The Elbert County tribune., 1909-10-14
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Sitting Bull had 5000 fighting men
with him when he met the Seventh cavalry under the
"Yellowhaired Chief who the valley of death
with less than three hundred following troopers 1t is
whites to speak of every battle with
the reds in which the pale face loss as a
massacre. The Custer affair massacre but 1t
was one of the few fights in which tho y,htts. wore
defeated which rightly could be called.
Red Clouds name is suggestive OF the warrior and
in the years that he made it's Significance
rble With his braves he swept the settlements and
gave battle to the soldiery rarely giving heed to the
odds that might be against him
Red Cloud Sioux of the pure blood. There
always of the tribe who said that Sitting Bull
had trace of white In him. and the fublood this
the equivalent of dscrediting him 'streak
yellow But this only the Indian of looking
at it and Sitting Bull probably showed towards
face to foe, matter what be the opinion of
him plainsman general.
In his old age Red Cloud is said object of
pity. but 1t different story in the earlier days.
when his strong and his heart vengeful.
Almost Immediately after the civil Red Cloud met
In hbttle the dried heroes of that conflict and they
found in him foe worthy of their skill and steel
Mineral wealth had been discovered in Montana
the rush of prospectors and settlers made it
for the government to begin the erection of military
posts along the trail leading the praries the
mines On the trail to the Powder riverswas built Fort
Phil Kearney. While the troops ordered to the
post the march overland. riding
in to the column he had death at his heels Col
Fstterman was in command and after hurried talk
with the the two rode forward leaving the column
halt. officer and scout shirted patch of timber
and to the banks of small prairie stream from
which the view unbroken for miles. To the front
and about 900 yards distant they saw solitary Sioux
standing the plain with his thrust into
the ground at his side while from the end of the
on's handle futtered bit of colored cloth 1t needed
but little frontier knowledge to make Interpretation Of
signal easy 1t the Sioux sign of warning that
there must be trespassing the lands which
they held dominion
Warning Is spurned.
Red Cloud. the chief. had ordered the varrior to-
display what notice and menace, and
he took terrible because his warning
been spurned
well what the signal of the planted meant
soldier like fully determined to disregard its conveyed
threat. He pushed ahead with his throwing out
scouts to feel the way The indian sentinel had van
ished but he had left his with its of cloth
stand forbidding sign Not another Sioux
the march to the new post but the scouts knew
that Red Cloud not far off and bding his time
A few after the occupation the detail
of soldiers with small wagon train
and to bring in needed timber. Two hours later
rode in and had barely time to tell his story
before he sank into unconsciousness from the pain of
wounds The timber detail surrounded by Sioux
in imminent danger of death.
In the fort many women and children, the
wives and and daughters of the officers and
listed Col Fetterman knew that he must leave
strong guard the protection post
attack the timber party might be but diversion to
draw away the troops, and taking but so with
him. the Commanding officer rode out to the of
the surrounded soldiers. Not of the gallant
rode back.
That Fetterman and his exacted a heavy price
for their goes without saying. but how many OF
the savage followers OF Red Cloud fell that day
man will man ever know unless the chief
in of his dotage may day bnbbe the tale
To the memory of Fetterman fort bearing his name
rose in wilderness but the remembrance of the
memorial is now passing News of the killing of
troops had to the aid of their fellows only
tn die was sent to garrison by courier who
made his way through the hostile country with peril
besettng every stroke the path He eluded Red
Cloud only matching cunning against cunning, and
the white craft the red.
Relief reached the post but by this time the whole
sioux nation had declared for and the northwest
was ahame nor did of conflict kndled by Red
Cloud for than score Of years, the last
nicker Of the flame lighting the battle field OF THE
Mission. near Pine Ridge s. D., in the year 1891.
Red Cloud, at agency the scene of the last
asht saw the wounded brought in from the field. He
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