desert except after the rains or where
irrigated by ditches. It forms a high flat table-land whose edges drop
sharply off in curiously pillared cliffs. Therefore the early Spanish
called it El Llano Estacado--the Palisaded Plain; but the Americans
believed that the name was given because the only trails across it were
marked by stakes.

In later days it proved to be a vast range for cattle and horses; in
the older days it was the stronghold of the Comanches, who knew every
water-hole and every cave.

Drawing near to the Staked Plain, southwest of Adobe Walls, Colonel
Miles decided that he must have more supplies. The trains were far in
the rear, and may have been cut off. On the afternoon of September 10
he directed that dispatches be sent back, for the trains or else for
Camp Supply on the North Canadian River in northwestern Oklahoma which
at that time was Indian Territory.

The men selected were Sergeant Z. T. Woodall of I troop, Sixth Cavalry;
Private John Harrington of H troop, Private Peter Roth of A troop,
Private George W. Smith of M troop; and Citizen Scouts Amos Chapman and
Billy Dixon--the same Billy Dixon of Adobe Walls. After the Quana
Parker fight he had joined the army service. Scout Chapman had been
stationed at Fort Sill, on the reservation in Indian Territory.

The four soldiers wore the regulation summer campaign uniform of Plains
days. Their shirts were dark blue flannel. The light blue cavalry
trousers were reinforced at the seats with white canvas. Upon their
heads were high-crowned black felt hats. Upon their feet were the high
cavalry boots. Scouts Chapman and Dixon wore buckskin trousers edged
with long fringes, Indian style. Their blue flannel shirts had rolling
sailor collars. Upon their heads were white wool hats. Upon their
feet were moccasins.

Those were the army and scout uniforms in 1874.

They were armed with the stubby Springfield carbines, caliber
forty-five, and Colt's six-shooter revolvers taking the same cartridge.
In their belts were hunting-knives and two hundred rounds, each, of
ammunition. They rode light--their only extra covering was their coats
tied behind their saddles. They did not take blankets nor
shelter-tents; for they had more than a hundred miles to go, every mile
of it, to the North Canadian, through roving Indians, and might have to
race for their lives.

Of course their horses were the best in the whole column, and they
themselves were ac