The Ely miner., 1909-10-15
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accounting. Red Cloud, it is said, is -
still living.
Sitting Bull had 5000 fighting men
with him when he met the Seventh cavalry under the
Yeowhaired Chief who rode into the valley of death
with less than three hundred following troopers is
the custom of the whites speak of every battle with
the reds in which the pale face loss was severe as
massacre The Custer affair was a massacre but it
was one of the few fights in which the whites were
defeated which rightly could be so called
Red Clouds name is suggestive Of the warrior and
in the that he made its significance
rible With his braves he swept the settlements
battle to the sodiery, rarely giving heed to
odds that might be against him.
Red Cloud was Sioux of the pure blood. There
were always of the tribe who said that Sitting Bull
had trace of white in him. and to the fublood this
was the equivalent of discrediting him with streak of
yellow" But this only the Indian way looking
at and Sitting Bull probably showed
face to foe, matter what be the opinion Of
him plainsman general.
In his old age Red Cloud is said to be an object of
pity, but it different story in the earlier days,
when his strong and his heart vengeful.
Almost Immediately after the civil Red Cloud met
in battle the fedtred heroes of that conflict and they
found in him foe worthy of their skill and STEEL
Mineral wealth had been discovered in Montana and
the rush of prospecors and settlers necessary
for the government to begin the erection of military
posts along the trail leading the praires to the
mines. On the trail to the Powder river built Fort
Phil Kearney. While the troops ordered to the new
post were on the march overland scout came riding
in to the column if he had death his heels Col.
Fetterman was in command, and after hurried talk
with the the two rode forward leaving the column
timber
and came to the banks of small prairie stream from
which the view unbroken for miles To the front
and about 600 yards distant they solitary Sioux
warrior standing the plain with his spear thrust into
the ground at his sde while from the end of the weap
ons handle uttered bit of colored cloth. needed
but little frontier knowledge to make Interpretation of
that signal 1t the Sioux sign of warning that
there must be no trespassing the lands which
they held dominion
Warning Is Spurned.
Red Cloud, the chief, had ordered the warrior to
display what was at once notice and menace and
later he took terrible vengeance because his warning
had been spurned.
well what the signal of the planted spear meant but
soldier like fully determined disregard it's conveyed
threat. He pushed ahead with his men, throwing
scouts to feel the The Indian sentinel had
ihed but he had left his with its pennant of cloth
to stand forbidding sign. Not another Sioux
the march to the post but the scouts
that Red Cloud far and was bidng his time
few hours after the occupation of the fort detail
of soldiers was sent out with small wagon train to cut
and to bring in needed timber. Two hours later
courier rode in and had barely time to tell his story
before he sank into from the pain Of
his The timber detail by Sioux
and 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 for the protection of the post for the
attack the timber party might be but diversion to
draw away the troops and so taking but SO with
him. the commanding officer rode out to the of
the surrounded soldiers. Not one man Of the gallant
band rode back.
That Fetterman and his exacted heavy price
their lives goes without saying but how many Of
the savage followers of Red Cloud fell that day
man knew will man know unless the chief
in the hour Of his dotage may day babbe the tale.
To the memory of Fetterman fort bearing his name
in the wilderness but the remembrance of the
memorial is passing away News of the killing of
that had to the aid of their fellows only
sent to the nearest garrison by courier who
his way through the hostile country with peril
besetng every hoof stroke the path He euded Red
Cloud only by 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 afame nor the fires of conflict kindled by
Cloud for more than of years, the last
flicker of the lighting the battle field of "The
Mission" near Pine Ridge, 8. D., in the year 1891.
Red Cloud, at the agency the scene Of the last
fight the wounded brought in from the field. He
had seen the beginning of the great and he the
witness of its end.