The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-01-02
600 oe on A.c.rFCiUno q co

strength. He wrenched 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"
he safd slowly. holding himself Arm.
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 CHARTERED.
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 a 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 from within his
o~vercoat. 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?"
II gave out on the Cimarron and
| came on alone"
And Custer? Did he strike Black
Kettle?"
w 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 were set up for
ten miles along the Washita. We cap
tured Black Kettles village, and de-
stroyed 10, took mis- pony herd. and
released 4 FGmber Of white prisoners.
inciudins .-ue womea and children.
There was a sharp deht, and we lost
quite a few men. 7 LETT too early to
learn how many"
And the command-is It in any
~danger?"
q 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 oil
a 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, ant
under what chiefs?"
Mostly ~Cheyennes. although there
were bands Of Arapahoes, Kiowas
Comanches. and a few Apaches. Lit
tie Rock was in command after Blacl
Kettle was killed-that is Of the Chey
ennes. Little Raven, and Santants
led the others"
"A f1end. that last. But, Sergeant
you are exhausted. ! will tain with
you tomorrow. The officer OF the day
will assign you quarters"
Hamlin. still clinging to the chat,
with one hand. lifted the other In ga
lutte. .
General Sheridan" he said, striv
Ing to control his voice. Genera
Clusters last words to me we're tina,
I was to tell you who I am. / do no
know what he meant, but he said 70,
would have news for me-"
Indeed" In surprise. s~tifYening II
his chair.
Yes. Shiny name Is Hamlin."
"Hamlin! Hamlin!" the Genera
8 repeated the word. Il have no recol
lection-why. yes. by Cad! You wer,
q a Confederate colonel"
a Fourth Texas Infantry"
That's It! l have It now: yo,
T. we're court-martialed after the anal
70 at Fishers Hill. and dismissed frop
o the Observation-Disclosures OF order.
a or something like that. Wait a mir
IL ute"
u He raped sharply on the table. an
g the door behind. leading into the othe
ID room, instantly opened to admit tn
10 orderly. In the dim light Of the SIT
d gle lamp Hamlin saw the shor
y. stocky figure Of a soldier. bearde,
10 and Immediately clean. Even as th