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Colonel MacKenzie. He rejoined me on the 30th. and reported that no signs could be found of the trails of MacKenzie or Buell, on either side of Red River. Judging that the excessive high water had detained both of them, and my supplies now running short, and the country being wholly without grass, I reluctantly turned my steps towards my base of supplies, my horses forage being exhausted and my men on half rations. My route was along Buck Creek and Red River towards Wanderer's Creek, where I presumed supplies may be found for me.

         On the 2nd. October I received word from my scouts that a few Indians had been seen driving stock.  They were pursued by myself with a detachment of troops and scouts, under Lt. Pratt, for 20 miles by the troops and 30 miles by the scouts, but after a rapid chase they got off with the loss of 8 ponies.  The hostile

party had the advantage of changing on to fresh horses repeatedly.

       This day I detached  my two guides, Stillwell and Kilmartin, with ten Indians to find the camp of supplies on Wanderer's Creek.
        On October 4th, the trail of a raiding party was found going in the direction of Fort Sill, with apparently thirty head of stock.
        Lieut. Pratt was detached with about forty scouts to follow the trail. I subsequently I have learned that these were a party of Noconees returning from a raid into Texas, and visited both the Sill and Witchita Agencies, Lt. Pratt lost their trail in the rain storm of the second day.)
         October 5th, my guides returned, informing me there was no supply camp on Wanderer's Creek, but they had found Capt. Choisey's camp of Col. Buell's command, but he had nothing beyond the supplies of his own Company, and nothing was there for me.  I then moved my Column in the direction of Fort Sill, and it arrived at Herd Creek, where there is a good grazing, on the 10th of October, Here it will refit and recuperate the stock.
         No trails of lodge poles, or of any large parties were seen in all my march.  The country from Fort Sill to the Staked Plains is swept of Indians.  My own belief is that they are now near the heads of the Red River, and probably still further West, probably the Guadalupe mountains.  There is no grass from Otter Creek to the Staked Plains.  The recent rains have brought up weeds where grass once grew.   I have lost, aft the utmost care with my stock, thirty six horses and twenty two mules, partly from the total absence of grass, and partly from the age and unfitness of the animals.
         I do not think my stock will be in fit condition to move again, with justice to them, under thirty days.
         I respectfully suggest cantonments for the Winter at the