Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1900-04-07
" KAN, APRIL z. 1900.

he lived and seems yet long way off.
We are indebted to DIR. III. b. Kohl,
who came to Fort Hays in the govern
meat service in 1867, and is now the
leading physician of HAYS City, for
the following historical sketch of old
Fort Hays:
The present Hays reservation was
established by order of General w. S.
Hancock, commanding the Depart
ment of the Missouri, by General Or
ders issued in May, 1867. Previous to
that a garrison had been maintained
eighteen miles farther down the
creek, at military post called Fort
Fletcher. A sudden overflow of the
creek IN the spring of that year had
destroyed the post and caused the loss
of lives and property. Hence the or
der for the establishment of Fort
Hays.
Lieut.. Jackson, 7th Cavalry, laid
out the reservation, acting as engi
neer officer, and Mr.. Ado Hunning,
now of Leavenworth, drove the first
stake on the hill southwest of the
post buildings.
post was brevet Brigadier Gen. Gibbs
of the eth Cavalry, then Major in
! Clusters regiment.
a change of garrison soon occurred.
as the pregross OF the building of the
U. e. II. II advanced, and the newly
organized 10th U. S. Cavalry took sta
tion, as did also two two companies
of the 3Sth U. 5. Infantry, and Gen.
Hazen commanded the post for some
months. But the lighting 9TH Cav
airy always had some of the regiment
at the post, and much is due to the
illustrIous Custer IN shaping the fu-
ture of the great empire of the north
west.
In 1868 three companies of the 9Th
U. 5. Infantry-MiieS' regiment-took
station, commanded by Major Gibson,
and from the fall of 1867 to 1874 Fort
Hays was the storm center for the
suppression of Indian raids.
In September, 1868, Gen. Custer
was released from arrest of sentence
and took charge of the demoraliZed
troops under Gen. Alfred Sully, and
the 7th U. S. Cavalry started from
Hays on the memorable campaign of
1869 against the combined tribes of
Arrapahoes, Cheyennes, Kiowas and
Sioux, and avenged the cold-blooded
murders committed by these red
devils in Kansas. And when, one
morning in March 27. 1868, Custer
created 264 s'good Indians" and took
400 ponies and ], ZOO horses, western
Kansas heard the song from many
pious lips, ''Praise God from whom
all blessings flow;" while from Boston
came protests to the President
against what the Peace Society chose
to consider the cruel slaughter of
1.-THE poor Indian" even as protests
come to-day from the same source
against the just chastisement of the
powers of darkness and sayagery.
In 1874 Gen. Miles started from
Fort Havs to complete for all time
the pacification of all hostile tribes,
work which he accomplished to the
lasting benefit of his country and to
his own fame as soldier.
In its history as a military post
Fort Hays has been commanded by
Miles, Pope, Hancock, Merritt. Nc
Kenzie, Wheaton, Overshine. Custer,
Gregg, HaZen, and a host of Others
whose names shine in golden letters
in the galaxy of brave soldiers of the
United States.
In 1877 was witnessed the last flick
er of the life light of the Indian in
western Kansas and it was extin-
guished forever. Then Fort Hays be-
came the resting-up place for troops
from all the great northwest and so
continued until it was finally aband-
oned in 1889. 1t has gone out of his
toIy to the world at large, but to the |
pioneers of western Kansas it remains
Il memento Of the brave men who |
made it possible to build homes on /
these broad and fertile prairies-
much to the regret, ne doubt, OF the 1
Peace Society of Boosting -"-Gayiord |
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