Cheyenne record., 1913-09-25

and he stood straight before them, ev-
cry nerve taut-a soldier
I bring dispatches from Custer"
he 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 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 f\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. I was
sent back with an Usage guide to
bring you this report"
And the guide?"
He gave out on the Cimarron and
l came on alone"
"And Custer? Did he strike Black
Kettle"
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 1t; took his pony herd, and
released 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 1t in any
danger?"
'I 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
-
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 killed-that Is of the Chey.
ennes. Little Raven. and Santanta
led the Others"
"A fiend, that last. But, Sergeant,
you are exhausted. l 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 sa-
lutte.
General Sheridan" he said, striv.
ing to control his voice, General
Custer's last words to me were that
l was to tell you who l am. 1 do not
know what he meant, but he said you
would have news for me-"
Indeed" in surprise. stiffening in
his chair.
"Yes, sir-my name is Hamlin."
"Hamlin! Hamlin!" the General
repeated the word. II have no recol.
lection-why. yes, by Cad! You were
Confederate colonel"
Fourth Texas Infantry"
That's It! I have it now: Won
we're court-martialed after the affair
at Fishers HILL and dismissed from
the service-disobedien of orders.
or something like that Wait a min.
ute."
He raped sharply on the table, and
the door behind, leading into the other
room, instantly opened to admit the
orderly. In the dim light of the sin
gle lamp Hamlin saw the short.
stocky figure of soldier, bearded,
and Immediately clean. Even as the