The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-18
. RIDE WITH CUSTER
GEN. CUSTER,s FIRST INDIAN AND
BUFFALO HUNT WAS LAUGHABLE.
After Son e Hard Experience He Was
Perfectly willing to Take the Adj
vice of an Old ndian Scout.


tOOh III dllSd NEW
Mexico and a part of Arizona. In the
bring the entire tribes of the Araphoes and
kiowas to the same settlement. They had
promised and promised. but would break
their promises as often as they made them.
To bring this state of things to an end. in
the spring of 1867 General Hancock came
over to Fort Harker and made up an ex-
petition consisting of the entire Seventh
Cavalry and three companies Of a colored
regiment. l think the Tenth Cavalry then
quartered at the post. The colored troops
were good men and good fighters. We
started as soon as the grass was so we
could Craze our horses to hunt up the
tribes. We knew they were camped some
where south of us, near what is now Okla
homa.
Our scouts found them on a branch of
the Washita river. Our scout, Billy Com
stock, found them on this creek or rv:r,
which ever it was, and went into their
camps and got them to promise to c0ne
in and make a treaty. One of their chiefs.
Little Roab, and three warriors came AMI
met us and agreed to have all tie head
chiefs there in two days. We wsre maxi
ing forced marches toward them all the
while and they were trying to hold us of
- 1OeoA0A AtAe
scheme was TO get the ponies in cool
shape for a long forced mlrc,. Haneock
was too easy with them. The scout, c. M
stock. wanted him to hurry uo ard sur
round them and bring them to taw. We
marched UP TO within five mil S of tn sir
camp and found them drawn up into as
pretty a line of battle as yoI ever sa ".
We expected an attack, so We formed for
a fight. Just at this jun ture the s Mt
out a squad with a white flag, and a SIR all
party from our side went forward to meet
them. They wanted to see the white en-. ef.
so Hancock and Custer went forwa d and
Black Kettle and Santanta. T..ey wantei
the soldiers to move bact Until morning..
would be afraid of them. In The n o ming
they would all come down AID m Ike a
treaty hnd instead a. Of moving bsck our
10 the river and camp within sch. of the
Indians.
A VILLAGE OF TEPEES.
We got into camp about 4 p. m, right
opposite the Indian village. This village
was located on one of the p~rettiest spots
1 ever saw in Kansas: it was a long island
formed by two branches of the river, and
their teepees were laid out very regular for
an Indian village.
Comstock told the guards that these
NSA NNohAAi "ti eOAiS W pay 10 a.
trick before morning, but the generals
thought they knew more than the scout.
Our picketS were put on stronger than
but no precautions We're taken to watch
their movements after dark. Taps sound
ed. officers all went to bed as easy as
1 was the chief bugler, so | bunked down
near Headquarters and right alongside the
scout C1mstoek As We lay side by side
red imps were fixing 10 get away: ''but,"
said he, them fellows with the shoulder
Straps know too much, but they VIII know
more after they lave followed Indians as
long as | have. Billy" continued Com
stock, IF 1 call you. be ready to push wind
too"
Sure enough about 1890 he reached over
and, giving me a shake, said:
Go over and tell Custer that 1 say the
1 did as he bid, and the General jumped
and walked down TO where Comstock was
and asked him how he knew the Indians
well. Colonel, / amt slept a wink, and
three hours; if they was there you would
year them tarnel ours yelping all night"
Custer awoke several of the best men
and we went to reconnoiter. He at the
same time sent to awake every man as
still as possible, and ordered to saddle. We
w were c nor long So IN b an 1aSe out sc thas our sng scout scout
into some Of the deepest tepees and found
them deserted. which fact he came back
d4il Il by lHlS llnc II COlllIIldfu
was in line, and We made a dash into the
village and found ii deserted with the ex-
ception of one old buck so sick he could
not be moved. and a white woman. also
sick. They left their tepees standing, as
they did not have time to take them with
them. We unsaddled and fed ourselves
and our horses and then set fire to every
one of their lodges and burned them to
the ground.
CuSTER HAD HIS WAY.
At daylight we started after the Indians.
we struck a trail and Custer wanted to fol-
low it, but Comstock said we would get
fooled if we did, but Custer would have
his way. and after following the trail
found out he was following about thirty
old squaws, with old family ponies
stretched out with poles dragging to make
a trail; we came UP in sight, and Custer
looked sick and said: well, Comstock. I
will follow you and see if you can find
them Indians" and -vev after that L
never say, Custer, try to persuade the
Go ahead. Bill. and L will follow" The
next day we struck scattering trails and
knew that we were on their track. but
day we run into a big herd of elk. the
first / ever saw. We succeeded in getting
eleven out of the herd-there must have
been over a hundred of them. 1t was fine
sport while it lasted. We found lots of
buffalo and antelope, and had great sport
chasing them. Custer had a big pack of
clover.
The next day we started early and were
making for the Smoky river when we run
into a very large herd of buffalo, and the
General started off and told me TO come
along. l had a good horse, but he was
Pretty well played out, for we had been
riding hard for six davs before we struck
the Indian village, and il was more than
hard riding when we started to catch them
after they had given us the slip, so / was
not very anxious to give my horse any
more work than / was obliged 10, but
4 cfrprOk ont and / had fn ri6a fQCf fn Eaar
in sight of Custer, though j did manage
it. and we soon came up to the herd. BY
this time we were out OF sight of the com
mand.
SHOT HIS ORSE INSTEAD.
Custer rode up alongside or a fine bull
His horse was green in Buffalo hunting
and the General had all he could do 70 keeI
alongside. His horse would make lungei
to get away, and Custer would spur HIN
up where he wanted him. When at las
he got up where he wanted TO fire at tn
bull, he cooked his pistol and IL went of
and shot his own horse in the head instead
of the bull. The horse dropped dead II
his tracks. and Custer went several fee
over his head. roofing the ground with hi
nose. He was a sorry looking sight wheI
he sat up and gazed around as II kim
OF dazed. The hounds were all In the sport
but as soon as he went 70 the groun,
they all huddled back and looked wistfull,
at him. as much as to say, Master. ar
YOU hurt?' | CAV the General my horse
but we were lost so he told me 10 noun
and ride back TO the first divide and Sc
III / could find the command. i did so. an
| had nor orpa huf O p1fla or fun uhan