The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-04-21

SAOC NAC AACASuIy AAVAC 6OA1O, lIl6u Liz
soldiers severely.
The whole equipment and clothing OF
the soldiers had to be rearranged, and
furs and buffalo robes, deer hides and
beaver skins had to be drawn upon
from the trading posts ON the Missouri
and from the agencies. For instance.
leather belts of all kinds were replaced
by canv:> ones. Further explanations
would take too long to relate, so suf-
fee 1t to say that the winter campaign
was effectively waged and a great bat.
tie was fought with Crazy Horse, who
boldly attacked the command with q
superior force. Crazy Horse was an
Ogallala chief who led in the battle
against Crooks command, was an i'm
portant factor in the battle of the Lit
tie Big Horn and was a demon in
daring.
He gave the command a most deter
mined fight that nothing but the
shrewdness of Miles won, as it waged
for hours, the last part Of the struggle
being in a binding snowstorm. Sew
eral chiefs were killed and a big
medicine man" whom Indian super
stition thought invincible, dishearten-
ing his followers. They fell back, but
"Bear Coat" as they had nicknamed
Miles, kept up the pursuit persistently,
eve with frost bitten troops, and
eventually John Bruguier, a half breed
and very gallant scout with the COM
mand, who got in communication at
the risk Of his life with, Crazy Horse,
convinced the willy chief that Miles
meant what he said, Surrender and 60
to the agency or I will attack you ev-
cry day and keep you awake at night
This was finally consented to, and
Crazy Horse was made to accept Miles
terms by his chiefs. Nine remained as
hostages, while he and 1000 Of his
warriors surrendered at the Red Cloud
and Spotted Tail agencies, and 500
Cheyennes under White Bull, Two
Moons and Hump surrendered at the
Tongue river post.
Crazy Horse fretted under the re-
straint of Camp Robinson, and, infor-
nation showing that he was planning
to leave the agency with some Of the
worst of the d~isaffected, 1t was thought
best to arrest him. This brought about
a fight, in which he was nsortaNy
wounded and died, smilingly defying
the white man.
The Cheyennes who surrendered to
Miles were treated by him In such a
brotherly manner that he eventually
gained their affection and from among
them enlisted a corps, like the old
Pawnees on the Platte, as scouts.
Miles winter campaign, in short,
was effective. The next May found
Miles after the Minneconjous, under
Lame Deer, whom he followed with
pack trains and no membranes. He
surprised them on the Muddy and had
them completely surrounded, while a
dash by Lieutenant Casey had cut
them off from their ponies. He hoped
to have them surrender without fur
Their bloodshed. White Bull, the Chey-
enne chief, was the medium. Their
response to this was a rifle bullet
through the arm and body Of White
Bull, but the offer was again repeated,
and Lame Deer and his warrior. Iron
Star. accepted and approached, but
during the parley Lame Deer stepped
back and deliberately fired at the gener-
al, whose escape was miraculous, as his
orderly, who was directly behind him,
WIS killed by the shot. That settled
the peace making, and pumping it
into them" began. Lame Deer and Iron
Stcr hninW op,pnr tho HNcf 70 foil Tho
rest We're killed. captured or scattered.
" =
Soon after the events just narrated a
man l dearly loved and trusted, who
had stood beside me at many a trying
ti,le. had ridden many a weary ride
and secuted with me under great diff
cultics, met his fate-Jim White, "Buf-
falo Chips"
\ package of winter clothes had ar
rived for me by the river route, and
in parting l had given him. my best
overcoat, a hat and other toys, and his
death for awhile caused the Indians to
report that Pe-Ha-Has-Ka chat Is my
Indian name) had fallen, and In sew
eral tribes there were held premature
obituary rejoicings. While sorrowing
for Jim, 1 was always proud that he
made a good showing and that he
brought honor to his western nick
name. which was given to him in q
spirit Of r%alllery by no less a person.
age than General Phil Sheridan him.
self.
l will let General Charles King, who
was present, tell the story, which he
has done In his history, campaigning
With Crook"
This time it is not my purpose to
write of Buffalo Bill,' but for him of
another whom I've not yet named.
The last time we met, Cody and l, he
asked me to put in print a brief notice
of a comrade who was very dear to
him, and 1t shall be done now.
james White was his name, a man
little known east of the Missouri, but
on the plains he was Buffalo Bilrs'