Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-30
BUFFALO BILL rs 4 SCOUT.
How He Served His Country on West
ern Plains.
knowledge Of Indian Warfare
Saved the Lives of Many q. S.
Soldiers - Interesting Anecdotes
Told by the Veteran General, N.
a. M. Dudley.

- III. OIOISy.
The present generations of Ameri-
cans read Illuminated posters, adver-
tisements, newspaper reports, etc,
about a certain famous character
known as Buffalo Bill" They see a
handsome, resolute face set off with a
mustache and imperial, the traditional
long hair of the plainsman, all sur
mounted by the favorite SLOUGH hat,
the pride and delight of the pioneer OF
the western prairies.
And there also exists another "Buf-
falo Bill" a man who has won the
right to the prefix Hon" to his name
by serving his country loyalty and
faithfully both in military and civil
life, the idea suggested itself to ascer-
tain few facts regarding the career of
this picturesque and probably best
known of Americans-how and where
he won his spurs, how and when he
accomplished his best results, and
gained the respect and confidence of all
with whom he had been associated.
Knowing that he had once served as
! chief of scouts under Gen. n. a. NJ.
Dudley, U. S. A., now retired, at the
age Of II, picture of vigorous health
and well earned contentment, it was
form him that the writer learned some
open secrets that may explain the pecu-
liar and prominent position which Mr..
Cody now occupies in the public eye.
The general was found at his coy
! home on Dudley street, RoXbury. where
he is passing the evening of his days,
not in retirement from the world, for
his form is a familiar one on the streets,
his step is elastic, and his health as re1
bust and vigorous as ever, and this
after nearly 40 years Of service in the
L. s. army In his library are many
mementoes of his former life, pictures
of his comrades, Indian relics, military
books, guns. pistols, swords and other
war paraphernalia. In corner stands
an old musket which his grandfather
carried at Concord and Bunker Hill.
The general inherited his taste for
the military. Early in life he entered
the State Militia and from there was
appointed to a position in the u. 5.
army Before the 60's'he was fighting
Indians on the western: plains, serving
with many who won TenOwn in the civil
war, among them Albert Sidney John
ston whom he considers to have been
the ablest OF all the officers who left
the L. S. army to serve the C0nfeder-
acy.
His war record is a brilliant one, he
having received five breyets during the
conflict for gallant and meritorious
services, three of which were from the
regular army. He was at New Orleans
and Port Hudson. and in other notable
sieges and engagements. and the close
of the war found him in command of
5000 troops at TullahOma The Off
cial record shows that he has been 80
days under fire not including the minor
skirmishes He has served in every
State and Territory Of the Union ex-
cept Alaska.
The general deprecated an interview,
but when reminded that it was not a
real interview, but a talk about his
old comrade and friend, he softened a
little, and taking down large Reming-
ton pistol handed it to the writer. On
it was inscribed Gen. n. "A. NJ. Dudley,
from Buffalo Bill"
Eyes" said he, Col Cody had that
made expressly for me 20 years ago"
Then picking up a rawhide moccasin,
made in the shape of horses foot, he
said: Here is one of the things the
Indians used to prevent noise in steal
ing into camp at night. They are often
on to their victims before the alarm is
sounded"
WAS Buffalo Bill a good Indian
scout?"
"A good Indian scout" repeated the
general, with particular emphasis on
the scout" well | should say so. He
never had his equal to my knowledge.
He had a genius for that, as others
have a genius which gives them promi-
nence in any other profession. He is
man of the million in that line. He
did not know what fear was, and as for
the exercise of stealth, why, he could
outwit any Indian l ever saw. He
| seemed to possess all the instincts Of
the Indian. dominated by the intelli-
gence of the white man-that is, he
knew what an Indian would do under
certain circumstances and never knew
him to fail in circumventing them in
all their tricks. But yet he was al
ways a white man with the address
and principle of a true gentleman"
Il suppose in the two years or so he
served with you, you must have had
some thrilling experiences and have
found yourselves in many ticklish
places?"
Yes, we did" replied the general.
LET me see. 1t was in 1856, in the
department of the Platte, | recall a
striking exhibition of Col Cady's re-
markable, instinct, GOODNESS and pluck.
The Indians had got loose and had been
numbering the farmers and their fami-
lies for miles around. We got on their
trail and followed them for days. 1t
came on as dark as l ever saw it when
we arrived at a stream. Col. Cody
suggested a halt, which | ordered, and
he went forward alone. He crossed
| over, hut came back in a few moments
and said, to me. but half TO himself:
| I've lost the trail L must go over again.
Keep everything quiet until l get
back
He was gone so long that l began
to get a little apprehensive. when a
soft-stepping horse, surmounted by a
tall form, stood beside me.
I've got it again. Cody whispered.