The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941 Page: 66
546 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Southwestern Historical Quarterly
20 miles. I then continued on in a direct westerly
course to strike the trail, darkness coming on the
Guide informed me that he was unable to proceed
further until morning. I then had the command un-
saddle and made a dry camp.
July 27th 1877.
At day light the command was saddled up, left camp
and followed on the trail until about 2 O'clock P. M.
at which time was compelled to abandon it on account
of the ponies of the Guide and citizens giving out, we
were now in the immediate vicinity of the Sand Hills,
during the early part of the day the trail ran in a
north easterly direction for about 25 miles. At this
point the Indians scattered going in several directions
which tended to confuse the Guide. After some time
the main trail was again found running in a westerly
direction, which was then taken and followed 15 miles.
We were now in the sand hills. The Command now
commenced to suffer exceedingly for water. One of
my men at this time fell from his Horse from the
effects of sun stroke. I then asked the Guide how far
it was to water, he replied 6 or 7 miles his pony being
now completely broken down and unable to go further,
I gave him one of my private Horses in order that he
might find water as soon as possible. We then continued
on in a westerly course and marched 2 miles, when the
guide suddenly changed his course to a North Easterly
direction. He being mounted on a fresh Horse could
make better headway than the command, owing to the
exhausted condition of the men, he pushed ahead, I
following him on the trail, as fast as I could, but being
continually detained by sick me[n] was unable to keep
up with him, without abandoning the sick men.
In this way I followed on after him for 15 miles,
until dark during this last march of 15 miles a great
portion of the command being recruits, commenced to
give out, continually falling from their Horses. Up
to this time I had three men sun struck.
Owing now to the exhausted condition of the men I
was compelled to halt for a while and fully expected
that the Guide had found water and would soon join
us. Previous to marching the last 6 miles, I selected 8
of my men (old soldiers) and directed them to con-
tinue on after the Guide. I gave them nearly all the
canteens with instructions that as soon as they found
water to fill them and return to the command without
delay, up to this time we had marched about fifty five
miles under a broiling sun over a barren sandy plain66
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 44, July 1940 - April, 1941, periodical, 1941; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146052/m1/74/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.