The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-06-23
cUSrkK', FIHSr INDIAN NUM-
1, Took Some Hard Experience to Make
Him lake an Old scouts Advice.

command at LeaVenWorth. The depart
ment took in Kansas, Nebraska Coiora-
90 New Mexico. and a part Of Arizona.
IN the spring OF 1896 efforts had been
made 10 bring the entire tribes OF the
AIapahoes and kiowas TO the same set
Element. They had promised and prom
ised. but would break their prom
Uses as often as they made them. TO
bring this state OF things TO an END I'D
the spring of 1867 Gen. Hancock came
over TO Fort Harker and made up an
expedition, consisting OF the ehlHV
seventh Cavalry and three companies OF
a cOlOred regiment ] think the lehlh
Cavalry then quartered at the post lht
cOlOred troops were good men and GOod
fighters. We started as soon as the siass
Was so We could Craze our horses 10 huAt
mp the tribes. We knew they were camp
cd somewhere south of us, near what Is
now Oklahoma.
our scouts found them on a branch OF
the Washita River. our scout Billy com
stock, found them on this creek or river
whichever IL was, and went into their
camps and got them TO promise 10 come
in and make treaty. one OF tneH
chiefs Little ROab, and three warriors
came and met ms and agreed TO have all
the head chiefs there in two days. We
were making forced marches toward
them all the while and they were trying
10 hold us on by promises as long as
possible Their scheme was TO get their
ponies in good shape for a long forced
march. Hancock was too easy with them.
the scout. COmstOck, wanted him TO
hurry up ana surround them ana Drlns
them TO taW. We marched up TO Withih
five miles OF their camp, ana found them
drawn up into as pretty line OF Dattie
as you ever saw. We expected an at
tack so We formed for a fight Just at
this juucture they sent out squad with
d white flag. and small party IRON our
side went forward TO meet them. Ihey
wanted 10 see tie white chef, so nan
cock and Custerl went forward and held
a short parley with the head cheIs,
Black Kettle ana Santanta They wanted
the soldiers to move back uhtll hhOihlhs'
as they said their women and cmidreh
would be afraid Of them In the morning
they would all come down and make
treaty: but instead of moving BACK our
Generals thought II better TO march down
10 the river and camp within slght OF the
We got into camp about 4 2. NJ, right
opposite the Indian village This VII
lage was located on one of the prettiest
spots | ever saw in Kansas; it was a
long island formed by two branches OF
the river. and their tepees were Iald
out very regular for an Indian village.
ComstOck told the guards that these
pesl<y redskins were going TO play US a
trick before morning, but the Generals
thought they knew more than the scout
our pickets were put on stronger IMAM
usual and a close watch kept fOr retreat,
but no precautions were taken TO Watch
their movements after dark. Taps sound
ed, officers all went TO bed as easy as
though they were In some Eastern city.
| was cfeif bugler. 50 l bunked down
near headquarters and right alOnsslde
the scout COmstock. AS we lay side by
side COmstOck said 10 me that he belieV-
ed those red imps we're hxing TO get
away. but" said he them fellows with
the shoulder-straps know too much, but
they will know more after they have iol-
lowed Indians as long as / nave bllly.
continued Comstock, If ] CAL you, De
ready TO push wind into that old norm OF
worm and do IL quick, too.
sure enough, about 1890 he reached
over and, giving me shake, said:
GO over and tell Custer that ! say the
Indians are all gone
lld as he bid. and the General jumped
ami walked down to where Comstock
eas and asked him how he knew the IN
Gan. were gone.
We'll Colonel, / amt slept a wink, and
esre hasn't a dog barked over there Tor
tr-. hours: IL they was there you would
Year them tarnel ours yelping all night.
Custer awoke several Of the best men,
an He went to reconnoiter. lie at the
same time sent 20 awake every man as
s'lA AS possible, and ordered TO saddle
We We're moi long in finding out that our
scout was correct for he waded across |
AMI went into some OF the deepest tepees |
ana found them deserted, which fact he |
came back and reported. BY this time |
ne command was I'm line, and we made a |
dash into the village and found IL de- |
serted with the exception OF one old buck |
go sick he could not be moved ana a |
white woman, also SICK. lney lelt thelr |
irees standing, as they did not have |
tine 20 take them with them. We IN !
.saddled and fed ourselves and our /
horses and then set fire TO every one or !
their lodges and burned them to the |
ground
80 daylight we started after the In |
dams We struck trail and Custer |
wanted 10 follow IT. but Comstock said |
we would get fooled II we did, but Gus
Ter would have his way, and AFTER Ioi- /
lowing the trail found out he was tol- /
lowing about thirty old squaws. with old |
family ponies stretched out with poles |
dragging 10 make a trail; we came up IN |
sight and Custer looked sick and said: |
Wen COmstock. | will folloy you and |
See n you can find them Indians. ana |
ever after that i never saw Custer Try |
10 persuade the scout, II his nina wa, was |
fixed. he would say. Go ahead, Bill. |
and l viii follow" The next day We |
struck scattering trails and knew that |
We were on their track. but they mad |
Eot a big start on us. on this DAY we |
ian into a big herd Of elk, the first ever |
saw. We succeeded in getting eleven out
OF the herd-there must have been over |
hundred of them. IL was hne. sport |
while II lasted. We found lots or buffalo |
and antelope, and had great sport chas--
iNs them. Custer had big pack OF
hounds with him and he just felt in
clover.
The next day we started early, and
We're making for the Smoky River when
We run into a large herd OF buffalo, and
The General started OFF and told me TO
come along. | had good horse, but he
was pretty well played out. for we had
been riding hard for six days before we
struck the Indian village, and II was
sore than hard riding when we started
~ catch them after they had given US