The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1913-10-30

where the commander was quartered.
Hamlin heard, and answered briefly, |
yet was conscious only OF all 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. Hs 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 dishguren by weeks
growth OF beard. Sheridan stared at
him, shading his eyes from the glow
of the lamp.
'You are from Custer?"
Eyes, sir"
He drew the papers from 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
I came on alone.'
And Custer? Did he strike Black
Kettle?"
1--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 tc
find-between two and three thou
sand, warriors from all the southern
tribes. Their tepees We're. set up for
ten miles along the Waslii!a We cap
tured Black Kettles village, and de-
stroyed it; took his pony herd, and
released a number Of white prisoners.
/, including some women and children.
There was a sharp fight, and we lost
T. quite a few men: l left too early to
learn how many"
"And the command--is it in any
l danger?"
= 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 shee
of paper, and ran his eyes slowly
) down the lines of writing. Hamlin
feeling his head reel giddily, reached
l. out silently and grasped the back o
e a chair in support. Sheridan glanced
up.
General Custer reports Major ELI
OFT as missing and several officer
badly wounded"
Eyes, SIR
"What Indians were engaged, an
under what chiefs?"
mostly Cheyennes although Their
we're bands of Arapahoes, Kiowas
Comanches, and few Apaches Ii
tie Rock was in command after Blac
Kettle was l1illed-that is of the Che,
ennes. Little Raven, and Santant
led the Others"
"a fiend, that last But, sergean
you are exhausted l will talk wit
you tomorrow. The officer of the da
will assign you quarters"
Hamlin, still clinging to the cha
with one hand lifted the other In s
lutte.
General Sheridan" he said, st1l
, ing to control his voice, "Gener
81 Clusters last words to me were tn
I was to tell you who l am. l do II
know what he meant, but he said "
would have news for me"
"Indeed!" in surprise, stiffening
his chair.
eyes, Shiny name,is IIamlin."
"Hamlin. Hamlin!" the Genel
ng repeated the word. II have no rec
m lection-why. yes, by Cad! You we
EN- a Confederate colonel"
a Fourth Texas Infantry"
lat "That's it! ! have it now; Y
TIFF. were court-martialed after the aft
use at Fishers Hill, and dismissed FRI
nto the service-disobedien of orde
a or something like that. Wait m
iall ute"
Of He raped sharply on the table, a
ing the door behind, leading into the OIL
red room, instantly opened to admit
the orderly. In the dim light of the :
had gle lamp Hamlin saw the sh'
uty. stocky figure of soldier, beard
the and Immediately clean. Even as