The positions described were as follows, and to each commander word was sent to be ready to obey a call from Captain Carey, who was allowed discretionary powers in requesting an advance from any one column:
General Carr, with nine troops of the Sixth Cavalry, one company of the Seventeenth Infantry, and two Hotchkiss guns at the junction of Wounded Knee Creek and White River; Colonel Offley, with two troops of the Eighth Cavalry and six companies of the Seventeenth Infantry, will be on White River, about four miles south-west of Big Grass Creek; Colonel Sanford, with four troops of the Eighth Cavalry, four companies of the Second Infantry and one Hotchkiss gun, will be at the junction of White Clay Creek and White River; Colonel Wheaton, with four troops of the Ninth Cavalry, four companies of the Second Infantry and two Hotchkiss guns, will be on White River, three miles north of Lower Lime-Kiln Creek, and about eight miles from the hostile camp; Major Whitney, with three troops of the Ninth Cavalry and one company of the Eighth Infantry, will be on Wounded Knee Creek, a short distance from the late battle-field; Captain Illsley, with four companies of the Seventh Cavalry, will be on Lower Lime-Kiln Creek.
So back to the daring young officer, who had dared take his life in his hands and enter the camp of the hostiles, disguised as a medicine chief, though none knew better than he the terrible tortures that would be inflicted upon him if he was discovered by the redskins.
[9] General Miles is the youngest Major-General in the army—the only Major-General who did not receive a military education. He entered the Union army as a captain of volunteers, but fought his way up to be a commissioned Major-General at the close of the war. He was in every battle of the Army of the Potomac, where he received three wounds, one in the throat—a close call. Custer was the youngest West Point Major-General in the army, yet Custer did not graduate from the military academy. He entered the army somewhat under a cloud, as he went out in search of Indian adventures, when he met the northern bands on the banks of the Little Big Horn. General Miles has the best record as an Indian fighter of any officer in the army and a splendid record in the late war. He is well versed in men and affairs. He is a man of good judgment and great energy.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Now that the reader is aware that the pretended Brule medicine Chief Moon Eyes, was none other than Kit Carey, it will be well to watch his career in the camp of the redskins.
Speaking the language as he did, acquainted with all their superstitions and customs, and utterly devoid of fear, he had decided upon the bold move he had entered upon not only to endeavor to rescue Jennie Woodbridge from her merciless captor, but to discover all that he could regarding the exact fighting force of the hostiles, their means of subsistence, chances of holding out, and just how they were armed.
He was also anxious to know if there was any move intended in force in a dash upon the settlements, the agency, or by ambushing one of the commands that were encircling them.