August 18th 1863

Left Camp this morning at 8 O.C. After marching about 4 miles, Co. B in advance, just after entering a large bottom where we were to encamp, Indians were discovered just leaving and running into the hills and timber. The Cavalry were immediately called to the front and a pursuit commenced. After about an hour the troops began to return without any success, having seen but two Indians. Some half hour later a man came in with the sad news that Major Cummings was killed by the Indians. We could hardly believe it possible. A party with the Surgeon [26] was immediately sent out and found him lying dead about 4 miles from Camp. His body was brought in and tomorrow will be sent to Defiance.. The manner of his death as stated by Betts the only one with him at the time is as follows. At the first Alarm the Major, who was commanding the second and rear squadron, as soon as the first had deployed, dashed on alone, after the first, leaving his own' command which was ordered in another direction. Being splendidly mounted he soon passed ahead and following the trail through a narrow canon, (although cautioned by some men he passed not to go farther), and accompanied by one man, Betts, only, and he unarmed, after proceeding at a rapid gait some distance, the report of a Rifle was heard and the Major was seen to fall from his horse. Betts being alone, caught his horse and returned for assistance. The party sent out found him lying on his face, dead, some ten feet from where he fell. On examination it was found that a Rifle Ball had struck him about one inch below the navel and probably lodged in the spine, cutting the Artery and causing almost instant death. There was no appearance of any struggle or pain. Major Cummings was beloved by all his fellow Officers and has many friends in this country by whom his loss will be felt. He had $4,200 on his person at the time. His death was the result of rashness, in rushing into a dangerous place without any support; an act that he had been repeatedly warned against. While the party were out for the body of Maj. C. Maj. Morrison and Capt. Deus returned, they had run on to 4 Indians and took from them five horses, but got no scalps.

The other parties returned to camp having accomplished nothing. A little after noon Capt. Carey [27] & Lt. Cook [28] with an Escort arrived from Defiance with a large mail of Letters and Papers and the glorious news of the Capture of Vicksburg and the battles on the Potomac and vicinity. The excitement caused by Maj. C's death was almost entirely merged in the greater events of the war in the States. A very few more as decisive victories will close this war. We hear of the death in battle of many of the old Officers who have served in this country.

At dark Capt. Pfeiffer with 50 Foot men and Lt. Fitch with 40, started out for a night march hoping to reach the vicinity of the Indian Pueblos during the night and attack them by surprise in the morning. A few minutes after Pfeiffer left we were startled by firing some half mile from Camp, the result of which was the capture of one squaw by Pfeiffer's Co. probably a spy.

26, If the command was at full strength it could have been Surgeon Major Allen F. Pick, Assistant Surgeon Lieutenant John H. Shout or Assistant Surgeon Lieutenant George Gwyther. although the diarist would probably not have referred to either of the last two as Surgeon if either were the person who attended Major Cummings. Lieutenant Gaither does not mention the incident in his article previously mentioned, from the Overland Monthly.
27. Captain Asa B. Carey, quartermaster for the command, later BrigadierGeneral, see sketch in George H. Pettis, TM California Column, Historical Society of New Mexico, Santa Fe, N. M., 1908, no. 11, pp. 25-27.
28. Lieutenant Franklin Cook of the California Column.

Source: Lindgren, Raymond E.. "A Diary of Kit Carson's Navaho Campaign, 1863–1864." New Mexico Historical Review 21, 3 (1946).