The National tribune., 1899-11-16

On the last stretches Of our march, near
Elk Point our detachment camped out in
nup-tents, and We're overtaken by a regu-
lar Dakota blizzard lasting two days.
Lots OF our stock froze to death. The
thermometer dropped to below zero, and
many OF our men had frosted fingers. toes,
noses, and ears; all were thinly clad, and all
suffered. Many men had TO be taken to
the hospital as soon as we got in.
Nov. 25.-We are at Sioux City, Iowa.
We are not to be mustered out, as we ex-
pected. The boys are very mad, and
blame our officers. The battalion has been
divided and assigned to Winter quarters.
Capt. Phelps and Co. A are to remain in
Sioux City; Capt. Reed and Co. B 90 to
Spirit Lake, Iowa; Capt. Shelly and Co. C
go TO Fort Randall, Dakota, and Capt.
Barton and Co. d go to Sioux Falls, Da-
kota.
Gen. Sully, commanding Department
Of Dakota, with his staff, has his head
quarters at Sioux City. Mai. a. b. Brack-
eft, coInmandant of fort, with staff. are also
at Sioux City. All the non-commissioned
staff are quartered in a log building called
the Hog House." on the banks OF the
river near the mouth Of Prairie Creek
We are jolly good crowd, as always here
tOfore. We draw our ratious. have our
cooking done, and take our meals at the
home Of Mrs. Brittinghouse, a widow
that is, part Of our company; the rest eat
at the house Of an Irish family by name
of Kelly. The old man is quite a wag,
and there are some pretty girls in the
family.
! am detailed to extra duty again, and
have charge of the Government post har-
ness shop All our saddles, harness, and
leather accouterments are to be repaired.
washed, oiled, and sold at auction,
which comes off each month, as advertised;
also, horses, mules, and oxen are to he
sold. We have large corral here, with
high boarded fence.
The work a. the harness shop is done
by citizens, hired for the occasion, who
get $50 per month and rations, with all
tools furnished. l have charge of the
cutting and fitting, at s16 per month and
found; no extra pay, but lots of honor for
bossng. We all expect to have an easv
time this Winter, but would prefer to 90
home and be mustered out
Dec. 6.-We have been paid off, and
have settled up and paid our debts, and
have some money left. Sioux CITY is a
rough and fast town; lots of saloons and
gambling places, all run wide open. Our
headquarters are in a frame building on
Main street, alongside of Mr.. Shuster's
liquor store. Serg't-Maj. Eugene Mar
Shall has been discharged, and gone home,
and E. ID. PEBBLE has been appointed in his
place.
Discipline is very slack. Many men
and officers have gone home on furlouph.
and all the sick and disabled soldiers have
been discharged. The weather is very
cold, and we are having a good deal of
snow. An thopy Myers. Of Co. A, was
stabbed in the abdomen during drunken
row, and is expected to die.
We are having easy times, and feel en-
titled TO our rest after our hard campaign.
We marched during this year, according
to our roadometer, 1880 miles; not SO
far as last year, but it was harder on men
and horses than it was the year before.
on account Of the hard country and door
water. This years march used I'D full
as many men and animals as that of last
year, and there is sickness now. There
are many cases Of scurvy among the
men.
When we came in off our trip our mess
decided to sell our joint stock investment
the COW. She had gone dry, but was as
fat as could be, and We sold her to butcher
named Webster. When he slaughtered
her we, ont of curiosity. bought some of the
meat for trial. We expected treat, but
the animal had travelled and carried her
pack SO far that the accumulated meat
and fat was like that of a work-ox, and was
tough as sole-leather.
(To be continued)
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