Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-05-30
GFor the Gallipolis Journai.l
Letter from the Far West.
FoRT HAYS, KANSAS,
Nav IA 1897

may 10, 1901.
Mr.. EDiToR-DBAR SIa:-I am not
prepared to write you at length or in
manner to place before the numer
GUS readers Of your paper. But, be-
lieving anything from the plains will
be interesting, l will write you what
| promise to be very poor letter.
l left Fort Riley on the I'd inst, with
one hundred and eighty recruits and
a number of officers, fer the different
Regiments serving in the far Vest
We also had, in our party, three
ladies-Mrs. Lieut.. Romeyn, Mrs.
Lieut.. Coffman and Miss Hawk, of
Vinton county. The journey of two
hundred miles was made in seven
days. The weather was delightful,
the scenery grand, and game in
abundance. On the whole, our jour-
ney was a very pleasant one. On
our arrival here, we found the troops
composing Gen'l Smiths command,
encamped on the Smoky Hill Fort
near the Fort. The 9th Infantry
occupying very romantic spot about
mile below the Fort, on the right
bank of the stream. We had been
in camp but two days when about II
M. of the 10th, while was deeply
interested in thrilling tale
from the pen of Mrs. NJ. E. Brad
don, l was startled and more deeply
interested, by an Orderly from Gen'l
Custer's Headquarters, announcing
that the Indians were within fifteen
miles of our camp, had burned Mon
ument Station, and medltated an at
tack on the troops here. The 37th
were ordered to move camp for the
purpose Of concentration. Orderlies
were fastening in every direction,
and in less time than it takes to write
it, most vague and incredible rumors
were afoat, coming of course, from
scouts who pretended to have seen
countless hordes of savages with
war like intent, determined to drive
the pale face from their hunting
grounds. l hastened to Headquar
ters to learn the facts, for if an at
tack was meditated, 1 wanted to get
my family within the Fort. l Learned
however, that little danger was an
ticipated, and went quietly back to
camp, calmed the fears of my agita-
ted wife, (who thought an universal
massacre was unavoidable, eat a
hearty dinner and about five o'clock
P. NJ struck tent and moved up near
the Fort, where the 37th were en-
camped. About dark, Gen'l Custer
with eight companies of the 7th Cav
airy, started for what was supposed
to be the scene of disaster. On his
arrival there, he learned that few
Indians had been seen at different
points slong the route, but not in suf-
ficient numbers to leave trail. So,
after day spent in futile attempt
to strike trail, he returned to camp
without having seen an Indian. /
cannet form an idea Of what the In
'.lans in this department will do
Gen'l Hancock gave them big scare,
and it is probable they will hang
along the different routes attacking
small trains and weak Stations to
avenge the loss of their village
News reached me this morning of
an attack on a small Station ninety
miles east of Denver City, resulting
in the troops being driven off and
the burning of the Station. 1t needs
confirmation however. The army
at this place is comparatively mac
tive; the Indians are broken and
scattered, so as to render pursuit
with any hope of success utterly i'm
possible. The troops will, in a short
time, be distributed along the differ
ent routes with one and two compa.
nies at a post. Company H, 37th
Infantry, Lieut. Coffman command
ing, is now ordered to -Downer's Sta
ton, fifty miles west of here, to re-
main during the summer. No other
orders have been received yet, and l
DO not know where the Reg't will be
sent. l would like to write you more
at length, giving you description
of the country, buffalo hunting, DC,
but my time for writing is limited
Yeu will hear from me again.
Yours, &c,
IN-COG.