to be pretty generally distributed
through the foregoing account.

After the departure of General Sheridan's party we returned to Fort
McPherson, and found General Carr about to start on a twenty days'
scout. His object was more to take some friends on a hunt than to look
for Indians. His guests were a couple of Englishmen and Mr. McCarthy of
New York, the latter a relative of General Emory. The command consisted
of three companies of the Fifth Cavalry, one company of Pawnee Scouts,
and twenty-five wagons. Of course I was called to accompany the
expedition.

One day, after we had been out for some little time, I arranged with
Major North to play a joke on Mr. McCarthy. I took him out on a hunt
about eight miles from the camp, informing Major North about what time
we should reach there. He had agreed that he would appear in the
vicinity with his Indians, who were to throw their blankets around them
and come dashing down upon us, firing and whooping in the true Indian
style.

This program was faithfully carried out. I had been talking about
Indians to McCarthy, and he had become considerably excited, when just
as we turned a bend in the creek we saw a band of them not half a mile
away. They instantly started after us on the gallop, yelling and
shooting.

"McCarthy," said I, "shall we run or fight?"

He did not wait to reply. Wheeling his horse, he started at full speed
down the creek. He lost his gun and dropped his hat, but never once did
he look back to see if he were pursued. I tried to stop him by shouting
that the Indians were Pawnees and our friends. He did not hear me, but
kept straight on, never stopping his horse till he reached the camp.

I knew he would tell General Carr that the Indians had jumped him, and
that the general would at once start out with troops. So as soon as the
Pawnees rode up, I told them to remain there while I rode after my
friend.

When I had reached camp, he had given the alarm, and the general had
ordered out two companies of cavalry to go in pursuit of the Indians.

I told the general the Indians were only Pawnees, and that a joke had
been put up on McCarthy. I neglected to tell him who had put up the
joke. He was fond of a joke himself, and did not get very angry. I had
picked up McCarthy's hat, which I returned to him. It was some time
before it was discovered who was at the bottom of the affair.

It was while I was stationed at Fort McPherson, where Brevet-Major-General
W.