The two preceding posts are the last from McDowell’s staff, Surgeon William S. King and artillery chief Major William F. Barry. I’m intrigued by a reference in King’s report to an Acting Assistant Surgeon Miles, who during the action inquired of King as to the safety of his father. Could it be that his father was the well lubricated Col. Dixon Miles (left), who was back at Blackburn’s Ford literally wearing two hats? I haven’t been able to find an answer yet, but did run across a pretty amusing account in the New York Times from August 30, 1854. Miles was on his way to New Mexico, and wrote from Fort Atkinson on the Arkansas River of his encounters with the Camanches and Ki-o-wags:
Some of the bucks offered me as high as ten dollars for my daughter, and I had an offer of the swap of a squaw for Mrs. M. I declined both advantageous offers.
What a guy.
Harry Smeltzer
[...] Those Who Make Holes, and Those who Close Holes [...]