The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-17

the head OF the column accompanied by
his adjutant Capt. J. S. Bourke and Frank
Gourard his chief of scouts. No matter
how fercely the bullets rained about him
he would never lose his head, and more
than that he never asked a man, be he
private or officer. to do something which
he, Crook wouldn't do himself Many
night, upon this very expedition into the
Black Hills. / saw him with a blanket
thrown over his shoulder sitting by the
blazing camp fire, his frame outlined
against the dark night, with a piece OF
bacon on a spit cooking it over the fire
for his supper.
Gourard rs Scout.
"You can bet we didn't lose time in get
ting ready to move into the Indian coun-
try. We were only part of the three
different columns that were coming at The
redskins from three directions, namely,
Crook, Custer. and Terry. We had as
scouts Frank Gourard. who / believe and
know to be one of the greatest scouts
that ever lived; Buffalo Bill, and Charley
White otherwise known as Buffalo
Chips half breed. Gourard was Ha-
waiian, and when quite young his parenis,
who had moved out West, we're killed by
the Sioux. He was adopted by them and
knew the language, l believe, OF every
tribe of Indians on the Western plains.
and, as the boys used to say, ne could
smell one q mile
We picked our way cautiously along,
seeing plenty Of signs Of Indians, but hav-
ing no fights with them. One day a scout
came in bringing the news Of Clusters
massacre, the news producing great eX-
element among the men and officers
alike. for although we had never served
under him everybody admired and re-
spected him as a man. General Crock,
seeing that the condition of affairs was
critical, began making forced marches,
and l tell you it kept us 'doughboys on
the go.
False Alarm.
While we were coming down Powder
River General Terry was coming from
the direction of the Yellowstone, and it
was here funny thing occurred. Both
columns had an advance guard composed
Of Indian scouts ours being Grows, and l
believe Terry had some friendly Greeks.
When our men saw Terry's column come
into view they wheeled their ponies and
beating them furiously with their raw
hide thongs, came galloping back to US
crying Heap Sioux Heap Sioux not
stopping until they had reached the end
of the column. In the mean time Terry's
scouts hau also gwen the altTm anu us
men were advancing rapidly.
THE shouts of the scouts created great
excitement amongst the boys. The com
mand of 'deploy skirmishers was obeyed
in a hurry. The general, accompanied 10y
Gourard, rode rapidly ahead. Gourard
recognized the approaching column
through his glass as white men and the
fight was declared off. Upon the arrival
of Terry, both he and Crook held a long
he .F fTt,ui aYEy
massacre was verified. l. being a raw
recruit was naturally very anxious to
hear something about the affair. and see
ing an old sergeant nearby, asked him
about it. From his statement of what he
had learned of the affair, 1t was a ter
rible battle, for where Clusters body was
found near his horse. over 15o empty car
fridge shells were also found, and. al
though the bodies of most of the men had
been cut up in horrible manner, rot a
hair on the head of the brave general had
been touched.
while We were camping at this place.
Major Reno, with the remnant of Clusters
old regiment, the Seventh, arrived. They
were far from being in good humor,
some of them saying that IL they had to
re-enlist. they would stay until they had
avenged the death of their dead leader
After a conference of the three command
ers. 1t was decided that owing to the
breaking up of the Indians into small
bands, after the battle of the Little Big
Horn, 1t would be best for the three col
umns to separate and work their way
the Indians indicating that the larger