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Show 100 ' COLORADO MACJAJJINE blunders. My orders were to proceed to Conejos. - 72 miles iu lv.-, days, to . which place two roads lead; the western one I was ;,, take. 1 sent off the mounted troops first, and soon after fi." » Infantry under Cap!. Dickey, while 1 reported to Oeneral Hatci I having a sj. ring wagon in which 1 iravelled with my adjutant quartermaster, and surgeon, there being no horses to be had f,, r us to ride: my own having been h- ft at Fort Cihson as transportation for them was refused. About two- hours after the column starled. I followed. on t!. v western road across the plains, and was surprised at not over." taking Cant. Dickey. Fpon arriving at Fa Java I found Cap*. Bradford in camp, but he had seen n> Ahing of the- infantry rob urnJ. I. Knowing they j, iust have taken lhe other road J sent mv adjutant la. Casey and I. t. Ogle of (' apt. Bradford's eompanv across the prairie to find them and they did not return. After waiting until midnight 1 rolled myself in my buffalo robe ' and went to stecj) in Oapt. Bradford's tent. The- night was cold. i<- formed a fourth of an inch thick which showed a rugged chamr-.- from Gibson with the mercury at PO when we started.' 1 \\" e marched at daylight next morning, and after proceeding abet.! a mile met Lieutenants Casey and Ogle, who looked miserable enough: they had found Oapt. Dickey in camp on the river road all right, and after giving him my orders and fortunately for then;. getting supper, 1 hey . started to come back to our camp, but g-: lost on the prairie and had'. wandered about all night. They had no matches with them and could make no fire, had no wraps and could not lie down, but had to keep on the move to keep warn: trudging through the sage brush and leading their horses. A< day dawned they saw our camp and were coming toward it when we met the forlorn couple. Capt. Dickey had been put on. tin1 wrong mad by the teamster who was to guide bum. At Conejos that afternoon we joined and went into can.? on the banks of the Conejos river, a beautiful- stream, for our supper. !' A11 is well that ends well." But I could not but re-fleet that many military projects on a larger scale than ibis ami upon the'results of which the fate of armies has depended, have often failed from just such blunders or accidents as this one: an- l this incident goes lo show that too milch precaution cannot » •• taken in military movements to avoid miscarriages. Conejos is an old Mexican town with a few modern hot>;- in it. these springing up on the prospect of the railroad rea- ium.* it which wili be soon. Most- of the houses are of adobe. It has •.-. ' After bavin;- spent a .- ol. l niuht. Maim- IIom. il wrote to his vA:'- t'ron; CoJO- jos. Colorado-, an.', a s l ' d her to s.- ni! him ;, I'. uffnlo' overce:*'. le. uu'in^ s. woolen socks, a fur .•: « • » . ami " iwn full sni. s of r c l niul-> nvr* i"." ( Alfred IInu:: h to Maty I!.. iu;! i. ()• n. l>. i- :<. ls7! » . Jheu- h Papers.) |