observe that, although you have seen it every morning for

main column a considerable distance, I deemed it prudent to call a

halt until we could discover the direction taken by the principal

body of the Indians. We soon learned that they had gone up the

valley, and looking that way, we discovered a column of alkali dust

approaching us, about a mile distant, interposing between my little

detachment and the point where I knew General Rains intended to

encamp for the night. After hastily consulting with Lieutenant

Edward H. Day, of the Third United States Artillery, who was with me,