The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-07-06

came in sight of this camp the comuis
stoned officer of the guard had orders "a
| join his company, while the command OF
this guard fell to my lot. / had orders %
keep an account of the number of horses
and mules that played out | heipea -
shoot AZ horses and SO mules which were
used up on that day and could not keep
up with the wagon train.
A Costly Expedition
If those animals were left on the prairie
they would recuperate, and the Indians
in raids on the settlers We also burned
up the wagons, cut up the harnesses ana
destroyed them, and saddles and brides
belonging to the dismounted men. rms
expedition cost the government a great
many thousands of dollars.
Some years afterward, while stationed IN
Kansas, and when we were about TO De
relieved from duty in that state, to pro-
coed to the southern states, we were re-
lieved by the Sixth United States cavalry
which had been stationed in Texas. rms
regiment on it's way from Texas passed
through the whole of the Indian territory
and southern Kansas, and finally arrived
at Fort Hayes, having Travelled over great
many miles of Custer's trail on its march,
which was quite noticeable on account or
the remains of Clusters burned wagons.
In 1869, after coming off of the winter
campaign with General Custer, we were
stationed at what was known as camp
vicinity of Hayes City, on the line of the
Kansas Pacific railroad, doing the usual
drilling and scouting.
We were recruiting up after our long
summer and winter campaigns, large per-
centage of our horses having been used up
on the winter trip. We were remounted
by number of horses which were turned
over to us from the Nineteenth Kansas
Volunteer cavalry. commanded by Colonel
Crawford, ex-governor of Kansas, and
which regiment was with us on a part of
that winter campaign.
Deserters Steal Horses
We also, lost great many men by de-
sertion and a great many of those deserterS
stole many of our best horses.
The men were almost destitute of cloth
ing, our trousers being patched with
seamless meal bags. A large number of the
hats belonging to the men were made OF
the same material. The legs of our cavalry
boots were pretty well scorched and burn
ed from standing around the camp fires,
and as substitutes we used leggings made
from pieces of tents.
A number of men had to use wooden
blankets in place of overcOats especially
two companies who lost their overcoats on
Nov. 81, 1868, known as the battle of the
Washita already referred to. Those over
coats were captured by the Indians, and
you can talk about ragamuffins in this
part of the country on Fourth of July,
but they could not begin to compare with
the Seventh cavalry when coming off that
winter campaign.
In 1870 we were stationed at what was
known as Camp Sturgis, on Big creek, |
Kansas, in the vicinity of Hayes City, do
ing the usual scouting and drilling. Here
we received a large number of recruits and
horses.
In 1871, 1872 and a part of 1873 we were
in the southern states with General Gus
ter, after what were known as the XXX |
KS, the moonshiners and the White Leag- |
bama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Ken |
lucky. OF these scouting expeditions / |
could tell many an interesting scory, which |
have not space at the present time to do
Sent to Dakota
In 1873 the regiment assembled at Mem
md rail to Yankton, Dakota territory.
Then we marched up the north bank of
he Missouri river, for some 900 miles,
passing the different lines of forts and In
liam agencies, and finally arriving at Fort
Rice, Dakota territory Then after lying
n camp for a short time with other troops +
1t Fort Rice, an expedition was organized
lnder General Stanley to explore the bad
ands and the Yellowstone valley. We par
icipated with General Custer on that ex
,edition, in the battle of the Big Horn, and
he battle of Tongue river, and the battle
# Pompey's Pillar.
In 1874 we were engaged with General
custer exploring the Black Hills, on what
vas known as the Black Hill expedition in
Dakota.
In 1875 we were engaged in suppressing
outbreaks at the different Indian agencies
long the upper Missouri river During
he summer of 1875 the Indians had been
he ranchmen and among the friendly Ind
ans The winter of 1875 we were stationed
t Fort Rice Dakota territory.
In 1876 another expedition was organized
t Fort A. Lincoln, to go against the Ind
ans, under command of Gen. Alfred Terry,
Who commanded the department of Dakota.
iy company started with two other com
'anies from Fort Rice, Dakota territory,
nd went to Fort A. Lincoln, under COM
nand of Capt. F. w. Benteen, and went
nto camp Other troops assembled from
he different forts, and troop X came dir
ct from the southern states.
Start on Way
General Custer was called away from the
amp to Washington on some business per-
aiming to the army, and was detained at
for some time against his
fishes. He finally returned in time to take
of his own regiment, the Seventh
avalry, under General Terry. This expe-
ition consisted of II companies of the
eventh United States cavalry, numbering
bout 30 commissioned officers and 200
1en; a battalion of infantry composed of