The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent., 1922-10-06

miles at q trot was the ride before
the regiment. At O'Clock in the
morning ON Christmas day the COM
mand stopped to rest. Some of the
mems clothes were frozen stiff, az
they had broken through the ice of
a stream while crossing it. At last
they camped at Harvey Springs as
a base for their scouting operations.
They hunted for several days, but
saw no Indians. One day they rode
AZ miles in a vain search and got
back at o'clock in the evening. Two
hours later a courier from the
agency, so miles away, arrived and
reported the Battle of Wounded Knee
and that 5000 Sioux were muster
ing to attack the agency.
Boots and saddles instantly
sounded and the tired troopers again
mounted their jaded horses. The
! camp was broken, tents were struck
and wagons packed. 1t was bitter
cold night, blowing a light snow in
the faces of the men, who were wrap
ped to the eyes in their buffalo coats
The cavalrymen reached the agen-
cy at daybreak, completing a ride of
more than 80 miles in less than 20
hours. Fires were kindled, horses
picketed and the exhausted men
threw themselves down for rest.
They had been there but few min
utes when a rider dashed into camp
with the news that their wagon train
had been heavily attacked. Without
even waiting to saddle their horses,
Henry and his men galloped back
over the road two miles, where after
a sharp fight the Indians were driven
off and the train was brought safely
into camp.
Once more the troopers prepared
to snatch few hours of rest in the
cold, but they had no sooner ridden
into the agency than another mes
senger arrived and stated that the
Drexel Mission, seven miles away,
was being attacked. There were
two regiments of cavalry available,
the Seventh and the Ninth. For some
unexplained reason the Ninth was
ordered out once more. In behalf of
his men Henry protested and declared
that they must have little rest.
The Seventh was therefore sent, but
In an hour or SO courier reported
that the Seventh was in need of aid,
so once more the weary negroes sad
died their horses and spurred them
into lope toward the scene of the
fight. After covering the seven
miles they attacked the Sioux and
carried three ridges in gallant style.
After sharp fighting the Seventh was
extricated and the day saved.
In "a hours elapsed time the Ninth
; cavalry had ridden 10S miles-actual
, time in the saddle 22 hours. They
= had fought two engagements and had
t. rested only two hours. Marvellous to
,, relate only one horse died from the
effects. This was the most famous
ride ever made by United States
troops. For it Henry was given his
> sixth brevet-the rank of major-gen.
: eral
General Henry took part in the
Spanish-American war, and later was
appointed governor of Porto Rico
: where he contracted his fatal illness
:. - Health conditions were very bat
. there at the time. One by one all o.
), his staff officers were invalided t
= the United States. Henry refused
!, to leave and remained at his post un
= : til he collapsed.
- Guy V. Henry is remembered b,
- = his fellow officers as one of the mos
q knightly figures in the history of tn,
army. He was beloved for his spiri
y of self-sacrifice and his deeds O
heroism were source of inspiration
to the men under him. No brave
q soldier ever fought on the plains O
. Montana.