this job the general selected five hundred men and horses. In two
hours we were making a forced march back to War Bonnet Creek. Our
intention was to reach the Indian trail running to the north across
this watercourse before the Cheyennes could get there. We arrived the
next night.

At daylight the next morning, July 17, I proceeded ahead on a scout. I
found that the Indians had not yet crossed the creek. On my way back to
the command I discovered a large party of Indians. I got close enough
to observe them, and they proved to be Cheyennes, coming from the
south. With this information. I hurried back to report.

The cavalrymen were ordered to mount their horses quietly and remain
out of sight, while General Merritt, accompanied by two or three aides
and myself, went on a little tour of observation to a neighboring hill.
From the summit of this we saw the Indians approaching almost directly
toward us. As we stood watching, fifteen or twenty of them wheeled and
dashed off to the west, from which direction we had come the night
before.

Searching the country to see what it was which had caused this
unexpected maneuver, we observed two mounted soldiers approaching us on
the trail. Obviously they were bearing dispatches from the command of
General Merritt.

It was clear that the Indians who had left their main body were intent
on intercepting and murdering these two men. General Merritt greatly
feared that they would accomplish this purpose. How to aid them was a
problem. If soldiers were sent to their assistance, the Indians would
observe the rescuers, and come to the right conclusion that a body of
troops was lying in wait for them. This of course would turn them back,
and the object of our expedition would be defeated.

The commander asked me if I had any suggestions.

"General," I replied, "why not wait until the scouts get a little
nearer? When they are about to charge on the two men, I will take
fifteen soldiers, dash down and cut them off from their main body. That
will prevent them from going back to report, and the others will fall
into our trap."

The general at once saw the possibilities of the scheme. "If you can do
that, Cody, go ahead," he said.

I at once rushed back to the command and jumped on my horse.

With fifteen of the best men I could pick in a hurry I returned to the
point of observation. I placed myself and my men at the order of
General Merritt, and asked him to give me the word at the pro