XVI 



Now, it may be interesting to give a few rides of our 

 own cavalry on the plains, not as a contrast, but as a 

 matter which all horsemen should be glad to know. 



In 1879 several single couriers with the news of his 

 imminent danger rode from Thornburg's "rat-hole" to 

 General Merritt's column, one hundred and seventy miles, 

 in less than twenty -four hours. The exact time of each 

 was not taken. Rescue was more important than rec- 

 ords. In 1891 two troopers of the Eighth Cavalry rode 

 with despatches one hundred and ten miles in twenty 

 hours, and Captain Fountain rode eighty -four miles in 

 eight hours, and one hundred and ten miles in twenty- 

 three. In 1876 Colonel Lawton rode from Red Cloud 

 Agency, Nebraska, to Sidney Station, Nebraska, one hun- 

 dred and twenty-five miles, with despatches for General 

 Crook, in twenty-six hours. Rides of from one hundred 

 and twenty to one hundred and fifty miles have repeatedly 

 been made within the day and night by our ordinary 

 troop-horses when not specially prepared for the work, 

 and over very bad ground, and it is extremely rare that 

 they have suffered serious injury. 



There are few three-day rides by single horsemen w r hich 

 can readily be quoted; but other performances may be 

 given, which are akin to this one. We put aside all mere 

 hearsay rides. Of these there is no end; but it is well 

 to put on record only such rides as are proven by official 

 reports, and of which the distances can be measured by 

 clear evidence. 



