One day, while we were lying at Fort Sedgwick, General Carr received a telegram from Fort McPherson stating that the Indians had made a dash on the Union Pacific Railroad, and had killed several section-men and run off some stock near O’Fallon’s Station; also that an expedition was going out from Fort McPherson to catch and punish the red-skins if possible.  The General ordered me to accompany the expedition, and accordingly that night I proceeded by rail to McPherson Station, and from thence rode on horseback to the fort.  Two companies, under command of Major Brown, had been ordered out, and next morning, just as we were about to start, Major Brown said to me: 

“By the way, Cody, we are going to have quite an important character with us as a guest on this scout.  It’s old Ned Buntline, the novelist.”

Just then I noticed a gentleman, who was rather stoutly built, and who wore a blue military coat, on the left breast of which were pinned about twenty gold medals and badges of secret societies.  He walked a little lame as he approached us, and I at once concluded that he was Ned Buntline.

“He has a good mark to shoot at on the left breast,” said I to Major Brown, “but he looks like a soldier.”  As he came up, Major Brown said: 

“Cody, allow me to introduce you to Colonel E.B.O.  Judson, otherwise known as Ned Buntline.”

“Colonel Judson, I am glad to meet you,” said I; “the Major tells me that you are to accompany us on the scout.”

“Yes, my boy, so I am,” said he; “I was to deliver a temperance lecture to-night, but no lectures for me when there is a prospect for a fight.  The Major has kindly offered me a horse, but I don’t know how I’ll stand the ride, for I haven’t done any riding lately; but when I was a young man I spent several years among the fur companies of the Northwest, and was a good rider and an excellent shot.”

“The Major has given you a fine horse, and you’ll soon find yourself at home in the saddle,” said I.

The command soon pulled out for the South Platte River, which was very wide and high, owing to recent mountain rains, and in crossing it we had to swim our horses in some places.  Buntline was the first man across.  We reached O’Fallon’s at eleven o’clock, and in a short time I succeeded in finding the Indian trail; the party seemed to be a small one, which had come up from the south.  We followed their track to the North Platte, but as they had a start of two days, Major Brown abandoned the pursuit, and returned to Fort McPherson, while I went back to Fort Sedgwick, accompanied by Buntline.

During this short scout, Buntline had asked me a great many questions, and he was determined to go out on the next expedition with me, providing he could obtain permission from the commanding officer.  I introduced him to the officers—­excepting those he already knew—­and invited him to become my guest while he remained at the post, and gave him my pony Powder Face to ride.