Five Years A Dragoon (49 To 54)

Five Years a Dragoon 49 TO 54. AND OTHER ADVENTURES ON THE GREAT PLAINS. BY PKUOtVAT-. G. LOWE, KANHAH 01TY, MO. PtUNKMN HUDHON PUBiaHUINU CO-1W6. 1 PKKOIVAL I. UOWB, TO TUN MEMORY OF MAJOH DAVID M. HASTINGS, U. S. A., WHO DIKD IN UWTIUWMBNT AT II LS UOMW IN BATH, NKW YQKK, TO WHOM 1 OWK MORE THAN TO ANY OTHKtt FOU HIS KINDLY OUXDANCB IN MY YOUTH AND INMXmUENOK WHILTG SERVING UNDEH HIM quot, AND WIIOSM FRIENDLY OAUK LK. D MM THKOXTGH THK CJRBATEST DJL6 1 - H 1 IOXir l IES, THIS VOLITMK IS Y DKDIOATM1 BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. At the close of a busy life, interspersed with exciting adventures, I find myself living in the past enjoying the recollections of old comrades and business associates, the scenes in which we mingled in early manhood, the bivouac under the blue sky, the faithful vigil of the weary sentinel for the safety of all. The living who know of the truthfulness of statements herein made are few, but the records live. Always blessed with a good memory, it seemed to be renewed to come to my assistance, as, step by step, I travel the old roads and recount the incidents of long ago. Fortunately I kej amp gt t an accurate daily journal of some of the campaigns of which I write, and have only to copy extracts, brief, but comprehensive enough without being too voluminous. My recollection of Fort Eiley were first embodied in an address delivered before the Kansas State Historical Society. Referring to this address I received many letters of congratulation and approval. The Journal of the United States Cavalry Association did me the honor to publish it and a number of Army friends signified their approval and urged me to write more, which I did with considerable reluctance, mistrusting my ability the Jour nal continued to encourage me and publish my articles and the result, with all otf its imperfections, is here given quot to the world. Whatever may be its fate in the hands of civil ians, I earnestly hope that it may be read by soldiers, who may find some consolation in comparing 1 their present com fortable homes pay and emoluments with what soldiers enh joyed fifty years ago. The stories here told, the scenes and incidents referred to, will never be repeated. The gr at plains have been transformed into cultivated fields producing food for millions and sending to the mar kets of the world the finest animals known to fee meat consuming nations of the earth. The wild herds and sav age men have all passed away, never to return. Instead of the wigwam we have the modern home, farm, factory, school and ehurch instead of savage isolation and war, the railroad, telegraph, telephone, rural mail delivery, and the highest intelligence and refinement known to civilization. P. 0. Lowe, Leavenworth, Kansas. December 28, 1906, the fifty-sixth anniversary of my arrival at Fort Leavenworth, PART I. I HAD quot been raised on a farm until fifteen had been new-boy and sold papers about the streets of Low ell, Mass. had been t h r e e years a sailor, including a whaling voyage, and quot learned the daguerreotype busi ness in the gallery of Mr. Plumb on quot Washington Street, Boston, and became a first-class operator. I was a per sistent reader of voyages, travels, campaigns, explora tions and history, and novels - such as Maxryat s, Coop er s, Scott s, etc., and the spirit of adventure was so strong that I determined to enlist in the mounted service, which was sure toplace me on the great plains of the West, among Indians, buffaloes, and other big game, and the mountaineers and trappers of whom I had read so much. Fremont s Narrative of 1843-4, and Captain Bon neville s Adventures gave the finishing touches to my inclination. It seemed to me that five years in thds kind of field would round out my education, so to speak, and if I lived would then be readv to settle down to some thing permanently. ftVi YtlA S A Having determined upon this course, I presented my self at the recruiting office in Boston, giving my occupation as a farmer...