The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-23
In the Indian Country.

In the Indian Country.
by GENERAL JAS. 2. BRIsBIS. U. :. A.
Golden DAys.I
NY first station in the army out West
was at Fort Russell, in Wyoming Territory
There was little game nerr the fort, and but
few fish in the streams, sill We did the best
we could TO amuse ourselves.
remember one day going to Grow Creek
with Lieutenant and dozen soldiers, 10
catch white-6sh. They would not bite, and
% avoid returning home without n string, /
sent for some grain sacks, bent willow hoops
in their mouths, and forming the men in n
line across the narrow streams, sent Others
above TO wade and drive the fish into the
sacks.
By dint Of labor and pushing under the
banks with poles, we caught about 200, and
returned home quite jubilant over our sue
cess. The fish were bony, tasteless and so
poor eating we never attempted to take any
moro.
In a short time, was ordered into the
Republican country, with a column of cav
airy, aud was delighted 10 learn we should
find all kinks Of game there, and in great
abundance.
At North Platte, on the Platte river, l
lOuuu 0tutIhl DIhultN tuNdAlDtut Win n
column of infantry, and turning south At
this point, we passed together directly over
TO the Republican river.
On our way the first day out / caught
some fish in stream called the Medicine,
but they were only clubs, and not very
good eating. The next day, about noon, we
entered a large grove Of timber, aud while
riding through it several wild turkeys flew
up from under our horses feet. One old
fellow lit on the limb Of tree. and a shot
from an officers revolver brought him down.
There were plenty Of ripe wild plums in
the woods, most delicious to the taste, aud
we stated our appettes and filed our pockets.
They were hanging in red clusters on the
trees, and the soldiers gethered them for
dinner, stewing and then sprinkling them
with white sugar, which made y most de-
ightful dish.
Pomegranates and wild grapes grew along
the streams, the grape-vines climbing over
the trees in pretty testoons, but the fruit
was too green to eat. Blackbirds, wood
chucks, doves, thrushes, winged wood
peckers, and many smaller birds flew about
In all directions, chattering necessarily, and
evidently much surprised at seeing such
singular-looking strangers invade their quiet
home.
The Indians had encamped in the grove
not long before our arrival, and many of the
frames of their lodges were still standing,
some Of them seeming tn have been bat re-
Gently abandoned. The frames were made
of poles, stuck in the ground, the tops being
bent over and fastened together with thongs
of rawhide. Some had both ends OF the
poles driven in the ground, the middle being
bent up and forming half-moon. Over
these frames the Indians had stretched the
skins of wild animals, pinning them to the
ground with small wooden pegs, and in
these houses they had lived, completely
sheltered from wind and rain.
The shape of an Indian wigwam depends
entirely upon the owners taste. He builds
IT round, conical, oval or peaked, according
to his fancy.
The most popular form of lodge is tall
and peaked, like q Sibley tent, but have
seen them square, wedge-shspe, and many
half-round, like a wagon-sheet set on the
ground over its bows.
The war lodges resemble great kettles
turned upon their mouths.
Coming out to an open place among the
trees, saw little valley without timber,
but plenty of green grass, and within q
hundred yards of US a herd of black
tailed deer were grazing. We fred a
dozen shOts, and Nelson, my guide, had
the good fortune to bring down fine
buck.
It was on our way out to the Republican
forget.
One evening / had ridden in advance
of the column two or three miles, with few
soldiers, TO look for camp. We had
found the the desired place, and were about
to unsaddle, when q cavalryman, who had
been some distance ahead, came backwIth
his hat full of ripe wild plums.
inquired where be had gotthem, and on
his replying, "A little way up the canyon
/ mounted my horse and rode of in the
direction he indicated, taking no men OF
arms with me
had no idea of going far from
camp, but must have missed the place, anC
kept on nearly a mile looking tor the plum
grove.
At last [ came to thick patch Of bushes
and sitting on my horse began to gather
and eat the fruit A slight noise aEtrscle
nv attention, and looking up l saw al
Indian on pony, not more than fifteen fee
distant.
He. too, was gathering plums, and W
espied each other at the same moment.
Is hard to say which of the two was mos
AeLOnl ne0 or IFiSuteHeu. uallOOCu ~ Va
top of my voice, and the Indian, putin.
whip to mis- pony, fed up the valley at ful
speed.
As soon as bend in the canyJn hi
him from view, clapped spurs to m
horse and never let up until reached tn
camp.
1t taught me lesson, ard have neve
since gone hunting wild plums withou
arms.
In one place we found large buryin
ground II was in grove of timber, an
the bodies we're laid up in the trees. I'm
der large limb picked up a skull in tn
grass and looking overhead saw scatfOld
on which lay n dead Indian, wrapped il
his blanket. Other bodies were near b,
some incIosed in buffalo robes, others j
furs, and some ia bark-cofins, boun
round with strips of raw-hide.
Many were laid to rest in the simple'
manner, bat a few we're gsudy with red an
blue flannel
One old fellow had tufts of feathers at b