STEALING. 403 



by the sentinels, they discontinued their attempts, never 

 having secured a horse. 



Many years ago I was, when in Washington, requested 

 by a man to help him to procure a commission in the 

 regular army. He based his claim on services rendered 

 during the Mexican War. When I asked what the services 

 were, he told me the following story : c I raised a company 

 of cavalry to go with Doniphan to invade Mexico. When 

 he started my company was not full, and we did not get 

 off for near a month after him. I started from Leaven- 

 worth with a splendid company, well mounted and sup- 

 plied with everything, and had a splendid march to near 

 Pawnee Eock, on the Arkansas Eiver. Here I went into 

 camp one day rather early. The horses and mules were 

 turned loose as usual, and were feeding in the river bottom 

 close by, without guards. A sentinel was posted in camp. 

 It was a hot day, and I and most of my men were asleep, 

 when the sentinel called out that a herd of wild horses 

 was in sight. I sprang up and saw a herd of forty or 

 fifty galloping swiftly towards my herd. I knew there 

 was danger of a stampede, but, before I could decide 

 what to do, the horses entered my herd, and all went off 

 together. When they got off about 500 or 600 yards, I 

 was astonished to see an Indian rise upon the back of 

 each of the horses we had supposed wild. They left me 

 without a hoof. There was nothing to do but to return. 

 Abandoning waggons and stores, I loaded my men with 

 provisions and sufficient ammunition for protection, and 

 started for the settlements. It was an awful march, and 

 we came very near perishing from fatigue, thirst, and 

 hunger. I think my sufferings on that journey entitle 

 me to a commission/ I helped him all I could by ad- 

 vising him not to tell the story. As, however, he failed 

 to get the commission, I think he probably disregarded 

 my advice. 



Nearly every horse of four companies of the old Eifle 

 Eegiment were once lost near Fort Davis, Texas, by a 



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