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officers and eleven men wounded。 The blow struck was a most
effective one； and； fortunately； fell on one of the most villanous of
the hostile bands that； without any provocation whatever； had
perpetrated the massacres on the Saline and Solomon； committing
atrocities too repulsive for recital； and whose hands were still red
from their bloody work on the recent raid。 Black Kettle； the chief；
was an old man； and did not himself go with the raiders to the Saline
and Solomon； and on this account his fate was regretted by some。 But
it was old age only that kept him back； for before the demons set out
from Walnut Creek he had freely encouraged them by 〃making medicine；〃
and by other devilish incantations that are gone through with at war
and scalp dances。
When the horrible work was over he undertook to shield himself by
professions of friendship； but being put to the test by my offering
to feed and care for all of his band who would come in to Fort Dodge
and remain there peaceably； he defiantly refused。 The consequence of
this refusal was a merited punishment； only too long delayed。
I received the first news of Custer's fight on theWashita on the
morning of November 29。 It was brought to me by one of his white
scouts； 〃California Joe；〃 a noted character； who had been
experiencing the ups and downs of pioneer life ever since crossing
the Plains in 1849。 Joe was an invaluable guide and Indian fighter
whenever the clause of the statute prohibiting liquors in theIndian
country happened to be in full force。 At the time in question the
restriction was by no means a dead letter； and Joe came through in
thirty…six hours； though obliged to keep in hiding during daylight of
the 28th。 The tidings brought were joyfully received by everybody at
Camp Supply； and they were particularly agreeable tome； for； besides
being greatly worried about the safety of the command in the extreme
cold and deep snows； I knew that the immediate effect a victory would
be to demoralize the rest of the hostiles； which of course would
greatly facilitate and expedite our ultimate success。 Toward evening
the day after Joe arrived the head of Custer's column made its
appearance on the distant hills； the friendly Osage scouts and the
Indian prisoners in advance。 As they drew near； the scouts began a
wild and picturesque performance in celebration of the victory；
yelling； firing their guns； throwing themselves on the necks and
sides of their horses to exhibit their skill in riding； and going
through all sorts of barbaric evolutions and gyrations； which were
continued till night； when the rejoicings were ended with the hideous
scalp dance。
The disappearance of Major Elliott and his party was the only damper
upon our pleasure； and the only drawback to the very successful
expedition。 There was no definite information as to the detachment；
and Custer was able to report nothing more than that he had not
seen Elliott since just before the fight began。 His theory was；
however； that Elliott and his men had strayed off on account of
having no guide； and would ultimately come in all right to Camp
Supply or make their way back to Fort Dodge； a very unsatisfactory
view of the matter； but as no one knew the direction Elliott had
taken； it was useless to speculate on other suppositions； and
altogether too late to make any search for him。 I was now anxious to
follow up Custer's stroke by an immediate move to the south with the
entire column； but the Kansas regiment had not yet arrived。 At first
its nonappearance did not worry me much； for I attributed the delay
to the bad weather； and supposed Colonel Crawford had wisely laid up
during the worst storms。 Further ；waiting； however； would give the
Indians a chance to recover from the recent dispiriting defeat； so I
sent out scouting parties to look Crawford up and hurry him along。
After a great deal of searching； a small detachment of the regiment
was found about fifty miles below us on the North Canadian； seeking
our camp。 This detachment was in a pretty bad plight； and when
brought in； the officer in charge reported that the regiment； by not
following the advice of the guide sent to conduct it to Camp Supply；
had lost its way。 Instead of relying on the guides； Crawford had
undertaken to strike through the canyons of the Cimarron by what
appeared to him a more direct route； and in the deep gorges； filled
as they were with snow； he had been floundering about for days
without being able to extricate his command。 Then； too； the men were
out of rations； though they had been able to obtain enough buffalo
meat to keep from starving。 As for the horses； since they could get
no grass； about seven hundred of them had already perished from
starvation and exposure。 Provisions and guides were immediately sent
out to the regiment； but before the relief could reach Crawford his
remaining horses were pretty much all gone； though the men were
brought in without loss of life。 Thus； the regiment being dismounted
by this misfortune at the threshold of the campaign； an important
factor of my cavalry was lost to me； though as foot…troops the Kansas
volunteers continued to render very valuable services till mustered
out the next spring。
CHAPTER XIV。
A WINTER EXPEDITIONHERDS OF BUFFALOWOLVESBLIZZARDSA TERRIBLE
NIGHTFINDING THE BODIES OF ELLIOTT'S PARTYTHE ABANDONED INDIAN
CAMPSPUSHING DOWN THE WASHITATHE CAPTURED CHIEFSEVANS'S
SUCCESSFUL FIGHTESTABLISHING FORT SILL〃CALIFORNIA JOE〃DUPLICITY
OF THE CHEYENNESORDERED TO REPAIR TO WASHINGTON。
A few days were necessarily lost setting up and refitting the Kansas
regiment after its rude experience in the Cimarron canyons。 This
through with； the expedition； supplied with thirty days' rations；
moved out to the south on the 7th of December； under my personal
command。 We headed for the Witchita Mountains； toward which rough
region all the villages along the Washita River had fled after
Custer' s fight with Black Kettle。 My line of march was by way of
Custer's battle…field； and thence down the Washita； and if the
Indians could not sooner be brought to terms； I intended to follow
them into the Witchita Mountains from near old Fort Cobb。 The snow
was still deep everywhere； and when we started the thermometer was
below zero； but the sky being clear and the day very bright； the
command was in excellent spirits。 The column was made up of ten
companies of the Kansas regiment； dismounted； eleven companies of the
Seventh Cavalry； Pepoon's scouts； and the Osage scouts。 In addition
to Pepoon's men and the Osages； there was also 〃California Joe；〃 and
one or two other frontiersmen besides； to act as guides and
interpreters。 Of all these the principal one； the one who best knew
the country； was Ben Clark； a young man who had lived with the
Cheyennes during much of his boyhood； and who not only had a pretty
good knowledge of the country； but also spoke fluently the Cheyenne
and Arapahoe dialects； and was an adept in the sign language。
The first day we made only about ten miles； which carried us to the
south bank of Wolf Creek。 A considerable part of the day was devoted
to straightening out matters in the command； and allowing time for
equalizing the wagon loads； which as a general thing； on a first
day's march； are unfairly distributed。 And then there was an
abundance of fire…wood at Wolf Creek； indeed； here and on Hackberry
Creekwhere I intended to make my next campwas the only timber
north of the Canadian River； and to select the halting places near a
plentiful supply of wood was almost indispensable； for as the men
were provided with only shelter…tents； good fires were needed in
order to keep warm。
The second day； after marching for hours through vast herds of
buffalo； we made Hackberry Creek； but not； however； without several
stampedes in the wagon…train； the buffalo frightening the mules so
that it became necessary to throw out flankers to shoot the leading
bulls and thus turn off the herds。 In the wake of every drove
invariably followed a band of wolves。 This animal is a great coward
usually； but hunger had made these so ravenous that they would come
boldly up to the column； and as quick as a buffalo was killed； or
even disabled； they would fall upon the carcass and eagerly devour
it。 Antelope also were very numerous； and as they were quite tame
being seldom chasedand naturally very inquisitive； it was not an
unfrequent thing to see one of the graceful little creatures run in
among the men and be made a prisoner。 Such abundance of game
relieved the monotony of the march to Hackberry Creek； but still；
both men and animals were considerably exhausted by their long tramp；
for we made over thirty miles that day。
We camped in excellent shape on the creek and it was well we did； for
a 〃Norther；〃 or ； 〃blizzard；〃 as storms on the Plains are now termed
struck us in the n