PREFACE. IVILIZATION extending in opposite directions, West ward across the great Valley of the Mississippi, and Eastward traversing the auriferous regions of the Rocky Mountains, presents two extensive fields of American Industry, approximating each other, and demanding a more convenient and rapid intercourse. Railways and Telegraphs have boldly penetrated the solitude of the Plains, and the wild Passes of the Mountains reverberate to the rumble of moving trains. The two oceans are already linked together by an Iron Highway. The savage, alarmed at this new encroachment, is ready at any moment for a desperate, probably a final effort to drive out the invaders of his hunting-grounds. Fearful of his future he opposes such encroachments, for in them he sees no benefit to the remnant of his race, who have taken refuge on the plains and in the mountains. The struggle has come, to solve, for all time, the question whether the white or the red man shall prevail in the vast intermediate region between Eastern and Western civilization. The exigencies of modern civilization point to the inevitable doom of the aboriginal people of the United States. Their savage natures, incapable of restraint, render them by instinct foes to progress and the cause of humanity. As with the buffalo the approach of civilization is to them the knell of destruction. As the murderous bullet of the white hunter ruthlessly slaughters the buffalo, so the vices of civilization carry off those of the red men who have outlived their kindred. The following chapters contain a narrative of more than six months spent on the Southern Plains, observing the operations (3) of the army personally directed by Major, now Lieutenant General Sheridan against the refractory savage on the Republican, the Arkansas and the Washita. The curiosity of friends, as well as a seeming general desire to know something more of the country constituting the unexplored hunting-grounds of the Comanche, the Kiowa, the merciless Cheyenne, and Arrapahoe, and these predatory people themselves, are the considerations that have induced me to give my somewhat rough and novel experience in this form. The campaign was an exceptional one. There was much in it that had never characterized any previous undertaking against the savages. The season of the year was against all precedent for active hostilities. Most of the country was entirely unknown. These people, in a majority of cases, had come in contact with but a few semi-savage traders, or with the white settler, during their murderous depredations upon his cabins. The object was to show to the savages the ability of the “white man's soldiers” to brave the storms of winter, and to surmount this barrier, which had in former years protected them. In my narrative I have endeavored to combine useful information with entertaining reading. In this view I have given much of the soldier's life on the plains. Hoping, therefore, that this volume will possess some feature that will recommend it, and in a measure supply the wants of a large number of persons who appear to have suddenly turned their attention to the Indian and the country he inhabits, the writer submits these pages. I add my acknowledgments of the courtesy of F. C. Newhall, Esq., for the use of the admirable portrait of General Sheridan, found in the beginning of this volume. KEIM. WASHINGTON, D. C., 1870. CONTENTS. On the Sunset side of the Missouri-Arrival at Leavenworth City- Beyond the Pale of Civilization - The Plains-Buffaloes—A Fusil- Fort Hays—Its Garrison-Sheridan-The Indians The Nomadic Tribes of the Plains-Events which Preceded the Out- The Massacres on the Saline and the Solomon-War Inaugurated- Preparations for the Contest-Sheridan attempts peaceably to A Journey to the “End of the Track"-Immense Herds of Buffa- loes—An Adventure-Arrival at Sheridan - A Night in a Frontier Town-Popular Diversions and Primitive Jus- Off for Fort Wallace-Parting Civilities—Interesting Reminiscences Forsyth's Battle of the Arrickaree Fork Sheridan Visits Fort Wallace—A“ Norther”–Return to Fort Hays- “ Underground Monitors "-A Ride on a Cow (Buffalo) Catcher- Volunteers called for-Indian Guides An Old-fashioned Buffalo Hunt-The Habits of the Bison or Buffalo - 65 The Buffalo Herd--Its Organization-A Brute Army-The Antelope Carr's Gallop along the Republican-Arrival of Osage Warriors 77 V Departure for the Seat of War in the South-Mule Driving as an Art-Arrival at Fort Dodge-Camp South of the Arkansas-Bluff Camp on the Cimmaron-Bad Water-Hunting Parties-Sunset on the Plains-A Night Alarm-Notes of War on the Canadian 94 A Snow Storm-Custer takes the “War-path"_Sheridan's Policy in a Nut-shell-Building a Fort- The Volunteers Snowed-up-Re- lief Sent-A Thanksgiving Dinner Return of the Troopers from Battle-A Scalp Dance—Safe Arrival of the Volunteers—A General Expedition A Fresh Start--The “Outfit”-Indian Philosophy-The Gypsum Country-Camp on the Canadian—The Washita-California Joe 128 A Visit to the Field of the Battle of the Washita—Recovery of the Bodies of Elliott and his men—Fiendish Mutilation–The Bodies of Again on the March-A Snow Storm-The Flight of the Savages- Wild Turkeys—Satanta and Lone Wolf receive Hospitalities 152 Fort Cobb--Arrogance of the Savages—The Peneteghtka Coman- ches—Kiowa Duplicity-Two Chiefs in Trouble--Some of the Fugitive Bands. come in-Condition of the Troops-Our Camp · 161 A Visit to a Comanche Village—The Chief's Lodge-Christmas Day in Camp-The Indians drawing Rations Early Explorations on the Plains-The Spaniards—The French-The Americans--The Occupants of the Country-The Comanches · 175 Tribal Traditions, Continued The Kiowa-The Cheyenne and Arra- pahoe—The Dog Soldiers—The Apaches (Lipans)-Intercourse of the Five Tribes with each other Rivalry between the Mountain and Plains Tribes-Hostility against the Reservation Indians—The Indian Pony-Physique of the Sav- age-Physiognomy—The Sexes-Dress-Ornaments Paint-Sub- sistence-Tribal Organization-Justice · 191 |