The Iola register., 1889-11-15


in the weird light Of the camp fire ON the
bald winter prairies indulged In their
characteristic war and scalp dances. to
stimulate their bravery, perhaps, for pos.
sible impending battles Of the near future,
oftentimes keeping up the monotonous
humping of their rude drums and mean.
ingless inharmonic dronng until the com.
mand was ready to march again ~ the
sun rose.
One dark and foggy morning. when We
had been en- route nearly three days, I was
riding with General Custer and his famous
hounds a short distance in advance Of the
column. following a small pack OF gray
wolves his dogs had driven out Of . shell
tered ravne. As old John Smith, principal
guide, was alongside Of US indicating tho
direction the command was to take,
there suddenly -loomed up in the thick
atmosphere, and greatly magniaed there.
by, an apparently lofty peak Of an
isolated chain. over which the venerable
guide said our course lay. The General
turned to me and asked: "What Is this
place, any howl" Il glanced around and
the whole dreary landscape reminded me
SO forcibly of the many barren and desc.
late ranges of tile Holy Land that I
almost involuntarily replied: This Is
Mount Jesus" The considerable hill over
which that memorable trail first passed
more than twenty years ago, the traces OF
which may be distinctly seen to-day, 10
historic ground. 1t is located in what IL
now Clark County, whose principal town,
Ashland, reposes in its shadow.
1t was near the foot of mount Jesus"
whose Mans is still retained in the nomen.
p1 t,,r Of 2 ha nhu NJ
that Sheridan first learned he had been
promoted to the exalted position Of
Lieutenant. General Of the Army.
But I must return to the consecutive
thread of my desultory memories. When
the command reached the salt marshes
Of the Cimarron river it was somewhat
surprised by an order from General Shert.
dan, who had now overtaken us, relieving
General Sully and placing Custer in su-
preme authority over the tro DpI, by virtue
of the latter's higher brevet rank, and
Sully continued with us to Camp Supply,
where he directed the building of the can.
tonment which was afterwards and 10
now, an important military post General
Sully, when the next forage train started
north, was ordered back to Fort Harksr
and reassumed command Of the district
Of the Upper ArkansaS.
On the evening of the third day, IL my
memory serves me correctly, after our
arrival at Camp Supply-the radiating
point determined upon by General Sheri.
dan in his elaborate plan for waging IN
aggressive war upon the hostile tribes
tho terrible storm have previously 70.
ferred to broke in all its fury upon the
only partially sheltered troop, bivouacksd
k.nk r1x,v 1nes n. aA1f
the gallant Nineteenth Kansas, marching
en- route to that point
The morning Of the Goth of November
opened with clear skies, an intensely cold
wind from the north and the ground GOV.
inches. But notwithstanding, General
Custer, impatient and brooking no further
delay, marched out with his famous regi.
ment, celebrated band and gaudily.appsr.
eled Indian scouts. At the same time I
was ordered north by General Sheridan
with the immense train to bring back
forage and commissary stores from the
depot at Fort Dodge My command, ~ .
protection to tbs long line Of over six
hundred army wagons through the Indian
country. comprised two companies OF
regular infantry. besides which every
teamster was armed and equipped to be-
come a combatant in case of emergency.
The next day, the memorable 9th Of No.
vember, General Custer gained his great
victory over Black Kettle on the Wash.
ita river. south of the Canadian. But of how
he to the surprised Indians, apparently
dropped from the clouds in the gray of the
early morning. while tn, band struck up
''Garry Owen" the reader is referrei to
the Generals own graphic account in his
"My Life On the Plains" which originally
appesred in the Galaxy.
On the Goth, only fol ty -eight hours after
this historic event. 1 was encamped ct the
mouth of the Mulberry, and in the mid.
die Of the night the pickets brought to my
tent courier who had been dispatched by
General Sheridan with the following
characteristic lettsr:
CAMP SUPPLY, Nov ea Ga
MY DEAR -: Custer struck the Cheyennes
on headwaters OF the Washi;a. Killed 103 war
riors and destroyed the village OF Black Kettle,
killing Black Kettle and capturing ifty-three
squaws and their children. He is returning to
this point with his prisoners, and his supply Of
forage, unless he has been very careful to keep
his horses on half forage, will be short. Push
on your trains, but not to injure the mules,
with the supplies.
having had pretty hard time of it in the snow
We will want more forage. but do not want
you TO injure your mules under any circum-
stances. They are our reliance and their
strength must be husbanded.
The weather here is delightful and the snow
nearly all gone. Yours truly,
p. II. SHERIDAN, Major General.
In that terrible battle the Indians lost
one hundred and three killed, including
the famous Chiefs Black Kettle and
White Rock. Many were wounded who
crawled off and died in the ravines, whose
number is not determined. Custer lost two
officers and nineteen men, and three Of.
ficers and eleven men were wounded. The
officers killed were Major Elliott and Cap
tain Louis McLane Hamilton, grandson
of General Alexander Hamilton. The fight
lasted several hours, and all the warriors
were either killed or dispersed and their
camp entirely destroyed, together with
some twelve hundred ponies, shot by order
of General Custer. Major EIliott's fate
was q sad one. He separated himself from
the main command, followed by nineteen
of the troopers, including Sergeant.
Major Henderson, to follow q body of In.
dians over the divide. which proved to
be a decoy, and when about mile from
the creek was suddenly surrounded by an
overwhelming force of savages. They
fought as only bravs men Of the Seventh
cavalry could, but it was useless; they
were all killed and their bodies horribly
mutilated. The intrepid Sergeant.Major
Henderson was the last one to fall; when
all had been killed but he, the chief in COM
mand (his name have forgotten) offered
him his hand, but Henderson knew too
well what was in store for him il he sur