The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1913-11-07
the mouth or buffalo Creek

| the mouth or BUFFALO Creek"
; Custer drew the map toward haua
scrutinizing 1t carefully.
You may be right. OF course" ~
| commented, his glance on h faces Of
| the officers, but this does not agree
with the understanding at Camp Sup
ply. nor the report Of our Indian
scouts. We supposed Black Kettle to
be farther south on the Washita. How
large was the pony herdY"
I'VE were not near enough to count
the animals, sir, but there must have
been two hundred head"
"A large party then. at least. What
do you say, Corbin?"
The scout addressed. conspicuous
in his buffalo skin coat. leaned against
the tent-pole, his black whiskers NOV
ing industriously as he chewed.
wal. Gineral." he said slowly. q"
know this yere Brick Hamlin, an
he's a right smart plainsman. sojer 'er
no sojer. II he says he saw tibet pony
herd, then he sure did. Thet mean a
considerable bunch O Injuns thar. er
tharabouts. Now / know Black Ket-
ties outfit is down on the washita. %
the only conclusion is that this yere
band tibet the Sergeant stirred up u
some new tribe Or other. a-driftin'
down frum the north. l reckon II We
ride up her valley we'll hit their trail,
an It'll lead straight down to them
C~heyennes."
Custer took time to consider this
explanation. spreading the field map
out on his snees. and measuring the
distance between the streams. No
one In the little group spoke. although
several leaned forward eagerly. The
chief was not a man to ask advice; he
preferred to decide for himself. Sud
denly he Strengthened up and threw
back his head to look about.
In my judgment Corbin Is right,
gentlemen he said impetuously. Il
had intended crossing here, but I'm
stead we will go further up stream.
There is doubtless Z ford near Buffalo
Creek. and II we can strike an Indian
trail leading to the Washita, we can
follow easily by night, or day. and II
Is bound to terminate at Black ket'
ties camp. Return to your troops
and be ready to march at daybreak.
Major Elliott, you will take the ad-
vance again. at least three hours
ahead Of the main column. Move with
caution, your fankers well out; both
Hamlin and Corbin will go with you.
Are there any questionsr'
Full field equipment" asked a
voice.
Certainly, although In case OF 60
ing into action the overcoats will be
discarded. Look over your ammuni'
ton carefully tonight"
They filed u of the tent n by
one, some Of the older officers paus-
ing a moment to speak with Hamlin
his own captain extending his hand
cordially. with a warm word OF com
mendation. The Sergeant and Major
Elliott alone remained.
IF | strike a fresh trail, General"
asked the latter, am | to press for
ward or wait for the main body?"
Send back a courier at once. bu,
advance cautiously, careful not to ex
pose yourselves. There is to be nc
attack except in surprise. and with
full force. This Is important, Major
as we are doubtless outnumbered, ter
to one. Was there something else
Sergeant"
II was going to ask about Miss Nc
Donald, sir?~
"Oh, yes; she is safely on her way
to Camp Supply, under ample guard
The convoy was to stop on the Gin
arron, and pick up the frozen sol
der you left there, and II possible
find the bodies OF the two dead men
Long before daylight Elliott's ad
vance camp was under arms, thu
chilled and sleepy troopers moving
forward through the drifted snow o
the north bank; the wintry wind
sweeping down the valley, stung theil
faces and benumbed their bodies. The
night had been cold and blustery, pro
ductive OF little comfort to either mar
or beast, but hope of early action ami
mated the troopers and made them OBJ
llvious to hardship. There was littl'
grumbling in the ranks, and by day
break the head of the long column
came opposite the opening into tn
valley wherein Hamlin had overtakel
the fugitives. With Corbin besid
him, the Sergeant spurred his pom
aside. but there was little to see; tn
bodies of the dead lay as they ha
fallen, black blotches On the snow
but there we're no fresh trails t
show that either Dupont, or any Ind
t an ally, had returned to the spot.
+ That's evidence enough, Brick
4 commented the scout, staring abou
warily, that thar wus no permaner
0 camp over thar" waving his hand Il
ward the crest Of the ridge. "Thel
n redskins was on the march, an ths
geezer had ter follow EN-. er els
starve to death. He'd a bin back afor
this, an on yer trail with q bunch