The ride west was relatively uneventful, there were sightings of Reb Cavalry patrols but once the Company left Tennessee there were little to no rebels in the line of march. The march had them go through the back roads in Missouri to avoid Bushwackers, they passed through St Louis and Kansas City, and were heading down the Santa Fe trail as planned. But there was someone watching them, or some person's, numbering a little more than 100 that come from everywhere from South Carolina to Virginia, whoever it was was riding back quickly to their leader.
Lt Danford: "COMPANY HALT!" He turned to Lt Cohill, "Did you hear anything Lt Cohill?"
Lt Cohill: "No sir, I didn't hear a thing." Just then, they heard someone riding towards them, it was Trooper Tyree.
Lt Danford: "Anything to report Tyree?"
Trooper Tyree: "No sir, I did spot some horseshoe tracks, but could have just been a cavalry patrol out of Fort Leavenworth or something sir."
Lt Danford: "Alright, we'll carry on, FORWARD YO-HO!" And the column continued, but Cpl Blutch had a strange feeling and so did Sgt Chesterfield.
Cpl Blutch: "I don't like this, I have a bad feeling we're all gonna be wiped out."
Sgt Chesterfield: "So do I, but there's something we've got to remember."
Cpl Blutch: "What's that?"
Sgt Chesterfield: "The Guidons Fly Forever, even if our friends die, they'll live on with the Regiment, their souls will be immortal with their service, they'll stay with us as long as the Regiment lives on."
Cpl Blutch: "Yeah, but with Stark keeping up the charges of his, there won't be any Regiment left." Sgt Chesterfield nodded, If Capt Stark didn't try something new with his attacking tactics, there wouldn't be anymore 22nd Cavalry.
They continued on to Fort Point in New Mexico, but what Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch didn't know is that they were being watched by a scout from some of the most crack Confederate Troops in the southwest, The Texas Dragoons.
Meanwhile
Capt Britten, commander of the Texas Dragoons in the area around Fort Point and throughout the Santa Fe Trail as far as southern Kansas, a rider approached quickly.
Rider: "CAPTAIN BRITTEN, I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU SIR!"
Capt Britten: "What is it Sgt Barksdale?"
Sgt Calhoun: "There was a Company of Yankees heading down the trail to Fort Point."
Capt Britten: "They're probably just reinforcements for the fort."
Sgt Calhoun: "I guess, but I'm not sure."
Capt Britten: "Don't worry about it, we just need to find that gold the Yanks are sending back east."
The Confederates didn't know that it was those same soldiers heading to Fort Point that were going to escort the gold back east, when they found out they would stop at nothing to get it.
Later
The sun was beginning to set, and the men of Company B were setting up camp and posting pickets to watch for the Confederates, Indians, or any bandits that would want to steal the horses. Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch were sitting by the fire drinking coffee when a wolf howled, it gave them a case of the shivers.
Sgt Chesterfield: "If there's one thing I hate, it's wolves."
Cpl Blutch: "I thought you weren't scared of anything, Mr High and Mighty?" he chuckled while the Sergeant just glared at him with a little bit of anger.
Sgt Chesterfield: "Someone's always scared of something, especially soldiers, they just don't let it take them over and cloud their judgement."
Cpl Blutch: "So, you're scared of things?"
Sgt Chesterfield: "Certainly, anyone who say's he's not scared is either a fool or a liar."
Cpl Blutch: "Well, I'm neither of those." He took another sip of his coffee, it was still bitter, even with a bit of sugar in it, but it had a taste to it that only army coffee would have. Soon enough they rolled out their bed rolls and fell asleep, they would be able to get to Fort Point by the afternoon of the next day's ride.
The Next Morning
The troopers saddled their horses and got ready to move out, the Color Bearers uncased the Colors and Lt Danford and Lt Cohill rode to the front of the column and moved them out. The men were riding down the old wagon trail with their Guidons and battle flags fluttering in the wind, but there was something unsettling about the situation. Just then it was heard in the form of whooping and yelling of a Kiowa Indian raiding party, Lt Danford shouted the orders to protect themselves.
Lt Danford: "DRAW CARBINES!"
The men pulled their Spencer Carbine's out of their saddle boots and aimed carefully at the approaching Kiowas, once the Indians were in range, the men fired. The Indians fell by the numbers because of the capabilities of the Spencer Carbine, the Indians started to make a run for it back to the Northwest, some of the troopers wanted to follow in pursuit.
Random Trooper: "COME ON, LET'S GO GET THEM!"
Sgt Chesterfield: "STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" The Sergeant and the Corporal galloped over to the troopers that wanted to follow the Indians.
Random Trooper: "Why Sarge, they've lost many in their numbers, those stinking savages are asking for it."
Cpl Blutch: "Look, we've been on the frontier before, they'll try and draw you into a trap and massacre you."
Sgt Chesterfield (Quiet surprised by Blutch's statement of experience): "E-exactly, So if you don't want to lose your scalps, get back with the column."
Random Trooper: "Alright Sarge, we get the picture, we'll get back in formation."
After that small skirmish, the Company was reformed and continued on to Fort Point, they would shortly arrive there after a few more miles of travel.
Later
The Company were just outside the fort just as they were sounding 'To the Colors' for honors that afternoon, the men pulled out their sabers and gave a salute to their nation's flag. The men soon continued on into the Fort, they trotted in and as soon as the last trooper and Pack animal trotted in, the Fort's commanding officer Maj Brittles walked out putting his belt with his saber.
Lt Danford: "Lieutenant, dismiss the men."
Lt Cohill: "Company dismissed." and the troopers walked their horses to the fort's stables, Lt Danford dismounted just as Maj Brittles walked over to him.
Maj Brittles: "Lt Danford I presume?"
Lt Danford (Saluting): "Yes sir, we're here to escort the 'Rifle Cartridges' sir."
Maj Brittles: "Yes of course, but I'm afraid you can't go back the same way you came."
Lt Danford: "Why not sir?"
Maj Brittles: "We've been having trouble with some crack rebel troops, Texas Dragoons have been hunting the gold, they raided a supply train last week in search for it."
Lt Danford: "Thank you for warning us."
Sgt Chesterfield and Cpl Blutch were listening to the conversation between the officers and were concerned with the mission.
Cpl Blutch: "What do you think Sarge?"
Sgt Chesterfield: "I think there's gonna be a lot of bloodshed these next few days."