how to make literary use of grass and frost

Here's a cool little case study in creative revision or ghostwriting.  See how the plain matter-of-fact journal entry of Philip St George Cooke has been used to jump start one of the numerous prairie dialogues between the narrating Captain of U.S. Dragoons and his Imaginary Friend (I. F. for short).  In his original 1843 report, Cooke mentioned "black frosts" and routinely noted the availability and condition of grass:

"October 5th.   I marched Eastward.  We began now to be exposed to black frosts and the grass rather suddenly failed us.....

October 18....I found grass in a timbered creek bottom  Page 9

The rewrite makes a dramatic scene out of Cooke's straightforward narrative.  The dialogue is invented, but key factual details have been lifted from the 1843 army journal:

I. F.—"Very interesting, this dry grass and frost! Has the idea of home banished me from your thoughts?"

— "Ah, no! I am a bit of a philosopher; and take this October marching very kindly— particularly after thawing of a morning; and riding ahead, I kill a grouse occasionally with my pistol."  (Scenes Beyond the Western Border, January 1852)

A bit of a philosopher!