The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-01-03
KILLING WILD TURKEYS.
General sberiaan's Diplomatic Amhuseafs and
lts Magnificent Resuits-fsn 0aly
Cor the Ofncers--Troops Camped
In Turkey s'Rcost"


region, which includes the Wichita,
Canadian and Beaver rivers. in tho
Indian territory. was the habitat of
our noblest indigenous bird, the wild
turkey. To employ a slang phrase
for the wild turkey makes It's haunts
ia the timber-the woods were full oil
them. During the winter expedition
against the Indians il 1862. writes
Major human. portions OF the command.
particularly those companies which
escorted General Sheridan on his mis-
sion to Fort Sill. lived for days on
them. and shooting them by moonlight
afforded an immense amount OF sport
To the officers. in which the general
INDUCED largely.
On the North Fork OF the Canadian,
is place still known as "Sheridan's
Roost" The general was an old
sportsman. After going into camp
ut this place. on the evening OF the
9th OF December. the command found
themselves i'm n turkey roosL
Sheridan had himself made the dis
covery. and he Immediately gave or
ders that no one, either officer or
man. should leave the camp without
his permission. because. II anyone
commenced to prowl around, the birds
whouId not come buck TO their nc
Gus toned resting place at night just
as the last rays OF the setting sun sunk
behind the low mountains on the west
OF the camp, the general and about sev-
en- officers. whom he had selected as
com panions. left their fire and wandered
slowly into thick woods whore he had
discovered early in the afternoon
the coveted birds were In the habit OF
congregating TO roost. Each OF the
officers. mt the suggestion OF the gem
eral, took position on the ground TO
watch until the time should arrive for
the birds 10 seek their sleeping place.
They did not have long 10 wait, as.
before 1t had grown fairly dark. two
or three magnificent focks came walk
ing down the ravines leading to the
valley. At the head OF each flock. as
they unsuspectingly advanced, was a
fine male bird. upon whose bronze
plumage the moonlight glinted rs it
sifted through the interstices OF the
trees. When he had arrived ut the
place at which the flock under his
charge had been accustomed TO roost
he stopped, glanced all around for a
few seconds and then, apparently salts
fed that everything was all right he
gave signal-a sharp. quick shrill
whistle. At that instant every bird In
the flock with one accord raised with
tremendous fluttering OF their wings
and alightcd in the tops OF the tallesi
trees AT this juncture, all the various
nocks having become settled ia their
several roosting places, the general
gave the word and every man com.
menced 10 fire on his own account
The turkeys foil like the leaves In the
fall. but did not seem TO have sense
enough to get away from their doom
they flew from tree TO tree at every
shot but persistcntly remained In tho
! immediate vicinity OF their ''roost
W i'm all tho characteristic idiocy OF /
sage hen, which appears according &c
my observation, 10 have less sense
than any bird that flies,
Ii was time that all honest men
whether Gin camp or court" we're il
bed before the general and his part.
: left the ground. so exciting was th'
2 rare sport After counting the mum
. Der of birds that had fallen, IL wa
c discovered that they had baggcd near
ly 100, OF which the general had kille
: the lions share. The now histori
SPOT was called "Sheridan's Roost.
which name Is retained To this day.
: Another turkey shooting occurre
. previous TO the one above referred 10
! in which the whole OF General Custer
. command took part II was abou
eighteen days after the terrible battl
(. OF the Washita. and Custer was cbas
a ing the fugitive savages towards For
ID Cobb. The weather had been YER
disagroeablc cold. snow nod furiou
?. wind The troops had been wadin
% through about foot OF snow. and m
- horses were nearly starved, because
= was impossible 10 got Mt the grass ly
.. ing SO deep under the snow. Thr
A night the command went into camp o
I the Wnshita. and II was soon disco'
lered that accidentally they In
V pitched upon On immense turko
l roost II xas NOT vet sun-dOwn whe