Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-08-13
o.

contributes 70 the preservation
- Of passing events has a dis
tinctvs value. American his
- tory, generally speaking since
me formation Of the republic. has been
freshly sathered but often many subjects
OF controversy exist. left IN doubt and IN
certainty. This need hardly be 90 OF the
country west Of the Mississippi river. so
recent has its conquest and settlement been
effected.
No one has been more active than Colonel
W. F. Cody C'BuffaIo BID In preserving
some Of the scenes and incidents OF from
tier days and the personality OF the class
OF people, red and white. who participated
In the most exciting episodes OF It's trans
Terence from a once unknown haunt Of the
indian 10 its present progressive condition
OF agricultural and commercial value
The theater OF Colonel Cody's DAYS as
hunter. guide. pony express rider. wagon
master. and United States army scout COW
cred larger area than any OF his historic
associates. many Of whom rendered inval-
liable service. but who were more or LEGS
restricted In territory
His experience extended from near the
Canadian border on the north TO the Pan
handle Of Texas, Indian Territory. and
Arizona on the south and from the Ms
e-@1AhAAs anu AlAHEoN4l On the east over
the Rockies 10 the mountains Of Utah.
and 10 the then isolated. almost unknown
region OF the Big Horn basin. The great
central plain, which was the most seriously
contested ground. was the school from
which he was graduated to be chosen chief
OF scouts Of that famous cavalry leader,
General Pail Sheridan. and he won national
renown as early 1888. when he acted al
scout for General Eugene A. Carr IN the lcns
months OF scouting after the renegade dog
soldiers. the most terrible ,marauders or
their time. In the decisive battle Of Sum
nit Springs the capture and punishment
Of the renegades was extremely severe
and the young scout Cody distinguished
himself ~ killing the noted leader Of TIE
hand. Tall Bull. The indians left sixty
eight dead upon the field.
Years Of splendid work added popularity
and fame to the name OF buffalo Bill"
until il became a household word. and gave
opportunity 20 the picturesque pen OF the
romancer. as well as the historian. His
duties demanded the exercise to the limit
Of his plains lore in the memorable cam
paign 50 identified with the annihiIation
OF the command and the death Of that
Beau Sabre Of the civil war. whose rec
ord until &C was a marvel in military
annals OK continuous success-General
George A. Custer. Perhaps no military
officer Of his age had an equal record
Of victories and captures OF men and arms
as had young CustS<r Bis record and his
previous success in the game Of dash iusti-
fled 30 him the chances that he took; and
the heroic death OF one and all Of his COM
mand gives a communal glory to II that
time will never effaee.
In that campaign Buffalo Bill played
a conspicuous part with another section
Of the army whose work IL often forgotten
in the thrilling episode on the Little r.
Horn. He was assigned to the comma
Of General Eugene \. Carr by special
quest OF the astute Indian fighter and
war veteran-himself an adept in rs
warfare from back in the nfties. hav
received a wound from an Indian arr
in 1854
Their duty was to head off and d-i-
back the southern Indians who were ir
tending to join Sitting Bull They So
ceeded. and then Joined General wesle
Merritt's command to head off and proven
the Red Cloud and Rose Bud Sioux from
effectinR q junction with their northern
brethren. Success crowned their efforts
and they prevented the UncApappas from
being reinforced by many thousand blood
thirsty recruits. One Of the greatest of
military rides was made TO accomplish
this successfully. Eight hundred we'll
equipped Sioux had left the agency. and
had a sixty-mile start To intercept and
overtake them was a task. General Mer-
rift and General Carr dismissed the wagon
train and iHpedimenta, taking nothing but
pack trains the mems equipment being
only ammunition and a single blanket.
Under cover OF night seventy-five miles
was ridden in twsnty-four hours the Chey-
ennss intercepted surprised. and severely
punished. and driven back to their Peser-
walton at War Bonnet Creek. where Scout
handed encounter with and the killing OF
Chief Yellow Hand. duplicating in '7s his
success in SO.
The superb old Indian fighter, General
Crook. had met one of his few checks on
account OF the overwhelming number of
the same Sioux that overwhelmed General
Custer, and made successful fail back
TO Goose Creek. where he defended him
self until the arrival OF Merritt and Carr
with the Fifth cavalry.
The correspondent for New York paper
thus refers to their timely arrival:
Camp OF General Crooks Command,
Goose Greek, Aug. 4 lisa
Before sunset the Fifth cavalry to
whom couriers had been sent and who
for few hours had lost all reckoning as
20 our whereabouts, marched into the
valley with their supply wagon close On
their heels. The appearance Of the regi-
ment was fine. despite the dust and IA
tigue Of the march, and gladdened the
eyes OF every one. who had been waiting
their arrival.