Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-05
THE MEN WHO FOUGHT
Troops at Pine Ridge Who Saw Hard
Service.
THE BLACK CAVALRYMEN.
How the Ninth Regiment Came to the Rescue
of the Seventh-Deeds of Heroism That OBJ
liberated the Color Line-The Situation on
the Reservation.
Staff Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Staff Correspondence of The Evening Star.
PINE RIDGE, s. D., January go
If military matters at Pine Ridge and in its
vicinity continue to move on the route laid
down some time ago there will be within
couple of weeks but one command on duty at the
agency. That will be a battalion Of the ninth
cavalry, under Col. Guy V. Henry, one of the
grittiest fighters the United States army has
any knowledge of. just now the sixth cavalry
and the first infantry aye on the reservation,
while the ninth is six miles south of the agency.
On Monday the sixth will be at Rushville, en-
route for home, and unless there are some I'M
looked-for and startling developments in In
dian behavior the first infantry will follow Col.
Shafter to California before the middle of Feb
ruary. Then the ninth will move in to the
agency Gen. Miles is evidently satisfied that
peace reigns 1T Pine Ridge. or he would never
reduce the fighting force to four troops of cav
airy. III trouble is anticipated then the force
Is too small, despite its well-known ability to
scatter Indians. to be of any real value. Ii, on
the other hand. there Is nothing but
peace, ''balmv peace" then every soldier
ought 20 be removed from the reservation.
The Indian is very jealous as to his reservation
and he reserts intrusion just rs quickly rs
white men would 20. In time of war he nat
urally expects TO have his lands overrun by
soldiers who are either In pursuit OF him OF OF
some of his badly behaved brethren. So far
as the great majority of the Sioux nation is
concerned the presence of the soldier is an
irritant, and il would be much better policy,
If peace is assured, to send every command to
the nearest military posts and thus remove g
very apparent cause OF friction. The de-
parture of all the troops would be relief to
those Indians (and they are not few who see
in their presence q continuous menace and who
cannot understand what civilization terms
precautionary measures" We're Col. Henry's
command at home now they would be at Fort
Robinson and that is but twenty hours from
the agency. Any movements in the direction
OF Indian hostility would be visible at Pine
Ridge SO far IN advance of actual operation as
to give not only the ninth but several other
regiments all the time necessary to reach the
field in ample season.
CHANGE IN THE WEATHER.
Another good reason why troops should not
unnecessarily be kept in the field is to be found
in the weather. In letter of few days ago l
remarked on the comparative righteousness of
this campaign, due largely to the extremely
mild weather. Recently there have been i'm
portant meteorological changes in thisregion.
Snow has succeeded the sunshine and biting
north wind has made the warm chinook
only pleasant memory. Frosted noses and
ears are becoming unpleasantly common and a
number of horses are suffering more or less
from the continuously chilly atmosphere. II
the government is satisfied that peace reigns at
Pine Ridge then these men and horses had
better be comfortably quartered at Fort Rob-
inSon. II the situation is still critical then
troops D. / and of the ninth cavalry should
be Immediately reinforced.
THE NINTH CAVALRY.
Nobody need be very much surprised if in
the course of time-and within a reasonable
period-the ninth cavalry, or a large portion
of it, is stationed at Fort Myer. Never have
the services of this regiment been acknowledged
as they should have been and there are forces
now at work which may place at least one
battalion of these Afro-American cavalrymen
where they may be admired by the residents of
the national capital and paraded before the
thousands who annually visit the city. The
ninth has q record which looks as though the
regiment ought to receive some consideration.
The Apaches can give the ninth all the recon-
mendations they need as fighters; the fifth cav
airy viii say it is thankful for the bravery and
activity of the colored boys at the Ihornburgh
massacre: thousands of Oklahoma boomers
must perforce pay tribute to the courage Of the
ebon troopers, and now the seventh cavalry
owes more than can be told to the bravery of
Col. Henry's sable warriors.
HOW 1T WAS DONE.
The story of this last feat has never been
and mention of i. in the newspapers has been
was but little of the remarkable in the actual
fighting done by the ninth when il participated
in the battle of the Mission. Its members could
not contend with a foe that was flying, because
the business of the hour was the rescue of Gen.
Forsythe and his men. The sOldierly qualities
displayed were of the mos. valuable and COM
mendable description. On December 20 Col.
Henry and his command rode from their camp
on White river to the so-called stronghold Of
the hostiles in the bad lands, threw few shells
into it by way Of practice and returned to the
starting place, in all distance of forty-four
miles, covered by O'Clock in the evening.
Then came orders to move in to the agency
because of the disturbance caused by the Big
Foot fight and at clock soldiers horses,
wagons and mules set out on a night march of
forty-eiSht miles, march that ended about
o'clock OH the following morning. The wagon
train was little in the rear with troop d as an
escort and no one supposed it was In any par
ticular danger at that time. For about an hour
the tired cavalrymen who composed the greater
portion OF the column waited at the agency
while Gen. Brooke made up his mind as to the
location OF their camp. and after that had been
done the horses were watered and rubbed
down. There could be no shelter for the men
until the wagon train arrived with the tents.
Suddenly boots and saddles" was sounded and
in a moment the news was spread abOad that the
train had been attacked. Followed closely by
two troops Of the seventh the colored battalion
galloped out three miles and drove the hostiles
on ID troop losing one man In the sklrmlsh.
The train was escorted into camp. hungry
horses were fed and then the soldiers got their
own breakfast Tents went up very speedily
and everybody WAS preparing to enjoy long
needed sleep when the battalion was ordered
out with the seventh. Col. Henry protested
that human nature could not stand more than
his men had stood. They had marched ninety
eight miles and had one fight within period
of less than twenty-four hours and they must
nave rest. The protest was effectual, for the
seventh went out alone.
CALLED TO THE RESCUE.
Many of tine tired ones had not been asleep
more than from twenty minutes to half an hour
when ''boots and saddles broke their slum-
beers. The seventh had been surrounded and
the battle of the Mission threatening to be-
come another Custer affair 1t was six miles of
u gallop to the Mission, but the horses covered
a week. Responding to Col. Henry's whistle
the battalion divided and deployed to the right
and left. Yelled like mad men did those Ethi-
opian skirmishers took the ridges that COM
manded the field and drove back the disap-
pointed savage. N-r
No COLOR LINE NOW.
That rescue made firm friends of the seventh
and ninth. II one of the cclored troopers en-
tered the seventies camp he was an honored
guest. ] have seen two of the white cavalry
men struggle with each other for the suprenl-
acy which would enable the winner to un-
saddle and feed the horse OF one of the rescuers
who was called by duty into their quarters
while half a dozen others of Gen. FOrsythe' 9
BOYS proffered whatever comforts were to ba