, 1922-09-14

prisoners and by a threat of execution that tribe
was forced to report at Fort Cobb, together with
the Comanches and Apaches, and finally induced
TO go on their reservation.
From Fort Cobb the command marched to the
base of the Washita mountains and established
Fort Sill. near Medicine BLUM. On the I'd of
March following the Nineteenth Kansas cavalry
and the Seventh United States c~avalry, under the
command of General Custer, went in pursuit of
the Cheyennes.
The Cheyenne trail was struck on Salt Fork on
the 9th of March. 1863, and followed to the north
along the eastern edge Of the Llano Estacado
until the 10th of March, when the Cheyennes were
caught camped on Sweetwater creek, about ten
miles west of the eastern line of Texas. This
march was made practically without transporta-
ton or adequate supplies, and for the last few
days the men subsisted on mule meat without
bread or salt.
General Sheridan. General Custer and Colonel
Moore, with the soldiers OF the Eighteenth Kan
sas. the Nineteenth Kansas and the Seventh Unit
ed States and Tenth United States cavalry, res
cued the women prisoners from the Indians in the
Texas Panhandle and drove the Indians far into
the Llano Estacado and preserved southwestern
Kansas for all time. practically, from Indian as
saults. They followed and fought the Indians in
driving storms, at times with no resources but the
buffalo they killed. and the obligations the South
west is under to them have never really been ac-
knowledged by the government of the United
States
The most romantic feature of the campaign was
the rescue of the women from Logan county, Kan
sas, whom they found In the Panhandle among
the Indians, whom they bent after II fierce fight.
Capt. John Q. A. Norton of Lawrence, Kan, who
Is credited with marching alone in front Of n Con
federGte battery, told me personally the par
tlculRrs Of TINT episode. u tale that would do
credit Ia the pen Of "A Dumas. rs General Custer
say. In his report:
''In obtaining the release OF the captive white
women. and that. too. without ransom. the men
of my command. and particularly those OF the
Nineteenth Kansas, who were called into service
owing to the murders and depredations of which
the capture Of these women formed a. part. feel
more fully repaid for the hnrdships they have en-
dured thnn II they had survived an overwhelming
victory over the Indians"
col. II. c. Lindsey OF the Twcnty-second Kan
sas, In the Spanish war, wns n sergeant mnjor of
the Nineteenth Kansas under Colonel Moore. Cup
tain Norton. n soldier Of the Civil war, then In
1869 n young lawyer nj Lawrence. and nm officer
of exceptional courage and capacity and equip
ment. stiII lives ut Lawrence. one of the foremost
citizens of our great state. II soldier and n gentle
nun of the highest and best type. always gentle,
capable, courageous and chivalrlc.
The Eighteenth and Nineteenth Kansas were
The only volunteer soldiers that the American
government raised in n third OF a century from
1865 to 1895. They performed a service that had
ms many difficulties rs any ~ our veterans. They
mnde a campaign ms romantic and remarkable
Ms "A novelist could depict. They rescued from
The horrors Of Indian captivity the wives md
daughters Of the frontlersmen who made for us
the grent West and brought II into civilization.
They hive lived In patience for half u century
without any fair or just expression OF apprecin-
ton by this republic for their excellent services.
All that | ask now Is that You give to them the
same financial consideration that you give 10
other soldiers OF similar accomplishment and
similar heroism.