The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-25
Am in Command of compnny-Bound
for Attack by sIoux-A Running Plight.
A Night with Mad Man-wo Are
Driven Out Into the Cold In Undress
Uniform.
BY SERGEANT HOLIDAY.
1E

bA dkhuhANT hVLL1DAIs
Is.
i Entered according 10 the act OF Congress In Ii
librarians oflce At Washington, D. G., by the az
thor George II. Holiday, OF Iroason, Ohio in tn
We remained at Fort Laramie until al
ter General Sulley's successful raid int
the Indian country on Powder River
This was the most disastrous to the siou.
Of any expedition ever sent out agains
them in that country. General sulley LEI
the Upper Missouri with large force o
cavalry and at the same time Genera
Wheaton marched from the North Plat,
with similar force, and forming juno
ton on Powder River, they made a bolt
and dermined dash into the very heart o
the Sioux country, sweeping everything
before them and capturing several hundred
ponies and killing several war
riors. Mrs, Fannie Kelley wa
at this time a captive among the
Sioux, and negotiations had been for some
time going on for her release but without
success. Six months before this, while en-
route for Oregon, with her husband and q
train Of emigrants, they were assailed al
Box-elder creek, sixty miles beyond Lara.
mic, and without making any resistance,
believing that the Indians could be per
suaded by kind treatment to let them
Nf rkf Iii a1 4
Mrs. Kelley and her little girl were taken
as captives, but her husband made his es.
cape. All efforts had thus far failed to
effect her release, and this Powder River
raid was instituted more for the purpose of
chastisiAg these Indians and releasing her
than anything else. Although they were
badly whipped with loss Of both life and
property, they held onto their fair captive,
and not until several months after this
chastisement did General Sulley succeed
in releasing her.
By her skill and courage she succeeded
in leading band Of warriors, who went
with her to Fort Sulley, into trap, or am
bush and had them all captured. They
had planned capture OF this fort at the
same time they were to delivefher up and
receive the reward offered by her husband
and friends. But she made their inten-
tons known by sending note with o
friendly Indian to Sulley, and thus saved
herself, the fort, her husbands money,
and captured the rasCals who had so long
held her in bondage.
Mrs. Kelly, for this act was sometime
afterward voted an allowance by Congress,
OF 5000. The Indians killed her little
girl the next day after the capture Of the
train. During her captivity, friendly
Indian hanging around Fort Laramie, vol
unteered to carry verbal messages to the
Indians, and made several trips, always
bringing information as to their number,
locality, intention, ETC., and once or twice
saved Laramie by giving timely notice Of
intended attacks. Col Mapidier soon
learned his value, and had him appointed
a scout in the United States service, with
the rank and pay OF first lieutenant. We
saw him when he first adorned himself in
his lieutenant's uniform. The officers who
ordered it from the States had it made as
brilliant and gorgeous as possible.
He had been decked in "breech clout"
blanket and wore no hat. His new clothes
consisted Of dress coat, epaulets, pants with
broad gold stripe down the leg, hat with
gold band and large plume and the usual
undershirt and drawers, the latter OF red
flannel, The officers rugged him up in all
these garments, and he strutted around
through camp like peacock. But 1t
wasn't long before "swift Bear" got tired
Of 80 much clothing, so one morning he
presented himself before the Colonel adorn-
ed in his drawers and shirt, and the large
plume taken from his hat hoated mag
nificiently from his scalp lock. The band
OF his hat he had ripped off and tied
around his neck, and the long red sash tied
around his waist contained revolver and
long scalping knife.
He seemed to admire this style OF dress
much more than the blue uniform, and
the friendly Indians at the post looked up
on him with an admiration and jealousy.
This Indian, Swift Bear, as he called
himself, became Of great service to the sol.
diers along the route and had the conf,
dence OF all the officers. He performed
much valuable service, and was ever
yatchful OF the interests OF all the posts
along the North Platte.
Our officers had nearly all been placed
in command OF posts along the route, or
assigned to duties, and our companies were
so thinned out by repeated details, that but
small squads were left to each. Our COM
pany commander, 81. W. Brazie, was ap.
pointed Judge Advocate for the Depart,
ment OF the North Platte, and the writer
awoke one morning to find himself in
command OF his company, rather a great
responsibility for boy Of seventeen sum.
mera.'
To Brakes official signature he would
attach the letters ~. A." This the waggish
boys construed into meaning "Jack Ass"
After remaining here until along In
October, 1865, part OF the Powder River
expedition returned to Laramie, bringing
with them the spoils OF successful raid.
Eight hundred ponies we're driven in
beside large number packed with plum:
der captured in the Indian villages which
had iallep In their way.
Soon after this one Ghllly afternoon, when
we were all sitting around our little fires,
report came to Laramie that . band Of hos.
tiles were In the vicinity OF Horse Shoe
Station, and that stock had been stampeded
at that Post. Wewere expecting orders to
march to that station, where an
orderly came to. camp with an
order or 80 men with 3 days
rahons to report at once to headquarters,
An hour later drew a detachment Of my
regiment up in front Of headquarters and
with hat In hand reported to the Colonel.
"Are you detailed 10 command this de-
tachment," he asked, cycling me from head
to foot, in q manner that caused many
very strange feelings to pass over me.
" am" ! answered as firmly as possible.
"Rather young, think, for the expedi-
ton have in view, but ! guess you will
60 through though, with half chance"
My uneasiness was in no wise eased by
the disappointed look thought detected
in his face, and the expedition he mem
ii lind It necessary to reinforce the
garrison at Horse Shoe, he went On. "There
Is force OF Indians lurking around that
pest, and you may have to run the gaunt.
let before you reach there, but want you
10 90 through, and that too as quickly as