144 T^^^ Bison 



butcher of the company, and told him to go up 

 the creek and kill a buffalo, but not to show 

 himself either before or after firing the shot — 

 merely to kill a fat cow and then to remain un- 

 der cover until I joined him with a wagon. He 

 did so. At the report of the rifle the buffalo 

 fired at ran a few steps, and then lay down, while 

 those nearest to it made a few jumps, looked 

 around, saw no one, and then went on feeding. 

 From the camp we were watching the result of 

 the shot, and as soon as fired, I went with a 

 wagon to bring in the meat. As the wagon ap- 

 proached the carcass, the nearest buffalo moved 

 out of the way, without showing any special fear, 

 and the wagon returned to camp with its load. 

 This was repeated daily, the buffalo never being 

 frightened either by the shot or the wagon, and 

 seeming to become more tame as time went on, 

 often approaching within a few hundred yards 

 of where we were at work erecting the buildings. 

 " About November ist. Troop E, Seventh 

 Cavalry (under Lieutenant Wheelan) arrived to 

 reinforce the post; and about November 19th 

 Company B, Thirty-seventh Infantry (under Lieu- 

 tenant Phelps) also arrived. I explained my 

 plan of operation to these officers, and requested 



