A Buffalo Story 
On the last day of September, 1871, I joined 
my regiment, then in camp near Fort Hays, 
Kansas. At that time the different troops of 
the regiment had not been assigned to their 
winter quarters. My own was on its way 
north from Texas, where it had been stationed 
since the close of the war. I was extremely 
anxious to learn what its destination was, for 
I had never killed any of the large game of 
the country; in fact, had never fired a rifle 
except at a target. Should my troop be or- 
dered to Fort Riley, or Fort Harker, east 
of Fort Hays, or to Fort Dodge, south of 
Hays, I feared that my chance of meeting with 
large game would be doubtful. To my great 
delight, however, I found that my assignment 
was to Fort Lyon, situatedon the northern bank 
of the Arkansas River in eastern Colorado. 
On October 12 about 10 a. M., we broke 
camp and took up our line of march for the 
west, following the old Smoky Hill stage- 
A) 
