Having been kept in arrest since May 4 and everthing done to make life unpleasant in order that perhaps I could be forced to resign so as to create a vacancy for the promotion of some mischief-making Lieutenants, who are ready to do anything they can to obtain promotion, I received the above letter, and now that a court has been ordered I am ready to appear before it.

July 3, 1868.

The court did not meet until nine o'clock this forenoon, when I reported for trial. A large number of witnesses for the prosecution were on hand. Dr. Westerling was examined today, and my

cross-questions made him contradict himself all through, so that the court soon saw he was lying, and his evidence had no effect against me. My brother is helping to conduct my case. The court adjourned.

(Court-martial No. 3.)

July 7, 1868.

I appeared before the court at ten o'clock this forenoon in compliance with the following order:

Headquarters Dept. of the Missouri, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Special Order No. 118-Extract.

A general court-martial is hereby appointed to meet at Fort Hayes, Kans., on Saturday, the 27th day of July, 1868, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, or as soon thereafter as practicable, for the trial of Brvt. Maj. Geo. A. Armes, Captain Tenth U. S. Cavalry, and such. other persons as may be properly brought before it.

Detailed for the Court-Brvt. Brig.-Gen. Pitcairn Morrison, Lieut.-Col. Enoch Steen, U. S. A.; Brvt. Lieut.-Col. Myers W. Keogh, Captain Seventh Cavalry; Maj. E. O. Yard, Tenth U. S. Cavalry; Capt. Edmund Butler, Fifth U. S. Infantry; Capt. Martin Mullins, Fifth U. S. Infantry; Capt. Wm. Thompson, Seventh U. S. Cavalry; First Lieut. Geo. McDermott, Fifth U. S. Infantry; First Lieut. Ed. L. Randall, Fifth U. S. Infantry; Judge-Advocate, First Lieut. Frank E. Brownell, U. S. A. (who had avenged the death of Ellsworth by killing his slayer).

No other officers than those above mentioned can be assembled without manifest injury to the service.

By command of

MAJOR-GENERAL SHERIDAN. (Signed) CHAUNCEY MCKEEVER, Asst. Adjt.-Gen. Official: SILAS PEPOON,

Second Lieut. Tenth U. S. Cav., Post Adjt. (who had been a clerk to A. Q. M. U. S. Grant, afterwards the great General).

Lieutenant Thompson of the Thirty-eighth Infantry was examined, but the court soon sized him up, and saw that he was willfully lying all through his testimony.

July 8, 1868.

I appeared before the court at ten o'clock this morning. Lieut. John Bodamer, one of the clique to help manufacture the charges, gave in all he could to make me appear guilty and willfully lied in trying to sustain the charges.

July 10, 1868.

I appeared before the court at ten o'clock this morning. Several soldiers were used by the prosecution as witnesses, who testified merely what had been told them to say, but were contradicted so plainly during their evidence that the court soon saw that they had been tampered with, and could not possibly give any weight to their testimony.

July 11, 1868.

Appeared before the court again today, and one of the chief conspirators, Lieut. W. B. Kennedy, swore to everything he could.

think of that he supposed would have any effect in getting me out of the service in order that he might make a file in case of a vacancy. But the court became so disgusted with Lieutenant Kennedy and his negro witnesses that they made up their minds to close the case, and appeared to regret that they had allowed the trial to proceed, considering the kind of evidence that has come before it.

July 14, 1868.

I brought a few witnesses, reliable and trustworthy, of the best reputations, who contradicted the witnesses Kennedy and the conspirators had picked up to try and sustain the manufactured charges the court has been investigating, and in order that they should not be annoyed or delayed any further I concluded to try and make no more defence and let the matter drop where it is, as I do not believe nor do I feel that it is possible any evidence has been deduced that will cause the court to give me even a reprimand.

Sunday, July 19, 1868.

I sat up until two o'clock this morning, when I went through the train that is on its way to St. Louis and stopped here for a few moments, giving the officers of the post a chance to shake hands with Generals Grant and Sheridan and staff.

Sheridan City, Kan., July 22, 1868. The members of the court all left Hays for their posts day before yesterday, and I was ordered to report to my post (which I expect to reach tomorrow), awaiting promulgation of sentence.

Camp near Fort Wallace, July 24, 1868.

I arrived here yesterday, and have met Colonel Bankhead, Fifth Infantry, who commands Fort Wallace. He is not only a soldier, but a gentleman, which is more than I can say of Major Kand several others who wear the uniform and pass as such. I hought a mustang pony today from a Californian and started to lead it to my camp, when it bucked and became so stubborn it was impossible to make him move until Lieutenant Riley of the Fifth Infantry and Captain Philey, my old scout, assisted me in getting him to camp. He was the most obstinate piece of horseflesh I ever saw, but I expect to break him in and make a saddlehorse of him soon.

Camp near Rose Creek, Kan., July 25, 1868.

Lieutenants Johnson, Riley and Mr. Todd from Saratoga Springs visited and invited me to take a ride with them this afternoon, and I at once ordered my mustang saddled, which I attempted to ride, and finally succeeded, after three hours hard work and several tumbles. When he would buck and fall down I would light on my feet and be on him almost the moment he was on his feet again, until I got him completely tired out, afford: ing a great deal of amusement for my friends and the soldiers, who seemed to enjoy the fun.

Russell Springs, Kan., August 4, 1868. We started out a little after sunrise this morning, marched until twelve o'clock, and got up a horse-race between Lieutenant Beck's horse (Sleepy Dick) and Lieutenant Amick's sorrel. I was one of the judges. Lieutenant Beck's horse won easily. We had an interesting time. Dr. Sternberg (now-1899-Surgeon-General, U. S. A.) and I had a race returning to our camp, and I lost a basket of wine, as my mustang concluded to buck just as I thought I was about to win the race.

Walker Station, August 18, 1868. A dispatch came today stating that ten families had just been massacred and a great many emigrants killed by the Indians; also news that Hon. Thad. Stevens had just died. I managed to get a good supply of vegetables for my mess when I left Hays, but expect to leave them soon if we go on light marching order.

News has just arrived that Comstock, my old guide and scout, has been killed by the Indians. It is a surprise to us all, as he was considered so cautious and such a careful man. In him we have lost one of the most valuable scouts on the plains.

One hundred and thirty mules were driven off from near Hays last night by the Indians. Lieutenant Beecher, Fifth Infantry, and his scouts have gone in pursuit. Settlers are rushing into our camp with the rumor that the Indians threatened to drive everyone out of this country and to stop the work on the railroad.

Camp on Big Timber, August 21, 1868. Major Kidd (who is still in command) failed to pay attention. to the advice of Wild Bill, our scout and guide, in regard to the course we should take when we left camp yesterday, he appearing

to know more about the country than those who have lived there for years. Under the circumstances, he has marched out of his course at least five or ten miles without prospect of finding any Indians.

August 22, 1868.

Colonel Keogh, Seventh Cavalry, arrived at three o'clock this afternoon and gave orders to Major Kidd to have me immediately released from arrest and placed in command, with information that I had been honorably acquitted by the court. ordered my mules packed, at once inspected my command, and have it now in readiness for hard work.

August 23, 1868.

General Sheridan and three of his staff officers arrived today, with whom I had quite a chat. There are several expeditions now in the field after Indians, with very little prospect of success of catching any, as the Indians are too sharp and sly to be caught.

We marched out at sunrise, met Colonel Benteen, Seventh Cavalry, en route to Harker. He was relieved in the field by Colonel Carpenter, who marched twenty-five or thirty miles, and has discovered quite a number of Indian signs. Bill Cody (Buffalo Bill), one of our scouts and one of the best shots on the plains, keeps us well supplied with plenty of Buffalo and deer. He gets $60 per month and a splendid mule to ride, and is one of the most contented and happy men I ever met.