Left Behind

During the Hancock expedition which began in the spring of 1867 and continued in the searing heat of that summer, the Seventh U.S. Cavalry rode across the open plains of Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado in pursuit of elusive Cheyenne and Sioux warriors.  Days and hours of exhausting marches made many a soldier and his mount weary and weak.

After a grueling 705 mile march that began on June 1st at Fort Hays, six companies of the Seventh Cavalry had arrived at Fort Wallace on July 13th.  The march had proceeded north through Nebraska into Colorado then swung back South to Fort Wallace.  Orders had been given, "to hunt out and chastise the Cheyenne, and that portion of the Sioux who are their allies, between the Smoky Hill and the Platte."  This campaign took its toll on the regiment.  Rugged terrain and extreme heat had exhausted men and animals.  Men deserted the column and the Indians proved to be elusive.  Upon arriving at Fort Wallace Custer found a shortage of supplies.  Many men were sick and traffic along the Smoky Hill-Butterfield Overland Stage Route had stopped as a result of attacks by Indians.  He could find no message from his wife, Elizabeth who he had left at Fort Hays.

Word of a flash flood and an outbreak of cholera at Fort Hays caused Custer to fear for Elizabeth's safety.  Thus, he decided to form an escort to open the trail to Fort Hays.  There he hoped to secure supplies for Fort Wallace and find his beloved Libbie.

At sunset, July 15, 1867 Custer and a detachment of the 7th U.S. Cavalry began a march eastward to Fort Hays to Fort Wallace.  The column consisting of seventy-two troopers, four officers, two ambulances and a supply wagon traversed the 150 miles to Fort Hays in approximately 55 hours.  Exhausted men and horses fell back behind the march of the column along the way.  

Thomas Lamb Company A 7th U.S. Cavalry was one of the troopers who were left behind on the march.  His horse becoming so tired he could not keep up with the command.  Custer would request the Lamb tie his horse behind and ride in one of the ambulances, but his horse was so exhausted, Lamb had to stay behind and lead the horse on the trail.  He would eventually meet up with four other troopers and they would reach Grinnell Spring Station on the Smoky Hill Trail.  There he would wait until Captain Louis Hamilton of the 7th Cavalry returned to take him and the others back to Fort Wallace.
