Fights and adventures with the Indians; thrilling stories of an American scout on the Western Plains in the old days

PREFACE To My Readers

This book consists of my travels and my experiences as a scout, with Colonel Miles, from the year 1872 until 1874. It was during these years that the Indians were giving the government most trouble.

I will also say that this book is absolutely the truth. It contains no fiction, but is a straight forward history of my adventures.

I, as a scout, was associated with William (Buffalo Bill), and Amous Chapman. These you have no doubt read a great deal after.

After I was wounded in my last fight, with the Indians in Kansas, I was sent to Arizona, where I continued in the government service for several years. This story I will publish at a future date, providing it is the Lord's will-

Very truly yours, . H. E. LEWIS,

.if Author.

Chapter I

In October, 1872, we were buffalo hunting in Kansas. Major Bittle, of Fort Lyons, sent out to our camp for a man that knew the country east of this fort.

I went to Fort Lyons, and hired as a scout. "Now, Mr. Lewis," he said, "I want you to try and locate the Commanchee Indians, which are committing murder upon women and children. They are going northward."

I accepted the job and was put in complete charge of a detachment of soldiers, which was Troop L, of the Sixth Cavalry. A graduate of West Point, Lieutenant, by the name of Anderson, was our officer.

We traveled all day before we struck the Indian trail, which Jed to the north. We pitched camp for the night.

The following day we came to where the Indians had camped the night before. We estimated the camp to have at least three hundred. After some discussion we pitched camp.

While we were preparing supper, the boys

told jokes and discussed the coming fight- Our Lieutenant, who seemed to be nervous over the prospects, when finding he was outnumbered by the "red devils," made it a point to express himself, that he wished to return to the command Upon hearing this declaration from the commanding officer, our first Sergeant, McCarty, advised the lieutenant that **he never turned back, especially when on hunt for Indians, as they were all good fellows when dead.''

After finding that the troop was determined to pursue the Indians to a finish, the lieutenant asked me where I thought the Indians might be found. I told him it was about sixteen miles to the next watering hole, and from the number of fires in the camp, that we would have to surprise them in order to whip them and save our own lives.

We let our horses rest until ten o'clock that night, at which time we broke camp and traveled over the prairie and through occasional patches of woods until about four o'clock the following morning. At this point I decided that we were within about one mile of the Indian camp. I told the lieutenant to have six men mounted and ready for instant service, that I was going into the Indian camp and find the exact location of the horses, so that the horses might be stampeded and driven off; that if the Indians were able to reach their steeds we were whipped men.

I scouted the camp and reported the position of the horses. The lieutenant sent out six men to stampede them. The men were only gone a few minutes when the orders were given to charge the Indians. When we were nearing the Indian camp our lieutenant expressed his desire that I lead the charge, stating that he was afraid of getting shot. To this I would have been delighted to have done but for the latter part of his sentence. I told him that he was in command of the soldiers, and it was up to him. He then called the first sergeant and instructed him to lead the attack.

The sergeant's orders were: "Empty your rifles, then take your revolvers and empty them, and if you haven't time to put them away, throw them at them, and draw your sabors; we will recover our revolvers later. Now go to it, boys."

After the attack upon the Indian camp had been in progress for some few minutes, I was surprised to find the Indian chief coming in my direction upon his pony. It seemed that he was the only one that had left his horse in camp. This explains how he was able to mount when the herd of ponies had been stampeded. He kept coming my way until he was within fifty yards, when he began shooting at me, the first shot taking effect in my shoulder, and the second just under my arm. Not satisfied with this, he continued coming until he was within thirty yards, then he drew his spear, and I knew that I was gone unless I could drop him, so, taking my pistol, I rested it upon my left knee. I took deliberate aim. It was indeed gratifying to see my friend, the chief, dismount forever.

I was more than repaid for waiting on the chief, for his buck hunting suit was at least worth $100. He had a fancy bridle with four silver dollars extended from the latch strap, and a fine pair of bits, inlaid with gold. Last, but not least, was the saddle, which was of a western type, and had suspended twenty-four silver dollars. This was the method in which he showed his wealth and authority over his tribe.

After the excitement with the chief, I heard crying and lamentation among the Indians. I crawled to my horse, which was a short distance away. Making several efforts, I was at last successful in mounting, and rode on to the camp in hopes that I might prevail upon the lieutenant to have mercy upon the squaws and papooses, which were being massacred by our enraged soldiers.

After some time I found him crouching behind several lodge poles which the Indians had used in conveying their belongings to the camp. I called the lieutenant and asked if there could not be something done to prevent the drastic murder of the women and children. He replied, **Is the fight over?" I said, "The fight has been over for some while, but our men are murdering the squaws and their children." At this juncture, he called his first sergeant and instructed him to stop firing. The sergeant replied, "Just let them go, lieutenant, and make good Indians of them while we are here."

After the battle we had several casuals, four men killed. While in the detachment sent out to stampede the horses, there was one killed and one wounded. The Indians were not so successful- They lost about two hundred. About half of these were women and children, while the rest made their escape.

Due to the fact that we had no medical aid, it became my duty to look after the casuals. After dressing the wounds, I instructed the lieutenant that we would return at once to our command, that the wounded might have a chance of resting; also that they might have the best of food.

Upon reaching camp. Colonel Bittle was very much elated over the outcome of the engagement, and our wonderful success, due to the fact that we were up against such heavy odds.

CHAPTER 11.

After some few days in camp with Colonel Bittle, my shoulder became so much improved that I felt like a new man. I asked the colonel one afternoon, *'How much longer would I have to lounge around the camp?" He told me that **things looked very peaceful at the present, but there w^as no telling how long it would remain in this state."

However, I was delighted on the following morning when called to Colonel Battle's tent.

and told that the Indians were giving a lot of trouble to the settlers and ranchers in Wichita, Kansas, and he had received a request for a number one scout, to be assigned to Troop A, of the Sixth cavalry, and asked if I would accept the appointment.

And, of course, you can imagine how much I appreciated the fact that I would again be out of camp and into something lively. I realized the dangerous undertaking that I was about to engage in, and as there was not any houses between Fort Lyons and Wichita, after a big dinner with the boys, I saddled my horse and bid them good bye, started out over the plains for my new post. It was about three hundred miles to go direct to Wichita, but I was unable to carry supplies sufficient to make this trip, so it became necessary for me to go by the v^^ay of Fort Dodge for additional supplies.

I was very fortunate, however, killing antilope, and one buffalo, this giving me plenty of meat, such as it was, and with the exceptional good luck until about the fifth day, I was only about sixty miles from Wichita, when I discovered that I was being followed by Indians.

Some months before I had become acquainted with a wealthy Englishman, who was buffalo hunting on the plains, and as he was leaving he presented me with a ''fifty caliber needle gun," which he had made for lion hunting, which he had used in South Africa. I felt very much at ease.

As stated, I felt very much at ease, until I made the discovery of Indians following me, but, however, I had my needle gun, and on the fifth day they came close enough to shoot my horse from under me. I had some difficulty, but finally cleared up accounts with my pursuers, being a number one shot, in five minutes of rapid firing, I was able to proceed on my way.

Having my horse shot made it necessary for me to complete the rest of my journy on foot. I arrived at Wichita, without any mishap, and reported to Captain Nesmith, who was a fine fellow and soldier. The captain saw that I was well taken care of, and on the following morning I was called into his office. After some little discussion of the trouble in that section of the country, we decided to start immediately in pursuit of the Indians, who were stealing horses and cattle from the ranchers and settlers.

We first went to Minasquaw, and from there to Kansas City, but did not find anything of any consequence. We then scouted along the old sage strip to Great Bend, a distance of about sixty miles, but not finding anything on this trip, we turned back to Wichita.

Things were quiet enough until we arrived at Wichita. The night we arrived the sheriff shot two of our men, but they were not wounded seriously. The day following the shooting we were ordered out of Wichita by the sheriff. After we had gone about eight miles, we pitcehd camp, but it became necessary to send a detachment of men back to the depot at Wichita for supplies, but our men had scarcely gotten out of camp when they were met by the sheriff and his men, and while driving our soldiers back to camp, one of our horses was shot. The captain gathered up our men upon learning of this outrage, and followed up another detachment of men. When the first detachment appeared, the sheriff renewed his attack. At this juncture the second detachment appeared, which Captain Nesmith and I were with. We came upon the renegades and drove them into the bottoms, and I can safely say they were not treated so nicely.

Following the trouble it was announced by our captain that we would leave this camp and also that section of country. This did only going as far as Minasquaw. We again went into — 11 — camp, also advising the citizens of Wichita of our location. It was some few days until anything of any consequence developed, but one afternoon we were alarmed on hearing the clatter of hoofs.

After some few minutes, a horseman dashed up, without bridle, saddle, boots or hat. Upon being questioned by the captain, he informed us that the Indians had stolen about fifty head of horses, and were then only about two or three miles away. We immediately broke camp and followed the Indians all that night, and until the next day about ten o'clock. We had a slight engagement, and after some little trouble we drove them into a patch of timber. After this victory over our foes, we surrounded the timber and remained for three days. It so happened that they had insufficient supplies, and were starved out. We were very much surprised at the surrender; who should come out but the sheriff of Wichita county, and his deputies. We made them prisoners, and upon searching the timber, we found their Indian garments.

We had been in camp about a week, when one night one of the boys slipped up to the sheriff and told him that he was to be executed the next morning. Shortly after twelve o'clock some one released the cords that bound his arms and legs, enough that about twelve o'clock he released himself, and started to make his escape, having passed the picket line about five yards, when the guard on that post fired upon him. It was orders that any prisoners escaping be shot. We notified the owners of these horses, who sent for them that day. We also sent our prisoners to St. Louis, who later received a sentence of thirty years for rustling, which they had been participating in. This broke up our Indian trouble in this vicinity.

Chapter III

We went into winter quarters, and were there something like six weeks. It was in the spring of 1873. Our Troop A, of the Sixth cavalry, was ordered to break camp and move to Buffalo City, on the Salt Line river, in the northwestern part of Kansas. I was called upon to accompany this troop as a scout. After our arrival at Buffalo City, we learned that the Indians had just paid the settlers a visit, burning the only wooden dwelling in the town. They also had some little fight, wounding two or three of the citizens. It was said that the entire city would have been completely destroyed, but most of the buildings were dugouts. Upon finding the trail, I started out to locate the Indians. Our captain was with me. We continued our trip until we reached the southern part of Nebraska. Here we located our long sought reds. By some of their old Indian methods they gave us the slip. We had to stop, as our supplies were running very low. We again started southward for Garnell Station for supplies, and also into summer camp.

While sitting around the camp fire, we would tell jokes and play poker and other kinds of games.

I will tell you of a little occurrence that happened while in this camp. Four distinguished visitors came to pay their respects. Two of them were English ; a Yankee ; last, but not least, an Irish lord. Our two English guests were Captain Franklin Tolbert, and the other his first lieutenant, John Brown; the Yankee, by the name of Mr. Howard Watts, and the latter, the Irish lord, by the name of Frank Murphy. The four men called at our camp and asked the captain if he could let them have a man that knew something about buffalo hunting. Captain Nesmith informed them that he would be glad to let them have his scout, provided that he could be persuaded to go. So they came forward and asked me in regards to making this trip, which I agreed to do if I was paid for my services.

After making all the necessary arrangements we bid the boys good bye and started for the buffalo range, which was about thirty miles from Garnell Station- The first afternoon after leaving camp, we came upon a bunch of buffalo, so we began to hunt for a nice camping ground. Having pitched our camp, the lieutenant was the first man to try his hand on big game. Taking his saddle horse and starting in the direction of the herd, the buffalo seeing him, started on a stampede in our direction. When the herd was within range of Lieutenant Brown, he had the pleasure of trying his marksmanship. Having nothing but a pistol, he emptied the contents into a nice fat one. The animal fell, so Mr. Brown came to the conclusion that he had killed him, so he dismounted and started for the buffalo. When within a few j^ards, the animal became very much alive, and springing to its feet, rushed at the lieutenant, who threw down his pistol, and falling across his pony, applied spurs and started for camp. Of course we hollowed for him to run, which we all can testify that he did for about three or four hundred yards. He hearing nothing in pursuit, decided to look around, and to his surprise, the buffalo was dead at the beginning of the race. Of course Mr. Brown was dumfounded over the incident.

Going into camp for the night, we prepared supper, and after eating a hearty meal, we set around the camp fire telling jokes, etc After a peaceful night, we packed our belongings and traveled over the plains. Occasionally we would kill a bird, but later in the afternoon we saw a bunch of buffalo grazing off to the south, so I went along until I was in range, and was successful in wounding two of the largest ones. After the buffalo had been wounded they started in our direction, also in the direction of our camp, but the best of it all was that Mr. Brown had noticed a bunch of ducks a short distance away from the camp on a creek; he decided he would like some duck for supper. He hardly reached the creek banks when he was again startled by a wounded buffalo.

Mr. Tolbert Murphy, were left in the camp, and hearing the firing, picked up their guns, and climbing to the top of the mound to see if they could discover the trouble. Looking south over the plains, they could see the buffalo running toward our friend Brown, but they had to pass near enough to them that they killed them, but before they were killed Brown had discovered they were coming toward him. Throwing down his gun, he climbed a willow tree. Tolbert and Murphy, seeing this, called to him to climb higher. This they need not have done, for he was still climbing, nearing the top of the tree. The branches were very tender, and climbing out on one of these, it snapped off, and he fell into the cheek. Mr. Tolbert was so delighted over his first buffalo that he had it sent to Denver and mounted. This one weighed about two thousand pounds, the largest one I ever saw. His horns measured four inches, this equaling twelve inches around.

Chapter IV

Later on in the afternoon, I went out and located a herd of buffalo, and the first one killed had a bunch of arrows in his back. Taking my buffalo into camp, we took things easy until about sundown. After supper the lieutenant and I took a walk to smoke our pipes, and also to look after the scenery. While walking, the lieutenant came upon a hole. He said, "In case we should get into trouble, this would be a good place for protection." Just before retiring that night, I told the boys that if we wanted to live and do well and keep our scalps we had better stand guard. Everything went along all right until the moon came up, and with it came a bunch of wild horses. I could not see very clearly, but from the maneuvers it looked as if they were Indians- After the boys had reached their guns and ready for action, we discovered that it was only a herd of wild horses, but during this time we had paid no attention to the lieutenant, and looking around, we missed him. After some little time the lieutenant called and asked if the Indians were gone. When told that they were, he said, 'Tlease help me out of this hole."

On another occasion I wounded a young buffalo, but shooting it in the neck ( Mr. Brown was with our wagon), and coming up to where the buffalo was, I told him it would be better for him to remain further back, but he stated that there was no harm in a poor little calf. After reaching the spot, he stepped out on the brake of the wagon, and shaking his foot at the calf, hardly had he begun until the buffalo made at him. But luck was with our friend, for the buffalo made a wide miss, hitting his horns against the brake. This upset Brown, and he fell on the buffalo's hips. Of course, Brown became frightened upon being upset, and started to run up the hill. We assisted him along by calling to him to run, that the buffalo would soon catch him. After some few hundred yards he looked around to see what kind of progress he was making, but only to see us boys skinning the animal. He came back shrugging his shoulders with a sickening grin upon his face, and made the remark that he had had all the experience with the buffalo that he wanted; that he had been in the wilds of Africa, and had been on several lion hunts, but the buffalo had his goat.

Upon the persuading of Brown, we broke camp and returned to the company at Garnell Station. The boys did not stay with us long, taking their departure for their homes, but they were all overjoyed with the experience with the buffalo, with the exception of Lieutenant Brown.

Things passed easy until the afternoon of October 3, 1873, when we had a tremendous storm. It was about four o'clock. One of the boys discovered a cloud in the north. He came up and told us, **Boys, we are going to have a real old fashioned blizzard." In about thirty minutes the wind started blowing and blew for some twenty minutes before the storm came- When it arrived it took everything movable. The results were, after it had been in progress for five or ten minutes, our tents, wagons, blankets, and everything that wasn't wrapped around the boys, even to our food supplies, was lost.

It was about noon of the next day, October 4, before we got all of our men together, the sands leaving the skys so heavy that they could not find their way back to camp, and the snow would have averaged about one foot in depth.

Due to the fact that we had lost our equipment, it was necessary for us to break camp and start for our winter quarters, at Fort Wallace, and also we had to draw supplies and equipments. We reached the fort in due time, and found everything very quiet, and it remained this way for about three weeks, but about this time we were ordered to leave the fort immediately and proceed to Great Bend, on the Kansas Pacific, to try and apprehend some three or four hundred Indians that were on the war path. Upon our arrival at Great Bend we were told of "Home Guard of Denver," all of v^hom had served their time in the city, and they were all very ''brave boys." They had reached Great Bend the night before, and after leaving the train, they vv^ere surprised to find the Indians a fev^ hundred yards away. After some preparations for an encounter, the Indian chief sent one of his warriors to the captain of the Home Guard, saying, 'If you want to fight, come over." This our brave comrade declined to do, but instead obtained transportation for Denver, and started back the same day they arrived. We were not so fortunate as the Home Guards were, we did not arrive at Great Bend until the following day after the Indians had departed. On our arrival we learned that the Indians had left about twelve hours before, and were taking everything with them.

Mr. William Thomas, a cattle rancher, of Great Bend, informed us that the Indians had camped around his ranch house the night before our arrival, and that they had driven up several of his finest cattle and killed them in front of his house, but they were helpless and could do nothing to help themselves. When ready to leave, they gathered all available beeves and drove them off with the rest of their stolen property.

We had been in the saddle for about twentytwo hours before reaching Great Bend, and informed Lieutenant that if he expected to overtake the reds it would be necessary for us to start immediately upon the trail, which led in the direction of Indian Territory, and once there we could go no further. Upon informing him that the territory was only about a hundred and thirty miles away, he called his men together and instructed them to discard all of their bedding supplies and surplus clothing and not to carry anything but provisions, as we were going to be on a forced march until the Indians were overtaken. All was discarded and we again started in pursuit of the red deamons.

We at last came in sight of the Indians, within about twenty miles of the territory, but when they saw us coming they knew that they were about to have a fight, but instead of turning on us, they made all haste forward.

It was lucky for them that they had traveled some at night as well as ourselves, for we did not overtake them until they were within about three miles of the border. The squaws and pappooses were all sent on ahead of the main body, the warriors remaining in the rear for a guard. At all points they were moving into the territory. Of course we had a running fight for about three miles, killing some ten or twelve of the Indians, and capturing several ponies and a number of cattle that had been stampeded when the firing took place.

Just after the Indians had crossed the border of Colorado, into the Indian Territory, we were met by Captain Madden, in command of Troop L, of the Sixth cavalry. He stated that they had been sent in company with another scout in hopes of cutting the Indians off before they reached the reservation, and in case our Troop A, of the Sixth cavalry, did not succeed in catching them-

After some little time the scout from Troop L, and myself, came to the conclusion that it would be best for both troops to return immediately to Fort Lyons, and there was nothing further for us there.

Chapter V

We pitched camp about five miles from the border, there finding water. This was done in order to give the tired ponies and men a rest, and also to recuperate. As we had been in the saddie for almost a week, the men were enjoying the blessings of rest, but not for long. The scout from Troop L and myself made a little scouting tour of the country. It was something like nine o'clock when he said: "Lewis, have you noticed how dark and cold it is getting?" I said: **I have just been thinking of the prospects for a blizzard." Then he and I went over our fighting experiences until we reached the camp. I lay down to rest after seeing that a strict

guard was kept for the night. About four o'clock the next morning I was awakened with a big, fat chill up my back. After getting up and jumping around to get up a circulation, I saw that we were being overtaken by a blizzard. We aroused our men and after a cold breakfast we started out so that we might keep warm, being short of clothing and supplies. We found quite an inconvenience in returning to Fort Lyons, but after we had been out some few days our provisions were gone, and it became my duty as a scout to bring in some fresh meat. Clint Walker, the scout from the other troop, set out for the buffalo range. We were very fortunate, however, in finding plenty of game, and when we reached our destination we had a nice surplus.

It might be of some interest that we state here why we did not follow the Indians into the reservation, but it was due to the fact that General Sherman was elected to congress, and that a law was passed that the agencies which were handling the Indian proposition at that time were ministers of the Gospel. At the action of congress, army officers were put in their places. After the agents at Washington saw what the outcome was going to be they induced their tribes to go on the war path. In so doing they had hopes of regaining their former positions. At the same time a law was passed that these positions be filled with army officers, there was also a law passed to the effect that soldiers were molesting any Indians upon the reservations, or if they were being pursued, they would discontinue such when they reached the border- Until the new law became effective, which was in 1874, we had to remain on the premises as above explained.

I will not trouble you with part of my story, or history, as you are already acquainted with Washington and the doings of congress.

After our arrival at Fort Lyons, we rested there for some four or five days, and then our company again set out, on our return trip to Fort Wallace. Of course I was picked as scout or guide, for the return trip. After about four or five days v^e reached Fort Wallace without any trouble. The only sport we had w^as killing buffalo and antilope, this being our meat.