按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
along the Smoky Hill and Arkansas had to be garrisoned； emigrant
trains escorted； and the settlements and routes of travel and the
construction parties on the Kansas…Pacific railway protected。 Then；
too； this same force had to furnish for the field small movable
columns； that were always on the go； so it will be rightly inferred
that every available man was kept busy from the middle of August till
November； especially as during this period the hostiles attacked over
forty widely dispersed places； in nearly all cases stealing horses；
burning houses； and killing settlers。 It was of course impossible to
foresee where these descents would be made； but as soon as an attack
was heard of assistance was always promptly rendered； and every now
and then we succeeded in killing a few savages。 As a general thing；
though； the raiders escaped before relief arrived； and when they had
a few miles the start； all efforts to catch them were futile。 I
therefore discouraged long pursuits； and； in fact； did not approve of
making any at all unless the chances of obtaining paying results were
very evident； otherwise the troops would be worn out by the time the
hard work of the winter was demanded from them。
To get ready for a winter campaign of six months gave us much to do。
The thing most needed was more men； so I asked for additional
cavalry； and all that could be sparedseven troops of the Fifth
Cavalrywas sent tome。 Believing this reinforcement insufficient；
to supplement it I applied for a regiment of Kansas volunteers； which
request being granted； the organization of the regiment was
immediately begun at Topeka。 It was necessary also to provide a
large amount of transportation and accumulate quantities of stores；
since the campaign probably would not end till spring。 Another
important matter was to secure competent guides for the different
columns of troops； for； as I have said； the section of country to be
operated in was comparatively unknown。
In those days the railroad town of Hays City was filled with so
called 〃Indian scouts；〃 whose common boast was of having slain scores
of redskins； but the real scoutthat is； a 'guide and trailer
knowing the habits of the Indianswas very scarce； and it was hard
to find anybody familiar with the country south of the Arkansas；
where the campaign was to be made。 Still； about Hays City and the
various military posts there was some good material to select from；
and we managed to employ several men； who； from their experience on
the Plains in various capacities； or from natural instinct and
aptitude； soon became excellent guides and courageous and valuable
scouts； some of them； indeed； gaining much distinction。 Mr。 William
F。 Cody （〃Buffalo Bill〃）； whose renown has since become world…wide；
was one of the men thus selected。 He received his sobriquet from his
marked success in killing buffaloes for a contractor； to supply fresh
meat to the construction parties； on the Kansas…Pacific railway。 He
had given up this business； however； and was now in the employ of the
quartermaster's department of the army； and was first brought to my
notice by distinguishing himself in bringing me an important despatch
from Fort Larned to Fort Hays； a distance of sixty…five miles；
through a section infested with Indians。 The despatch informed me
that the Indians near Larned were preparing to decamp； and this
intelligence required that certain orders should be carried to Fort
Dodge； ninety…five miles south of Hays。 This too being a
particularly dangerous routeseveral couriers having been killed on
itit was impossible to get one of the various 〃Petes；〃 〃Jacks；〃 or
〃Jims〃 hanging around Hays City to take my communication。 Cody
learning of the strait I was in； manfully came to the rescue； and
proposed to make the trip to Dodge； though he had just finished his
long and perilous ride from Larned。 I gratefully accepted his offer；
and after four or five hours' rest he mounted a fresh horse and
hastened on his journey； halting but once to rest on the way； and
then only for an hour； the stop being made at Coon Creek； where he
got another mount from a troop of cavalry。 At Dodge he took six
hours' sleep； and then continued on to his own postFort Larned
with more despatches。 After resting twelve hours at Larned； he was
again in the saddle with tidings for me at Fort Hays； General Hazen
sending him； this time； with word that the villages had fled to the
south of the Arkansas。 Thus； in all； Cody rode about 350 miles in
less than sixty hours； and such an exhibition of endurance and
courage was more than enough to convince me that his services would
be extremely valuable in the campaign； so I retained him at Fort Hays
till the battalion of the Fifth Cavalry arrived； and then made him
chief of scouts for that regiment。
The information brought me by Cody on his second trip from Larned
indicated where the villages would be found in the winter； and I
decided to move on them about the 1st of November。 Only the women
and children and the decrepit old men were with the villages； however
enough； presumably； to look after the plunder most of the warriors
remaining north of the Arkansas to continue their marauding。 Many
severe fights occurred between our troops and these marauders； and in
these affairs； before November 1 over a hundred Indians were killed；
yet from the ease with which the escaping savages would disappear
only to fall upon remote settlements with pillage and murder； the
results were by no means satisfactory。 One of the most noteworthy of
these preliminary affairs was the gallant fight made on the
Republican River the 17th of September by my Aide； Colonel George A。
Forsyth； and party； against about seven hundred Cheyennes and Sioux。
Forsyth； with Lieutenant Beecher； and Doctor J。 H。 Mooers as surgeon；
was in charge of a company of citizen scouts； mostly expert rifle…
shots； but embracing also a few Indian fighters； among these Grover
and Parr。 The company was organized the latter part of August for
immediate work in defense of the settlements； and also for future use
in the Indian Territory when the campaign should open there。 About
the time the company had reached its complementit was limited to
forty…seven men and three officersa small band of hostiles began
depredations near Sheridan City； one of the towns that grew up over…
night on the Kansas…Pacific railway。 Forsyth pursued this party； but
failing to overtake it； made his way into Fort Wallace for rations；
intending to return from there to Fort Hays。 Before he started back；
however； another band of Indians appeared near the post and stole
some horses from the stage company。 This unexpected raid made
Forsyth hot to go for the marauders； and he telegraphed me for
permission； which I as promptly gave him。 He left the post on the
10th of September； the command consisting of himself； Lieutenant
Beecher； Acting Assistant Surgeon Mooers； and the full strength；
forty…seven men； with a few pack mules carrying about ten days'
rations。
He headed north toward the Republican River。 For the first two days
the trail was indistinct and hard to follow。 During the next three
it continued to grow much larger； indicating plainly that the number
of Indians ahead was rapidly increasing。 Of course this sign meant a
fight as soon as a large enough force was mustered； but as this was
what Forsyth was after； he pushed ahead with confidence and alacrity。
The night of the 16th of September he encamped on the Arickaree
branch of the Republican； not far from the forks of the river； with
the expectation of resuming the march as usual next day； for the
indications were that the main body of the savages must be still a
long way off； though in the preceding twenty…four hours an occasional
Indian had been seen。
But the enemy was much nearer than was thought； for at daybreak on
the morning of the 17th he made known his immediate presence by a
sudden dash at Forsyth's horses； a few of which were stampeded and
captured before the scouts could reach them。 This dash was made by a
small party only to get the horses； so those engaged in it were soon
driven off； but a few minutes later hundreds of savagesit was
afterward learned that seven hundred warriors took part in the fight…
…hitherto invisible； showed themselves on the hills overlooking the
camp and so menacingly as to convince Forsyth that his defense must
be one of desperation。 The only place at hand that gave any hope of
successful resistance was a small island in the Arickaree； the
channel on one side being about a foot deep while on the other it was
completely dry； so to this position a hurried retreat was made。 All
the men and the remaining animals reached the island in safety； but
on account of the heavy fire poured in from the neighboring hills the
packs containing the rations and medicines had to be abandoned。
On seeing For