52 NEW TPv VCIvS IN NOETH AMEEICA. 



tlic Smoky Hill Eiverj and about ten miles sontli-wcst of the 

 present terminus of tlie Kansas Pacific Eailroad. It Tras 

 called after General AYallace, and is two miles from the 

 present Pond Creek Station. There is accommodation hero 

 for 500 men ; but, owing to the constant Indian dein-cdations, 

 the troops that should be at the fort are scattered in small 

 parties over the roads between Fort Hayes and Denver, vainly 

 trying to j)rotect the overland stages from the attacks of the 



savages. 



" Colonel Greenwood, his little party of twenty engineers, 

 and a small escort of twenty-five colonrcd troops, had jnst 

 completed the survey for the raiboad up to this point. Their 

 destination was Denver, 200 miles distant, to which to^Ti 

 they intended making a preliminary survey for a branch line ; 



but the Sioux and Cheycnnes had harassed them so much 



that they were obliged at last, after losing thii^teen mules, 

 to come into the fort to refit, and to obtain, if possible, a 

 stronger escort. 



*' On the Friday after oui* arrival General Hancock started 

 for Denver. Tlic people there were in great disti-ess, and 

 were calling out loudly for help ; provisions were becoming 

 scarce, prices enormous, and trade almost at a stand-still ; for 

 communication with the East had been almost entirely stopped 



V.-^ 



by the Indians. "Wa 

 or to leave, and the mining population in the adjoimng 

 districts, dependent entirely upon supplies from the East, were 

 even in a worse condition than the traders of Denver. 



" Captain Kehoe, and far more troops than could Avell be 

 spared from Fort Wallace, accompanied the General, leaving 

 behind only about fifty fighting men, as many civilians, and 

 Colonel Greenwood's little escort of twenty -five coloured troops 



) 



Such was the state of affiiirs when 



