Part 2 (1/2)
In October, 1867, General Sheridan organized an expedition to operate against the Indians who infested the Republican River region ”Cody,” said he, ”I have decided to appoint you as guide and chief of scouts with the command How does that suit you?”
”First rate, General, and thank you for the honor,” I replied, as gracefully as I kne
The Dog Soldier Indians were a band of Cheyennes and unruly, turbulent members of other tribes, ould not enter into any treaty, or keep a treaty if they o upon a reservation They were a warlike body of well-built, daring, and restless braves, and were determined to hold possession of the country in the vicinity of the Republican and Solo Soldiers” because they were principally Cheyennes--a na
On the 3d of October the Fifth Cavalry arrived at Fort Hays General Sheridan, being anxious to punish the Indians who had lately fought General Forsyth, did not give the regily on the 5th of October it began its ht we ca Creek, four miles west of Hays City By this time I had become pretty well acquainted with Major Brown and Captain Sweetman, who invited me to mess with them on this expedition, and a jolly mess we had There were other scouts in the command besides myself, and I particularly remember Tom Renahan, Hank Fields, and a character called ”Nosey,” on account of his long nose
The next day we marched thirty miles, and late in the afternoon we came into camp on the south fork of the Soloo out and kill soht, Colonel; send along a wagon or two to bring in theoutto be hauled in; kill your buffaloes first, and then I'll send out the wagons,” was the Colonel's reply I said no more, but went out on a hunt, and after a short absence returned and asked the Colonel to send out his wagons over the hill for the half-dozen buffaloes I had killed
The following afternoon he again requested et soons this ti up with a sht for the enca theht into the camp, and then killed them all, one after another, in rapid succession Colonel Royal witnessed the whole proceeding, which puzzled him somewhat, as he could see no reason why I had not killed therily, and demanded an explanation
”I can't allow any such business as this, Cody,” said he ”What do you ons this tiht I would make the buffaloes furnish their own transportation,” was my reply The Colonel saw the point in a moment, and had no more to say on the subject
No Indians had been seen in the vicinity during the day, and Colonel Royal, having carefully posted his pickets, supposed everything was serene for the night But beforeshots fired, and i into ca that there were Indians close at hand
The companies all fell into line, and were soon prepared and anxious to give the redskins battle; but as the reat many of them were considerably excited No Indians, however,to the picket-post where the picket said he had seen them none could be found, nor could any traces of them be discovered The sentinel, as an Irishman, insisted that there had certainly been redskins there
”But you must be mistaken,” said Colonel Royal
”Upon me sowl, Colonel, I'm not As shure ez me name's Pat Maloney, one of them redskins hit me on the head with a club, so he did,” said Pat
And so when ated, and was easily solved Elk tracks were found in the vicinity, and it was undoubtedly a herd of elks that had frightened Pat As he had turned to run he had gone under a liainst which he hit his head, and supposed he had been struck by a club in the hands of an Indian It was hard to convince Pat, however, of the truth
A three days' uninteresting ht us to Beaver Creek, where ere ca parties were sent out in different directions None of these, however, discovering Indians, they all returned to careat excite been attacked a few hours previously by a party of Indians, who had succeeded in killing twoto Co the command started on the trail of these Indian horse thieves, Major Broith two co ahead in advance of thethe Indians, and getting nearly out of provisions--it being our eighteenth day out--the entire command marched toward the nearest railway point, and camped on the Saline River, distant threefor supplies we received a new co officer, Brevet Major General E A Carr, as the senior ht with him the celebrated Forsyth scouts, ere coular ar, at an early hour, the co a pretty good idea where he would be uide them by the nearest route to Elephant Rock on Beaver Creek Upon arriving at the south fork of the Beaver on the second day's e fresh Indian trail, which we hurriedly followed for a distance of eight miles, when suddenlyon the bluffs ahead of us quite a large number of Indians
General Carr ordered Lieutenant Pepoon's scouts and Company M to the front This company was commanded by Lieutenant Schinosky, a French advanced his company nearly a mile ahead of the ed down upon hiht, until he was supported by our full force The Indians kept increasing in nuhting froeeneral, and several were killed and wounded on each side The Indians were evidently fighting to give their faet away We had undoubtedly surprised theer force than they had expected to see in that part of the country We fought theht they annoyed us considerably by firing down into our caher hills, and several tie the returned from one of these sallies, Major Brown, Captain Sweetether, when ”whang!” ca a hole through it The bullet caun of one of the Indians, who had returned to the high bluff overlooking our camp Major Brown declared it was a crack shot, because it broke the plate We finished our supper without having anywe struck out on the trail, and soon came to the spot where the Indians had cae was a very large one, consisting of about five hundred lodges; and we pushed forward rapidly fro Creek About two o'clock we cae, and soon the warriors turned back to give us battle
They set fire to the prairie grass in front of us and on all sides in order to delay us as ht for the remainder of the afternoon, and the Indians repeatedly attee; but their trail was easily followed, as they were continually dropping tepee-poles, ca to the, and it finally became difficult for us to keep on theuseless to try to follow the Indians after nightfall
Next ain on the trail The Indians soon scattered in every direction, but we followed the main trail to the Republican River, where we made a cut-off, and then went north toward the Platte River We found, however, that the Indians by traveling night and day had got a long start, and the General concluded that it was useless to follow them any farther
The General told me that the next day's march would be toward the headwaters of the Beaver, and asked me the distance I replied that it was about twenty-five miles, and he said he wouldan early start in the uide being ahead of the advance guard About two o'clock General Carr overtook me, and asked ht it was about eight n or indication of any strea in the wrong direction,” said the General; ”and in the way you are bearing it will be fifteen miles before you can strike any of the branches of the Beaver; and that when you do, you will find no water, for the Beavers are dry at this time of the year at that point”
”General, I think the scouts are mistaken,” said I, ”for the Beaver has more water near its head than it has below; and at the place where ill strike the strea enough to cross the whole coo ahead,” said he; ”I'll leave it to you; but reer of that,” said I; and then I rode on, leaving him to return to the coht miles farther on, where we came upon a beautiful little stream, a tributary of the Beaver, hidden in the hills We had no difficulty in selecting a good halting-place, and obtaining fresh spring water and grass The General, upon learning fro--had no name, took out his map and located it, and named it Cody's Creek, which na for the Beaver, and ere approaching the streauard in order to find the crossing Just as I turned a bend of the creek, ”bang!” went a shot, and doent ledin the direction whence the shot had coun loose on them, but in the excitement of the moment I missed my aim They fired two or threeone of their horses