in readiness to move
straight for the camp. This, however, was not to be done until the
flanking column had time to get around and across the river.

It was then two o'clock. By four o'clock the flanking columns would be
in their proper positions to move on and the charge could begin. I said
I would go with the right-hand column and send Texas Jack with the
left-hand column. I would leave White with the main detachment. I
impressed on the general the necessity of keeping in the ravine of the
sandhills so as to be out of sight of the Indians.

I said that, notwithstanding all the caution that we could take, we
were likely to run into a party of hunters, who would immediately
inform the camp of our presence. In case of discovery, I said, it would
be necessary to make our charge at once.

General Reynolds called his officers together and gave them my
suggestions as their instructions. In a very few minutes everything was
moving. I accompanied Colonel Mills. His column had crossed the Dismal
and was about two miles to the north of it when I saw a party of
Indians chasing elk.

I knew that sooner or later--probably sooner--these Indians would see
me. I told Colonel Mills he had better send the scout back to General
Reynolds and make all haste to charge the village. We had no way of
sending word to Major Curtiss, who led the other flanking column, and
we had to trust to luck that he would hear the firing when it started.

Colonel Mills kept his troops on the lowest ground I could pick out,
but we made our way steadily toward the village.

Inside of half an hour we heard firing up the river from where we were.
Colonel Mills at once ordered his troops to charge. Luckily it collided
with the Indians' herd of horses, which were surrounded, thus depriving
most of the braves of their mounts.

Men were left to guard the animals, and, taking the rest of the
company, we charged the village, reaching it a little after the arrival
of General Reynolds. The attack was not as much a surprise as we had
hoped for. Some of the Indian hunters had spied the soldiers and
notified the camp, but General Reynolds, coming from the south, had
driven all the Indians on foot and all the squaws and children toward
the sandhills on the north. Mills came pretty near finding more Indians
than he was looking for. Their force largely outnumbered ours when we
collided, but Major Curtiss came charging down from the north just at
this instant. His arriv