Scounting the Trail

Near the Monument Rocks, two 7th Cavalrymen pause from their scouting to overlook the scene below them in the Smoky Hill River Valley.  In front of them, faintly visible among the native grasses and flowered prairie, is Major Elliot's column that is marching towards Medicine Lodge Creek.  The Scouts were given the task of ensuring that the road in front of the column was safe to travel on.

General Custer had just been charged with "absence without leave from his command", as well as two counts of "conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline".  As punishment for the offenses, he was relieved of his command of the 7th Cavalry and demoted for a period of one year.
Major Joel Haworth Elliot assumed Custer's place to commander of the 7th Cavalry stationed at Fort Wallace.  Soon after he assumed command he took wagons and men of the 7th Cavalry to Fort Larned.  In October, taking over 200 wagons (30 of which contained gifts for the Indians), Elliot and his column headed out of Fort Larned to Medicine Lodge Creek to meet with five Indian Tribes.

After two days of travel and fourteen days of meeting with the Indian Tribes, the Medicine Lodge Peace Treaty was signed.
The peace did not last long as Indian depredations and attacks on settlers prove to be too much for the agreement.  The Indian wars once again assumed and would continue for several more years.
