Wellington's Quest by Robert F. Clifton (best books to read now .TXT) 📕

“But, I'm not a scout”, said Jim.

“Not right now, but you're sure as hell going to be”, Cahill responded.

Both men turned their horses and headed southwest, hoping to find General Sully on the march heading northwest in search of the Sioux.

As they rode over the Dakota grassland it changed its contour going from flat land to mounds and hills. At the same time tall grass turned to areas of brush and bush and as they traveled the setting sun sank lower in the western sky. That night they hobbled their horses. Jim had left the pack mule with Sibley, but had his cooking utensils and a small amount of food in a canvas pack tied behind his saddle. They made camp beside a small pond.

“I've got a couple of cans of army issued beef. Might as well use it. Also got some dry peas and hardtack. Ain't much, but it's better than nothing”, said Cahill as he made a fire using dry buffalo dung as fuel.

“I'll fetch water for the coffee and peas”, said Jim.

As they waited for the food to cook Sandy noticed the Jim sat deep in thought. “Something bothering you?”, he asked.

“Just the same old thing. Wondering where she is, how she is?”, Jim answered.

“Wish I could help you. Right now the problem appears to be, which band has her. Is it the Santee or the Tetons?”said Sandy.

“What difference does it make? Santee, Tetons, to me it's like saying Methodist or Baptist. A Sioux is a Sioux”, said Jim.

“That's not rightly so Jim. The thing you got to know is that there are many bands of Sioux. They call it, Oceti Sakowin, or great nation. They also call it the Seven Campfires. If you were to bring all of the bands to say, a meeting, there would be, Mandan's, Hidatsa, Arikara, Chippewa, and the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota. Actually, the Dakota are the Santee and the Lakota are Tetons. They also have different customs. The Mandan's are basically, farmers. They plant their crops and stay put. They'll grow corn, squash, beans and sunflowers. They use the seeds. The women work the fields and the men hunt. Like all plains Indians they rely on the Buffalo for meat, but they'll take deer and anything else that's available.

The men also build the home. They dig inside a mound then reinforce it with wood and earth. When it's finished, it belongs to the woman. On the other hand, the Lakota, Nakota and Dakota are hunters. They follow the buffalo herds. The thing about them is that they're mobile. A Sioux woman can erect or take down and pack a tipi in nothing flat. She packs it and the family belongings, secures it to a travois and she's ready to go”, explained Cahill.

“That's what bothers me the most. They're always on the move. One band goes north the other south. Where should I look?”, asked Jim.

“It's not necessarily where you should look, but rather who you should ask', Cahill replied.

“Ask? I don't understand Sioux, let alone speak it”.

“It don't matter. Even some of the Sioux can't talk to each other. Some tribes have a different tongue. The dialect is different. So if you were to let's say, learn Mandan Sioux you couldn't talk to a Santee. Now, I can teach you the basic Sioux language, but it's better that you learn Indian sign language. That way you can talk to any of them or all of them”, Cahill explained.

The next morning the two men broke camp and began their ride south, hoping to meet General Sully and his two thousand man army heading north. They rode over green prairie grass that resembled an emerald carpet. From time to time they rode up and over or around lime colored mounds and knolls. Hours later, the terrain changed and they began to see tall, yellow, wheat grass. Far in the distance Pronghorn antelope grazed and the horse-mint flowers were in bloom, offering a lavender affect to the undulating hills.

Shortly after high noon the advance scouts of Sully's command met Jim and Sandy Cahill yelled with a grin, “Barney Mathis, you old, son of a bitch. I thought by now some woman's husband would have killed you”.

With a laugh the man answered, “The bastard hasn't been born yet”.

Cahill turned to Jim and said,”That's Barnaby Mathis, best damn Indian scout in the Union Army”. After an introduction the riders dismounted and sat on the ground.

“Thought you was with Sibley”, said Mathis. “I was. Sibley's heading back to Minnesota. Ain't nothing there for me. Besides Jim here is looking for his gal. She was taken by the Sioux some time back”, Sandy answered.

Mathis looked at Jim. “Sorry to hear that son. If we take any Sioux prisoners on this campaign I'll take a look-see for her. What's her name?”

“Virginia Martin. She'd be near nineteen now. She's got strawberry blond hair, small built. She comes up to my chin', offered Jim.

“Jim's a deputy sheriff from Blue Earth county, Minnesota”, said Cahill.

Mathis nodded his head, then changed the subject.”You heard about the war back east?”

“Last I heard Lee had invaded Ohio or Pennsylvania. I can't remember which”, Sandy answered.

“It were Pennsylvania. A place called Gettysburg. Don't you have a brother fighting with hood?”

“Yep', Sandy answered.

“Well, John Bell Hood got his ass kicked at a place they call, Little Round Top. Word is the Lee took such a beating that he pulled out and headed back to Virginia”, Mathis reported.

“I doubt if Lee is finished”, Sandy replied.

“No question about it. How some ever, Grant took Vicksburg on the same day, July third”, Mathis added.

“Well, you old reprobate do you have room for two good scouts?”, asked Sandy.

“Got room for one, you. Henry Jenkins quit two days ago. It be the tisim that got him. Poor bastard be bent over like a pretzel. Sorry son, got no need for another scout after I take on Sandy and in particular a green horn.

Now you being a deputy puts another spin on the situation. We'll be aiding the law as you do what ever it is you're supposed to do. You can draw rations and charge it to your county back home. Meanwhile, between me and Sandy here and some others we'll teach you the tricks of being an army scout. I want you to know how some ever that you'll be sucking hind tit if I take you along. I got men with a lot of years doing this work. Can't and won't show any favoritism”, said Mathis.

“I understand sir”, said Jim.

“How come Sully's late?”, asked Sandy.

“It be the drought. River was too low so the steamboat with our supplies on board didn't reach us. We had to wait. Besides there ain't no hurry. Sully intends to build a fort to operate from. Once he's ready, he'll go after the Sioux.

“What do you think of him?', asked Sandy.

“I've seen better Generals, also seen a lot worse. One thing, ifin he finds the Sioux he'll sink his teeth in their ass and won't let go”, Mathis explained.

“That's good enough for me”, said Sandy.

For the next two days General Sully moved his troops across the Dakota prairie. Two thousand men, horses, mules and wagons made their way across what seemed like an endless grassland.

“Any idea where we're going?”,Jim asked Sandy.

“I heard he's heading for Fort Pierre. He'll unload his supply wagons, rest up a spell, then be on the move”, sandy answered.

“Fort Pierre? I never heard of it,” said Jim.

“It's an old fur trading post. The army bought it in fifty five”, Cahill explained.

“Mind if I ask you something?”, said Jim.

“Ask what you want”, Sandy replied.

“How come you being a Texan you work for the Union Army?”

Cahill shook his head. “Not every Texan or every southerner thinks that secession is the way to go. Many think the problems could have been solved through patience and diplomacy. I'm one of those that think the same way.”, said Cahill.

“Do you think you can go back there after the war?”

“Sure, why not? As far as I know there's nobody back there that can stop me”.

Barney Mathis rode up beside them. “Alright Jim Wellington, I'm going to give you a look-see. Remember, I told you that you'd get the dregs of assignments? Well, here's your first one. You ride drag. Stay behind the wagons bout a half mile or a mile. That way we cover the General's ass. I don't want some Sioux son of a bitch a sneakin in the back door. You see something. You ride like hell back here to Lieutenant Chambers. He's the one escorting the wagons. That Cayuse you be sittin on, is it fast?”, asked Mathis.

“He'll do Mister Mathis”, answered Jim.

“Good, and call me Barney. Better cover your face with a bandana. Grassland be dry and we'll be raising a lot of dust. By the way, you'll be paid thirteen dollars a month, plus army grub”, mention Barney as he rode away.

“Anything I should know, Sandy?”

“Don't ride directly in back of the last wagon. Ride off to one side or the other. That way you'll see both sides of the land laid out before you.

Pay particular attention to high grass, the wheat grass. Look for flocks of birds coming up out of hiding or feeding. Listen for strange bird calls, or the howl of a wolf. Right now there's no buffalo in the area. The herds have moved so the wolf packs are hunting where the buffalo are. Most of all, watch your hair”, advised Cahill.

Surprisingly, after taking his position behind the last wagon Jim noticed that there wasn't too much dust in the air. Still, he followed Sandy's advice and alternated his ride first, left of the wagons then, right of the wagons. As he did the troops marched through rolling hills containing scattered growth of pines. Wild Bergamot was in bloom and like the horsemint produced purple flowers. Occasionally, a bird took flight from the tall grass, but not from fright caused by an intruder. He listened carefully to the natural sounds of the prairie, sounds that he had become familiar with, a result of his many days now on the grassland. Most of the time he heard the soft hum of the breeze passing over and through the plain, whispering as it moved and touched the grass. Prairie dogs sat outside of their dens constantly on the alert for preying enemies. The powder blue sky was even absent of eagles or hawks.

Now alone as he rode mile after mile his thoughts were again of Virginia. He tried not to think of her suffering out there somewhere. Instead, he brought up memories of her and him together. He remembered how she looked with just a touch of white, flour on her nose on a day when he sat in her kitchen and watched her make an apple pie. The memory of the smell of her hair when he held her close, strawberry, blond hair that she washed with fresh, soft rainwater that she took from a barrel. Memories of her soft voice as she sang hymns in church as she stood next to him. And, he remembered the feel of her hand in his as they walked together. He remembered their plans. They were the children of farmers. Their life had been made up of hard work that meant scratching out a living from the earth and they were prepared to do it again, together. In the beginning they would have each other and later, children of their own.

Something caught his eye. Far to his left there was movement on the plain. He pulled the brim of his hat down to block the sun from his eyes now shining directly in his face. Still, he had to raise one hand to shade his eyes. He watched the object It appeared dark against the backdrop of