From this point Captain Whaley was sent in advance to procure
subsistence for the men and horses, and this writer was one of the
detail to go with him. At Lamb's Gap Capt. Whaley was making a
purchase of a hog for meat from an Indian who spoke but very little of
the language. About all I could make out was that the hog was big and
fat and wild and that he, the seller, could go to the mountains and
kill him, the hog, for the price named. The trade was made and the
Indian, mounted on his pony, with his six shooter without the
revolving apparatus, set out for the mountain and brought the hog in,
and, behold, when the hog was delivered HE was an old woods sow in a
very short time of bringing pigs.
I remember no incident worthy of note from this camp to North
Fork Town. While the regiment was camped here Capt. Whatley with his
same squad was some ten miles further up the river gathering up
supplies. We were in camp when a small negro Indian boy on a horse
rode up. After some conversation with Capt. Whaley he rode away at a
gallop, uttering a curious scream, terminating in something resembling
the gobbling of a turkey, which the Captain said was the Indian war-
whoop, and meant mischief to us. We were encamped near a building
called a Mission, and stood guard over our horses, which were kept
saddled for fight or flight, while the Indians in every direction
appeared to be in great excitement, and we afterward learned that a
detachment left that night to join Chief Hapothlehola, who with his
braves was further up the river pressing General Cooper who commanded
the Confederate Indian forces. Early next morning we rejoined our
command.
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