Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-11-08
4" LUCKY JOE"
He Recounts a Few Thrilling Ad-
ventures with Indians.
How He Gained the Appellation of
"Lucky Joe"-Charging Band of
Red Skins SingIe-Handed-A
Dash for Life and Liberty.

From May, 1866, to October, 1870,
was in the employ OF the Government
as an Indian scout and dispatch rider,
and during the last three years of my
service | was seldom referred to, ex-
cept in official papers, otherwise than as
Lucky Joe." was lucky. There
were twelve of us mustered into serv-
ice at Fort Kearney early in May. Be-
fore November eight of the dozen lost
their lives. Before April l was the
only one left of that crowd. In the
four years / had thirty different part
ners, every one of whom was killed or
so badly wounded that he had to leave
the service. While scores of brave
fellows left their bones on the plains
and among the hills | was only slight
ly wounded twice in all those years of
peril. 1t is little wonder, then, that
they called me "Lucky Joe," and
that white men and Indians alike
believed that | could not be killed ex-
cept with a silver bullet. They even
tried that without drawing blood.
What people call luck is Outlines
easily explained. / had served for
three years in the army of the Poto-
mac, acting as scout, spy and cavalry
man. | had been in twenty battles and
skirmishes. had been closely pinched
many times as scout and spy. There
fore, to begin with, had nerve. ] had
trained myself never to be surprised
or ratified at any thing and to expect
the unexpected. was young and Wig
orous, had keen eye, and could shoot
with Bogardus For four months
previous to reporting at Fort Kearney
i was in daily training. | trained
as a runner and jumper. /
practiced at creeping and crawling
and burrowing. l practiced at two
handed shooting with my revolvers
until | was perfect. invented war
whoop of my own and got it down
perfect / had Kentucky running
horse, and broke him to stand under
all circumstances. He would lie down
when commanded, come at my call,
stand sentinel at night, and when |
uttered my war whoop he was ready
to help me fight. My hard work was
not known to the soldiers and pioneers,
and they therefore attributed to luck
what really belonged to nerve and
training. As / made no explanations,
the sobriquet of Lucky Joe became
firmly attached to my identity.
My first startling adventure occurred
on the north fork of the Platte river,
between Fort Kearney and Cottonwood
Springs. There was detail of sol.
diers stationed at the latter place, and
! was sent from the fort with sealed
orders. AT that time the hostile.
were threading that section in every
direction, and had run off a great dea
OF stock and killed many soldiers anC
citizens. was offered detail of cav
airy to see me through. but preferred
to go alone. As matter of fact
wanted to test my nerve. 1t may seen
queer to you, but you must remembel
that l had trained for the occupation
and adopted it and was naturall,
anxious to excel | left the fort a
dark of starlight night for the rid,
of about thirty-fve miles, having ever,
reason to believe that there were tw,
hundred redskins proving betweel
the two points. The first ten miles
made at a rafting pace, as my hors
was in fine fettle and scouting partie
had been our during the day to intim
idate the Indians. After that distanc
had been covered checked the pac
and was alert.
The best route lay along the bank G
the stream, but as that would be tn
route watched by the reds / kept bac