West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-07-26
oUR BOYS IN raE ARMY.
Interesting letter from ProsionIan
Cavalry soldier In the Great Northwest


will try to write 4 short letter of my
experience with Uncle Sans boys
In the Northwest and the life of the
noble red men. As this is a very
important post in the West and the
scene of many bloody battles be-
tween the soldiers and the two great
tribes OF Indians, the Cheyennes
and Sioux, it seems as though one
could easily write long letter of il.
When I enlisted my intentions
were TO 20 to the Philippines to be
assigned to some cavalry troop in
active service, but at hat time there
were no vacancies in the mounted
troops in the islands, so decided
to come to some troop under orders
for the Philippines, and as this troop
was under orders to go to the islands
at that time, was assigned to it.
We have been prepared to move
several times, but were always or
dered back, so it was a case of stay
in the states.
/ arrived in Keogh on the r4th of
May, 1900, and just like all other
recruits are, was just as proud of
my blue uniform as boy is with
his first pair Of long pants. Not
knowing that would have to wear
a brown canvas uniform nearly every
day and exercise myself with a pick
and shovel digging drains for sewer
pipes, etc. ! remained here until
the r4th Of August, 1890, and then
went with a detachment of twenty.
FIVE men to Camp Merritt, Mont,
(Northern Cheyenne Indian Agen-
cy) on detached service. This was
my first time seeing the noble Red
Men as they live in their reserva.
ton, which if it was sold at public
auction would not sell for 25 cents
per square mile. The land of the
reservation is almost entirely worth
less except for grazing purposes, and
for this it is always occupied to its
full capacity, almost every Indian on
the reservation having at least
dozen ponies.
The Cheyennes are mostly tall,
well built men, their black eyes and
long black hair being the most strik-
ing appearance about them. They
are expert horsemen and spend most
of their time galloping over the
hills tending their herds and hunt
ing.
The Cheyennes have very pecu.
liar way of burying their dead.
When an Indian dies he is rolled in
his blanket with his gun, beads asd
other trinkets which he desires to
have sent to his happy hunting
ground with him He is then placed
in a rough box, and when the re
mains are ready for burial the favor
lite horse Of the deceased is blind
folded, led to the place he is to be
buried and sho. The body of the
Indian is then carried to its resting
ing place. The coffin is sometimes
stood on end against the trunk of a
tree and tied fast. Others are
placed in caves and some are laid
on the ground and rocks placed
around the box so it will not be dis
turbed by wild animals.
The Indians mode of getting
married and also getting divorced is
much simpler than the white man.
When an Indian wants wife he
wraps a dark blue blanket with a
white stripe running through the
center around him, covering himself
entirely up, except small hole to
see through. He then mounts his
horse and rides through the hills in
search of his "better half" When
he finds the squaw he wants for his
wife he jumps from his horse.
throws his blanket around her and
if she makes no effort to get away
from him he places her on his horse
behind him and gallops off to her
mothers tepee where the bargain is
settled by the groom giving the
mother two, three, or as many DO
mics as She asks for her daughter
In case they want a divorce they 90
to a pow WOW Cdance). which is
held by the whole tribe every ration
day (once every two wceks). and
while The dance is in progress the
husband crosses the dancing circle
and with stick which be has pre-.
pared for the purpose strikes the
tom tom and then throws the stick
az his wife This dIssolves all part.
ncrship between them and they are
no longer man aud wilc.
CGtcr county has been the scene
q. & ...a.... L...f r..t.f...