The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-02-10

is really quite a horse you are riding
there"
"Oh, he isn't warmed up yet, gen
eral," I said. "He doesn't go good un
til he gets his second wind"
BY this time the mule was really be-
ginning TO show his staying qualities
over the Kentucky horse that the gen.
eral was riding, and the general could
not keep up. But the general would
not give up, and we went on mile
after mile through the sand hills until
finally l had actually to wait on the
general a little. Every once in awhile
the general would remark about that
mule. But we went on, and the gen.
eral still would not give In. We con-
tinued going until We got within about
fifteen miles of Fort Larned. Here we
stopped on a hill to wait for the off,
GERS and orderlies to overtake US.
When they got up I showed the gen.
eral q depression in the sand hills and
told him that that was the Pawnee
Fork creek and that all we had to do
was to follow the creek down and we
would come to the fort.
snow, general" 1 said, III you have
any urgent dispatches that you want
taken to your commanding officer, If
you will give them to me 1 will take
them on. and have them delivered to
him. You cannot help but find your
way"
"Ah," he said, you are kidding me
about what 1 said in regard to that
mule. Well" turning to one Of the
officers, "you bring the escort in. Fol-
low the direction we + going, and I
will 60 on with Cody"
And we started, I giving him as live
~ q ride as his horse could stand until
we reached the fort. That night the
generals horse died. The next morn.
ing at guard mount I rode up to the
headquarters Of Fort Larned, which
was commanded by Captain Danger
field Parker, with whom the general
was stopping, and reported to him. I
said that If he had no further use for
me l would return to my own fort and
that If he had any dispatches he wanted
taken back to Fort Hays l would take
them, as I expected to get there in
eight hours on the same mule.
He laughed and said, "Well, l will
never say anything against a mule
again."
Among the many army officers under
whom I have served n of my earliest
experiences a with Major General
Eugene A. Carr, retired. General Carr
was a graduate of West Point when
cabins were more plentiful than frame
houses In upper New York state,
whence he came. Graduating in 1850,
he went to the frontier and graduated
In that old school that made him one
Of the best Of Indian fighters.
In 1868 l first met him when l was
a scout for Colonel Royals command,
whom he succeeded. 1t has been the
pride Of my career that, he being an
officer Of such wide experience and
ability, I secured his esteem and
friendship, and in his writings he has
been very generous in abiding to my
services. I had the honor Of serving
with him in many trying campaigns,
notably In that which eliminated In
his success over Tall Bull, who had
long been the terror Of the plains with
what is known as the dog soldiers"
who were renegades recruited from a |
dozen disappointed tribes and were
composed Of the most vicious, fanatical
Indians who were opposed to the
u-litn MOI =, },tr,,cinr IN thu y-nct VNko
depredations were Of a terrifying ma !
ture, and Carr was delegated to pun !
ish them at all hazards. Their contin- |
uouS pursuit for many months was a
very trying one, as they employed the
Indians methods of annoyance in at
tack by safely scattering when hard
pressed. Knowing that only strategic
cunning could eventually effect sub
jugation or dispersal, General Carr
proved by his persistent energy and
strategy that he was equal to the sit
uation. 1t was during the continuous
pursuit Of these warriors that I met
n Of my closest calls in a incidental
fight which occurred at u point called
Elephant rock. 1t was In the spring
Of 1869 that we reached Elephant
rock, which Is a point on a rock ON
the south side Of Beaver valley. where
I found an Indian trail going down
the Beaver, and, following it. the com.
mand went into camp. The general or.
dered Lieutenant Ward to follow It.,
being already on the scene. was
keeping the Indians In sight while GOV.
ertng my presence from them, when
somewhat to the left almost parallel
with them, I heard firing, and l after.
ward ascertained that Lieutenant
Ward was in a skirmish so premature
that at one time 1t threatened to cut
me 81.