Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-08-08

Pawnee Scouts were mustered into the United
States service
For the next five years North's Pawnee scouts
proved Of inestimable value Ready to move at
moments notice they repeatedly pursued and
punished Sioux rading parties which would have
found 1t easy to escape from regular army troops.
They acted scouts for General Cnnnors Ill
fated expedition against the hostiles In the Pow
der river and Yellowstone country In 1865 and
most of the honors of that campaign, In the
different skirmishes which we're fought, were won
by the scouts II was Capt. Frank North and
his Pawnees who found the lost and starving
command of Colonel Cole who was TO cooperate
with General Connor's column and guided them to
safety and 1t was during this campaign that the
Pawnees conferred upon their white leader the
highest honor In their power. Before one of the
fights during that campaign. In which the Paw
nees, led brilliantly by North, had taken the
scaps of 81 hostile Cheyennes, North had been
known as "Sk RI TAXA" or White Wolf. During
the victory celebration held after the battle the
pawnees changed his name to "Pani Ieshar" or
the Pawnee Chief. 1t a name which only
one other white man had ever before been given
and that was General Fremont, for whom the
Pawnees held a high regard.
The year 1867 the most brilliant In the
history of the Norths and their Pawnees. Gen
eral Augur commanding the department of the
Platte, authorized the organization Of battalion
of four companies of Pawnee scouts with Frank
North In command with the title, Of major. One
of the companies was commanded by Luther
North who was given the rank of captain. The
principal job of the scouts was to protect the
builders of the Union Pacific from hostile In
dfans and important and SO efficient was their
work In this that it Is not too much to say that
had ii not been for this little force of loyal red
men and their white leaders the dream OF trans
continental railway might have been delayed for
several years.
The work OF the scouts during that year and
the following year, until the treaty of 1868 put an
end to the Indian troubles, for time at least.
furnishes material ~dor dozens of thrilling yarns.
One incident, because 1t shows the metal Of the
enemy which the Norths had to fight, Is note
worthy. One Of their scouts was haf-breed
paWnee whose father was Spanard. His name
was Baptiste BEHALF and he one of the most
proficient of all the tribe in the use Of the bow
and arrows During one of the fights Sioux
Indian was endorsed and BEHALF shot him with
arrow. The shaft struck the Sioux under the
right shoulder, went clear through his body and
came out on the left side. The warrior stopped
running pulled the arrow on through, fitted Ii 10
his bow wheeled around and shot 1t at BEHALF
who was riding close behind him on his horse
Behne threw himself low on his horses neck and
the arrow passed over his body about two inches
too high AS he Strengthened up. he looked
down 10 see that the Sioux had dropped dead the
moment after he had discharged the arrow
In 1869 the Sioux and Cheyennes were again
on the warpath and again the pawnee scouts
were called into service. In view Of the recent
revival of interest In the exploits of Col. w. It.
Cody, Buffalo BILL" and the controversy which
had been raging In number of newspapers over
certain OF his deeds 1t Is interesting to read In
Doctor Grinnell's book the story of the Battle
of Summit Springs, Colo. where, 1t has been as
serted. Cody killed the celebrated chief Tall Bull.
That chiefs camp attacked by General Carr
and the Fifth cavalry and after the first dash into
the Indian camp, The soldiers engaged In
hunting out the Indians who had taken refuge
into number of ravnes. One Ok these refugees
was the chief himself, who fired at Frank and
Luther North RS they rode past his hiding place.
Frank North dismounled waited for the Indian
to show himself again and then shot him through
the forehead. Later In the day Tall Bulls widow
pointed Frank North out the SLAYER OF her
husband. AS for Codys part in that battle
Grinnell says "A terrific storm of hall and rain
came up and While all hunds were tryiHe=to get
under shelter In the lodges. Cody rode into camp
lie had been with Colonel Royal and had missed
the fight. Lnter. by Ned Buntline tE q. Judson)
Ae-wss given credit for having Killed Tall Bull,
but he was not In the aght at ALL