had brought them the same blessing. They told me that a great number of their children had died since, carried off by epidemics which had raged among the nomadic tribes of the plains. They are much consoled at the thought of the hap
piness which children obtain by holy baptism. They know its high importance, and appreciate it as the greatest favor which they can receive.
General Harney had many friendly conferences with the Pawnees, the Ogallalas and the Cheyennes, in which he strongly advised them to cease molesting the whites who might pass through their borders, adding that on this condition alone could they remain at peace with the United States.
I have so often spoken of the buffalo in my letters, that this tune I might pass him by in silence. However, I will mention it for the purpose of saying that the race is not extinct in these parts, though it is becoming more rare to find buffalo on the highway across the plains, which its instinct must have taught it to avoid. We met our first herds of this noble animal in the neighborhood of Fort Kearney. The sight created great excitement among those soldiers who had not visited the plains before, and they burned to bring down
one or two. Armed, as they were, with the famous Minie rifles, they might have made a good hunt, had they not been on foot, while the buffalo were mounted; it was, therefore, impossible to get near them. They fired, however,
at a distance Of 200 or 300 yards. A single buffalo was
wounded in the leg. Its wound compelled it to lag behind,
and it became the target of all our men. A confused sound of cries and rifle shots arose, as if the last hour had come for the last buffalo. Riddled with balls, his tongue lolling out, the brood streaming from his throat and nostrils, the poor
brute fell at last. To cut him up and distribute the meat was the work of a moment. Never was buffalo more rapidly transformed into steak and soup,- every one would have his piece.
While these things were going on, Captain P mounted on a fine horse, approached a bull, already terrified