Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-09-25

HamIin heard, and answered briefly,
yet was conscious only Of an effort to
retain his strength. Once within, he
saw only the short, sturdy figure sit
ting behind q table, the shaggy gray
beard, the stern, questioning eyes
which surveyed him. He stood there
straight, motionless, his uniform pow
dered with snow, his teeth clinched
so as not to betray weakness, his
face roughened by exposure; grimy
with dirt, and disfigured by a weeks
growth Of beard. Sheridan stared at
him, shading his eyes from the glow
Of the lamp.
"You are from Custer?"
."Yes, SIR"
He drew the papers nom within his
overcoat, stepped forward and laid
them on the table. Sheridan placed
one hand upon them, but did not re-
move his gaze from Hamlin's face.
when did you leave"
"The evening Of the 9th, sir. I was
sent back with an Usage guide to
UIlub yOu tuiD TcpOII.
"And the guide?"
HE gave out on the Cimarron and
I came on Hlone."
HAnd Custer? Did he strike Black
Kettlei"
I'VE found his camp on the evening
OF the 26th, and attacked at daybreak
the next morning. There were more
Indians with him than we expected to
find-between two and three thou
sand, warriors from all the southern
tribes. Their tepees were set up for
ten miles along the Washita. We cap
tured Black Kettles village, and de-
stroyed It; took bis pony herd, and
released q number of white prisoners,
including some women and children.
There was sharp fight, and We lost
quite = few men; left too early to
learn how many"
"And the commands It In any
dangerT
II think not, sir. General Custer
was confident he could retire safely.
The Indians were thoroughly whipped,
and apparently had no chief under
whom they could rally"
The General opened the single sheet
Of paper, and ran his eyes slowly
down the lines of writing. Hamlin.
feeling his head reel giddily, reached
out silently and grasped the back of
chair in support. Sheridan glanced
up.
General Custer reports Major ELL
OFT as missing and several officers
badly wounded"
YES, sir"
what Indians were engaged, and
under what chiefs?"
Mostly Cheyennes, although there
were bands of Arapahoes, Kiowas
Comanches, and few Apaches. Lit
tie Rock was in command after Black
Kettle was killed-that is Of the Chey
ennes. Little Raven. and Santanta
led the others"
"A fend, that last. But, Sergeant
you are exhausted. I will talk with
you tomorrow. The officer Of the day
will assign you quarters"
Hamlin, still clinging to the chail
with one hand. lifted the other in sa
lutte.
General Sheridan" he said, striv
ing to control his voice, Genera
Clusters last words to me were tha
was to tell you who am. do no
know what he meant, but he said 20,
would have news for me-"
Indeed" in surprise. stiffening IL
his chair.
Yes. sir-my name Is Hamlin."
"Hamlin! Hamlin!" the Genera
repeated the word. 81 have NO recol
lection-why. yes, by Gadi You wer
Confederate colonel"
Fourth Texas Infantry"
That's It'll have It now; 20,
. were concentrated after the Anal
J at Fishers Hill. and dismissed fror
} the service-disobedie Of orders
! or something like that. Wait a mir
ute"
He raped sharply on the table, an
: the door behind. leading into the othe
room, instantly opened to admit tn
. orderly In the dim light of the sill
gle lamp Hamlin saw the shor
:. stocky figure of soldier. bearded
Q and Immediately clean. Even as tn