries, and in doing so was ohliged to treat Mr. 
 
 very harshly; and if he thought I wonld permit 
 
 him to cnt the ferry-rope and send me sailing down the 
 Kaw River he was mnch mistaken; and if he ever at- 
 tempted it again, he wonld fare worse. "Well, what have 
 yon to say to that?" asked the Colonel, turning to the 
 ferryman. The man hristled a little in a lond voice, 
 
 when the Colonel said. "Stop, sir, stop! Yon are a 
 
 fool, and I will give yon this advice: never try snch a 
 thing again on a good soldier. Mr. Lowe seems to know 
 how to move trains to supply troops in the field — that 
 is what he is emploved for." The man left, and the 
 Colonel remarked that he did not think I wonld have 
 any more tronhle with that fellow; to which I replied 
 that I did not think he wonld ^Hoalk" again. This miade 
 the Colonel smile, and ^^Dalk" hecame a hy-word among 
 the officers, applied to any one who failed to move freely 
 when told to do anvthing. 
 
 I crossed many times afterwards, and each ferry 
 worked its hest for the most money. The Frenchman 
 generally captured the hest of it hy two or three wagons. 
 The Frenchman kent the approach to his ferry in per- 
 fect shape, so that there would he no delays, and the 
 old ferryman kept up the competition — result, a great 
 saving in time and talk. 
 
 I saw John Brown hut once. He came walkinq- in- 
 to Lawrence, looldng like a shaggy lunatic. The clasa 
 
236 ^I^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 of people who shouted for ^'Captain John Brown" were 
 the negative characters, always ready to be mixed up 
 with any kind of notoriety, though not amounting to 
 anything themselves. The substantial, thinking portion 
 of the populace looked on, shook their heads, and, il 
 they expressed themselves at all, it was an expression 
 of contempt for that class of neople. Brown was no 
 hero among them, but was looked upon as a disturbing 
 element. I never expected him to gain any resnectable 
 notoriety, and he did not in the Kansas War; and if he 
 had not made the Harper's Ferry raid and been exe- 
 cuted therefor, he would soon have been forgotten, or re- 
 membered only for his crimes. I do not know of one 
 generous, manly, high-minded act that he did in Kansas, 
 nor one for which he deserved honorable remembrance. 
 On the other hand, his ranting lunacy and bad advice 
 caused many murders on both sides. He was so wrapped 
 up in the idea of the freedom of the slaves, that with 
 others of like ilk he did not hesitate to steal negroes from 
 their masters in Missouri, and this always justified him 
 in stealing provisions for them to subsist upon, and trans- 
 portation to carry them off. Many poor "darkies" were 
 taken from homes against their better judgment through 
 the persuasion and semi-coercion of the disturbing ele- 
 ment who came to Kansas in the name of freedom, and 
 made themselves notorious as border robbers and thieves. 
 This element, with that which came from Missouri to 
 carry the elections and override the will of the genuine 
 settlers, together with the political adventurers, caused 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 237 
 
 all the trouble. No better people ever settled a State 
 than those who came to Kansas to make homes. 
 
 A young man, well dressed and well mounted, rode 
 one evening into my camp w^est of Little Stranger Creek, 
 and told me of a terrible battle that had been fought be- 
 tween Big Stranger and the home of Tonganoxie, a Dela- 
 ware chief, about half-way between Leavenworth and 
 Lawrence. Though he was not a participant in the bat- 
 tle, he thought his information correct. He said I should 
 find dead men scattered about in considerable numbers; 
 that the Free State and Pro-Slavery forces iiad met there, 
 etc. A few words about this young man. He took sup- 
 per with me, fed his horse and slept in my tent, and after 
 breakfast left for Leavenworth, promising to take my 
 advice and leave Kansas, which he did; but after peace 
 was declared he returned, went to Denver and Montana, 
 came back, drifted into the cattle business, became a 
 millionaire, raided a prominent family of worthy people, 
 and died in Kansas City a few years ago. He was always 
 thankful tliat he had kept away from Captain Miller^ ^ 
 band of "})eace makers," allied himself with good men 
 and led a good life. 
 
 The next morning at a point twO' miles east of Ton- 
 ganoxie's house, at a place now called Moore's Summit, 
 after the Hon. Crawford Moore who owned a large tract 
 of land there, I found lying in the road a dead man, about 
 thirty years old, dressed like a respectable mechanic. He 
 lay upon his back, pockets turned out as if he had been 
 robbed, a small bunch of keys near his trousers pocket. 
 He had been shot twice, the last time evidently after- he 
 
238 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 fell, in the top of his head. Evidently a nnmher of 
 horses and men had been there, but after riding in a cir- 
 cle a long distance round, I failed to find another body. 
 Captain Sacket came along and had the body buried. I 
 related the circumstance of finding the dead man, as I 
 went through Lawrence, but no one knew who it was. 
 
 On my return a man met me at the ferry on the Law- 
 rence side, G. W. H. Golding by name, and stated that he 
 and three others, Eoberts, Zimmerman and Brown (not 
 John) had been driven out of Leavenworth on account of 
 their open confession that they wanted Kansas to be a 
 free State. Golding was a gunsmith, Eoberts a carpenter, 
 Brown and Zimmerman other trades. All had worked at 
 their respective trades and had not been mixed up in 
 any difficulties. They had been notified to leave, and 
 had started to walk to Lawrence. When near Tonga- 
 noxie's house, a mounted company of fifty or more men 
 made them prisioners. They told their story and were 
 damned as Abolitionists. Everybody who wanted to live 
 in a free State and wanted Kansas to be a free State 
 for that reason, was denounced as an Abolitionist and a 
 dangerous character. The percentage of Abolitionists 
 among the Free State men was very small. The senti- 
 ment of nearly all men from Northern States and many 
 from Missouri and otlior Southern States, was in favor of 
 making Kansas a free State. They did not care to meddle 
 with slavery where it existed, but wanted the new State 
 free, where they hoped to make homes, because they be- 
 lieved it best for themselves and families. I met men 
 from Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia and Maryland who 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 239 
 
 wanted Kansas to be free, and they were among the best 
 settlers. 
 
 The captain of the troop of rangers who captured 
 these men did not want to be encumbered with them, 
 and concluded to leave them, at Tonganoxie's house under 
 guard, and four men volunteered to guard them. Tonga- 
 noxie had gone off, as many others had, to remain away 
 until the troubles were settled. These four guards with 
 ^heir prisoners took posisessdon of the house. About 
 midnight they started under pretence of taking the pris- 
 oners back to Leavenworth, but really to find an excuse 
 for murdering and robbing them. The prisoners were 
 required to walk, one on the right side of each of these 
 mounted men, and at a signal all were shot at. Golding 
 was shot near the left ear, the bullet ranging downward. 
 He fell and bled profusely, but lay quiet, nearly choking 
 to death with blood, for fear they ^ would shoot him 
 again. The rufhans felt his pulse and one was about to 
 shoot him again, when another said, "Don't waste your 
 shots; no man ever bled that much and lived.'^ Eoberts 
 struggled some and was shot again. Brown lay still; 
 they felt his pulse and pounded him on the head with 
 the butt of a gun. Zimmerman was pronounced dead. 
 All were robbed (they had considerable money), the rob- 
 bers riding off at a gallop. Golding supposed his com- 
 panions dead, turned over and relieved himself of the 
 blood in his throat, found that he could walk, and finally 
 made his way through the prairie and timber, keeping 
 off the road, and got to Lawrence. Hearing that I had 
 found Eoberts and no others, made him hope that Brown 
 
 16- 
 
240 ^I^E TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 and Zimmermaii might have escaped as he did. It turned 
 onit that Brown was not hit by the shoi, but fell and lay 
 still, even holding his breath a long time^, and the onl;v 
 injury was caused by the blows on the back of his head. 
 He, too, thought his comrades dead and crept away; but 
 he found that the blows on his head had so affected his 
 eyes that he could scarcely see. In this condition he made 
 his way to the Kaw River, living on green corn for several 
 days, until he was found below Lawrence. I do not know 
 what became of him. Zimmerman escaped badly wound- 
 ed, but recovered. Golding wais the first Free State 
 sheriff of Leavenworth County, and was a useful citizen 
 and good officer. He settled in Labette County and 
 died there in 1895. The above is all there was of the 
 terrible battle described by my friend. 
 
 To show the character of the four men who commit- 
 ted this outrage, I happened to know one of them person- 
 ally, and I suppose the others were of like makeup. Th^s 
 one had been a, trapper up the Yellowstone, committed 
 one or two murders up there, and had to get out of the 
 country to keep from being killed by other trappers. I 
 hired him to go to Fort Riley in 1855 and discharged 
 him on the road. He returned to Leavenworth and 
 opened up a headquarters for toughs, his apparent busi- 
 ness being that of a saloon keeper. Many men told me 
 that it was only a question of time when he would kill 
 me, if he got a chance. Everybody went armed, and, of 
 course, I was not behind others in having good arms and 
 being prepared to use them. One thing I was pretty 
 safe on, I did not visit the town or tough places at night, 
 
J^IYE TEARS A DRAGOON. 241 
 
 and never feared that any man would assassinate me face 
 to face. He might waylay me, bnt that was hard to do 
 in broad daylight, with a man who was always sober and 
 aecustomed to care for himself. But his threats caused 
 me to keep the run of him. One day I met him at the 
 corner of Main and Shawnee Streets; I was going north, 
 as he came round the corner and turned south with a rifle 
 on his shoulder. I stepped to the edge of the walk, drew 
 my pistol quickly and motioned him to continue on south, 
 which he did. Neither spoke. When he got to Dela- 
 ware Street, he turned west, and I went on north to 
 where my horse was hitched and rode to the Fort. I 
 never saw him afterwards, but heard the next day that 
 he had joined one of the companies of "peace makers." 
 
 In the fall, soon after peace arrangements at Le- 
 compton, which destroyed all the business of irresponsi- 
 ble "peace makers," a promiscuous lot of men were as- 
 sembled in a saloon in Leavenworth, some drinking, 
 some playing cards, talking over the past, conjecturing 
 the future, etc. My "friend" was of the number — swag- 
 gering, swearing and bragging — telling of his prowess, 
 and among other outrages he bragged of killing Eoberts. 
 "I did not let my man escape," said he. Some Georgians 
 present had come to Kansas to settle, not to steal or rob, 
 but to settle — preferably to make Kansas a slave State, 
 but to settle any way and make the best of it. In the 
 meantime some of them had become so disgusted with 
 the so-called "Pro-Slavery" gangs, as represented by the 
 "peace makers" above referred to and the crowds that 
 came over from Missouri to carry the elections, that they 
 
242 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 leaned towards the Free State party as representing the 
 better element, and finally some of them concluded to 
 and did act with that party. One of these Greorgians, 
 who had been much disappointed and disgusted, now 
 slightly under the influence of liquor, sprang to his feet, 
 rifle in hand, faced the big ruffian and spoke, as reported 
 to me, about as follows: '^You scoundrel! you thief! 
 you characterless murderer! You who had nothing at 
 stake, neither character, home, friends, nor hope for the 
 future, you and others like you have roamed this country 
 to our disgrace and the destruction of all that we hoped 
 to build. By murder, arson and robbery you have made 
 us a stench in the nostrils of all decent men. I am going 
 back to Georgia, but for the sake of my comrades who 
 must stay here and struggle for a living, I am going to 
 kill you, so die, damn you, die!^^ And he shot the ruffian 
 dead. 
 
 During the Georgian's speech the ruffian had braced 
 himself up, fumbled his pistol and acted as if he was go- 
 ing to use it, but the Georgian had the "drop" and would 
 have killed him any instance that he thought it neces- 
 sary. A friend of mine who was present told me this 
 two hours after in my camp fifteen miles away, and of the 
 scenes and incidents previous to and following the killing. 
 The Georgian's speech caused a sensation, not only among 
 the tough element, who thinned out a good deal after- 
 wards, but among the better element who had looked 
 with suspicion upon all Southerners who came to make 
 Kansas a slave State. Gradually it dawned upon them 
 that there were good men of the Pro-Slavery party who 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 243 
 
 would fall into line and work for Kansas anyway, build 
 homes and be good citizens. But the Georgian who 
 did the killing did not return home, but found Gov- 
 ernment employment, went with me on the Cheyenne Ex- 
 pedition in 1857, to Utah in 1858, where I left him, and 
 thence to California. Frugal, industrious and honest, he 
 made all good men respect him. Two of the other Geor- 
 gians who were in the room when the killing was done, 
 worked for me in Government business more than two 
 years, saved their money, and made homes in Kansas. 
 Better men it would be hard to find. 
 
 At Lawrence, one of my first acquaintances was Ly- 
 man Allen. He was in the stove and hardware business, 
 a genial, companionable man. After crossing the ferries, 
 I always went to his office to write my certificate on which 
 the ferry-men collected their pay from the quartermaster 
 at Fort Leavenworth. So that every tune I passed 
 through there, going or coming, I saw him. A few days 
 after peace was patched up at Lecompton, I met Govern- 
 or Charles Robinson in Allen's office. I had seen him 
 frequently as a prisoner at Colonel Cook's camp at Le- 
 compton, but now made his acquaintance for the first 
 time. Having some leisure, and the Governor seeming 
 to want to talk with me, I remained in conversation with 
 him and Mr. Allen until two distinguished leaders of the 
 Pro-Slavery party came in and introduced themselves to 
 the Governor, who introduced them to Mr. Allen and me. 
 They talked a little, evidently without any very congenial 
 feeling on either side, and treated each other courteously 
 for a few minutes, when the visitors rose to go. After 
 
244 ^^^^ TEARS A DkAGOON. 
 
 shaking hands reservedly all aronnd, one of them turned 
 to the Governor and said that he had lost a negro man, 
 and had reason to believe he was in Lawrence — he had the 
 man in camp during the campaign and some one had stol- 
 en him. He asked the Governor if he had heard of such 
 a maU;, describing him, to which the Governor replied 
 that he had not. The other man said: "Well, if the 
 nigger does come under your notice, I wish you would 
 try to save him for me/' to which the Governor replied: 
 "Well, if I see him.'' And the gentlemen were off. 
 After they went out the Governor turned to me and said, 
 that he had been informed that each of these two men 
 had declared that they would shoot him on sight, "And 
 now," said he, "they come in here to inquire after a run- 
 away negTO, and while both are armed and I am not, 
 neither acts as if inclined to shoot." These men, then 
 young, were among the wealthiest in Platte and Buchan- 
 an Counties, in Missouri; both were Union men during 
 the War of the Rebellion, one was a colonel, several terms 
 a congressman, and died a congressman from the St. Joe 
 district in Missouri — one of the ablest men from that or 
 any other State. And so the change referred to by Gov- 
 ernor Eobinson was not so great, in the light of what fol- 
 lowed. When Robinson became governor he made his 
 friend Lyman Allen Adjutant General of the State. 
 
 Lieutenant Stuart, acting commissiary officer at Fort 
 Leavenworth, found himself with 400 work oxen on hand 
 in the fall of 1856, turned over to him by the quarter- 
 master to be fed for beef. He employed me to take them 
 to Platte County, locate them, buy feed for them, etc.. 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 245 
 
 and I was transferred to the commissary department for 
 that purpose. I placed them on the farm of Mr. Daniel 
 Carey, near which I had been the winter before. In the 
 spring of 1857 the oxen were very fat. I had spent a 
 pleasant winter with nice people, and the last of April I 
 returned the cattle to Salt Creek Valley, transferred 
 back to the quartermaster's department 
 
 >*y 
 
PART VH. 
 
 J HE 1st of May^ 1857, I was placed in charge of 
 transportation for the Cheyenne expeditio>n, to 
 be commanded by Colonel E. V. Sumner, First Cavalry, 
 with Lieutenant J. E. B. Stuart, quartermaster and com- 
 missary of the expedition. It was at Lieutenant Stuart's 
 request that I was detailed for this duty. 
 
 After the necessiiry preparations for the long cam- 
 paign. Major Sedgwick, with four troops of the First Cav- 
 alry (now Fourth), five Delaware Indian scouts and forty 
 six-mule teams, Mr. ^'Nick'^ Berry as chief wagonmaster, 
 was to go up the Arkansas by the Sante Fe route to 
 about where now stands Pueblo, then strike across to 
 where is now Denver, and down the South PLatte to Fort 
 St. Vrain, where it was expected he would arrive on or 
 al)out the 4th of July. Colonel Sumner, with two 
 troops of his regiment (First Cavalry) would proceed to 
 Fort Kearney, where he would be joined by two troops of 
 the Second Dragoons (now Second Cavalry), and thence 
 to Fort Laramie, where three companies of the Sixth In- 
 fantry would join him. At Laramie he would take pro- 
 visions for his whole commamd, including Major Sedg- 
 wick's, up to the end of July. Major Sedgwick's column 
 started on the 17th of May; on the 18th and 19th we 
 loaded Colonel Sumner's train, and at 8 :00 a. m. on the 
 20th the column moved out, cavalry in advance. 
 
 246 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 247 
 
 The transportiation consisted of the Coloiie?s four- 
 mule ambulance^ fifty wagons (six-mule teams) and twen- 
 ty extra mules. Traveled eighteen miles and camped on 
 
 Stranger Creek. 
 
 Percival G. Lowe. 
 
 Without incident worthy of note, the command 
 camped near Fort Kearney June 4th, Captain Wharton, 
 Sixth Infantry, commanding; drew forage and provis- 
 
248 FI'^E lEARS A DRAaOON. 
 
 ions to last to Fort Laramie. TVo troops of the Second 
 Dragoons joined hero, Lieutenant Smith in command of 
 Troop E and Lientenant Yilipigne of Troop H. Lien- 
 tenant Higgins, Sixth Infantry, also joined with 100 
 recruits for Companies B, C, D and Gr, Sixth Infantry, 
 at Laramie. Colonel Sumner employed five Pawnee 
 scouts, "Speck-in-the-Eye'' chief of the band, and ten 
 wagons were added to the train. 
 
 June 6th. Command left Kearney, and without in- 
 cident of importance camped four miles below Beauvais' 
 Crossing of South Platte June 13th. 
 
 June 14th. Commfeind lying by; thankful for this. 
 It gives men a chance to clean up, and men and animals 
 a rest. Threw covers off every wagon and let in the sun 
 to dry out dampness sure to accumulate. 
 
 Lieutenant Stuart resigned as Acting Quartermaster 
 and Commissarv June 1st, and Lieutenant K. H. Riddick 
 succeeded him. 
 
 June 15. Leaving trains in charge of one wagon- 
 master, I took the others and assistants with me at 5 
 o'clock and rode to the crossing. The river was very 
 high, banks full, and just half a mile by measurement 
 from bank to bank; current three to four miLes an hour; 
 usually half the width was bare sand-bars, but now all 
 was covered with water; it is the "June rise." Large 
 numbers of emigrants waiting for river to get lower. 
 On account of the melting snow in the mountains, they 
 may have to wait a long time. I pointed out the land- 
 ing on the north side; told Eskridge, who had quick 
 perception and a clear head, to remain on the south 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 249 
 
 bank and direct me step by step in case I got to drift- 
 ing down. The others followed a short distance apart. 
 The bottom was very uneverij sometimes a foot deep, 
 suddenly becoming two, three, and in a few places, four 
 feet deep. The changes were sudden, as often three 
 feet as one, but mostly two or three. On a small island 
 just above the crossing on the north side grew many 
 tall, slim willows; we each cut ^several, ten or twelve 
 feet long, and trimmed them so as to leave a few leaves 
 on the top. Each took several of these long switches. 
 Standing on the north bank, I directed them straight 
 to Eslvridge. In the shallowest water, where the cur- 
 rent would have little force, a switch was stuck deep 
 in the quicksand. By a tedious struggle we got a straight 
 line from bank to bank. 
 
 Along came the cavalry, and I explained to Colonel 
 Sumner and the QuaTtermaster that if they would keep 
 close up to the line of willows, they would beat down and 
 level the quicksand bottom so as to improve the cross- 
 ing for the wagons. The Colonel knew this very well, 
 as he had been here in 1850, though, he said, the water 
 was not then high. I volunteered to show the way and 
 rode in ahead. The head of the column kept up fairly 
 well but some men a few files back had trouble, drifted, 
 and before the north bank was reached the column was 
 a rainbow — the center 300 yards below the direct line — 
 many horses floundering in the quicksand and several 
 men nearly drowned. For a wonder all got out, but my 
 road-bed was not benefited. However, experience had 
 shown me that there could be no helter-shelter hurrying. 
 
250 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 and the chance of losing some mules, wagons, and pos- 
 sibly men was very good. That tumbling, boiling caul- 
 dron of sand and water was dangerous for the strongest 
 and most experienced men with teams. Be it remem- 
 bered that the man, horse or wagon standing still will 
 soon sink in the sand; one must keep moving constantly 
 or sink; a blockade of wagons meant the loss of some. 
 I asked the Colonel and Quartermaster if they had any 
 instructions or directions to give me. The Colonel said, 
 "Be very careful," and left me to work it out my own 
 way. The company teams were looked after well under 
 the instructions of officers and non-commissioned offi- 
 cers interested, and there was no friction, each team fol- 
 lowing in turn, all cheerfully helping. In addition to 
 the wagonmasters I had a dozen teamsters on their sad- 
 dle-mules strung along the crossing ready to help. A strap 
 or rope tied to the bridle of the lead mule was held by a 
 mounted man starting in ahead of the team, while one 
 or two more mounted men rode at the lower (off) side 
 to whip up the mules and keep them from drifting down, 
 and the teamster on his saddle-mule did the best he 
 could to keep moving. In this way the first wagon got 
 safely over. 
 
 Each wagon master and mounted teamster under- 
 standing his part of the programme, the wagons were 
 started in about fifty yards apart, care being taken to 
 have no more than half a dozen in the river at the same 
 time. Most of the teams had more or less trouble, 
 causing outriders to get off into the water to help out, 
 so that all clothing was soon wet through. The day was 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 251 
 
 dark and cloudy, the water cold from snow-clad moun- 
 tains and the north wind cold, and all suffered much. 
 As soon as a team was over, the teamster unhitched his 
 saddle-mule and came hack to help. Half the teams were 
 safely over when the oldest wagonmaster started in 
 with a wagon for the first time. It was the lightest 
 loaded, and it seems that he thought it would go over 
 easily, and it would, with good management. It was 
 the hospital wagon, containing all medicines for the com- 
 mand. In the middle of the stream, the team tangled 
 up. the leaders swung round and the saddle - mule 
 sank in the sand and got under the tongue, the lower 
 (off) wheels sank, and the wagon rolled over in the deep- 
 est water. The hoy who drove the team, eighteen years 
 old, was trying to extricate himself from his saddle-mule 
 and crying for help. The man on the lower side could 
 not reach him and the wagonmaster sat on his horse 
 like a wooden man. I was fiftv yards away, but put 
 ■purs to my horse and reached the hoy in time to keep 
 /lim from going under the tongue with the saddle-mule, 
 which drowned. The men cut the harness from the 
 other mules, and they found their way out. I took the 
 hoy on behind me, rode to the north shore, and he was 
 soon made comfortable by his comrades. 
 
 At last all but one of the wagons were over — one 
 mule, wagon and medical stores lost. And now, with 
 plenty of mounted men we crossed the beef herd with 
 little difficulty. I did not hear a complaint then or ever 
 afterwards about the management. No one interfered 
 with me from first to last. For my part, with some 
 
252 ^I^^J^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 others, I had been in the cold river, mounted and dis- 
 mounted, more than six hours; others had been in three, 
 four or five hours; all at least one or two hoi;rs. About 
 two infantry recruits climbed into each wagon and were 
 the only ones who got over dry, except a few of the cav- 
 alry. Fortunately none were in the hospital wagon. 
 
 As soon as the last wagon was over, the cavalry 
 column moved out. Lieutenant Stuart^s servant came 
 with the Lieutenant's compliments and presented me 
 with a fine hat; Stuart had gotten it out of his trunk 
 when he saw me lose mine in saving the boy. My ever 
 present bandana was tied on my head. 
 
 Lieutenant Eiddick said we were going six miles 
 to some water hole; we found the holes but no water. 
 Water kegs contained enough for cooking purposes and 
 to drink, and there were buffalo chips enough to make 
 coffee and heat water for whiskey toddies, but no fire 
 for the benumbed, worn-out men to warm themselves 
 and dry their clothes by that dreary, miserable day. I 
 had a few bottles of fine whiskey which had not been 
 touched since I left Fort Ijeavenworth, and now I gave 
 it all out in small doses to the men. I insisted on every 
 man changing his clothing, and with coffee and plenty 
 to eat, it was surprising how cheerful all were. My 
 drowned boy had been well cared for, laid away in blank- 
 ets, and was all right. 
 
 That boy's name was Hayes, a German of Leaven- 
 worth, and when he returned home with one arm, at 
 the close of the Civil War, he came to see mie. He be- 
 came a prosperous farmer in Jefferson County, Kansas — 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 253 
 
 a good soldier and citizen. The Colonel sent for me and 
 seemed well pleased at the manner in which the crossing 
 was effected^ and when I expressed impatience at the 
 loss of the wagon and medical stores, he said he thought 
 I should be well satisfied. He made me feel a little 
 more reconciled to the unnecessary loss. 
 
 June 22d. We reached Fort Laramie, and camped 
 one and one-half miles above on the south side of Lar- 
 amie Eiver. Orders were received by Colonel Sumner 
 for E and H T'roops, Second Dragoons, to be ready to 
 go with General Harney to Utah, so that they are no 
 longer a part cf the Cheyenne expedition. 
 
 23d. Everybody getting ready for the Cheyenne 
 campaign. This is the last chance for any sort of out- 
 fit until it is over. Mr. Seth E. Ward, the sutler here, 
 has a good stock of campaign goods. Fitting out more 
 teams, having mules^ shoes fitted, drawing provisions, 
 forage, etc. Laramie probably presents a busier scene 
 than ever before in its history. We left Fort Leaven- 
 worth with about 300 fat oxen, had been killing some 
 from day to day for beef, and to-day we drew 150 more 
 from the Commissary. We have not seen a buffalo 
 since leaving Freemont's Spring. The Colonel employed 
 two guides — one a mo'untaineer white man, the other a 
 Mexican. 
 
 27th. Three companies of the Sixth Infantry, un- 
 der Captain Ketchum — his G, Lieutenant Carlin's D, and 
 Captain Foote's C, marched from Laramie at 8 o'clock, 
 passed our camp with the guides and Pawnees — trains 
 following. Gradual rise eight miles south to top of 
 
254 ^^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 steep, rocky hill; an hour going down 500 yards; crossed 
 and camped on Cherry Creek at north side of ^^Coshen^s 
 Hole/' This "Goshen's Hole'' is a level plain thirty 
 miles across from north to south, and is said to be the 
 hottest place this side of the home of Dives, and, except 
 at the extreme south and north ends, about as dry. 
 
 28th. Infantry and Pawnees marched at 6:00; cav- 
 alry and train at 7:00, eighteen miles over flat plain, 
 the sun shining on the light sandy ground, creating such 
 intense light and heat that men and animals suffered 
 much — blinding heat without a breath of air. Our camp 
 on Box Elder looked like an old apple orchard minus 
 the fruit. Scattering box-elders and good grass made 
 as lovely a camp as one could expect without a drop of 
 water. Water kegs were full and cooking went on all 
 right, but the poor horses and mules were great suffer- 
 ers. The white guide said that the water always sank 
 in the sand during a hot day, but there would be a good 
 running stream at 11:00 p. m. In sympathy with my 
 part of the caravan, by permission of the Colonel and 
 Quartermaster, I told the herders to turn the mules up 
 the creek towiards a high point of bluff a mile away. The 
 horses occupied all the shade near camp except that 
 monopolized by the men, and I saw nothing but hours 
 of suffering with stifling heat for the mules before the 
 broiling sun would go down. It was the hottest place 
 I have ever seen without artiflcial heat. Horses stood 
 at the lariats and chewed the grass they were unable to 
 swallow, and spat it out. 
 
 Taking some pieces of ^Tiard tack" to nibble on, 1 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 255 
 
 mounted my horse, and with "Billyh' Lowe, a Cincinnati 
 youth, who, w4th his brother, was roughing it for ad- 
 venture, I leisurely drifted off ahead of the herd. Ar- 
 rived at the point of bluff I noticed under the north 
 side, where the sun had not struck since early morning, 
 a, trickline stream which ran into the sand twenty feet 
 away. Then I began to hunt up the creek, the water 
 increasing as I went. Two miles from camp the bluffs 
 were high and brush and trees shaded the creek-bed, and 
 our animals drank comfortablv. Half a mile further I 
 found a long hole worn in the sand-stone and a good 
 stream running into it, but disappearing in the hot sand 
 within two hundred yards. I wrote on a leaf of my 
 memorandum book to Lieutenant Eiddick, telling him 
 that if the Colonel would permit the mules to be driven 
 three miles from camp, they could get plentv of water, 
 and could graze leisurely back before tile sun set; also, 
 that there would be plenty of water for the cavalry 
 horses. I told "Billy" to deliver the note to Lieutenant 
 Eiddick as quickly as possible. It was now 2 o'clock. 
 With my glass, from a high point, I could see the camp 
 and the mules. In less than an hour I saw the mules 
 moving towards me, and as they came towards the water 
 and smelt it, they struck a trot and finally a stampede, 
 and such braying from four hundred mules I never heard 
 before or since. The bluffs resounded with their music 
 until their noses were buried in the lovely stream. 
 
 And now a column of dust indicated that the cav- 
 alry were coming; I showed them some nice holes above 
 the mules. There was great rejoicing over the water, 
 
 17- 
 
256 FIVE YEAK8 A DRAGOON- 
 
 Captain W. N. R, Beall said to me, "Are you the guide 
 of this command ?'' I replied that I was not, but, that 
 if I were I should know what was in the country or try 
 to find out; I had no use for guides who could only fol- 
 low a trail and knew nothing of the surroundings; any- 
 body could follow a trail without a guide. When I re- 
 ported to the Colonel at sunset, he seemed greatly 
 pleased, and questioned me about how I thought of look- 
 ing for water. I thought of it as a matter of course, 
 but admitted that it was an accident. 
 
 29th. Infantry off at 6:00, cavalry and trains at 
 7:00, ten miles and watered at Willow Creek; three more 
 to pass through high bluff, the outlet from "Groshen's 
 Hole"; four hours getting train up the hill and through 
 the pass, half a mile — ^steep quicksand hill; three more, 
 and camped on Bear Creek at 7 :00 o'clock. Fine camp, 
 but everybody and everything too tired to enjoy it. 
 
 30th. Off as usual, one mile to a branch of Bear 
 River. This small stream, ten feet across, had by recent 
 rains been made a bog one hundred yards wide. The 
 slough grass was as high as a mairs head, and one could 
 cut with a butcher-knife an armful a minute. All sol- 
 diers and teamsters had butcher-knives. Cavalry dis- 
 mounted and all cut grass, and a causeway was soon 
 made. It seemed a huge job to cut with butcher-knives 
 sufficient grass to causeway one hundred yards of bog. 
 All took hold in good shape and we crossed without ac- 
 cident, greatlv to the surprise of officers and men, to 
 whom this causewaying with g-rass was a new thing. 
 
r ; FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 257 
 
 Seventeen miles more, crossing five branches of Horse 
 Creek, and camped at 4 p. ni. on Mud Creek. 
 
 July 1st. Off as usual. Looking from a hill at tho 
 course the guides were taking the infantry, I suggested 
 another course for the wagons. I could see with my 
 glass a smooth plain that would save trouble. The Col- 
 onel said, "Well, go ahead,'^ and I did, he following 
 with his ambulance. Captain Beall said that we saved 
 two miles. These guides have no idea of a wagon-road; 
 they have been following Indian trails on ponies, and 
 do not know ver\" much about them. Eighteen miles 
 over a hard gravel road and crossed Pole Creek. This i^ 
 called "Pole Creek'^ because the Indians o^et laro^e nuui- 
 bers of lodge-poles near the head of it in the mountains. 
 Four miles more and camped ou big "Mud Creek'^; heavy 
 rain-storm in the night. 
 
 3d. We have a Initcher named ^mitli who has 
 cliarge of the cattle herd. He never was on the plains 
 before, and imagines that he can handle cattle here as 
 he could on his fathers farm in Rhode Island. I cau- 
 tioned him to have his Mexican herders on the alert 
 daring the storm for fear of a stampede. This morning 
 he came in greatly distressed and swore there- "Wasn't 
 a critter in sight.^^ And sure enough, with the excep- 
 tion of one cow owned by him and one lame beef, there 
 was not a horned "critter in sight.^' Fortunately for 
 our command, Quartermaster Sergeant Clark, who was 
 commissary clerk, and my mess mate since leaving 
 J^eaveiivortli, overtook utj abont !<> (/clock with all the 
 
258 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 cattle, having found them ten miles from camp, nearly 
 in the direction of our line of march. Off as usual, ten 
 miles to main branch of Crow Creek; road muddy and 
 bad from last night's rains; ten miles more, and camped 
 on south side of slough, which delayed us three hours 
 in causewaying with grass. Good many mules gave out 
 to-day. , 
 
 3d. Off as usual, one and one-half miles to slough 
 that occupied two hours in crossing, with assistance of 
 cavalry and plenty of slough-grass. Six miles, and struck 
 spring branch of Crow Creek — four more to crossing. 
 Much time spent in crossing nine wagons, and Captaiii 
 Beall found a good crossing half a mile below. This 
 shows the worthlessness of the guide. Here the Colonel 
 called me, and said, that by the guide's estimate it w-is 
 eight miles to where we will camp to-night, twelve more 
 to crossing of South Platte below the mouth of Powder 
 Eiver, and thirteen more to Fort St. Yrain, where he 
 wanted to meet Major Sedgwick the next day; that is 
 twenty-five miles by the usual trail from to-night's camp 
 to St. Yrain, besides crossing the river. The guide also 
 says, that if we could go direct from to-night's camp 
 to St. A^rain, it would be only twenty miles, and cross- 
 ing at St. Vrain much better than below the mouth of 
 Powder Eiver. Ouide thinks the route practicable. So 
 far I had not been im]n-essed by anything the guide had 
 done — if he had given anv valuable information it had 
 not come to me notice; so I told the Colonel that the 
 guide's statement could be easily verified — that I would 
 
t'iVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 259 
 
 ride that twenty miles to St. Vrain, and back to his camp 
 before starting-time in the mornings and then there woukl 
 be no uncertainty about it. ^'AIl right," said the Colonel, 
 "take both guides and any others that you want with 
 you." I took with me Simeon Kouth, a teamster in 
 whom I had confidence, soon overtook the infantry, and 
 got both guides, and struck out west towards the moun- 
 tains at 3 o'clock. In referring to the guide, I mean the 
 white man — the Mexican talked little English and kept 
 quiet. The guide pointed out what he called "Soutli 
 Fork Peaks," and said that St. Vrain lay in a direct line 
 between us and them, and we traveled straight as yo>- 
 sible towards them. 
 
 We first came in sight of the Rocky Mountains ai 
 Scott^s Bluffs, forty-six miles east of Laramie, Laramie 
 Peak being the only spur then in sight. Since leaving 
 Laramie we have been traveling nearly south and about 
 parallel with the main chain, which now we estimate to 
 be about forty miles distant. Over nearly level plain we 
 went — walk, trot, gallop — pushing along at an average 
 of six miles or more an hour. We have been traveling 
 a little up grade, and at 5 o'clock, as we reached high 
 ground, we could see the timbers of Powder Eiver in tho 
 distance. The afternoon was lovely and the scene be- 
 fore us beautiful beyond description — vivid lightning, 
 clouds and rain — storms on various peaks along the snow- 
 capped range could be seen far Ijeyond the sound of 
 thunder, the sun shining brightly on tempest, peak and 
 plain, the scenes changing with the rapidity of a kaleido- 
 
260 i^^yj"^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 scope. At last we are on the bank of Powder Eiver at 
 7 o^clock, certainly twenty - five miles from where we 
 started, and I do not know' how much farther to St. 
 Vrain; and it makes little difference. The river is a 
 raging torrent, overflowing its hanks from ten to twenty 
 feet deep, from the effects O'f rains at its source, whicli 
 we have been viewing all along. This settles the ques- 
 tion about going that Avay, and, as I concluded. then and 
 have since proved, not a mile could have been saved by 
 going that way — ^another damper on the guide's knowl- 
 edge of the country. Ttoops and trains would have trav- 
 eled over an untrodden plain half covered with cactus 
 — one mile worse than two over a partially beaten track. 
 For half an hour, with my glass I watched the glittering 
 rays of the setting sun upon clouds, storms and white- 
 capped peaks; I might never view such a sight again, 
 and, though I have seen much of the magnificent range 
 since, to me nothing has ever equaled that view. 
 
 I do not want to retrace the twenty-five miles to 
 camp, and the guide says it is but twelve miles tO' the 
 Phitte below the mouth of the Cache le Poudre. So that, 
 miserable as the prospect is, we will camp here. Our 
 horses are tormented witli mosquitoes that rise from the 
 thick grass and cover tliem all over, so we fill canteeur; 
 and betake ourselves to a hill half a mile from the river, 
 but they follow. The animals are hobl)led, fuel is 
 brought, and in a few minutes we have a fire, ]>ile on 
 green grass and make a big smoke, to which all animals 
 — biped and quadru]>ed — como for protection. Ench 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON'- 261 
 
 man puts his slice of meat on a stick and broils it while 
 seated in the smoke. Armijo^ the Mexican gnide^ has a 
 coffee pot and some coffee — each one has a few pieces 
 of "hard tack/' and we feast. Having both guides, I 
 determined to send one back to Colonel Sumner, and 
 wrote the following note: 
 
 "Camp on Cache le Poudre, 
 "July 3, 1857, 10 p. m. 
 
 "To Colonel E. V. Sumner, Commanding Cheyenne Expe- 
 dition, Camp on Crow Creel": 
 
 "Colonel: — On leaving you I traveled due west about 
 twenty-five miles over a fairly level country and arrived 
 here at T o'clock. Found the water from ten to twentv 
 feet deep and storms in the mountains indicate that it 
 will continue so, rendering this route impracticable for 
 the train. I will meet you on the South Fork of Platte 
 to-morrow. I send Armijo with instructions to be in 
 your camp by sunrise. 
 
 "I am. Colonel, very respectfully, 
 
 "P. G. Lower 
 
 Armijo saddled his horse and with rifle across the 
 pommel said "Adios, Seiior,'- and was gone. Before he 
 left camp we all agreed upon a star that he should fol- 
 low, believing that that course would take him close to 
 Colonel Sumner's camp. We kept up the smoke; the- 
 night was cool, and by midnight the mosquitoes haJ 
 settled down into the grass and there was peace for man 
 and beast. 
 
262 ^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 4th. Coffee, small piece of meat and "hard tack" 
 made our breakfast, and at 5 o'clock we started down 
 stream. Arrived at usual crossing of South Platte be- 
 low the mouth of Cache le Poudre at 8 :00. Unsaddled 
 and let horses graze while we rested an hour. Then I 
 proposed to trj the crossing, but the guide said, "^'No, 
 it is impracticable." Eouth was willing to try it, but 
 I would not permit it with his mule. Divesting myself 
 of everything except underclothes, and with nothing on 
 my horse but myself and a bridle, I felt my way into 
 the river cautiously, and was half way over without much 
 trouble. Then my horse had a hard struggle in deep 
 water and quicksand, being hard pressed for some time 
 to keep his head above water, but he took it quietly, 
 rested when he could, and finally landed safely. I took 
 the bit from his mouth and let him graze for half an 
 hour while I fought mosquitoes with s^^':itches, and then 
 we recrossed with the same difficulty. Our wagons can- 
 not cross here at this time. The guide said : "You 11 
 take the advice of a guide next time." Feeling nettled 
 at what I conceived to be his utter uselessness, I admon- 
 ished him that guides and other employees were sup- 
 posed to furnish information to the commanding olTicer, 
 and if not, I could see no use for them. The dust of 
 the command is visible fcnr miles away. I selected a 
 camp a mile lower down and rode out to meet the Col- 
 onel, who was in his ambulance in advance. He said 
 that Armijo reached him in time. He was anxious to 
 know about the crossing, and I was able to tell him. 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 
 
 263 
 
 and he went into the camp that I had selected. Our 
 battery was manned and salute fired just as we heard 
 S e d g wick's ^ 
 
 guns up the 
 river on the 
 other side. 
 
 Some n 3 
 cried, "A 
 horseman on 
 the south 
 side of the 
 river V^ and all 
 rushed for a 
 sight of him. 
 After long 
 exertion, ev- 
 eryone having 
 given him up 
 for lost half 
 a dozen times, 
 the horseman 
 emerged from 
 the river, and 
 nroved to be Major-General John Sedgwick. 
 
 "Fall Leaf,^^ one of the Delaware Indian guides, from 
 ^lajor Sedgwick. He brought a letter from the Major 
 to the Colonel, who sent "Fall Leaf^^ back with an answer, 
 requesting the Major to move down opposite to him to- 
 morrow. Overcome by excitement and fatigue, and the 
 effects of a good dinner, I retired to mv tent and was soon 
 
264 ^^^^ YEAR8 A t)RAQ00if' 
 
 fast asleep. But, alas! ""there is no rest for the wicked." 
 1 was soon iiroused by the alarming cry of "Stampede!^' 
 oft repeated. TVenty steps from my tent stood my 
 horse (Ben). Always after coming into camp he was 
 saddled and ready to mount. (I always rode a mule 
 during the day.) This time I had left the saddle oil* 
 to give him a rest and had him picketed so that he couhl 
 graze. I mounted without saddle or bridle, put the 
 lariat in his mouth to guide him, dropped the picke! 
 pin, and was soon three miles back on the road with 
 the horses and mules headed toward camp. Others 
 came promptly, and every animal was safe. A few cav- 
 alry horses stampeded "and ran among the mules., which 
 were being herded. T\vo or three horses were hurt by 
 picket pins, but (no other damage. 
 
 5th. While at lyreakfast Lieutenant liiddiek came 
 and said we were to try to cross the river, therefore 
 three metalic water-tight wagon Ijeds, tools to work 
 with, etc., were needed at the river. These, with six 
 coils of rope, wheelwright, blacksmith, etc., were soon 
 therCr The Colonel and his adjutant, Lieutenant Colburn. 
 and Lieutenant Eiddick were the only officers who par- 
 ticipated in the work. A strong detail of men was made 
 from each troop and compa.ny. I was not supposed to 
 work anv of my men unless asked to, and I was glad 
 not to be called upon. The first thing was to stretch 
 a rope from the north shore to an island in mid-river. 
 'J'he water was over a man's head iii some places and 
 current strong. The thT-ee metallic wagon beds were 
 
nVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 265 
 
 to be lashed together and the raft so made attached bv 
 two pulleys to a rope at each end and pnlled over by 
 men on the raft. After a long, hard struggle, wading, 
 swimming and pulling, exposed to the hot sun when nor 
 under water, they succeeded by noon in getting a ro])i' 
 stretched to the island and two wagon-beds in position 
 to use, but the other one s^ot away and floated down 
 the river. 
 
 While three men were working with the rope in 
 mid-rivel% they lost their hold, and, being .exhausted, one 
 of them drowned, while the other two barely escaped. 
 One of them caught overhanging willows at the island 
 with his left hand, and reached l>ack with his right and 
 caught the hand of his comrade, and held on until th(^ 
 men on shore pulled them out. They were cavalrymen 
 of the best type. Fifty men saw this fine young soldier, 
 Daugherty by name, go down to death, with no power to 
 assist him, in that stream of yellow sand and water, and 
 V.is loss caused deep regret. 
 
 Major Sedgwick's command camped opposite to us. 
 At 5 o'clock the Colonel gave orders to take tools to 
 camp, including ropes, indicating that the effort to cross 
 here was abandoned. 
 
 6th. Two commands moved down the river on op- 
 posite sides, eighteen miles, and camped on river. Lieu- 
 tenants Lomax and Bayard crossed over from Major 
 Sedgwick's to Colonel Sumner's camp. The river is wid- 
 er and shallower here, and current not so swift. Major 
 Sedgwick having exhausted most of his forage and pro- 
 
266 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOOi^' 
 
 visions, his wagons are nearly empty, and he will cross to 
 our camp. 
 
 7tb. Major Sedgwick^s four troops crossed with 
 little difficulty. With my wagonmasters and & number of 
 good .teamsters mounted on saddle mules, we helped 
 Beery's trains over without serious accident. Mr. Beery 
 brought my metallic wagon-bed, lost yesterday, which he 
 found on a sand-bar. Colonel Sumner calls this "Camp 
 Buchanan," in honor of the President. This evening 
 orders are out, dated "Camp Buchanan, July 7, 1857," 
 in which we are informed that pack a,nd riding mules 
 must be made ready to accompany the six troops of cav- 
 alry and three companies of infantry in pursuit of the 
 hostile Cheyennes. Pending the campaign, the train is 
 to return to Fort Laramie, be refitted and loaded with 
 provisions and forage, to meet the command at some 
 time and place not named in the order. 
 
 8th, Centrally located is the blacksmith shop, under 
 awnings of wagoiu covers, supported by poles, with port- 
 able anvil, bellows, etc., soon in full blast. Small coal 
 pit burned during the night, and another being made 
 ready; saddler shop near by under similar awnings, trying 
 to make pack-saddles of all sorts of old wagoai saddle- 
 trees found at Laramie. We found but few real pack- 
 sad (Ues there, and brought none from Leavenworth. 
 C^arpenter and helpers are fitting panniers — everybody 
 busy doing the best under the circumstances. 
 
 9th. Selected mules, taking care to use those that 
 are broken to ride, including saddle mules belonging to 
 teams, and the teamsters are breaking others. Except 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 267 
 
 a few Mexicans, I have not a man Vho is a practical pack- 
 er; amoing the soldiers there are none. With the Mexi- 
 cans I established a sort of school, but they are hardly 
 able to impart to others what they know themselves ; how- 
 ever, they are much help to the officers, who want a few 
 men instrncted. 
 
 10th, llth and 12th. To sum up: One hundred 
 and eighty pack and riding mules, 170 blind bridles, 
 and all saddles and saddle blankets belonging to train 
 turned over to Lieutenant Wheaton, acting quartermaster 
 and commissary of the expeditioin. 
 
 13th. With best six-mule teams I could rig up, 
 crossed the packs and infantry to south side of river with- 
 out accident, and returned to camp. Before parting, 
 the Colonel complimented me on the good work done, 
 told me what he expected in future, and as he shook my 
 hand, said that my pay had been increased twenty-five 
 dollars per month from the first of June. I was to re- 
 turn to Laramie, 150 miles, turn in all surplus wagons 
 and harness, refit the train, and make as many six-mule 
 teams as I could, load the wagons with corn and commis- 
 saries, and meet him at Beauvais' Crossing of South 
 Platte, where we crossed coming out, by the first of Aug- 
 ust, 175 miles from Laramie. 
 
 And now the "good-byes'' are said and the command 
 is gone. Lieutenant Riddick is left acting commissary 
 and quartermaster of the train and in command of about 
 fifty men on their first campaign, who, having bunged up 
 their horses or themselves are no longer of any use to the 
 Cheyenne expedition, and are left dismounted with the 
 
268 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 train. I immediately proceeded to fix up teams, and 
 found myself with 109 wagons, twenty-five six-mule 
 teams, eighteen five-mule teams, sixty-six four-mule 
 teams, equal to 504 mules, Eiddicks horse and mine, and 
 a few hroken-down oavaln^ horses, which we will turn in 
 at Laramie. Kot a saddle nor saddle-hlanket for the 
 teams, 170 bridles short. I had been preparing for this 
 condition of things, and had men breaking in leaders and 
 saddle-mules all the time that we had been here; also 
 had to rig out bridles, using ropes and straps for that 
 purpose. By noon we were straightened out, traveled 
 twelve miles and camped above Cottonwood Grove on the 
 Platte. Lieutenant Eiddick found the remains of Daugh- 
 orty on an island a little below camp and had them bur- 
 ied, and called the place ^'Daugherty's Island." 
 
 Mr. Beery went with pack train as chief "muleteer," 
 and took Shn Eouth and his pick of other men in the 
 train. The Colonel left the "white guide'' with the train, 
 1o be discharged on arrival at Laramie. I may as well 
 dispose of him now. He was well-behaved and of rathei- 
 uood dispositioii — a pleasant man to get along with. The 
 day after our alrrival at Ijaramie he married a young 
 Sioux Squaw — that is, he; tied four ponies to the te]jiee of 
 a warrier, they were accepted by said warrier, and the 
 gir], his daughter, became the bride of the guide. Four 
 years later I saw this same man married in due form to si 
 white woman by a clerg3mian in Denver, while the squaw 
 bride witnessed the ceremony through a. window as she 
 ptood upon the porch, 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 269 
 
 19th. Camped one mile above Fort Laramie. Ee- 
 ported here that G-eneral Harney was to have left Fort 
 Leavenworth on the 15th en route to Utah. 
 
 20th. Turned in twenty-nine wagons, traveling- 
 forge and surplus harness, and found myself with eighty 
 six - mule teams complete (including saddles, blankets, 
 bridles and a few inferior surplus mules which we drew 
 from the quartermaster here). Drew commissary, med- 
 ical and other stores and loaded everything but com. 
 
 21st. Loaded 130,000 pounds of corn, drew fifty 
 rifles and two boxes of ammunition for the same and 
 eight boxes navy pistol cartridges, issued rifles to team- 
 sters and made ready for start in the morning. One 
 wagon was loaded exclusively with supplies for officers 
 Avhen we should meet at dressing of South Platte. Jim- 
 merson was the teamster in charge of this wagon and, 
 strange to say, noue of its precious contents were lost, 
 stolen or evaporated. 
 
 22(1. Passed Bordeaus' trading place and camped 
 below Major Dripp's trading house, nineteen miles from 
 Lairamie. 
 
 23d. Fifteen miles and camped at mouth of Horse 
 
 Creek. We are told by Mr. Eeynolds, an Indian trader, 
 
 thalt the Cheyennes iare but three days' travel south. 
 
 If Colonel Sumne^r meets and whips them, they will 
 likely go north, Reynolds thinks, and may meet us. The 
 manao^ement of the train is left to me and I take no 
 chances. The camp is, and will be while traveling along 
 the r'ver, by making the train form three sides of a 
 square^ river forming the fou'rth — s^-y twenty-six wagons 
 
270 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 fronting west, twenty-six south and twenty-six east^ — 
 wagoins about twenty feet apart — river forming north 
 h'ne of the camp where the dismounted soldiers and 
 their mess wagon and my mess wagon will camp. Mules 
 herded outside of the square until an hour before sun- 
 set and then picketed on half lariat inside. Lieutenant 
 Eiddick places sentinels pTetty well out from the wagons. 
 I make a regular detail of teamsters, with a wagon- 
 master and assistant in charge, who divide the night 
 between them, and I am to be called at any and all 
 times that the man in charge sees or hears anything 
 suspicious, or that he does not understand. The detail 
 for sentinels is twelve teamsters each night — half be- 
 ing on post the first half of the night and half the last 
 part. This gives two sentinels on the west, two on the 
 south and two on the east — the roster kept so that each 
 man will do his fair share of guard duty. From my 
 experience as a dragoon I send two or three men mounted 
 on mules to highest points in the vicinity of camp, 
 there to dismount and let the mules graze while they 
 keep a look out and keep me infc^rmed of everything of 
 interest from the time we camp until sunset. 
 
 24th to 27th. Camped each night on Platte. 
 , 28th. Soon after leaving camp, saw a party of In- 
 dians on the onposite side of river, supposed to be Sioux. 
 Indians seen along l)luffs about two miles from camp. 
 We saw' some Sioux squaws along the blulf between In- 
 dian camp and ours, and Eiddick and I rode out to see 
 what they were hunting for, and found they were after 
 Tattlesnakes, and they found them plentiful. I dis- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON- 271 
 
 moiTntecl and watched one squaw for half an hour, dur- 
 ing which she got three. With a forked stick in left 
 hand and butcher knife in the other, she crept towards 
 the snake until he was ready to ^^strike,'' when quickly 
 and skillfully she pinned him down by placing the forked 
 stick close to his head, pressing down firmly and ampu- 
 tating the head. By killing them in this way they had 
 no chance to bite themselves, which they do when hurt 
 or angry. When they do not bite themselves, thereby 
 poisoning the meat, it is good to eat, and that is what 
 the squaws wanted them for. Having severed the head 
 from the body, the squaw caught the latter and thrust 
 it into the folds of her blanket next to her buckskin 
 shirt. 
 
 Arrived at Ash Hollow at 10 o'clock and camped. 
 Storm subsided and left a bright, sunny day. After 
 lunch mounted my horse, and with ^"^Billy'^ Daniels for 
 a companion, went in search of a 'road out of Ash Hol- 
 low to avoid the one already in use, which is altogether 
 impracticable for us with pur heavy loads — 3,500 pounds 
 in each wagon. The teams could no more than pull u^) 
 the empty wagons, and we should have to double teams 
 and haul up a little at a. time, straining mules and break- 
 ing chains. We found and staked out a route that can 
 be traveled without much difriculty — five hou'rs' hard 
 riding to find a route three miles through the bluffs. 
 
 30th. Off at 5:00, took the new route and at 8:00 
 o'clock all wftgons were at the top of the hill in safety, 
 with no accident except upsetting one wagon by care- 
 lessness. 
 
 18— 
 
272 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Having fairly straightened out the train at the top 
 of the hill, a band of Indians came in sight from the 
 east at a fast gallop. I started the train into corral, 
 giving the sign by riding my horse in a circle; the move- 
 mjent was quickly commenced, wagonmasters and team- 
 sters moving with a will. Eiddick quickly formed his 
 soldieb^s in line ready for business, while I rode to a 
 high point, with Manuel for an interpreter, and mo- 
 tioned them to stop. Tliey came down to a walk, and 
 when within hailing distance were told to stop and let 
 their chief came up. This they did, ^^Man-afraid-of- 
 his-horse'^ approached, ''Howed," shook hands, and asked 
 for something to eat. I cut the talk short by telling 
 him that we must keep all we had for Colonel Sumner% 
 command, which was after the Cheyennes and would be 
 very hungry whien we met. The chief promised not to 
 come any nearer and I shook his hand, galloped to the 
 train and straightened out on the road. The Indians 
 had no hostile intent. 
 
 Fourteen miles, brought us into camp one mile above 
 crossing of South Platte. Immediately after lunch, about 
 1 o'clock, I ^retired to my tent to sleep off the fatigue 
 of yesterday, and told my cook not to allow any one 
 to disturb me unless for some good reason. At 5 o'clock 
 he woke me and said that Lieutenant Eiddick wanted 
 me to come to the river bank; there were Indians on 
 the other side. I took no arms, contrary to my habit 
 of always being ready. There were four Indians, and I 
 sent a man with a white towel for a flag to a small is- 
 land to wave it as an invitation to come over, hoping 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 273 
 
 to hear something from Colonel Sunnier. As soon as 
 the man beckoned them to come over, one galloped off 
 lip the river and the other three took off their saddles 
 and commenced to cross bareback. It was easier and 
 safer to cross without saddles. They were soon in cam]), 
 claimed to be Sioux but proved to be Cheyennes. I ad- 
 vised taking them prisoners, which Eiddick agreed to, 
 and I explained to him the dilhculty of doing so with- 
 out injuring them, which we must avoid if poissil)le. 
 
 The teamsters were now bringing in the mules and 
 picketing them on half lariat between us and the river. 
 The soldiers had been cleaning their guns for inspection, 
 and stood idly by. Having arrived at my tent, Manuel 
 Vijil, a Mexican who had lived with the Sioux and un- 
 derstood the Cheyenne language, especially the sign lan- 
 guage, was called to act as interpreter. The Indians 
 seemed frightened on seeing the soldiers, but were as- 
 sured that no hann would come to them: that we would 
 feed and take care of them, etc. We all sat u])on the 
 ground, Eiddick facing one Indian, I another, and Man- 
 uel the third. At Eiddick's request, I i)layed the part 
 of "White Chief/' and did the talking. They were 
 asked why they came into our cam]), and renlied that, 
 being very hungry and thinking it a freight or emi- 
 grant train, they ho]ied to o"et something- to eat. Asked 
 where their people were, thev said that some of them 
 were on the South Platte, near the mouth of Pole Creek, 
 about twenty miles above us. This corroborated my sus- 
 picion that the fourth Indian, who rode off u]> the river, 
 had gone to some camp. Asked if they knew wheTC 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Colonel Sumner's command was, the bi^^ brave said that 
 they did, but did not want to talk about that. They 
 were then informed that this was Colonel Sumner's sup- 
 ])ly train, and that they were prisoners; that they would 
 bi' well treated and fed; that we would take care of 
 their arms and ponies until Colonel Sumner's arrival, 
 which would be in a day or two. To this their leader, 
 a large, powerful fellow, six feet four inches high, and 
 stronglv pock-marked, appeared to agree, but said some- 
 thing very low to the others, which Manuel afterwards 
 interpreted to be : "You young men can do as you please, 
 but I am no longer a boy to give up my bow." It was 
 a trying moment. I realized that their compliance with 
 my request would come only after a physical struggle. 
 We did not want to do violence to these three Indians 
 in a camp of 150 men; it would seem shameful; yet we 
 must keep them prisoners. We all stood up, fifty men 
 standing airound, half of them with loaded rifles. Quick 
 as thought the big fellow sprang on his pony, and was 
 ofl^ towards the river. Twenty or more shots were fired 
 after him, but his pony tangled in the mules' lariats 
 and fell, pitching the Indian into a slough separating 
 some small islands from the main land. 
 
 All but Manuel and myself rushed after the escap- 
 ing Indian, while Manuel, a big, broad-shouldered, pow- 
 erful man, seized one of the others from behind, pin- 
 ioned his arms tightly, laid him on the ground and 
 ihere held him; I reached for the bow of the third one, 
 when he eluded me and I struck him a powerful blow 
 in the face, thinking to knock him down; but he only 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 21 b 
 
 bounded like a Inill, drew his scalping knife and came 
 near stabbing me. I seized him by the wrists and held 
 up his hands, realizing thaf to^ let go meant death to 
 me^ while he sprang into the air like a wild tiger, try- 
 ing with all his might to break away, and yelling like 
 a maniac. This lasted a minute or two until ^'Billy" 
 Daniels, a fine young teamster, came to my assistance. 
 I told him to get behind the Indian, pinion his arms 
 and lay him down on the ground, which he did; and with 
 both hands I took his knife, bow, quiver and arrows. 
 His saddle, lariat, bow, quiver, arrows and scalping knife 
 fell to me, and on my return to Fort Leavenworth I 
 gave them to my friend Levi Wilson, who sent them to 
 his father. Dr. Wilson, of Pittsburg, Pa. 
 
 Small rope was brought and I soon had both tied 
 hand and foot. Then I mounted my horse and searched 
 the small islands near shore for the big brave, thinking 
 be must be wounded or killed; but did not find him. If 
 he was hit, he might have sunk in the muddy stream, 
 and one could not see a foot under water; and if not, 
 he could lie on his back under over-hanging willows with 
 nose far enough out of the water to breathe until dark, 
 and then make his escape. His pony, lariat, blanket, 
 bow, quiver and arrows were left behind. For want of 
 proper irons we used small chains and padlocks from the 
 front boxes of wagons to iron the two prisoners, the right 
 hand of one fastened to the left hand of the other. We 
 had a tent pitched for them, and a soldier sentinel placed 
 in front and one in rear. And now the interpreter, 
 Lieutenant Kiddick, and I commenced a pumping process 
 
2t6 ^I^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 to find out from the young fellows all we could of Col- 
 onel fSuinner. We learned that he had had a battle the 
 day before, that some Indians were killed and wounded, 
 as well as some soldiers, that the Cheyennes were scat- 
 tered, most of them going north, crossing the South 
 Platte near the mouth of Pole Creek. We believed these 
 statements to be fairly correct. The Indian that I cap- 
 tured was a son of the head chief, and the other was 
 liis cousin, each about twenty-two years old, tall, well 
 built, and very handsome Indians — the best type of 
 Cheyennes. 
 
 And now the suspicion arose that there might be a 
 large camp of Cheyennes in the vicinity of the mouth 
 of Pole Creek. We had the chief's son, and there might 
 be an effort made to stampede or capture our train to 
 give the youngstt^rs a chance to escape, and I immediaco- 
 ly set to work to corral the wagons so as to make a solid 
 fort, with room for men and animals inside. Setting 
 the first wagon, the next came up and struck its left 
 front wheel against the right hind wheel of the first, 
 with tongue on the outside — each wagon coming up so 
 as to make the circle more complete; when the last 
 wagon but one was in, that one would close the mouth 
 of the corral so that nothing could get in or out. All 
 this we did by hand in two hours, put all of the animals 
 inside an,d closed the gap with the last wagon. Then 
 ] examined all arms in the hands of teamsters, and saw 
 that each had fifty rounds of ammunition. Riddick did 
 the same with the soldiers. A strong guard was posted, 
 and all was quiet. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 277 
 
 A candle was kept burning in the prisoners' tent, 
 and lying a few feet from the open front, without being 
 
 Wagon Corral. 
 
 seen, I watched them. They whispered together a good 
 deal and seemed to be listening, wrapped in a state of 
 expectance. There was a dismal sound of wolves howl- 
 
278 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ing in every direction. That was nothing new; we heard 
 them howling every night; but one of them sent out a 
 peculiar howl, unlike any of the others; he howled at 
 intervals directly south across the river. To this the 
 young chief and his fellow prisoner sat up and listened 
 eagerly. Wolves wading across a shallow river make 
 about the same splashing noise that a horse does, and 
 Quite a number crossed during the night. An hour had 
 passed since I had heard the peculiar howl referred to, 
 when it broke out again on our side of the river above 
 t(he camp. I now felt convinced, as . I had before be- 
 lieved, that this particular howl was by an Indian, by 
 which he conveyed information to the prisoners. There 
 was no sleep for me, for I believed thlat there was a large 
 band of Cheyennes in our neighborhood, but we had no 
 fear of the whole Cheyenne Nation, the way we were cor- 
 ralled. Vigilance was all that we needed. 
 
 July 31st. Camp aroused an hour before daylight 
 in anticipatioin of an ajttack, about dawn being a favor- 
 ite time with Indians to surprise unsuspecting sleepers. 
 Daylight cam.e, but no enemy in sight. After breakfast, 
 with three men mounted on mules, I scoured the coun- 
 try to the highest bluffis north, and then posted them 
 as videttes on three prominent points half a mile from 
 camp. I then rode a couple of miles up the river, but 
 discovered nothing but the tracks of two ponies which 
 crossed the river during the night. About 4:00 p. m. 
 an Indian approached the river on the opposite side to 
 within half a mile of the bank, reconnoitered a while 
 and then rode away. About 5 o'clock an express ar- 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 279 
 
 rived from Laramie with mail for the command, which 
 failed to reach Colonel Sumner by a former express; it 
 was brought by a mountaineer called "Big Phil/' accom- 
 panied by a Sioux Indian. No news from Colonel Sum- 
 ner; mules herded close to corral under strong guard, 
 ready to rush them in quickly if necessar}'. 
 
 August 1st. Videttes posted and mules herded by 
 strong mounted guard near by corral. I crossed the river 
 and met one of Majors & Company's trains en route to 
 Salt Lake. No news from Colonel Sumner and none 
 from the "States." Eode five miles up the river and 
 found plenty of Indian pony tracks. Some soldiers 
 crossed over and found two saddles belonging to our pris- 
 oners. This shows that the Indian who escaped took his 
 saddle for another horse, when he joins his tribe or gets 
 a chance to steal one. No Indians seen to-day. Thi^ 
 evening Lieutenant Eiddick consented to send out two 
 Mexican spies, Manuel Vijil (pronounced Vi-heel) and 
 J\lalquis Mestos, for the purpose of ascertaining the loca- 
 tion of the Cheyenne camp, supposed to be near the 
 mouth of Pole Creek, perhaps twenty miles above us. 
 Manuel was given a letter from Lieutenant Eiddick to 
 Colonel Sumner, in case he should meet him, and he was 
 instructed to find the Cheyenne camp if possible, count 
 the lodges, see which way they faced, take cognizance 
 of every ravine or pass leading to the camp, etc., and 
 to return to our camp l)y evening of the 3d inst. They 
 were furnished horses, feed and arms, and passed the 
 guard at 12:00 midnight. 
 
 2d. The expressman, "Big Phil" and the Sioux 
 
280 FIVE YJEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Indian left us at sunrise. They had been permitted to 
 talk with the prisoners, it being knowTi that they would 
 tell of it to any Indians they happened to meet;, and by 
 that means the safety of the prisoners would be known 
 to their friends; aJid it was believed that the Oheyennes 
 might be induced to come in and make terms for peace. 
 Moved camp one and one-half miles up river for fresh 
 grass. Improved this time to practice in corralling, so 
 as always to be ready to corral quickly by driving round 
 in a circle without confusion. A hundred men well 
 armed inside of my corral could stand off thousands Avith 
 bows and arrows. 
 
 After the videttes had been posted on high ground 
 and I or one or two wagonmasters had explored a lit- 
 tle, the mules are turned out to gaze and kept out until 
 within an hour of sunset, and then shut up in the cor- 
 ral for the night. We feed corn to wagonmasters', Mex- 
 icans' and Riddick's and my horses to keep them in con- 
 dition for long rides or stampedes at any time; no other 
 animals are fed. We save the corn for the command 
 when it reaches us. 
 
 August 3d. Mexicans return this evening, and re- 
 poit having found a camp of seven lodges on the south 
 side of South Platte, nearly opposite mouth of Pole Creek, 
 where there had been two other camps. They found a 
 chart in one of the camps marked on a buffalo skull, 
 showing that the Indians had taken the route up Pole 
 Creek to a point opposite Smith's Fork, thence north 
 across North Platte. The Mexicans saw one Indian to- 
 day, but could not get near him. No news or sig^n of 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 281 
 
 Colouei Sumner. Heavy rain and electric storm during 
 the night. 
 
 August 4th. I called for volunteers to go to the 
 camp of seven lodges. Twenty teamsters and the two 
 Mexicans above mentioned got ready, armed with rifles 
 and revolvers. 
 
 August 5th. Off at sunrise; teamsters on mulet^, 
 Mexicans and myself on horses; crossed river opposite 
 camp, up south side to the seven lodges. There the}' 
 stood, but no Indians in sight, and a careful reconnais- 
 sance revealed none. Everything indicated tlmt they 
 had gone in a hurry, leaving besides lodges, many useful 
 articles; live coals of a small fire still smouldering, and 
 cooking utensils that would not be abandoned except in 
 case of necessity. Looking across the river, up Pole 
 Creek, we saw a band of Indians in rapid retreat two 
 miles away. Undoubtedly my party had been seen, and 
 the Indians were in too much of a hurry to encuml}er 
 themselves with lodges. The party seemed quite large 
 and their precipitate retreat indicated that they were 
 greatly demoralized. The Indian trail coming from the 
 south was broad and quite well worn, showing that many 
 had traveled it recently, and quite a number since the 
 rain night before last. Manuel and I were so impressed 
 with the indications of recent Indian travel over tliis 
 line, that we instinctively looked south for some por- 
 tion of Colonel Sumner s command in pursuit. We saved 
 one of the lodges, a nice small one, pack-saddle and a 
 bushel or two of kinickinick (the inside bark of red 
 willow, dried), enough for all hands to smoke for a 
 
282 ^I^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 month, piled everything else together and burned it. 
 Placing sentinels on several high points, with the Mex- 
 icans and "Billy" Daniels, I rode to the camp two miles 
 above; found a chart on a buffalo head and everything 
 to corroborate Manuel's statement; had him bring the 
 head to camp. T'o me it revealed the fact that the scat- 
 tering bands were going to concentrate somewhere north 
 of North Platte, and it might be valuable information 
 for Colonel Sumner. Returned to my party and thence 
 to camp without incident, except plentiful signs of In- 
 dians having traveled up and down the river opposite oui' 
 camp — surely Cheyennes. There wx^re tracks of two 
 American horses, with shoes on, that had passed the 
 camp both ways since the rain, indicating that Colonel 
 Sumner may have lost some horses. 
 
 August 7th and 8th. Nothing new. Several false 
 alarms. Each sunny day the wagon covers are thrown 
 off so that the sun may dry out any dampness that may 
 have accumulated. If rain has beaten in, the loading is 
 taken out and repacked. Damp commissaries and corn 
 soon spoil under wagon covers exposed to the hot sun. 
 Many horses and mules die of colic caused by eating corn 
 thus exposed. It gathers dampness, swells, heats, gets 
 musty, moldy and finally rotten, unfit for any animal to 
 eat. Til ere is nothing so demoralizing for men as idle- 
 ness, and examining loads, unloading and re-loading wag- 
 ons is a great benefit to men and stores. 
 
 The Indian prisoners seem to have outgrown their 
 fears of violence, and to have overcome their aversion to 
 Manuel and myself, who were the prime cause of their 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAOOON. 283 
 
 captivity; in short, they have become quite communicative. 
 The one who fell into my hands says that after the fight 
 the Cheyennes scattered, agreeing to go north and meet 
 from time to time at some point north of the North 
 Platte. When told of what we found near the mouth 
 of Pole Creek, the buffalo head with chart having been 
 shown them, they said that that camp was a sort of depot 
 of supplies and information to assist those going north. 
 Beino- closely questioned, the young chief said the wolf 
 that made the peculiar noise the night of their capture 
 was his father, and that two other nights he had heard 
 his father. He thought the Cheyennes too much scatter- 
 ed to attack our train, and thought his father would not 
 do so for fear of what might happen to them; in fact suf- 
 ficient assurance had been given through the peculiar 
 wolf howl, that they would -not disturb the tram. And 
 we believed that their captivity would have a strong m- 
 fiuence in including the Cheyennes to come to terms and 
 
 sue for peace. 
 
 August 9th. This morning one of Childs ox traims 
 passed en route to the -States." By it we learned that 
 the mail passed west during the night. Sent two men 
 and caught nnail at Ash Hollow. 
 
 August 10th. Crossed train over river without acci- 
 dent,^ and camped one mile below where we had so much 
 trouble in June. Water is low; half the river bed a 
 dry sand bar; Lieutenant Riddick took 211 sacks ot corn 
 from one of Major Rus^sell's trains en route to Laramie, 
 believing that Colonel Sumner's command would soon 
 
284 ^^"^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 he here. Some Indians seen this evening supposed to be 
 Sioux. ' '' •; I I 
 
 August 11th. This morning a band of Sioux, under 
 ^'Man-Afraid-of-His-Hoirses," crossed from north to soutli 
 side of the river. Only the chief allowed to come into 
 camp. He was told to keep away from the mule herd, 
 and not to allow his men to come near. In the meantime 
 the nmles were corralled. The Indians soon left, and 
 the mules were again turned out. A wagonmaster or 
 his assistant is with the herd all of the time, and he i< 
 instructed to corral on the appearance of Indians, whether 
 there seems to be danger or not. One of the herders 
 leads a horse with a. bell on his neck, and when the herd 
 is to be corralled he rattles the bell violently and gallops 
 for the corral. The passageway is always kept clear when 
 mules are out. The mules have now gotten so used to 
 this that they run for the corral when the bell is rattled, 
 and could hardly be kept from it. About noon a train 
 came in sight down the river. Of course we are all ex- 
 ])ectancy, hoping that every outfit that comes in sight 
 may be ours. I rode out and met Colonel M. F. W. Ma- 
 graw and his surveying party, en route to California, with 
 "Tim'' Goodale, the celebrated mountaineer, as guide. T 
 had met him here in 1851. Major Johnson, Sixth Infan- 
 try, en route to Laramie, is with Magraw. Magraw witli 
 his fifty wagons camped Mear us, and half the night was 
 spent in gathering the news from him, Goodale and John- 
 son. They left us a few old papers. 
 
 August 12th. Magraw's train croissed the river and 
 camped oti north bank. He, Goodale, and Major Johnson 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 285 
 
 dined with us. Goodale belonged, to the class of moun- 
 taineers who ranked with Sublett, Fitzpatriek, Bridger, 
 etc., with Oarson as the recognized head — reliable charac- 
 ters, unmixed with false heroism, intelligent and trust- 
 Avorthy. The young Cheyennes knew him, and he learned 
 from them about what they had told us, and he thought 
 the information pretty correct. Of course Goodale knew 
 nothing of Colonel Sumner^s fight, but judging from 
 what the prisoners said, it was forty hours afterwards 
 that they came to m}^ camp, and he thought the Chey- 
 ennes were sure to retreat north; they would not be likely 
 to go south or west, and surely not east; they could get 
 north of the ^orth Platte more easily, and soon be in a 
 comparatively safe country, at that time almost unknown 
 to the whites. He wondered why Colonel Sumner was 
 not hot after them, as they passed within twenty miles of 
 his supply train, and some of them much nearer, unless 
 he was himself too much crippled to follow; at any rate, 
 if the Cheyennes were whipped anywhere on the branches 
 of the Kaw River they would retreat north if possible; 
 and we had ample proof that the chief (whose son and 
 nephew were our prisoners) and most of his 2>eople did 
 go north. Any one who knew the country north of 
 !N'orth Platte would know they would do that, and then 
 old "'Tim'^ expressed the opinion that Colonel Sumner's 
 guides knew nothing about the haunts of the Cheyennes 
 in the northern country. 
 
 Mr. R. ^r. Peck, of Whittier, California, has written 
 an interesting account of the Cheyenne expedition, as he 
 remembers it; and as a soldier in the First Cavalry ho 
 
286 ^I^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 participated in the battle a.nd in pursuit of some of the 
 Cheyennes, the command going to the Arkansas after- 
 wards, undoubtedly oppoisite to the route taken by most 
 of them (see Mr. Peck's letter in Kansas State Historical 
 Society's collections, Volume VIII). 
 
 13th. Went with Colonel Magraw to Ash Hollow. 
 He passed his train over my new route without difficulty, 
 and named it "Lowe's Route Avoiding Ash Hollow Hill." 
 
 14th. In the evening one mule left the herd and ran 
 down the road, followed by Assistant Wiagonmaster Stan- 
 ley and two teamsters. They soon returned and reported 
 that they saw Indians on the north side of the river. 
 Messrs. Patrick, Cecil and I went in pursuit as far as Nine 
 Mile Tree, where we found Captain Van Vliet, quarter- 
 master of the Utah army, camped. His men had caught 
 my mule. Captain Van Vliet is on the way to Salt Lake, 
 to return immediately. He informed me that while Colo- 
 nel Sumner's whereabouts are unknown, four of the six 
 troops of cavalry now with him are to go to Utah, while 
 the Colonel with the other two troops returns to Leaven - 
 woTth. The three comipanjies of infantry now under 
 Colonel Sumner (C, D and G, Sixth), with the company 
 at Laramie (B, Sixth), are also to go to Utah. Colonel 
 Alexander, Tenth Infantry, with advance troops for Salt 
 Lake, expected in a day or two. Returned to camp at 
 midnight. 
 
 15th. Captain Van A^liet passed this morning. I 
 led the command over the river, as I did every other mili- 
 tary outfit while we were camped near the crossing, and 
 was able to serve many of them to good advantage. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 287 
 
 17th. An express from Laramie, "Big Phil'^ arrived 
 at sunrise. Eeceived several letters from friends. No 
 news' from Colonel Sumner. A party of returning Cali- 
 fornians camped near by- The party was managed by 
 Mr. D. 0. Mills, a banker of San Francisco, and a sea cap- 
 tain whose name I have forgotten. They stopped in Salt 
 
 Lake several days. Mr. Mills and Captain seemed 
 
 to be very superior men and not inclined to talk romance. 
 This is the D. 0. Mills of Xew York whose name is hon- 
 ored throughout the financial world. They camped near 
 us two days. They needed rest and took it while they 
 could safely do so near our outfit. 
 
 21st. Colonel Alexander crossed over and camped 
 on the north side. I led the train and gave him full in- 
 formation of route to Laramie. Saw ]\lr. Andrew Garton 
 and son, beef contractors of Clay County, Missouri, who 
 are driving a large herd of cattle for delivery at Laramie 
 under escort of the Tenth. Lieutenant Bryan's party 
 arrived from Bridger s Pass and camped near us. Dr. 
 Covey joined us from Lieutenant Bryan — quite an ac- 
 quisition to our mess. 
 
 22nd. Colonel Alexander marched early. Lieuten- 
 ant Bryan's party left en route to the States. 
 
 Captain Dixon, quartermaster, and Captain Clark, 
 ccmmistary, arrived a::d (ros-^ed the river en route to Utah. 
 I'tah. They bTing news that Colonel Sumner had a fight 
 with the Cheyennes on the 29th of July. Large body of 
 Indians formed in battle array, and the cavalry charged 
 with drawn sabers. Twelve Indians were left on the field 
 and many wounded ; cavalry lost two men killed, and Liei;^ 
 
 19- 
 
288 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 tenant Stuart and eight men wounded. Captain Foote 
 with his company of Sixth Infantry bringing the wounded 
 to Fort Kea'rney. The fight is said to have taken place 
 on Solomon^s Fork of the Kaw Eiver. Colonel Sumner 
 followed the Indians^ burned their lodges and other prop- 
 erty^, and then followed their trail, as he supposed, en 
 route to the Arkansas. Colonel Sumner established a 
 camp on Walnut Creek, leaving two companies of in- 
 fantry there, under Captain Ketchum. Sent Lieutenant 
 Lomax to Fort Eiley after supplies. This is the first 
 news of Colonel Sumner^s command except what the pris- 
 oners gave us. Moved camp five miles up river. We 
 think the chances much against Colonel Sumner ever 
 coming to us. For sanitairy reasons one camp should 
 not be long occupied; it becomes filthy and the corrals 
 muddy and unclean. 
 
 August 24th. Fifth Infantry camped nine miles be- 
 low crossing en route to Utah. More than half of the 
 regiment said to have deserted since leaving Florida, two 
 months ago. 
 
 25th. Fifth Infantry crossed river. Animals in good 
 condition, the credit of which is largely due to my friend 
 "Jim'^ Miller, the liead wagonmaster, who always herds 
 nmles and never starves them at the hvriat. He came 
 to me at Eiley in the fall o<f 1855 with thv Second Dra- 
 goons from Texas, and is one of the very l)est in his line. 
 
 28th. Express arrived from Kcanu'v l)ringing letters 
 from Captain Foote and Lieutenant Stnart io Lieutenant 
 Kiddick, and orders fi'om Colonel Sumner to [lieutenant 
 Eiddick for the train to proceed to Kearney, turn in all 
 stores not neoes&ary for use^ and proceed to Fort Leaven- 
 
■ • . FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 289 
 
 worth. Colonel Sumner gone to tlie Arkansas, and will 
 oo from there to Fort Leavenworth, where he will prob- 
 ably arrive as soon as we do. ^Tliongh there has been no 
 hardship in oar stay here, there has been a good deal 
 of anxiety. The long suspense is very monotonous, and 
 all are glad to move. 
 
 29th. En route to Kearney. When nine miles be- 
 low the crossing an express arrived from G-eneral Har- 
 ney at Leavenworth, ordering that the train proceed to 
 Ash Hollow and there remain until the arrival of four 
 troops of the First Oavalry and three companies of Sixth 
 Infantry en route to Utah. The order presupposes the 
 train to be at Ivea.rney, and directs Lieutenant Eiddick 
 to take supplies from that post sufficient to subsist the 
 four troops and three companies to LaTamie. As he has 
 not sufficient supplies, Lieutenant Eiddick determined to 
 proceed to Kearney and procure them, and, unless other- 
 wise ordered, return to Ash Hollow and remain as di- 
 rected. Camped at Nine Mile Tree. 
 
 31st. Camped below OTallon's Bluffs at Freemont 
 Spring, the head of big slough that runs parallel with 
 the South Platte, twenty or more miles. When coming 
 into camp, an Indian and two squaws with pack-pony 
 dragging lodge and poles crossed the road from the south 
 going north. The "buck" said that they were Sioux; I 
 thought them Cheyennes. When in mid-river, becoming 
 frightened, they cut away their packs and ran, which 
 confirms my belief that they were Cheyennes. I w^as 
 soirry to see their effects thus thrown awav. The poor 
 squaws were safe enough. 
 
290 ^^^'^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 September 7th. Camped at Fort Kearney. And 
 now we must part with our Indian prisoners, of whom 
 1 have become quite fond, though glad to be rid of the 
 responsibility of holding them. Lieutenant Eiddick 
 turned them over to the commanding officer, and they 
 were confined in the guard house. Thirty-nine days they 
 have been with us, and while we have been obliged to 
 be a little severe in keeping them safely ironed, they 
 have been well fed ^and safely cared for. 
 
 9th. AVe started to return west and camped seven- 
 teen miles above the fort on Platte. Dr. Covey accom- 
 ])anied us. The Doctor and I went after buffalo about 
 sunset and killed one each. Dr. Summers, post surgeon, 
 and John Heath, post sutler, arrived from the fort on a 
 buffalo hunt and spent the night with us. 
 
 13th. Camped one mile below O'Fallon's Bluffs on 
 head of Freemont's Slough. At (1 :00 this evening an ex- 
 pressman arrived from Kearney with orders from Col- 
 onel Sumner for the train to remain at Kearney until 
 the arrival of Major Sedgwick's four troops of cavalry 
 and two companies of infantry. The order was sent 
 under the belief that the train was then at Kearney. 
 
 14th. On the back track en route to Kearney. 
 
 16th. Short distance from camp killed a buffalo 
 while crossing ro«d ahead of train, and before going into 
 camp Messrs. Stanley and Eskridge killed another; saved 
 abundance of fine meat. Met G-eorge Cater, an express- 
 man, en route to Laramie. Lieutenant Riddick received 
 letters stating that all of tlie cavalry and infantry that 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 291 
 
 were ordered from the Cheyenne expedition to Utah are 
 now ordered to Lea.venworth. Camped on Platte. 
 
 ITth. Camped on Platte. Killed nine prairie chick- 
 ens Avith pistols in camp before train came np. Lieuten- 
 ant Marmadnke, wdth detachment of recruits for Seventh 
 Infantry, en route to Laramie, arrived and camped 
 
 with us. ! 
 
 18th. Lying by. Pained all forenoon. In the after- 
 noon Marmaduke and I "still hnnted" (hunted on foot) 
 buffalo, but did not kill any. His transportation con- 
 sisted of two dilapidated wagons, each drawn by six 
 broken-down pack-mules that Captain Foote had brought 
 into Kearney with the w^ounded men from the Cheyenne 
 campaign. We w^ere going in, and could exchange and 
 give him fine teams and wagons, which we did, and 
 turned over to him another team and wagon for which 
 he receipted; and whh it 1 turned over an experienced 
 man capable of looking after all of the teams; knew 
 the camps, and would take him to Laramie all right. 
 1 never saw a better pleased man than Marmaduke— a 
 future major general in the Confederate Army, and 
 later Governor of his native State of Missouri. We in- 
 vited Marmaduke to join oui; mess while camped near 
 us, which he did. He had some potatoes, something 
 we had not seen in four months. I would only accept 
 enough for one dinner, which, with my prairie chickens, 
 made a fine feast. 
 
 19th. Lieutenant Marmaduke and party went on 
 west and we east. Met "Sim" Pouth and Sarcoxie, a 
 Delaware guide, with letters, by which we learn that 
 
292 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Major Sedgwick's command of four troops of cavali)' 
 and two companies of infantry are waiting for us 
 tliirty-two miles below Kearney. Arrived and camped 
 at Kearney. Found Lieutenarrtis Wheaton and Bayard 
 at the fort with orders for Tieutenant Eiddick to tnrn 
 
 MaJOH (lENEHAL TlTZJOHN PoK'lEK. 
 
 over the train and all other property to Lieutenant 
 Wheaton. We left here all commissary stores not nec- 
 essary for troops going in to Fort Leavenworth. 
 
 20th. Finished turning over property and stai-ted 
 
Major-General Philip St. George Cooke. 
 
294 FiVE 7DARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 down the river at noon. Met Beauvais^ and Bisonet's 
 traders' trains for their trading posts near Fort 
 La.ramie. 
 
 21st. Camped with Major Sedgwick's command 
 on Little Blue. 
 
 22d. Camped on Little Blue. Ttirned over four 
 tennis to Captain Ketchum's command. Feed half ra- 
 tions of corn to horses and mules. 
 
 23d. When leaving camp this morning met Col- 
 onel Albert Sidney Johnston, of the Second Cavalry, 
 in command of the LTtah Expedition, and his adjutant- 
 general, Major Fitzjohn Porter, with a train of twen- 
 ty - four mule ambulances, several officers and an es- 
 cort of the Second Dragoons, en route to Utah. I 
 received orders to select twenty-five of my best mule 
 teams to be left w^ith an escort of cavalry to await the 
 arrival of Colonel Cooke,* en route to Utah. Colonel 
 Johnston and Major Porter were waiting by the side 
 of the road, and saw the teams go by. I was sent for, 
 and Colonel Johnston said : "I am told that this is the 
 finest train on the plains." To which I replied that 
 
 *Philip St. George Cooke was born in Virginia, and 
 was graduated from the Military Academy in 1827. Brevet 
 second lieutenant infantry, ]st July, 1827; second lieuten- 
 ant Sixth Infaniry, 1st July, 1827; first lieutenant First 
 Dragoons, 4th March, 1833; captain, 31st of May. 1835; 
 major Second Dragoons, 16th February, 1847; lieuten- 
 ant colonel, 15th July, 1883; colonel, 14th June, 1858; Sec- 
 ond Cavalry, 3d August, 1861; brigadier ereneral Volun- 
 teers, 12th to 28th November, 1861; brigadier general. U. 
 S. A., 12th November, 1861; retired 29th October, 1873: 
 brevet lieutenant colonel, 20th February, 1^47, for meritor- 
 ious conduct in California, and major general 13th ol 
 March, 1865, for gallant and meritorious service during the 
 war. Died 20th March, 1895. 
 
FIVE TEAR^ A DRAGOON. 295 
 
 we had exchanged a few good teams for broken-down 
 ones from the Cheyenne campaign; otherwise, the teams 
 and equipments were complete. "Well," said he, "we 
 want the best; we will need them," and he got them. 
 Traveled eignteen miles and camped on Little Blue. 
 Unloaded twenty-five wagons, fitted up the best teams 
 and equipments throughout, got volunteers to drive 
 them, drew rations for the men, and have everything 
 ready to turn over in the morning. 
 
 24th. Turned over the twenty-five wagons for 
 Colonel Cooke's command to Lieutenant Perkins, and 
 two wagons for himself and escort — a small detach- 
 ]nent of cavalry. Mr. Patrick took charge of train as 
 wagonmaster; he was an excellent man and very com- 
 petent. "Billy" Daniels went as assistant wagonmaster 
 — ^a well earned promotion. Camped on Little Blue. 
 An expressman left this miorning and another this even- 
 ing en route to Fort Leavenworth. 
 
 26th. Camped on Snake Eoot Creek. Express ar- 
 rived this evening from Fort Leavenworth. Colonel 
 Cooke's command of six troops of Second Dragoons 
 said to be at Big Blue. The troops of Major Sedgwick's 
 command to be stationed at various points in Kansas 
 for the present. 
 
 27th. Met Colonel Cooke's command three miles 
 v»cst of Big Blue. Lieutenant Buford, acting quarter- 
 master for the command, had an order to change all 
 the mules he wanted to, taking our best and leaving 
 his worst, w^hich he did, leaving us nothing but a bad 
 lot of mules to go in with. The last of my beautiful 
 
296 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAQOOn. 
 
 train was goiio. Wo were going wliere forage was plon- 
 . tifnl; tliey were approaching mnter, where forage of 
 all kinds wonld be scarce. Bnford trusited to me, and 
 I gave him the best. Crossed Big Blue and camped 
 on Spring Creek. I heard that there were eighty de- 
 sertions from dragoons since lea^dng Fort Leavenworth. 
 Ca]>tain Ketchnm witli his two companies of infantry, 
 remains here (Marysville) nntil after election — first 
 Monday in October, or nntil further orders. 
 
 28th. Arrived and camped at Ash Point, twenty- 
 five miles. 
 
 29th. Camped on Xemaha, Sen(H-;i is the town (now 
 county seat of Nemaha Countv, Kansas). Captain Stur- 
 gis and Lieutenant Stockfou arrived from Fort Leav- 
 enworth. Ct Troop First Cavalry to renuiin here until 
 after election, B Troop to go to Falermo, A Troop to 
 Claytonville, P' Trooj) to Atchison. 1 go with twenty- 
 nine teams and all the extra animals to Fort Leaven- 
 worth. Twenty-nine years old to-day, and gray enough 
 to be fifty. 
 
 ;3Uth. Off for Fort Leavenworth at the same time 
 that the com maud starts down the Atchison road. Four 
 days later. \\\\\\ Lieutenants Wheaton and Riddick, 1 
 arrived at Fort LeaAenworth and turned over the rem- 
 nant of propertv in my charge; the Cheyenne campaign 
 had ended, hut the troops were still in the field, keep- 
 ing ])eace at the polls, a more irksome business for sol- 
 diers than fighting Indians. 
 
 The day after my arrival Colonel Sumner sent for 
 me and inquired particularly abont what I saw of tho 
 
I'lVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 297 
 
 cainpaign; said he had heard a good account of my pari 
 in it from various sources, and especially from Mr. 
 Eiddick; said that my train liad the reputation of being 
 the finest ever seen on the plains, and the best man- 
 aged; in short, he was very profuse in his praises. He 
 was especially interested in knowing my idea of the 
 liight of the Chevennes north, after his battle witli 
 them: I told him how things looked where I burned 
 tlie camp, and all information gained from the Indian 
 prisoners and by scouting in the neighborhood, but I 
 (lid not venture an opinion, nor did he ask me to. Hv 
 had probably made history that would redound to his 
 credit, and whether he followed the right or the wrong 
 trail after the battle, he did the best that an earnest 
 persevering commander could do, with tlie light before 
 ]iim : and I think that the general verdict of his com- 
 mand was that he did well, and that is the highesi 
 court by w^hich a man can be tried. 
 
 After Colonel Sumner's command was ^"sifted*" 
 where he left us on the South Platte, he went into the 
 field mth as fine a set of officers and men as I ever 
 saw. The civilians with his pack train — "Big Nick"* 
 Beery at the head — were the best we had. (See Mr. 
 Pecks letter in Historical Society's Oollections, hereto- 
 fore referred to.) 
 
 The civilians who were with me four and a half 
 months were from all naits of the continent and some 
 from Europe. Probably one-third of them born in the 
 United States, represeixting a diozen States and Tei- 
 ritor^es, most of them from Missouri a-nd Ka'Hsas, Then 
 
298 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 there was the hardy, cheerful, untiring "Canuck'^ (Can- 
 adian) — more than twenty of them — always skillful and 
 willing, wet or dry, feasting or fasting; and the Mexican, 
 patient and uncomplaining always — he will squat over 
 a fire no larger than his hand with his serape about 
 him, smoke his cigarette or munch his "hard tack" 
 cheerfully. A few Germans, careful of their teams, 
 always ready and willina: — and the never failing Irish- 
 man with his unbounded energy and snap. In short, 
 as I look back in memory to the motley crowd I see 
 more than an average set of men. 
 
 I am told that Mr. Beery still lives in Montana. Ex- 
 cept him I know but two living — Mr. K. B. Cecil, a 
 wealthy farmer of Platte County, Mo., and "Sim" Routh 
 of Easton, in Leavenworth County, Kansas — always a 
 good citizen and prosperous. Of all the officers of that 
 expedition, I do not think there is one living. Of the 
 enlisted men I know of but one, Mr. R. M. Peck of 
 Whittier, California. Probably there may be others. 
 
PART VIII. 
 
 IX October or Xovember of each year, all mules not 
 needed for use during winter were sent to Platte 
 County, Missouri, to be fed, where corn and hay 
 were plentiful and cheap, always returning to Fort 
 Leavenworth fat tne following spring. 
 
 There were four herds in Platte County for which 
 I purchased fon^ge and over which, with a foreman in 
 charge of each, I had general supervision. 
 
 One incident of this winter I Avill relate: Early 
 one cold morning in January, 1853, I rode from the 
 corrals where I had a herd of mules on the farm of 
 Bradley Cox, to his residence half a mile away, and 
 found him talking to two young cavalrymen, who wanted 
 some breakfast. Their horses w^ere branded on the left 
 shoulder with the letter G and Figure 1, which meant 
 that they belonged to Troop ' G," 1st Cavalry. The 
 men had hitched their horses by throwing their bridle 
 reins over a fence stake, and without dismounting I 
 reached over, unhitched both horses and started to- 
 wards my herd house, where the men who attended to 
 the herd lived. At the same time telling the men to 
 follow me and I would give them breakfast. These men 
 knew me as Master-of-Ttansportation for the Cheyenne 
 Expedition and ran after me begging fov their horses, 
 
 21^9 
 
300 ^^'^VE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 1 replied that I would talk to them after they had- 
 breakfast, but tbey could not liave the horses. At the 
 mule corrals I called a man, had the horses turned loose 
 with the mules, saddles, bridles, blankets and pistols 
 taken to the house. Of course I knew these young fel- 
 lows were deserters, knew their troop was stationed at 
 Fort Riley, and that it was commanded by my friend. 
 Lieutenant J. E. B. Stuart. I asked the cook to give 
 them breakfast. They admitted that they had deserted 
 from Fort Eiley and tried to excuse the act in various 
 ways, whereas they had, in a spirit of discontent, left a 
 good troop, as good a first sergeaint as I ever saw (my 
 friend Byrnes) and a troop commander that any man 
 should be proud to serve under, and here they were, 
 deserters! And liable to all the penalties attached to 
 tbat crime. I talked to them until they shed tears of 
 repentance — they were not ordinary toughs, claimed 
 that thev never drank liquor, which I afterwards found 
 was true. They promised that if I would give them 
 tlieir horses, they would go to Fort Leavenworth and 
 gi\o themselves up to the commanding officer. This 1 
 refused to do and told them that the temptation might 
 be coo great and I woidd not trust them, that I thought 
 it my duty to save this Government pcroperty, that I 
 did not want the reward of $30 each which I would be 
 <■ 11 titled to for delivering them at the Fort, and if they 
 woidd promise me to deliver a letter to General Harney 
 J would write one in which I would express belief that 
 lliey were thoroughly repentaint, so imich so that I felt 
 jftstified in trusting thein to report to him instead oi^ 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. IjQl 
 
 taking them myself as Drisoners. The}' promised to do 
 this and I wrote the facts to the General and stated 
 that I was trusting them on my belief that they would 
 keep their promise to me and report to him, and that 
 1 I;elieved they were so thoroughly humiliated that if 
 given a chance they would yet make good eoldiers. L 
 felt that I was venturing too far in expressing an opin- 
 ion to the Cleneral — I was not called upon to do so, but 
 was so fully convinced that these youths would make 
 no more mistakes that I made my hotter as impressive 
 as possible. Tbey had a few dollars in money between 
 them; I gave them a hmch and they left me at 10 a. m. 
 to walk the twenty-one miles to Fort Leavenworth, which 
 tliey did that day. Three days later I went to the Fort 
 and took the horses and equipment along with me. 
 When I called at the QuaTtermaster's office I was told 
 that G-eneral Harney wanted to see me. I reported at 
 his quarters and shown into his sitting room, where he 
 asked me many questions, expressed himself well pleased 
 aud went so far as to say I made no mistake in trust- 
 ing these men, I had certainly done them a great favor, 
 and he liked my wax of taking charge of the Govern- 
 ment jDroperty. Of course the men were in the guard 
 house, but in about a month a party was going to Fort 
 Riley and they and their horses and equipments were 
 returned together and they were soon Testored to dutv 
 without trial. Lieutenant Stuart wrote me about them, 
 in which he thanked me for my part, etc., and I ex- 
 ])lained the affair to him. 
 
 In Augrust of the sauiu yem'^ )v}iej; en route to TJt.nh, 
 
302 FJyE TEARS A DRA&OON. 
 
 I called at Major Sedgwick's camp, twenty-two miles 
 west of Fort Kearney to pay my respects. Sergeant 
 Byrnes told me that these two men were bound to see 
 me but were afraid to trust themselves in the presence 
 of their comrades, for fear they might show some feel- 
 ing, and th-jy had walked a mile up the road to wait 
 until I can e along. One of them was a Corporal, and 
 there were no better men in the troop. They wanted 
 to show how grateful they were for the manner in which 
 1 treated them. I never saw them again, but always 
 fo't glad that they fell into my hands. 
 
 The commands that .started for Salt Lake in 1857, 
 and wintered on Black's and Ham's Forks of Green 
 Eiver lost nearly all of their stock, horses and mules, 
 starved and frozen to death, and Captain Marcy was 
 sent to New Mexico to procure mules and horses before 
 any of the commands could move out of their temporary 
 wdnter quarters. 
 
 The conditions in Colonel Johnston's army were 
 such that the Government saw the necessity of moving 
 other commands to the front as promptly as possible. 
 Great numbers of horses and mules were purchased at 
 P^ort Leavenworth, many of the latter unbroken, and 
 the task of organizing and breaking in trains fit to 
 transport supplies for troops in the field was no small 
 matter. 
 
 At Two Mile Creek, below the fort, were located 
 extensive corrals and a "catching-out" crew under ex- 
 perienced "mule tamers," and here all mules were first 
 
FIYE TEARS A BRAaOON. 
 
 303 
 
 hitched to wagons and sent to camp some place within 
 a few miles of the post. 
 
 Mr. Levi Wilson, general superintendent of trans- 
 portation at Fort Leavenworth, was the most efficient 
 man I ever saw in 
 the Govern ment 
 transportation line, 
 but his services 
 w ere required in- 
 specting horses and 
 mules from the mid- 
 dle of March to the 
 last of May, 1858. 
 
 I was notified to 
 wind up the feeding 
 business, and bring 
 over mules from 
 Platte the first of 
 April, which I did. 
 T h r e e trains had 
 been organized and 
 camped in Salt Creek 
 Valley. The news 
 that many men would 
 be needed brought 
 them from every di- 
 rection; some, enterprising young men from the coun- 
 try, ambitious to better their condition or work their 
 way to the Pacific Coast; but there seemed an over- 
 supply of the .off scouring of the slums — men leaving 
 
 20— 
 
 Levi Wilson, 
 General Sup't of Transpcrtation. 
 
304 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 their country for their coimtry^s good. The variety and 
 makeup of these fellows, many of them fleeing from 
 justice, the arms they carried and their outfits generally, 
 were curious enough. 
 
 I was instructed to take charge of the trains. Many 
 complaints had couie to Mr. AYilson against a train in 
 the Valley^, and ho requested me to see to it and do 
 whatever seemed best. 1 rode out and found a drunken 
 mob — mules scattered, Jiarness in the mud, etc. The 
 wagonmaster was asleen. A mouthy fellow called him 
 "Captain,^^ and he finally crawled out. In a few min- 
 utes I saw the utter uselessness of wasting time. He 
 had come with a railroad gang from north Missouri, 
 the most blear-eyed, God-forsaken looking set I ever 
 saw. I told him that he and his men were wanted at 
 the quartermaster's ofhce ; that tliey should take all 
 their belongings with them, because they would not re- 
 turn to this train. Incjuiries were numerous, l)ut 1 
 (ILiietly cut tlicni off, and in half an liour they were 
 stri'ug out, pool- wretches, with the "Captain" in the 
 lerd. I ])r()misc'(l to meet them at the quartermaster's 
 offi( f, and then rode down the creek a mile to another 
 tri in, and asked the wagonmaster to give me his assist- 
 ant, a fiue young fellow (Green Dorsey), and k)an me 
 half of his nu'u. AVith tlicm T returned to tlu' drunken 
 train, told Do-rsey to take charge ;is wagonmaster, liirc 
 any men that came who suited him, and I would scud 
 him more, but not to hire one (vf tlie old gang, and gal- 
 loped to the ])ost in time to see them paid off. It wa< 
 remarked at the office that such :i)i outfit liad iifver 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 3O5 
 
 Ix'forc been seen there. T called tlie "Captain^' and 
 ]][<■ men a-side and advised them to seek employment 
 elsewhere; that they had mistaken their calling, and 
 were unfit for the plains, and assured them that not one 
 would ever find employment here. The rain and scal'city 
 of Hvhiskey had sobered them some, and they started for 
 the Rial to Ferry and Weston. 
 
 This incident spread among the trains and camps 
 on the reservation, and I told every wagonmaster not 
 to hire bad men — we did not want to he bothered with 
 them; and it was soon understood that thieves, thugs 
 and worthless characters generally ndght as well move 
 on. Many of these found employment in ox trains he- 
 longing to Government contractors, and were the cause 
 of strikes, mutinies and loss to their employers. Of 
 course, there was no civil law applicable to the man- 
 agement of men on the plains. In a military command 
 the officer in charge was all-powerful, as he must he 
 everywhere within his jurisdiction. Necessity knows no 
 law, and while all well disposed men would perform 
 their duties without friction, the lawless element, sure 
 to crop out from time to time, stood so much in awe 
 of the military power that they did little harm to their 
 fellows or th^ Government. Where there w^as no military 
 command the same restraint did not exist, and discon- 
 tented spirits, schemers and rebellion hreeders often 
 caused trouble. The Government trains had more dis- 
 cipline than the contractor's trains transporting Gov- 
 ernment supplies. The Government train had a sprink- 
 ling of discharged soldiers, and the man in charge had 
 
30G 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 himself been amenable to discipline and could not hope 
 to hold a responsible position without maintaining it. 
 H'C must be a law unto himself or fail. The great con- 
 tracting firms that transported Government supplies sent 
 numerous ox trains to various military posts, and while 
 
 they had a good 
 business system, 
 and often accom- 
 p 1 i s h e d worlv 
 much better than 
 t h e Government 
 would have done, 
 yet the immen- 
 sity of the busi- 
 ness left room 
 for many leaks 
 and much defect- 
 ive managemient. 
 I recall many in- 
 stances of mutiny 
 — the teamsters 
 in r e b e 11 i O' n 
 a g a i n IS t their 
 wagonmasters, in 
 some cases possi- 
 bly with a grievance, and in others through home- 
 sickness or the spirit of rebellion tliat recognizes no 
 authority, always ready to make trouble, delighting in 
 the opportunity to become leaders for more pay, or to 
 sliow their j^ower when their services were most needed. 
 
 BvT. Maj.-Gen. Stewart Van|Vliet. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 307 
 
 Interesting details would be tedious here, and I 
 pass them by. In short, by the first of June more than 
 six hundred six-mule teams, one-half of the mules 
 never before handled, were organized into trains of 
 about twenty-six wagons each, and about five hundred 
 and fifty of them sent out with columns of troops en 
 route to Utah. The whole months of April and May 
 were exceedingly wet, no bridges in the country, and to 
 move the first one hundred and fifty miles west from 
 Fort I^eavenworth was something terrible. Captain Van 
 Yliet, ciuartermaster, had a bridge built across Salt 
 Creek three mues out. The stone work of that bridge 
 still stands. 
 
 The first column to move out was Colonel An- 
 drews, with Sixth Infantry, Lieutenant Sawtelle, R. Q. 
 M., with eighty-two six-mule teams. They were three 
 clays going the first ten miles. 
 
 Between Government and contractors' trains, the 
 road had been made almost one continuous mudhole. 
 One hundred and fifty contractors' teams were strug- 
 gling in the mud within twenty miles. 
 
 On the 20th of May, Colonel Morrison's column 
 with Fourth Artillery moved out. Captain Page, quar- 
 termaster, with 104 teams, 99 horses and a few ex- 
 tra mules. 
 
 On the 28th of May, Colonel Monroe's column with 
 Third Artillery, Captain Cable, A. Q. M., moved out 
 with ninety-seven horses, ninety-two teams and a few 
 extra mules. 
 
 On May 30th, Colon-el Sumner, First Cavalry, with 
 Lieutenant Gtrknd, Seventh Infantry, A. A. Q. M., 
 
3f,S FIVE YEAfiS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ]iijOved out with eighty-eight six-mule teams and fifty- 
 six extra horses. 
 
 June 5th, Colonel May^ commanding fifth column, 
 with Lieutenant Mclntyre, R. Q. M., moved out with 
 fifty-eight teams, seventeen extra mules and sixty horses. 
 
 June 12th, Major Emory's column, with Captain 
 W T. Turnlcy, A. Q. M., moved out with sixty-nine 
 teams and a few extra mules. 
 
 June 12th, General Harney and staff moved out, 
 (Viptain Hancock, quartermaster, with headcpiarters of 
 the Utah expedition — forty-two six-mule teams, eight 
 four-mule ambulances, twenty-three extra mules and 
 fourteen extra horses. 
 
 The seven columns used twenty - six wagonmasters, 
 twenty assistants, 641 teamsters, extras and expressmen. 
 In addition to the above, each column was supplied 
 with four blacksmiths, one wheelwright and a traveling 
 forge hauled- by eight mules. 
 
 The above transportation was to go to the end of 
 the journey, and in addition a train loaded with forage 
 and provisions for each column was sent in advance 
 to Marysville, crossing the Big Blue, to replenish the 
 stores consumed and then return to Fort Leavenworth. 
 
 In sending out trains with the different columns, 
 great pains was taken to see that men, mules and 
 wagons were as near the best as it was possible to get, 
 and when the last train was off to Utah, the remnants 
 /)f trains scattered about within ten miles of the Forr 
 were sifted and reduced to perfect trains ready for 
 service in ^ny direction, surplus mules and wagons 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 309 
 
 turned in and inefficient wagonmasters and i;ien dis- 
 charged — a general cleaning up. 
 
 July found Fort Leavenworth as quiet as if prepa- 
 ration for the Utah campaign had never been. Half 
 of the month had slipped away, when I was summoned 
 to the quarmasters office and informed by Chief Clerk 
 Card (now Colonel B. C. Card, retired) that the 
 clothing and some 
 other winter sup- 
 plies for the Utah 
 army had not been 
 shipped and now 
 it was toa late to 
 ship by contract- 
 or's trains and 
 must be sent by 
 mule teams ; that 
 the goods in bales 
 and boxes werv 
 now en route 
 from the East, 
 
 would take 
 one hun- 
 
 s i x-m u 1 e 
 
 to haul 
 
 These 
 
 maist 1)0 
 
 and it 
 nearly 
 (1 r e d 
 'teams 
 them 
 trains maist be -^rA.ioij-OKXKHAL Wixfield S. Haxpock. 
 
 made ready and loaded as soon as the goods arrived by 
 boat, and I would be expected to go in charge of them. 
 I had no ambition ^o go, but the man who has good pay- 
 
310 FiyE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ing employment cannot afford to mix much sentiment 
 with it. 
 
 If I could have retired with money enough to settle 
 down for lif e^ I would have done so ; but now I banished 
 everything but the idea of successful delivery of those 
 gocds in Utah. There was one consolation, it would be 
 my train, I was assured, independent of interference 
 from any source. If I beat the winter in reaching the 
 troops, 1400 miles away, it would be to my credit; and 
 commanding officers and quartermasters along the route 
 would be instructed to lend me any assistance possible. 
 
 When the goods arrived, it was found that three 
 trains of twenty-six wagons each would take them — 342 
 boxes and 910 bales. 
 
 John Allen's train with William Daniels, assistant 
 wagonmaster (who helped me capture the Cheyenne the 
 year before), and thirty-one teamsters and extra hands 
 loaded July 31st, and with traveling forge, wheelright 
 and blaeksmith, moved out with instructions to go as far 
 as last camp on Little Blue, forty miles east of Fort 
 Kearney and await my arrival. 
 
 John McGilvra's train with Hamilton assistant wag- 
 onmaster and thirty-one teamsters, loaded on the 1st of 
 August and moved out, ^vith instructions to join Allen. 
 
 John Wilson's train with Peter B. Jackson (son of 
 the governor of Missouri, a young man in search of ad- 
 venture, which he found) assistant wagonmaster and 
 thirty-one teamsters, loaded on the 2d of August, and 
 with two young Mexicans with cavayard of fifteen extra 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOOIf. 31 1 
 
 mules, moved oiit fifteen miles and camped at Mount 
 Pleasant, where I overtook it at midnight. 
 
 The month of July had been very dry, and the roads, 
 with, the exception of numerous mudholes, pretty well 
 dried. 
 
 Before leaving Fort Leavenworth I was instructed 
 to look at all contractor's trains overtaken on the road, 
 note the number of wagons, number of train, what load- 
 ed with, appearance of train, condition of cattle, how 
 many lost or died, and name of wagonmaster, and inform 
 the quarterma-ster at Fort Leavenworth every opportun- 
 ity I had of mailing a letter. To save repeating, I over- 
 took ox trains almost daily from start to finish, most of 
 them contractors' trains, most of them well managed, 
 and cattle in as fine condition as shortage of grass would 
 permit; others in every stage of neglect. Up to Fort 
 Kearney losses by death, had been few, but the farther 
 west, the greater the losses. 
 
 Traveled with WilsoQ^s train until 5th. 
 
 August 6th. With my mess wagon left Wilson. 
 Traveled forty-five miles, making three drives, and camp- 
 ed five miles east of Marysville with Colonek J. S. John- 
 jt^ns train, en route to Leavenworth. 
 
 7th. Found McGilvra's train at Marysville. Allen 
 crossed her6 the 5th. 
 
 8th. Wilson arrived. Took on corn and camped 
 west of Big Blue. All trains took forage here. Left 
 two men, E. K Quintin and Philip Sawyer, at Marysville 
 »ick; a Dr. Miller was to look aiter them. 
 
 9th. Met five government teams en route to Fort 
 
312 r'lyE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Leavenworth from Kearney. Changecl twenty-one mnles, 
 taking the best. 
 
 11th. Overtook ]\IcGilvra and camped on branch of 
 Little Blue. Wilson joined later. 
 
 12tli. TSventy-five hundred Pawnees, men, women 
 and children, passed east, running from the Sioux, with 
 Avhom they had a battle. Some losses on both sides; 
 Sioux got most of the Pawnee horses. 
 
 13th. T\venty-two miles, and found Allen camped 
 on Little Blue. The other trains came up, and all ready 
 to move together to-morro... 
 
 As heretofore stated, ihe early part of the season 
 was extremely wet, the wh.ole country flooded, but July 
 and so far in Aug-ust was dry and hot; rank and rotting 
 vegetation created malaria, and there was an immense 
 amount of sickne&s amongst the men of all the trains en 
 route to Salt Lake. A train belonging to Russell, Ma- 
 jors & Waddel, government contractors, lying by here 
 with half the men sick, and, according to my instructions, 
 1 examined the tiwn and found the wagonmaster to be a 
 man Avhoui I had discharged in the spring because he 
 was unfit for assistant wagonmaster. I was told that 
 several of the men died. I reported by letter immedi- 
 ately, and advised a new crew as quickly as possible, and 
 reported the same to the agent at Kearney. 
 
 Found a number of men sick in Allen^s train and a 
 number of fever and ague eases in McGilvra's. My friend 
 Or. Samuel Phillips, at Fort LeavenwQi'th, had fixed up 
 a box of medicines with, carefully written directions, and 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 3l;j 
 
 i proscribed for the poor fellows as best \ coiikl, several 
 of whom needed hospital care. 
 
 l-tth. Twenty niilefc?, and caiuped on Thinty-two 
 Mile ('reek (head of Big Blue). Eight men in Allen's, 
 six in Wilson's and one in McGilvra's trains sick. All 
 wagonmasters and assistants driving teams. The out- 
 look was discouraging. 
 
 15th. Twenty - four miles and camped at Eight- 
 Mile Point, below Fort Kearney. After prescribing for 
 the sick men I rode to the fort, presented letters to Colo- 
 nel May, commanding officer, and Captain Cabel, quar- 
 termaster; called on Dr. Summers and explained the 
 sickness in trains. He said that he never saw as much 
 nuilaria and fever and ague as there was in the trains 
 from the East. I spent the night \A'ith ]\Ir. Ben Bishop, 
 forage master, who was first sergeant of "B" Troop, 
 First Dragoons, before I joined it. 
 
 16th. Trains arrived and drew rations to last un- 
 til Ist of Septeml^er. Captain Cabel examined trains 
 and seemed much pleased, (-hanged ten mules. On 
 leaving Fort Leavenworth I took but few guns for 
 guard purposes, and now drew fifty more, with ammu- 
 nition. Dr. Summers was very kind to sick men, and 
 prescribed for eighteen of them. Five were found un- 
 able to travel and left m the hospital; I left their time 
 with Capain Cabel. Dr. Summers overhauled my med- 
 icine box, replenished it, and gave careful directions. 
 Dr^w eighty sacks of corn jmd oats, and camped ten 
 miles up the Platte. Hired three men to drive teams. 
 ]SIeed more, but thev are not to be had. 
 
314 FiyE YEARS A DRAGOON. ; 
 
 18th. Hereafter the traveling forge will be ahead;, 
 so as to be in camp first, ready for work. The wagon 
 that hauls the blacksmith and assistant and the wheel- 
 wright, and in wliich they sleep much during the day, 
 travels next to the forge. Off as usual. Killed a buf- 
 falo, the last one seen on the trip. Twent}' miles, and 
 camped on Plalte. Many men sick. Assistant wagon- 
 masters all driving teams. Issued rifles and ammunition 
 1(0 teamsters. From this time I will make my close 
 corral, as on the Cheyenne expedition. 
 
 21st. McGilvra and assistant sick; also three of 
 his men, one in Allen's, two in Wilson's, very sick. 
 
 22d. Sick list increasing. Tried to hire men from 
 returning freight train, but they can see nothing but 
 home. They would rather be poor and "dance with the 
 gal with a hole in her stockin'/' than to winter in Utah 
 for a fortune. Every train had a cheap fidler sawing 
 away by ^every cnmpfire on '^Money Musk," "Dan Tuck- 
 er," "The Arkansaw Traveler," "Old Kentucky Home" 
 and "The Girl I Left Behind Me"— no seductive $30 
 a month for them. These fellows, returning home with 
 $100 to their credit, were the most independent mil- 
 lionaires that I ever saw. 
 
 And now the wagons are giving much trouble. Un- 
 til the Morn. on War, nearly all the Government wagons 
 used at Fort Leavenworth were made in Philadelphia 
 — "The Wilson Wag, n," so called — and they were ab- 
 solutely perfect. On the Cheyenne expedition I did 
 not have a tire set nor a box wedged. The wagons in 
 my Utah train were of Pittsburg . make, and now on. the 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 315 
 
 sandy and dry roads showed that they were hastily put 
 together with timber not properly seasoned. Boxes and 
 tires came loose, and eome must be wedged every even- 
 ing after coming into camp. From now on to Camp 
 Floyd tbe road was strewn with broken wagons and 
 dead cattle, and the labor and wear and tear to keep 
 my wagons together was something terrible. During 
 each day pieces of pine from broken wagons were 
 Faved for use in wedging boxes and tires, and midnight 
 found me and some others still at work. For awhile we 
 rolled some wheels into the water and let them lay all 
 night to tighten them up, but on the hard road in the 
 hot sun they soon dried out. 
 
 One day I found a Mormon train setting tires. The 
 old man in charge had a crippled ox killed, skinned, 
 and the hide cut into suitable strips and stretched 
 around the felloes and tacked on^ with wooden pins. 
 The tire was heated enough to expand it, but not enough 
 to burn, and then put on over the raw hide. The tire 
 cooled and shrank on tightly; the hide dried and made 
 the fit still tighter. I stayed long enough to see that 
 it was a success, and proceeded to adopt the plan. Ev- 
 ery day the Mexicans witli the cavayard drove along 
 any abandoned cattle able to travel, and sometimes 
 killed one for the brains and liver, and sometimes 
 made soup of some of the meat. From time to time the 
 hide was used as above described, and while not en- 
 tirely successful in :all cases, it saved much wedging. 
 The boxes in the wheels became loose and must be 
 wedged, and gunnysacks and pine \\'«dges were used. 
 
;j,(i //I/; ypJARiS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Men ill distress learn to do many things, and amongst 
 one hundred men new ideas are evolved by some of 
 them, oi"ten of great ^al^e. 
 
 From my memorandum book 1 quote as follows: 
 
 August 21st. Both wagoiimasters in McGilvra's 
 train sick, also three teamsters; one man in Allen's 
 train very sick, also two in M'^ilsoii's. 
 
 22d. Passed O'Fallon's Bluff mail station and camp- 
 ed twelve miles above on South Platte. Sick list rather 
 increasing. In several cases one man walked and looked 
 after two teams, while his comrade rested in the wagon. 
 Surprising how little complaint there is, and how cheer- 
 fully all try to help. 
 
 33d. Men continue sick; as one gets better, an- 
 other takes his place. 
 
 24th. Met Colonel Bee at crossing of Soutn Platte 
 with volunteer battalion returning from Utah. One of 
 (.*olonel Bee^s teamsters transferred to Allen\s train iu 
 exchange for a sick man. Colonel Bee's command has 
 110 doctor. My train crossed Platte without accident, 
 camped and greased every wagon ready to start in the 
 morning, in crosising a wiae quicksand river the grease 
 is all washed from boxes. The usual amount of sickness. 
 
 25th. Fifteen miles to Ash Hollow Hill; nine more 
 and camped on North Platte. Hardest day's work since 
 h'a\ing Fort Leavenworth. Some mules gave out; 
 obliged to come here to get grass, as there is none below. 
 
 2(:)th. Tweive miles over a very sandy ro^ad. Hard- 
 est (lav on mules; several gave out. When a mule can 
 go no farther the team pulls out of the line and stops, 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 317 
 
 the train keeping right on; the cavayard comes up, 
 herder ropes a fresh mule which goes into the team, 
 which takes its place in rear of the train. Twenty times 
 to-day this has been done, and in several instances 
 mules have been used twice. When the worn-out mule 
 is turned loose he rolls, shakes himself and drifts along 
 with the herd, eating grass and drinking, and in a few 
 hours will do duty again. His vitality is wonderful. 
 
 27th. Ten miles over a heavy sandy road. Eifect 
 on mules similar to yesterday. Met Russell, Majors & 
 W^dde-l's train en route to Nebraska City with discharged 
 men, but I could not hire one of them. With money 
 enough to buy a suit of jeans, pair of boots with a half 
 moon and some stars on the tops, a wool hat and a 
 blanket for an overcoat, and some silver in their pock- 
 ets, why should they turn their faces to the mountains, 
 sure to encounter cold weather and the possibility ot 
 not coming back until next year? To him it matters 
 not that he could clear money enough to hwj a quarter 
 flection of fine Missouri land amd capture the girl whose 
 "heel kep' 'er rockin'," whom he could see afar off in 
 his mind^s eye. There were no charms behind that he 
 cared to tui*n to, and he looked across the prairie to 
 the "cabin on the creek" away over in Missouri. 
 
 28th. Medicine nearly all consumed. Fifteen miles 
 and camped on Platte. Colonel Cook, Lieutenant Bu- 
 ford and small escort of Second Dragoons camped near 
 inc. They give bad account of grass. 
 
 29th. In Allen^s train, Patrick Laaghnahan died 
 this morning at 5 o'clock. He ought to have stopped 
 
318 FITS YEARS A nRA&OON. 
 
 at Kearney, but was anxious to go on, and the doctor 
 thought he might pull through. A heavy rain fell dur- 
 ing the night, and trains took road next to the bluffs 
 instead of river road. I rode ahead of train eleven 
 miles to some springs about three miles east of Chim- 
 ney Eock, where there were some ponds called ''The 
 Lakes.^^ Last night^s rains would fill them, and I might 
 get some ducks. I found plenty of them, and with n\y 
 double-barreled shotgun killed a lot. I waded into the 
 water and was in the act of picking them up when ni) 
 horse snorted and ran the length of his lariat. I lost 
 no time in getting to the picket pin and put my foot 
 on it. Here came a band of Indians at full charge, 300 
 yards away, and I motio'ued them to stop and brought 
 down my gun. (I did not tell them it was empty.) 
 Tl ey came down to a walk, but I insisted upon their 
 stopping, which they finally did 150 yards away. Care- 
 fully I got to my hors€, into the saddle and unsnapped 
 the lariat from the halter. The chief started towards 
 me, bow and arrows in hand. I had learned to not 
 trust Indians, and made nim stop 100 yards away; ho 
 finally rode back and gave his bow to another, and 1 
 let him come up and shake hands. Together We rode 
 to the top of the hill, where we could see the train 
 coming two miles away. There were but ten in the 
 band, and ''Little Thunder' was the chief. I had met 
 him several times and called his name. He harangued 
 his followers, and pointing to me said: "Eton-cha, kola/' 
 meaning "Chief, friend," whereupon all grunted and 
 moved towards us, but I instantly called a halt, and they 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 3I9 
 
 all clismoimted and waited until the train came up. "Lit- 
 tle Thunder" wanted something to' eat, and I told my 
 cook to give him "hard tack," and pointing to where 
 I would camp, north of Chimney Eock, invited him and 
 his hand to dine with me. They came at dinner time 
 and feasted, hehaved well, and shook hands to go at 
 5 o'clock. Laughnahan had heen prepared for hurial 
 hy heing sewed up in a wagom cover four double in a 
 very neat manner by Mr. Allen. His grave was dug 
 and he lay beside it. When the Indians rode by and 
 stopped to look, one of the men thought he would 
 frighten them by telling them that the man died of 
 small-pox, and he succeeded. I came up just as the 
 Indians were about to ride away; they thought that 
 they had been invited to a camp to be exposed to that 
 dreadful disease, of which they stood most in fear. 
 "Little Thunder" looked sharply at me, and taking my 
 knife I ripped open the cover and removed the white 
 hamdkerchief, revealing the pale, smooth face, and suc- 
 ceeded in inducing all of them to come close and look 
 carefully. I explained to them as best I could the cause 
 of the man's death. They stayed until the burial was 
 finished. The man who had lied to them kept hid in 
 a wagon; he was scared more than were the Indians. At 
 Laughnahan's grave was placed a board marked: "Pat- 
 rick Laughnahan. Died x4ugust 29, 1858." I sent 
 Laughnahan's memoTandum book and some letters 
 found on him to Captain Van Yliet, quartermaster at 
 Fort Leavenworth. Mr. Hamilton very sick; others 
 
 more or less so. 
 21— 
 
320 FI^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 30th. Met Colonel Alexander and Lieutenant Men- 
 adier and Captain Marcy and Lieutenant Grover en 
 route to the States. They doubted my ability to get 
 through on account of scarcity of grass. 
 
 September 2d. Arrived at Fort Laramie and de- 
 livered letters to Colonel Monroe commanding, and 
 Major Babbitt, quartermaster. Drew 28-4 sacks of corn, 
 185 sacks of oats, and camped above the Fort. Dr. 
 Johns prescribed for twelve sick men. 
 
 3d. Exchanged twenty-eight mules, all I could find 
 here better than mine. Drew rations for 101 men forty 
 days. Changed two wagons. Left two sick men, Nel- 
 son Story and Mike Flood, in hospital. Nelson Story, 
 a friendless youth of twenty, got well, found his way 
 to the Pacific Coast, drifted to Montana, mined, and 
 finally got into the cattle business, prospered in cattle, 
 mines a,nd banks, and was a millionaire a few years ago. 
 I have never seen him since we parted at Laramie, but 
 hope he still lives to enjoy his success. I do not know 
 Flood's history beyond the fact that he got well. He 
 wais a fine Irish lad, and probably met with success.* Dr. 
 Swift, of the army, was very kind to my men while; 
 here; overhauled my medicine box, replenished it, and 
 gave careful directions. 
 
 One man asked for his "time," which I refused to 
 give. Every man had signed a contract to go through 
 to Camn Floyd for thirty dollars per month, whereas, 
 
 *I am informed by Hon. James A. McGonigle, who was 
 an officer in the First Kansas, that Mike Flood was among the 
 first killed at the battle of Wilson's Creek, in 1861. He was a 
 member of the First Kansas.—/*. G. Lowe. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 321 
 
 the usual wage was twenty dollars, and if I gave one 
 man his time, more than half the train would want to 
 go, and men were not to be had to take their places. 
 Gold had been discovered near Pike's Peak, 250 miles 
 south, and some soldiers had deserted to go there, and 
 if the men could get a month's pay, many would de- 
 sert me, and I was obliged to be severe and draw the 
 line. This man complained to Major Babbitt and to 
 the commanding officer. When spoken to about it, 1 
 requested that he and any others who wanted to be 
 discharged be placed in the guard house. In an hour 
 this man was arrested and in the guard house when I 
 left. This prompt action ended all complaints. 
 
 I was sitting on a box in front of my tent writing, 
 when my attention was attracted by some one in front 
 of me. There stood a man with an army size revolver 
 on his belt and leaning on a long rifle. He was thirty- 
 five years old, big, broad-shouldered, long hair and whis- 
 kers, unkempt and dirty, vicious and desperate looking. 
 I never saw a more repulsive looking creature. I in- 
 quired what he wanted, to which he replied that he 
 wanted employment; was a mountaineer by profession, 
 and wanted to go through to Camp Floyd. Ordinarily 
 I would have said "Fo," but I needed healthy men so 
 badly that I called to Mr. Wilson and said that if he 
 could use this man to hire him, which he did. I shall 
 have occasion to mention him again. 
 
 Left Fort Laramie September 4th. Traveled ten 
 miles. Tl-ains alternate in traveling — the front train 
 
322 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 to-day will be the rear train to-morrow, the middle train 
 having moved to the front. 
 
 This divides the hardships in the way of dust and 
 rough roads. The wagon master of the front train has 
 charge of the herd until midnight, and the assistant 
 from midnight until time to corral the mules at day- 
 light. Each train furnishes two teamsters to herd dur- 
 ing the first half and two the last half of the night, so 
 that there is a wagonmaster and six teamsters on herd 
 at the same time. Mr. Hamilton being sick, I relieved 
 McGilvra at midnight and found the mules very litthi 
 trouble. And now we have very little sickness among 
 teamsters. 
 
 6th. Rained during the night, turned to sleet and 
 then snow, and by 10 o'clock we had six inches. Pulled 
 out facing the storm. Ten miles to camp on North 
 Platte. Cleared off cold. Killed ten sage hens. All 
 well in trains except Mr. Hamilton. Found an aban- 
 doned Government wagon and took from it three wheels 
 and both axles to take the place of some of mine not 
 so good. 
 
 8th. Camped on Box Alder. When the trains rolled 
 in one man had four mules and a big ox with rope on 
 its horns for leader. We drove along with the herd any 
 oxen able to travel, and used some of the gentle ones in 
 harness, always in the lead. 
 
 12th. Arrived at Fort Payne where there is a 
 bridge across the Platte Eiver. Two companies of 
 Fourth Artillery here, Captain Roberts (called by his 
 intimates "Jo Bobs'') commanding — a fine officer. I 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 323 
 
 had taken fifty sacks of corn from a contractor's train 
 the day before against the protest of the wagonmaster, 
 who felt he had no right to let me have it. The coun- 
 try was almost destitute of grass and I could not hope 
 to get through without feeding. "Well," said Captain 
 Roberts, "I have no authority to advise you, but if you 
 do not use forage and lots of it, you will find yourself 
 snowed in and stock frozen to death before you reach 
 Bridger, just as the commands were last winter. I 
 would advise you to run no risk that might prevent 
 this clothing train getting through." This sounded like 
 the right kind of talk. I wanted to feel that officers 
 along the route would be ready to justify me. Six 
 miles above Fort Payne crossed North Platte. 
 
 And now we are in the "poison springs" country. 
 We have water kegs for drinking and cooking purposes, 
 and animals are not allowed to touch water other than 
 the North Platte. Passed several more oxe trains; one 
 train had lost seven to eight cattle per day. I pro- 
 nounced it alkali poisoning, and advised driving two 
 miles to North Platte as I did and herd them away 
 from every suspicious looking pool. One man, George 
 Chrisman, had done that and his cattle looked well and 
 his losses few. 
 
 14th. Camped near Red Buttes and traded my 
 tired horse with a Frenchman who keeps a trading post 
 here, for an excellent saddle horse. Have mules herded 
 two and three miles from camp outside of where cattle 
 have grazed. A train corralled here drove cattle five 
 miles to Platte for water and grass. Wagonmaster said 
 
324 FIVE TEARS A VRAGOON. 
 
 he was losing a day, but was filling his cattle and losing 
 few. Hot days; mules suffering for want of water, which 
 they must not have until they can be driven to the 
 river at night. 
 
 15th. Camped within two miles of Sweet Water. 
 No grass, but fine water, and mules browse among the 
 grease wood and sage brush. Our mule shoeing in- 
 creases as we move over the hard roads, and every man 
 who can nail on a shoe is in demand. Killed two 
 sage hens. 
 
 16th. Crossed Sweet Water on bridge at Independ- 
 ence Eock. Mail station here. Camped above. 
 
 17th. Eighteen miles and camped on Sweet Water, 
 opposite Split Rock. Contractor's Train No. 62 camped 
 just below me. Examined train, asked the usual ques- 
 tions, and finally asked why he was lying by, and how 
 long he had been there. Three days, and because he 
 and "the boys" had a dispute about guard duty, the 
 hour of starting in the morning, and a few other little 
 matters — the old story of a train without a head. I 
 told him that I would try to send some one with a crew 
 to drive this one out, and let them "hoof" it back with- 
 out pay. (Bluff, of course.) Two hours later here came 
 the train and went five miles beyond me to camp. The 
 next day they traveled so well that I did not overtake 
 them, and the next day we camped near together. The 
 wagonmaster said that three of the men knew me. They 
 were of thic "Captain's" drunken train, whom I dis- 
 chairged in the valley. 
 
 The desperado hired at Laramie proved to be such 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 325 
 
 an incorrigible scoundrel that Wagonmaster Wilson told 
 me he would have to give Tip control or kill him. He 
 boasted of having killed two men, and was an overbear- 
 ing bull}^ I told Wilson to let him herd the mules; he 
 would not care for a team, and cursed and abused mules 
 and men. When the mules were turned loose I told him 
 to drive them north and save the grass near camp for 
 night. Some time had passed — mules all loose and graz- 
 ing around camp. I called to the man and asked if he 
 did not understand what I told him. He yelled back: 
 
 "Well, ^eni, ain't they goin' ?" I then told 
 
 him to come to me. I was in the act of washing in 
 a bucket, clothes all off to the waist, and my cook stand- 
 ing near ready to hand me a towel. As he came saun- 
 tering up the slope towards me swearing viciously, I 
 noticed him slip his pistol to the front. When close to 
 me I asked what he meant, when he drew his pistol. 
 Quick as lightning I caught liis hand with both of mine, 
 jerked the pistol from him, and with it struck with all 
 my might on the top of his head. He fell as if shot 
 through th.e brain, and quivered as if in a death strug- 
 gle, while blood flowed freely. A dozen men came with 
 knives or pistols, and begged me to step aside and let 
 them "finish him." I waved them back and had him 
 carried to my tent, got out my medicine box, gave him 
 a. swallow of whiskey (here a man said, "What a shame 
 to waste the whuskey!''), and with scissors cut the hair 
 along the edges of the worst scalp wound I ever saw. 
 A thin sliver of bone came off. While two men held 
 his hands I took seven stitches, and with strips of 
 
326 ^^^'^ TEARS A DRAGOOl^. 
 
 court-plaster drew the edges together the best that I 
 could. In the meantime the man revived, and in an 
 hour was semi-conscious. I let him lay in my tent un- 
 til my cook made him some tea;, and he was able to walk 
 to the wagon, where he slept on sacks of oats. How he 
 rallied from such a wound was a mystery. The next 
 day we passed a trading post, where a vicious looking 
 lot of fellows were loafing, and when the wagon in 
 which my man was riding got opposite to it he asked 
 the teamster to stop, got out his few effects, and said 
 "good bye." After coming into camp the mule that I 
 rode during the day was turned into the herd, and my 
 horse saddled and bridled and hitched to my mess wagon 
 ready for use. He ran in the cavayard during the day. 
 As this desperate scoundrel approached, he determined 
 to kill me, mount my horse and escape, with all the 
 glory that would be showered upon him by his class for 
 murdering the chief of that big outfit. That was the 
 way I interpreted his conduct. AVhen I seized the pistol 
 it was cocked, and notliing but my quick action saved me. 
 20th. Camped on Sweet Water. A dragoon ser- 
 geant came riding into camp and said that he was part 
 of an escort en route to the States with some officers 
 who had learned that I had a forge, and they wanted 
 to get a few shoes set on an ambulance team. He said 
 the officers were Major Sibley, and Lieutenants ISTorris 
 and Bell of the Second Dragoons. I asked him to say 
 to the Major that I would be glad to do anything for 
 him that I could, and showed him a good place to 
 camp near my Sibley tent. In half an hour they came 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 327 
 
 in. I knew Norris and Bell very well, and was intro- 
 duced to Sibley; I invited them to share my tent, which 
 they did. I had instructed my cook to get up as good 
 a dinner as he could, and they dined with me. Of course 
 we talked of both ends of the route, but during a lull 
 the Major remarked that he did not remember having 
 met me before, and was pleased with the cordial man- 
 ner in which I had told the sergeant I would be glad 
 to do anything I could for him. I told him that there 
 was a reason beJ:iind all of it, and went on to state that 
 "once upon a time, etc.,^' a young man came to his re- 
 cruiting office in Boston to enlist. That he, the Major, 
 had advised the youth against such a step, told him the 
 consequences, the position in which he would place him- 
 self, the probable estrangement from family and friends, 
 and finally, after putting him off some days, enlisted 
 the youth against his, the Major's protest. "That was 
 nearly nine years ago, and this my first opportunity of 
 showing my gratitude for good advice and the kindly 
 manner in which you treated me; and I never sleep in a 
 Sibley tent without thinking of you." "Are you the 
 young sailor with good clothes and hands so soft that I 
 would not believe him?'' "Yes sir." "Well, now, will 
 you please tell me how you got through with your enlist- 
 ment, and how you happen to be here?" Of course T 
 sketched a little of my life, which has been told in former 
 articles. 
 
 These officers advised me to "rob" every train that 
 I found with forage; that my train was of great impor- 
 tance; that no effort or expense should be spared to ge- 
 
328 F"^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 it through. I lost four mules in a week. In grazing the 
 short grass the mules eat too much saline matter, which 
 causes them to drink too much water.' 
 
 21ist. Twelve miles to where road forks, right hand 
 over "Kocky Eidge Koad/^ left hand over "Semino's Cut- 
 off"; took the latter up Warm Spring branch three miles, 
 and camped at Springs. Took three hundred sacks of 
 oats from Contractor's Train No. 23, and shipped seven 
 bales of store tents and tent poles by same train. 
 
 22d. Camped at Cold Springs. Camped here was 
 Contractors' Train No. 23. It left Fort Leavenworth 
 the 17th of June; had much trouble with wagons; some 
 wheels broken down — iron axle wagons. Contractors 
 and nearly all big freighters crossing the plains used 
 wooden axle wagons made by Murphy or Espenscheidt of 
 St. Louis, or Young and others of Independence, Mo., 
 and were able to carry their 6000-ponnd loads anywhere. 
 I gave the wagonmaster all the information that I could 
 about repairing his wagons, but he iseemed much dis- 
 couraged, and there was a want of confidence look about 
 the men — a sort of awkward helplessness, that made an 
 excuse for them to lie by a day at a time. The appear- 
 ance of this train caused me to appreciate the cheerful 
 helpfulness of my own men. No matter how hard the 
 day, how warm or how cold, there was a cheerful taking 
 hold, early or late, that kept everything up to date and 
 moving; no sulking, no growling — all that had been left 
 more than 600 miles east. The men were as anxious to 
 get through as was I, and all had worked into the habit 
 of helping wherever their services were needed. One 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 329 
 
 wa.o^onmastei, Mr. Allen and two assistants, Mr. Jackson 
 and Mr. Hamilton, were new to the severities of such a 
 trip, hut they acquitted themselves excellently, and soon 
 hecame equal to veterans. Many of the men had much 
 to learn, but they came to time under discouraging cir- 
 cumstances and often severe illness. The vim, push and 
 energy in one of my trains, under either of my wagon- 
 majlters, would have landed the contractor's train in 
 Camp Floyd before this time. 
 
 While commenting on the contractors^ trains, I will 
 say the firm of Russell, Majors & Waddel was a wonder- 
 ful organization, and while a small percentage of their 
 wagonmasters were by inexperience and want of charac- 
 ter unfit for positions of authority or responsibility, a 
 large majority of them were in their line of business the 
 "salt of the earth," possessing unusual courage, perse- 
 verance, good judgment and business ability, and remark- 
 able in the management of men. 
 
 23d. Grossed South Pass and camped five miles 
 beyond on Pacific Springs Creek. Contractors' Trains 
 Nos. 21 and 22 camped here; Nos. 24 and 15 passed on. 
 
 24th. Eight miles to Big Sandy. TW-elve more and 
 camped on Little Sandy. Passed trains Kos. 48, 51, 54, 
 20, 24 and 25. Took from Train No. 20, John W. Hall, 
 wagonmaster, 170 sacks of oats. 
 
 25th. Crossed Green River at Bateese trading post. 
 
 2Gth. Eighteen miles to and along Black's and 
 Ham's Forks of Green River, and camped on the latter. 
 This day has been along the route where Hundreds of 
 mules and horses were starved and frozen to death last 
 
330 FI^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 winter. At one place several trains of six-mnle teams 
 stood tied to the wagons. Tlhe latter had been hauled 
 away, but the mules lay just as they died, their dry skins 
 stretched over their bones, some lying on one side, some 
 with their feet under them, and som^e standing in a brac- 
 ing position, generally two on each side of where the 
 wagon stood and two behind — dead horses and mules for 
 miles. This was Camp Scott. There is a bridge here 
 guarded by fifteen soldiers. 
 
 27th.. Crossed Ham^s Fork twice and then Black^s 
 Fork, and camped. Left train and crossed Smithes Fork 
 at Jack Eobinson'is trading post and came on to Bridger. 
 Called on the commanding officer, Colonel Canby; stop- 
 ped all night and took dinner and breakfast with (-aiitai • 
 P. T. Turnley, quartermaster, and his chief clerk, Mr. 
 .John E. Brooke (now Lieutenant/General Brooke, retired). 
 
 Captain Turnley opened my papers, addressed to 
 the senior officer of the quartermaster's department in 
 Utah, and Colonel Canby directed me to turn over to 
 Captain Turnley 120 bales and two boxes and six sets 
 tent poles. Train came up and camped at noon of 28th. 
 Got hay from Captain Turnley. The whole train unload- 
 ed, turned over packages ordered and reloaded. One 
 man left here sick. One discharged on 14th for miscon- 
 duct, but allowed to travel with the train without pay, 
 was left here — a wiser if not a better man. 
 
 29th. Thirty years old to-day. Colonel Canby 
 and Captain Turnley say there is no grass from Bridger 
 to Salt Lake, 120 miles, and not much from Salt Lake 
 to Camp Floyd, forty-five more. Captain Simpson of 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 331 
 
 the Engineers had laid ont a road from Camp Floyd to 
 Bridger, following the Monnon road through Timpano- 
 gas Caiion, from the head of which he threw np mounds 
 on high points a short distance apart, so that starting 
 from Bridger one could follow the line of mounds nearly 
 100 miles to the head of Timpanogas or Prove Caiion, 
 and then through the caiion to its mouth, near which 
 Timpanogas or Prove Eiver flows into the lake of the 
 same name, and thence through the towns of Battle 
 Creek, American Fork and Lehi to Camp Floyd. Neither 
 Government nor contractors' trains had gone that way, 
 and bunch grass was fine. Neither Colonel Canby nor 
 Captain Tumley would advise me, but I thought they 
 leaned toward the new route, and I reasoned that if 
 snow-bound where there was plenty of grass I could win- 
 ter, and the goods could be hauled in from time to time, 
 when the weather permitted. So that it was a perfect- 
 ly smooth road by Salt Lake 165 miles to Floyd, with no 
 graiss and half rations of corn or oats, or about the same 
 distance on an entirely unbroken road, through sage 
 brush nearly one hundred miles, with the same com and 
 oats, and fine grass, about thirty miles through a crooked 
 canon, and the balance an ordinarily good road. 
 
 Launched out on the new road. Traveled eight 
 miles over sage brush and camped on branch of Black's 
 Fork of Green Eiver; mules exhausted; plenty of grass 
 and fine water. After dinner started out to explore 
 some distance ahead. Soon struck a trail and followed 
 it about four miles and very unexpectedly came into the 
 old road from Bridger to Salt Lake. Biding along by 
 
332 Ft^'^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Sulphur Springs, I met Major Prince, paymaster, who 
 was just from Camp Floyd. He came through Timpano- 
 gas Caiion, over the divide to Weber Eiver, down river 
 to mouth of Echo Caiion, thence through the canon to 
 where I met him. He wrote in my memorandum book a 
 minute account of the route, distances, water, grass, etc., 
 and advised me by all means to go through Echo Canon 
 and take the route he came. From his account I felt 
 very much encouraged. About forty miles would take 
 me to and through the caiion, and from that on I woulc^ 
 have fine grass. 
 
 30th. Took the trail down to the old road, crossed 
 Bear River and camped ten miles beyond. In a canon a 
 mile from camp I found fine grass. Narrow way to enter, 
 and no one seemed to have discovered it. In the night 
 found a herder asleep, turned his mule loose and brought 
 in his saddle and bridle. 
 
 October 1st. Ten mites to head of Echo Canon; ten 
 more and camped in middle of caiion at ''Ten Mile Rock." 
 Rained in afternoon, turned to sleet and then to snow; 
 no grass; fed oats. 
 
 2d. Six inches of snow. Ten miles to mouth of 
 caiion; mai] station. Turned to left and crossed Caiion 
 Creek. Took new road up Weber River two miles, and 
 camped on it. A party of men cutting hay here for mail 
 station. Finer grass never grew, and the mules are mak- 
 ing up for shortage last night. Left two mules here 
 unable to travel — ^effects of storm and freeze. Snow all 
 gone. 
 
 3d. Ten miles and camped where road leaves to 
 cross the divide between Weber River and Silver Creek, 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 333 
 
 A signboard here says seventy-three and a half miles 
 to Camp Floyd. Ox Train No. 60 following me camped 
 below; twenty wagons; six have been abandoned for 
 various reasons. 
 
 It was estimated that between Kearney and Camp 
 Floyd there were abandoned chains enough, if straight- 
 ened out, to reach the whole distance, but this is doubt- 
 less an exaggeration. Hundreds of wagons, Govern- 
 ment and contractors', were strewn the whole distance. 
 The carcasses^ of cattle, horses and mules were scattered 
 by hundreds. Ranchmen got rich by picking up aban- 
 doned stock, driving it away from the main traveled 
 ■road, and waiting until the next season to trade their 
 recuperated stock for a new crop of broken-down ones 
 and a good price to boot. 
 
 4th. Divide between Weber Eiver and Silver Creek 
 is a small mountain, hard, firm road about eight miles. 
 The first and .second trains passed over without doub- 
 ling teams; rain began to fall, and the last train had to 
 double, and were until 2 o'clock coming into camp on 
 Silver Creek. Mules turned loose in fine grass, and 
 soon filled themselves. Eain turned to sleet, and before 
 dark we corralled the mules in a heavy snow storm, 
 which continued until tow^ards mornino:. 
 
 5th. At daylight opened corral and the mules 
 came out (always the strongest first) quietly and scat- 
 tered among the willows along the creek. Snow covered 
 the level creek bottom fifteen inches. All but about 
 thirty came out without much urging; they were down 
 in the mud or had lost hope and the energy to move. 
 
334 FI^E TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Men got rope®, and all but two, which died, were got- 
 ten onto their feet. A few hundred yards away was 
 a side hill where the snow was blown off the grass, and 
 the nrnles were driven to it. Men built good fires, took 
 their time and got a good breakfast. The sun came 
 out and snow melted rapidly. With willow brush men 
 knocked snow and ice from harness and wagons, and 
 at noon the mules were brought in and fed oats. After 
 dinner the teams were hitched up, and slowlv the wagons 
 rolled out of the muddy camp. About two miles away 
 I had selected a camp on high, sandy ground, where 
 the snow was mostly blown off and the little left was 
 rapidly sinking into the sand. To this point the trains 
 were moved, the round corral was built and the mules 
 turned loose. The sun had done good work, mules 
 had exercise enougn to get warmed up, and on i neigh- 
 boring side hill facing south they found fine grass. 
 The whole outfit was nretty well tired out, but every- 
 body, even the poor mules, quite Lomfortable. 
 
 6th. T^\^o miles to ton of hill and one mile down, 
 steep and rocky, to branch of Provo Eiver, down iwo 
 miles to main river. We were four hours making the 
 next two miles; crossed the river or its branches five 
 times; five miles farther, and camped on river; fine 
 camp and plenty of grass. Snow nearly all gone. 
 
 7th. One mule died; down river six miles, cross- 
 ing it twice. Broke wagon bO badly that I abandoned 
 it, having - ut the load into other wagons. Three miles 
 to head of Tlmpanogas or Provo Carion; down caiion 
 one mile aind camped. Plenty of grass. From 1 o'cloek 
 
Fl > E YEARS A DRAGOON- 335 
 
 until sunset getting the last two miles. The road has 
 been made along the side of the mountain by digging 
 down the bank, sometimes through solid rock and build- 
 ing stone, or wooden embankments on the lower side, 
 thereby making an excellent road for the stiort teams 
 of the settlers, two horses or two oxen to a wagon, but 
 the curves a? a so short that a six-mule team could not 
 make the turn. In some places we took olf the lead 
 and swing mules and carefully w^orked around the short 
 curves with the wheel mules and the help of men. It 
 was very tedious, but if a wagon went over it would fall 
 from fifty to one hundred a,nd fifty feet to the rocky 
 river bed and carry with it team and driver. 
 
 8th. Down caiion ten miles and crossed bridge. 
 Two more and camped at its mouth. No grass. Eode 
 to Provo City, five miles, and bought eighty-six bushels 
 of wheat and oats, to be delivered at my camp at $2.00 
 per bushel — wheat and oats same price. 
 
 9th. We have left mountains and come into sum- 
 mer weather. Six miles to Battle Creek settlement, 
 three to American Fork, three more to Lehi; beautiful 
 place, surrounded by an adobe wall, with wide gate at 
 east and west sides. It was a lovely Sunday, and the 
 whole town, men, women and children, in their Sunday 
 clothes, crowded to the east side, covering the wall and 
 crowding the gate to look at the long train as it wound 
 its way along the road. I stopped to water my horse 
 at the beautiful asaquia which seemed to encircle the 
 town just inside the wall. A very intelligent man, who 
 gave the name of Clark, entered into conversation with 
 
 22— 
 
336 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 me, and when I inquired for a good place to camp, told 
 me that just outside of the west gate was a good place, 
 
 '-^....^ 
 
 X. 
 
 General Albert Sidney Johnston. 
 
 and the only grass I would find east of Camp Floyd. 
 Leaving Mr. Daniels, who was riding with me, to con- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON- 337 
 
 duct the train through the town, I galloped on and 
 selected my camp, and by 2 o'clock we were comfortably 
 settled. I told the man Clark that I would buy 100 
 bushels of oats at my camp and pay the customary price 
 in the country, $2.00 per bushel. I paid cash, and in 
 buying a little more than 100 bushels I dealt with 
 twenty people. Some families brought only two or 
 three bushels on their backs, which probably repre- 
 sented their own hand labor. I took a few bushels 
 more than I wanted rather than see the poor people 
 carry it back. 
 
 10th. Train started early. My bridle was missing. 
 Some one had stolen it while I was buying oats. Two 
 mules lost during the night. 
 
 Having crossed Jordan on bridge, the mules were 
 watered, trains straightened out, and I rode on with 
 Mr. Jackson to Camp Floyd, where we arrived at 10 
 a. m., and I reported to Colonel Crossman, chief quar- 
 termaster, who was glad to see me. He and every one 
 supposed that my losses would be heavy in the big snow- 
 storm, and probably I could only move a part of the 
 train at a time. At headquarters he introduced me to 
 Colonel Johnston* and Adjutant-General Porter, who 
 remembered me from the year before. Expressmen 
 had been sent out to look for me, but had not been 
 heard from. Colonel Johnston asked if I had all that 
 
 *When Albert Sidney Johnston was graduated, in Junb 
 1826, he was entitled, by virtue of his rank in his class, to select 
 which arm of the service he preferred. Had a cavalry corps 
 then existed his taste would have led him to enter it.''— From 
 William Preston Johnston's ''Life of Albert Sidney Johnston." 
 
338 ^I^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 T started with, and I told him I had, except what I left 
 at Bridger by Colonel Canby's order. Train arrived 
 and camped near springs out side of garrison. 
 
 11th to 15th, inclusive. Unloading trains and turn- 
 ing over wagons, mules, harness and other equipments, 
 and getting clean receipts for all property in my charge. 
 Thirty-four mules dead or otherwise lost, which were 
 covered by affidavits. Colonel Crossman wanted all of 
 my men who would stay to work at Camp Floyd, and 
 I turned over to him a list including all except the 
 wagonmastensi and assistants, wheelwright, blacksmith 
 and eight teamsters — including myself, seventeen — who 
 wanted to return. 
 
 Selected two six-mule teams, wagons and covers, 
 some extra wagon covers, my Sibley tent, four common 
 tents, and complete equipments, for return trip; also 
 four riding mules, one for myself and o»ne for each of 
 the wagO'nmastefrSi. I was offered my choice of any mules 
 at the camp, but I found none equal to my best, and my 
 friend Jim Miller, who bad charge of the herds in Rush 
 Valley, told me that out of 500 mules he had none so 
 good. 
 
 I was given the use of a desk in Captain Page's 
 office while at the post, and while writing to-day I 
 heard a man tell Captain Page that he had brought in 
 a stray mule. A voucher was made and the man paid. 
 As he was mounting his pony at the door I looked up 
 and recognized Clark, and my lost bridle on his pony. 
 I stepped out quickly, unbuckled the throat latch, jerked 
 the reins from the man's hand and bridle from the 
 pony's bead, and struck a blow on his rump with the 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 339 
 
 bridle. He bounded off at a fearful rate, away across 
 the parade ground, out into the country and out of 
 sight. He was a fine rider and held to the saddle ad- 
 mirably. I never saw him again. 
 
 16th. Drew rations for seventeen men and forage 
 for twenty - two mules ten days, supposed to last to 
 Bridger. Two artillery officers. Lieutenants Howard 
 and Talmadge, were ordered to Platte bridge, Fort 
 Payne, and to accompany my party. They were al- 
 lowed a six-mule team and spring wagon for transpor- 
 tation, which I selected for them. Having no mess or 
 servants, I invited them to join me, which they were 
 glad to do. My cook was among those left at Floyd, 
 but of the teamsters returning one Robinson was an 
 excellent cook, and so far as food made of Government 
 rations was concerned, we fared well. Three inches of 
 snow to-day. 
 
 17th. Lieutenant Talmadge has a white pony which 
 he will use instead of riding in the wagon. The little 
 train left at 9 o'clock. I got my papers, said ^^Good- 
 bye," and with Talmadge left at 1 o'clock, coming into 
 camp on east side of Jordan Eiver at 4, eighteen miles. 
 Bought hay for mules; snowed all afternoon. This is 
 one of my anniversaries; I enlisted in the army nine 
 years ago to-day. 
 
 18th. Out of camp at sunrise. TVenty-seven miles 
 to Salt Lake City, where we arrived at 2 o'clock. Ar- 
 ranged for corral room and as much bay as mules can 
 eat for fifty cents each. Leaving our animals at the 
 corral, Talmadge and I started out to see the city. 
 
340 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Called on Gilbert & Gerrish, C. A. Perry, Livingston & 
 Kinoaid, Bradford & Cabbott, Miller, Eussell & Cole. 
 Dodson, agent for Hockaday's Salt Lake mail, etc. — 'all 
 that we knew to be from "God^s Country," as we called 
 the vicinity of the Missouri Kiver. Wagons arrived at 
 5. Howard, Talmadge and I out about town. We were 
 extremely anxious to- see Brigham Young, but Gover- 
 nor Cummings had given stringent orders against any 
 one seeing him. Dined at the Globe Hotel, kept by Mor- 
 mons exclusively for Gentile boarders. Went to Mr. 
 Gerrish's room and wrote until midnight, when the room 
 was filled by G-errish, Brannan, Bradford, Miller, Tal- 
 madge, Stewart and several others. I like to write the 
 names of tbese bright young business men, so that they 
 may be remembered by old friends. 
 
 I 19th. Breakfast at daylight. Teams and party 
 off at 8. Went to Gerrish's store and bought buffalo 
 overshoes, and went around wich him to say "Good-by," 
 and finally at 9 o'clock got out of the city. 
 
 When four miles out on the "table'' took a fare- 
 well look at the city. Great Salt Lake, etc. It seemed 
 a pity to have come such a tedious journey to see so 
 little of this interesting country. Five miles from the 
 city entered Emigration Canon through the Golden Gate. 
 Kough road. Seven miles to foot of Little Mountain, 
 one mile to top of mountain. Snow two feet deep. Ten 
 mules to each wagon; every one pushing; three trips 
 must be made to get the wagons and things up. At the 
 foot of the mountain a man was drunk. From the 
 wagon I had him and all things taken, and found one 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 34I 
 
 two-gallon and two one-gallon jugs of whiskey. I broke 
 each of them on a wagon wheel, and that ended the 
 whiskey part of the campaign. However much a few 
 may have grieved, there were no tears nor protests. 
 
 No grass, but some hay brought from corrals. 
 Mules very tired. And now the prospect is that we will 
 have a severe time during the 1,340 miles ahead of us, 
 and no pains must be spared to keep up the strength 
 of the mules. I brought from Floyd some extra wagon 
 covers, and now have a half dozen of them brought out 
 and each torn into four equal pieces, each one covering 
 a mule all over. The mules, not being accustomed to 
 this, offered some gentle protests, but we soon got them 
 used to it. We had no twine, and used wooden pegs 
 to hold on the strings, and used ropes partly untwisted 
 to make soft surcingles of. Of course, the covers were 
 only put on when mules were tied up, which would be 
 nearly all the time during the night. 
 
 20th. Night very cold. Off at sunrise. Two miles 
 to foot of "Big Mountain,'' and one mile to top. Ten 
 mules and full crew to each wagon; snow from one to 
 two feet deep. Seven eight-mule teams belonging to 
 Russell, Majors & Waddel came up from the other side 
 with the help of ox teams; mules looking badly — scarce- 
 ly able to walk. One mile down met Hobbs & Street's 
 train — cattle dying rapidly. Two miles to East Canon, 
 and three miles down and camped. Little grass. 
 
 21st. Hereafter, for want of space I shall not men- 
 tion any outfits, unless for special reasons. Nineteen 
 miles and camped in corrals at Weber River mail sta- 
 
342 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 tion, mouth of Echo Caiion. Bought plenty of hay for 
 mules, and some to carry along, of one Briggs, the 
 station keeper (a seceded Mormon) who entertained us 
 with many stories of why his wife would not leave the 
 Mormons when he did. 
 
 22 d. Olf early. Met Branning's train in middle of 
 Echo Canon. Gilbert, wagonmaster, has lost 150 cattle 
 since leaving the States; has been reinforced by forty, 
 and eighty now await him above the mouth of canon. 
 Snowing some. Made two drives, traveled thirty-two 
 miles, and camped at sunset. 
 
 23cl. Off at sunrise. Six miles and crossed Bear 
 Eiver. Twenty-six more and camped at sunset on Mud 
 Creek, having left the old road and crossed over to the 
 new. Fine grass. Divided the clay into two drives. 
 
 24th. Off at sunrise. Fourteen miles to Bridger, 
 and although Sunday I had some mules shod. Drew 
 forage and rations for fifteen days. 
 
 25th. Finished shoeing mules and started train at 
 noon. Salt Lake mad arrived with United States Sen- 
 ator Broderick of California a passenger. Fourteen 
 miles and camped on Black^s Fork. 
 
 26th. Thirty-eight miles to camp on Black's Fork, 
 where road leaves for Green Eiver — three drives. 
 
 27th. Thirty-one miles to Sandy, and camped — 
 two drives. 
 
 28th. Off before daylight. Met fifteen six-mule 
 teams hauling Salt Lake mail, coaches and ambulances. 
 Ten miles and crossed Big Sandy, and lunched. Twelve 
 more and again turned loose. Twelve more and camped 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 343 
 
 on Pacific Creek. I must make short drives, and two 
 or three of them every day. When mules are turned 
 loose they roll, and pick whatever grass they can find. 
 Having water always in kegs for cooking, I stop when- 
 ever I find a patch of grass — water or no water — taking 
 care that the mules are watered often en route. We 
 have so many men and so few mules to care lor that 
 it makes light work. Mules thoroughly rubbed every 
 night and morning, especially their legs. 
 
 29th. Off at sunrise. One mile from camp found 
 Mr. Wilson, Attorney-Genen.l for Utah, in camp. All 
 of his transportation for himself and wife consisted of 
 one six-mule ambulance. Mrs. Wilson cooking break- 
 fast for her husband, herself and the teamster. Fifteen 
 miles farther, and turned loose an hour. Three miles 
 to Pacific Springs, five more to South Pass. Eight 
 more, and camped at dark on Sweet Water, one mile 
 above mail station. Very cold and threatens snow. 
 
 30th. Off at daylight over Semino's Cutoff. Made 
 three drives ana camped Oi. Sa,£^e Creek at 4. Very coid, 
 snow falling and indications of big storm. Arranged 
 my three wagons in half circle on north side; cleared 
 sage brush to give room for good camp, and so brush 
 could not take fire and burn wagons; tied mules inside 
 the semi-circle and fed them well on oats; stretched 
 the outside wagon cover of each wagon to keep off most 
 of the snow; built fires of big sage brush on the south 
 and kept them burning all night; guard instructed to 
 knock snow off wagon cover shelter occasionally. North 
 
344 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 wind blows fire away from camp, so that there is no 
 danger. 
 
 31st. Stopped snowing at daylight. Off at sunrise; 
 snow drifted about the w^agons and shoveling necessary 
 to get out. Five miles to Warm Springs, five more to 
 junction of Eocky Eidge road and Semino's Cutoff, 
 twelve more to the fifth crossing of Sweet Water. 
 Turned loose an hour. Three miles farther and met 
 Train No. 34. Took from it twelve sacks of oats. This 
 train left Nebraska City on the 7th of September; beats 
 any traveling that has been done on this road by ox 
 trains. While down on one knee writing receipt for 
 oats, I looked up and saw my victim of the scalp wound 
 leaning on his rifie, as I had first seen him, and look- 
 ing at me. At one side I noticed all the wagonmasters 
 watching him. I asked the man what he wanted, to 
 which he replied that he wanted me to certify to the 
 time he worked, so that he could get paid when he got 
 over into the valley. I told him that I never paid men 
 for deserting me. The wagonmaster said that he joined 
 back at the trading house where he left me, and asked 
 about him. I advised not to trust him, that he was 
 thoroughly bad. The poor fellow looked sick and moved 
 off languidly. I felt so<rry for him, and though con- 
 vinced that I was sparing the life of a viper, could not 
 find it in my heart to kill the poor wretch. "He will 
 meet you some day, and you will be sorry for sparing 
 him," was the general opinion. 
 
 November 1st. Off at sunrise. Half a mile and 
 found two mail carriers camped by the road and three 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 345 
 
 mules near by. These men lay asleep side by side, and 
 fine snow had drifted over them. I told Talmadge they 
 must be dead, and dismounting, raised the blanket from 
 the face of each before they awoke; each sat upright 
 at the same time, pistol in hand, ^'dazed but dangerous,^' 
 Talmadge said. Self-preservation, active and prompt 
 defense, was the first thing thought of. And they acted 
 in concert, as one man, even before their eyes were open. 
 With their mail sacks for pillows, these men had lain 
 down at midnight. Their poor mules were hunting sub- 
 sistence in a small willow thicket in a nearby canon. 
 The men say they had to leave the mail conveyance at 
 DevlFs Gate station 011 account of deep snow. Made 
 two drives and camped at 4 o'clock. Snow ten inches 
 deep on the level and more in drifts. Day fine but 
 very cold. Under a steep bluff fifteen feet high, which 
 broke off the keen, cold wind, snow more than a foot 
 deep was shoveled away, the tents pitched and snow 
 banked around them. Good fires, from parts of wagons 
 picked up during the day, and a warm supper maae all 
 very comfortable. The wagons placed in a half circle, 
 the snow shoveled back from them, and mules standing 
 in the circle, well fed with oats and small handful of 
 hay each, with outside wagon covers stretched, as de- 
 scribed at Sage Brush Creek, and the effect of fires, gave 
 verv good protection. There was no real suffering for 
 men or animals. A good deal of labor making this 
 camp, and some time consumed, but a good night's 
 sleep for all hands paid well for the trouble. 
 
346 FI^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 2d. Off at 8. Bright sun, and sun dogs indicate 
 cold, and though we have no thermometer, I am sure I 
 never felt a colder morning. Mail station seven miles 
 off. After riding four or five miles, Talmadge and I 
 dismounted to walk. There had been nothing over the 
 road since the snow fell except the two mail carriers 
 and their three mules. Even their tracks were drifted 
 over and we found it, as Talmadge said, "beastly exercise" 
 trying to walk, and stopped to rest. We were clothed 
 from bear-skin cap to buffalo shoes and buffalo mittens, 
 from underclothes to overcoats and leggings, with the 
 best to be had, nd did not suffer except about the nose 
 and face, which we were constantlv protecting with one 
 hand. Looking back at the wasrons and mounted wa^on- 
 masters, I knew that none were clothed as I was, and 
 I saw that Mr. Daniels was riding as he had started, 
 ahead of the first team; did not see how he could stand 
 it. When he came up I asked if he was not cold, and 
 why he did not change with some one for a while. He 
 replied that he oould not get off his saddle, and had been 
 hoping to reach the station, which was in sight. I told 
 him the station must be two miles away, and to get down. 
 He tried to, but had lost the use of his limbs, and I took 
 him down against his protest that I was hurting him. In 
 short, I caused all the mounted men to get inside of the 
 wagons and give their mules to others. Having hurried- 
 ly made arrangements, we started and made the best time 
 possible to the mail station. It was a stockade of two 
 rooms, one with a good fire and the other without a fire; 
 adjoining was a small stable for mules. Leaving the 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 347 
 
 teams standing on the .south side of the buildings, all 
 hands came into the house and examinations commenced. 
 Nine men were more or less frost-bitten, but none seri- 
 ously except Mr. Daniels. I split his boots from top to 
 toe; both heels and all of his toes were more or less froz- 
 en. During the next hour his suffering was intense. 
 Others had frosted toes, fingers or ears — some slight, 
 others ^uite severe. The men were kept from the fire, 
 and snow and cold water used at first, and then turpen- 
 tine. I had a little, but the station keeper gave me the 
 use of his big bottle so that I could save mine for future 
 use. This station keeper stayed here alone, ready to 
 feed the mail carriers and care for the mules between 
 changes. He was a young man, intelligent and resource- 
 ful — a manly man — and I am sorry that I cannot recall 
 his name. He gave all of us a good cup of coffee, and 
 having made the unfortunates as comfortable as possible, 
 we pulled out after a delay of more than two hours, dur- 
 ing which our mules had been covered. We could not 
 stay there on the bleak plain, and must hunt a sheltered 
 camp. Every day we heard of men being frozen; nearly 
 every station had one or more sufferers. I was in the 
 habit of condemning men in chairge of others for permit- 
 ting them to freeze instead of compelling them to take 
 care of themselves. I was nearly caught this time. 
 Crossed DeviFs Gate bridge; very little snow below it. 
 Fourteen miles and camped on Grease Wood. Mules 
 turned loose amongst grease wood until dark, and then 
 tied up and fed. Same arrangements as last night for 
 comfort. Camp well sheltered and fuel piled up for 
 
348 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 night. Broken-down wagon timbers plentiful. All the 
 invalids in my tent before a fine fire. All w^ere able to 
 do something for themselves. Even Daniels did not com- 
 plain ; he had the use of most of his fingers, and with his 
 superb courage and nerve made the most of it. All seem- 
 ed thankful that I happened to stop and think of them, 
 and they never seemed to forget it. Talmadge, with his 
 cheerful intelligence, was a great help; his companion- 
 ship was charming. He was as brainy as he was kind — 
 the son of the first governor of Wisconsin, and always my 
 warm friend after this trip. He died at Old Point Com- 
 fort, a captain, in 1862. 
 
 3d. Somewhat warmer. Off early; snowing a little. 
 Forty-four miles in three drives, and camped on North 
 Platte at sunset. Got supper and carefully examined all 
 the frost-bitten victims. They had been made as com- 
 fortable as possible in the wagons, had stood the ride very 
 well, and were pleased that they would so soon reach a 
 doctor. Talmadge and I left camp at 9 o'clock and rode 
 to Fort Payne, six miles, where we arrived at 10, and 
 stopped at Mr. Clark's sutler's store. It was the coldest 
 ride I ever made. Our animals were cared for, and the 
 usual reviver, hot whiskey toddies, applied to us. I had 
 not then learned that hot water was far better. Captain 
 Getty, Captain Eoberts and other officers came to the 
 sutler's store. We listened to the news from the East 
 and they from the West until midnight, and slept at the 
 sutler's, who was prepared to accommodate us. Tal- 
 madge is at home, this being the end of his journey, and 
 he will find quarters to-morrow. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 349 
 
 4th. Breakfast with. Mr. Clark. No doctor here. 
 Got some medicine from acting hospital steward. Train 
 came in at 10. Lieutenant Howard stopped here; un- 
 loaded his and Talmadge's goods. Fed all hay mules 
 wanted, and made hospital wagon of the spring wagon in 
 which Howard has ridden all the way. Drew forage to 
 last to Laramie, said "Good-by," and started at 2. Eight 
 miles and camped on North Platte. Fine day, but coiu. 
 My tent a hospital; took in all invalids wno needed doc- 
 toring from that tim^e to end of journey. 
 
 5th. Twenty-seven miles in two drives, and camped 
 on Box Alder. Invalids improving and being well waited 
 upon by comrades. 
 
 6th. Twenty-eight miles to La Bonte, and camped. 
 In this vicinity hundreds of mules froze to death a year 
 ago. 
 
 7th. Thirty miles in two drives. Killed two moun- 
 tain hens. Camped on Cottonwood. 
 
 8th. Off before daylight and arrived at Laramie at 
 11. Got mail from Mr. Fitzhugh. Train arrived at 3. 
 Took on rations and forage for twelve days. I am re- 
 ceiving congratulations from Major Babbitt and other 
 officers for my (as they call it) "wonderful trip." Crossed 
 Laramie and camped — plenty of hay. Dr. Swift ex- 
 amined frost-bitten men. I advised Daniels to go in the 
 hospital and stop here, but he strenuously objected, and 
 the doctor said that inasmuch as he has no duties to per- 
 form and had good care, he would be as well off traveling, 
 perhaps better. 1 
 
 9ih. Changed four mules, said "Good by," and 
 
350 ^^^^ I'EARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 started at 2. Fourteen miles and camped on North Platte. 
 
 12th. Camped at junction of Lawrence Fork and 
 North Platte. 
 
 13th. Off at 4 O'^clock. 01 course the mules must 
 be tied to wagons at night, and towards morning they get 
 chilled badly and suffer. I am traveling to make time 
 and keep up the strength of teams as much as possible. 
 Men can find plenty of time to rest; there are so many of 
 as that it is no trouble to hitch and unhitch often. Thir- 
 ty miles in two drives, and camped on North Platte. 
 
 14th. Off at 4. Twenty-eight miles, and crossed 
 South Platte; river low but good deal of ice. Three 
 miles more and camped. 
 
 15th. Off at sunrise. Thirty miles in two drives 
 and camped. Killed prairie chicken. 
 
 16th. Off at 4. Thirty-five miles in three drives 
 and camped on Platte. Killed one pheasant. 
 
 17th. Off at 4. Two drives and camped on Platte. 
 
 18th. Off at 6. Thirty-five miles and camped nine 
 miles below mouth of Plum Creek. 
 
 19th. Twenty-two miles and camped at Fort Kear- 
 ney. Drew rations for my party to last to Leavenworth. 
 Drew forage for seven days and took an order for more 
 at Big Blue. Changed three mules, and got three shod, 
 and made ready to move in the morning. Daniels and 
 two others had their sores dressed at hospital. Dr. Sum- 
 mers kind as usual. He informed me that all the men I 
 left sick recovered and returned to Leavenworth. 
 
 20th. Off at 4. Three drives and camped on Thir- 
 ty-two Mile Creek. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 35^ 
 
 21st. Made two drives and camped on Little Blue. 
 
 22d. Twenty-eight miles in two drives and camped 
 on Little Blue. 
 
 23d. Off at 5. Thirty-two miles in two drives to 
 camp on Oak Creek. 
 
 24th. Off at 4. Thirty-four miles to Marysville 
 and camped on east side. A party of artillery officers 
 from Laramie, Captain Brown^ Lieutenants Mendenhall^ 
 Lee, Soloman and Abert, en route to Leavenworth, camp- 
 ed here. Left Laramie two days ahead of me. Philip 
 Sawyer and E. L. Quintin, left sick here last August in 
 care of Dr. Miller, died. Promised to loan Lieutenant 
 M'endenhall one of the wagonmaster's mules to ride with 
 me, and we will try to ride to Fort Leavenworth in two 
 days, 150 miles. 
 
 25th. At 4 o'clock sent riding mule to Mendenhall, 
 who breakfasted with me, and we were off at 5. Wagon- 
 masters and teamsters will follow and be at the fort in 
 five or six days. Gave Wagonmaster Wilson money to 
 buy hay, and with plenty of corn, they do not have to 
 hurry. We have passed all danger of freezing up for 
 want of forage. Roads freezing and thawing and will be 
 bad.) Mendenhall and I made sever(ty-five miles the 
 first day, but it was terrible on him; not being used to 
 riding, he became blistered and sore. A tub of hot water 
 helped him some. I offered to wait until my wagons 
 came up, and let him ride in the spring wagon, but he de- 
 clared he could ride and would keep up with me. 
 
 26th. Eain and sleet fell all da}^, and it was dark 
 when we reached Mount Pleasant, fifteen miles from the 
 
 23- 
 
352 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 fort. And we stopped at the little hotel. MendenhaH's 
 principal stock in trade was sores and pluck — plenty of 
 both. We made arrangements to have our mules ready 
 by 5 in the morning, so we could ride to the fort for 
 breakfast, which we did, arriving at 8 o'clock. Menden- 
 hall stopped with Foraigemaster Mix, and I with my 
 friend Levi Wilson. Mendenhall married Miss Sophie 
 Mix that evening, in the privacy of the family, and I re- 
 ceived announcement card the next day. My reception 
 with all the quartermaster's department, from old Colonel 
 Tompkins, deputy quartermaster general down, was ex- 
 tremely pleasant; but relieved from care I began to real- 
 ize what a strain I had been under for four months. I 
 had made the round trip of 2800 miles in 117 days. Four- 
 teen hundred miles going out in seventy days, equal to 
 twenty miles per day with loaded teams ; six days at Camp 
 Floyd, and returned 1400 miles in forty-two days, equal 
 to thirty-three and one-third miles per day — all the way 
 from Camp Floyd through winter weather. 
 
 My egotism prompts me to make the claim that for 
 distance traveled, loads hauled, scarcity of feed, inclem- 
 ency of weather, time consumed in traveling, number of 
 wagons and mules employed, smallness of losses, to say 
 nothing of suffering and sickness among men, this trip 
 has no parallel in the history of the plains. That was 
 conceded at the time by my friends; and old Mr. Majors 
 at one time, and William H. Russell at another, declared 
 to me that "'twas a most .wonderful trip;" and two years 
 later when I was freighting for myself, Mr. Waddel said 
 to me: "If you manage for yourself as well as you did 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 353 
 
 for Uncle Sam, you will be a great success/' And I 
 want to say that in all of my experience, with the excep- 
 tions mentioned, I never saw as little friction among men 
 as there was in those constantly hard worked, over- 
 worked trains. I doubt if such men could be mustered 
 and held together to-day. 
 
PART IX. 
 
 HAVING- passed the winter as usual, looking after 
 tlie Government herds in Platte County, Mo., I 
 took my place under Mr. Wilson in charge of 
 transportation at Fort Leavenworth, but there was little 
 to do — no Indian excitement, no niiovement of troops, 
 and compared to previous years, there was much leisure. 
 I became restless and conceived an ambition to do some- 
 thing for myself, and the sooner I severed my connection 
 with the Army and ceased to depend upon it, the better. 
 
 I was past thirty years old and the last nine and 
 a half years of my life had been wholly devoted to the 
 Army in some capacitv, and I realized liow hard it 
 would be for me to form business habits necessary to 
 success in civil life. 
 
 I made the acquaintance in Leavenworth of George 
 W. Clayton, a young Philadelphian, who was in the 
 mercantile line, and he proposed to form a co-partner- 
 ship with me and "Jerry" Kershow, another young 
 Philadelphian, who was doing a brokerage business, to 
 make the firm Clayton, Lowe & Company, with a capital 
 of $10,000, each one furnishing one-third of the capital. 
 I to put my third in transportation, Clayton his third 
 in goods, suitable to the mining trade in Denver, and 
 Kershow his third in money. This co-partnership we 
 entered into. I fitted out a nice train of six four-mule 
 
 354 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 355 
 
 teams, loaded the goods that Clayton furnished with 
 his and Kershow's money, and on the 2d of July, 1859, 
 left Leavenworth for Denver. Clayton went out on the 
 Overland (Pike's Peak) Coach and when I arrived there 
 the Ist of August, found him in a rented store room 
 built of logs and adobe, by Morton Fisher, on Blake 
 Street, east of 15th— then called "¥.'' 
 
 All the way out I had met swarms of "pilgrims" 
 returning to the Missouri Eiver in every stage of want 
 and wretchedness, firm in the belief that there was no 
 gold in the mountains — that it was all a myth. 
 
 During the spring these people rushed out on to the 
 plains, with no assurance of the future, some with good 
 teams and outfits, some with patched-up concerns, of 
 little value, some with pack mules, ponies or horses, some 
 with hand carts, some with wheelbarrows, and hundreds 
 with all their possessions on their backs, to travel 700 
 miles to the mountains. Most of the latter class, who 
 did not die of starvation and exposure, returned and 
 were the first that we met. A few wheelbarrows and 
 hand-carts did get through — twenty years later, a 
 friend up in Central Park pointed with pride to his 
 wheelbarrow, but I may safely say that nine-tentlis of 
 all who started to the Pike's Peak Eldorado returned 
 emptv-haiided, and in more or less distress. 
 
 In Denver we found several adobe stores full of 
 miners' goods and tools, and one train load was hesitat- 
 ing whether or not to return the goods from whence 
 they came. Clayton had been advised not to unload — 
 it was no use — there was no money to buy them, they 
 
356 FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 said. I dumped the goods . into the store, sent the 
 train to camp, monnted a mule and rode to the ^^dig- 
 gins'^ — Gregory, Nevada Gulch, Central City, etc. I 
 spent two days informing myself. The prospect was 
 not good but there was more or less gold, and some men 
 much encouraged. On the morning of my third day at 
 the mines great excitement was caused by the report 
 that rich diggings had been discovered at "Tarry All" 
 and "California Gulch." The report was undoubtedly 
 true, for men who brought the news had returned to 
 Gregory for tools and partners. I put my mule through 
 forty miles to Denver by dark and found Clayton and 
 a friend, Dan Smith, and a hired man opening goods 
 wdiich were in demand; all night we worked, and for a 
 month worked early and late selling goods. Denver, 
 w^ith its periodical ups and downs, continued to prosper. 
 In the meantime I set the train crew to putting up hay, 
 which paid very well. Clayton took the coach for the 
 the East to buy goods; I sent the train to Leavenworth 
 to haul them out, attended to the Denver business and 
 built the first frame store in Denver at the corner of 
 Fifteenth and Larimer streets. I bought the two lots 
 from General Wm. H. H. Larimer, his homestead and 
 cabin, for $400. 
 
 After seeing the train started from Leavenworth, 
 Clayton returned on the coach and was much "pleased 
 with the new store which I had moved into. Our goods 
 arrived in good shape and sold well. 
 
 I sold the train to J. W. Iliff, and in January, Clay- 
 ton and I went east by stage, leaving the store with Mr. 
 
FiYE YEARS A DRAaOON. 357 
 
 Ivershow. Clayton bought goods and I fitted out five 
 ox-teams and six mule-teams; both trains leaving Atch- 
 ison the middle of March. William M. Clayton, brother 
 of George W., accompanied me with the mule train, with 
 which we went through in twenty-four days, while the 
 ox-train was forty-eight days en route. The goods were 
 in demand and sold rapidly. We had them on the mar- 
 ket ahead of any others for that spring. 
 
 I sold the trains and "Wash^^ and I left the rem- 
 nant of goods with William M. Clayton and went east 
 — ^he to buy more goods, aaid I to fit out transportation. 
 
 Clayton bought a large stock of goods, which I 
 loaded as they arrived at Leavenworth and started them 
 out in three small trains — thirty-six ox-teams in all, five 
 yoke to each team, following myself with a young lawyer 
 from Atchison named E. P. Lewis, with a pair of mules 
 to my Concord buggy, our blankets strapped on behind 
 and well armed; we carried a lunch and coffee pot, but 
 took meals with a train whenever convenient, as we 
 overtook them. Twenty-two days from Leavenworth to 
 Denver and "lept in the open on our blankets behind 
 the buggy every night — rain the day before we left 
 Leavenworth and day after we arrived in Denver, but 
 no rain between. 
 
 I became very much attached to Lewis — he was 
 bright, genial, companionable and kind. After a year 
 or two in Denver he went to Montana, and after a brief 
 stiuggie with adversity, committed suicide by shooting. 
 That such a lovable man could have come to such an 
 end was shocking. 
 
3o8 ^I^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 An incident of this trip should be related a.s proof 
 that man's humanity to man will sometimes return to 
 bother him. One night Lewis and I drove late, expect- 
 ing to overtake one of the trains, but failing, camped 
 by the roadside, picketed the mules and slept until sun- 
 rise, when we found ourselves a few miles west of Cot- 
 tonwood Springs and half a mile north of "Jack" Mor- 
 row's ranch. Changing the picket pins to give the mules 
 fresh grass, taking a good look up and down the road 
 and seeing no one in sight, we walked up to the ranch 
 to get breakfast. Morrow, the whole-souled, good fellow, 
 greeted us cheerfully and ordered breakfast. Furnish- 
 ing meals was a part of his business and he had a good 
 "'prairie" cook. I stood talking with him about his new 
 stockade corral across the road, when the gate opened 
 and a man came towards us. I quickly slipped my pistol 
 to the front, cocked and kept my hand on it. The man 
 stopped, stared at me, and then passed on through a 
 door and out of sight. Morrow noticed the movements 
 of both, reached under the counter for his pistol and 
 asked me for rm explanation. I told the man's name, 
 why I knocked him in the head, etc. He was wearing 
 the same pistol, but with a clean hickory shirt, looked 
 much better than when with me. He was traveling 
 under a different name. This was my third chance to 
 have justified myself in killing him, but he made no 
 move towards his pistol — wouldn't have had any show 
 if he did — ^and I could not commit murder. Morrow 
 said that he had a terrible scalp wound that did not 
 seem to be entirely well, though it was made nearly two 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 359 
 
 years before. He wanted to work and was hired the day 
 before. I never saw him again. He was supposed to 
 ha,ve gone with a team for timber in the cedar bhiffs 
 near bv. The reader will recognize this as the man 
 who attacked me on Sweet Water in 1858. Having fin- 
 ished our breakfast, Lewis and I returned to the buggy 
 and drove on. 
 
 In December, I860, Clayton & Lowe dissolved part- 
 nership, Lowe selling his interest to the Claytons, tak- 
 ing in part payment a ranch and company cattle on Box 
 Elder, twenty-eight miles east of Denver. We parted 
 as we had always lived, the best of friends — a friendship 
 that was never broken. 
 
 My object in leaving the firm was to go into freight- 
 ing on my own account, and so I severed my business 
 connection with clear-headed, generous George W. and 
 Wm. M. Clayton, both of whom accumulated great 
 wealth, left an untarnished name, and died all too soon, 
 universally respected in business and social circles. 
 
 Eeturning to Leavenworth by coach in January, 
 1861, six passengers were eight days and nights en route 
 on account of deep snow from Fort Kearney east. Thir- 
 ty miles east of Kearney, we were most of one night 
 lost in snowdrifts. I got out and hunted the road for 
 hours, and finally found the stage station at Thirty-two- 
 mile Creek. It was the hardest night I ever experienced. 
 "Jo" Chaffe, afterwards United States senator, was a 
 passenger. I found a herd of mules in the hands of 
 the trustees of the bankrupt firm of Eussell, Majors & 
 Waddell, the great Government transporters, and bought 
 
360 FI^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 them — $10,000 wortli on six months' time without in- 
 terest. I bought wagons, harness and other outfit, let 
 it be known that I would start the middle ot March with 
 fast freight, and merchants furnished all the loading 
 that I wanted, at from 12 to 15 cents a pound to Denver. 
 1 may truthfully say that my reputation as a successful 
 freighter brought me the business. I left Leavenworth 
 on St. Patrick's day, 1861, and went through to Denver 
 in twenty-four days, with thirteen eight-mule teams, and 
 cleared $5,000 in gold. 
 
 I found that the Arapahoe Indians had raided the 
 ranches along Box Elder, mine amongst them, burned 
 my house, and killed a family on the adjoining ranch. 
 The man in charge of my cattle, Wm. Riecke, heard of 
 their coming and ran the cattle to Denver, and when I 
 came in I found them near Golden City, safe. The 
 Indians had left the country and the cattle were driven 
 back and the house rebuilt. 
 
 Mr. Hugh Kirkendall was my wagonmaster and a 
 good one, and I sent him to Leavenworth with the train 
 loaded with dry hides, which occupied him thirty days, 
 while I returned on the coach in six days. 
 
 And now the great Civil W^r was on and all along 
 the border the animosities that had slumbered since 
 '56 were again in full force — the line was sharply drawn 
 between Union and Confederate. In Kansas it was all 
 Union; in Missouri, very much mixed, and the peace 
 and friendship of neighborhoods threatened. My "best 
 girF' lived on the line of Platte and Clay counties, and 
 I persuaded myself and the girl, and her parents too. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 361 
 
 that it was best to get her away from such surround- 
 ingSj and I urged the corLsummation of what we hoped 
 might be brought about in the near future, so that on 
 the 4th of June, 1861, I married Miss Margaret E. 
 Gartin, a daughter of Andrew Gartin, Esq., of Clay 
 County, one of the leading men of upper Missouri, and 
 one of the best families in the State. I fitted up a 
 Dougherty ambulanche, got a good campaign cook, and 
 every convenience for the trip. The train came in and 
 I had plenty of loading at 10 cents a, pound, which, when 
 grass alone was required for forage, was equal to 12 
 cents in March, when corn must be fed. The trip to 
 Denver was uneventful. I had prepared a nice home 
 in Denver and we moved into our own house. Besides 
 extraordinary expenses, this trip cleared me $3,000. 
 
 On the Box Elder Ranch I intended to winter the 
 mules after making another trip, and my brother, P. C. 
 S. Lowe, in charge of it, put up plenty of hay for that 
 purpose. The train was standing on "F" Street, ready 
 to pull out for the States, when Governor Gilpin offered 
 me, through my friend G. W. Clayton, the lieutenant- 
 colonelcy of the 2d Colorado. Thanking him, I ex- 
 plained that I had just started in a money-making bus- 
 iness a.nd could not afford to abandon it for the sake 
 of showing myself in glittering uniform for a few days 
 — that I did not think the war would last long, etc. He 
 disagreed with me, and his words then spoken wert 
 prophetic, showing an amount of forethought and wis- 
 dom that has ever since commanded my admiration. I 
 never met a clearer-headed man. The train returned to 
 
362 FI^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Leavenworth under Kirkendall, and I returned by coach 
 in time to meet it. For safety I camped on the mili- 
 tary reservation for a couple of weeks. Organized gangs 
 of horse and mule thieves overran the country — nine 
 fine horses were taken from stables in Leavenworth one 
 morning. Under the name of scouts they committed 
 all manner of crimes. My friends advised me that things 
 would settle down and become safer soon, but the sea- 
 son was getting late a.nd merchants did not like to trust 
 goods with mule teams liable to be run off at any time 
 — ox teams were safer. A friend of mine, "Cliff" Barnes, 
 of Independence, Missouri, had twelve six-mule teams 
 run off. With the United States Marshal he overtook 
 them below Lawrence, but it cost him half their value 
 to get them back. 
 
 I had married into a slave-holding family, and that 
 alone was an excuse for so-called "scouts" and "red legs" 
 to raid my train if they dared. For a week I stayed all 
 night with my train, with the wagonmaster and others, 
 expecting a raid, which did not come. Every morning 
 I returned to the Planters' House and slept and in the 
 evening rode back to the train. One morning I met on 
 the Planters' House steps a man who came to me in 
 1855 at Fort Eiley. He was then a mere youth. He 
 had traveled with me from Utah in 1858. I had heard 
 that he belonged to an organized gang of marauders, 
 and determined to sound him I invited him to break- 
 fast, and after breakfast to my room, where we spent 
 two hours. He was a smart young fellow, capable of 
 much good or bad and gave to me a list of thirty-two 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 353 
 
 of the gang lie was associating with, claiming that they 
 were honest patriotic scouts and assured me that none 
 of them would bother my train. This man did no more 
 work with his party after our meeting, but most of the 
 party turned out to be the most consummate robbers 
 on the border. My friend soon went east and occupied 
 a lucrative position in and about Washington in trans- 
 portation during the war. 
 
 One day a gentleman whom I had never before met 
 called on me. He was a militia officer, and after in- 
 troducing himself stated that he had been instructed by 
 the "Committee of Safety" to inform me that I must 
 not move my train over into Missouri. Of course I was 
 surprised and demanded by what course of reasoning 
 he or the committee supposed I would do so. He was 
 a thorough gentleman and much embarrassed at the 
 position in which he found himself. I assured him that 
 I did not blame him for delivering the message, but 
 wished him to tell the meddlesome committee of safety 
 that I would move my train when and where I pleased, 
 and that if I ever saw either of those I happened to 
 know about mv train I would have them shot like com- 
 mon horse thieves, and wound up by saying that if he 
 could think of anything else mean enough he might add 
 it to what I had said. This gentleman and I became 
 very warm friends, a friendship that lasted until he died 
 thirty-seven years later. 
 
 Major Easton, Quartermaster at Fort Leavenworth, 
 advised me to sell my mules to the Government and 
 return to Government employment again, until it was 
 
364 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 safer to do business, and I sold to him, paid all my debts, 
 and returned by coach to Denver, sold my ranch and 
 hay on Box Elder to the late John K. Faulkner, sold 
 the cattle and mules left there, disposed of household 
 effects, rented my house and with my wife and brother, 
 returned to Leavenworth. I owned a good house there, 
 into which we moved and had a happy home. 
 
 Again the transportation business at Fort Leaven- 
 worth was immense, and General East on asked me to 
 take hold and help, which I did, fitting out trains, etc. 
 I left $15,000 in gold in quartermaster's vaults at Fort 
 Leavenworth for a year and a half, for safety, until I 
 could see my w'ay clear to use it in business again. 
 
 In July, 1862, came an order for 600 horses and 
 120 six-mule wagons to be sent to Fort Union, New 
 Mexico, and as I could leave my wife with a part of her 
 family for company, I took charge of this big outfit. 
 
 As soon as a train of teams was ready it moved to 
 Fort Riley, a hundred and thirty miles, witli orders for 
 the wagonmiaster to report his train to Captain Scott, act- 
 ing quartermaster, for assignment to camp in that vicin- 
 ity. As soon as a string of horses was ready it moved to 
 Riley, the man in charge also to report to Captain Scott 
 for assignment to camp. Five trains of wagons^ — a hun- 
 dred ana four four-mule and sixteen six-mule — one hun- 
 dred and twenty teams, and a traveling forge hauled by 
 eight mules, and eighteen strings of horses (six hundred 
 and fourteen), including some riding horses, comprised 
 the outfit. When all were gone, I drove in my four-mule 
 government ambulance to Fort Riley in two days. Pat 
 
Ul 
 
 
 k! 
 XJl 
 
 O 
 
 I— I 
 
 02 
 
 j(i*jl 
 
 1^ 
 
 ^^. 
 
366 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Devine, who had been my driver to Denver the previous 
 year, drove for me now, and fed me as well as circum- 
 stances would permit. If I lacked anything, it was not 
 his fault. I slept in the ambulance every night from 
 start to finish of the trip, except two nights that Captain 
 Scott cared for me at Riley, one night that Colonel Leav- 
 enworth cared for me at Fort Lyon and six nights that 
 my friend Captain William Van Vliet cared for me at 
 Fort Union. 
 
 At Riley Captain Scott furnished me all the corn I 
 cared to take. 
 
 The object in sending four-mule teams was to get as 
 many wagons to New Mexico as possible with fewest 
 mules; mules could be boug'ht there but wagons could not. 
 A big six-mule wagon is hard on four mules — jerks the 
 leaders painfully and gives them sore shoulders. Six 
 mules can haul 2,500 pounds with less injury to them 
 than four mules can haul the empty wagon, hence as a 
 supply train for the horses the four-mule teams did not 
 amount to much. This I did not realize for some days, 
 as I had never before tried four mules on a big wagon. 
 We loaded about 2,500 to each six-mule team, 1,200 to 
 each four-mule team, and two sacks of 112 pounds each 
 to each horse-string, and the rule was to keep two whole 
 sacks of corn in each horse-string wagon in case of any 
 accident that might separate it for a night from the sup- 
 ply train. 
 
 There was in my instructions no limit to the time I 
 should take to reach Union or to make the round trip, 
 but the general understanding was that as the season was 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 357 
 
 getting Late, the sooner the horses could be rlelivered, 
 without too much strain, the better for them. They were 
 not expected to gain flesh on the trip, and were always 
 liable to accidents. Horses naturally travel more freely 
 than mules, and hence the day's travel must, as a rule, 
 be measured by the distance that the mules were able to 
 make without injury to them. 
 
 I may here describe a horse-string and manner of 
 managing it. A three-inch thimble skein wagon was 
 what we used, with double covers and wheel harness for 
 pair of horses. An inch and one-half or two-inch rope 
 is put through the iron at the end of the tongue and 
 spliced. At the other end the rope is put through an 
 iron ring and spliced. Aboiit eight feet apart from 
 tongue to iron ring, strong rings were seized onto the 
 rope. In motion a pair of horses are hitched to the wag- 
 on, with which and the brake the driver manages it. At 
 the end of the rope, another pair of horses are hitched to 
 keep it straight. A man rides the near horse to manage 
 the pair. Another pair of horses in the middle of the 
 string, each wearing a collar, hames and back-strap with 
 a chain hitched to the inside ring of each hame crossing 
 under the rope to hold it up. A man rides the near horse 
 of this pair to keep them steady. On either side of the 
 rope a horse is tied to lead. Complete, the string may 
 be made of any number of horses, according to its length ; 
 in my case, there were about thirty-two on a string, in- 
 cluding wheelers and leaders. The foreman and another 
 rode horses, one on each side of the string, to be ready to 
 dismount and assist in case of trouble. Horses were li- 
 
 24— 
 
368 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 able to get badly hurt by getting a leg over the rope, and 
 often the string must stop to shorten up if the horses 
 Avere tied too long; so that a string crew consisted of 
 foreman^ cook, driver, lead-rider, swing-rider, and out- 
 rider — six men in all. The cook slept in the wagon dur- 
 ing the day and must see that the other men's attention 
 was not diverted from the horses to get something to eat. 
 Each string crew had its tent, mess-kit and rations, five 
 water-buckets and ten-gallon water-keg which must be 
 kept full, a big maul, and wooden picket-pins with iron 
 rings around the top. Having arrived in camp, the tirst 
 thing to do was to picket the wagon-wheels, so that they 
 could not be moved, then the cross-jacks, about thirty 
 feet apart, made of one and one-half by three-inch hard- 
 wood seven feet long, crossed and bolted together about 
 one foot from the end. These were opened and set under 
 the rope, as shown in the cut, raising it about four feet 
 from the ground. In these the rope rests from the end 
 of the tongue to the end of the rope, which is kept straight 
 by another rope which extends from the end about ten 
 feet farther, and is fastened by an iron-bound wooden 
 picket-pin driven deep into the ground. To the picket 
 line the horses stand tied as -they traveled, the halter 
 straps being tied long enough to reach the ground to eat 
 hay or corn comfortably. 
 
 Always in camp the horses must be untied and led to 
 water, unless the watering nlace is bad, in which case they 
 must be watered from buckets. During the day they 
 must be watered from buckets, if convenient; but if one 
 trusts to men to water from buckets always some horses 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 369 
 
 will suffer many times — partly the man's f anlt and 
 partly because the horse never drinks as well from the 
 bucket as when free to plunge his nose into the stream 
 in his owii< way. 
 
 Each horse - string wagon carried two scythes, a 
 scythe handle and stone, and we had a grindstone in 
 one of the trains. Grass in abundance was cut and put 
 along under the picket rope so that every horse could 
 have plenty. Great industry would be necessary to take 
 these horses 752 miles across the plains in good shape, 
 and we started with this understanding and kept it con- 
 stantly in view. 
 
 The mule trains left Eiley the 10th of September, 
 1862, each traveling independently, with int;truction to 
 camp on the Smoky Hill Eiver at Salina, then a mere 
 stage station, until I came up. There was a plain road, 
 but little traveled, and this the first Government train 
 of any importance to pass over it. The Kansas Stage 
 Company ran their stages over it to Fort Lamed, under 
 the superintendence of my old friend L. G. Terry. The 
 next day the horse-strings crossed Chapman's Creek, 
 where I left them the morning of the 12th and overtook 
 the trains at Salina that evening — thirty-nine miles in 
 three drives. During the afternoon of that day I was 
 asleep in the ambulance when Pat woke me and said 
 there were two horsemen ahead going the same way 
 that we were. I looked out, and as we drew near found 
 them to be in soldier's uniform. A horse had been stolen 
 from my back yard two days before I left Leavenworth, 
 and one of these horses looked like mine. I told Pat 
 
t/ac/f '.fXJX TIj' 
 
 \ 
 
 K. 
 
 
 CDOO DODD 
 
 la Q D 
 
 O LJ DO 
 
 •C3 Q 
 
 -a o 
 
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 AMBuL/i/yCC 
 
 tin a 
 
 /■'OHGE 
 
 o Cl>- 
 
 ■3 Q- 
 
 
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 jy» Howm. 
 
FIYE TEARS A DRAGOON. 371 
 
 to keep straight on by them until I told him to stop. 
 When 300 yards ahead I got out and .stood in the road 
 with double-barrelled shotgun. When within a few steps 
 I told them to halt and asked if they had any arms, to 
 which they replied in the negative, and seemed extreme- 
 ly surprised at my action. They were mere boys and 
 this their first taste of war, as they told me later. 1 
 asked where they were from and where going. They 
 were from Leavenworth and were going to Larned to 
 join their regiment, the Ninth Kansas Cavalry. . In short, 
 they enlisted under a rule to furnish their own horses, 
 for which they were to be paid. I told one of them he 
 was riding my horse, to which he replied that he had 
 bought him in Leavenworth. I told him to raise the 
 mane from the right side of his neck and if he did not 
 find the letter "L" branded thereon, he could keep the 
 horse and I would give him his value in money. He 
 immediately said the brand was there, but he did not 
 steal the horse, and I believed him, and invited both to 
 camp with me at Salina and we would talk it over, which 
 they did, and agreed to see me when I came into Larned 
 if I would allow him to keep the horse until that time; 
 to take him now would leave him afoot and he would 
 be over the time allowed to report to his commanding 
 officer. I was sure that the youth was honest and that 
 he had bought the horse of one of the numerous horse 
 thieves, or "red-legs" who shouted liberty and union 
 while they robbed the people right and left. 
 
 I found the train all right at Salina. The next day 
 
372 
 
 FIVE YEARS* A DRAGOON. 
 
 we would lie by until the horse-strings came up arul 
 from that time on traveled together. 
 
 General Langdon C. Easton.* 
 
 About midnight a fearful storm of thunder, light- 
 ning, rain and hail came up suddenly. I never saw a 
 
 *Major Easton graduated at the Military Academy in 
 1838. Hi- served in the Sixth Infantry until 1847, when he was 
 made a captain in the Quartermaster's Department. He re- 
 mained in the department until retired, Jan. 24, 1881. He was 
 brevetted lieutenant colonel, colonel, and brig-adier general 
 for distinguished and imporant service in the Atlanta cam- 
 paign, and major general for meritorious service during the 
 war. Died April 29, 1884. 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 373 
 
 worse storm. All the wagonmasters knew that in any 
 extreme case of that kind my rule was for every man 
 to get out, pull the picket-pins and tie mules to wagons. 
 I found everyone doing his best except in one train, 
 and the assistant wagonmaster and half of the men 
 were out, and all of the mules made safe. At Eiley 
 this train had lost four mules, undoubtedly by neglect, 
 and I made up my mind to dispense with the services 
 of this wagonmaster. Morning came, and men were 
 hurrying fires to dry themselves, the mules were all 
 safe and being picketed out, when I saw the derelict 
 wagonmaster crawling out of a wagon dry and comfort- 
 able. I had some whiskey of my own, got it out, and 
 with a little gill cup gave to every man who wanted it 
 a "nip.^' All of the old timers took it. The dry wagon- 
 master came to explain to me how he got all of his 
 mules tied up before the hea,viest hail came, etc. I cut 
 him off with the assurance that I knew that he was ly- 
 ing, and he could not have any whiskey; he might take 
 his mule and go back to Leavenworth and lie to the 
 man who hired him, but if he took the mule he must 
 take his "time" from me, in which I would state that 
 he was discharged for gross neglect of duty and general 
 worthlessness. He took it, and I wrote to Major Easton, 
 quartermaster at Fort Leavenworth, a copy of his dis- 
 charge. Henry Farmer came to me in 1855, and had 
 been with me most of the time since. He was now in 
 charge of a horse string at $45 per month, and I made 
 him wagonmaster at $65. I did not have to lose any 
 sleep for fear he would not do his duty. My wagon- 
 
374 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 masters were now John Wilson, who was with me in 
 1858 in Utah, Eeed, Underwood, Farmer and Shehan. 
 
 The horse strings came np all right; they escaped 
 most of the heavy storm and had no hail. 
 
 There was a family in Salina., and the nice woman 
 had a few days before received a dozen chickt.ns, brought 
 on behind the stage-coach from near Silver Lake. Early 
 she was out looking for them; the rooster failed to crow, 
 and there were no hens hunting crumbs at her door. Of 
 course she was sad. I sent Pat to her house for milk 
 and eggs and he found her crying. She told him of her 
 loss, sent me two eggs, all she had, and a quart of milk. 
 I was mad. For a family out here in the wilderness to 
 be robbed of precious hens was too much, but I said 
 nothing. Strolling about from train to train, I was look- 
 ing for evidence of chicken thieves. In Eeed^s train 
 they had tried to burn the feathers, but failed; there 
 they were, half consumed in the ashes. I lifted the lid 
 from a big bake oven containing three chickens. Reed 
 was with me and much embarrassed. I told him that 
 I would not look any further, he could do the hunting; 
 and the first thing thing to hunt was a dollar apiece 
 for twelve chickens, and not a cent less, which must be 
 given to that woman, and if a cent's worth of anything 
 was stolen from any one I would break up the whole 
 outfit but that it should be righted. We had come from 
 the border where thieves were stealing and robbing in 
 the name of patriotism and liberty, but srch things 
 should not follow my trail. I would not have it said, 
 as was often said of commands passing through the 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 375 
 
 country, that they stole everything they could carry 
 away. Reed was a fine man, did not know of the steal- 
 ing until it was done, and like many other good men 
 at the head of a troop or company, did not realize that 
 he should teach ''the boys'^ to protect people's property 
 and not to steal it. The woman got her money and 
 every man of my party a lesson. 
 
 The 14th was lovely and we moved ten miles to 
 "Spring Creek.'' This was the first camp where we had 
 all been together, and I made it as I intended making 
 it when campmg on a stream where there was room. 
 Spring Creek runs from west to east. The first horse 
 string crossed the creek, turned east and stopped; the 
 next string passed beyond and turned the same way, plac- 
 ing wagon and horse string about twenty-four feet be- 
 yond the first; third, fourth and fifth go the same dis- 
 tance beyond and face the same way — that is, five wag- 
 ons in line facing the same way, the same distance apart. 
 The sixth string goes past the rear end of the first five 
 far enough to be out of the way of the last one and 
 stops, fronting noTth; the next string obliques enough 
 to place the wagon twenty-four feet beyond, west of the 
 last one, and so on until eight wagons and horse strings 
 front north. Then the fourteenth string passes west 
 far enough advanced to be out of the way of the thir- 
 teenth, the other following in like order until the camp 
 stands thus: Five wagons fronting east, eight north 
 and five west, all horse strings fronting out, rear end 
 of wagons forming three sides of a square and river 
 the fourth side. Inside of this square my ambulance 
 
376 FI^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 and traveling forge, and room to hobble or picket a few 
 horses that had met with some accident or need extra 
 care, or horses or mules waiting their turn to be shod. 
 Always more or less horses were under special treatment, 
 and this inside space was referred to as "the hospital." 
 And now I made my big round corral two hundred yards 
 in front of the long side of the horse camp. The camp 
 is shown by the accompanying cut. The horse string 
 tents are shown behind the wagons. The wagonmaster's 
 tents were near the corral. And now the mules are 
 turned .out with lariats on without picket-pins. All 
 wagonmasters and twenty men besides myself mounted — 
 the mules driven away ^rom the horse strings, for they 
 were sure to stampede the first time they were turned 
 loose. After circling around for a while, all settled down 
 to grazing and there was no more trouble. A man led 
 a gentle white horse with big bell on his neck, and the 
 mules learned to follow him to the corral. After tw^o 
 or three days the lariats were stored away in the wagons 
 and not used any more. In the middle of the afternoon 
 a large herd of buffalo came in sight, evidently going 
 for water to Spring Creek, moving straight for our camp. 
 They were moving toward the sun which blinded them 
 so that they could not see the wagons until near to them. 
 The mules were corralled quickly and the gap closed, 
 guns were gotten out and a long skirmish line thrown 
 out between the buffalo and the camp. After a good 
 deal of shooting the buffalo sheered off and crossed the 
 creek a mile west of the horses and continued their 
 course until out of sight. Several buffalo were killed 
 
FIVE YEAR^ A DRAGOON. 377 
 
 and many wounded. It was quite an exciting battle, 
 but if not turned they would have been in our horse 
 camp before they knew it, and the ruin would have 
 been great. 
 
 And here the rules foT the future were laid down: 
 The mules would be herded, a wagonmaster or his as- 
 sista.nt always on herd with ten teamsters, who stayed 
 on nntil midnight and were then relieved and the mules 
 corralled at early dawn, and any time in the night that 
 there seemed to be danger; we must not be caught out 
 in a bad storm; in fact, with the gray horse and the 
 bell, they were very little trouble. All hands were roused 
 at eicirly dawn and the mules fed two quarts of com each 
 — no corn for the mules at night — the grass was good 
 enough. The horses were fed two quarts of corn at 
 night and green grass piled up under their picket lines; 
 in the morning they were fed two quarts of corn each 
 and groomed. Breakfast over they were watered, prep- 
 aration was made for starting, and at 7:00 o'clock we 
 rolled ont, the horse strings in front, the first string to- 
 day the rear string to-morrow, and so on to the end; 
 the trains moved in the same order following the horses. 
 The horse strings naturally traveled a little faster than 
 the mule teams, but where there was no danger of In- 
 dians it made little difference if the trains were a little 
 behind. If anything caused a horse string to stop, the 
 others passed on and the delayed one fell in behind; 
 the same M'ay if a team would stop for any purpose. All 
 found their proper place in camp and there was no con- 
 fusion. And here I made a rule that about two miles 
 
378 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 out of oamp horse strings wonld pull out of the hard 
 road on to the prrass and stop ten minutes^ while the men 
 readjusted anything out of place or attended to their 
 own necessities. While waiting this ten minutes, three 
 horses out of four would urinate. The mule teams must 
 do the same way, with like results. The amount of suf- 
 fering for men and animals therehy avoided cannot be 
 estimated. 
 
 On the 15th we moved twelve miles and again 
 camped on Spring Creek, the same as yesterday. Only 
 two or three buffaloes seen to-day. As soon as camp is 
 established horses are led to water, and again after feed- 
 ing corn and grooming. 
 
 I am determined that these horses shall go through 
 to Union in the best condition possible. We are a com- 
 fortably provided for party, and men need not give way 
 to carelessness and neglect because they are away from 
 home. They fare as well as men do on farms and are 
 much better paid, and must not permit things to go at 
 loose ends because it is "Uncle Sam's" property. And 
 here I will say that the men with me this trip were the 
 best civilians that I ever traveled with. More than half 
 of them had never been on the plains before; had been 
 raised in good homes in Missouri, but on account of 
 troubles growing out of the w^ar, when the news went 
 through the country that this big caravan would go to 
 New Mexico the best young men in the border .counties 
 came. There was a singular reticence about them — ap- 
 parent desire not to talk of themselves from the fear 
 of being condemned for rebels if they hailed from Mis- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 379 
 
 souri, and all tliQ way to New Mexico and back there 
 was a quietness unnsiial on the plains. The men were 
 young and willing to do right, and among the nearly 
 three hundred with me there were no quarrels, no jar- 
 rings. Two youths in adjoining horse strings fell out 
 and drew pistols. I rode in between them and made 
 each bring his pistol to me, and each tell his grievance, 
 which amounted to nothing, and I lectured them; told 
 them of home, family and friends. I stated to them 
 that it was no unusual thing in civilian outfits going 
 long journeys for men to fall out and some one be killed, 
 and assured them that no one would be hurt with me. 
 I would allow no man to ill-treat another, especially such 
 men as they were. I was going to send them home to 
 Missouri wiser and better men, and here and now they 
 must shake hands, which they did. I did not tell them 
 so, but imagined each one felt his honor vindicated by 
 showing pluck enough to draw his pistol, and his van- 
 ity was satisfied. 
 
 I pass my daily journal because too voluminous. 
 Crossed the Smoky Hill at the stage station called Ells- 
 worth, where Fort Harker was afterwards built. I never 
 rode in my ambulance during the day from Salina to 
 Union, with two exceptions. I rode one horse during 
 the day and had another one saddled to use after com- 
 ing into camp. Each horse string had a man on guard 
 the fore part and another the last half of the night, 
 whose duties were to walk up and down the horse string 
 and be ready to attend to a horse that got his foot over 
 the rope or in any other trouble, so that the string crew, 
 
380 ^^^'^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 including foreman and cooks, were on guard half of 
 every night. I had a man to ride all night from one 
 horse string to another around the corral out to the 
 herd and every point about the whole camp, with in- 
 structions to report to me if there was anything wrong, 
 if a watchman was asleep, or any one neglecting his 
 duty. He slept in a wagon nicely fitted up during the 
 day. His name was John Gartin, and I never saw his 
 equal for faithful endurance. 
 
 I was instructed to go this route because it was 
 suppoised to be much nearer than by the old Santa Fe 
 trail. I arrived on the high ground overlooking Cheyenne 
 Bottom and was surprised at its extent — ^an expanse of 
 about ten miles of bottom with a mere trail but little 
 traveled and apparently wet. I could not plunge into 
 that without examining it. I had an inkling that there 
 was such a bottom, and had ridden some miles ahead of 
 the horse strings, and now wrote a few lines to the man 
 in charge of the first string telling him and all to halt 
 here until my return, put it on a stick and stuck it in 
 the ground. I kept an assistant wagonmaster with me, 
 and we rode across the bottom to a good camp on the 
 west side and back in about three hours. I determined 
 to take the horse strings across, but if I got the loaded 
 wagons into that bottom and it should rain, which was 
 threatening, I mjight wallow in the mud indefinitely, 
 and so I instructed the trains to corral. If it rained I 
 would have to go south to the old Santa Fe trail. The 
 horse-string wagons were so light that I could risk them. 
 ,The horse strings crossed ali right, and were in a good 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON, 331 
 
 camp on the west side before dark. I was off in the 
 morning early, reached the trains by starting time and 
 led them over the bottom, and on across Walnut Creek, 
 the horse strings coming in a little later. The next day 
 we passed Pawnee Eock, and crossed Pawnee Fork at 
 its mouth (where now stands the town of Larned) and 
 camped on the west side. I was told when I left Leav- 
 enworth that a strong escort would be ready at Fort 
 Larned to accompany me all the way through to Union, 
 and I sent a man from my Walnut Creek camp with a 
 letter to the commanding officer at Fort Larned, ap- 
 prising him of my approach and requested that the es- 
 cort join me en route and save delay. I knew that ev- 
 ery mail carried, from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Larned, 
 something upon that subject and had reason to suppose 
 that the escort would be ready. It was eight miles out 
 of my way to go by Larned and I wanted to avoid it. 
 Captain Eeed of the Ninth Kansas, commanding Fort 
 Lamed, with my messenger met me at camp, where I 
 learned that there were few troops at Larned and they 
 hardly initiated as soldiers, and all that he could pos- 
 sibly spare would be Lieutenant Dodge, of a Wisconsin 
 battery, and twenty-five men of the Ninth; he would 
 select the very best that he had and they would be well 
 disciplined with a good officer. After lunch we drove 
 in my ambulance to the Fort and saw the escort which 
 would move to join me early in the morning. I knew, 
 and so did Captain Eeed, that I would have to pass 
 through the whole Kiowa and Comanche Nations, camped 
 along the Arkansas in the vicinity of where now stands 
 
382 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAOOON. 
 
 Dodge City, and the sight of 600 fine horses passing 
 close would be a great temptation to possess themselves 
 of some. I ought to have an escort of 500 men, but they 
 were not to be had. Be it remembered that an Indian's 
 weak point (or strong point) is horse; horses, scalps, and 
 squaws are what contribute to his happiness and make 
 life worth living. Captrin Eeed said that the young man 
 with my horse had reported to him and was in trouble. 
 He was sent for; I believed him honest, and wrote and 
 gave him a bill of sale (or rather "a bill of gift"), 
 reading : 
 
 '^I have this day presented to Private , of 
 
 Troop, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, one small bay horse seven 
 years old, branded L on right side of neck, said horse 
 having been previously stolen from me at Leavenworth 
 
 and sold to said , who was an innocent purchaser. 
 
 (Signed) "P. G. Lowe/' 
 
 To say that the young man was greatly relieved 
 would be putting it mildly. I liked Captain Eeed im- 
 mensely and am sorry I do not know his career. 
 
 The next day we moved up to near where is now 
 Kinsley, and Lieutenant Dodge and command joined us. 
 His party were well mounted, and from iirst to last 
 Dodge and his men were to me all that that number 
 could be. Having no mess or servant, I invited Dodge 
 to join me, which he was glad to do. He placed his men 
 wherever I asked him to and relieved me of much care 
 all the way through. My horse-string men were armed 
 with revolvers and teamsters with muskets, and I in- 
 spected them carefully and saw that they had plenty of 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 283 
 
 ammunition. The next morning, a short distance from 
 camp, we met Company F, Second Colorado — about 
 seventy-five men under Lieutenant Weis, of Denver. 
 They were on the way from Fort Lyon to Larned to 
 report to Captain Reed. "Billie" Weis was a fine saddler 
 and worked in the shop at Fort Leavenworth a number 
 of years. On the Cheyenne expedition he went with me 
 as saddler, and was of much service fixing up the pack- 
 trains, and went with them. On the Utah expedition he 
 was my cook to Camp Floyd. When I went into business 
 with Mr. Clayton he went as cook to Denver and cooked 
 for our mess until we set him up in the saddlery busi- 
 ness, and now he was a good officer, commanding as fine 
 a company of men as I ever saw, every man a pioneer, 
 experienced in everything that makes a man on the 
 plains or in the mountains self-supporting — all recruited 
 in Denver. I knew several of them, and was introduced 
 and shook hands with the whole company. I wrote a 
 note to Captain Eeed requesting him to order Lieuten- 
 ant Weis to join me and go all the way through, and 
 told the Lieutenant where I would camp and wait for 
 him to join me, for I did not want to reach the Indian 
 camp until he did join. He had wagon transportation, 
 could make good time, and he was as anxious to go as 
 I was to have him. At early dawn the next morning 
 John Grartin called me and said that Lieutenant Weis 
 wanted to report. Here he was with his company twenty 
 hours after he left me. The distance traveled to Larned 
 and back to where he joined was sixty-five miles. I told 
 him to let his men sleep as long as he wanted to; I 
 
 •26- 
 
384 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 would only move ten miles and camp two miles east of 
 the Indian camp. I had ridden up and selected my camp 
 the night before and would not move early. We moved 
 out about 9 o^clock and camped on high ground near 
 the junction of the Dry or Coon Creek route and the 
 river road. For miles along both sides of the Arkansas, 
 commencing two miles above my camp, were Indian 
 tepees with numerous inhabitants. My camp was care- 
 fully made, as it always was, and abundance of grass 
 collected. Dodge's men picketed the high points. Weis 
 came up and was assigned a position just west of the 
 horse strings. A line was designated for the sentinels, 
 and all of his men put on guard, and no Indian allowed 
 to cross the line without my permission. Hundreds 
 came, but only two, Satenta and Lone Wolf, were per- 
 mitted to cross the line, and they stayed and dined with 
 me and Lieutenants Dodge and Weis. "Joe'' Armijo, 
 who had been with*me nearly five years, was my inter- 
 preter; all of the Indians understood Mexican. I left 
 the impression upon the minds of these chiefs that the 
 soldiers were asleep in wagons and that those on post 
 were only a few of what we had. Each teamster placed 
 his musket so that it stuck out from under the wagon 
 covers. I impressed upon them that while we did not 
 believe the Indians would purposely annoy us, the curi- 
 osity of young men, women and children might cause 
 them to come too near, frighten the horses and give us 
 trouble, which could be avoided, and they could see the 
 big train pass by just as well at a little distance — a few 
 hundred yards away. They promised that all of their 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 335 
 
 people would observe my wishes and I need feel no un- 
 easiness about it. 
 
 I had traveled two horse strings and two wagons 
 abreast during the last two days to keep them more 
 compact, as was always customary on the Santa Fe trail 
 from Walnut Creek to Bent's Fort. There were two, 
 three and sometimes four well broken roads for many 
 miles through the Indian country along the Arkansas 
 Eiver, from the west line of what is now McPherson 
 County to Bent's Old Fort, and now I rolled out three 
 abreast, six horse strings long and three wide; forty 
 mule teams long and three wide. Muskets protruded 
 from under the wagon covers, soldiers were wide awake 
 and plain to be seen. Dodge rode ahead with me with 
 a skirmish line of a dozen of his men spread out wide, 
 indicating that none must come inside of this width, 
 while the balance of his men picketed the hills. For 
 one who knew the curiosity of Indians under such cir- 
 cumstances it was remarkable how by thousands, men, 
 women and children observed the promise the chiefs 
 had made the day before. For more than ten miles 
 these people trudged on foot, or cavorted about on 
 ponies on either side of the train, never approaching 
 nearer than 200 yards. When we had traveled more 
 than twenty miles and started up over the Seven-mile 
 Journadaj most of them were out of sight; but the two 
 chiefs referred to and a few others came to shake hands 
 and say good-bye. Armijo conveyed to them my thanks, 
 and I had a barrel of hard bread and small sack of sugar 
 gotten out for them. 
 
386 
 
 FIVE VEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Seven - mile Journada was a rugged bluff running 
 down to the river, very broken — a good place for an am- 
 bush. I explained to Dodge, who rode ahead with his 
 skirmish line and examined every break. There could 
 be no traveling abreast, there being but one hard grav- 
 elly road only wide enough 
 for one wagon. All horse 
 strings and wagons returned 
 to single file and we reached 
 the Arkansas Eiver and Cim- 
 arron Crossing in safety, 
 went into a fine camp at the 
 end of the thirty-five mile 
 drive, without stopping to 
 water. Fortunately the day 
 was cloudy and cool. It is 
 hardly necessary to tell how 
 eager the horses were for y" 
 water and how, when turned 
 loose, the mules rushed into 
 the river to drink and roll 
 on the sandbars. Possibly I ^°^- '^^^^^ ^- Leavenworth * 
 could have made half of the distance and camped 
 without trouble but I should have revealed the weak- 
 ness of my escort, and the temptation to crowd in 
 would make it almost impossible to restrain a thou- 
 
 *General Henry Leavenworth, the founder of Fort Leav- 
 enworth, Kansas, left an only son, Colonel Jesse H. Leaven- 
 worth. Colonel Leavenworth g-raduated at West Point in 1830 
 and served in the Fourth and Second Infantry until 1836, when 
 he resigned to engage in civil engineering. In 1862 Secretary 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 387 
 
 sand or two young bucks. I never heard the wisdom 
 of ni}^ action questioned by any of miy party. Dodge and 
 Weis freely expressed themselves as pleased; it was a 
 great relief to have passed safely by that great camp 
 and to feel that they were left behind; but we did not 
 relax our vigilance; the Indians might think w^e had 
 grown confident and careless, and the guards were doubly 
 cautious. 
 
 From the Cimarron Crossing to Fort Union was 
 the best natural road probably in the world, and shorter 
 than by the Eatoin route by about one hundred miles, 
 but the impression prevailed at Fort Leavenworth that 
 it was very dangerous for my outfit on account of the 
 Confederate guerrillas and Apache Indians, hence my 
 orders were to go the Eaton route. 
 
 Next morning we roUed out at the usual hour and 
 traveled about twelve miles. There was nothing worthy 
 of note until we reached Fort Lyon, commanded by Col- 
 onel Leavenworth of the "Eocky Mountain Eangers," a 
 son of the founder of Fort Leavenw^orth. We were two 
 days here; got all the hay we wanted and turned over 
 100 horses. Up to this time I had abandoned two horses, 
 hopelessly crippled, so that I left Lyon with 510. 
 
 From Lvon west and southwest, there had been a 
 drought and the grass was too short to mow. We filled 
 
 Stanton commissioned him to organize a rejjiment of cavalry 
 In Colorado, and this organization became known as the 
 *'Rocky Mountain Rangers." It did valiant service in pro- 
 tecting a thousand miles of Western frontier from the en- 
 •croachment of hostile tribes of Indians. He died in I 85, and 
 his remains rest at Milwaukee. His four daughters reside in 
 Chicago and Tacoma. 
 
388 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 all the wiagons at Lyon and fed sparingly. Crossed the 
 river at Bent^s Old Fort and camped ten miles above. 
 Here was a species of oanebrake^, flat-leaved, and relished 
 by animals in the absence of other long forage. I had 
 all cut, and piled into the wagons all that was not eaten. 
 The next day it was thirty miles to Timpas without 
 water between camps; grass good for mules running 
 loose, but none could be cut with a scythe. On this 
 route from the Arkansas to the Picketwire Eiver (Pur- 
 gatoire) was always a hard problem for forage and water. 
 My little supply of hay and cane would be all consumed 
 to-night, and I did not expect to use a scythe again this 
 side of the Raton Mountains. The mules could be herded 
 where grass could not be mowed, but it was too late to 
 break the horses to herd, and I would not be justified 
 in trying it, if I met with an accident; but I will here 
 exprciss the opinion that divided into herds of 200 or 
 300 the horses would have gone to Mexico better on 
 grass than they would on strings with plenty of hay and 
 com. From Timpas to water holes was fifteen miles, 
 and as I knew, no place to camp. Six miles farther was 
 Hole in the Rock, and nothing but volcanic rock and 
 stunted nine and cedar. Twelve miles more to Hole in 
 the Prairie, there ought to be grass and water. 
 
 In all these places watering must be done with 
 buckets, and so it looked as if we would travel thirty- 
 three miles and camp at Hole in the Prairie. The horse 
 strings reached the water holes and were well watered. 
 While they were watering the trains came and were told 
 to pass on to Hole in the Rock to save time. The horse 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 339 
 
 strings came up and passed the trains while watering 
 at Hole in the Eock. With an assistant wagonmaster I 
 rode on to Hole in the Prairie, where the ground showed 
 no signs of rain for a long time, and was covered with 
 a white scum of alkali and water strongly impregnated 
 with it. Surely I could not camp anything here and let 
 the animals drink. When the strings got here they 
 would have traveled eighteen miles since watering and 
 the trains twelve, in all thirty-three miles from Timpas. 
 Fortunately the weather was cool. 
 
 When the strings came up I sent them right on, not 
 allowing men or beasts to use the water. I showed where 
 the trains should camp on high ground above the alkali 
 bottom; told the wagonmaster in charge to have the 
 mules herded without allowing them in the bottoms or 
 near the water; to corral the mules at dark and start 
 early in the morning. Then I got into my ambulance 
 with an assistant wagonmaster and drove for the Picket- 
 wire; arrived there, I found the road had been changed 
 since 1854 and ran up the north side. Following it 
 about three miles, I saw a cabin and some stacks of oats, 
 A young man living here alone had come from St. Louis 
 in the spring, raised a crop of oats and a good garden. 
 It was like an oasis in the desert. In short, I bought 
 his three stacks of oats, as fine as I ever saw, and sent 
 my assistant back to the turn of the road to bring up 
 the horse strings. Two dollars a bushel the man wanted 
 for his oats. That was the Government price at Miix- 
 welFs ranch on the Cimarron. I did not dispute the 
 price, and he left it to me to say how many bundles 
 
390 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 should make a bushel. They were large and I allowed 
 a dozen, which was satisfactory. 
 
 Near sunset the horse strings came up at the end 
 of their forty-seven mile drive, and the horses all led 
 into the beautiful clear stream up to their knees. Had 
 we found no feed but the corn we had, they were for- 
 tunate to be here instead of at the Hole in the Prairie. 
 All of the foremen of strings and myself stood by to 
 see that the horses were led out before drinking too 
 much. They were watered all they wanted an hour later. 
 Three bimdles were given each horse and no corn. A 
 gorge of water with corn might cause some sickness; 
 they ate every straw. After watering next morning 
 they were given two bundles each and ate it clean be- 
 fore noon, and the balance was put into the wagons and 
 taken along. Three hundred dozen bundles of oats the 
 man sold me, and reserved a few dozen for his horse. 
 It was cheap feed under the circumstances for my 
 horses, and none too much for him to get. We bought 
 some nice vegetables from him also. 
 
 Half a mile above lived Mr. , whose wife was a 
 
 sister to Kit Carson, and she had a nice five-year-old boy. 
 She brought him with her when she came with some 
 milk and eggs to my camp to sell — a bright little fellow, 
 and I had quite a romp with him. A week later he died 
 from the effects of a rattlesnake bite. I was shocked 
 to hear it on my return. 
 
 The next morning I rode up to where now stands 
 Trinidad and selected a camp. A man named Hall, for- 
 merly sergeant in the Second Dragoons, lived there with 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 39 1 
 
 a Mexican wife — the only inhabitants. He had raised a 
 crop of corn and had a stack of fodder cut off above the 
 ears and nicely cured. I bought it. The trains came up 
 and watered wihere I bought the oats, and camped near 
 HalFs. They found fairly good grass on hills. The 
 horse strings came up in the afternoon. 
 
 Since leaving Lyon we had been feeding mules the 
 same amount of corn that we did the horses on account 
 of short grass. The next day we moved about twelve 
 miles up the caiion towards the Raton summit. The 
 mules did well herded on gramma grass and the horses 
 had fodder. The next day we had before us three miles 
 to the summit and then down ten miles of steep, rocky, 
 mountain road and three more to water holes. We had 
 passed all the alkali country without losing an animal, 
 but here a horse died. 
 
 Colonel Leavenworth assured me that great efforts 
 would be made by guerrillas, rebel sympathizers, etc., of 
 which he claimed to have positive knowledge, to capture 
 my outfit; that said guerrillas were in strong bands 
 ranging through the country; this would be a rich haul 
 for them, and once captured they could easily run to 
 Texas or Indian Territory, and there were no troops in 
 the country to pursue or make them afraid. And the 
 Colonel declared that these same guerrillas were pre- 
 suming- that the civilians of my party would have little 
 incentive to fight, and my hundred soldiers, suddenly 
 surprised by two or three hundred Texans, might not 
 stand up very long either. To myself I must admit that 
 with a well organized party of such men as I had known 
 
392 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 I could surprise and stampede a herd of mules and de- 
 moralize a lot of horse strings without great loss. 
 
 There was nothing strange in the ColoneFs story, 
 and why an enterprising enemy should permit such a 
 valuable caravan with so little protection to escape 
 seemed a mystery. Armed as my men were they would 
 seem a strong defensive party, and so they were in 
 corral and could protect it, hut a party of rough riders 
 dashing into a herd or a train en route could cause much 
 demoralization, and all the teamsters could do would 
 be to care for their teams, and the horse string men 
 would he too busy to fight, so that as a fighting force 
 my men amounted to nothing en route. On the open 
 plains with my little squad of cavalry on the lookout, 
 we were tolerably safe, but in the mountains or broken 
 countrv it was more dangerous. I had talked with Lieu- 
 tenants Dodge and Weis a good deal, and they fully ap- 
 preciated the danger and were extremely vigilant. Sure- 
 ly if I was to have trouble it would be in getting down 
 the south side of the mountain. 
 
 Dodge was off early and covered a wide range with- 
 out seeing a man or anything to arouse suspicion. As 
 the horse strings worked their way slowly down with 
 great difficulty Weis's men faithfully picketed the way. 
 It was a hard road fox horse strings, but we finally 
 reached camp at the water holes, when some wagons 
 came in sight and kept coming until sunset, when all 
 were in camp and no animals hurt, F Company bringing 
 up the rear. It was a faithful day's work for all con- 
 cerned and no sign of an enemy. 
 
FIVE TEARS A DRAGOON. 393 
 
 Early the next morning I sent Mr. Sharp, a man 
 in charge of a horse string, with a letter to Mr. Max- 
 well, of Maxwell's ranch, requesting him to deliver at 
 my camp on Vermijo, fifteen miles northeast of his 
 ranch, 2,000 bundles of sheaf oats, or an equivalent in 
 hay or other long fodder — whatever he had. It was 
 twenty-eight miles, and I found Sharp and the oats ready 
 for me. Sharp's ride was fifty-eight miles, and if he 
 had not stayed with the Mexican ox drivers, they would 
 not have reached my camp. 
 
 The next day twenty-five miles to Sweet Water. I 
 found men putting up hay, claiming they had the right, 
 and I bought from them enough for one night and to 
 haul along for to-morrow night, for I knew we would 
 find none at Ocate, where we arrived the next day — four- 
 teen miles. 
 
 At the Sweet Water camp, a young Mexican com- 
 plained that two men had come to his sheep herd and 
 taken two young sheep, shot them, took out their en- 
 trails and packed the sheep off on their backs. His 
 employer would take $2 apiece out of his wages for 
 losing them, and he wanted that much money. I went 
 around with him, found fresh mutton, and he pointed 
 out the men who took the sheep. I told the men to 
 hustle the $4 and I would make no fuss about it; other- 
 wise, I would find a way to get it. It was soon paid, 
 and notice given that no robbery would be permitted; 
 "the damn greaser," as they pleased to call him, had 
 rights that must be respected. No more sheep were 
 stolen. 
 
394 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 Ocate to Fort Union, twenty miles, where I was 
 w^ell received by Captain Craig, the quartermaster (whom 
 I had not seen since 1854), Captain Van Vliet, military 
 storekeeper, old Captain Shoemaker, ordnance officer 
 (whom I had met here in 1854), and Colonel Moore, the 
 post trader. This was the 10th of October, and we had 
 traveled 622 miles from Fort Riley in thirty days, in- 
 cluding two days lay-by at Fort Lyon. Our losses had 
 been three horses and four mules. 
 
 I turned over all wagons, except the eighteen light 
 ones used by horse strings and my ambulance, all mules 
 except nineteen four-mule teams and five riding mules, 
 and all horses except two. A few men wanted to re- 
 main in New Mexico and found employment, but 250 
 returned with me. 
 
 I disliked parting with Lieutenant Weis and Comp- 
 pany F and Lieutenant Dodge and his Ninth Kansans, 
 but I no longer needed them and they did not need me. 
 I would travel much faster than they, and so we parted, 
 on my part regretfully. I do not know Dodge's career, 
 hut fear that he joined the great majority during the 
 terrible war. Major William Weis, after many adven- 
 turesi — ups and downs, can be found at his saddlery shop 
 industriously making an honorable living at 2630 Cham- 
 pa Street, Denver, Colo. . 
 
 But about half of the men could ride at one time 
 in the eighteen wagons. I put a wagonmaster or fore- 
 ma.n of horse strings in charge of each wagon, and the 
 men were divided off so that each man knew the wagon 
 and mess that he belonged to, and the man in charge 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 395 
 
 must see that they rode turn about. Some men never 
 rode; one, "Dick" Anderson of Platte County, Missouri, 
 left camp as soon as he got breakfast and was in camp 
 in the evening among the first. He came from Utah 
 with me in 1858, and never rode a step except when 
 snow was deep. Weather on the return trip was good 
 until towards the last — just cold enough to make men 
 relish walking. 
 
 I measured the road from Union to Leavenworth, 
 752 miles, with an odometer on my ambulance wheel. 
 The second night from Union we camped at Sweet 
 Water. A high promontory juts out into the plain south 
 of our camp; w^agons came around it following the road 
 with half of the men strung along on foot; and bring- 
 ing up the extreme rear was a cavalcade of about twenty 
 men mounted on ponies, horses, mules or burros. They 
 had improvised bridles of lariat ropes. I inquired where 
 they got their mounts, and they claimed to have found 
 them loose and picked them up as strays and thought 
 they had a right to them. I told them that ranchmen 
 had stoek all over this country; all of them were branded; 
 this was a public pasture, and to take an animal from it 
 without consulting the owner, was stealing just as much 
 as was stealing a horse from a farm, and they must turn 
 them loose. One tough fellow said that the people in 
 this country were '^'^nothing but a damn set of rebels 
 anyhow^^; to which I replied that he was not commis- 
 sioned to judge of the loyalty of any man, and if he did 
 not go back to the other side of that bluff and turn loose 
 the horse that he was riding and the pony that he was 
 
396 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 leading I would turn liim loose without a scratch to 
 show the amount due him and he should not be per- 
 mitted to travel with my party. Turning to the other 
 men I told them that my remarks applied to them also. 
 All but two said they had no idea they were stealing, 
 and laughingly rode back and turned loose. I told the 
 two sulky ones not to come near my camp until they 
 got ready to live up to my rule. Two or three men went 
 out and talked to them, and they finally rode around the 
 bluff and returned on foot. This incident stopped all 
 lawlessness. If it had been permitted, all of the un- 
 scrupulous fellows would have come into Leavenworth 
 mounted, and flattered themselves that they were brave. 
 We made two drives, herding the mules night and 
 day, fed two quarts of corn to each animal to Fort Lyon ; 
 Lyon to Kiley one quart, and then four quarts the bal- 
 ance of the way. I did not want to take much corn from 
 Union or Lyon; nor did I want to haul so much as to 
 keep men from riding. From Eiley east grass was dead 
 and I bought hay. 
 
 Where the Indian camp stood on the Arkansas 
 when we went west were camped two companies of the 
 Second Colorado, under command of Captain Scott J. 
 Anthony, of Denver. The Indians had gone south for 
 the winter. 
 
 Approaching the Saline River to select camp, travel- 
 ing along the west bank was an immense flock of wild 
 turkeys.. I got out with my shotgun and killed two, and 
 the others did laot fly; did not seem to know what it was 
 all about, and I killed one with my pistol. They ran and 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 397 
 
 fluttered along into the thick timher where they roosted. 
 After we were camped, men got after them and one Ger- 
 man, who had a double-barreled shotgun, killed a dozen. 
 The weather was cold and I kept my largest one until I 
 got home, November 17th. 
 
 In the 1,500 mile round trip with more than 250 
 men, representing all classes, with no doctor, dependent 
 upon the box of medicines that my friend Dr. Samuel 
 Phillips put up for me, without the loss of a man by de- 
 sertion or illness, with no serious illness or other inability 
 to perform hard duty, we made the return trip from Union 
 to Leavenworth in thirty-one days — more than twenty- 
 four miles per day — half of the way on foot. The cold 
 weather was upon us; we were all anxious to get home, 
 and there was no complaint. I came in two days ahead 
 of my party. 
 
 Again my vanity prompts me to challenge compari- 
 son with anyone who has ever traversed the Great Plains 
 with horses or mules. Five or ten per cent, of loss was 
 not unusual, but here wc sent 614 horses 550 miles and 
 510 horses more than 200 miles farther, and 534 mules 
 752 miles, and return two horses and eighty-one mules 
 with a loss of but three horses and four mules, and 250 
 men return in perfect health, after more than two months 
 of out-door exposure and hard work, and no sickness. 
 
 But the merit of my trip, if any be due, lies in the 
 safe delivery of so many animals at the end of so long a 
 journey with so little loss, and a bill of health unparal- 
 leled for that length of time with that number of men. 
 With few exceptions, wherever I have met one of these 
 
398 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAaOON. 
 
 men I have felt no hesitancy in recommending him. Men 
 who could work so hard and faithfully without a,ny pre- 
 vious discipline can be trusited anywhere. Most of the 
 men entered trains and continued in Government employ 
 without losing time, and I had the pleasure of placing 
 many of them in good positions. Three men of this par- 
 ty served with me in the First Dragoons — Mr. William P. 
 Drummond, who was a sergeant in my (B) troop, was this 
 trip in charge of a horse-string. Warren Kimball (since 
 dead), who joined me as a recruit, and Mr. James H. Bed- 
 dow, whom I knew in K Ttoop, and who is now and has 
 been ever since he returned with me from New Mexico, 
 an employee of the quartermaster's department, now and 
 for many years, having police supervision of the Fort 
 Leavenworth military reservation and wearing the star of 
 deputy United States marshal — universally respected for 
 his long and faithful service. He is now 80 years old. 
 
 Probably thirty men of my party had been with me 
 on other trips, and to them I was indebted for much of 
 the good order and discipline. 
 
PART X. 
 
 I CONTINUED in Government transportation busi- 
 ness until the spring of 1863, when I went east 
 and while in Washington, by permission of Mr. 
 Stanton, the Seeretar}' of War, visited my brother, Prof. 
 T. S. C. Lowe, who was in charge of the Balloon 
 Corps of the Army of the Potomac. I joined him at 
 Falmouth just before the battle of Chancellorsville and 
 remained until it was over. A friend loaned me a 
 good horse and I renewed my acquaintance with sev- 
 eral officers who had risen from minor rank when I 
 knew them on the Plains, to be general officers. I was 
 at Gen. Sedgwick's headquarters the evening before he 
 with his 6th Corps captured the heights of Fredericks- 
 burg^called the second battle of Fredericksburg — and 
 saw all the movements of his Corps to the end of the re- 
 treat of Gen. Hooker^iS Army. Eeturning home I was 
 sent by Gen. Easton on transportation business to Fort 
 Scott and returned to Fort Leavenworth with 600 head of 
 "contraband^' cattle. It was a notorious fact that of 
 thousands of head gathered at or near Fort Scott, this lot 
 was the first to be sa,ved to the Government, all others 
 having been "lost or strayed'' or appropriated by patriots. 
 It wouldn't do to say that a man who loved his country 
 would steal anything captured from the enemy, or that 
 the sole object in capturing was to open the way to steal ii. 
 
 ;W9 
 
400 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 En route back to Fort Leavenworth I stopped in the 
 south edge of Lawrence over night where I hired a corral 
 of a milkman named Palmer, who was killed the following 
 night in the Quiantrell Eaid. I crossed the stock over the 
 Kaw in the morning and rode home. A man by my name 
 was killed in the Eaid and my friends thought I was the 
 victim — 'twas a narrow escape. 
 
 The horse and mule trade at Fort Leavenworth was 
 immense and in the fall of 1863 I left Government em- 
 ployment to become a contractor. My records of business 
 transacted in horses and mules forage and freighting in 
 1863-4-5-6 were in a ware house vault belonging to me 
 and were all consumed in a fire in 1880 and I must refer 
 to business from memory. The late L. T. Smith was my 
 partner in many contracts for horses, mules, hay and corn 
 on which we made much money. Mr. J. S. Eice was my 
 partner in a large ox train freighting to Fort Halleck. 
 In 1866 Mr. Alanzo Huckins became my partner in the 
 mule trade. We built large corrals and handled many 
 mules. Nearly all the mules used by Shoemaker, Miller 
 & Co. in constructing the Eastern Division of the U. P. 
 Eoad were furnished by us. We furnished hundreds of 
 mules for Mexican freighters until the railroad got too 
 far west for the freighters to come to the Missouri Eiver. 
 
 In 1868 I was the successful bidder for the contract 
 to move all government freight from the end of the U. P. 
 Eailroad to New Mexico and intermediate points — from 
 April, 1868, to April, 1869. The railroad reached Barker 
 for the spring movement of freight and reached Hays be- 
 ■fore fall. The contract was in my name, but the firm 
 
FIV£j YEARS A DRAGOON. 401 
 
 name of the transporters was Lowe, Newman & Co. I 
 retained one-fourth interest, Newman & Powers one- 
 fourth, J. C. Erwin & Co. one-fourth, and Morehead & 
 Allen one-fourth, and the contract was very profitable. 
 1 gave a bond of $200,000 and my partners were the 
 bondsmen. 
 
 The following yeair April, 1869, to April, 1870, the 
 contract was in the name of Powers and the firm was 
 Powers, Otero, Lowie & Co. We freighted from Harker 
 to Sill, Hays to Dodge a/nd Camp Supply and from Kit 
 Cairson to Fort Union. Tiexas fever destroyed 1,500 cat- 
 tle belonging to our sub-co^ntractors, thereby making 
 transportation isoarce and high and there was no money 
 made on the contract. 
 
 In 1870 I was awarded the contract to move all Gov- 
 ernment freight from Baxter Springs and Fort Gibson to 
 Forts Arbuckle and Sill. Mr. Alonzo Huckins was my 
 partner in this contract. 
 
 The railroads moving west had made such advance- 
 ment that the Government needed fewer mules, the Mexi- 
 can and other trade no longer came to the Missouri Eiver 
 and we sold our mule-corrals and quit that branch of the 
 business. There was nothing of much interest in the 
 1870 contract to move freight except that there was little 
 freight and it barely paid expenses. 
 
 Lowe & Huckins handled cattle in 1871. In 1872 
 the contracts were awarded to me to furnish beef from 
 the block at Forts Leavenworth, Larned, Dodge and Camp 
 Supply. Mr. '^'Joe^^ Kirmayer was my partner at Fort 
 Leavenworth and filled the contract. I sub-let the con- 
 
402 ^^^^ YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 tracts at Larned and Dodge and tbey gave me no trouble 
 and some profit. I gave Mr. Hnckins an equal interest 
 in my Camp Supply contract — he to devote his time to it, 
 and we, with a colored man named "Elic'' Fields, who was 
 with me many years, with an ambulance and pair of 
 horses, guns and pointer dog, drove from Harker to 
 Larned and Dodge where on account of hostile Indians 
 we were obliged to leave the ambulance, driver, team and 
 dog, and travel with the mail escort to Supply, which we 
 did and returned safely. Then we drove from Dodge 
 east to Great Bend, now the county seat of Barton Coun- 
 ty, Kans., where I bought cattle, saw Huekins, started 
 with herders enough to handle them, leaving Elic, team, 
 ambulance, dog and guns with him, and returned to Hark- 
 er by stage and from there by rail home. I was much 
 broken in health and ought not to have made the trip to 
 Supply. 
 
 And now follows Mr. Huekins^ adventures with the 
 cattle: He camped on the Arkansas Eiver, near where 
 Kinsley now is, had been on guard the last half of the 
 night and came in at 4 o'clock to rouse the camp. Just 
 as he dismounted from his pony many shots were fired in- 
 to his camp, the attacking party charging through it 
 driving everything before them except the pony from 
 which he had just dismounted. Some shots struck the 
 ambulance close to him. He believed the attacking party 
 to be Indians and told his men that he was going to Fort 
 Dodge for help and advised them to care for themselves 
 as best they eould. The rush through camp was made 
 Itom northeast to southwest — up the river, and Huekins 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 4^3 
 
 concluded to look a little in that direction. The night 
 was very dark. About half a mile from camp he saw in 
 the dim dawn two men changing their saddles to the ambu- 
 lance team, a black and a grey. The two men saw Huck- 
 ins at the same time, mounted and charged after him, 
 shooting rapidly. Huckins urged his pony in retreat as 
 fast as possible but they were close to him and sending 
 the bullets close, but missing. Thinking they must sure- 
 ly get him soon he stopped, faced them and took a hand 
 in the shooting. At his first shot a man fell from the 
 black horse, the next shot hit the grey horse or the rider 
 — he did not know which, but it stopped the pursuit and 
 he got away. How many were in the attacking party he 
 did not know, but from the number of shots fired into 
 camp he knew there were more than these two. The San- 
 ta Fe Eailway track was being graded and Huckins rode 
 to Foreman Jackson's camp some miles away, told Jack- 
 son of his trouble and rode on to Fort Dodge. A troop 
 
 of cavalry under Capt. went with him and in 
 
 the forenoon the cattle Avere all found with a man driv- 
 ing them. He was confined in the guard house a few 
 days, claimed that he found them and was going to take 
 them to Dodge. As nothing could be proven against 
 him, he was released. Foreman Jackson, with a team and 
 party of men went to Huckins' camp, found the dead man 
 that he shot, who proved to be one of the white out-laws 
 who infested that part of the country at that time, left 
 him lying where he fell and brought the ambulance, har- 
 ness, dog, gun and other equipments to Dodge. "Elic" 
 went to Boyd's Eanch near Larned where he worked sev- 
 
404 ^I^E YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 eral months before returning to Leavenworth. The 
 other men found their way to Dodge. Huckins, with an 
 escort, got the cattle safely to Supply. In August we 
 bought cattle enough to finish the contract which Huck- 
 ins stayed with to the end with good success, for which he 
 deserved much credit. Between hostile Indians and out- 
 laws ^twas a hard struggle and a less nervy man would 
 have failed. He married — bought a farm and prospered, 
 raised a good family and is now one of Leavenworth's 
 most wealthy and respected citizens. 
 
 And now I was out of business, broken in health and 
 obliged to rest. My chances for the future were not good. 
 I bought property that I thought would make my family 
 comfortable and for the next three years traveled in 
 search of the health I had sacrificed in my efforts to make 
 money. I traveled in Colorado, through Florida and 
 other southern states and gained strength and usefulness. 
 
 One incident of my travels is worth mentioning: 
 Mr. Wm. Farrell was my traveling companion. I knew 
 that my captain, under whom 1 served four and a half 
 years was superintendent of a cotton factory in Columbus, 
 Ga. He resigned as pay-master in the Army, joined the 
 Confederate Army, was a general officer with Gen. Lee, 
 surrendered when he did, and like an honest man had 
 gone to work to make an honest living. We would pass 
 through Columbus and this, in all probability would be 
 my only chance to see him again. I told Mr. Farrell and 
 he said "stop off and make the call by all means." Our 
 train arrived in Columbus in the night, we went to the 
 hotel and after breakfast called at General Chilton's office 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 4Q5 
 
 in town. He had not yet arrived from home three miles 
 up the river where his factory was and where he lived 
 The office boy looked at the clock and said the General 
 would be in the office in live minutes. He might come 
 sooner but not later. It dawned on me that he was liv- 
 ing up to his old habits. Sure enough he came in on the 
 minute^, said "Good morning, gentlemen/' and moved to- 
 wards us pulling off his gloves. I immediately stood "at 
 attention" and returned his salutation by saying "Good 
 morning, Gen. Chilton." He looked sharply at me, shook 
 my hand and said : "You have the advantage of me, sir.'^ 
 "Yes, General," said I; "I expected that I would have, 
 twenty years is a long time." "Yes," said he, "twenty 
 years of hard work." He sat down and covered his face 
 with his hands. Then noticing that I still stood "to at- 
 tention," he said "Please be seated," and looked search- 
 ingly at me, when I said "Well, General, you don't know 
 me?" He stood up, took both of my hands in his and 
 said: "Yes, I do know all about you. You are my old 
 first sergeant." I introduced Mr. Farrell who had been 
 much interested in our meeting, — in short I explained 
 why we stopped off and that we would continue our jour- 
 ney that night. The General gave Mr. Farrell a note to 
 the superintendent of a factory who would pass him along 
 to the next and so on, and took me in his buggy, telling 
 Mr. Farrell that we would not be much company for him 
 as we would talk of things in which he would feel no in- 
 terest. IJp the river three miles we drove and he ex- 
 plained that when the War closed he had nothing and no 
 employment with which to support his family. The cot- 
 
406 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 ton mills had been burned and there was nothing left but 
 the water power and burned and warped machinery. The 
 company owning the water power offered him, to take 
 charge of the property, a home to live in, small salary and 
 an interest in any business that he could build from the 
 wreck. He found a circular saw, fixed up the water 
 power to run it, sawed lumber, soon started spindles to 
 make thread, which he peddled about town to get money 
 to go on with. In short from these ruins he had built a 
 first class factory of 152 looms and was continually adding 
 to it. He had a mill for grinding wheat and corn, bought 
 wheat and corn by the car load when he needed it, had a 
 complete commissary department, tenements for his em- 
 ployees, employed the poor white people w^ho were in great 
 distress throughout the country, furnished them provis- 
 ions at the retail price in Columbus, and paid cash for 
 everything. At his home he Avas very comfortable. 
 
 I had been looking at a picture of Gen. Lee when 
 turning to Gen. C. I said, that it was reported and gener- 
 ally believed in the North that when Gen. Stuart cap- 
 tured Gen. Pope's headquarters and his famous ' order 
 "Headquarters in the Saddle" he brought the order to 
 Gen. Lee who remarked: "That is the first time I ever 
 heard of a man's headquarters being w^here his hind quar- 
 ters ought to be." Gen. C. replied : "No, Gen. Lee nev- 
 er said that. He could not have said it — there was no 
 levity about him — he was at all times dignified. I was 
 adjutant-general and Stuart brought the order to me and 
 said: "By the way, Chilton, that is the first time I ever 
 heard of a man's headquarters being where his hind quar- 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. ' 407 
 
 ters ought to be/' It sounded like Stuart who saw the 
 ridiculous side of everything. This version of the "Head- 
 quarters in the Saddle" incident may be accepted as true 
 history. No one who ever knew Gen. Chilton will doubt it 
 for a moment. The General returned me to Columbus and 
 we parted never to meet again, after one of the most in- 
 teresting days of my life. He was exceedingly interested 
 in what I could tell him about the members of the troop 
 and at that time I knew of but four living, more than 
 half of them had been killed by Indians or overtaken by 
 violent death in other ways. 
 
 In the spring of 1876 the quartermaster at Fort 
 Leavenw^orth employed me to act as guide in chaining 
 the Santa Fe trail from Fort Leavenworth to Fort Union, 
 New Mexico. I was out of business, my family and prop- 
 erty in good shape, and it would be a pleasure trip for 
 which I w^ould be well paid and I ought to be much 
 improved in health by it. We chained by Council Grove, 
 and the old Santa Fe trail via Raton route, 752 miles 
 to Union. Eeturning we chained from Fort Riley to 
 Fort Leavenworth. Lieutenant Borden, Fifth Infantry, 
 was in charge of the party and the trip was pleasant 
 and uneventful — no hostile Indians or other trouble. I 
 made my report and was discharged the 1st of October. 
 
 Some friends of mine had taken the contract to 
 furnish beef for the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho In- 
 dians at Red Cloud and Spotted Tail agencies in north- 
 west Nebraska, for the year ending June 30, 1877. I 
 do not need to go into details about the trouble in the 
 firm that lead up to my employment. I was chosen to 
 
408 ^^^^ TEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 go -upon the ranges, take an account of cattle and other 
 property and report, which I agreed to do on condition 
 that I should not be more than a month about it. I 
 arrived at Sidney, Neb., where I was to meet the man- 
 ager on the 16th of October, who was to show me every- 
 thing. But he did not meet me. I took stage to Bed 
 Cloud agency — 120 miles — went with Indian Conunis- 
 sioners Daniels & Howard, with Spotted Tail chief and 
 two scouts^ — Gruard and Battese^ — to Spotted Tail agency 
 and returned to Red Cloud, met one of the company's 
 foremen from whom I learned much, went to his camp 
 fifteen miles, to another camp fifteen more and to a 
 third camp ten miles, three gangs of men. I appointed 
 a day to round up the cattle and found about 6,000, 
 whereas the foreman referred to said there should have 
 been 10,000 and that at least 4,000 were on a ranch 
 owned by the said manager. About 500 head were re- 
 quired every ten days, so that by the end of June 12,000 
 would be needed if none were winter killed and prob- 
 ably many would be. I learned everything that I could, 
 reported by letter and asked the firm to send a suitable 
 manager at once to relieve me. They promised but no one 
 came, and it was the middle of the next July, after eight 
 months of struggle including a bitter cold winter, dur- 
 ing which I furnished more than 12,000 cattle for the 
 Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians, more than 6,000 
 of which I bought along the North Platte and about 
 Fort Laramie. I was warmly thanked and fairly well 
 paid by my friends and roundly cursed by the other 
 parties. 
 
FIVE YEAR8 A DRAGOON. 409 
 
 The incidents of interest in the eight months of my 
 stay in that country would fill a volume if handled by 
 a good writer, but most of my data was destroyed by fire 
 and I don't care to write about it. 
 
 I employed Mr. Fielder Philips to buy cattle for 
 me in the vicinity of Fort Laramie where he had a ranch. 
 He bought 2,140 head and I was daily expecting a mes- 
 sage from him informing me that the cattle were ready, 
 and had sent a party of men to take charge of them. I 
 needed the cattle and sent "Elic" Adam, my Indian ser- 
 vant and traveling companion, with a letter to Mr. 
 Philips. I gave him two ponies to ride, turn about. He 
 left me at 8 a. m., with instructions to deliver the let- 
 ter that night. It was 81^ miles from where he left me 
 at Eed Cloud Agency to Laramie. My letter to Mr. 
 Philips requested him to exchange ponies with "Elic," 
 giving him fresh ones to return on, and expected him 
 to sleep at Laramie and return the next day. The next 
 morning at 8 o'clock — twenty-four hours after leaving 
 me^ — here came "Elic" with a letter from Mr. Philips. 
 He had delivered my letter at 7 p. m., eleven hours aiter 
 leaving me. Mr. Philips gave him supper and lunch and 
 two fresh ponies with instructions to deliver letter to me 
 by 8 a. m. the next day, which he did. This faithful, 
 untiring, full-blood Sioux had traveled on four ponies 
 163 miles in twenty-four hours without sleep. No one 
 can dispute the distance — it has been measured by army 
 officers and is 80 miles between Camp Robinson and 
 Laramie and it is IJ miles from Robinson to the agency. 
 The road was quite straight and he could not save dis- 
 
41ii 
 
 FIVE YEARS A DRAGOON. 
 
 tance by short cuts — twenty miles oi it was deep 
 sand. Now let the long riders with their fine horses 
 come in and claim something better. In half an hour 
 after he had returned he was in my buggy with me on 
 the way back to Laramie, where we arrived the next day 
 at noon. He did good sleeping in the buggy. When I 
 sent this man with the letter I knew he would deliver 
 it before he stent. When Philips started him back he 
 knew that I would get the letter in twelve hours. He 
 could not speak English but could understand a little 
 and I could squeeze out a little Dakota. For seven 
 months he was to me all that an honest, faithful servant 
 could be. When I left that country I parted with him 
 with deep regret. He was one of the most interesting 
 men I ever met, this poor benighted Sioux. 
 
 I returned home determined that this should be my 
 last taste of wild life — I would henceforth devote myself 
 to my family. I left a good home and my good wife 
 had managed the two sons and two daughters as few 
 mothers could. Somehow I seemed to be always plung- 
 ing into some hard task and I detcTmined to resist every 
 temptation and live quietly. 
 
 I served in the city council from 1868 to 1870 as 
 its president — 1876 was again nrnde "president and re- 
 signed without serving because of absence from homo — 
 and now at the fall election of 1877 I was elected sheriff 
 of Leavenworth County and re-elected two years later, 
 serving four years, the limit allowed by law. In 1885 was 
 elected State Senator and served during three sessions 
 of the Legislature. I served on the Leavenworth school 
 
FIVE YEARS A DRAGOOX. 411 
 
 board by appointment, declining election; was appointed 
 police commissioner by Governor Humphrey, serving as 
 secretary of the board one and a half years. 
 
 My sons graduated at Pennsylvania Military College, 
 my daughters at Brook Hall, Media, Pa. My eldest son 
 is commandant of cadets at the Western Military Acad- 
 emy, Upper Alton, 111. He is also a graduate of the law 
 department of Washington University, St. Louis. The 
 other son is retired as a captain in the regular army. 
 My eldest daughter is the wife of Major L. S. McCor- 
 mack of the Seventli United States Cavalry, and the 
 other the wife of Mr. Samuel H. Wilson, of the Great 
 Western Manufacturing Company, of Leavenworth. 
 
 My deaT wife died March 5th, 1905, and is buried 
 in the National Cemetery at Fort Leavenworth, where 
 I will join her in the near future. A more lovable woman, 
 a purer or more gentle wife, a more sweet and kindly 
 mother I never knew. She made my family and home 
 all that I could hope for, and brightened my pathway 
 for nearly forty-four years. 
 
 She was educated at the Liberty, Missouri, Female 
 Academy, under the tutelage of Prof, and Mrs. James 
 Love. She possessed a remarkably good mind and was 
 blessed with superior intelligence and refined tastes. 
 
 "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. ' 
 
INDEX. 
 
 PART 1. 
 
 Early adventures. — Newsboy and sailor. — Enlist in Bos- 
 ton. — Thence to Carlisle and adventures there. — Carlisle to 
 Fort Leavenworth by rail; by canal-boats; by steam-boats 
 and on foot. — Arrival at Fort Leavenworth on Christmas 
 day, 1849; winter there and description of the Fort as it 
 was at that time. 
 
 PART 2. 
 
 Major Ogden and the new road from Fort Leavenworth 
 to Fort Kearney, where we joined B Troop, First Dragoons. 
 — Fort Kearney and war with the Pawnee Indians. — Pursuit 
 of the Pawnees. — The chief a prisoner. — Meeting the Chey- 
 ennes. — Return to Fort Kearney and "big talk" with the 
 Pawnees. — Move to Fort Leavenworth and winter there. — 
 Capture and imprisonment of four Kaw chiefs. — Promotion. 
 — Escort of Paymaster Macklin to Forts Kearney and Lar- 
 amie. — Camp Macklin. — Pursuit of stray mules and hor- 
 rors of a night in the Sioux camp. — Return to Fort Leav- 
 enworth, — Return of troop from relief of Fort Adkinson. — 
 Troops to Fort Laramie. — Adjutant-General Cooper. — Colonel 
 George Knapp, B. Gratz Brown, and the Missouri Republican. — 
 Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes. — Major "Jim" Bridger and the 
 Snakes. — The fierce Sioux. — The intrepid interpreter. — Cool- 
 ness of the Snake chief and great confidence of his people. — 
 Treaty at the mouth of Horse Creek. — Sixty thousand In- 
 dians. — Composure and fine character of Snake Indians. — 
 Return to Fort Leavenworth and winter there. — Pottawato- 
 mie Indian payment at Uniontown. — More than 3,100 miles 
 on one horse in seven months. 
 
 413 
 
414 JXDEX. 
 
 PART 3. 
 
 Major Chilton on leave. — Lieutenant Hastings in command 
 of troop. — Sergeant Hooper leaves the troop. — Sergeant Cud- 
 dy and his escort for the paymaster to Laramie and return 
 to the troop on the Arkansas. — Victims of whiskey. — Pro- 
 motion, — Campaign along the Santa Fe Trail in 1852. — In- 
 dians attack trains. — Captain Buckner and Company D, 6th 
 Infantry. — Hard duty and constant vigilance. — Shooting into 
 Indian camp. — Indians vanish during night. — Lodge poles for 
 fuel. — Major Chilton returns and takes command. — Hunters 
 to "Angel Spring." — Kill buffalo and are chased by Indians. 
 — ^Return to Fort Leavenworth. — Plenty of buffalo en route. — 
 Major Chilton escorts Major Ogden to locate new post, after- 
 wards named Fort Riley. — Pleasant trip and plenty of tur- 
 key.^ — Comfortable winter. — Company courts-martial. — ^Com- 
 pany library and its great benefit. — Son of a United States 
 senator a soldier. — Campaign of 1S53 along the Santa F6 
 Trail. — Fort Adkinson abandoned and camp on Walnut Creek 
 established. — Sergeant Cook kills Osages. — Major Chilton and 
 Satanta. — Major Fitzpatrick and distribution of presents to 
 Kiowas, Comanches and Apaches. — Destruction of Fort Ad- 
 kinson buildings. — Sod walls, fleas and demoralized cats. — 
 Extreme hardships of the summer. — Big timber and return 
 on trail toward Fort Leavenworth. — Capture of Osages. — 
 Fighting fire at Diamond Springs. — Capture of Kaw chief. 
 — Winter at Fort Leavenworth. — Purchase of new horses. — 
 Management and feed. 
 
 PART 4. 
 
 Campaign to New Mexico. — Trouble with Kiowas. — 
 Stampede on the Arkansas. — Route by Raton Mountains. — 
 Arrived at Fort Union. — Furlough to end of enlistment.^ 
 Farewell to the troop, — Return with Colonel Cook's com- 
 mand to Fort Leavenworth. — Employed in Quartermaster's 
 Department as wagonmaster; post wagonmaster. 
 
INDEX. 415 
 
 PART 5. 
 
 Sent to Fort Riley with Major Ogden's men to build new 
 post. — Cholera at Fort Riley and incidents connected there- 
 with. — Death of Major Ogden and one hundred others. — Og- 
 den Monument. — Drs. Whitehorn and Phillips volunteer to at- 
 tend the sick. — Monument erected to memory of men killed 
 in battle with Indians. — Return to Fort Leavenworth and 
 winter in Platte County. 
 
 PART 6. 
 The Kansas War of 1856. — With Lieutenant Stuart and 
 train to Colonel Sumner's camp near We-stport. — Incidents 
 of the summer's campaign. — Lawrence ferry. — Colonel Cook's 
 camp near Lecompton. — Burning of homes in that vicinity. — 
 Governor Robinson and his callers. — Murder of Roberts; 
 death of his murderer. — Peace declared. — Pleasant winter In 
 Platte County. 
 
 PART 7. 
 The Cheyenne expedition. — Major Sedgwick by the Ar- 
 kansas. — Colonel Sumner by the Platte route. — Crossing the 
 South Platte. — Fort Laramie to the South Platte. — ^A night 
 on Powder River. — Attempt to ferry and drowning of Dough- 
 erty. — Major Sedgewick's and Colonel Sumner's commands 
 meet. — Fourth of July salutes. — Colonel Sumner takes the 
 field with pack train, sending train back to Laramie. — Train- 
 loads for South Platte to meet Colonel Sumner. — Squaws 
 catching snakes. — Hand-to-hand struggle with Cheyennes.^ 
 Captured and in chains. — 'No longer a boy to give up my 
 bow." — Burning of lodges at mouth of Lodge Pole Creek. — 
 Son of Cheyenne chief a prisoner. — Head chief admonishes 
 his son by howling in imitation of a wolf. — Wagon corral. — 
 Colonel Sumner's command fails to come. — Anxious days and 
 nights. — Indian prisoners report battle with Colonel Sumner 
 and Cheyennes all going north. — "Sioux under Man-Afraid- 
 
 27— 
 
416 INDEX. 
 
 of-His-Horses."— Colonel Magraw; his train and ''Tim" Good- 
 ale, the mountaineer. — "Lowe's route avoiding Ash Hollow 
 Hill."— Captain Van White en route to Utah. — Colonel Alex- 
 ander and 10th Infantry en route to Utah. — "Big Phil'" and 
 express from Laramie. — D. 0. Mills and party en route from 
 California to the "States." — Dr. Corey joins us from Lieuten- 
 ant Bryan's party. — Captains Dixon and Clarke, en route to 
 Utah, bring news of Colonel Sumner's battle with Cheyennes. 
 — Wounded to Fort Kearney. — Fifth Infantry en route to 
 Utah. — Train ordered to Fort Kearney. — Arrived at Kearney 
 and ordered back to Ash Hollow. — Again ordered to Kear- 
 ney. — Cheyenne prisoners left in guard-house the thirty-nine 
 days they were with us. — Lieutenant Marmaduke en route 
 to I-aramie. — Kill plenty of buffalo. — Marmaduke's potatoes 
 (first seen in four months) and my prairie chickens. — Ar- 
 rival at Kearney. — Join Major Sedgwick on Little Blue. — 
 General A. S. Johnston and Major Fitzjohn Porter. — Turn 
 over best teams to General Johnston's quartermaster. — Colonel 
 Cook's command. — End of campaign. — Arrival at Fort Leav- 
 enworth. — ^Colonel Sumner. — Character of men olf the ex- 
 pedition. 
 
 PART 8. 
 
 Feeding miules in Platte County, — Capture of horses and 
 surrender of deserters. — Levi Wilson. — Outfitting trains. — 
 Discharge of drunken outfit. — Columns en route to Utah. — Ter- 
 rible struggle with muddy roads. — Clothing trains to Utah 
 under Lowe. — Much illness and suffering. — Safe delivery of 
 goods and return to Fort I-^eavenworth through snow. — Frost- 
 bitten men. 
 
 PART 9. 
 
 1859. — Leave Government building to go into business 
 with Clayton and Kershaw. — Swarms of pilgrims to and 
 from Pike's Peak. — Arrival in Denver with goods. — Denver. 
 
INDEX. 417 
 
 — Stagnant then; prosperous later. — Erect the first frame 
 building in Denver.— Successful business.—Sell my interest 
 to the Claytons in January, 1861.— Return to Fort Leaven- 
 worth by coach, buy train. — Successful trip. — Marry and 
 make second successful trip. — Civil War. — Thieves along the 
 border. — Sell train to Government, move to Leavenworth, and 
 return to Government business.— 1862. — New Mexico and re- 
 turn and incidents of the trip.— Teams and horse strings.— 
 Kiowa and Comanche Indians.— Captain Reed.— Colonel Leav- 
 enworth. — Fort Union. — Excellent character of men. — Excel- 
 lent character of Lieutenant Weis and his Company F. — 
 Lieutenant Dodge and his cavalry. — Over the Raton. 
 
 PART 10. 
 Second battle of Fredericksburg.— Trip to Fort Scott.— 
 Quantrell raid —Return to freighting and contracting.— Move 
 Government freight to New Mexico and other points 1868-9. 
 —1870 freight in Indian Territory.— 1872 beef contracts and 
 Huskins' adventure on the Arkansas.— Stampede of cattle.— 
 
 Huskins kills an outlaw and succeeds in filling contract. 
 
 Travel for health.— Florida and the South.— Call on General 
 Chilton.— General Lee.— Stuart and "headquarters in the 
 saddle."— Chaining the Santa F6 trail.— Filling contract 
 for furnishing beef for Indians.— "Elic" rides 163 miles in 
 24 hours— Return home.— Determined to rest.— Elected sher- 
 iff. — Political offices. — My family. 
 
For the use of the cuts of Kaw Indians and views in the 
 vicinity of Council Grove, we are indebted to Hon. George P. 
 Morehouse, of Council Grove, Kansas. Other cuts furnished 
 by the Journal of the United States Cavalry Association.