.OTEz.NTcyNTM

Page 8 weather suddenly turned very cold. We had plenty of dry wood, and our close proximity to the River of course could not leave us without an abundance of water. our men here had a plenty of Buffalo meet, and our Horses and Mules relished the luxurient bottom grass so lately feasted upon by the wild cattle of the prairie. Fog accasionally lifted during the day for an hour or more at a time, but always came back again. When the wind storm came up the fog gave way and the King of the prairie held full sway, greatly to our detriment.

January 12th 1866 !My Birth day! This morning Col Brown went down to the Republican and taking but few men with him. left command in camp until he could select a better spot for camping command and establish a supply base, returned in hour and a half and moved camp from the mouth of the Medicine Creek. to a point 5 miles East and down the River. to a grove of large Cottonwood trees, close to the River and encamped between a ridge of sand hills and the River. We were here sheltered on all sides from the winds and inclement weather having the timber on the River. South. the timber East and West of us and the sand hills on the North side. Here the River bottom is some two miles wide and grazing splended. Across the River on a low piece of ground is a large grove of dead timbers standing which furnishes fuel for our commanding abundance. The River is frozen over hard and teems can cross? with heavy loads. Our camp has been named in honor of Genl Coundy? Dist Camp