brought up the rear came on at a slower
pace than the rest. They were wounded, and as we got nearer we
perceived an arrow sticking in the side of one of them; a bullet had
gone through the neck of another, which had also had a spear thrust into
its shoulder; while three of the others had blood on their saddles, and
two had their bridles cut. What had become of their riders?

Captain Norton at once recognised the animals as belonging to the United
States cavalry. "Some disaster has overtaken our people, I fear," he
observed, "for these horses have been in battle, and managed to escape
when their riders were overthrown. We must now be doubly on the watch.
At the same time, we must hope that, although some have been killed, the
rest have put the enemy to flight, or cut their way out, supposing that
our troops were surprised. It is not, however, very likely!"

The arrow was extracted from the side of the horse, and the wounds of
the others having been looked to, it was hoped that they would do well.
Anxious to ascertain what had happened, we pushed on, while the horses
were led in the rear. Every moment we expected to meet with the Indians
making their escape, or with a body of American troops, who would, it
was fully believed, have been victorious. Not a human being appeared in
sight. We had marched a couple of miles farther, however, when we saw
hovering in the air a number of birds, while others were flitting about
the trees or perched on the boughs. As we drew nearer, we recognised
among them numberless turkey buzzards, vultures, and other carrion fowl,
while a pack of wolves were roaming about, disputing with the feathered
tribe for their prey.

"It is a battle-field!" I heard my father exclaim.

A sickening sensation came over me when I saw the remains of my
fellow-creatures covering the ground, and the horrible condition to
which the birds of prey and the wolves had reduced them. I hung back;
though several of the party went forward, that they might ascertain who
they were and what number had fallen. It must have been difficult,
however, to count them. Already the limbs of many had been torn off,
and the countenances of all had been so disfigured that their nearest
friends could not have identified them; but their uniforms told too
plainly that they were soldiers of the United States. Including
officers and men, there must have been nearly a hundred, mostly
infantry, with a few cavalry. The latter l