t could feel safe from raids and bloody
incursions, the Fourth U. S. Cavalry, notwithstanding its high morale
and almost perfect state of discipline--had its share of desertions--

Was Mackenzie a "Martinet"

Mackenzie was not a West Point "martinet", as that term is generally
understood in our Army--but, from four wounds he had received, three in
the Civil War, and one that year in the campaign against Quan-ah Parker,
the Una-ha-da Comanche Chief--and almost criminal neglect of his own
health, in his intensity of nature and purpose in prosecuting these
arduous Indian campaigns--he had become more or less irritable,
irascible, exacting--sometimes erratic, and frequently explosive--

This much may be said, however, it is certain that notwithstanding
his physical condition, and his mental temperament resulting therefrom,
he never sought to inflict an injury or punishment upon anybody
unnecessarily--never became a petty or malicious persecutor, hounding
a man into his grave--and when it became evident to him as well as to
others that he had done any of his officers or men an act of injustice,
nobody could have been more open, free and frank in his disavowal of
that act, or quicker to apologize and render all the reparation possible
in his power-- This applied to any and all down to the last Second
Lieutenant and private soldier in the regiment--

One man never knows another so well, even intimately--as when he is
thrown closely in contact with or lives and sleeps and eats with him--
The writer had done all with Mackenzie during a greater part of this
period of 1871--having been his Post Adjutant twice--during Gen.
Sherman's inspection in May, at the time of the massacre of Salt Creek
Prairie, and prior to our Expedition of that year, and his Field
Adjutant on his entire campaign in his abortive attempt to strike
Kicking Bird's band of Ki-o-was before he could be stampeded into the
Fort Sill Reservation--from May 1st until Oct. 3--I had got to know
him very well--

Causes for Desertion

Both officers and men had been under a terrific high-keyed pressure--a
very great mental and physical strain, almost to the breaking point;
were tired and dispirited because the results and the hard work
performed, had not justified their expectations and because they could
not then see any immediate relief from the performance of such exacting
duty-- The pace had been a little too fast even for the Fourth
Cavalry-- Much of the sp