h, they should be placed in such a
position that they can be seized at an instant's warning; and when
moving about outside the camp, the revolver should invariably be worn
in the belt, as the person does not know at what moment he may have use
for it.

A great diversity of opinion obtains regarding the kind of rifle that
is the most efficient and best adapted to Indian warfare, and the
question is perhaps as yet very far from being settled to the
satisfaction of all. A large majority of men prefer the breech-loading
arm, but there are those who still adhere tenaciously to the
old-fashioned muzzle-loading rifle as preferable to any of the modern
inventions. Among these may be mentioned the border hunters and
mountaineers, who can not be persuaded to use any other than the
Hawkins rifle, for the reason that they know nothing about the merits
of any others. My own experience has forced me to the conclusion that
the breech-loading arm possesses great advantages over the
muzzle-loading, for the reason that it can be charged and fired with
much greater rapidity.

Colt's revolving pistol is very generally admitted, both in Europe and
America, to be the most efficient arm of its kind known at the present
day. As the same principles are involved in the fabrication of his
breech-loading rifle as are found in the pistol, the conviction to me
is irresistible that, if one arm is worthy of consideration, the other
is equally so. For my own part, I look upon Colt's new patent rifle as
a most excellent arm for border service. It gives six shots in more
rapid succession than any other rifle I know of, and these, if properly
expended, are oftentimes sufficient to decide a contest; moreover, it
is the most reliable and certain weapon to fire that I have ever used,
and I can not resist the force of my conviction that, if I were alone
upon the prairies, and expected an attack from a body of Indians, I am
not acquainted with any arm I would as soon have in my hands as this.

The army and navy revolvers have both been used in our army, but the
officers are not united in opinion in regard to their relative merits.
I prefer the large army size, for reasons which will be given
hereafter.

CHAPTER II.

Marching. Treatment of Animals. Water. Different methods of finding
and purifying it. Journadas. Methods of crossing them. Advance and
Rear Guards. Selection of Camp. Sanitary Considerations. Dr. Jackson's
Report. Picket Guards. Stampe