The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-07-21

~V'|"T 4. VI. w
BRAVE JOHN PHILLIPS.
bill makes an appropriation of $5,785
''for oxen, mules and horses taken from
John Phillips"
That sounds dull and prosaic enough
to fend off all likelihood of anything
out. of the ordinary. But it shows that
this ungrateful republic, after 8? years,
fails to. grant recognition of heroism,
and simply pays what it is compelled to
pay for losses actually sustained by
hero. And yet the senate committee OH
claims, in its report on the bill, makes
ample acknowledgment of govern
mental obligation.
In all the annals Of heroisn in the
face of unusual dangers aud difficulties
on the American frontier, or il the
world, there are few that can exceed
In gallantry, in neroism, in devotion, in
self-sacrifice and patriotism the ride
made by John Phillips from Fort Phil
Kearney, in December, 1866, to Fort
Laramie, carrying dispatches which
gave the first intelligence to the outside
world of the terrible massacre near the
former post, and which saved the lives
of the people garrisoned there-men,
women and children-by starting reen-
forcements to their relief. On The 21st
day of December, 1866, Fort Phil
Kearny, commanded by Col. Henry B.
Darlington, under the shadow of the
Big Horn mountains, over 200 miles
from the nearest telegraph line, was the
extreme outpost in that part of the
northwest. The savage Sioux, under
Red Cloud, had been lowering in the
vicinity of the post for some time, and
had been last seen in large numbers on
Tongue river, northeast of the fort. !.
On the 21st of December the Indians
made an attack upon the wood train
a few miles north of>the fort. A de.
tachment of troops under the COM
mand of Brevet Lieut.. Col. Fetterman,
including two other officers and IS men
and number of civilians, made dash
from the fort for the purpose of pro-
tecting the wood train. When some
four miles from the fort they were sur
rounded by the Indians in overwhelm-
ing numbers, and every man of the de-
tachment was killed. The heroism of
their struggle for life can never be
told. but the terrible slaughter which
has since been confessed by the Indians
OF their braves, and the fact that the
troops were only killed after their am
munition was exhausted, speaks elo-
quently of the horrible and bloody ma
ture of the encounter. The triumphant
and bloodthirsty Sioux, commanded by
Red Cloud and outnumbering the gar
rison by twenty to one, had then sur
rounded and entirely invested the fort.
An attack was hourly expected. 1t was
understood that if the Indians were sue
cessful in taking the fort it meant
death for the garrison and worse fate
for the women and children, who
begged piteously to be placed in the
powder house and blown up in the
case of successful attack by the In
dams.
At this juncture, when brave men felt
that the only possible hope for the gar
rison was in taking news of their, be-
1eaguermeRt to the nearest outside
post, and not soldier could be found
who would brave the attempt to break
through the savages and. ride to the
nearest outpost, distance of 225
miles, John Phillips, scout and hunt
er, volunteered to take dispatches to
Fort Laramie. Placing few biscuits
in his pockets, tying on his saddle a
small quantity of feed for his horse, he
left the post at midnight on the night
succeeding the massacre and reached
Fort Laramie with the dispatches five i
days later. The country across which
he rode was absolutely uninhabited by
white man, and the ground was covered
with snow from three to five feet in
depth; he had no food for himself or
his horse. other than the meager amount
he took with him, and it was necessary
for him to travel entirely by night for
fear of hostile Indians. The weather
was exceedingly cold, the. thermometer
reaching 20 degrees below zero. :
When he delivered the. dispatches at
Fort Laramie, hardy frontiersman that
he was. he fell in a-dead faint. Imme-
diateiy on receipt Of the dispatches
troops were forwarded from Fort
Laramie, and the garrison at Fort Phil
Kearny was relieved. For this most re-
markable act of heroism John Phillips
has never in any way been paid by the
general government. the only payment
made him being the sum Of 5000 which
was paid him for various scouting
services.
In the years Immediately following
his heroic ride. John Phillips was en-.