The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-06
SCOUTS As THEY WERE.
TIL. Truth About the Hardy Men Of
Old Frontier Days.

dian Fighters-How Some of Them
Die.
Prom the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Many of the Chicago youths who will
visit Buffalo Bill's show during its stay
her. will no doubt carry away the idea
t1at the scout of former days on the
Mains was a dashing individual in long
hair and carefully trimmed mustache,
and that he always rode a sleek-looking
horse surmounted by a more or less ma tty
saddle. If the youth has read a course of
dime novel literature the impressions re-
raived therefrom will doubtless be
strengthened, although the visitor may
have some doubts rs to the old time scouts
ever having seen glass ball such
as is shattered with such dexterity in
the show out at jackson park. The
n,aipsmeu who were first known by the
nance scout were hardy fearnaught fell
lows sent out in the front or on the flank
of military command to observe the
force and movements of the enemy. He
should be a keen observer and withal
feet of foot or wen mounted. There are
a number of unmarked graves along the
Arkansas river and the tributaries of the
Canadian and Smoky HiIl-graves where
never loving hands have strewn flowers,
resting places over which no prayer has
ever been said, or memorial slab or stone
placed-tenanted by men who died by
violence-died with their boots on"
Many of these graves are tenanted by
scouts killed by hostile Indians while
acting as couriers, spies or dispatch
bearers.
In ls67-GS we were at war with the
Cheyonnes, and. during the winter, Gen
era Alfred Sully made the campaign an
offensive one, by moving with his com
mand into the medicine country of the
hostiles, south of where Dodge City,
Kan. now stands The entire campaign
was under the direction of Major General
Philip H. Sheridan. The war claims of
the latter for promotion to be lieutenant
general vice Sherman, vice Grant, were
supplemented by active Indian service
prior to March 4, 1859, but Phil Sheridan
never remained long in any one place, and
several good soldiers, acting rs dispatch
bearers, were sacrificed, owing to their
unfamiliarity with the topography of the
country in which General Sully was OPP
Grating.
FIRST HIRED BY GENERAL SHERIDAN.
In consequence of these losses General
Sheridan authorized the employment by
at compensation of 500 a month, and
one chief of scouts who was paid $3.50
month. These men were sworn into SER
vice at Fort Dodge. In addition to the
pay mentioned, each scout was furnished
with good horse, with all the arms, am
munitiOn, etc, he wanted, with ratiOns
same as issued to enlisted men, free medi-
Calattendance, with fuel and comfortable
quarters when within the limits of any
Irf1yT4t Fr1T 1.lrnf Naaln told
that if hei chose he could, in confidence,
give to the post adiutant his true name,
and that the officer would make it his
duty, in case the scout was killed in the
discharge of his duty. to communicate the
fact to the postoffice address of any person
or persons whom he might wish to be
notified.
Without exception the thirteen men
were American born. All had histories
Every scout had one address or more to
communicate, coupled with some message
TO give None of these men wero of the
Texas ranger or cow boy type in dress or
appearance. Only two wore their hair
long. One was discharged for cowardice
IN falsely reporting the location of a large
body of hostiles on Coon creek, between
Fort Larncd and Fort Dodge, investiga-
ton having proved the presence only of a
long line of high weeds, which, seen at a
distance against the horizon, were mis-
taken for men, and so reported by the
scout, too imaginative or too timid to
make thorough reconnaissance. The
mans name was William Seymour,
enlisted under the name of Apache
Bill, He was afterward killed in
an ARRAY at Junction City, Kan. An
other scout named Webster was dis
charged for shooting his horse in the
neck while carleessly and unnecessarily
dlSchargiug his firearms within the limits
OF military post Two of the scouts,
FanshaW and Davis, were killed by the
Cheyennes while in the act of watering
their horses at Mulberry creek, one of
the small tributaries of the Arkansas, on
tne south side of the river. Their re-
mains were inferred in the Fort Dodge
cemetery
On one occasion two scouts, Wheeler
and Moore, We're sent with dispatches
Tor Gen. Sheridan. They made the "trip
10 point near Fort Sill, l. T, in safety
and faithfully delivered their papers. A
package OF official documents was given
them in return, with orders to deliver
Inc same TO Col. McKeever at Fort Hays.
Inc papers never reached their destina-
ton.
FOUGHT THE CHEYENNEs TO THE DEATH
Guided by Indians, a detachment of
soldiers found on Beaver creek, in the
summer Oh lSOJ, human Skull, pGlVlS ana
oLher bones which had been picked clean
OF flesh by the wolves and coyotes. The
indians said that the preceding year they
hdd caught sight of the scouts making
ihelr way northward through the Pan
handle portion of Texas, south of the
ADOBE walls, on the Canadian, and sur
missed that the cOuriers had purposely
maze long detOur westward in order to
AVOID the region the hostiles infested.
ne sdVages alleged that they intercepted
we Two men near Beaver creek and first
Killed their horses. Thus dismounted
ana more than 100 miles from friendly
ana Moore and Wheeler We're killed, after
resistance desperate enough to impress
sne Cheyennes with respect for their
bravery.
=, Another Of the scouts was a man named
ha1some, alias Ledford. He claimed to
nave been captured by confederate forces
Vurlng the war while engaged as a spy.
HCsorung to his own story, RansOme was
pouhd TO the back, of a horse behind the
Douer OF the guerrillas, with view of
SAe'utlon as soon as a camping place was
ioNla. He had a small pistol hidden be-
~" ms armpit, and succeeded in killing
E's ,dptor and making his escape. Led
iIo.N was an apparently frank, cherry,
n1uusome fellow, of splendid physical
alopofJlons, and magnificent shot. He
GS"Heu a black horse, dOcile to him, but a
euu lucarnate to others. The man was
great favorite with army officers, whom
me- m9 oIten bantered for friendly shooting
cc'1.'nes, and was rarely beaten in