The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-27
lNKLINGS FROM THE FRONTIER;

dollar gold-piece. Yes SIR
lNkLINGS FROM THE FRONTIER;
LIFE ON THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD
CAMP AT GYPSUM SPRINGS.
To the Editor of the National Era:
Soldiers in general, and cavalry troopers es-
pecially, are merry set of acknowledging
philosophers, who determine to make the best
out of all bad matters and i'll luck that chance
may drift athwart their path through life. Many
Of them obey, with an earnest zest, the injunc-
ton, Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow
you (might) die" That is, when they can get
anything to eat and drink, or to be merry about.
Troops do sometimes find themselves in great
straits for these requisites.) They, however,
generally manage to look on the bright side of
every picture. The ether night, witnessed a
grand fancy ball, gotten up by the boys in
camp, and held on the sweetscented green.
sward. Not many of us have been gladdened
by the light of female countenance for two or
three long months. Butthe boys were determined
to get up reminder of the happy days of yore,
and hence the ball. The younger and beard
less portion of them were enveloped in Mexican
blankets, with handkerchiefs tied around their
heads a la turban, and their general attire
made to resemble crinoline as much as possible.
These young "blades" represented the lady
characters in our little farce and grand ball,
and they acted their assumed parts very credit
ably indeed. The orchestra was supplied with
very good musicians, and an excellent variety
of both wind and string instruments. The
music was of high order, much of it being
selected from recent numbers of Our Musicdl
Friend, and well performed. Several fine pa
triotic and sentimental songs were sung, and
among them the "Marseilles Hymn" the
"Star Spangled Banner" the Red, White, and
Blue" "Do they miss me at Home ?" &C., &c.
The gay Cavaliers continued to "prance on the
light fantastic toe,' and whirl in the giddy
mazes of the Spanish and German waltzes,
6oar Wien s6ey rersd to dre o nhar swee
hearts at homo.
few nights SINCE the Hon. John S. Phelps,
member of Congress from Missouri, stopped in
our camp. Capt. Hatch, with detachment of
the mounted rife regiment, was escorting him
to the States. i did not have an opportunity
of conversing with him, or / should have ascer-
tanned his views on the Canadian river route for
the Pacific railroad.
The larger game of the prairies, such as buff
falo, elk, &C., are scarcer this summer than
ever have known them to be on any of my
former campaigns. And yet there is enough
Of them to afford an exciting chase now and
then. The other day, my little red-headed
friend from county Monehan and myself, took
our Maynard rifles and grayhounds, and rode
out in quest of something larger than deer or
| antelope. We were fortunate enough to soon
strike upon fresh buffalo trail and, putting our
horses in a gentle hand-gallop, we started in
pursuit. We had, however galloped but few
miles, when my companion's horse began to
exhibit indications of being lame, and he went
back to camp, leaving me alone to the sport
| and the glory of the chase. had to ride but
| mile or two farther, when, attaining the summit
of gently rising ridge, and looking down into
charming vale, discovered about dozen
buffalo leisurely nipping the short, fine grass,
peculiar to this country, along the margin of a
beautiful belt of cottonwood and willows.
Here refined in my horse to let him take
breath, looked to the printing of my rife and
| midst of the party With my rife / brought
| down very fine, fat spring calf, and, drawing
my Colts revolver spread terror and dismay
| among the remainder, who went scampering
| off utterng roaring growl, or rather below,
| like low-muttered thunder. After securing the
! choice parts of the calls flesh to the cantle of
| my saddle, went leisurely down the little
stream, endeavoring to pick up an acquaint-
| ance with the saucy little animals and merry
little birds who inhabit this lovely little vale of
| the plains. But while thus pleasantly engaged,
! the sun had reached the western horizon, and
was painting the tops of the numerous wave
| like hills with bright gold-like tint. ] was
now at least fifteen miles from camp, and did
not expect the moon to show herself before mid
night. But 1 resolved to push forward, and
gain camp as soon as possible, did not relish
| the idea of spending the night alone in a wild
country, where had good reasons to believe
that hostile and savage Indians were stealthily
prowling around, although they managed to
keep away from camp and out of our sight.
| Between haste and being absorbed in rever-
les, l lost the proper course, and bore too much
to the east. Coming to deep glen, through
which ran fine little brook, I discovered that
| was lost, and determined to halt till morning.
| After having unsaddled my horse, picketed
| him on fine grass in an open space by the
| brooks edge, fed my faithful hounds on raw
stakes from my afternoon prize, broiled one for
my own supper, extinguished the FIRE, spread
| my saddle-blanket, took round stone for pill
low, and retired to repose. Wearied by neatly
thirteen hours in the saddle and the excitement,
soon found myselfin happy dream-land. When
sleep felicitously. generally live over again
the happy days of boyhood, when had near
and dear friends and the pleasures of a home
surrounding me such were my dreams on this
occasion.
About fifteen minutes after the rising Of the
moon, I was startled by the paving Of my horse
near my head. His picket-rope let him reach
with his fore.feet within q fey inches OF my
head. Opening my eyes, found my three
dogs standing near by me, their heads elevated,
necks extended, tails slowly wagging, like set
tiers Watching their prey, and whining very low.
On rising to my feet, my horse faced about
toward the hill, in the direction the dogs we're
looking. / snatched up myIarms, walked up
to my horse, patted him On the neck as signal
to maintain silence, and, in STOPPING posture,
quietly crept up the hill, and looked over, when
lol seven tall, athletic Indians, with feathers
in their head dress, war costumed, and mounted
on seven diminutive ponies, were Just passing,
Indian file, q few rods in front of me. As they
passed between me and the moon, some evil
genius suggested that ought to Pick of every