The Coolidge examiner., 1934-07-20
eY ELMo scoTT WATsoN

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sA j. 1862 there was fought IN eastern
nv Colorado an Indian battle which,
by a curious chain of clrcum-
stances. is more famous For an Incl.
| dent in lt which never took place
| | than lt Is for any one of several In
| teresiing Incidents In u that actual
Is did II you In your youth ever
sat through a performance 81 Buf-
| vi falo Bits Wild West show and
thrilled 10 the swift moving and cob
~ orful pageaniry % that exhibition.
you probably remember the re
urodurtlop Of the Battle os summit springs
which FOR many years WIS climax of the per
Torrance II So you probably remember also
that you came away from Il with the belief That
IN this battle. buffalo Blll" Cody. the scout
charged through the Indian village at the head
of the troops. saved one white woman from death
az the hands of the sayages and avenged the
killing o. another by Staying Tall Bull. chief Of
the bog Soldier Cheycnnes
The only thing wrong with this picture" is
that It's an wrong For the facts of the Battle
o. summit Springs. as they are recorded In such
authoritative works as George Bird GrinnelFs
"The Fighting Cheycnnes" and Two Great
Scouts and Their Pawuee Battalion" are these:
In June isC9. elgb, troops OF the Fifth cav
airy. who had been campaigning In Kansas and
Colorado under Mai ". i. Royall. were ordered
n
against hostile Indians. especially the band ot
Dog Soldier Cheyennes. led by Chief Tall Bun
one 81 the worst raiders on the plains % that
period The troops were placed under the com
maud of Gen. Eugene A. Carr. major 0f the
FIfth who had risen 20 the rank OF major gen
eral In The Civil war. Al Fort Mcpherson the
command was Joined by three companies of Paw
nee Indian scouts commanded by Mai. Frank
North. with his brother, Luther II. North. as
captain of one % the companies The other OH
GERS of the scouts were Captains Gushing and
Murle and Ilculennnts Becher. Matthews and
Klsllnrberry. There too. they were Joined by
two civilian scouts certain Garry and William
r. Cody already known Buffalo Bill"
Cars pursuit of the Indians led him 80 miles
into the present state OF Colorado. Early the
morning of July II Norih's Pawnees found the
site OF the camp that Tall Bulls people had left
the previous day. after which they had separat-
ed into three parties Accordingly Carr divided
HIS command TO continue the pursuit With part
OF the cavalry and Eve or six Pawnee scouts he
followed the left-hand trail toward the north
west. The rest pf the cavalry. commanded by
Royal with Cody as their guide. took the right
hand trail toward the northeast and Frank and
Luther North with Captain Gushing and 35 OF
the Pawnees took the middle trail which led d.
rectly north.
Fifteen miles up the trail one OF the Pawnees
who had gone with Carr came riding swiftly 10
Major North with the news that some OF his fel-
lows had found the Cheyenne village at the place
now called Summit Springs. So the Norths and
their detachment Immediately turned west and
galloped over to join Carr and his men who had
d.smounied and were waiting behind ridge OF
sand hills Carr had also sent word to Royal.
but after waiting half hour for that officer
10 appear and fearful lest the hostiles might
learn OF the presence OF the troops and escape,
he decided 20 attack.
Ordering his troopers into their saddles, Carr
advanced toward the village which was about
three miles away. When the column reached a
long valley which ran almost down to the vii
la-e- Carr gave the command 10 charge. Frank
Nor:h was riding very fast horse and he was
the first 10 speed over the brow OF the Hill be
low which the Cheyennes' lodges were pitched
Tall Bull and his people had no idea that they
had been pursued so closely. AS the day was
warm. they were lounging In the shade OF their
lod yes vith most OF their ponies grazing on the