The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-17

ennes, who at that time we're the principal
pirates and bandits of the great plains.
Early in September, 1868, he left Fort
Dodge with his command. and. after cross
ing the river twelve miles below the fort,
marched in a general southeasterly direc-
ton toward the Canadian. On the evening
of the fifth day he arrived at the ''sand
hills" of the Beaver and Wolf rivers. where,
the following morning, while the command
was marching through that relatively
barren region, he was attacked by about
300 of the allied savages under the leader
ship of the dreaded "Sa-tan-ta,' the notori-
GUS war chief of the Kiowas. A running
fight was kept up with the determined
warriors during the entire day, in which
two OF the troopers were killed and one
wounded. The Indians, meanwhile,
through the media of their runners" (mes-
sengers), communicated with their camps
and gradually augmented their number,
new accessions constantly arriving from
every direction, until they soon mustered
over 1900 we'll armed, fearless warriors.
Thus outmarshalled by superlor numbers,
the general was compelled to retreat toward
the Arkansas. The march was of necessity
slow. For four days and nights the
Indians lowered around the TANKS of the
column, annoying the troops in a terrible
manner. They were pestiferous to such a
degree that the command could act only on
the defensive, and by the time it arrived at
the crossing of the north fork of the
Canadian there were not 1000 rounds of
ammunition left. At this point a stand was
made: The incessant charges of the now
Infatuated savages rendered it necessary
to employ the small amount of ammunition
held in reserve, and then the troops
shortly found themselves almost at the
mercy of their bold enemies. In this ex-
citing encounter the savages would i'm
pudently ride up to within a few yards of
the squadrons of troopers, discharge the
bullets from their revolvers and then in
their rage throw the empty weapons at the
skirmishers or at the fankers of the sup
ply train. The latter, nearly all of whom
were absolutely out of ammunition, having
exhausted it in actual self-defense, were
passive spectators of the extraordinary
scene. Many of the Indians were killed on
their ponies. however, by those soldiers
who were fortunate enough to have had a
few cartriges left. None of the bodies of
the savages were captured, as they had
selves to their animals. and, as soon as
dead. were dragged by their faithful beasts
into their own lines.
In this engagement Comanche received
his initial wound. Gen. Sully had sent
Col. keogh, who was acting as his aide
that day, down to the skirmish line to stop
what he considered as reckless firing and a
simple waste of ammunition, for he believed
the Indians were not infiicting any serious
damage. or were, in fact, not firing at all.
The moment the gallant colonel arrived on
the ground, however, he discovered that
the savages were keeping up a vigorous
fusilade. Ihe first intimation he had of
this was when Comanche received q ball
from a rifle in the hands of an indian who
had the temerity to charge upon him pretty
closely. discharge his piece and ride furi-
ously back again. Comanche behaved
admirably; he was but four years old then
and soon recovered from the effects of his
wound.
Ten years afterward, to pass over many
insignificant skirmishes in which he was
present not worthy the name of battle. in
the memorable month of June. 1876, Colo
mol keogh rode him into the valley of the
Rosebud. After that physically beautiful
little rift In the mountains was hughed in
death, and General Tsrry's column came to
the rellef OF those OF the regiment who were
not IN the tight, but who were left idlv rest
ing on thelr srms miles distant from the
scene of slaughter, because SOMEONE had
blundered," Comanche was discovered
wandering aimlessly around the abandoned
Indian camp, saddleless, riderless. wounded
and lame. He was bleeding from seven
severe bullet holes, either Of which would
have killed an ordinary horse. The noble
animal was Immediately recognized by
Capt. Henry j. Nowlan, who at the time was
acting quartsrmaster Of Gen. Terry's com
lnand. lie at once sent Comanche to
Fort Abraham Lincoln on the upper Mis-
souri,. with orders to specially care for him.
Capt. Nowlan, a grand old gentleman, is
now commander Of Troop l, Col. Keogh's
origina company, the enlisted men of
which, who loved their ill-fated captain Of
early days idolize Comanohs and look
out for his necessities ss become the pre-