Terry C. Johnston - Trumpet on the Land: The Plainsmen

Assistant Army Surgeon Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy, nearing end of horse-meat march to the Black Hills. (Courtesy Little Bighorn Battlefield Nanonal Monument)

Posed photo of soldier shooting played-out cavalry horse in march south from Slim Buttes. (Courtesy Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.)

Miniconjou chief American Horse and wife. (Courtesy South Dakota Historical Society.)

Buckskin lodge captured at Slim Buttes (note Keoghs I Company guidon recaptured). (Courtesy Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.)

Pushing the Sharps lever down, Donegan ejected the empty cartridge, then replanted a live round in the breech. Seems those warriors dogging our tails was just a little too anxious to close the trap, dont it?

Lucky us, grumbled Finerty as he crabbed up to join the three, whining lead following the white men into the timber.

Grouard rolled on his back and found Sibley, then instructed, Lieutenant, tell your boys not to fire a shot until they got a good target.

These men have fought before, Sibley snapped.

Just remind em! Donegan added. Were going to need every last bullet we have before this days done.

Nodding, a grim Sibley responded, All right.

And Lieutenant, Seamus said, causing the officer to halt in a crouch, tell your men its a good idea to keep one last round in their pistols for themselves.

BOOKS BY TERRY C. JOHNSTON

Cry of the Hawk
Winter Rain
Dream Catcher

Carry the Wind
Borderlords
One-Eyed Dream

Dance on the Wind
Buffalo Palace
Crack in the Sky
Ride the Moon Down
Death Rattle

S ON OF THE P LAINS N OVELS
Long Winter Gone
Seize the Sky
Whisper of the Wolf

T HE P LAINSMEN N OVELS
Sioux Dawn
Red Clouds Revenge
The Stalkers
Black Sun
Devils Backbone
Shadow Riders
Dying Thunder
Blood Song
Reap the Whirlwind
Trumpet on the Land
A Cold Day in Hell
Wolf Mountain Moon
Ashes of Heaven
Cries from the Earth
Lay the Mountains Low

for all the miles and memories
we have shared together,
this hook is affectionately
dedicated to my
Canadian saddle partner,
BRIAN TAYLOR

Cast
of
Characters

Seamus Donegan Samantha Donegan

Army Scouts

Frank Grouard (The Grabber, Yugata)

Louis (Louie) Richaud (Reshaw)

Baptiste Pourier (Big Bat, Left Hand)

William F. Cody

Charles / James / Jonathan White (Buffalo Chips Charlie)

Tait / Tate

Baptiste Garnier (Little Bat)

John Wallace Captain Jack Crawford (The Poet Scout)

Buckskin Jack Russell

Texas Jack Omohundro

Military

Lieutenant General Philip H. SheridanCommander, Division of the Missouri (Chicago)

Brigadier General George C. Crookcommanding Department of the Platte (HQOmaha, Nebraska)

General Alfred H. Terrycommanding Department of the Dakota

Colonel Wesley MerrittCommanding Officer, Fifth Cavalry (Brevet MAJOR GENERAL)

Colonel Nelson A. MilesCommanding Officer, Fifth In-fantry

Lieutenant Colonel William B. RoyallCommanding Officer, Third Cavalry (Brevet COLONEL)

Lieutenant Colonel Eugene A. CarrFifth Cavalry (Brevet MAJOR GENERAL)

Lieutenant Colonel James W. Sandy Forsythheadquarters staff, Division of the Missouri

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Nelson Garland WhistlerFifth Infantry

Major Edwin F. TownsendPost Commander, Fort Laramie (Brevet COLONEL)

Major Alexander ChambersCommanding Officer, Fourth Infantry (Brevet COLONEL)

Major Andrew W. EvansSecond in Command, Third Cavalry (Brevet COLONEL) Battalion Commander

Major John J. UphamFifth Cavalry, Battalion Commander

Captain Julius W. MasonK Troop, Fifth Cavalry (Brevet LIEUTENANT COLONEL) Battalion Commander

Captain William H. JordanNinth Infantry, Commanding Officer, Camp Robinson (Brevet MAJOR)

Captain James Teddy EganK. Troop, Second Cavalry

Captain Emil AdamsC Troop, Fifth Cavalry

Captain Thomas B. WeirSeventh Cavalry

Captain Edward W. Smithadjutant to General Alfred Terry

Captain Thaddeus H. StantonPaymaster, Department of the Platte, Commander of Volunteers (Brevet MAJOR)

Captain Samuel MunsonC Company, Ninth Infantry

Captain Andrew S. BurtH Company, Ninth Infantry (Brevet MAJOR)

Captain Gerhard L. LuhnF Company, Fourth Infantry

Captain Daniel W. BurkeC Company, Fourteenth Infantry

Captain William H. AndrewsI Troop, Third Cavalry

Captain John V. FureyExpedition Quartermaster, commanding wagon/supply train

Captain Henry E. NoyesI Troop, Second Cavalry (Brevet MAJOR) Battalion Commander

Captain George M. (Black Jack) RandallChief of Scouts, Twenty-third Infantry (Brevet MAJOR)

Captain William H. PowellG Company, Fourth Infantry Captain Anson MillsM Troop, Third Cavalry (Brevet COLONEL)

Captain Frederick Van VlietC Troop, Third Cavalry (Brevet MAJOR)

Captain Alexander SutoriusE. Troop, Third Cavalry

Captain Peter D. VroomL Troop, Third Cavalry

Captain Elijah R. WellsE. Troop, Second Cavalry

Captain Samuel S. SumnerD Troop, Fifth Cavalry (Brevet MAJOR)

Captain Robert H. MontgomeryB. Troop, Fifth Cavalry

Captain Sanford C. KelloggI Troop, Fifth Cavalry (Brevet LIEUTENANT COLONEL)

Captain George F. PriceE. Troop, Fifth Cavalry Captain Edward M. HayesG Troop, Fifth Cavalry

Captain J. Scott PayneF Troop, Fifth Cavalry

Captain H. J. NowlanSeventh Cavalry, acting assistant quartermaster to the Dakota Column

Lieutenant John G. Bourkeaide-de-camp to General Crook

Lieutenant Henry R. LemlyRegimental Adjutant to Colonel Royall

First Lieutenant William L. CarpenterG Company, Ninth Infantry

First Lieutenant Adolphus H. Von LuettwitzE. Troop, Third Cavalry

First Lieutenant Augustus C. PaulM Troop, Third Cavalry

First Lieutenant Edward S. GodfreySeventh Cavalry

First Lieutenant Emmet CrawfordG Troop, Third Cavalry

First Lieutenant Henry SetonD Company, Fourth Infantry

First Lieutenant Joseph LawsonA Troop, Third Cavalry

First Lieutenant William C. ForbushFifth Cavalry, Assistant Adjutant General