Camp Atchison--George A. Brackett's Adventure--Lieutenant Freeman's Death. 221 XXXVIII. Battle of Big Mound. 232 XXXIX. Battle of Dead Buffalo Lake. 237 XL. Battle of Stony Lake--Capture of a Teton--Death of Lieutenant Beaver. 241 XLI. Homeward Bound. 252 XLII. The Campaign of 1864. 257 XLIII. The Battle of the Bad Lands. 261 XLIV. Conclusion. 271 CHAPTER I. GENERAL REMARKS--DEATH OF DR. WEISER. Historians have written, orators have spoken and poets have sung of the heroism and bravery of the great Union army and navy that from 1861 to 1865 followed the leadership of Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Logan, Thomas, McPherson, Farragut and Porter from Bull Run to Appomattox, and from Atlanta to the sea; and after their work was done and well done, returned to their homes to receive the plaudits of a grateful country. More than thirty years have elapsed since these trying, melancholy times. The question that then called the volunteer army into existence has been settled, and the great commanders have gone to their rewards. We bow our heads in submission to the mandate of the King of Kings, as with sorrow and pleasure we read the grateful tributes paid to the memories of the heroes on land and on sea,--the names made illustrious by valorous achievements, and that have become household words, engraven on our memories; and we think of them as comrades who await us "on fame's eternal camping ground." Since the war, other questions have arisen to claim our attention, and this book treats of another momentous theme. The Indian question has often, indeed too often, been uppermost in the minds of the people. We have had the World's Fair, the Four Hundredth Anniversary of the discovery of America, the recollection of which is still fresh in our memories. Now we have politics and doubtless have passed through one of the most exciting political campaigns of our day and generation; but, let us take a retrospective view, and go back thirty years; look at some of the causes leading up to the Indian war of 1862; make a campaign with me as we march over twelve hundred miles into an almost unknown land and defeat the Indians in several sanguinary battles, liberate four hundred captive women and children, try, convict and hang thirty-nine Indians for participating in the murder of thousands of unsuspecting white settlers, and if, upon our return, you are not satisfied, I hope you will in the kindness of your heart forgive me for taking you on this (at the time) perilous journey.