Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-12

there"
oh, lie isn't warmed up yet. gen
eral." l said. "He'doesn't go good I'm.
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 | had actually to wait on the
general Il little. Every once in awhile
the general would remark about that
mule. But we went on, and the gen.
eral still would net 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 a depression III the sand hills and
told him hat that was the Pawnee
was to follow the creek down and we
would come to the fort.
"Now, general" I said, 'if you have
any urgent dispatches thai you want
taken to your commanding officer, If
you will give them to me 1 will take
them Oh and have them delivered to
him. You cannot help but find your
way"
"Ah." he said, you are kidding me
about what I said in regard to that
mule. Well" turning to one of the
officers, you bring the escort in. Fol
low The direction we are going, and l
will go on with Cody
And w started, I giving him as live
ly q ride as his horse could stand until
we reat he'd the fort. That night the
generals horse died. The next morn.
ing ut 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.
said that If he had no further use for
me 1 would return to my OWE 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, I will
never say anything against a mule
again."
Among the many army officers under
whom I have served one OF my earliest
experiences was with Major General
Eugene A. Carr, retired. General Carr
was q 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 1865 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. l 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
white mans intrusion in the west. The
d~epredations 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 mercy and
strategy that he was equal to the sit
uation. 1t was during the continuous
pursuit of these warriors that I met
one Of my closest calls In an incidental
fight which occurred at q point called
Elephant rock. It 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
luc oSdNSA oAAs ~, VIZ wi"
mand went into camp. The general or
dered Lieutenant Ward to follow 1t,
being already on the scene. l was
keeping the Indians in sight while Gov
ering my presence from them, wher
somewhat to the left, almost parallel
with them, I heard firing, and 1 after
ward ascertained that Lieutenant
Ward was in a skirmish so premature
that at one time it threatened to cut
me off.
General Carr left the command I'M
der Major Brown to follow with the
wagons, and the Indians, skirmishing
with great daring, put up a game fight
General Carr followed them until
nearly dark and returned to meet and
protect the wagons. Forming his men
In a hollow square, he made an orderly
retreat, the Indians showing great per
tinacity In their skirmish tactics, SC
much so that the general got a bullet
through the scabbard Of his saber;
Meeting the wagons and getting into q
good position, he went into camp, but
the Indians stayed around all night
>-AAaA-- 49, 4,Nn~ - o-1o o~A AnOntAA