Chapter 10, Foraging in the Cherokee Country Summary

On their way from Fort Scott, Kansas, into the Cherokee Indian nation, lack of clean drinking water proves to be a major challenge. Because of a dry spring season, the creeks dry up. Indian cattle stand in the sinkholes. The army cooks scoop up the green water, boil it, and skim it through clean white dish towels until it is drinkable. Jeff refuses to drink the water, but he is surprised at what good coffee it makes.

Jeff sees his first regiment of Union Indian Home Guards, the Creeks and the Seminoles, who arm themselves with antiquated long-barreled Indian rifles and wear small blue military caps on their bushy heads. Jeff finds them an odd lot but is glad to be out of the road gang and back in the infantry. They march...