The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-01-19
= n the fan Of 1866 General sherman

/ and the Indian commissioners
! who were to make a treaty with
the Arapahoes and Comanches In
southwestern Kansas came to Fort
Zarrah on the Arkansas river From
there they were to go to what was
known as Council Springs. distance
of sixty-6ve miles from Zarrah. Be-
tween Zarrah and the Springs Is Tat.
level country, but no water Is to be
had. Consequently there was no water
carried save for drinking purposes,
which was carried In canteens In the
amhulances. for the generals orders
were that he would leave Fort Zarrah
at 2 a. m. so as to get q good start
over this dry country.
Our chief Of scouts and guide at that
time was Dick Curtis. The outfit was
composed Of three ambulances. with
saddle horses for the general and In.
dian commissioners, and when the gen
eral and commissioners were riding in
the ambulances their saddle horses
were led by orderlies The general
had three or four staff officers. a com.
pany Of cavalry as an escort and about
thirty scouts and messengers well
| mounted. These scouts and messen
gers duty was that whenever the gen
eral wished to send any quick dis
patches back TO Fort Riley. at that
time the nearest telegraph point, these
men were to carry them. ! was at the
time young scout employed for this
purpose.
81 1t was about 2 O'Clock In the after
noon. after leaving the fort. that
young officer. one Of the generals aids.
was riding along talking to me and
asking me about when thought we
were going to get to Council Springs,
: where the Indians were. | told him
d that IL we kept on In the direction w
4 were going we would never get there
He asked, why noty' ! replied that
we were not going IN the direction Of
: the Springs: that we were bearing to-
far to the west.
He said: why don't you tell the
general this? He Is up there In the
( ambulance" I told him (the officer
that | was not guiding General Sher.
man: that Mr.. Curtis was the guide
= and that had no right TO interfere
4 with him whatever. nor did | intend
10 to do so. This young officer Il have
forgotten his namel tumbled 10 the
- situation, and. galloping ahead. be rode
er alongside the ambulance and told the
n general what had said and explained
to him my reasons for not mentioning
'l the situation. The general appreciated
10 Il at once and called halt. climbed
out OF the ambulance. sent for Mr.
Curtis to come back to him. and alsc
:. for the scouts TO come up. Of whom
e, was one. He laid out large map or
IN the ground. and when we all got neal
him be said TO Mr.. Curtis:
~ II wish you would show me on thi'
map Just where we ere"
N Mr. Curtis told him. which was pc.
:: sectly true. that the maps were all -
~ Incorrect that It was impossible to q
on By them.
ke The general remarked: well. then
Mr.. Curtis. how far are we from tn
" springsi From the distance we hay'
I'M Travelled since leaving Zarrah AZ
ca o'clock this morning we should b
y, very near them"
Mr.. Curtis replied: General. this !
- a very level country. as you can see
We There are no landmarks. and there or
re, so many thousands of bunaloes n
ok over the prairie that II Is pretty har
10 tell lust where We are aid how Il
- We are from the Springs. Furthei
more. I have not been over 20 III
Springs for several years. and whe
III. last went there was not acting a
m. guide. Consequently feel that J a.
y. rather lost myself"
old The general. looking az the oths
led scouts. said. do any Of you knot
de where the Springs areY' The youn
~ ~, officer had pointed me out to the ger
n,s eral. and he was looking straight .
civ me when he asked the question.
zen said. "Yes, general: ] know whei
nto the Springs are"
re- How far are we from them" nske
ret the general told him about eigh
~ cen miles.
wn He asked IN what direction. and
10 answered, saying they were due soui
70 from Us now and we we're head,
lie dead west. Dick Curtis SPOKE up NJ
TIC said. BILLY. when were you ever o
sses 10 the springsT
, n told him had been there on "
nsii or three different occasions with Cha
,ou. lie Rath. the Indian trader. and b.
nars killed many buifaloes all over this con
ling try The general called for bis hor'
IRE. mounted II and said Young man, 81
, come and show me the Springs. v
j u ride with you. Mr. Curtis. come alof
~ No disrespect 20 you. sir ] appi
led. ciate how hard II Il for one 20 end
.f,a way IN a country where there are
iici. landmarks. level as the sea and CO
n cred with buffaiocs"
FAX ! headed due south. the general z
I ~ ing by my side. and during this II
mis- the general asked me many question:
,n,o how came 10 know this country
Pre- well, etc. ! told him that my fatt
,.ss had been killed IN the border ruff
me- war OF bleeding Kansas and that sir
nr,. mis- death had grown up on the plai
Dost with the freigbters. trappers. buzz