Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-04-04
The Scouts Escape.

In June, 1881, WnI0 06H. CuSUCl,
with his command, was at the forks
of the Republican River, in western
Kansas, and the Indian war hal fairly
begun, / was doing duty with several
others as scout. On the morning or
the 18th young man named Robin
son reached the camp and reported
that he, with three others had been
hunting to the west of Us, and had
been stampeded by the Sioux Indi-
ans. One had been killed, as he be-
Heved, while the others had made
dash for it and scattered, each taking
his own course. Robinson had blund-
cred upon our camp after riding all
night.
Custer was at this time hopeful Of
making peace with the redskins, and
the camp at the forks would be per-
manent for at least fortnight. 1t
was with this understanding of the
situation that l set out with Robinson,
after he had had an all-day's rest, to
hunt up his stampeded companions
and bring them in. We left camp
just after dark, both Of us heavily
armed, and rode straight to the west.
as never saw Robinson under fire [
was more anxious than if one of my
fellow scouts had been with me, but
IN the course of a couple hours l made
up my mind that he had plenty of
nerve and could be depended on. As
near as he could Judge his party was
thirty miles west of the forks when
stampeded At midnight, after an
easy canter of five hours, we halted,
dismounted, and went into camp for
Che remainder of the night, believing
we were close upon the spot where
the hunters were attacked. Both Of
Us slept from that hour until just be-
fore sunrise.
AS the traits and characteristics of
shall relate some particulars which
might otherwise be suppressed. We
had cold bite for breakfast, and had
scarcely mounted our horses When we
caught sight Of the carcass of horse
lying on the plains about a quarter of
mile away. As soon as we reached
1t Robinson identified the animal as
having been the one he saw fall as
the stampede began. It's rider was
man named McHenry, who had pre-
viously been employed as civilian
at Fort Larned. The buzzards and.
wolves had been at the carcass, but
we made out that the horse had re
eeived three bullets and dropped in
his tracks Saddle, bride, and all
other portable property had been re-
moved. Robinson estimated that the
attacking party numbered forty. At
ter half an hours search I put the
number at twenty. He believed that
all who dashed away were pursued.
L found that none of them had been
followed over half a mile.
Had McHenry been killed or seri-
ousIy wounded by the volley which
killed his horse, his body would have
been found lying beside the carcass.
As it was not, reasoned that he had
been captured unhurt and taken away
z prisoner. The trail Of the Indians
led to the north, as if making for the
south fork of the Platte River, and
we followed it at cautious pace. AT
the end of five miles we came to the
spot where the band had encamped
for the night. 1t was on the banks Of
a small creek, in scattered grove,
ard the first thing we saw was the
dead body of McHenry. The Sioux
chiefs had declared their anxiety for
peace, and were processing the great
est friendship for the soldiers. In
deed, Pawnee-Killer had visited Gus
ter to shake hands and sign a decla
ration of peace. While the old hypo-
critic was declaring and protesting his
whole tribe was making ready for
war and indulging in atrocities.
While the big chief was chow how
ing'' in Clusters camp and declaring
his love for the white man, one of
his bands, only thirty miles away, was
subjecting hunter to the most ago
nizing fortunes. They cut out his
tongue, blew powder into his body,
cut off his toes, broke all his fingers,
picked him with knives, and finally
ended by scalping him. He must
ha &c suffered for many hours before
death finally came as a glad relief.