I replied that there was, and orders were given for a retreat, the cannon being left behind.
During the movement a number of our men were killed by the deadly fire of the Indians.

But night fell, and in the darkness we made fairly good headway, arriving at Fort Hays just at daybreak.

During our absence cholera had broken out at the post.

Five or six men were dying daily.
For the men there was a choice of dangers--going out to fight the Indians on the prairie, or remaining in camp to be stricken with cholera.

To most of us the former was decidedly the more inviting.
"The Rise and Fall of Modern Rome"-- was the chapter of frontier history in which I next figured.