While we were at Fort McPherson, General Augur and Brevet-Brigadier-General Thomas Duncan, colonel of the Fifth Cavalry, paid us a visit for the purpose of reviewing our command.  The men turned out in fine style, and showed themselves to be well-drilled soldiers.  Next the Pawnee scouts were reviewed.  It was amusing to see them in their full uniform.  They had been supplied with the regular cavalry uniform, but on this occasion some of them had heavy overcoats, others large black hats with all the brass accoutrements attached; some were minus trousers and wore only breech-clouts.  Some had regulation pantaloons, but only shirts.  Part of them had cut the breech of their pantaloons away, leaving only the leggings.  Still others had big brass spurs, but wore no boots nor moccasins.

But they understood the drill remarkably well for Indians.  The commands were given them by Major North, who spoke their tongue as readily as any full-blooded Pawnee.  They were well mounted, and felt proud of the fact that they were regular United States soldiers.  That evening after the drill many ladies attended the dance of the Indians.  Of all savages I have ever seen, the Pawnees are the most accomplished dancers.

Our command set out on the trail the next day.  Shortly afterward, when we were encamped on the Republican River near the mouth of the Beaver, we heard the yells of Indians, followed by shots, in the vicinity of our mule herd, which had been driven down to water.

Presently one of the herders, with an arrow still quivering in his flesh, came dashing into the camp.

My horse was close at hand.  Mounting him bareback, I galloped after the mule herd, which had been stampeded.  I supposed that I would be the first man on the scene.  But I found I was mistaken.  The Pawnee scouts, unlike regular soldiers, had not waited for the formality of orders from their officers.  Jumping their ponies bareback and putting ropes in the animals’ mouths, they had hurried to the place from which the shots came and got there before I did.

The marauders proved to be a party of fifty or more Sioux, who had endeavored to stampede our animals.  They were painfully surprised to find their inveterate enemies, the Pawnees, coming toward them at full gallop.  They had no idea the Pawnees were with the command.  They knew that it would take regular soldiers a few minutes to turn out, and fancied they would have plenty of time to stampede the herd and get away.

In a running fight of fifteen or twenty miles several of the Sioux were killed.  I was mounted on an excellent horse Colonel Royal had selected for me.  For the first mile or two I was in advance of the Pawnees.  Soon a Pawnee shot past me.  I could not help admiring the horse he was riding.  I determined that if possible that horse should be mine.  He was a big buckskin, or yellow horse.  I took a careful look at him, so as to recognize him when we got back to camp.