Expedition to John Day River 197 



As we sat on our horses, looking south along the 

 heavy trail, we saw some half-dozen horsemen com- 

 ing toward us. We knew that they must have seen 

 us, and concluded to stay where we were until we 

 could make them out. Before long we saw the glit- 

 ter of sabers and the flash of gold buttons, and soon 

 General Howard and his staff rode up at a gallop. 

 I recognized him by his brigadier general straps and 

 by his empty sleeve. He had lost an arm fighting to 

 preserve the Union. 



We saluted, and he asked me whether we had seen 

 his pack train. When I answered no, he asked me 

 if we knew where he could find some bacon, as he 

 and his staff, as well as the troops behind them, had 

 been living for three days on fresh beef without any 

 salt. I told him of a smokehouse across the bridge, 

 and he sent his scout to examine it. The man re- 

 turned shortly with the report that not only was the 

 smokehouse full of bacon, but that the table in the 

 dwelling house was set for a meal, with cold coffee 

 in the cups, bread, cold bacon, and potatoes, all 

 ready to eat. The people had evidently just sat 

 down to dinner when someone had rushed in with 

 the news that the Indians were coming, and they had 

 all thrown back their chairs and fled for their lives. 



While the General and his staff sat down to a 

 hearty meal, Leander and I continued to follow the 

 trail. At one place, where a farmer made cheese, 



