on the banks of the North Fork of the Pawnee. Owing to the severe weather, the train was overtaken on the road. Upon reaching the site of the camp, great difficulty was experienced in pitching the tents. The wind blew even more violently than during the day, and was now accompanied by a heavy fall of snow. Wood was scarce, and what little was gathered it was impossible to ignite.

Through the entire night the wind howled across the plain, threatening, momentarily, a demolition of our canvass walls. Our situation was decidedly comfortless, and, as introductory to a campaign of indefinite duration, presented anything but the most flattering anticipations of bodily comfort. Our tents had been pitched hastily, and flapped, and groaned, and jerked the livelong night. The ground was wet. The men and animals without shelter were severely tried. There was no sleep in camp that night.

It was with every sense of gratitude that we arose, on the following morning, to find a cloudless sky. The wind was still at its height. The air was cold and bracing, and the roads frozen, Our animals, exhilirated by the freshness of the atmosphere, were in much better spirits than was anticipated, and made good progress. The train, however, moving less rapidly, it was found could not make Fort Dodge the same night. Orders were, accordingly, sent back to divide the march so as to arrive the following morning. The General and party pushed ahead, arriving at Dodge at four o'clock in the afternoon, making over forty miles our day's journey.

At the Fort, we were received with unbounded hospitality. The commandant, Major Sheridan, and Lieutenant Read, adjutant, opened their quarters. The courtesy was the more appreciated by way of contrast with our experience the night before.

About ten o'clock the next morning, the train arrived at the fort. Some of the animals were entirely "used up." A few hours were taken for rest, securing fresh mules, and drawing rations, with instructions to be ready to move by one o'clock.

The fort was built upon low ground, immediately upon the

banks of the Arkansas. A range of high bluffs completely enveloped it on the land side, while the river, nearly a mile in width, ran in front. Beyond, stretched an expansive plain, and still further on, a range of bald hills. The work was not only badly located, but, in case of attack, would be difficult to defend. Shortly before our arrival, four or five warriors rode directly through the fort, shooting one soldier, and making their exit in safety. The country in the vicinity admitted of a close approach under cover.

The fort was built about the year 1864, but for what object, except for the sake of having a garrison in that region, would be difficult to surmise. There is no wood within miles of the place, and no other recommendation save an excellent variety of building stone.

As we were now about penetrating the country infested by numerous bands of savages, liable, at any moment, to make a dash, our movements were more compact. The advance was led by the Indian guides, who were to act as trailers. Their keen sight and knowledge of the habits of their race admirably adapted them for this service; and, feeling, as they did, that their "hair" would be subject to the same tonsorial manipulation as our own, were they caught, their vigilance was unsparing. The scouts, under Pepoon, acted as advance guard. Next came the train-about twenty wagons-and in the rear, Lebo's company of cavalry.

Our route was down the north bank of the Arkansas, for a distance of eight miles, to the ford. The crossing of the river was rendered extremely difficult by quick-sands and floating ice. By doubling teams, however, we made the south side without disaster, and went into camp.

Large fires of "buffalo-chips" were built, and around these we found agreeable entertainment in conversation and comments upon the prospects of the campaign. No person felt in better spirits than the Commanding General. With his usual confidence in the success of his plan, and fully realizing the hardships and losses which would necessarily be encountered upon those bleak plains during that inclement season, he in

spired in all those around him the same resolution and anticipations of glorious triumph.

General Sully, with the main column, was four days in advance. It was the object of the Commanding General, therefore, by making rapid marches and long stages, to overtake him by the time of his arrival "somewhere" on the North Fork of the Canadian.

An hour before day-light on the morning of the eighteenth of November, the bugle, sounding reveille, aroused the camp from its slumbers. The air, chilled by autumnal winds, necessitated the exercise of no little effort to induce one to desert his comfortable quarters between several layers of robes and blankets. There was no time, however, for trifling with the sensibilities of the flesh. Shivering limbs and chattering teeth might be expected, from that time forward, as a usual morning entertainment.

Having indulged in a frugal breakfast, by the time the sun shed its first rays upon the plain, tents were struck, and in the wagons, and the column ready to move. The country, for a distance of a mile, along the south bank of the river, was composed of interminable sand-hills. The train experienced much difficulty in getting along, the animals sinking in above their fetlocks, and the wheels of the wagons cutting deep ruts. Upon reaching the summit of the first ridge, the country swept away as far as the eye could reach, a rolling, treeless plain, covered with buffalo-grass, and at intervals broken by deep.canons.

After a journey of four hours, the column reached Mulberry creek, twelve miles on the way. Here we experienced much delay, having lost Sully's main trail. Several of the Indians were sent out to reconnoitre towards the east; meanwhile, a party of scouts were dispatched to look for a crossing. The banks of the creek were very precipitous, and ranging from twenty to fifty feet in height. The water was poor, A few trees skirted the bed of the creek. After an absence of several hours, the Indians appeared upon a "divide" about a mile distant, signaling to the column to advance in their direction. Making

a journey of not less than eight miles, we struck the main trail, which followed the crest of the "divide."

Our route now lay in a south-easterly direction. The aivide" carried us between two tributaries of Bluff creek. As we approached the creek, the country became exceedingly broken and the descent difficult.

By sunset, we crossed the main stream and camped on a sedgy island covered with a thick growth of cotton-wood, which furnished an ample supply of fuel. The bed of the creek, about two hundred yards wide, indicated the flow of a large volume of water at certain seasons.

The main stream, at the time we visited it, was about thirty feet in width, with sandy bed. At several places, a current of water, about six feet wide, could be traced running beneath the sand, the moisture merely oozing through the surface.

At Bluff creek, we effected a junction with two companies of the nineteenth Kansas volunteers, which had been left by the main column to await the arrival of the Commanding General. The evening was spent in writing letters, to be dispatched north the next morning by couriers. This, probably, would be the last chance, for days, to communicate with the outer world. We had now cut loose from home and civilization. The opportunity, therefore, was industriously improved. For half the night, in the dim and uncertain light of the camp-fire, seated on the ground, with a log for a desk, lead-pencils were busily driving thoughts of love and remembrance to those far away enjoying the comforts of the fireside.

CHAPTER XVI.

CAMP ON THE CIMMARON-BAD WATER-HUNTING-PARTIES-SUNSET ON THI PLAINS-A NIGHT ALARM-NOTES OF WAR ON THE CANADIAN.

T sunrise, on the nineteenth, the column was again in motion. Our force reached nearly three hundred men, exclusive of officers, teamsters, orderlies, Indians, and servants. We were now sufficiently formidable for any attack, except by a very large body of sav. ages. We moved, however, with flankers and videttes, who kept a vigilant look-out for lurking war-parties.

On the south side of the creek we ascended, the "divide" by a deep and narrow ravine. After reaching the summit and following it for a distance of five miles, the trail descended into a basin in which we found an abundance of dried grass, from four to six feet in height. A small herd of buffaloes was started and pursued by the Indians and a few scouts.

After crossing a low basin, about a mile and a half in width, the trail led into the valley of Bear creek, A march of some miles, over rolling prairies, brought us to a gap in a range of sand hills, beyond which lay the Cimmaron. Upon the north bank of the latter stream the column went into camp.

In order to take advantage of the winter pasturage, which was found in the vicinity of this night's camp, all the animals were turned out to graze until sunset. To prevent surprise a strong guard of troops was posted around the herd, and the herders were ready, at a moment's warning, to seize the animals, should a stampede be threatened.

The water of the Cimmaron was strongly affected with alka