“Eyes, right!” the commanding officer of the first company shouted as the company drew even with Falcon. The company commander snapped his head to the right, and brought his saber up, hilt to his chin, the silver blade sparkling in the sun as it stood at a forty-five-degree angle.
The right guide of each rank continued to stare straight ahead, while all the other soldiers in the rank turned their head and eyes to the right. Falcon returned the salute of the company commander, then repeated it as each subsequent company passed in review.
Later, after the parade was concluded and the soldiers dismissed, Falcon and Brisbane returned to the headquarters building.
“I have to hand it to you, Adrian, you have done wonders with these men,” Falcon said.
“I thank you, sir.”
“I told Governor Routt that I intend to hold this command only until Colorado is admitted as a state. After that, I will resign, and I will strongly recommend that you be my replacement.”
“I appreciate the confidence, Colonel.”
“I suppose that will mean that you will have to go to Washington to get your commission confirmed.”
“No, sir, that won’t be necessary,” Brisbane said. “I already hold a federal commission.”
The post telegrapher came into the headquarters building then and, seeing the two senior officers in discussion, he stood quietly by, unwilling to interrupt them.
“Hello, Mr. Potter,” Falcon said, noticing the civilian. “Do you have something for me?”
“Yes, sir, two telegrams,” the telegrapher said. “One from Ft. Lincoln, Dakota Territory, and one from Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.”
“Ft. Lincoln? That must be General Custer.” Falcon reached out toward the telegrapher. “I’ll read that one first.”
FT LINCOLN, DAKOTA TERRITORY
SEVENTH CAVALRY
TO COLORADO HOME GUARD
LT COL FALCON MACCALLISTER COMND’G
COLONEL MACCALLISTER STOP I HAVE BEEN
RETURNED TO ACTIVE DUTY, AND NOW TAKE
PLEASURE IN INVITING YOU TO FT. LINCOLN WHERE ON
THE 12 TH, INSTANT, YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER WILL
GIVE A PERFORMANCE FOR THE POST STOP
G.A. CUSTER
LT COL BREVET MAJOR GENERAL COMND’G
“Major, how would you feel about taking over command again for a while?” Falcon asked after he finished reading the telegram.
“I’m at your command, sir,” Brisbane replied.
“Good.” He held up the telegram. “General Custer has invited me to Ft. Lincoln to view a performance given by my brother and sister.”
“Then, by all means, sir, you must go,” Brisbane said.
“It’s just that I hate leaving you again so soon after having been gone for so long.”
“Believe me, Colonel, I don’t mind,” Brisbane said.
Falcon nodded. “All right, I will go. Mr. Potter, you said there were two telegrams for me?”
“Yes, sir,” the civilian telegrapher said. He handed the second telegram over to Falcon.
FT LEAVENWORTH KANSAS
TO COLORADO HOME GUARD
LT COL FALCON MACCALLISTER COMND’G
SIR THIS IS TO INFORM YOU THAT TWO GATLING GUNS
ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO YOUR REG’T STOP THE
GUNS ARE BEING SHIPPED BY TRAIN FROM FT WALLACE
KANSAS TO DENVER AND WILL ARRIVE THERE ON THE
9TH INSTANT STOP PLEASE ARRANGE TO HAVE
SOMEONE PICK THEM UP AT THAT LOCATION STOP
CAPT OLIVER LARKIN
SUPPLY OFFICER
“Gatling guns,” Falcon mumbled. He showed the telegram to Brisbane. “Did you order Gatling guns?”
“No, sir, I did not.”
“Now why on earth would they be sending us Gatling guns?”
“I don’t know,” Brisbane said. “But evidently, someone thinks that we need them.”
“What about the repeating rifles?” Falcon asked. “Any more news on the Henry rifles?”
