The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-03-03

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but to keep on their drawers, so as to
be recognized as friendly. I had sent
word to Colonel Royal, and he sent up
Major Walkers company and came on
with the rest. l placed the Pawnees
On the left and two companies Of the
Fifth cavalry in the center and one of
Captain Prices on the right. I told
Major Eugene Crittenden to take COM
mand Of the center and I would take
the reserve and send up REINFORCE
ments as required.
"When we all got started I told the
bugler behind me to sound the charge
and we were among the enemy before
they had any idea that we with
in a thousand miles. Then I heard the
rafting Of rifles on the right and left,
plainly distinguishing the basso sound
Of Buffalo Bill's' trusty rifle, old 'Lu-
cretia Borgia.'
"'Bufalo Bill got pretty well around
the village when he went in on Cap
tain Prices right. AS he advanced he
saw a chief on a horse charging about
and haranguing his men. He and his
party laid for him, and as he came
nearer Buffalo Bill shot him off his
horse and got the animal. This was
the celebrated race horse Tall Bull,
which he Cody rode for a long time
and with it won many exciting races
When he came into camp Mrs. Tall
Bull said that 1t was her husbands
horse, leaving no doubt about the fact
that Buffalo Bill had killed the chief.
ION this occasion the Indians had
two white captives-Mrs. Alderdice Of
Missouri, whom they killed during the
fight, and Mrs. Weigel Of Kansas, who
had been shot in the back with a pis-
toll bullet, which broke a rib, but was
DETECTED and passed around and lodg-
ed below her left breast. Fifteen hun
dred dollars in gold, silver and green
backs, which was gathered In the
camps, was given her, and she went
back, remarked and proved up her
claim. Next morning we dug a grave
on a hill above the village and buried
Mrs. Alderdice, the surgeon reading
the service.
II detailed a board Of officers to
count the dead Indians, and notwith-
standing that it is their custom to car-
~ away the wounded and to hide or
bury the dead we found sixty-eight
dead bodies on the field"
.
As chief of scouts under General
Phil Sheridan, I and the men were rest
ing at Fort Mcpherson after a haz-
ardous expedition and a long and sue
cessful chase. 1t was a quiet June
evening, and we were enjoying refresh
ing breezes. A detail had left the fort
to water the government herd Of
horses and mules in the nearby Platte
river when shots were heard. Every
n was on his feet in a moment, for
it was learned that a party Of Sioux
Indians had dashed from the cotton
wood trees. shooting, shouting and
waving blankets, and had stampeded
a herd Of about 400 animals. The In
dams had killed two Of the herders and
wounded another. Some Of the herd
ran for the corral, where they were
accustomed to 60 for the night, but the
Indians got away with about 200 and
started for the bluffs south Of the fort.
All was excitement, but, as was my
custom, l had my war horse. "Old
Buckskin joe" near at hand and was
mounted in time to make a recon-
noissance and note the direction in
which the Indians had disappeared
with the government stock.
General William II. Emory had his
bugler sound the "boots and saddles"
and by the time l returned for in
structions five troops Of cavalry were
busy saddling up. getting their arms,
company-I, Fifth United States cav
~alry-were the first troops saddled and
ready for the chase. Their officer, a
young lieutenant by the name of Earl
D. Thomas, TO- B%rigadier General
Thomas and in command Of the de-
partment Of Colorado, was just out
from West Point, full Of ambition and
delighted to be IN command In the alb
sence Of his superiors. General EN-
DRY and myself agreed on the necessity
Of quick action. and. to the delight of
young Thomas. he was ordered with
his troop to follow me. while the other
troops as soon as ready would follow.
"Fours right! Trot! Gallop!" And
we dashed of. We followed at a gal.
lop until dark, but did not get a sight
Of the Indians. and the tracks showed
that they were w%hooping 1t up on the
run. A halt was called to give the
putting horses a rest, and Thomas con
suited me. His orders were to follow
and recapture the animals. l tolt
Thomas I could follow the trail al
night If necessary and awaited his an
swer. II will follow you, Mr.. Cody, Il:
l was told to do so, and l will go wher
ever you propose" After a short rest
Mount and forward" was the order
and the chase was continued. Durin.
the night the Indians repeatedly dou
bled on their trail. We did not reacl
Medicine creek. where we got waite,