I told White to get our horses at once and also to tell Texas Jack to report to me.  When the latter reported I told him the general wanted him to guide the command to the course of the Dismal.  When he got there, if he didn’t hear from me in the meantime, he was to select a good camp.

White and I set out, riding carefully and looking for the trail.  We had traveled about ten miles when I found it.  The Indians were headed toward the Dismal.  Presently another trail joined the first one, and then we had to begin extremely careful scouting.

I didn’t follow the Indian trail, but bordered the left and struck the river about five miles above the Fork.  There we turned down-stream.  Soon on the opposite side we saw a party of Indians surrounding a herd of elk.  I didn’t approach them closely, neither did I follow down the stream any further.  We kept parallel with the course of the river, and soon stopped at the foot of a high sandhill.  From here I knew I could get a view of the whole country.

I told White to remain there until I came back, and, jumping off old Joe, I cautiously climbed the hill.

From behind a big soapweed—­a plant sometimes called Spanish Dagger—­I got a view of the Dismal River, for several miles.  I immediately discovered smoke arising from a bunch of timber about three miles below me.  Grazing around the timber were several hundred head of horses.  Here I knew the Indian camp to be located.

I slipped down the hill, and, running to old Joe, mounted, telling White at the same time that I had located the camp.  Then we began circling the sandhill until we got two or three miles away, keeping out of sight of the Indians all the time.  When we felt we were safe we made a straight sweep to meet the command.  I found the scouts first and told Texas Jack to hold up the soldiers, keeping them out of sight until he heard from me.

I went on until I met General Reynolds at the head of the column.  He baited the troop on my approach; taking him to one side, I told him what I had discovered.  He said: 

“As you know the country and the location of the Indian camp, tell me how you would proceed.”

I suggested that he leave one company as an escort for the wagon-train and let them follow slowly.  I would leave one guide to show them the way.  Then I would take the rest of the cavalry and push on as rapidly as possible to within a few miles of the camp.  That done, I would divide the command, sending one portion across the river to the right, five miles below the Indians, and another one to bear left toward the village.  Still another detachment was to be kept 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.