The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1913-11-27
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aonS sIukSl0 Drought ulm new
strength. He vrenched his feet free
from the stirrups. and ran forward.
calling to the guard They met him.
and he stood straight before them. ev-
cry nerve taut-a soldier.
i bring dispatches from Custer"
ne said slowly. holding himself firm.
Take me to General Sheridan"
The corporal walked beside him.
down the trampled road. questioning
eagerly as they passed the line of
shacks toward the double log house
where the commander was quartered.
Hamlin 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 disfgured 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 rrom 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. was
sent back with an Usage guide to
bring you This report"
And the guide?'
He gave out on the Cimarron and
came on alone"
And Custer? Did he strike Black
Kettle?"
We 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
hnd-between two and three thou.
sand, warriors from all the southern
tribes. Their tepees we're set up for
ten miles along the Washita. We cap
tured Black Kettles village, and de-
stroyed 1t; took his pony herd, and
released a number of white prisoners,
including some women and children.
There was sharp fight, and we lost
quite few men; 1 left too early to
learn how many"
And the commands 1t in any
danger?"
Il 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 ELI.
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 kiiled-that is of the Chev.
ennes. Little Raven, and Santanta
led the Others"
"A fiend, 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 chair
with one hand. lifted the other in "a.
Lutte.
General Sheridan he said. striv
ing to control his voice, General
Clusters last words to me were tina,
| was to tell you who am. l do no,
know what he meant, but he said Won
would have news for me-"
Indeed" in surprise, stiffenine in
his chair.
Yes, sir-my name is Hamlin."
! "Hamlin! Hamlin!" the Genera,
repeated the word. "I have no recol
lection-why. yes. by Cad! You were
Confederate colonel"
Fourth Texas Infantry"
That's II! l have 1t now: vo,;
were court-martialed after the anal,
at Fishers Hill. and dismissed from
the service-disobedie of orders
! or something like that Wait a min
ute."
He raped sharply on the table, and
the door behind. leading into the othe,
room. instantly opened to admit the
orderly. In the dim light of the sin
gle lamp Hamlin saw the short
l stocky figure Of soldier bearded
and Immediately clean. Even as the