Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-06-06
After the Cheyennes.
News of the Custer Massacre-New
Orders.
Eighty Five Miles "On the Jump
First at the Ford A Night on Picket
Duty-Buffalo Bills Duel.

well-known to all the Indians at the reser-
walton. No more could take thatiroute in
going TO reinforce Sitting Bill, and Gen.
Merritt was prompt to accept the situation.
Early the next morning, the GLORIOUS
Fourth" while the assembled thousands
of the nation were having a gorgeous
time at the centennial at Philadelphia, we
fellows of the Fifth Calvary were riding
through clouds of alkali dust up the val
ley of the south Cheyenne and scouting
out the Indian trails southwest of the
hills. On the 9Th we were camped along
the banks of what was then called Sage
Greek, near little outpost where small
detachment of infantry guarded the road,
the spring and stage station. The
stages had stopped running, for it was al
most certain death to ride the Black Hills
road this centennial summer, and only IN
large parties and with strong escorts did
the miners venture to push their way
thither.
A courier had been sent to Fort Lara
ME with report of the situation and,
while awaiting Gen Sheridan's orders, we
grazed our horses all day of the 9Th and
were at il again on the hot morning of
the 7th and busily engaged fighting flies,
and party of us junior officers were just
coming up fron refreshing dip In a
pool under the willows, while Buffalo Bill
came toward us, his handsome face cloud
ed with deep trouble, and simply stunned
us by the announcements: "Custer and
most of the Seventh wiped out of exist
ence. The General has the official dis
patch" Then we knew, of course, that
we would be ordered forthwith to march
to the Big Horn to reinforce Gen. Crook.
on whom the Indians would now be able
to concentrate their entire force. Very
little was said. The whole camp seemed
awe stricken, and there was only one man
in the regiment who did not appear eager
for the coming of the order. The long
ing to do something TO avenge the disas-
ter OF our comrade regiment was upper
most in every heart-except one, and
Merritt sent that individual about his
business as soon as We got within reach
ing distance of Fort Laramie, and the
muster rolls of the Fifth Cavalry we're
relieved of a name which no one men
toned but with contempt.
ORDERS AT LAST.
Not until the 18th of July, however, did
orders reach US from Sheridan. On the
morning of the 18th we were taking the
back track for the Platte River, with in
struotions to reft at Laramie, march by
the south bank to Fetternan then push out
northward for Tongue River where we
would find Crook in his intrenched camp.
That night we came around the Cardinals
chair in Niobrara Valley, wet to the skin
from previous rain storm. The next
night we were under the lee of friendly
old Rawhide Peak, and fully expected at
dawn to make long days march south
ward for Laramie.
What was our surprise, however, when,
as we mounted and silently moved away,
the colonel turned the head of column
eastward, and down the Rawhide we rode
until at noon we halted and unsaddled at
the point whore the stream is crossed
by the wagon track from Fort Laramie 70
the great reservation, and the reason was
soon given. Eight hundred Indians of
the Southern Cheyenne tribe had been
having war dances and loading up with
ANN unition and supplies, and the infant
nv commander at the nearest post felt
Sc certain of their intention that he sent
COZ RS to warn Merritt. OF course the
Indian agents saw nothing alarming
in these preparations, but Maj. Jordan
got news that made him believe they
meant to ''jump" and rush to join Sitting
Bull.
They had no grievance. They were we'll
fed, clothed, cared for by the governments.
They simply couldn't stand being COOKERS
ON when their comrades were having
such a revel in soalps and plumber. Maj.
Jordan, with his little force couldn't stop
them, especially as they had two or three
ponies apiece and he had nothing but
exactly the opposite direction, but Mer-
rift we'll knew what Sheridan would re-
cure of him if he could but see the stu
alton. Col. Stanton who had been sent
thither to look into the situation, dashed
off IN few words the news that on Sun
day at dawn the Cheyennes would leave
in 3 body.
Now came Merritt's opportunity. 1t
was 20 miles by road to where these In
dams were campei. 1t would never co to
push straight for the reservations. That
would only drive them out ahead of us.
Their ,ourse would be northwesterly and
they would cross the Cheyenne near
where we were oamped on the 1st of July.
Merritt determined to move at once, to go
back on his own traoks-a roundabout
course-utterly binding them as to his
intentions. To let them get away from
the reservations, bpt to throw himself
across their path long the "breaks" of
Hat aud Indian Geek, and thrash them
well for their treaohery.
A FORCED MARCH.
Leaving the wagon train to follow with
its guard, Merritt had seven companies
in saddle at 1 o'clock. Then away we
from the Cheyennes, and marching easily
as though the last thing we thought of
was interference with their project.
Fourteen miles out we halt, unsaddle,
water our horses in the shadows of Raw
hide Peak again; let them Craze awhile,
perhaps twenty minutes, then mount
again, and, trotting now, move away
northwestward. By p. m. we have turn
ed square to the north, and yet are SO far
to the west of the reservations we feel
convinced the Indians have not followed
with their spies. At sunset We are de-
scending into the valley of the Niobrara;
at 10 p. N. we silently halt, dIsmount, un-
saddle, lead out our horses to Craze and
rest again, strongly hoppled and ''lariat
ed We have marched only So miles, but
we are saving our horses for the work of
the morrow. We post strong guards and
pickets TO secure US against surprise.
Capt. Hayes and l are officers N charge
of them, and while the rest of the com
mand roll into blankets for few hours
duze, we trudge around from sentry to
sentry, blessing the fates that spare US
storm and send the soft starlight. At
midnight Lieut.. Hall arrives with the
wagon train. At 8 in the morning Mer-
rift noiselessly arouses his offisers and
men; we breakfast on coffee and bacon
oar horses Cet a capital feed of oats