The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-06-24
>NooORG DAWN, KITTITAS WASHINGTON,

PIN Sheridan. | ana the men were resi-
ing at Fort Mcpherson after haz-
ardous expedition and IL long and sue
cessful chase. II was a quiet June
evening, and we were enjoying refresh
ing brcczcs. A detail had left the fort
to water the government herd or
horses and mules I'm the nearby Platte
river when shots were heard. Every
one was on his feet I'm a moment, for
1t was learned that n party of Sioux
Indians had dashed from the cotton
wood trees. shooting, shouting and
waving blankets, and had Stampedcd
herd OF about 400 animals The In
dams had killed two of the hcrdcrs and
wounded another. Some OF the herd
ran for the corral, where they were
accustomed to go for the night, but the
Indians got away with about POO and
started for the bluffs south Of the fort.
All was excitement, but. as was my
custom, had my war horse, "Old
Buckskln Joe" near at hand and was
mounted I'm time to make recon
noissance and note the direction IN
which the Indians had disappeared
with the government stock.
General William H. Emory had his
bugler sound the boots and saddles"
and by the time | returned for In
structions five troops Of cavalry were
busy saddling up, getting their arms,
ammunition and some supplies One
company, Fifth United States cav
alry-were the first troops saddcd and
ready for the chase Their officer,
young lieutenant by the name Of Earl
d. Thomas, now Brigadicr 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, Galopw And
we dashed off. We followed at Il gal
lop until dark, but did not get n sight
of the Indians. and the tracks showed
that they were whooping It up on the
run. A halt was called to give the
putting horses rest. and Thomas con
suited me. His orders were to follow
and recapture the animals. | told
Thomas could follow the trail at
uight II necessary and awaited his an
swer II will follow YOU Mr.. Cody, as
was told to do so, and | will go wher-
ever you propose" After a short rest
Mount and forward" was the order
nd ho oh
the night the Indians repeatedly dou
bled on their trail. We did not reach
Medicine creek. where we got water
for men and horses, until II o'clock the
next day.
The trail showed that the Indians
were headed southwest, in the drec-
ton Of Red Willow Springs. Knowing
that there was no water between Med
icine creek and the Red Willow. | was
sure that the Indians would make .
stop there. as it was many miles from
there to the next water. We decided
it was best to keep continuously ON the
lob and as the Indians must make
some stop to rest and eat we could
overlap them. When the horses were
rested and as we had nothing on hand
to eat to delay us and had had moth
Ing since dinner the day before, our
best possibility for a meal was to over
take the Indians, surprise them, whip
them and capture what dried meat
they had.
After leaving the creek the Indians
began their old tricks in trying to hide
their trail by devices well known to
me, but | paid no attention To this.
knowing what must be their next stop
ping place, and | was as familiar with
that part of the country as they were.
Straight on we kept to the Springs. ex-
cept that occasionally we went out of
the direct line to keep in low places
between the sand hills so as not to be
seen At . o'clock that night we halt
ed four miles from the Springs. Adj
vising Thomas to allow the men To un-
saddle and unbridle. letting each sec
ond man hold two horses by their hal
ters. and so let them feed on the grass.
changing the men every two hours 50
they could get some sleep. | Disguise
myself as an Indian and started off to
locate the hoStilcS and he back in time
so as to attack them at daYllght. \"
la, n