Camp on Solomon’s Fork
July 30th 1857
.
My
Dear Darling Wife:
.
Yesterday
after about 17 days steady march from Camp Buchanan we overtook about 500
Cheyennes drawn up in order of battle & marching boldly & steadily
towards us. We fronted into line as
soon as posible (the six com of Cavalry) the Infantry being too far behind to
take any part in the action, also Bayard’s Battery which the Col stopped 3 or 4
miles back as unable to come keep up.
It was my intention, & I believe that of most comp’y commanders to
give a carbine volley & then charge with drawn pistols, & use the sabre
as a “derniere resort,” but much to my surprise the Col ordered draw sabre
charge when the Indians were within gun shot. We set up a terriffic yell which scattered Cheyennes in a disorderly
flight & we therefore kept up the charge in pursuit. I led off Co “G” right after the main body
of Indians but very few of the Co horses were fleet enough after the march
besides my own Brave Dan to keep in reach of the Indians mounted on fresh
ponies. My part of the chase led
towards the right & front, & in that direction G, H, & D Cos were
mixed together in a short time promiscuously in pursuit so that Stanely
McIntyre McIntosh Lomax & myself were for the greater time near each other
& frequently side by side. As long
as Dan held out I was foremost but after a chase of 5 miles, he failed & I
had to mount a Private's horse to continue the pursuit. When I overtook the rear of the enemy again
I found Lomax in imminent danger from an Indian who was on foot, & in the
act of shooting him. I rushed to the
rescue, & succeeded in firing at him in time wounding him in his thigh he
fired at me in return with an Allen’s revolver but missed. My shots were now exhausted, & I called
on some men approaching to rush up with their pistol, & kill him, they
rushed up but fired without hitting.
About
this time I observed Stanley & McIntyre close by, the former said
“Wait – I’ll fetch him.” dismounting from his
horse so as to aim
deliberately but in dismounting his pistol accidentally discharged the
last
load he had, he began however to snap the empty barrels at the Indian, who was
walking deliberately up to him with his revolver pointed. I could not stand that but drawing my sabre
rushed on the monster inflicting a severe wound across his head that I think
would have severed any other man’s but simultaneous with that he fired
his last barrel within a foot of me the ball taking effect in the centre of the
breast but by the mercy of God glancing to the left lodging near my left nipple
but so far inside that it cannot be felt.
.
I
rejoice to inform you that it is not regarded as at all fatal or dangerous,
though I may be confined to my bed for weeks.
I am now enjoying excellent health in every other respect. To continue the narrative, I was able to
dismount & lie down, before which the Indian having discharged his last
load was soon dispatched by McIntyre & a man of “D” co. Lomax who came to my relief had some sabres
stuck in the ground & a blanket put up for a shade, Dr. Brewer was sent for
but it being 8 miles to the place where the fight began there was great delay –
in the mean time the rally having sounded numbers collected about me doing
everything in their power to make me comfortable. After a while the Col appeared moving up at the head of the
column from the rear. He came up jumped
off his horse like a cat, & rushed up to me greeting me in the most affectionate
terms. I felt really tempted to
forgive him for all the past. [In
the days before the Cheyenne expedition, Stuart and Col. Sumner had had
a very heated dispute about who was responsible for the ordnance of the
expedition, which resulted in Sumner's relieving Stuart as regimental
quartermaster and commissary officer, positions to which he would later
be reinstated after appealing to the War Department. --ed.] He seemed
delighted at my wound’s not being dangerous, & had me taken on a blanket
back towards the 1st scene of action where he intended to camp, his horses being too much used up to
continue the pursuit. I was carried in the blanket about 3 miles the column
marching behind me, when I met the Dr who examined the wound bandaged it
&c. Soon after I met the sick wagon
which consisted of the two hind wheels of the ambulance, with a tongue fixed to
it & the cushions fastened on the spring.
The [illegible] having broken down weeks ago & been left, three
mules hitched to this bore me off as it were in a car of triumph to camp; I
suffered very much from this mode of transportation – but (July 31) feel now
pretty well though I am entirely helpless as regards locomotion. The Col after laying by one day to bury 2
killed, Pvts. Cade Co G. & Lynch Co A & recuperate the horses, starts
this morning on the chase. Capt Footes
Co, Dr Covey & Lt McCleary are left here with myself & the other
wounded & sick. I have every reason
to believe I will be ready to resume duty in about 10 days or 2 weeks. I have received every attention from my
fellow officers for which I shall be ever grateful both Drs have done for me as
a brother and Dr B. has slept with me every night since wounded. He & all the other officers are
desire to be remembered to you & he says to tell you I’m that I am
safe. I send this by Colburn in case an
Express is sent in by Col S. before his return here. We will in a day or two be reduced to fresh beef alone. The Regt will return to Leavenworth I think
certainly before the 1st of Oct [published version says November!].
God bless you my Dearest wife.
Love to ours. See Mrs McIntyre
& tell her all. All left in fine
spirits.
.
Yours always
JEBStuart
.
continuation
of letter
.
Fort Floyd
Cheyenne Expedition
Aug. 1st 1857
.
After
the command left yesterday, I was taken on a litter about 200 yds to a little
field Fortification built under the direction of Lt McCleary, quite respectable
for the means at hand. A tent fly was
stretched a few paces outside and there Dr C & myself & Ben established
our ranch. We have a very pretty view
up the creek for two miles my bed being sufficiently inclined to enable me to
see. It is very hot today I can sit up
a little with props & seize a moment then to to jot a daily token to my wife. The day drags heavily my prayer book which I
must say has not been neglected & Army Regulations are the only books I
have and a few sheets of Harper’s Weekly which are treasures indeed. The Dr requires me to keep very quiet, my
wound does not pain me when lying still.
And I lie for hours on my back gazing at the clouds imaging them in to
all manner of shapes – Angels, Giants, Mermaids &c &c & thinking of
the Dear Dear ones away. Dr
Covey is as kind as a Brother could be.
He tells me my wound is doing finely.
The wounded in Hospital he says are doing remarkably well & he has
strong hopes that all will recover. May
it be so. To night the moon is
presiding in glorious majesty over hill & dale, all nature seems wrapt in a
veil of enchanting beauty, of the softest, sweetest kind. A calm stillness pervades the valley &
the looker-on is reluctant to credit that where beauty & quiet now reign in
sweet unison so lately pealed the thunder of Battle – the war-whoop, the
charge, the gleam of 300 sabres leaping to victory! But hark! the charm is broken! from every hill the mournfull howl
of a a hundred wolves sends out on the breeze a doleful requiem o’er the field
of conflict & carnage.
.
(see Aug. 2d, below) Aug 3d
.
To-day an Infantry sentinel
saw two Cheyennes approaching our camp mounted & firing, the guard with the
animals pulled up their picket pins for them to run into the Fort – by which
stupidity I came very near losing both my horses. Dan & Alma ran off about a mile & & a half & but
for 2 Mexies whom I dispatched post haste after them I never would have
recovered them. My wound is healing
fast. Wolf serenade at night
Aug 2d Sunday
Slept & read morning
& Evening Service. Storm towards
evening. Wolf serenade.
Aug 4th
Indians seen by sentinels but
no stampede as yesterday. They are most
probably hunting parties who were not aware of the fight. About 12 at night sentinel fired & when
I awoke I found we were actually attacked by a party of Cheyennes whose bullets
were whistling by me. I called to Ben
to secure the horses & by that time I felt the hands of 4 stout grenadiers
carrying me hastily into the Fort, where I was deposited quite unceremoniously
in the sand. McCleary gave a blizzard
or two with the artillery & a few random shots were fired but Indian
cleared out in double haste – no damage done on either side. I pretty soon got conveyed back to my Ranch.
.
Aug 5th
.
Cheyennes
who attacked us last night were about 20 or 30. Before daylight this morning
another alarm – Every gun was in hand when in the dim distance we could hear “Pawnee”
“Pawnee” & presently five men were seen running directly towards us, on
foot. We immediately surmised they were
Col Sumner’s Pawnee guides, which they soon proved to be. They made signs that Col Sumner had sent them
with letters to Fort Kearny and whilst on their way an hour or two ago the
Cheyennes had attacked them & taken their horses & they after killing
one Cheyenne – barely made their escape.
They said they had another letter for Capt Foote but that the Cheyennes
tore it up. They said Col’s orders were
for Capt Foote to go directly to Fort Kearny.
Among the letters they had for Fort Kearny was the one I had written
July 31st & given to Colburn.
I opened it & took possession.
I also read another which happened to be opened from Capt Beale to Mrs
Stuart in which I see they are on walnut Creek which is near the Arkansas. I have not eaten any meat since wounded till
to-day. I am able too to walk about a
little.
.
Aug 6th
.
I
am still rapidly improving. Capt Foote
held a council of war & determined to start for Kearny Saturday 8th
the Dr deciding that the wounded would be able to be carried there. Foote’s instructions were to stay here till
further orders up to Aug 20th & in case of no orders up to that
time, to start for the Oregon Route crossing of So. Platte, Riddick’s train,
get wagons from him & go on to Laramie & the Cavy to go on
with Riddick to Fort Kearny. The news
the Pawnees bring has induced him to take the responsibility of disobeying the
order.
.
Aug 7th
Dr Covey is having sick
carriages fixed & we expect to start tomorrow.
Aug
8th – 17th
.
Fort Kearny N.T.
Aug 19th, 1857
.
My
Dearest Wife,
.
I
arrived here night before last – having left Capt Foote 3 days before; who has
not yet arrived. Before beginning my letter
I will extend the narrative of our march from Fort Floyd as it may be of
interest to you. It is Mr Marshall’s
intention to send an Express to Ft Leavwth as soon as Capt Foote’s
arrival, which we expect will certainly to-day or tomorrow—
.
Aug
8th Ft Floyd
.
Packed
up and left this forsaken region – I riding on horseback which does not appear
to fatigue me. We are almost reduced to
fr. beef alone for food. The
command is & has been since Aug 2d.
The 3 wounded men unable to ride are conveyed in an affair on the Indian
style, drawn which is nothing more than two poles lashed to a mule like
shafts the other ends dragging, having lashed across a sort of basket work of
strips of rawhide in which the wounded man reclines in comparative comfort, men
walking in rear to lift the ends over rough places. We travel very slow. Camp
10 miles, at a little mud hole. The
Pawnees guide, & say we will reach Kearny 4 days after to-day. We hardly expect it.
.
Aug
9th Went 14 mi. & camped
on creek. Our course NE as well as we
can tell by the stars – no compass in the command. Aug 10th To-day camp upon a finely timbered creek
tributary to Republican & proceed down it.
Soon find myriads of buffalo. We
are now reduced to fresh beef alone without salt. These being first buffalo I have seen this
year I thought I must try my skill at the chase. I charged Alma into a herd & ran down a very fat cow, killing
her in sight of the spot selected for camp.
She was issued to the command, & finer meat I never ate (doubtless
because I killed it). Alma behaved
beautifully & seemed as eager as myself.
The bellowing herd disturbed our sleep much. Aug. 11th
To-day continuing down the creek I charge Dan at a buffalo very fat
& killed it, he behaving as well as a horse could. Dr Covey killed one also.
.
Aug
12th To-day we were greatly
surprised to find we had passed the buffalo region, none to be seen. Reached Republican Fork, crossed it with
difficulty camping on North bank. From
what Pawnees say, suppose we are 45 miles from Ft Kearny.
.
13th Start out early in a North direction &
camp 15 or 18 ms without water, for which however we were pretty well
prepared. By no means without water
either for by dark a tremendous storm arose & the Dr & I sleeping
together as usual got wet drenched from head to foot & nothing dry
for change of apparel – horror of horrors!
I never shall forget that cold shivering night! What a chapter would our march be for a
member of Congress. We still have 7 or
8 beef cattle or rather tough oxen.
Before we finish a meal our jaws become so tired from excessive exertion
that we have to rest a while & try it again. Yet we bear it cheerfully – what’s the use of growling? Aug 14th A heavy fog envelopes us
this morning and to our utter amazement & despair we find on starting that
the Pawnees are gone, the rascals our sole dependence for guidance have
deserted us in this thick fog when most needed. And all this is due to that stupid numbskull Foote who is no more
fit for a separate command than a child six months old. He has been bullyragging & tormenting
the Indians for the last week – with his absurd notions getting mad with them
because they cant understand English – mounting them one day & dismounting
them the next – till they are completely disgusted & have cleared out. But by his folly we all suffer
& the wounded particularly First Segt McKeown are in great jeopardy. Yes we are lost! Lost in a fog. No compass, no guide – no nothing – The sun is obscured for the
day. We let the Cheyenne guide us, he
seems to understand what we want & signifies that he can go to Kearny. We go 20 miles but no Kearny which we were
to meet to day according to the Pawnees.
We camp by a little dry-bed stream, very little water in a hole. At night the stars blessed stars –
appear & reveal to us the north – we mark it for tomorrow with objects
placed. To save the command worn out
& fatigued with the scant rations & hard march – many being barefooted,
unnecessary marching, I volunteered to start tomorrow with a small party to
look for Fort Kearny, & as McCleary wishes to go I ask for him & one or
two men, among others the Capt sends a cowardly worthless Mexican guide of
Laramie which I found more than worthless.
He was all the time creating discontent by contending that Fort Kearny
was South of us -- & secretly creating discouragement among the men. I became tired enough of him before we got
through. Besides him were 2 Corp’ls 1
Pvt & Ben, & Lt McCleary who was no company for he says nothing &
was to speak plainly of no benefit whatever.
The morning came (Aug 15th) but was completely enveloped in
fog. We waited till 12 & resolved
to go any how – the suffering wounded being too strong an appeal for me to
resist. We start out to go East which
Capt Foote insisted must be the course whereas I wished to go N.E. it being
cloudy, the only way we could approximate the course was by keeping two of the
party successively stationary on the line all the time, the remainder trotting
on the prolongation as fast as the process would allow. Instead of aiding me in this I soon found my
friend McCleary was so slow & poky on his slow mule that he was a nuisance
so far as any benefit was derived. All
the party except Mex, Ben & I, were on mules the Mex being on a fine Indian
pony. We got along pretty well till 5
P.M. when another storm came up. I
established points to show our course & waited quietly under some trees for
it to abate – which it did about 7. In
the interval we ate some sour grapes & took our dinner & supper of fresh
beef of which we took two days rations cooked expecting certainly to reach
Kearny by noon tomorrow. (Capt Foote’s
instructions were as soon as I found the Platte or any known point to send
McCleary the Corpl & Pvt & Mex back on our trail to him, proceeding
myself with the Cav. Corp’l to Ft Kearny to prepare for his arrival – select
camp &c). After the rain we pushed
on for about ½ an hour when it becoming very dark I again planted stakes to
mark the route & camped for the night, that is to say we unsaddled
& picketed out our horses along the edge of a grassy ravine. We had scarcely finished that when the storm
of wind & rain thunder & lightning was renewed with great violence. If I live 100 years I never expect to pass
such another night – There we sat every man squatted on his saddle with his
blanket around him revealed in gloomy outlines only by the lightning’s
flash. A picture I can never
forget. The night of the 13th
was nothing in comparison. We
were wet at the start & the cold wind sent it through us. Ever and anon an icy drop would very
unceremoniously trickle down our backs followed at intervals by another and
another, for the night. We all felt
sleepy & were dosing through the night in this way – when a flash of
lighting revealed instead of the pretty grass plat before us there was a large
mass of water half way up the bodies of our horses, & rising rapidly. We ran to extricate our horses & barely
had time to make good our retreat with them & our saddles to high
ground. I lost one glove. Aug 16th At the first dawn we saddled up. McCleary proposed we should go to timber
& make a big fire to dry ourselves.
I was surprised. I told him that
under such circumstances we ought to endure anything rather than delay when our
speedy arrival at Kearny was of such vital importance to the
command. To which he readily agreed,
upon a moment’s reflection. It
continued very cloudy. We start on the
same course when for about a second at 7 am the sun dashed into view as if by a
merciful dispensation of Providence showing that we were going S.S.E. instead
of East – I established an East & West line while the sun was visible &
then started N.E. I always will suspect
that the Mex who alternated with me in taking the point of direction, deflected
the line toward the right according to his absurd notion of Kearny’s
whereabouts. It was cloudy all
day. I stop’t at 8 & at 1 P.M. half
an hour for rest & a piece of beef now nearly gone. When we were moving it was at a brisk trot,
buffalo & elk in abundance in the distance. At 4pm our course was stopped by an impassable stream – overflow
flooded very deep with very precipitous
banks. Poor McCleary is nearly used up
from fatigue riding, but I have determined to stop for nothing and will
find Fort Kearny if it takes a week. We
were obliged to abandon our course & proceed up this stream, we know not
how far, till we can head it; our course is now S.E. as well as we can
guess. McCleary is becoming
disheartened. Very soon we strike
accidentally a plain wagon trail a miracle to us, it goes S.S.E. bearing
further to our right but we hope it will take us somewhere. I immediately surmised that it was Lt
Bryan’s road from the Republican to Ft Kearny, & we follow it eagerly at a
trot out for 3 hours during which it appears evident that we have been going in
a circle from the fact that a tree on our left has been visible constantly
& apparently the same distance off all the time. So I conclude that this road has been heading off the stream we
could not cross. Dark overtakes &
we camp. Ben has two small slices of
beef for us a piece. I devoured
one. We slept well to-night though
musquitoes were very bloodthirsty, & bit me furiously during through
a silk hdckf. I set a man on watch for
the stars in case they should appear, in order for me to take a reckoning. I was almost in despair. I began to fear that this road was merely
the trail of some hunting party, or traders, who had nothing to do with Fort
Kearny and then I thought of Capt Foote’s command & the wounded sufferers,
I never felt so much anxiety & responsibility on my shoulders. It would be impossible to retrace our trail
after the late rain to Capt F, though I confess I would never have done
that if I could, before finding where was Ft Kearny. From the first I prayed God to be my guide & I felt an
abiding hope that all would be well with us.
During the night the Cavy Corp’l woke up to see the stars –
The star of Bethlehem could not have given me more joy. I rejoiced too to see that our course now
was due north, which I knew was a safe course.
at Aug 17th At dawn we saddled up a little encouraged
by the prospects ahead. We followed the
trail two or three miles when we found the road led directly across a very
considerable stream entirely out of its banks very high & very
swift. What a quandary? I fet that we must cross that Stream. I had not the remotest idea where we were,
but I saw that to go round it or wait till it fell, judging from its size,
would take us a week. McCleary
demurred, the cowardly Mex mounted on a beautiful Indian pony that could I knew
swim any where, said “too deep” “me no swim” As he was getting high pay as guide I determined to make him
serviceable in some way & so told him to wade in to be bank proper so I
could see whether it was approachable on horseback preparatory to swimming our
horses, for by this time I was resolved to cross if I crossed alone; I knew too
that Ben
would follow me, (who has been invaluable on this
campaign). The Mexie waded in a little
distance & began “ee” “ee”! just a baby
would when its face is washed. I was so disgusted I called him
back, with a
strong inclination to have him ducked. I ordered a pvt to strip
of & go in as far as he could & see
whether the bank was approachable or not, which he did in a very
satisfactory
manner. By this time the Cav Corp’l had
obtained permission to swim the Mex’s pony over & this Corp’l & myself
(on Dan) started out. I told McCleary
before starting that he had better try Alma, and thought he would. Our animals struck out for the other bank
but the current bore them down considerably, & Dan getting his feet
entangled fell over backwards, unhorsing me, in which I lost my over coat cape
& talma. I swam to the opposite bank
without much difficulty, notwithstanding my boots India rubber leggins spurs
& clothes. Dan came over too. The
Corp’l also, who was not unhorsed. I looked back & saw
McCleary floundering
with his mule in the middle of the stream but he soon reached a bush
& was
safe – his mule tried to drown but could not. He went out
on the wrong side of course. McCleary said he could swim over
himself but how to get the mules
over I told him to make the men lash their muskets on their saddles
push their
mules in & they would come over. Which they finally did.
Ben came
over very well on the pony though he had to jump off near the
bank. Alma swam over very well on his own
hook. The mules got over with more or
less difficulty & then McCleary & thee Infy mn swam over. All were now over but the Mexie, who protested
he could not come over, “he no swim,” I could not be deaf to the voice
of humanity & planned an arrangement to help him cross. Before this however & before McCleary
had crossed the Cavy Corp’l had gone up the bank a short distance
& returning remarked that there was a plain wagon road up there & right
fresh track. I knew then it was the
Little Blue & at least 50 miles below Kearny on the Leavwth
road. Well I told the Mexie to strike
out and that my man would throw him a rope and another would swim to him if he
could not come out. The men had been
shivering some time in the cold (still cloudy) waiting for him already. To our utter astonishment the rascal swam
over better than any had done. I have
scarcely looked at him since. It was
now 7 am & cold & wet as we were there was no time to be lost. I thanked God for his merciful deliverance,
started for Kearny traveling 5 miles an hour, nearly killing McCleary. About 12 M. we met the Pawnee Kearny
Mail for the States & oh! how I wished I had my letter ready for my
Dearie. We got some some news, what a
treat, we got a piece of hard bread the most delicious morsel you
I ever tasted. We arrived here in good time that afternoon having come some 55 miles that day measured, & no
knowing how far the previous days. We
found the officers here Marshall & Bayard & Summers very much alarmed
about us. The Pawnees having come in
& reported us close by, 3 days before.
Parties had been sent in all directions, to look for us within 25 miles
but without success. Capt Foote had not
been heard of. Our plans were soon
formed we got Jeffreys the interpreter & the best of our Pawnees
& with an ambulance & 2 wagons started them directly across South –
loaded with Hardbread & all sorts of luxuries for the sick & well, and
told old Pawnee to go right where he deserted us & follow us up to Capt
Foote’s camp. A sufficient escort was
detailed. McCleary was too much used up
to go. I have Aug 18th I selected a place for camp & have tents
pitched. Call it Camp Shepperd. Find letters & news in abundance &c
&c &c. Expect Foote in 19th
or 20th certainly –
.
Here
ends my narrative of this tramp – which please preserve as I may want to refer
to it. On another sheet you will find
my letter from Fort Kearny, which will be closed when Foote arrives. As the Express will leave for Gen H shortly
after.
J.E.B.Stuart.
.