Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-05-12
CHARLES REYNOLDS, SILENT
CHARLEY" THE GOVERNMENT
SCOUT AND GUIDE.
By LINDA W. SLAUGHTER.
(Convripht M atter .iE


By LINDA W. SLAUGHTER.
Copyright Matter.)
In the early days of the territory
of Dakota, human society in the north
eln portion was made up of many di-
verse types brought together by the
exigencies of the times caused by the
actions of the aborigines Of this re-
gion-the tribes of the Sioux nation.
There was the army officer, AFRO
CANT yet affables THE soldier obedient
but brave; the post trader, covetous
and obsequious; the Indian agent,
rapaoious but kind; the 'woodhawk, >"
on vender of wood to the steamboats,,
fearless and Industrious; the hunter
and trapper, free and independent;
the Catholic missionary devout and
courageous eager to risk to life if
thereby he might win souls for his
masters kingdom; the "squawman, y
uncertain and despised. +
The Arikaree government mail car
riers who brought UP the semi
monthly mails from Fort Sully and
who counted their time lost if they
did not have deadly skirmish with
the Sioux by the way; the Interpreters
red, white or black-most Important
of all in dealing with the natives; and
last but not least, there was the gov
ernment scout. faithful and trust
worthy, willing to face danger and
death in the discharge Of his peri1ous
duty. nr.-
OF this last named class we first met
Charles Reynolds at Fort Rice, in the
department of Dakota in 1871, where
as a hunter he had the contract to sup
ply the officers mess with fresh ven
ison and other wild game.
My husband had known him in the
south as a member of an aristOcratic
family and was familiar with the trag-
edy that had wrecked his life, and sent
him a sorrowful self-exile into the
wilds OF the northwest. No word on
this subject ever passed between them
but Reynolds must have felt and ap-
preciated our sympathy, for he was
often an unlimited but welcome guest
at our home In Bismarck
1t was this habit Of reticence with
his self-contained manner, this care
full avoidance. of reference to his past
life, that won for him the sobriquet of
Silent Reynolds among his friends,
and the expressive name of Lonesome
Charley among the frontiersmen.
AS no mention ever passed his lips
as to the events of his early life, his
silence in that respect shall still be
respected.
Reynolds was fine shot and an ac-,,
eomplished hunter. A hunting party
of officers from the Fort did not think
their equipment complete without him
and aside from his utility he was
regarded with a feeling of comradeship
and respect not often existant among
their class for one Of lower station, for
Reynolds was not only born and bred
a gentleman but had enjoyed the ad-
vantages Of education and society
characteristic of the first families of
his native state.
After General Custer, with the 7th
cavalry, came to Fort Rice in 1873,
REYNOLDS was in the employ of the
government as guide and scout, and
as such accompanied General Stanley
that year on his expedition to the yell
loWsto1ie. In 1874 he accompanied
General Custer in the, same capacity
on his expedition to the Black Hills.
General Custer had unlimited conf
dence in his integrity and courage,
and beside, regarded him as friend
and admitted him to terms Of social
intimacy seldom accorded one OF his
profession In the army.
N When Custer and the 7dh cavalry
rode for the last time from Fort Abra-
ham Lincoln, with them rode Charley
government scout and guide
We had hidden him good bye several