The Portland daily press., 1889-10-11
THE CAMP OF DEATH.
New York SUM-

lNeW 1OTh sun.
The Indians of the west were never so
fierce and vindictive as after the close of the
civil war. Beginning with the spring of
1866, there was rush of migrants into the
new states and territories, about this time
came reports of gold and silver in several
localities. The government pushed troops
into new districts, established additional
posts, and the red man saw the handwriting
on the wall. He realized that he would be
overrun unless the movements could be
checked, and the various tribes buried their
differences for the time being, and united all
their energies on the one object of driving
the white men back. The number of
emigrants land brokers, prospectors and
scouts killed between May, 1868, and the
campaign which closed with Clusters Geatb
will never be known. 1t was impossible
for any one to secure figures. Men were
butchered singly, in pairs and by fiyes and
tens along frontier a thousand miles in
length, and not one case in ten was ever
recorded in the public prints. 1t was the
beginning of the enc, and five years ago the
power of the red men was broken and he
was compelled to yield to the inevitable.
Twas sent to Fort Laramie, in Wyoming
territory, early in the summer of 1865, having
accepted the position of government scout,
and | held that position all through the
troubles Of the next four years. 1t may be
inferred, therefore, that had my full share
of close calls and narrow escapes. AS soon
as fresh troops arrived at that and other
forts, andthe worgM subduing the Indians
began In earnest, every redskin who could
handle gun was put into the field. Indeed,
boys no more than ~ years OF age, armed
with bows and arrows, had the opportunity
to show their mettle, and knew Of several
fights in which the younger squaws took
part. 1t was case of do or die with the
Indian. and he sacrificed his pride and his
legends that he might hold his own against
the white soldiers. / carried dispatches
between Julesburg and Laramie and between
Laramie and Fort Fetterman, and outside
of this accompanied detached bodies OH
expeditions or secuted on my own account.
There was never day of rest, and never
day when one felt sure that he would live to
see the sun go down. Soldiers were killed with
in mile of the gates of the fort, and the
fort was so constantly under surveillance that
Az WAC POociDlC w SCb III VI Uub Wlbu-
out being fred upon.
The strangest adventure of the whole war
befell me in July, 1866, and there was
mystery connected with it which has not
been solved to this day. | had been out with
detached command of 160 cavalry, which
had secuted along the north fork of the Platte
east from Laramie to the Copper mountains.
These mountains are the beginning of the
Black Hill chain. On the east side of the
mountains we turned to the north, rode for
two days and the cavalry then made halt
for day and retired for Julesburg. The
object was TO cover as much territory as
possible and give the Indians to understand
that we were aggressive. l had to report to
the commander of Fort Laramie, and instead
Of returning and ascending the Platte,
decided to try for pass through the Copper
mountains, my fellow scouts having told me
that several existed. | left the cavalry camp
soon after dark, it being about twenty miles
east of the mountains We had been logged
by Indians for two days, and made my start
at night to throw them eff the scent. | had
q jet black horse, speedy and intelligent, and
the risk was not as great. proving that l
did ne run into sma band by accident.
For the first two miles out of the camp L
walked my horse, both of us watching and
listening. His senses were sharper than
mine, and all Of a sudden he came to a dead
hals and pointed his nose to the west, like a
qqog flushing bird That meant danger.
ne mad been trained down fine before | got
MIN, and was to be depended on as much as
III ne c0uid speak. | was no sooner off his
Dack inen ne lay down, and 1 had scarcely
crOuched beside him than three Indians
mounted on ponies and heading to the east.
passed us to the right on walk. The
nearest one was not over ten feet away. and
l plainly scented the tobacco from his pipe
the ground was broken, with masses of rock
outcropping here and there, and it would
have taken sharp eyes to detect us even at
that short distance. / heard them humble
and muttPr as they passed on, and not until
ten minutes after the footsteps of the ponies
died away in the distance did we rise and
proceed. Had my horse been On the gal0p,
or had he been ten seconds later in discover
ing the edskins, | might not have got away.
Half an hour after daylight, having met
with no further adventure, / was at the base
oftthe mountains. striking the range seven
teen miles from the southern end, ana at
placp which has since been named CROOK
Pass. | had little fear of finding indians In
the mountains. unless il was body passing
through the gap. As soon as l was secure
from The prairie | made fire, got leady my
coffee, aud rested for two hours. linen SET
cut 10 reach tho other side of the range,
where | would either stay by until night or
push on for Laramie, according as the sign
ndicAt. The pass for the first haf iuile
was iaif enuugh, tur wagon. After thay u
was scarcely possible tor a saddle horse u
make us way l; was difficult to tell which
was The main ass and which the branches,
ana Wien about half way over the mountain
! came 20 4 spot where / was completely
stuck, he pass had been following was
now sp,!t mo three, each one seemed to be
the main pass, and, as there was nothing to