The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1921-06-27

I
distance off | could see a small
bunch Of Indians. Shortly after
1.-THE command arrived and We dog
a grave with our hunting knives
and laid hlm 10 rest where he
had fallen
Could Custer have avoided OF
prevented the massacre after he
encountered the Indiansf This
question was asked Sheridan
lwhile be was looking over the
battlefield. Custer could not.
was his answer. and being asked
again If any other officer could
Ihave done better than Custer. he
said: Yes, but only one officer
that | know could have defeated
the Indians under the clArum-
stances. " Asked who that officer
was he mentioned General Mer
rift. and told them that during
the war Merritt commanded his
cavalry, and that he never knew
of him getting into anything he
could not find way 10 get out
Of. lie mentioned several oc-
caSions where he had to send
Merritt to get others. among
them Custer. out Of critical sitn
ati0ns Onc Of the officers made
the remark. You must have
very high opinion If General
Merritt and he answered in his
direct way OF talking Yes.
Merritt is today the most efficient
officer In he United States army.
and | do not except myself or
General Sherman On many
occasions, before and after Mer
ritt sustained this reputation
The First Scalp for Custer.
on the l1ih of July, 1875. we
of the Fifth Cavalry were still
guarding the reservations. bat
had received orders to join Cen
eral Crook without delay. and
had started on the trip, when z
messenger overlook us at Raw
hide huttes in Wyoming. with
news that the Indians. as soon as
they learned that we had left. had
started on the war path. and that
/ 500 Of them were on the way 10
join Sitting Bull DiSoheyng
orders. Merritt AT once turned
back. and after a ride of l30
miles in two DAYS and two nights
reached the point where the IN
lians would cross Warhonnei
creek. Arriving there during the
night. our presence was not dis
covered BY the Indians. and
early on the morning " the lIth
they made their appearance, led |
nv q young chief Yellow
Hand Bnffa'o Bill had gone
mt during the night 70 locate the |
Indians, and just at sunrise ! saw
him coming towards the camp. /
happened Ia be on signal picket
and lie eame up and told me 20 /
report that a large number of
Indians would >oon arrive \ /
few minutes later the regiment /
was in the saddle ready to receive
,Nr guests. but remained hidden /
under the river bank. Some Of |
- offieerS. including General I
Merritt, came out n the picket I
nd watched the Indians ap- !
sroaching Buffalo Bill was also
with them, and everything was
-eady for an encounter 4 wagon
rain and stage coach for the
Black Hills was seen coming
along the road from Cheyenne to
and also two soldiers
arriving dispatches The Indians
lad also seen them and were
to attack them. so the
general asked Cody to try TO get
q them and warn them as they
lad not seen the Indians. but IN
,oinc t0 execute this order. hs /
an into the bunch of Indians that
lad started 70 attack the travel
rs. Many different. versions has
,een gwen in regard 10 what then
.apnened. and even Bill himself
0uld hadly tell correctly what
ook place But from my point
i observation and being practi- /
ally cut of harm 5 way. L was
bic To see the transaction with Il
at setting excited. As soon aSll
he Indians discovered Bill they
him. and the leader