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Chapter 15. A Hunting Trip
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311 Chapter15 ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ AHuntingTrip [July1,1877]1 OurpartyassembledatCampBrown,Wyo.,apleasant littlepostontheLittleWindRiver,oneofthehead-watersof theBigHornRiver.Toreachthere,Lieut.Schuylerandselfstarted inadvanceofthemainpartyandcame,viaU.P.R.R.toGreenRiver Station,900milesorsoWestofOmaha,Neb.,thencebystageand ambulance(150)milesnorthtoBrown.(Adescriptionofthisportion ofthetriphasbeengiveninanotherdiary.)2 AtCampBrown,wewerereceivedmosthospitablybyCaptain [John]Mix,2d Cavalry,Lieut.[HenryClayton]Lapointe,ofsame Regiment,andDoctorGrimes,thePostSurgeon.WefoundLieuts. RockwellandWheeleralreadyincampwiththeescort,Company “L”,5th Cavalry,whichhadmarchedacrosscountry,uptheSweetwater Valley,fromFortFetterman. ByJune29th ,theentireexcursionhadassembled,comprisingthe followingmembers: LieutenantGeneralP.H.Sheridan BrigadierGeneralGeorgeCrook ------D.B.Sackett 1.WestPoint’sdesignation,butmorelikelyJune30. 2.Apparentlyinamissingnotebook. 312 STAFFOFFICER ------“Tony”Forsyth ------SandyForsyth. Mr.Welch,ofChicago,Supt.PullmanCarCo. Mr.Ferrarof“,Editor“EveningJournal” Asst.SurgeonJ.H.Patzki. Lieut.W.L.Carpenter,9th Infantry Lieut.JohnG.Bourke,3dCavl.,A.D.C. “W.S.Schuyler,5th Cavl.,A.D.C. Lieuts.RockwellandWheeler,5th Cavalryand[ThomasJackson] Gregg,2dCavalry,inchargeofescort,Mr.MooreandMr.Delaney, inchargeofpack-train. FrankGruardandBaptistePourier,withfollowingnamedIndian guides,RedShirt,Jackass,BigBelliedSorrelHorse,ChargingBear, Sword,NoNeck,LoneBear,LittleBull. TomCosgrovecamewithusfromCampBrownforadistanceof twenty-fivemiles,afterwhichuntilreachingthecrestoftheBig HornMountains,wehadaguidefromLauderCity,Wyo.,whose nameIdidnotlearn. OurtransportationconsistedofOneHundredandFortySeven mules,wellprovided:ourEscortnumbered(97)menandwehad fortheuseoftheofficerspresenttwelvewalltentswellfurnished withfliesforcarpetsandshadesandtowrapupbedding.Nearlyall ofushadfishingtackle,riflesandotherincidentalsforahunting andpiscatorialcampaign. PendingthearrivalofGeneralsSheridanandCrookandthe othermembersoftheparty,wehadthepleasureofbathinginthe refreshingwatersofthewarmsulphurspringsabouttwomilesfrom thePost.Thisisawonderfulgiftofnature,onetowhichreference hasbeenmadeinanotheroneofmynotebooks.Thisspringcovers anareaofnotlessthanone-sixthAcreandhasadepthofsixfeet onanaverage:itswaterisimpregnatedwithSulphurandMagnesia, besidesothermineralsandhasatemperatureof100°F,oralittle greater.Itshealingpropertiesinallcasesofgunshotwounds,old ulcers,sores,skindiseasesandsyphiliticorscrofulouscomplaints aremuchextolled.Uponfirstentering,thewarmthisrathertoogreat forcomfort.Anafter-effectofdelightfullanguorisinducedandthe bathersportsinthewateruntilwarnedbythosebestacquainted withitseffectsthatitisoccasionallyapttooccasionnauseawhen peopleremaininoverhalfanhour.Asadetersivethiswatercan [3.215.77.88] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 06:16 GMT) AHUNTINGTRIP 313 scarcelybeequalledanywhere:nosoapneedbeused.Lookingdown intothewaterourlimbshadtheappearanceofbeingcarvedout ofivory,butwhenwewithdrewthemtotheupperair,theylooked liketheclawsofboiledlobsters.Weweremuchpleasedwiththe convenientbath-house,builtoverthepondandseparatedintolarge sizedcompartmentsfortheuseofladiesandgentlemen.Awounded soldierwasincharge,atthetimeofourvisitandevidentlywasvery faithfulinhisattentiontohisduties. July1st AtelegraphicnotificationarrivedoftheretirementofColonel J.J.Reynolds,3dCavalry,whichoccasioned,initsproperplace, thepromotionof1Lieut.Gregg,2dCavalry,tobeCaptaininsame Regiment.WemadeagoodstartfromCampBrown,gettingaway abouthalfpasteightinthemorning.Foranhourormore,afterleaving thePost,hadtobearthebruntofabrisklittle...