The National tribune., 1888-05-10

Of home and family, and, the war being over
decided to return 10 Tennessee AID seek rec
0nciliatiOn. But when he reached the old
plantation be found devastation; aud TO him
it was more lonesome than the forests and
plains Of the West. The buildings had been
burned, the place stripped OF fences and timber,
and the property had been sold under the con-
fiscatiou act His father and mother were dead,
his two brothers had been killed in the army,
and his sister had married man whose name
the EeigAbogs had forgotten. He spent year
in search found where his brothers were buried,
but Of his sister he could get no trace. Then,
homeless and th-ifeiT 10 property he could OBJ
tain only by a long siege in the courts he de-
cidUd to return to the mountains and resume
his life Of adventure.
In 1869 hc met Gen. Custer at Fort Lincoln,
opposite Bismarck, on the west bank Of the
Missouri River, aud between the tEO there
spraag up a friendship which lasted until they
died together on 4 little knoll between the
Big Horn and the Little Big Horn Rivers, II
years ago.
Reynolds had learned the Indians by associa-
ton with them. Half his life for - years was
spent in their camps, and they respected and
admired him, as they recognized his superiOrl-
" and fairness De had natural gifts Is a scout
and guide, which were developed by experience
aud study, and there was not a savage OH the
plains or in the mountains that understood the
>
Indian sign was as readily interpreted as his
own language: and he was shrcWdeT and more
subtle than they in strategy.
lie had a friend In an old Arikaree Chief
named Bloody Knife" the leader Of Clusters
Indians, and their intimacy WAS the subject Of
much comment. They hunted and trapped
and secuted together, and when Reynolds was
to undertake a dangerous mission IN which a
companion Of nerve and sagacity was required,
he preferred his unprecedented friend to one of
his own race.
was on the plains with Gen. Custer once in
pursuit of Sitting Bull, and the troops were in
great distress for want Of water a8d grass for
the horses. The Indians had burned the grass
"a common practice in war-aud poisoned the
pools that stood IN the dried-up water courses,
and there were 10 running streams for hun
dred miles. Custer called IN Lonesome Char
ley and Bloody kuife for a council and told
them they must find him water and grass
Reynolds said there was large spring about
20 miles from camp known as the Hidden
Spring among the Indians, from which there
was never ccasing flow Of water that did
not feed a creek, but was absorbed IN q sur
rounding swamp. II was 4 difficult place to
find, as there were no landmarks whatever, and
10 trails, aud 10 one would suspect It's exist
eucc q quarter OF q mile away. lie consulted a
while with Bloody Knife ID the Indian tongue,
and then told Custer be was willing 20 attempt
( tie search.
( The next morning before daybreak the fam
4 isAed horses were put in motion. aud they were
SO weak that the soldiers were dismoanted and
made 10 lead them. All day long the march con-
4 tinUcd, Bloody Knife and Lonesome Charley
leading, on their Indian ponies Side by side,
aud silently, scarcely exchanging q word al!
day, the two men rode, and the troops followed
slowly and painfully, like the children Of Israel
IN the wilderness looking upon them IS the
Nose Aaron that rel ia IGan ID tfG
promised land
Four men and 80 horses died Of exhaustion
that day. When a soldier would stagger he
would be lifted into an ambulance. When q
horse dropped he was shot, and his body was
left for the eagles aud the crows Up and down
the bills ofethe rolling prairie that succeeded
one another Ike the pillows Of a great earth
ocean, blaek with the ashes OF the grass, VIC
plodded along. with nothing between Us and
destruction but the faith we had in Lonesome
Charley and his Indian friend. At the top Of
every hill tie eyes OF all scanned tie horizon
IN search Of something that could not be seen
bat there was no change IN the landscape and
tie men grew weaker IN the hope that the HeXt
hill would be the last.
The march began to drag the troops began
to scatter. The mcn insisted upon lying down
and j was all the officers could do 10 keep then
IN motion Lonesome Charley and Bloody
Knife had got far ahead. They had reached
tue top o. the hill beyond US, when We heard Z
shout and saw them waving their hats. Tn,
weak and Eimishei men responded with as Ioul
q cry as their parched Threats could utter, FOL
they knew the hidden spring was found
Gen. Custer often said j, was one Of the mos
remarkable instances Of scouting he ever knew
and even be WAS puzzled 20 understand how ",
were led directly 20 the place that had no sign
% guide the search. il was instinct. Lone
some Charley said be never could have foun,
- D. F.. Il 7.S q
responded that he had wanted TO take auOthe
course, but yielded to a man who knew NOR
than he.