that many have deserted, and also that many might have done so with benefit to the government.  Military service with recruits, and the same with old soldiers, are two different things.  With the former, officers are obliged to command, threaten and punish, to accomplish in one day, what the latter would perform without much trouble in half the time.  Recruits know little or nothing about marching or camp duty; and, in taking care of them, an officer has his hands full.  Even the most minute items have to be looked to; for example, they are men rarely used to fire-arms, being, for the most part, foreigners by birth, and are just as apt to load a gun with the ball of the cartridge first down, as with the powder.  Old soldiers look upon these new comers as verdant in the extreme, and the pranks they often play upon them are very humorous.  With patient discipline, they become serviceable men, and are an honor to the standard which they carry; and, what appears to be the strangest fact of all, frequently the poorest looking recruit may make the best soldier.  This is a fair picture of the men Capt.  Ewell was commanding.

Kit Carson at once informed the captain of the duty he was on, when that distinguished officer, generously determined to assist in putting a damper on the wicked designs of the wretches.  Taking with him twenty men, Captain Ewell joined Kit Carson, and together they proceeded in the pursuit.  By using every precaution in their power, and forcing their marches, they entered into the camp of the traders, and arrested Fox before he had time even to suspect the business upon which the party had come.  After Fox was secured, Messrs. Weatherhead and Brevoort, were informed of the dangers through which they had passed.  These gentlemen, at first were astounded, but they soon became assured of the truth of what they heard.  They then selected fifteen men whom they knew to be innocent, and ordered the remainder of their escort, numbering thirty-five souls, to leave their camp instanter, which command was promptly obeyed.  To Kit Carson, they offered any sum of money that was in their power to bestow, in return for the invaluable service he had rendered them.  Kit Carson replied, “that it was reward sufficient for him to have been instrumental in saving the lives of two worthy citizens, and that he could not think of receiving one cent of money.”

A long colloquy was held that night around a good camp fire, that was freely fed with “buffalo chips."[21] At midnight, most of the party were asleep, and nothing could then be heard except the barking of wolves and the heavy tread of the guard, as they walked to and fro on their respective beats.  On the first appearance of day-light, all hands were up and preparing to strike their tents.  Soon after the parties separated, but, before doing so, the traders again expressed their thanks, and then resumed their journey.  Fox was first taken to Captain Ewell’s camp, then he was turned over to Kit Carson, who conveyed