The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-22
BULL BEAR.
A Noted Chief Prevents the Massacre o
Unarmed Soldiers.
BY f. W. MIXER. 18TH MASS. BATTERY.

By f. W. MIXER. 18TH MASS. BATTERY.
Bull Bear, n sub chief of the Cheyennes.
along in 1S66-67, was considered formid-
able antagonist and bore an unenviabie
reputation as a marauder. He was III
Guided in the forces that received we'll
merited chastisement at the hands or zen
Custer at the battle of the WaShlta, anu
was a willy old fellow of great intelligence,
and. on one occasion at least, displayed
diplomatic qualities, refraining from hos
Utilities when he had troops at his mere!
and when a massacre would have followed
the signal. The following brief account
of the affair might be of interest to read
ers who were OH the frontier in those days
July 1, 1866, detachment of recruits
was sent from Fort Harker, Hans, IN
q defenseless condition, consisting OF about
120 men and an escort of eight mounted
troopers from the I'd L. s. Cav. with SIX
mule teams, all under command OF Lieut..
Jas. Il. Peale. I'd L. s. Cav. Lieut..
Grugan, of the same regiment, was also
on duty to conduct the detachment to Fort
Laramie and this the first duty for these
officers after appointment from the voiun-
teerS, where they both held high rank
and had seen much service of an alto
gether different nature. l believe that no
explanation has been given as TO why this
party was turned loose upon the prairie
with hostile Indians in every direction.
almost entirely unarmed: but soon after
the march it became known that the en-
tire responsibility therefor was vested IN
the person of the commanding officer OF
the post from whence they started, and
whose identity it is unnecessary to estab-
lish at this late day, he having been ex-
Onerated from blame, subsequently, by a
court OF inquiry whose findings bore the
marks of whitewash.
For miles we proceeded through that
beautiful prairie cOuntry-now covered
with towns and villages-that intervenes
between middle Kansas and the Platte,
shaping our course north by west, follow
ing an old trail. On the 10Th we broke
camp at an early hour OH small tributary
of the Republican River, and followed the
trails over fertile prairie land that rose
and fell in gentle fluctuations like ocean
waves. No hostiles had been seen to date,
and no fear seemed TO exist that we would
be attacked. although in no condition 70
defend ourselves, owing as formerly stated,
to lack of arms. AT ii a. Hi. of the list
with cloudleSs sky and dense haze, away
to the northwest could be seen approach
ing large body of men, who were at hrst
supposed to be soldiers. We being deceived
by the glistening of poles or spears that
bore resemblance TO gun-barrels. Quick
ly undeceived. we saw that large body
of Indians were surrounding us, which
they quickly proceeded to do, adopting
their usual tactics of branching to the
right and left until they had formed a semi
circle around the command.
The Chief, Bull Bear. standing on the
opposite side of a ravine. proceeded to
plant pole in the soft earth, which sig
nified a desire to parley, and what followed
was most unusual in the history of troops
on the plains. Lieuts. Peale and Grugan,
both from the East, were recent appoint
ments, en- route to join their regiment.
These officers had held high rank in the
volunteer cavalry, and although new TO
frontier life and Indian warfare, they dis
played those qualities requisite in an offi-
Ger of the army. and were cool and col
lected. using skill and judgment in pre-
venting panic among raw recruits and
making every exertion to compel the team
sters to mount their saddle mules, which
they were inclined TO abandon. The In
dians, drawing nearer, soon hemmed us in,
and il was seen that they were a remarka-
BILE band, and in after years l never saw
them equalled. Their ponies were in good
condition, nearly all spotted in color, and
that they were permanently moving south
was proved by the fact that they had
squaws and yonng bucks with them, and
were dragging their tepee poles.
Every adult Indian possessed rifle,
which many had not taken the trouble to
remove from good case of deer hide that
covered them, and each young buck was
armed with bow and arrows, which they
constantly fingered during the interview
The corpulent Chief remained almost
silent. but the talking machine of the band
was the Medicine Man." the most VIII
To- varx -t<srsG h<r go, a.
pony. Extremely aged in appearance,
clad in ragged buckskin suit, with his
long gray hair flying in the wind, he
approached the officers excitedly gesticulat-
ing. shook his fist in their faces and turn
ing TO Bull Bear appeared to be insisting
that the massacre should begin at once
but riding to the 'front.', that willy old fel.
low made a firm show of authority. order
ing the doctor" to desist, evidently tell
ing him to go way back and sit down, y
and we had reason TO hope that he had
abandoned the idea of wiping US out. The
situation was spoken of subsequently, as
ludicrous. yet it required nerve in the early
part of the meeting for unarmed men TO
stand with composure and listen to the
frantic appeals of the Medicine Man.
while nearly all were apparently making
preparations for an attack. While will
ing to take the chances with a cavalry
mans weapons and properly armed felt
neipiesS with an unServlceabie Colts re-
volver that had seen its best day long
prior 10 Lees surrender From III a. m
to ) p. m. of this bright day they held
Us in custody on the prairie. the Chief
crying at intervals for "shug" cuff" and
being at his mercy. our rations, with the
exception of salt horse, Were quickly trans.
ferred by the Commissary- Sergeant TO his
care. Up TO this time he had hean
mounted. but now dismounting and TAX.
ing bundle from the saddle. seated him.
self Indian fashion and slowly united II
removing rag after rag until the center
was reached, from which he took AN off.
cial-looking document. opened il with a
flourish and presented il TO the command.
ing officer. This paper partially explained
his friendly attitude. it proving to he an
Endorsement of old Bull Bear as pood
Chief. by Col Baynadier. in command n,
Fort Laramie, who, following the preced
ent established at some other posts. baf
actually given him some condemned gun.
and a quantity of ammunition TO destro,
his enemies with. after a grand pow-wow
In which Bull Bear protested great Low,
for the white man, especially for thos,
who wore the blue. At about 5 d. m AZ
immense herd of buffaloes was grazing mo
far TO the west. and a buck and sauau
loDed to the herd With vraat .k;ll -.