The sun., 1901-02-23
Will NOW
GET MEDAL
Friends Of John Guthrie Receive
Valuable Information.
WAR DEPARTMENTS LETTER
Colonel Darlington is Not Dead as
Was Thought-Was an Eye
Witness of Guthrie's
Brave Act.

| The friends of ex-Scout John Guthrie,
who have for number of years, in a
quiet way, been endeavoring to obtain
Il gold medal Of honor from Congress for
him, have during the past week received
valuable and needful information which
they believe will lead to prompt action
IN the part of Congress.
! The medal is asked for as reward for
perilous duty done by Mr.. Guthrie while
a member of Company q Second United
States Cavalry and stationed at Fort
Phil Kearney, now known as Fetterman,
in Wyoming.
! On the 21st of December, 1866, Fort
| Phil Kearney, commanded by Colonel
Henry b. Darlington, located under the
shadows of the Big Horn Mountain,
was the extreme outpost Of the North
west. The Sioux under Red Cloud, had
been lowering in the vicinity of the post
for sometime and had been seen in large
numbers on Tongue river, northwest of
| the fort.
1t was on this day that Guthrie and a
squad We're sent out to run the mail
from the fort to Fort Reno. 1t was
calculated that the trip would take three
days and nights.
| While they were away from the fort,
a wood train was attacked by Indians
a few miles north of Fort Phil Kerney.
A detachment of troops under Brevet-
Lieutenant Col. Fetterman made dash
from the fort for the purpose Of pro-
tecting the wood train. This was on
December %.
The next day Guthrie and the squad
returned to the fort. 1t was feared that
the detachment had not taken enough
ammunition with them so it was de.
cidcd to send ammunition to them.
Guthrie was one of the men who vol.
lunteered to convey the ammunition to
them and was one of the four men de.
tailed to accompany lieutenant with O
wagonmaster and load of ammunition
When but four miles from the fort
they found the dead bodies of the whole
detachment. They had been ambushet
by the Indians and massacred. The
bodies were horribly mutiliated. The,
returned to the fort with the news.
detachment was sent out to bring in tn,
bodies. The work was done as quickl,
as possible as another attack of th,
Indians was feared.
Chief Red Cloud was discovered watch
ing them from behind the ridge.
A scout was sent to Fort Laramie
with dispatches for relief.
All of Guthrie's company were in the
detachment that was massucred. Guth
rie alone remains of the squad of five
that went out with the ammunition, nj
of whom were promised medals fol
bravery, which they never received.
Several years ago Senator Warren Of
Wyoming suggested that Guthrie presen
his claims for a medal and his friends a
once took up the matter.
1t was placed in the hands of the late
Congressman Hoffecker but he died be
fore he had an opportunity to bring tht
matter formally before Congress.
The present Congressman w. o. Hof
fecker now has it in charge. Senator
Kenney has recently been appealed t.
and has interested himself In the matter
Mr.. Guthrie recently has had hopefu
letters from Senator Warren and Ken
ney and Congressman Hoffecker.
The valuable information just received
was contained in n letter to Mr.. Guth
rie from Assistant Adjutant Genera
Carter of the War Department at Wash
ington.
1t contained the address Of Col N. B
Darlington, U. S. A., retired, who wa'
: in command OF Fort Phil Kerney on tn,
day Guthrie was detailed on his peril
ous duty. In order to secure the media
the statement Of an eye witness wa
needed 1t was thought all along tina
Col. Darlington was dead. He reside
!, in Pinehurst, n. G.
! Capt. Jos. Powell. U. S. A., formerl.
captain of the 27th Infantry, who was a
the fort at the time of the massacre
had been located by Guthrie's friends il
Peoria, ILL.,, several years ago, but h
: was paralyzed and unable to make
, statement