the ground and secured by straps of rawhide that the weather would not affect for years. Some of the men found wooden spoons, pipes, silver bracelets and rings that had fallen from some of the bodies that had been there the longest. During the scout we discovered a large beaver dam. Leaving our horses, we quietly got into a position where we could see them work, which was a great sight to me, as I had never seen them at work before. I asked Comstock to shoot a very large one that was out on a log in the dam. He fired, but the beaver fell in the water, and as it was twenty or thirty feet deep and not a man with me who could swim, I jumped in myself and swam out where he he was floating like a big hog. After getting him ashore I was so excited that the men had to help me out of the water. I gave the beaver to my orderly to bring into camp, and on my way in made up my plans with Comstock how to cook him and to have him skinned so that it could be stuffed and sent home. After reaching my tent I told my cook to take charge of the beaver, and he reported that the stupid orderly had tied him to the saddle and lost him. I ordered him back to get that beaver, but he returned in the night with the report that he could not find the back trail, so I vowed that I would not promote that private to any position as long as I had command of the company; he is too stupid.

Shonough Creek, C. T., September 13, 1866. All my wagons being loaded, I left Sinking Water river this morning for Fort Wallace. The river was given that name, I am told, because six months of the year the water is from four to twenty feet deep and the other six months the water disappears. Nothing but the dry sand or bed of the river can be seen in the dry time. This whole country is covered with a thick sod, and the grass the best I ever saw, and if the springs and streams were not so far apart and if the Indians were not in the way it would soon be settled. As I have one of the fastest-running and best-winded horses I ever rode before, I undertook an experiment this afternoon in trying to run an antelope down, which I ran for ten or fifteen miles, but he skipped ahead of me just out of the range of my pistol compelling me to give up the chase, as I could not get anywhere near him. We marched thirty miles today and brought my loaded wagons in camp O. K.

Fort Wallace, Kan., September 18, 1866.

We are all back to the post in good shape. Orders were telegraphed me to be sent to Fort Lyon to General Sherman, and I sent Corporal Carroll in charge with four days' rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition. Each man has one Spencer carbine and two Colt's revolvers and a saber. I went out with twenty men as an escort on a buffalo hunt, and one old bull, after he was wounded, charged at me. Putting spurs to my horse, I got out of his way, but he caught one of the men's horses and pitched him up on his horns like a cow would a dog and threw the man off at least ten feet, hurting his arm. We killed thirty buffaloes, and it was nine o'clock this evening before reaching camp.

Big Springs, C. T., September 19, 1866. Just as I had retired last night after my hard day's ride after buffalo Sergeant Dean came in from Cheyenne Hills, where he had been on escort duty, with a train of supplies, and reported that three of his men had deserted. I ordered my fast horse, a corporal and three privates, and we started toward Denver. After riding sixteen or eighteen miles a terrible thunder and rain storm came up, and it grew so dark we could not see the road and had to lie down on the prairie until it was light enough to see, when we again mounted and rode on until within two miles of this station we met Sergeant Allison with two of the prisoners, whom he had captured near Denver. I changed horses and ordered him to take his time and go on to Fort Wallace with the prisoners, while I would go forward and try to capture the other deserter.

Benham Station, C. T., September 20,1866.

After getting a cup of coffee last night I started and have just ridden ninety miles. As I am obliged to return to Fort Wallace and all my horses have given out, I told the station-keeper to let me have four fresh horses out of his stable, leaving him my five worn-out ones. Then I sent the corporal and his three men on towards Denver by order of Lieutenant Flood with orders to lose no time and spare no expense to capture the deserter.

Fort Wallace, Kan., September 21, 1866. When the stage arrived at the station last night, and while the horses were being changed, a rough-looking man came into the

room where I was waiting and wanted to know if I knew anything about the stage horses being taken. I seemed surprised when he began to curse and threaten me. I put my hand on my revolver to use it in case he made an atempt to draw his, and as he had ten or fifteen stock-tenders around him who could cut me into mincemeat at a word from this bully who was so rough to me, I concluded not to make the first motion to shoot. The stage being announced, I started to get inside, when I was ordered not to try it, but was soon on top with the driver, who at once demanded my fare, which I paid. After riding several miles. I asked him who that rough man was, and was informed that his name was Benham, the general superintendent of the overland mail route; that he was considered one of the most dangerous men West; that he had killed several men, and thought no more of knocking one of his stock-tenders down or shooting him than if he were a dog. After riding a few hours in the snowstorm one of the passengers inside of the stage changed places with me, and I had a nap. At Cheyenne Mills at four o'clock this morning, discovering one of my sergeants with his men returning from Fort Lyon I got out of the stage and ordered one of the best horses saddled and started for this post, which I reached by ten o'clock, riding fifty miles in less than six hours. I reported the facts of my treatment to the post commander, Lieutenant Flood, who said he could not and dare not try to do anything about the matter, but he would go on a buffalo hunt for two days and leave me in command of the post and I might do what I saw fit. After he left I ordered fifteen of the best and most trustworthy men I had to report to me mounted, armed with their carbines and revolvers, knowing that Benham was a dangerous man and that he had eight of his own men in the stage who were good shots and would fight as long as breath lasted. I felt that I would have some hard work to get possession of Mr. Benham, but I made up my mind that I would have him or there would be someone hurt, and when the stage was near the post I met him with my fifteen men and gave orders to the driver to halt, and when he saw sixteen determined men armed he halted his stage, when Mr. Benham looked out and ordered him to drive on. I then drew my pistol on Mr. Benham and ordered him to hold up his hands, while the sergeant disarmed him and marched him to the post, where I put him in irons and in the guardhouse, ordering the driver to go on with the mail and

his passengers. The driver seemed delighted to see me make Mr. Benham submissive, saying it was the first time he had ever heard of anyone doing so, as he was one of the worst men in the West. After Mr. Benham had been in the guardhouse for a short time he sent word for permission to see the commanding officer of the post. I sent word that the sergeant of the guard might bring him to my office. He seemed surprised when he discovered that I was the commanding officer, and at once stated that he had a great deal of business on hand and that my detaining him at this post would delay and greatly interfere with his re-stocking the road; that he hoped I would release him; that he had been hasty in temper: that after thinking the matter over he saw that I was right, and that the taking of the horses did not interfere with the stopping of the mail in the least; that the horses the stock-tenders let me have were extra horses, etc. I asked him if he were willing to put that fact in writing, and he sat down at my desk and wrote the following:

Fort Wallace, Kan., September 22, 1866. I certify, on honor, that the United States mail was in no way interfered with or stopped by Second Lieut. Geo. A. Armes, Sec

ond United States Cavalry, taking the four horses and pursuing the deserters from Company M, Second United States Cavalry, on the 21st inst.

(Signed) A. BENHAM,

Supt. Mail & Express Co.

Witness to signature:

J. S. MILLS.

After an apology in the most humble terms in the presence of witnesses and handing me the above paper I ordered his release and invited him to lunch with me, which he accepted, and after lunch he ordered an extra team and bade us all good-bye and started off in his buggy toward Fort Ellsworth.

September 23, 1866.

The stage drove up to my headquarters this morning, when Governor Gilpin of Colorado Territory and several of his friends got out. After showing them about the post I invited them to a good lunch. The Governor reminded me that he was a graduate of West Point and was a Second Lieutenant in my regiment at one time. Before leaving he gave me a pressing invitation to visit him at Denver. He is a very interesting talker, and has seen a great deal of Western life. Lieutenant Flood, Dr. Turner, Mr. Warner and Comstock returned this evening from the buffalo bunt.

Shawnee Creek, Kan., September 26, 1866. Ilaving received orders to proceed without delay to Fort Sedgwick, I at once packed up, transferred my property and, after bidding my friends good-bye, marched out of the post with a hundred cavalry and fifteen six-mule teams.

I was entertained most of last night by Captain Scott, the sutler. As I was allowed to use my own discretion as to marching across the country or going around by way of Denver, I concluded to run the risk of cutting across a country no white man has ever been over, and with the aid of my compass and map I expect to come out all right if not attacked by the Indians. The last mail just brought me the following letter from Lieutenant Bates: