The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-29
AMONG THE. SIOUX.
The 11tn Ohio Cav. in the West When
It Was Wild.

4
| to Chief Justice Salmon y. Chase. The regi
| uent as whole was a'fif,e body of men, ant
during the rebeliioH discharged their dutie
| as fearlessly and thoroughly as any regimen
| i'll the service. The majority of the compa
| nies continued in the sersiee until 1866. Th'
date of my discharge is Feb. 2, 1866, bu
the regiment was not mustered out as al
organization for same months after that date
| The last year OF its service it was commanded
by Maj. Maekay; Col. Collins, with couple O
| companies, having been mustered out by
| reason OF expiration of term Of service.
| During the regiments term OF service or
| the plains many stirring adventures took
place with the Indians. Sometimes it was 8
single man, at Others by squad or com
pany. In those days the plains seemed I'M
| measurable. The buffalo herds were yet in
tact. The face OF the earth where they were
feeding was like unto an innumerabla drove o.
| CATTLE and the earth was eaten bare of vege,
tation. Thousands of elk roamed the val
leys, antelopes were as plentiful as sheep,
and on the foothills were herds of black-tailed
deer.
Nor was there dearth Of more dangerous
game. Cinnamon and grizzly bear abounded
There were mountain lions, buffalo-wolves,
and coyotes without erd.
The headquarters OF the regiment was at
fort Laramie This post WAS, at the first,
"a fur-trading establishment, built in the
forks OF the North Platte and Loramie
Rivers bv Frenchman OF that name and
James Bridger, one of the famous plainsmen
and scouts of those regions. In 1865 he told
me tlat he had been on the plains az years.
tie was a very interesting man, belonging to
a class now mainly Of the past.
The Sioux war was raging in all its fury
in 1864, 80 and '66. In it the lth Ohio
Cav. bore n CONSPICUOUS part. Bravery I'M
excelled was displayed, and there Were
marches beyond the common lot Of soldier
ng. It's percentage of loss in battle was
ltr-e. and there were many hair-brcadth
escapes. the recital OF which reads like the
reports OF the English service in the Hima-
lavazMountains, and they are every whit as
interesting.
There Is not doubt in my mind that the
outbreak OF the Sioux Cenfsderacy in 1864
was concerted in a general council Of all the
plains tribes. This council was held between
rke headwafers Of the Republican aud the
Arkansas Rivers. The writer had occas on
to know through the report Of Government
spies tiiat the military had knowledge of the
intenti"ns OF the Indians prior to the actual
outbreak in August of that year.
The trii.es Prtscnt or rep essntsd al Ele
council were the C0manc5ies, Apaches. Kio-
WAS, Arapahoes Cheyennes, and the ega-
lalla Brule, Minnekajoh, and Ungapa han,ls
of Sioux. This council was stermy, and
lastei for nearly a week. However, it was
finally determined t9snalse war. general
tlan of action was ronc,f1ed, aad the pro-
gram was apportionea to the several tribes.
Ny knowledge of Che actual incidents that
transpired at the cbuncit / obtained from
Friday, an Arapahoe Chief, constant in his
friendship to the Whites, and favorably
known to all who may have stopped ut La
Poue, or the settlements, in those davs,
along the Cache la :, Poudre River Of Colo
RADIO.
The most promineh' Of the opposers to war
were Standing Eik and SOL ed-Tail OF tie
Sioux. Friday of the Arapahoes, and White
Antelope of the CheYenne2
The most conspicuous Chief for season
on the upper North Platte was known by the
soldiers IS Old Grass, and belonged to the
Brule Sioux. The headquarters of tais saw
aae were in the vicinity OF Platte Bridge. OF
Fort Caspar, as it was subsequently callel.
His particular beat was the Overland route
from thence to the South Pass.
Now. Grass was no ordinary savage. He
spoke the English language, having acquired
it in the days when Gen. Harney and tue
Regula ruled in these regions. In those
days. and until ga. Grass freluented Fort
Laramie and was on excell~nt terms with
tic officers, to whnse tables he catered in
furnishing antelope, deer. and elk saddles.
" h-n the Regulars were Withdrawn in con-
sequence Of the rebellion, and the volunteers
~. l. 4 4.
When the 18th OHIO Cav. occupied Fort
Laramie he became a favorite with Col Col
Inns who presently placed great confidence
i'm him.
At the aforementioned gathering was the
affable courteons. and ACCOMPLISHED Grass.
Le,yilg his sgnaws and p.,ooses 10 the hos
pitable care of the cOmmanaant at Platte
Bridge, he had with his, following attended
tn. council. No Chief was more pro use in
oratorv than Grass nor more vehement ia
urging war. When he returned to Platte
Bridge it was with visions of scal1s and
hoarls Of p!under floating in the mirage of
his savage imagination.
His absence had been remarked by the
commander of the post, who iDterrsgatel the
Chief on the nature If his Journey The
replies were far from salts acfOrv, and the
m liter was reported To Fort Laramie. Mean
while sharp lookout was kept on his m .ve-
ments. Presently Grass, under preten-e of
hunting buffalo. went up. the road with his
warriors. The next mail ach brought word
of the destruction of an emlgrant train ar
Red Buttes.
Troops from the Bridge at once visited t e
spot. and from certain signs discovered, the
officer in command was confident thai it was
the act of Grass and his band Word wa,
telegraphed to Fort Laramie The reply was
that there was certainly some mistake. and
to treat Grass as friendly. Grass returned 10
the Bridge with nothing in eountenance or
actions indicating other than amicablc rel;-
tions with the whites
Meanwhile his huntings increased, and in
the same proportion maSsacres The stag, s
were taken from the route. At length the
comnandant at the Bridge determined to
| proceed against Grass despite the instructions
from Fort Laramie The C.iief, however,
was aware If these suspicious, and resolved
upon moving his lodges. Accordingly, he
! represented that he had concluded to remove
to Sweetwater, some SO mlles farther up the
road The officer saw that he must take a
decided step at once, and spraag upon Grass.
but the Chief eluded his grasp and leaping
through the door, mounted and rode at full
gailop after his band.
Hot pursuit was instantly made, and a
running fight ensuedl The savages sought to
gain the mountains In the flight several
I Ill ILL Al L.