Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12

were enough additions to bring the fight
ing strength Of the command up to 1850.
Capt. Tappan had been promoted to be
lieutenant colonel. He was second in
command and led the cavalry contingent
The two forces met near the mouth OF
Apache canyon. Evidently the southern
erS were much worn by forced marches.
but they fought bravely. The conflict
waged all day. but at night the Sibley
forces withdrew. The triumph was COM
plete. The southern expedition to the
northwest was abandoned: Sibley made
a rapid retreat southwark and the new
Colorado troops We're permitted to turn
their attention to the enemy in other
quarters.
Continues With the Army.
After the close Of the war Col Tappan
continued with the army in command of
small posts on the frontier. 1t was while
thus employed that he became engaged
in a controversy with one of his former
fellOw-Ofiicers of the LIST Colorado wn1cn
at the time attracted national attention
The other officer was J. NJ. Chivington.
who was major in the regiment at the
time of the Glorieta fight, but afterward
rose to the command of the regiment as
its colonel He was responsible for what
is known as the Sand creek massacre.
Finding several hundred Indians en-
camped on Sand creek. small stream
in southeastern Colorado. he fell upon
them before daylight one morning and
killed all the members of the band with
a few exceptions. The slaughter includ-
ed women and children as we'll as men.
When the facts came out there was a
general storm of indignation. Tappan
sense of justice was touched and as a
former officer of the command he felt
especially Inundated by the awful
tragedy. He joined with others in de-
manding a military inquiry and never
ceased to denounce the action Of Chiving-
ton.
Tappan's attitude toward this affair
had much to do with his selection as a
member Of the Sherman commission. This
commission was in existence during the
greater part of the years 1867 and 1865
1T had but started upon it's career when
Stanley called upon its members at
Omaha. He had just arrived from Colo
RADIO. and the fact of his acquaintance in
that territory was sufficient recommends
ton to Tappan. Stanley then was
hardy young man and he wanted to go
with the commission. He was without
funds and in order to accomplish his pur-
pose must have employment. There was
no place in connection with the commits
he could write. Tappan offered to turn
over to him the correspondence for the
Tribune. which he still held. Stanley
accepted and throughout the extended
tours was Tappan's tent mate and travel
ing companion.
Stanley Sent to Africa.
The commissions work completed. STAN
ley went to New York. armed with let
ters from Tappan to the Tribune staff.
He had formed the idea of going to At
RIGA to report the wars being wageu at
the time by King John of Abyssinia, but.
unwilling to commission him to such
task themselves. the Tribune editors rec
commended him to their neighbors of the
Herald. He was promptly employed and
sent to Mr.. Bennett at Paris for further
Then followed the search
for Livingstone, which made him famous.
Col. Tappan always spoke with admira-
ton and affection for the great explorer.
He said that he was a man of reserve.
but that he had a peculiar influence over
the Indians, quality to which the colonel
attributed much of his success in dealing
with the savage tribes of the dark CONT
nent. He gave Tappan coat of mail
which he said he had taken from Turk
ish brigand in Asia Minor in adventures
which he had had there before meeting
the colonel and in turn Col. Tappan pre-
scented it to the National Museum of this
city.
Col. Tappan had resided in Washington
for the past twenty-five years. He lived
quietly. Indeed, after his associates of
the civil war period passed away he sell
dom went out. He was buried last We'd
nesday in Arlington national cemetery by
a few of his surviving military comrades.