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Show 24 ALONG LODGE POLE CREEK. vating climate of the beautiful Crescent City in the month of June. Safely across the river the entire command commenced its westward march along Lodge Pole Creek, and two days thereafter more than half the column destined to Fort Lar-amie and posts North of it separated. The night before this occurred all the officers, who were to continue the westward route, collected at the quarters of Col. Carrington to take leave of him and his estimable lady. Sad memories are connected with that little assem blage. Capt. Brown, who was then quartermaster of one of the batallions was the most jovial, and best contented man as to his destination in the company. He cracked jokes about being scalped, and seemed to fear such a fate less than any one present ; but alas ! he was first to fall by the hands of the Indian he so little feared. He was one of the victims of the horrid massacre near Fort Phil Kearny last Decem ber. Our company of ladies was reduced proportionately with the command. Three left us at Sedgwick, three more on the occasion just alluded to, and three continued on towards the City of the Saints. CHAPTER IV. ALONG LODGE POLE CREEK. LODGE Pole Creek is a stream rising in the" Black Hills" and running in an easterly direction to the South Platte, into which it empties, in the vicinity of Julesburg. Near its source is an extensive growth of straight, slender trees, which are used by the Indians in the construction of the lodges ; hence the name of the creek. An Indian Lodge consists of a conical frame- work of |