The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-05-29
BATTLE WITH cHEYENNEs.

command, in late number cf the Phila-
deiphia Press
SO threatening vas the stzfe Of ad4irs
in the territories Of Nresning. Montana
and Dakota in 1876 that General Crock
Was called FROM Arizona and placed IN
command Of the Dersr1nlenfo Of the Platte.
he whipped and sronghi 10 terms the
whole Apache Nation, except the Chin
cahuas, who were considered special
wards Of the GoVerun1eni and whom he
was forbidden to touch. Then be Was
sent to Try bis hand on the Sioux and
their brothers 10 onaiAKry, the Cbey-
ennes.
General sheridan, who commanded
the whole Division Of the Missouri, or
dered the 5th Cavalry to go up and rein
force the field army Of their old Arizona
chief and eomrade. Ne had marched in
overland from ArizonA 10 Kansas in the
summer Of Is, and were garrisoned
along the Kansas Pscific Railway. The
order came by telegraph early in June.
We were Of by rail for Cheyenne the
very next day, the lieutenant colonel
commanding going ahead and taking me
with him as siiuianf- We we're dining
at the Railroad House at Cheyenne De-
pot, after having selected camp ground
for the companies that were 70 arrive that
night, when telegram vas handed him.
He broke il open, read il, and almos,
shouted with delight
Harrah Bill Ccdy's coming p and
tossed it over 10 me.
/ Buffalo BID had long been the chiei
scout Of the 9Th Cavalry, and was well
known and thoroughly liked and trusted
By every officer and man. -Four days
afler~Ard met bin, At the Cheyenne
Railway station with the oader establish
ing aim chief Of soouts Of the Black Hills
column
We were jnst eight companies strong.
/ Our new Colonel. General Wesley Mer-
nit, Of the old cavalry corps Of the Army
Of the Poiomsc. had reached Us and as
suned Command Il R&s the lst Of July
when Merritt joined Us. and though we
had fall particulars Of Gen. Crooks hard
fght OF June nth With the Sioux along
the Rosebad. not ssra had eosne 70 us
Of the trsgedy Of Sunday, the 18th, in
which Custer and his I've PET companies
had been wiped out Of existence on The
hanks Of the Little Big Horn. Bet the
/ Indians knew il AZ the reservation. and
the tidinss fired the veriesi laggard with
/ them with a longing 10 join sitting Ball,
and share in the glories and plander and
scaips Of the war, and swarlns Of them
loaded up with provisions and ammuni-
ton al the agency. and, in the darkness
Of night leading their spare ponies, they
would sip away.
4 chase after the Sioux on July 81 had
made our presence West Of the Black
Hills well known 10 ali the Indians al the
reservation No more could take that
route in going to reinforce sitting Bull,
and General Merritt was prompt to sc-
cerf the situation. Ezriy next morning,
the glorious Fourth" while the assem-
bied thousands ofile nation we're having
a gorgeous time at the Centennial Al Phil
aGelphia, We fellows q ihe 5ih Cavalry
were riding through clouds Of alkali duss
up the valley Of the South Cheyenne and
scouting out the Indian trails southwest
Of the hills
4 courier had been sent 70 Fl Laramie
with a report Of the situation and, While
awaiting Gen slieridan's orslers we graz
ed cur horses al day Of The 6sh, and we're
al il again ca the hot morning Of the 7ih
and busily engaged fighting flies, and Il
party Of Us junior officers were jus; com
ing up from refreshing dip in pool
under the willows, when Buffalo Bill
came toward us, his handsome face cloud
ed with deep trouble, and simply stan
ned US by the following most startling
announcement
Custer and most Of the 9th wiped out
Of existence The General has the OH
ciAl Dispatch
Then we knew ofcourse, that We would
be ordered forthwith TO march to the Big
Horn TO reinforce General Crock on
whom the Indians would nov doubtless
be enabled 10 concentrate their entire
force
Now came Merriit's opportunity. It
was seventy miles by read to where the
Cbeyennes were camped. Il would new
/ er do to push straight for the reserva-
tions. That would only drive them ont
ahead Of rs- Their course would be
northwesieriy and they would cross the
I Cheyenne near where We were eamped
on the Isl Of July Merritt determined
10 move At once. to go back On his own
| trzeks-a roundabout coarse-utieEly
binding them Is 70 his intentions. To
let them get away from the reservation,
bat % thrO~ himself across their path
smong the breaks Of Hat or Indian
creek, and thrash them vel for their
treaehery-
leaving the wagon train to follow
with its guard, Merritt bad seven CON-
panies in saddle at lo'clock Then away
We went s-wesixzrd, away from the res-
ervztion, away from the Cheyennes, and
marching easily, as though the iAstthing
We thought OF YVES interference il their
projects. Sow well see who frst viii
reach the foris Riding northzesfHard
the Indians have some = miles
q 60. driving their s-sross ponies for the
sqGass 60 with them 20 take care Of the
large supply Of provisions they have laid
IN and viii probably camp tonight in
some Of The breaks east Of the crossing Of
the mar bonnet the branch with the
s4eepesf hanks Of all Riding east-n0rth-
east, affer once be crosses the high
range between the yiobrzra and the
hesdzaters Of Has Greek, Merit. has 50
miies 20 20 before be can reach the polns
where they VIII strive 20 cross al sunr1se