The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-07-05

the Sixth and Seventeenth United State
infantry, commanded by Brevet-MaJo
sanger, and a company OF the Twentieth
United States infantry, numbering abou
24-pound Napoleon, one three-inch Rod
man, and two gatling guns. The driver
were cavairyInen, and the c~annoneers wer'
a detachment of the Twentieth Unitet
Chance, a very brave and efficient infantr,
officer. We also had about 80 scouts, mad
up of Reeves, Sioux, Crows and Santees
We had about $50 teams loaded with for
age, ammunition and ~rations for the com
mand.
The morning of the 18th of May we pre-
pared to make a move. Custer sent hi
own wagons ahead with the infantry. Tht
cavalry passed in review through Fort A
Lincoln, where a great many officers ano
enlisted men took a last look at their wives
and sweethearts.
In marching through the forts first came
the scouts under command of Lieutenant
Varnum, with Head Chief Bloody Knife
and Charlie Reynolds and Fred Grad, tive
white scouts, and liar Dorman, the Negro
interpreter from Fort Rice.
Off for the Yellowstone
Then came General Custer and his staff
next came the Seventh cavalry band, all
mounted on their magnificent gray horses
playing one of Clusters favorite battle
tunes, "Garryowen." Next came the Sev-
enth cavalry, marching columns of pla-
IOOuS, WltQ lAelI SuluOuS lllluG III lutll
horses prancing. All the companies wore
broad-brimmed SLOUGH hats, some black
and others gray. The regiment never look
ed better, as all the men were in good
spirits.
Our march was in the direction of the
Yellowstone river. After leaving the fort
we made a halt for a short time and the
officers and some of the men were allowed
to go back to the fort and say goodbye
to their wives and sweethearts. Mount"
and forward" was sounded, and we swung
our saddles and the band played 1.-THE
Girl l Left Behind Me-
Soon after leaving the fort we encoun-
tered heavy rains, which made our progress
the heavy wagon trains very slow.
When we reached the Big Heart river we
camped for two days. There the paymas-
ter Joined us under an escort of infantry,
enlivened the boys hearts with about
four months pay. If he had paid at the
fort some of the troopers would undoubted-
" have desertd.
Leaving the Big Heart river, we reached
the little Missouri, where we camped for
i've days. While at this camp General
with four companies of the Seventh
regiment, Company M, Captain French;
A., Captain Moylan; Company b,
McDougal, and Company K, Lieu
5enant Godfrey, went on a five days scout
expedition up the Little Missouri.
See Indian Signs
We saw a few signals of Indians, but
lothing to indicate anything of import
lnce on the part of the Indians. A few
,uffalo were killed, but the scout on the
whole proved uneventful. Resuming our
march, we struck into the bad lands This
s a broken and desolate country abound
ng in lava beds and other traves of vol
anic action.
This strip known as the bad lands runs
lorthwest from the Black Hills, and is a
trip of territory about so miles long and
bout 50 miles in width. / passed through
his section on five different occasions. At
distance, and when approaching this dis !
riot, the barren earth, with it's high ridges
nd ascents and descents, resembles the
of a large city. We marched through
his section with great difficulty, for the
reater portion of the way we were obliged