The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-04-11
ON THE PLAINS.
Scouting, Indian Fighting and Hunting.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In your es-
teemed paper recently appeared an article
written by George Slusser, of Co. d, 18th Ohio
Cav, which induces me TO give few incidents
which took place under my own observation.
| enlisted for Todd's Independent Scouts July
3, 1863, but the company was disbanded July
%, and / then enlisted in the 11th Ohio Cav,
the first battalion of which was doing service
in the Rocky Mountain country. Our prin-
cipal duty was scouting after turbulent In
dams, escorting trains, carrying mails to mill
tary posts, etc, and the headquarters of the
regiment was st Fort Laramie.
In September, 1864 was detailed to take
charge of the Q. III. beef herd, which was To-
Gated on the Laramie River about Il miles from
the fort. We had orders not to attack any OF the
rowing squads of Indians without first ascer-
tanning whether they were hostile or not. They
were friends, usually, if they were hungry or
in need of something. One day, in the Fall of
1864 three Of Us had just finished our dinner
of beef, beans, bread and coffee, and were sit
ting in our Sibley tent, when II big Indians
came crowding into the tent with the old IA
miliar How How, Cullab, How" which is a
friendly greeting. They asked for something
TO eat, and we gave them the remains of our
dinner, which they devoured, leaving neither
crust nor crumb, also draining the coffeepot.
They seemed to be satisfied, for it is the char
acteristic of the Indian never TO ask for any
thing more, and ne never growls at what is set
before him.
When they had finished they asked for corn
for their ponies, which we refused. So the
chief told his men to take the corn anyhow.
He no sooner gave the order than he was look
ing over the barrel OF Weston breech- loading
rife, wrong end toward him ct that, and | po-
litely ordered them to vamoose, which they
did.
One day, while rounding up the herd for the
night, we were riding along the bank of the
river. 1t had been sleeting during the day, and
our horses were smooth, which made it difficult
for them to keep their feet. The path led over
the bluff, which in some places reached an ele-
walton of from 90 to 80 feet. My horse lost his
footing and slid down the bluff backwards
When his hind feet finally caught, he was 60
ing downward so rapidly that he turned com.
plete somersault bat I managed to get out Of
the saddle in time TO escape injury, while the
horse went end over end through the under
brush and over powders until he brought up al
the bottom of the hill. This happened neal
the east bank Of the river. close to the third
crossing.
Game was plentiful, black and cotton tai
deer antelope, jack rabbits, grouse, sage hens
and IN the Winter wild geese being quite thick
while back in the mountains were plenty o
elk. As hunting laws were not in force in thai
section. we helped ourselves to whatever WI
! preferred. One day deer jumped up within
80 feet of me, when fired from my horse, bu
never touched hair Of him but subsequent
/ ly killed the same buck.
| / have several relics of the plains, one being
/ pipe tomahawk. and at the next Reunion 0
/ the regiment propose to bring it, and we car
all smoke the pipe of peace.
l hope some other Of the boys of the regi
ment will come to the front and give thei
experience in fighting the wild Indians of tn
/ plains. I would be pleased to hear from any o
| the men of Co. L or of the regiment.-C. a
/ GUIDER, Co. l. 18th Ohio Cav, McGuffey, o.