Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06
Copyright 1880

scoUTs-sIoUx OR BUFFALo?-BuFFALo BILL
IN TIE LEAD FOR FIaHr-A GLORIOUS SELL
Copyright 1880
1t was on the 18th Of July that had our
tussle with the Cheyennes on the war bon
net and raced them back to their reservation
That night we slept under the stars with no in
terposing canvas, along the banks of White
river, and early next day were of on our long,
long march to reinforce General Crook Orders
carried US around by way of Forts Laramie and
Fetterman, where we were joined by many an
old comrade Fastening from the east. So too.
were we Joined at the latter station by craft
of recruits, new horses and old infantry cam
paigners-all en- route to the Big Horn noun
tains.
One incident happened on the way up from
Fetterman that is worth telling. Eight COM
panies OF the fifth cavalry started out on their
northward march from that point, and we
knew that two more, E and F, were hurrying
forward by forced marches in hopes of catch
ing u.s. Two days we logged along through
the bare, desolate, dusty Bad Lands" and
were all camped at night and sleeping soundly
under the vigiant protection of our guards,
when was suddenly aroused by hearing Gen.
eral Merritts voice close at hand, and rolling
out OF my blankets jumped up and asked if
anything was wanted. He always selpt like
weasel-with one eye and both ears open.
OFFICERS CALL.
"Tm sure, said he, "that heard trumpet
calls way off here to the southwest" 1t was
dark as Erebus and still as a churchyard as
together we CROPPED our way out on the prairie.
taking the OLD chief trumpeter with US. 1t was
just possible that 'E" and ..F'' troops might
have done such rapid marching as to have
reached our neighborhood and, it being too
dark to see trail, they were sounding their
trumpets In hopes of gaining reply. For
few minutes we listened intently and then,
faint, far and soft, there came floating to us
through the darkness the stirring notes of "Ofi-
Ger Call. In an instant our trumpeter had
sounded the answering call and in half an hour,
guided by this interchange of signals our COM
rades grouped their way to the warmth and
welcome of our tiny camp fires. From that
hour to this Officers Calf has been the hail
ing signal OF the fifth cavalry-and it has been
used In some wildly exciting scenes. Notably,
three years after, when the captain Of this same
II" troop, wounded, with half of his men dead
or wounded around him and all his horses shot
down. completely surrounded by savage Indi-
ans, was rescued by this same gallant colonel
commanding and through the medium of the
same old call
Two days more and we were out of the beastly
alkal country, and jogging along a rolling,
wel-watered tract that grew more beautiful
with every mile that drew US nearer to the foot
hills of the Big Horn mountains, now looming
to our left front, with the snow-capped CLOUD
Peak" highest of all. Cody and some of the
young officers were chasing small herds of
buffalo on our TANKS, and every man and horse
was rejoicing IN the change of scene. Another
two days and we had rounded the shoulder of
the great range, and rode buoyantly down into
the beautiful valley, where lay the welcoming
camp of Crook.
In telling Of the chase that began almost on
the morrow shall draw on old note books and
letter written years ago. 1t must be remem-
bered that now the whole country was swarm
ing with triumphant bands of Indians-Sioux
and their allies. Everything seemed afre to
the northwest, where Custer had met his fate,
but now Crook had two regiments of cavalry
and fourteen companies of infantry also some
400 Crow Indians as scouts, and he believed he
could launch out and whip the Indians we'll or
at least drive them before him against the col
umn of General Terry, who was coming up the
Yellowstone with a similar force The two
commands were not $50 miles apart, when on
the 9th OF August we pushed out to wind up
the campaign in one crushing blow" but COM
munlcatlon between the two was impossible
the whole face OF the earth was covered with
the hostiles, watching every move.
And these were our orders
All tents, camp equipage, bedding and bag
gage to be stored in the wagons and the wagons
turned over to the care of the chief quarter
master by sunrise tomorrow. Each COMPANY
to have its coffee roasted and ground and
turned over to the chief commissary at sunset
tonight. Wagons will be left here at camp. A
pack train OF mules will accompany each bat
talon ON the march, for the protection of which
the battalion will be held responsible. The
regiment will march at a. m. Tomorrow
prepared for action" and company command
ers will see to it that each man carries with
him on his person one hundred rounds carbine
ammunition and four days ratons; overcoat
and one blanket on the saddle. Fifty rounds
additional per man will be packed on mules.
-Four extra horses, not to be packed, will be
led with each company Curry combs and
brushes will be left in wagons. Special instruc-
tons for action: All officers and non-commis-
stoned othcer to take constant pains to prevent
wastage Of ammunition.
THE START
That was all! From the general down we
started with no more clothing than we had on.
At the utmost one week was all the time we
| thought to be away from our tents and wagons,
but-think Of it!-we never saw them again
until ten weeks after-late in the fall-and,
meantime, had been marching, scouting and
fighting and starving all over the northwest
However, we set forth blithely enough, and
as we rode away in the August sunshine down
the pretty valley Of Prairie Dog creek 1 was
mainly interested in studying our Crow allies,
who logged alongside on their active ponies
and seemed equally interested in making
friends with the fifth. l had been detailed to
act as adjutant of the regiment for the cam
paign, and it enabled me to ride well ahead
and take notes and make Typographical sketches
in my Textbook, all Of which became valuable
before many years rolled by.
In previous article on horseback riding
something was said of Indian horsemanship.
Let me enter here an extract from the notes of
August, 1876:
INDIAN HoRsEMASsHIP.
These Crows are fine looking warriors and
fine horsemen, too omen and women, they all
sit alike in the saddle), but to see them riding
along at ease, their ponies apparently gliding
over the ground in their quick, cat-iike walk,
their position in the saddle seems neither
graceful nor secure. Every mans blanket is so
disposed that it covers him from the back of
the head, folds across his breast, leaving his
arms free play in a manner only an Indian can
accomplish, and then is tucked in about his
thighs and knees SO as to give him complete
protection. One or two bucks" appear in cav
airy trousers instead of the native breech-clout
and leggings. But the moment the Indian dis
mounts you notice two points in which he is
diametricallyopposed to the customs of his white
brother, first that he mounts and dismounts on
the right (of) side of his horse; second, that he
carefully cuts out and throws away that portion
OF pair of trousers which with us is consid-
cred indispensable. He rides hunched I'D in
the saddle with stirrup so short that his
knees are out to the front and bent In an acute
angle. He carries In his hand wooden handle
foot long to which three or four thongs of
deerskn are attached, and keeps up an incessant
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