The gold was locked up by Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch, they left the Colonel in his office after it was locked up, they headed for their barracks, Blutch noticed something on the Colonel's desk, it was a newspaper with another bold letter headline.

Rebel Troops massing in Richmond

Cpl Blutch: "Sarge I'm telling you, we're on the brink of war with the south, I read that newspaper on Col Appletown's desk, there's southern troops massing at a place called Manassas Junction, not that far from Washington DC.

Sgt Chesterfield: "I don't know what to do, as far as we know we will be fighting each other on the parade ground."

Bugler: *Assembly* Once they heard the bugler play assembly, they got out on the parade ground and assembled with the other companies, Col Appletown wanted to make a speech.

Col Appletown: "MEN! We have served together for a long time now, but because a few politicians decide we are on different sides now, all men whose loyalty to the Union is in doubt, can be honorably discharged and can leave to texas in a few wagons, supplies, and weapons and ammunition to get across Sioux territory, the men leaving will fall out in ten minutes."

The men of the southern ranks went back to their barracks and put on their civilian clothes, except for their cavalry issue trousers, soon enough, most of the Northern troopers were outside their own barracks watching the Southerners pack up to enlist in the Confederate Army. Tripps was still gathering his personal things when Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch walked in.

Tripps: "Oh, hiya Sarge, hey Corporal."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Hey there Tripps."

Cpl Blutch: "Listen Tripps, do you really want to go join the Sou..."

Tripps: "Look Blutch, it's the fact that I'm southern born, I don't really have a choice, I'll look like a traitor to my state."

Sgt Chesterfield: "But it's a free country, no one can call you a traitor for fighting for what you believe is right."

Tripps: "I know, but what would my folks think of me?"

Cpl Blutch: "That you didn't want a fight a stupid war."

Tripps: "That I turned my back on the state I was born too."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Well that doesn't mean you can turn back on your country that you were also born too."

Tripps: "I'm sorry fellas, but I've got to leave, besides if I stay, they others around here will treat me like a traitor."

Sgt Chesterfield: "Yeah I guess, well, good luck to you Tripps."

Cpl Blutch: "Yeah good luck to you."

Tripps: "Thanks." They hugged in a group for at least two minutes before breaking off.

Sgt Chesterfield: "You want us to walk you out?"

Tripps: "Yes, but I'll leave first, don't want to give any of the other troopers or southerners any ideas." Tripps walked out and got on a wagon Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch joined their fellow ranks when Trooper Randall shook Caswell's hand.

Trooper Randall (Holding out his hand): "Good luck Caswell."

Mr Caswell (Shaking his hand): "Thanks Richard."

Former Sergeant Slocum passed by on his horse by the Union ranks, Sgt Cooper spit on the ground near his horse, and Slocum spit near him.

Sgt Chesterfield: "It's a shame with those two."

Cpl Blutch: "Yeah, a darn crying shame."

Lt Carpenter was to lead the southerners, since he was a native to Alabama, they were too meet a patrol of Confederate Cavalry (Texas Dragoons) and head the rest of the way to join the Rebel army. Since a third of Col Appletown's men were leaving to join the Southern Army, he had no men available to escort the wagon train south. The southerners rode away the gate guards giving the rifle salute and some of the men in the wagons returned the salute in respect for their former comrades in arms, Thunderbird went to speak with Col Appletown.

Thunderbird: "Well sir, the southerners made their decision, someday I must make mine to become a white man, or stay Sioux."

Col Appletown: "I've already done that, you'll go with the southerners and then back to your people."

Thunderbird: "But that is foolish Colonel."

Col Appletown: "So is keeping you around causing incidents, so I suggest you get out of here."

Thunderbird frowned, but he knew if he didn't leave he would they would hang him from rope at the fort gate, so he saddled his horse and joined the column of southerners.

Cpl Blutch: "Do you think they'll make it past fire bird?"

Sgt Chesterfield: "I don't know, I hope so."

The Southerners continued south, they headed for the paradise river, Lt Carpenter lead a few patrols down through there at several points in time, and he knew the area around it like the back of his hand. They were steadily going down the wagon trail when a large band of thirty to sixty Sioux Indians appeared in front of them, but they did not appear to be hostile.

Thunderbird: " It is Fire Bird, It appears there here for the powwow for the gold."

Mr Carpenter: "Tell him we greet him with our upmost regards."

Thunderbird: "*Speaks in Sioux*"

Fire Bear: "*Speaks in Sioux*"

Thunderbird: "He asks why the soldiers are not in uniform and where is the Soldier Chief."

Mr Carpenter: "Tell him we are on a journey to the south, and that we are no longer soldiers, and that the white Soldier Chief will meet with him after the sun has crossed the sky three times."

Thunderbird: "*Speaks in Sioux*"

Fire Bird: "*Speaks Angrily in Sioux*"

Thunderbird: "He says that it is a trick, and that the Soldier Chief is trying to keep the gold and break another promise to the indians."

Mr Carpenter: "Tell him that we speak the truth and that were are no longer soldiers."

Fire Bear: "LIES LIES, WHITE SOLDIER LIES, YOU WANT TO BREAK WORD AND TREATY!" Fire Bear threw his lance on the ground, and he and his warriors rode away.

Tripps: "You think that he'll come back?"

Mr Slocum: "No doubt in my mind."

Mr Carpenter decided to continue on towards the Paradise River, he didn't want to be caught between a rock and a hard place when push came to shove. A bottleneck was the last thing anyone within their ranks wanted to be in at that moment. They reached the river only to hear faint whooping and hollering, soon it got louder, and louder, so Mr Carpenter gave the order.

Mr Carpenter: "CIRCLE THE WAGONS!"

The men acted fast, they immediately placed the wagons in a circle and unloaded some crates to use as barricades. The screaming of the Sioux became louder and louder, until they came over the side of the ridge a little bit beyond the river's ford, with the rifles the Indians had, they opened fire, the former soldiers returned the fire and dropped the Indians like flies. The Indians started riding in circles around the wagons firing on the southerners, Thunderbird pulled out his own Colt Revolver and started shooting. The Indians fell by the numbers, but some of the southerners were wounded, but the Sioux warriors soon fell back across the ridge to regroup, but since night was falling fast, they would not attack again.

Mr Carpenter: "They won't attack again until morning, but someone should head to back to Fort Bow and bring the cavalry."

Thunderbird: "I'll go, I'm one of the best riders here."

Mr Slocum: "But they'll hang you by the Fort gate."

Thunderbird: "I'll take that chance." He got on his horse and rode off to get reinforcements at the fort, Tripps kept looking at him ride off to the fort from his position and wished it was him.

It was midnight at the Fort, Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch pulled guard duty and were watching from the wall for any Indians or riders approaching the fort, and then they saw the silhouette of a rider approaching.

Sgt Chesterfield: "CALL OUT THE COMMANDING OFFICER, RIDER APPROACHING!"

Blutch ran to Col Appletown's quarters and woke him up immediately, as he the little Corporal ran over to Col Appletown's quarters, Thunderbird reached the gate.

Sgt Chesterfield: "HALT, WHO GOES THERE?!"

Thunderbird: "It's me Sergeant, please I must see the Colonel."

Sgt Chesterfield: "You have a death wish or something, he'll hang you if you come inside here."

Thunderbird: "I have to take that chance, please let me in." The Sergeant didn't want to do it, but he figured if he was coming back it had to be something important.

Sgt Chesterfield (Reluctantly): "Open, Open the gate." The sentries posted at the gate opened it up and Thunderbird rode in, just as Col Appletown was stepping out of his quarters, Thunderbird rode over to him.

Col Appletown: "I thought I told you to beat it."

Thunderbird: "Colonel, the southerners are caught in a trap by Fire Bear and his warriors, they need your help." Col Appletown pondered for a minute whether this was true or not, he then gave him a reply.

Col Appletown: "If this is a trick to draw all my troops out of here, it won't work, and if it's all a lie, you'll be hanging from the gate before you can say massacre." He then stormed to his office, and Thunderbird turned to Cpl Blutch.

Thunderbird: "I try to help him and he wants to hang me."

Cpl Blutch: "Be honest Thunderbird, what are the southerners chances?"

Thunderbird: *Sigh* "They have no chance, not unless the cavalry comes to their rescue now."