He, therefore, decided that the result would justify the necessary hardships involved.

To this end smaller posts were abandoned, and the widely scattered soldiers ordered to central points in preparation for the contemplated movement.

Devere had been deserted earlier, and Major McDonald had marched his men to Dodge, where Molly awaited his coming.

Retained there on garrison duty, the two occupied a one-story, yellow stone structure fronting the parade ground.

In October, orders to march reached "M" troop, Seventh Cavalry, at Fort Union, and the ragged, bronzed troopers, who all summer long had been scouting the New Mexican plains, turned their horses' heads to the northeast in hopefulness of action.