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19.

At Cotton Wood we rested a day as wood, water and grass were plentiful and it was desirable to exercise our men at target practice before entering a region where it might be useful. Buffalo appeared in numerous herds grazing northward. Being officer of the guard I was prevented joining in the chase with several officers who returned empty-handed and with thin horses so fatigued that orders were issued that there should be no chasing of buffalo without special permission. On the morning of the 26th my company had the advance and Major Carleton was riding with me. I had a little five shooter with which I could shoot well at twelve? paces, but the major said it was good for nothing with buffalo. He was quite right but I did not know it and the result of the discussion was the major wagered me a basket of wine to be had at Fort Union that I could not stop a buffalo with it much less kill one. We were passing a spot called "Little Turkey Creek" in an itinerary for the possibility that there was no creak there and no turkeys could have been seen about it. There were some water holes however to mark? the place in the prairie monotony. Shortly there appeared a small herd of seven buffalo coming from our left in a lumbering gallop to cross the trail in front of the column. To a side view the buffalo appears of? the contour of a huge animated ham with his shaggy heavy head on the big end. His powerful fore legs are short and columnar to sustain