it hot-it was upset into my shoe, and on pulling | seemed nature had ineffectually struggled to conoff the stocking it so happened that the skin came vert a sandy desert into a prairie. There was a with it. Being thus hors du combat, I sought to scanty and dwarfish growth of wiry grass, brown enter the combat on a horse; which was allowed; and withered, amid the white sand. On we marched, but I was put in command of the rear guard, to under a fiery sun, facing a burning wind. Not a bring up the baggage train. It grew late, and the tree, not a shrub, nor the slightest indication of wagons were slowly crossed; for the river unluckily water, could be seen in a view apparently illimitatook that particular time to rise fast, and before all ble in every direction. Thus we struggled on nnwere over we had to swim it, and by moonlight. til noon, when the panting oxen, with lolling tongues, By doubling the teams in succession, some of the seemed incapable of proceeding. A halt was made, animals could touch and pull, whilst others swam. and they were taken from the wagons, but stood I was thus two hours in the river, mounted on a motionless; the wind blew a gale, a true sirocco. horse, with my lame foot across his neck. When We sought every cover to avoid it. A messmatesafely over, I found that three companies had one of those unfortunates who prefer the dark side marched on, and we slowly followed. Awkwardly of a picture, and croak when a cheerful word of mounted as I was, I was seized with an invincible encouragement is needed-gave vent to his despropensity to sleep; and once having mistaken a pondency, and sought to engender discontent and sand hillock for the rearmost wagon, and halted, I fearful apprehensions; he predicted we would lose took quite a nap before my men discovered the our baggage train, if not our lives, in the desert state of the case. We reached the encampment Indignant, and without a better answer, perhaps, I at 1 o'clock at night. All was quiet, and remained undertook to prophesy, and actually foretold the so until dawn, when, at the sound of our bugles, exact event, viz: that, pushing on, within ten miles the pickets reported they saw a number of Indians we would find water and grass in some hollow, and moving off. On looking around us we perceived buffalo too. After marching about that distance. ourselves and the caravan in the most unfavorable, we came to the sandy bed of a dry creek, and found defenceless situation possible-in the area of a natu- in it, not distant from our course, a pool of water, ral amphitheatre of sand hills about 50 feet high, and an acre or two of fine grass. On the surface and within gun-shot all around. There was the of the water floated thick the dead bodies of small narrowest practicable entrance and outlet. fish, which the heat of the sun had that day deWe ascertained that some mounted traders, in stroyed. After encamping we saw a few buñala, spite of all remonstrance or command, had ridden attracted doubtless by the water; and several were on in advance, and when in the narrow pass beyond killed. Beyond our hopes, all our necessities were this spot, had been suddenly beset by about fifty thus ministered to; it seemed a special providence. mounted Indians; all fled and escaped, save one, Next morning Major R. determined to march no who, mounted on a mule, was abandoned by his farther into the Mexican territory. The traders companions, overtaken, and slain. He was a Mr. | held a council, and nearly half of them at first deLamb, the largest capitalist and owner of the com- termined to remain likewise, and spend the sampany. The Indians perhaps equalled the traders mer with us. To combat this pusillanimous resoin number; but notwithstanding their extraordinary lution, we took the utmost pains; it seemed that we advantage of ground, dared not attack them when were about to lose our time and property, and be they made a stand among the wagons; and the disgraced, and not themselves. They were finally latter, all well armed, were afraid to make a single talked and shamed out of it. charge, which would have scattered their enemies like sheep.

The sirocco still continuing, by enveloping a t bucket with cotton cloths kept well wetted, we cotHaving buried the poor fellow's body, and killed verted a hot and disgusting fluid into “ice water;" an ox for breakfast, we left this sand hollow, which and with the further comforts of buffalo hump and would soon have been roasting hot, and advanced marrow bone, we passed a pleasant day in the Little through the defile, of which we took care to oc- oasis, and the sufferings of yesterday were forgotcupy the commanding ground, and proceeded to ten. Fortunate constitution of the mind-happy escort the traders at least one day's march farther. life, where pain but gives a greater zest to the These "Sand-Hills" compose a strip of country fleeting pleasure! found occasionally a few miles off, on the Mexican side of the river, and where its valley has no abrupt boundary; they are irregular hillocks of the loosest sand, seemingly formed by the sport of the wind. There is scarce a sign of vegetation, and they present an aspect as wild and desolate, and as little American, as possible.

Emerging from the hills, we found ourselves on the verge of a vast plain, nearly level, where it

At the first light next day, we were in motion to return to the river and the American line, and so further adventure befel us, save a night alarm, ecasioned by a sentinel firing at a noble setter deg. which luckily he did not hit; the men turned out and took their places with the quiet precision of veterans, as they were.

The vicinity of Chouteau's island is further remarkable for a timbered bottom, which stands of

posite its foot on the American side. We had seen the rear on the river opposite Chouteau's island; none other after leaving Council Grove, 300 miles back, although now and then we had passed pleasant open groves on the river bank. The battalion encamped immediately on the river opposite the island, a few hundred yards above the timber.

the prairie hills skirted the river for miles, at a distance of about 500 yards; along its banks above, were trees enough nearly to conceal the prairies beyond. I was officer of the guard of forty men, stationed about 150 paces in front. About 2 o'clock, While here, the terms of service of four men when all the cattle and our few horses were graexpired, and they were discharged; and contrary zing about a mile off above, under charge of five to all advice, determined to return to Missouri. men, an alarm of a great uproar and yelling was After marching several hundred miles over a prai- suddenly heard. I and my guard sprang into ranks, rie country, and often on high hills commanding a and looking to the left, saw the cattle rushing tovast prospect, without seeing a human being, or the wards the camp, followed by between 400 and 500 sign of one; and, save the trail we followed, not mounted Indians, who, decked in paint and feathers, the slightest indication that the country had ever uttering horrid yells, brandishing spears, and firing been visited by man, it was exceedingly difficult to guns, and riding at full speed, seemed about to make credit that lurking foes were generally around us, an intrepid charge. At the first instant I conceived and spying our motions. It was so with these I was entering into a very doubtful battle, and remen; and being armed they set out on the 1st of viewed in thought all the actions of my life; in the August on foot for the settlements. That same next, seeing that the "light" company (armed with night, three of the four returned. They reported a kind of rifle unloaded) was ordered to advance to that after walking about fifteen miles, they were oppose the first onset of the enemy, I reflected they surrounded by thirty mounted Indians. A wary might easily be cut to pieces, and that the cattleold soldier of their number succeeded in extricating guard too were exposed to instant destruction, and them before any hostile act had been committed; I asked for permission to advance with my combut one of them, perhaps highly elated and pleased at their forbearance, or led on by some blind fatality, insisted on returning among them to give them tobacco and shake hands. In this friendly act he was shot down. The Indians stripped him in an incredibly short time, and as quickly dispersed to avoid a shot; and the old soldier, after cautioning the others to reserve their fire, did fire among them, and probably with some effect. Had the others done the same, the Indians would have rushed upon them before they could have reloaded. They managed to make good their retreat in safety

to our camp.

mand, with loaded muskets; it was granted; and I set off in double-quick-time to meet the Indians, and endeavor to avert these calamities. As we were about to meet the foremost Indians they branched off, firing on us as they ran, which in view of the main body I scarcely noticed, but kept steadily on until I found they were all playing the same game; and the whole opened out at a respectful distance, like buffalo, and fled or charged far clear of my flanks, except a body of them which seemed stationary, more than a half mile in advance. The company to my left had met the cattleguard, and they were saved, with the exception of On the 2d, Captain W., myself, and fifty men, one man, who had received eleven wounds. I were ordered to take a guide and proceed to search looked back and saw the camp surrounded, at a refor and bury the body. We marched about fifteen spectful distance, by the Indians, all in rapid momiles; our guide became bewildered, led us seve- tion, a part still in pursuit of a body of cattle, rushral miles from the river, and could not find the ing along the sand-bars and island, and heard two body. We were then suffering much for water; companies, formed in rear of the camp, firing at Dr. N. particularly, who vomited frequently, and them regularly by platoon. I then marched round seemed to think he could neither stand, walk, nor towards the front of the camp, which was wholly ride. Our course was then directed to the river. exposed; the 6-pounder, as we passed, threw a So great was the suffering, and the eagerness to round shot over our heads, and I saw it strike just reach water, that the party became strung out, ac- in the midst of the body of the enemy which recording to their strength, in quite a sauve qui peut mained above, perhaps a mile from the piece; it style. The river water was very muddy and very made a great commotion amongst them. The warm; the doctor could not drink-his stomach piece was then directed against the enemy gallopwould not bear it; but he threw himself in, and laying four or five hundred yards off, along the hill a long while to relieve nature by absorption. We side in front; the grape-shot struck like hail among got to camp from our unsuccessful expedition about 10 o'clock at night, as weary a set of fellows as ever marched.

them, but seemed to hit but one. I then saw a company advancing in pursuit far beyond the right flank, and a bugle signal, "double-quick," was August 3, 1829. This morning a large party sounded from the camp; but of course they could were sent out, with the same object, under Lieu- not overtake a mounted enemy, but entered the tenant I., who took other guides. The battalion woods to their right. The Indians were now bewas encamped in the order of the Regulations, with yond fire, though to be seen in every direction over

CHAPTER VIII.

the country; but they gradually drew off, assembled which were crossing to the carcasses of horses and on the hills beyond the river, fired a volley, gave a cattle which had been killed. I am certain I could general yell, and disappeared. They carried off not now distinguish their motion in shallow water their dead, afterwards ascertained to be nine in from that of horses. number. Our loss was one man mortally wounded, and fifty oxen and twelve horses killed or driven off. On my first advance I saw an Indian handsomely After the attack of August 3d, our camps were mounted on a gray horse, gaudily ornamented with formed in an order more suitable to our circumstanfeathers, conspicuous for his rapid action and loud ces; in a square open at the corners; a company commands. A corporal on the right of my detach-in a single row of tents on each side; and across ment was so much struck with him, that, unob- | the angles, slightly masking the flanks of each comserved, he came to a halt and took a deliberate pany, were four rows of wagons; the whole formshot at him; but, I believe, came much nearer hit-ing a kind of octagon. The cattle, always yoked, ting myself. The Indians who dashed by the rear were grazed at a more cautious distance, and at under a sharp fire, extended themselves completely night were tied to the wagon wheels. on their horses, hanging by their left legs and arms, We were instructed to wait here for the return to which shields were attached, which thus partly of the caravan, expected early in October. Our covered themselves and their horses' necks. Ex- provisions consisted of salt, and half rations of cited as they were, they seemed the best of horse-flour, (besides a reserve of fifteen days' full rations.) men; and rushed up and down places which few and as to the rest we were dependent upon huntpersons in cool blood would think of attempting. ing. When buffalo became scarce, or grass bad, A number of horses and cattle were killed around. we marched to other ground; thus roving up and One of the Indian horses was at one time in our down the river for 80 miles. The first thing after possession; and one gun and a bow and quiver were encamping each company, we dug and constructed, found on the ground. with flour barrels, a well in their front; water was always found at the depth of from two to four feet;

but clear and cool. Next we would build sod fireplaces; these, with net-work platforms of buffalo hide, for the purpose of smoking and drying meat, formed a tolerable additional defence—at least against mounted men.

We now felt some little uneasiness for our detachment, though so well commanded. It soon re-varying with the corresponding height of the river; turned; having heard the cannonading, they were hastened on; but unluckily could not arrive in time to meet the Indians retreating from the right flank. These Indians, who thus, from education and on principle avoided our bold opposition-had we wavered or fled, would have proved the fiercest and most formidable pursuing enemy perhaps in the world. Their plan seemed to have been to cut off the cattle and their guard by a combined movement of two divisions; the one moving over the hills on our side of the river, the other hidden by trees from beyond the river, to meet the first. It was in a great measure disconcerted, by the first party making its appearance too soon; but it was still a surprise.

Hunting was a military duty, done by detail; parties of fifteen or twenty going out with a wagon. They threw out three or four hunters, and remained under arms for the purpose of protecting them, &c. Completely isolated, and beyond support, or even communication, self-dependent in any emergency that might arise, and in the midst of many thousands of Indians whose concentration our long stay seemed to invite, the utmost vigilance was maintained. Officer of the guard every fourth night, Late that night I received a report from the rear I was always awake, and generally in motion the that the Indians were gathered close by for a rush whole night. Night alarms were frequent; when, upon the camp; a sergeant was ready to swear to all sleeping in their clothes, we were accustomed it, as he had distinctly heard hundreds of horses to assemble instantly, and with scarcely a word crossing the river to the island, which was near by, spoken, take our places in the grass in front of each and the water very shallow. I instantly proceeded face of the camp; where, however wet, we someto the spot with a platoon: whilst patrolling up and times lay for hours. I never failed for months to down through the high rank grass, leading the men, sleep in pantaloons and moccasins, with pistols, and with a pistol in one hand and my sword in the a loose woollen coat for pillow; my sword stuck in other, I felt conscious of a want of prudence in the ground in the mouth of the tent, with my cap being clothed in white, while all the men had great-upon the hilt; and although I have often slept uncoats, and expected at each moment to receive an disturbed at the firing of a cannon thirty paces off, arrow or a shot; but no discoveries could be made here, always after the firing of a musket, if 500 in a quarter of a mile along the bank. I then heard yards off, in less than ten seconds I was out of my myself what I thought must certainly be the noise tent, prepared to perform my duty. of horsemen fording the river, and the battalion was quietly put under arms; but nothing happened; and it was afterwards ascertained to be wolves,

campaigns," of a similar false alarm occasioned by wolves General Henry Lee tells a story, in his “Southern galloping in a river bottom at night.

gloom over nature and over the spirits of our little band; and rumors of a life lost by cowardice and misconduct seemed to be strangely amongst us, although no man was heard to utter a word to create them. A corpse lay on the earth in our midst, and a voice for the vengeance of blood seemed still heard in the moaning winds. There was a strange excitement, and a solemn silence, as night fell in a raging storm. Darkness seemed to wall us in. The waters rushed through the camp; it seemed that the river had turned its course. I never passed a more wretched or melancholy night.

August 11th. We are encamped in our new or- some experiments with the Indians, who were still der, a few miles below Chouteau's island. An alarm in sight above. I was much disgusted, at such a was given, and we were under arms for an hour time, with the idea of cutting up buffalo, which until daylight. During the morning, Indians were had been killed on the ground, and transporting to be seen a mile or two off, leading their horses them into camp. But I had to perform this duty. through the hollows. Captain P., however, with eighteen men, a wagon and team, were sent across And now a storm came on. Signal smokes the river after buffalo, which we saw half a mile rolled in eddies over the surrounding hills, and on distant. In his absence, a large body of mounted their tops were our foes, motionless on their Indians dashed down toward our left flank; the horses, revealed like spectres by the glare of the cattle were secured in good time. Captain W., lightning. Divisions had grown among them, and with his company, of which I was Lieutenant, was they looked on and did nothing. There was a wild ordered to cross the river and support Captain P. We waded in some disorder through the quicksands and currents, and just as we reached a dry sand-bar in the middle, a volley was fired at us by a squad of Indians, who that moment rode to the water's edge. The balls whistled harmlessly near our heads; and wishing to return the compliment instantly before they fled, I stooped down and the company fired over my head, and the Indians retreated beyond the more elevated margin of the prairie bottom. This had passed in half a minute, and we were then astonished to see a little above, among some bushes on the same bar, the party we had been sent to support; and we heard they had abandoned one of the hunters who had been killed. We then saw above, on the bank we had left, a formidable looking body of the enemy in close order; and hoping to surprise them, we ascended the river; in crossing the channel we were up to the arm-pits, but when we emerged on the bank they were not there; they had detected the movement and fled. We then rested on our arms, and saw a It was a humiliating condition to be surrounded discharge of canister shot from the 6-pounder in by these rascally Indians, who, by means of their camp, at the flying Indians; and one, though gal- horses, could tantalize us with the hopes of battle, loping across the line of fire, was struck from his and elude our efforts; who could annoy us by prehorse. Instantly two or three others approached venting all individual excursions for hunting, &c., at full speed, replaced him on his horse, and rode and who could insult us with impunity. Much did off on each side of him. Casting our eyes beyond we regret that we were not mounted too; and I the river, I saw a number of the Indians riding on believe nearly all prayed that the enemy would beboth sides of the wagon and team, which Capt. P. come bolder, and enliven us with frequent attacks; had deserted, urging the animals rapidly towards but this was their last open attack, though they the hills. I counted the Indians on that side, and were frequently seen hovering around; and the runthere were but eighteen. At the same instant ning of buffalo was a sign of their vicinity freCaptain W. received an order through the Adju- quently observed on our buffalo hunts. It is known tant, to cross and recover the body of the slain that they crawl to the tops of commanding hills, hanter. On reaching the ground, we found the and using the head and skin of a wolf as a mask, body within the distance, as we were told, from spy out the motions of an enemy, with little or no whence the party, by order of Captain P., had risk of discovery; but despising us-wholly on the made their precipitate retreat, although his cries defensive-they now took not this trouble, but apwere heard for support. It was an old soldier, and a favorite, bugler K. I saw an arrow which had been driven through his huge chest, from side to side; the scalp was gone.

We were then astonished to see the wagon and team at a distance, and no enemy near; and on approaching were still more so, at finding the oxen Dawounded. I was then refused the independent command of a platoon, with which I wished to try

August 12th. A morning, bright and serene as ever made man happy, fills all with cheerfulness again. With the black and tempest-driven clouds, the dark passions and the gloom over our hearts had passed away; and the little band, in solemn silence, were gathered together to perform the last services to the dead-to consign to the bosom of the distant wilderness the remains of their unfortunate companion.

peared openly on the hills. We learned afterwards, through Mexican traders, that our motions had been watched the whole route from Council Grove; whilst we, concluding from appearances, scarcely conceived that a human being could be within hundreds of miles of us. The spies who had watched us reported our coming in great force and with white buffalo. It would seem that these Indians had never seen the ox before. We saw a