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Article Title: Chasing Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse: Two Fourteenth U S Infantry Diaries of the Great Sioux War

Full Citation: Jerome A Greene [Editor], “Chasing Sitting Bull & Crazy Horse: Two Fourteenth U S Infantry Diaries of the Great Sioux War,” Nebraska History 78 (1997): 187-201

URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1997ChaseSitBull.pdf Date: 7/21/2010

Article Summary: This article contains diary entries relating to the experiences of both an officer and an enlisted man of the Fourteenth U S Infantry in the aftermath of the Rosebud and Little Bighorn encounters. The diaries of Frank Taylor, Lieutenant, Company I and Private William Walter Jordan, Company C, provide insights into daily events during Crook’s exhausting late summer expedition through the Yellowstone-Powder river region to the Black Hills of Dakota.

Cataloging Information:

Names: George Crook, George A Custer, Nelson A Miles, Frank Taylor, American Horse, Iron Plume, Iron Shield, Black Shield, Frederick Schwatka, Emmet Crawford, Adolphus H Von Luettwitz, John W Bubb, William P Clark, Lieutenant Lloyd, Private Desmond, Pat Robinson, General Carr, Wesley Merritt, General Terry, Frank Grouard, Dr Patzki, Andy Shuttles, Captain Burt, Captain Toby, James Radcliff, Major Chambers, Buffalo Bill, Charley White, Philip H Sheridan, Ranald S Mackenzie, Little Wolf, Dull Knife, Crazy Horse, Alexander Chambers

Place Names: Wyoming Territory; Montana territory; Dakota Territory; Nebraska; Yellowstone Valley, Montana; Black Hills, Dakota Territory; Powder River; Rosebud Creek; Slim Buttes, Dakota Territory; Rosebud; Little Bighorn; Camp Douglas, Utah Territory; Gap Creek, Medicine Bow; Fort Fetterman; Dry Fork of Cheyenne River; Rosebud Valley; Tongue River; Fort Keogh; Belle Fourche River; Camp Robinson, Nebraska; Willow Creek

Keywords: Lakota; Sioux; Cheyenne; Fourteenth U S Infantry; Starvation March; Miniconjou; Oglala; Brule Lakota; Battle of Wolf Mountains

Photographs / Images: Frank Taylor and other infantry officers at the conclusion of the Starvation March; Camp of the Second Cavalry near Fort Fetterman; Brigadier General George Crook, 1877; Cheyenne warrior; Lakota warrior; Map of Bighorn and Yellowstone Expedition; Frank Grouard, 1890-1891; Alexander Chambers

Edited by Jerome A. Greene

Editor's Introduction proved fruitless as troops combed the expedition through the Yellowstone­ The Great Sioux War of 1876-77, per­ Yellowstone wilderness, and only in Powder river region to the Black Hills haps the ultimate symbolic manifesta­ September did Crook's famished troops of Dakota-the so-called "Starvation tion of four hundred years of culture find minor redemption when they March." As such, they add significantly conflict between Indian peoples and routed a largely Sioux village at Slim to our knowledge not only of army cam­ Euroamericans in the area north of Buttes, Dakota, as they trekked toward paign routine of the period, but of the Mexico, involved armed combat at at the Black Hills. As discussed further be­ Fourteenth Infantry's particular role in least twenty-two sites in a broad ex­ low, later government prosecution of the Great Sioux War. panse of north-central Wyoming Terri­ the Indians, consisting of Col. Nelson A. The author of the following chronicle, tory, southeastern Montana Territory, Miles's fall and winter campaigning 1st Lt. Frank Taylor, commanded Com­ western Dakota Territory, and north­ against the Sioux in Montana and of pany I. Born in 1842 in Calais, France, western Nebraska. l The conflict, insti­ Crook's own move against the Chey­ the son of British parents, Taylor emi­ gated by the United States Government ennes in Wyoming, ended the war. Most grated to the United States in 1860. He in contravention of its treaties with the tribesmen surrendered at the agencies joined the army and served as a ser­ 2 Lakota people in an effort to open min­ or crossed into Canada. geant in the general service from 1861 ing, commerce, and settlement in the The following diary entries relate the to 1863. Commissioned a second lieu­ Yellowstone Valley of Montana and the experiences of an officer and an en­ tenant in the Second U.S. Infantry in Black Hills of Dakota, required fielding listed man of the Fourteenth U.S. Infan­ 1867, he was assigned to the Fourteenth large numbers of troops to locate and try in the aftermath of the Rosebud and regiment two years later and promoted subdue the tribesmen. The army's initial Little Bighorn encounters. After General to first lieutenant in February 1876. campaigns met reversal-first at Powder Crook's withdrawal from the war zone Taylor remained with the Fourteenth for River in March 1876, then at Rosebud following the Battle of Rosebud Creek, thirty-one years, advancing to captain in Creek the following June, both in­ troops of the Fourth and Fourteenth in­ 1892. He transferred to the Eighth U.S. stances wherein Sioux and Northern fantry regiments, along with those of the Infantry in 1900 and became major to Cheyenne warriors bested the forces of Fifth U.S. Cavalry, were directed to the Fifteenth Infantry later that year. Fol­ Brig. Gen. George Crook. The fighting northern Wyoming to renew operations lowing service in the Philippines, Taylor climaxed a week after Rosebud with the against the tribesmen. The four compa­ retired from the army in 1905. He died warriors' triumph over Lt. Col. George A. nies (B, C, F, and I) of the Fourteenth In­ in Seattle, Washington, on May 20, 1920, 3 Custer's Seventh cavalrymen at the Little fantry, about 185 men, traveled from at age seventy-eight. Bighorn River. Camp Douglas, near Salt Lake City, Utah A photocopy of Taylor's 1876 diary in The government's immediate re­ Territory, reached Crook's command on what appears to be his hand reposes in sponse to the Little Bighorn was to insti­ July 13, and continued with it for the du­ the Research Library, Washington State tute a military takeover of the Sioux ration of the operations. Crook took the Historical Society, Tacoma. The loca­ agencies in Dakota and Nebraska and to command into Montana and Dakota ter­ tion of the original document is not 4 rush reinforcements into the war zone. ritories, through the combat at Slim known. Taylor included mileage infor­ Army operations in July and August Buttes, to the close of the expedition at mation with many daily entries in the Camp Robinson, Nebraska. form of miles traveled and miles actu­ Jerome A. Greene ofArvada, Colorado, is a Together, the diaries provide insights ally walked. The figure given at the end historian with the National Park Service. He into daily events from the perspectives of an entry is the miles traveled (mi.). recently compiled and edited Lakota and Cheyenne: Indian Views of the Great Sioux War, of both an officer and an enlisted man When this differs from the miles actually 1&76-1877 (University of Oklahoma Press, 1994). during Crook's exhausting late summer walked (mi. walked), both are given.

187 Nebraska History - Winter 1997

upset and had to be reloaded. A team ran away off the road, two hind wheels of wagon coming off, bolster breaking and linch pins lost. Teamster fell from his wagon his foot severely injured by wheel running over it. Was delayed about 2 hours by these mishaps. (16 mL)12 June 30. Friday. Left camp 4:20 A.M. in a drizzling rain which soon increased to a heavy shower and continued for about 4 hours. Our overcoats being in the wag­ ons which kept a long distance in rear on account of bad condition of roads, everybody got wet through. Arrived at Fort Fetterman at 12:15 P.M. Still raining. Marched the distance with only 3 halts of short duration. Mustered on right bank of Platte river about 7 P.M. & crossed the river by ferry boat and camped. (24 mL)l3 July 1st. Saturday. Same camp. Went over to Fort Fetterman to provide for future march. July 2d. Sunday. Same camp. I was of­ ficer of the day & engaged all day super­ intending men unloading stores from ferry-boat for expedition. July 3d. Monday. Same camp. Last of stores ferried over. Diarist Frank Taylor (bottom row, third from left) joined other infantry officers for a group portrait at the conclusion of the Starvation March. Courtesy of National Archives and July 4th. Tuesday. Marched to Sage Paul L. Hedren Creek-very dusty. (10 mi.)14 Diary of 1st Lt. Frank Taylor, June 26. After crossing stores for July 5. Wednesday. Left camp about 5:30 Company I, Fourteenth Infantry Fetterman, wagons &c., marched to 1st A.M. Marched to "Brown's Springs: (17 mL)IS Diary of my marches &c. on the "Big crossing of "Little Medicine: crossed stream & camped. (8 mL)9 Hom & Yellowstone Expedition." July 6. Thursday. Left camp 5 A.M. Was June 27. Tuesday. Left camp about 5 A.M. rear guard with Comp'y & delayed fully June 23. I was officer of the guard at Salt Marched to 3d crossing of Little Medi­ three hours by bad places for wagons. Lake City. At about 5 P.M. rec'd orders to cine. 1O This took us over the Laramie Crossed Cheyenne river (dry) about 3 P.M. start for the field in command of my Co. Plains which is a nearly level road all after leaving last camp. A very hot, dusty T 14" Inry & and in company of Cos. the way & very good for wagons and & disagreeable march. Camped on fork "B,~ "C: & F of our reg't.s marching. After going into camp my of Cheyenne about 5 P.M. Water not plen­ June 24. Marched from Camp Douglas tent was almost darkened by the grass­ tiful and tolerably good. Glimpses of Big hoppers on it. (22 mL) Hom Mountains. (22 mL)l6 5:45 A.M. to depot in Salt Lake City & em­ barked on trains for Medicine Bow Wy. June 28. Wednesday. Left camp 4:30 A.M. July 7. Friday. Left camp 4 A.M. Crossed T. (3 mi.)6 & marched to a point a little below the dry bottom "Wind river" 11/2 miles OUt. 17 head of "Box Elder" creek. (19 mL)1l It was a pleasant cloudy morning when June 25. Arrived at "Medicine Bow" 8 June 29. Thursday. Left camp 4:40 A.M. we started but fearfully hot in mid day & A.M. where we joined Co. "0" 4" Inry un­ Marched to a point about 4 miles be­ afternoon. In sight of "Pumpkin Buttes" der sil;me orders as we.7Crossed the "Big yond the crossing of "Box Elder creek" nearly all day. Camped at "Antelope Medicine" by raft & went into camp. (1 on the "cut off: I was officer of the day Springs:1B Pool of water not very good. mi.)B and in rear with the wagons. One wagon (22 mL; 11 mL walked)

188 Diaries of the Great Sioux War

July B. Saturday. Left camp 4:45 A.M. & which made us suspect the presence of July 22. Saturday. Same camp. marched to old Fort Reno on Powder Indians and rather to expect being fired July 23. Sunday. Same camp. False river.19 Pleasant day and easy march. at during the night. (12 mi.; 7 mi. alarm at night, by firing of several shots, During the march were overtaken by walked) which turned out to be a disturbance scouts bearing dispatches to Gen'l July 13. Thursday. Left camp 6 A.M. Bad between teamsters gambling. Crook &bringing news of the massacre places again for wagons and much de­ of Gen'l Custer his command on the Monday 24th. Same place. Trial of Capt. & lay in progress. We reached Gen'l "Little Big Hom." (17 mi.)2° Sutorius 3d Cav'y for drunkeness on Crook's camp on fork of Goose Creek duty began.27 July 9. Sunday. Left camp 4 A.M. & foot of Big Hom Mountains about 10:45 Tuesday 25. Same place. About 3 P.M. 4 marched to "Crazy Womans Fork."21 A.M.24 Met many acquaintances among Snake [Shoshone] Indians came in re­ Heat moderate and no dust. (26 mi.; the officers. (6 mi.) 15 mi. walked) porting some hostiles in vicinity of July 14. Friday. Same camp. During the camp. All the animals brought in July 10. Monday. Left camp 4:30 A.M. day the Indian allies paraded in their promptly. In the evening infantry pickets Marched to Clear Fork Powder river. savage splendor.25 increased by two officers &20 men. Of­ (22 mi.; 13 mi. walked)22 July IS. Saturday. Same camp. ficers to stay with pickets all night. Pelt­ July II. Tuesday. Left camp 5 A.M. ing rain all night. All co. officers to be July 16. Sunday. Gen'l Crook staff, cav­ Marched to "Little Piney" creek & & out at Reveille. camped near Old Fort Phil. Kearney.23 alry pack train and wagons left for new camp--for grass. Wednesday 26. Same place. Was up Visited the Post grave yard which was at 4 A.M. for Reveille. Rain again in in dilapidated condition. Skull of Indian July 17. Monday. Left camp about 7:30 the evening. Extra officers for picket dead about 3 months found in vicinity. A.M. &marched to new camp on fork discontinued. (15 mi.) of Goose Creek. (4 mi.) Thursday 27. Moved camp in afternoon July 12. Wednesday. Left camp 5 A.M•• July lB. Tuesday. Same camp. to fork of Tongue River. (5 mi.) Crossed "Big Piney" about 1/2 miles from July 19. Wednesday. Moved again for Friday 2B. Same. last camp. A large clear stream. A series grass in N.W. direction. 4 Crow Indians of bad crossings during this march came in near dusk with dispatches from Saturd.ay 29. Same. greatly delaying train. We had expected Gen'l Terry. (3 mi.)26 Sunday 30. Moved about 11/2 [miles] to get to Crook's headquarters but on down same stream. Prairie fire started by July 20. Thursday. Same camp. account of delays above mentioned embers left at last camp & threatened to went into camp at 7 P.M. on a small July 21. Friday. Moved to camp on reach us. About half command turned stream. Grass burned off the bluffs "Middle Goose" for grass. (4 mi.) out to extinguish flames. (1 mi.)

.. . .

Camp of the Second Cavalry near Fort FeHerman. In 1876 Fort FeHerman, Wyoming Territory, was a major supply and assembly point for the troops of Brig. Gen. George Crook's command. Courtesy of Paul L. Hedren

189 Nebraska History - Winter 1997

Monday 31. Same place. Saturday 12. Late start on account of Tuesday Aug. I. Moved to another fork looking up trail. Began march down of Tongue river (Northerly direction). stream about 11:45 A.M. Rain through Creek here flows into a larger one at this the whole march and all through the point. Larger one said to be "Tongue night. Clubbed in with Capt. Tobey, Lts. River." (5 mi.)2B Yeatman & Calhoun & fastened some blankets to a tree for shelter.36 I (slept?) Wednesday 2d. Same place. in my overcoat with my feet to the camp Thursday 3d. At last intelligence of the fire till about 1 o'clock in the morning arrival of the 5th Cav'y on Goose Creek, when I could not bear it any longer and for which we have been waiting for be­ got up and dried myself as well as pos­ ginning active operations has reached sible before the camp fire. (10 mi.; 3 mi. us and we march back to meet it.29 After walked)37 a march of about 17 m. to the Sunday 13. Marched down Tongue River confluence of the "Little" Big Goose & fully 25 miles. Weather clear at starting creeks went into camp. The 5" Cav'y (about 5 A.M.) and clear when we halted soon after got to same place.30 Sick to for the night but heavy rain for short time day and rode most of distance in ambu­ during night. On this day I stumbled lance. (17 mi.) while crossing a creek on a wet log and Friday 4th. Same place. Orders to be in Brig. Gen. George Crook (1828-90) in a fell in. (25 mi.; 13 mi. walked) readiness to move to-morrowY Nobody January 1877 photograph. Crook com­ Monday 14th. Marched down Tongue allowed to carry more than one blanket manded the Department of the Platte, River about 9 miles, then struck off to and an overcoat. 8 recruits joined co. headquartered in Omaha, which in­ the left & camped on a small fork of the Sent to us with 5" Cav'y. cluded the Wyoming country traversed during the Great Sioux War. Courtesy of stream.3B Rain at night. (15 mi.; 5 mi. Saturday 5th. Marched across to Tongue Jerome A. Greene walked) River to near scene of attack on Crook after Rosebud fight in June last.32 To-day when we [were] ordered to stack arms Tuesday 15th. Marched about 20 miles begins the real hard work and hardships &bivouac. Nearly all of this distance to Powder River. Camped at 3 P.M. of the campaign as we have left our was through the remains of an old In­ Heavy rain for 1/2 hour after camping, wagon train and our transportation con­ dian village. Broke camp again at 6 P.M. but cleared up towards sundown. Cav­ sists of some 300 or 400 pack mules car­ & continued the march on Indian trail alry horses playing out to-day. Heard rying 15 days rations of bacon, sugar, till about midnight, then camped. Slept that 17 horses were lost yesterday and coffee & hard tack.33 We have not a soundly on the rocks. (19 mi.; 11 mi. eight to-day. (20 mi.; 15 mi. walked) stitch of canvas and are entirely at the walked) Wednesday 16th. Marched down Pow­ mercy of the weather. This is my first Wednesday 9. Broke camp 7 A.M .. Con­ der River about 19 miles. Camp about night in a "wicky up," a sort of cover of tinued down "Rose Bud" on Indian trail 1:30 P.M. Tremendous shower shortly twigs and leaves. Slept very comfortably & camped 1:30 P.M .. Rain and very cold. after entering camping ground. (19 mi.) though rather cold towards morning. Overcoats &fires in great requisition. Thursday 17. Marched across divide to (17 mi.; 8 mi. walked) (14 mi.) mouth of Powder River. Infantry much Sunday 6. Marched down Tongue River, Thursday 10. Broke camp 5 A.M. & fol­ incensed at Comd'g Offr [commanding crossing the stream 12 times. A hard lowed same trail down "Rosebud." officer] marching us 3 or 4 miles further march, the men compelled to wade After about 12 miles of march Gen'l than necessary in indeavours [endeav­ with shoes & stockings on. Stream rapid Terry's command was reported in sight ors] to make short cuts. (24 mi.)39 and deep-to the hip mostly. Direction & we went into Camp.34 Trail here Friday 18th. Same place. Went across northerly. No time nor energy for a turned to the right towards Tongue the river to Gen'l Terry's coms'y [com­ wicky up to-night. (17 mi.; 8 mi. walked) River. (12 mi.; 10 mi. walkedy5 missary] to try to get some change of Monday 7. Marched to Rosebud. Started Friday IIth. Marched to Tongue River, food, but succeeded only in obtaining 4:30 A.M. Bivouacked 3:45 P.M. A hard crossed it & marched about 1/2 mile a small piece of cheese and a few march. Very hot day. (22 mi.; 9 mi. down stream following trail. Began to beans. Left my pocket book in coms'y walked) rain at night and continued all through tent with all my money in it. Was gone Tuesday 8. Broke camp at 5:45 A.M. & it. Very wet clothes in consequence. about 1/2 an hour before missing it but marched down Rosebud about 4 miles (12 mi.) fortunately found it where I had laid it.

190 Diaries of the Great Sioux War

Saturday 19. Same place. Heard that last about time of rain &could not light fires Lincoln, but it is generally understood night Gen'J Crook proposed to move but to roast it, so no coffee. (19 mi.) to be but about half that distance. Or­ that Genl Terry had assumed command ders to night for officers and men to be Tuesday 29. Left at 6 A.M. in easterly di­ &determined otherwise.40 rection. Crossed small stream about 4 put on half rations. (26 mi.) Sunday 20. Same miles & marched 3 miles further, when Wednesday 6th. Bound for Black Hills. Monday 21. Same suddenly & unexpectedly ordered to Start about 5 A.M. due south and march camp near some high grassy bluffs. It, is 27 miles to some water holes.50 During Tuesday 22. Same. Rain for 1/2 an hour supposed that some new developments the day permission for a certain number in the evening. in regard to trail is the cause. Scouts out of men from each Co. given to leave the Wednesday 23. Same. Rained in after­ all night. Fine night & good sleep. (7 mi.) column to hunt game. One of my men killed an antelope. Mouth watering for a noon, ceased for a while but began to Wednesday 30. Same place. To-day of­ good supper when we camp, but find pour down in torrents at sunset & con­ ficers ordered to have their rations is­ absolutely nothing to make fire with ex­ tinued all night with thunder and light­ sued to them same as the men. ning. Men without rations at breakfast. cept grass. Try to make cup of coffee Thursday 31. Marched at 5 A.M. about 10 with that but fail. No bacon issued to­ Thursday No rations had come up so 24. miles to "Beaver Creek." Frost at night. night but having saved a little take it raw most of the men without breakfast. (10 mi.) with a cup of water & a biscuit & tum in Marched through mud & mire up left under a slight rain. No material for September 76. Friday 1st. Marched in bank of Powder R. about 9 miles. "wicky up" to-night and too tired to northerly direction about 9 A.M. &re­ Cleared up towards noon. No rain, but make one if we had. (27 mi.) heavy dew at night. (9 mi.) crossed same creek. Mounted horse as usual in crossing. Horse got mired Thursday 7th. Up at 4:30 A.M. Heavy Friday 25. Crossed Powder River which climbing up bank & fell on his back in mist-everything wet. Had succeeded was very rapid & deep, some of the in­ the stream giving me a complete duck­ night before by great patience in finding fantry unable to cross on foot and had ing. Cut horse's girth &got him out with a small bunch of dry weeds which I to be ferried over on horseback, others difficulty-all my rations spoiled. Had saved under my head till this morning hanging to stirrups & horses' tails. to cover myself with a blanket & dry all and with which I succeeded in getting a Marched over divide & camped on right my clothes by the camp fire. (9 mi.) cup of coffee (had my bacon raw with a bank. Fine night and good night's rest. hard tack). Marched 30 m. Slept badly, (13 mi.) September 2d. Marched northerly about cold with rain. No shelter, no wood. In 18 m. on same creek. Crossed again to Saturday 26. Started about 6 A.M. & the morning %of cracker box was is­ right bank & camped. Crossed Stanley's marched in easterly direction 20 miles sued me for the use of my Com'y to old trail during march. (18 mi.)45 to Branch of "O'Fallons Creek."41 Very cook with! I succeeded in getting half a poor camp. No wood. Water in pools & Sunday 3. Marched south-easterly 18 cup of coffee in the evening &a full one only tolerable. Capt. Burke of our reg't miles & camped at some water holes. in the morning, with a piece of antelope taken with rheumatism & had to be Crossed Sully's Trail.46 Rations beginning each time. Capt. Mills 3" Cav'y &2 offic­ mounted.42 Fine weather. (20 mi.) to run short. Tried for a little extra sugar ers & 150 picked cavalry start for Dead­ wood with a pack train to get suppliesY Sunday 27. Marched easterly. Crossed and was allowed one pound (18 mi.). Several horses partly carved & eaten by north branch of "O'Fallons Creek" about Monday 4th. Marched across divide on troops lying on the road side.52 Piece of 10 miles, then creek 3 miles'further & an old wagon trail most of the way & bacon size of a hen's egg issued to each camped at some water pools.43 Fine camped on east side of Little Missouri officer &soldier. No sugar. (30 mi.) weather. (16 mi.) River.47 Rain during march apd all night. (15 mi.) Friday 8th. Started off in same direction Monday 28. Marched easterly about 19 (due south) as near as we could judge miles to small stream supposed to lead Tuesday 5th. Marched in north easterly without sun. Rain fell nearly all the into "Cabin" Creek.44 Clouds threatening direction over a good wagon road morning, wetting everybody through all afternoon, finally broke loose with a about 26 miles & camped at 4:30 P.M. and through. Marched 25 m. No bacon. deluge of rain &large hailstones with Here is to be determined which route No sugar issued. Horse meat issued. thunder &lightning continuing nearly will be taken-Fort Lincoln or the Black Rode about 11/2 [miles] during heaviest all night. Rain kept out from top of Hills.48 We are at the head of Heart River rain. Camped on a small stream where . "Wicky up" but soon found it was un­ with a supply of rations on hand said to there was wood and I made a shelter for derneath &I was lying in a pool of wa­ be sufficient for the command for four the night-a rainy and uncomfortable ter: Blanket & everything soaked days.49We are 250 m. from the Blk. Hills. one. (25 mi.; 23 1/2mi. walked) through. Green coffee issued to men I don't know exactly how far from Fort

191 Nebraska History - Winter 1997

[The mixed camp of Minneconjou, Oglala, and Brule Lakotas and Northern Cheyennes attacked by Capt. Anson Mills's troops at dawn on September 9, 1876, contained thirty-seven lodges and approximately 260 men, women, and children. The man generally recognized as leader of the camp was American Horse (a k a Iron Plume, Iron Shield, or Black Shield), a Minneconjou. The vil­ lage stood along Gap Creek, a tributary of Grand River, a short distance east of the present community of Reva, in Harding County, South Dakota.53 Mills had directed Lt. Frederick Schwatka to charge southeastwardly through the camp with twenty-five mounted soldiers while larger bodies of dismounted troops under lieutenants Emmet Crawford and Adolphus H. Von Luettwitz closed in fan-like from the north on either side. Lt. John W. Bubb stayed far in the rear in charge of the pack train, the horses of the dismounted Cheyenne warrior (left) and a Lakota warrior with a three-bladed club. Crook's troops troopers, and twenty-five soldiers. The encountered large numbers of Northern Cheyennes and Lakotas during his 1876 cam­ attack thus drove most of the tribesmen paigns. NSHS-C951 .3-11 from their lodges and to the south, away from the soldiers. Many of the warriors brush grew in it, further protecting the mounted. The objective of the warriors regrouped at a distance, then carried on refugees and obscuring the soldiers' seems to have been the captured Indian a long-range counterassault against view inside. Eventually, sharpshooters pony herd, which was corralled in the Mills's men until the rest of Crook's under 1st Lt. William P. Clark sur­ Gap Creek bottom near the village. As army reached the scene. A number of rounded the ravine and opened a heavy the exchange occurred, other soldiers Indians, mostly noncombatants, took fire into it, causing the noncombatant burned the tip is. The fight seems to have refuge in a large, deep ravine at the time occupants, about twenty women and lasted less than an hour and ended as of the initial attack. Upon Crook's ar­ children and some badly wounded, fi­ darkness fell and the warriors rode rival, their extrication became a focus of nally to surrender. After continued away. Five or six soldiers were wounded the soldiers, as Taylor explains.54 shooting, four men, including American in the affair; Indian losses are unknown Army casualties in Mills's attack and Horse, appeared at the mouth of the ra­ with certainty.57-Ed.] in immediate efforts by Mills's command vine. Crook's men found the bodies of to dislodge the Indians from the ravine four women, a man, and a child in the Saturday 9th. Left at 5:10 A.M. Crossed 56 numbered one officerwounded-:-Von makeshift fortification. wide stream about 4 miles out. About 2 Luettwitz, who was shot in the right leg­ The afternoon fight began at approxi­ hrs after starting we met a small party re­ and one enlisted man killed and two mately 4:15 o'clock and involved war­ turning from Capt. Mills & reporting cap­ others wounded. Most accounts indicate riors from the Slim ~uttes village aug­ ture by Mills' party of 25 Indian lodges. that the pony herd contained as many as mented by those from neighboring Marched in all about 16 miles in Mills' four hundred animals.55 camps. They opened fire from surround­ trail &arrived at Slim Buttes, scene of Again, the principal effort to dislodge ing high ground on the soldiers as the fight. We found the Indian village from the Indians from the ravine took place latter went into bivouac. Contemporary which the Indians had been driven. after Crook reached the scene. The ra­ estimates placed the number of Indians Mills' command on one side of it, the vine ran about 200 yards back into a at as many as six hundred. The troops Indians on another, both in position to hillside and was about twenty feet deep responded and gradually mounted the prevent either from taken [sic] posses­ in places, its bottom measuring from six heights in skirmish order shooting at the sion. Indians withdrew upon the arrival to fifteen feet across. Trees and under- distant Indians, most of whom remained of the main column upon the scene and

192 Diaries of the Great Sioux War the soldiers swann into the village found a large quantity of dried meat and some wild fruit which had just been prepared for drying. The Coms'y of Sub­ sistence takes charge of the meat, not however till a lot of it had been appro­ priated for immediate use. Found that during the charge in the morning Lt. Von Ludwitz and 5 men had been wounded, 110 Indian ponies captured. Some Indians who had not been able to get away with the rest were in a ravine hidden from view. We final [Iy] discov­ ered this by on[e] of the soldiers [hav­ ing] been shot dead by them.58 Soon af­ ter that one of the scouts sauntering about carelessly was shot through the heart.59 After a great deal of trouble, these Indians were induced to come out of their hole when it was four.d that one \ Indian man, 2 women and one child \ had been killed during the attempt to Old Ft. \ dislodge them. Another Indian, U Ameri­ Phil KearnyO\\ can Horse, n fatally wounded in the bow­ els died the same night.60 2 men and 2 women came out of the hole alive and \ were taken along with the command. \ We found one little Indian boy who had Old Ft. Reno. been left behind in the confusion. He was rolled up in some buffalo robes asleep-was badly frightened when we disturbed him. The Indians made show of attack from the neighboring hills just before sun-down. The infantry sOon de­ ployed as skinnishers & Indians kept at respectful distance. My Co. &some oth­ • ers was deployed again before day Ft. Fetterman; break in hopes of meeting the foe, but ./ we only saw them out of range. Rations /./ 1/4 lb. Indian beef, 2 crackers &small portion coffee. Lt. Ludwitz' [Luettwitz's] / leg amputated above the knee. (16 mi.) I Sunday 10th. Skinnish line at 3:45 A.M. 61 Breakfasted on dried beef &coffee, sav­ ing only two crackers for supper in the evening. Had buffalo robes from Indian i camp & slept very wann. Camped on Bighorn and Yellowstone i small creek. (13 mi.) Sidney UNION PAb\f\C M\U\OAD Monday IIth. Marched to Owl Creek 25 Expedition, 1876 Barracks m. Rode 3 m. Same breakfast as yester­ NEBRASKA • day. Chanced to buy a small piece of antelope from one of the scouts and

193 Nebraska History - Winter 1997 having saved 6 crackers during time 1881 transferred to White River, Cola­ The current being very strong, threw the when 7 were issued daily treated myself rado. In May 1883 the regiment removed boat on edge, and mules, soldiers, wag­ to two of them and had a feast. Stewed to Fort Sidney, Nebraska, where one ons, and everything on board slid off antelope with wild onions. Issued to us year later Jordan, now a first sergeant, into the river, and were washed down for ta-morrow-horse meat & 2 table was again discharged. He immediately stream, passing under the boat. Fortu­ spoons beans. (25 mi.; 22 mi. walked) reenlisted, this time with the Second nately, there were no casualties. Sergt. U.S. Artillery, but his tenure with this Gallagher and I lost our guns, but were Tuesday 12th. To Willow Creek 36 m. 65 This was the hardest day of the cam­ unit was brief, and Jordan was dis­ rearmed by the quartermaster. paign. Rained most of the day, the Infan­ charged on his own application, appar­ Gallagher came near drowning, butwas try following the muddy trail of the cav­ ently for disability, in May 1885 at Wash­ rescued by Lieut. Lloyd and Private alry ahead of us. Cleared up for a short ington Barracks. He became a police­ Desmond, of Company B.66 time about noon but rained again be­ man in Washington, D.C., and by mid­ June 26. Broke camp and started for fore sunset. We plod along in darkness 1917 was retired and living at the U.S. Fort Fetterman. Soldiers' Home in the capital. Jordan and mud till near 12 o'clock at night, al­ June 27. Usual morning scene. Struck died December 4, 1921.62 most in despair, discipline at an end, camp, roll call, march, &c. During the In prefatory remarks to published men cursing & growling thus till we at day's march the boys found a great excerpts from his diary, Jordan noted: length see the camp fires of the cavalry many curious petrifications, fossils, troops who have been in ahead of us I enlisted in the Fourteenth InfantIY, and moss agates, and other semi-precious some hours. Confusion reigns in camp. went from St. Louis to Fort [Camp] Dou­ glas, ... near Salt Lake City, Utah [Terri­ stones, and the frequency with which The poor Inf'y are taken a mile away tOIY] .... When the command to which I the boys fell out of the column to gather from this meagre store. Blankets-some was attached arrived there, we were all set these curiosities aroused the ire of our find them, others do not. The wounded at work tearing down the old wooden commanding officer, who declared that howling with pain & in constant dread buildings, and rebuilding them of stone, we was not making a geological survey, of being trodden on in the darkness. which we quarried from the surrounding hills." We completed the work in 1876, and who ordered these curio hunters to Rain and no shelter. Managed to get a and were congratulating ourselves on the do extra duty on our arriving in camp. little piece of antelope and a cracker for fact that our hard labor was at an end, and July 4. Left Fort Fetterman to join supper and turned in under the black that we were at last on easy street, when Crook's command. canopy of Heaven. When we reached the Sioux war broke out, and we were camp this night it was without more marched off to the scene of action for two July 6. Marched twenty-four miles. [sic] years of about the hardest and tough­ Camped on Dry Fork of the Cheyenne than ten per cent of the Infantry present, est campaigning I ever experienced. the rest had fallen out of ranks and lain River. An amusing mishap befell Pat Jordan's diary excerpts appeared down on the side of the trail. Robinson, of Company C, Fourteenth In­ in an unidentified newspaper ("the fantry, at this point.67 The day being hot Post"), possibly of Washington, D.C., and the march a long one, the men [Inexplicably Taylor's diary ends at a clipping from which is in the Colorado were tired and footsore, and, on striking this point. Fortunately the other account Historical Society, Denver. The location camp, they were soon busy bathing by a member of the regiment herewith of the original diary has not been estab­ their feet in various water holes in the presented continues the story. Private lished.54-Ed.] dry bed of the river. Robinson was care­ William Walter Jordan, who penned the ful to select a choice hole near the following diary entries, was born in Excerpts from Diary of Pvt. William bank, and was all prepared to bathe his Keokuk, Iowa, in 1853. He enlisted in W. Jordan, Company C, Fourteenth tired extremities, when the mules that the army at Springfield, Illinois, on Sep­ Infantry had been unhooked and turned out to tember 9, 1873, and served with the graze came along and drank all the wa­ Fourteenth Infantry in Dakota and Utah June 25. Command (which left Fort [Camp] Douglas on June 24) reached ter out of Pat's hole, leaving him high territories until called to the front during and dry on the bank. The language he the Sioux War. Promoted corporal in Medicine Bow station in the afternoon. used at the time came near drying up Company C, Jordan stood 5 feet 9 1/2 Went into camp. Before we reached the all the other holes. inches in height, had blue eyes, brown station had to cross Medicine Bow hair, and a dark complexion. Jordan re­ River, which was very much swollen, in July 30. Moved camp one mile down 58 turned to Camp Douglas following the an old flat boat. Soldiers and mules all creek. Indians set fire to the prairie. Sioux campaign. Discharged at Fort packed in together. Whil~ my company Entire command out fighting fire until Cameron, Utah Territory, in 1878, he re­ was crossing, the mules became fright­ dark.69 enlisted in the regiment at Fort Hall, ened and crowded to the upper side of August3. Marched all day through Idaho Territory, the next year and in the boat, which caused it to dip water. smoke of prairie fires. Weather hot.

194 Diaries of the Great Sioux War

Command suffered for water. Arrived in This column and ours were acting inde­ camp about sundown. Made eighteen pendently, and neither knew of the miles. Gen. Carr and Col. Merritt joined other's presence in the valley. There­ our command same evening with ten fore, when we came in sight of each troops of the Fifth Cavaby.70 Also recruits other, both sides prepared for a fight, for Fourth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Infan­ the two commanders taking one an­ try. The whole country is one sheet of other for the enemy. Buffalo Bill (Cody) flames, from the valley to the mountain was present, and by the merest accident tops. At 8 o'clock P.M. a terrific rainstorm discovered who and what we were, thus set in. All the tents blown down. I was preventing what might have proved a on picket duty. Indians fire on pickets. serious mistake.73 Pickets return fire. One Indian killed. August J2. Has rained steadily for forty­ August 5. Our trouble begins. Gen. Crook eight hours. In camp. No shelter of any orders wagon trains corraled. Provisions, kind. Stood up all night with blankets ammunition, one blanket, and one over our shoulders, and soaking wet. One soldier proved an exception. change of underclothing to each soldier 74 ordered packed on our mules. Wagon Name, Andy Shuttles. First man I ever train left in charge of teamsters and in­ saw who could lie down in a pool of valid soldiers. Each soldier carried 100 water, with water dammed up against rounds of ammunition and one day's ra­ his back and running over him, and tions. Start to form a junction with Gen. sleep like a top. Andy had been shot in Terry's command, which was somewhere the nose and snored dreadfully. in the Little Big Hom country, the scene August J4. Left Tongue River Valley and of the late Custer massacre. Frank Gruard Frank Grouard (1851-1905) from an 1890­ headed for Powder River. Camped on [Grouard], our faithful scout, led us on­ 91 photograph. Grouard, Crook's chief of Pumpkin Creek after day's march. Water ward.71 Marched down Tongue River, scouts in 1876, had lived with Sitting Bull's in this stream about the color of yellow wading it three times. Marched twenty­ people for several years before signing ochre, and as thick as mud could well on with the army. NSHS-R539:22-4 four miles to-day. make and call it water. In fact, we could August 8. Broke camp, marched eight not make coffee with it, or at least when August 6. Continued down Tongue River made it had not the slightest taste of cof­ Valley and crossed over to Rose Bud Val­ miles, and had to go into camp again. All the timber on the hills on fire, the fee. Capt. Burt, of the Ninth Infantry, ley. This was a very hard day's march. found a stray dog to-day, and christened Made twenty-four miles. No water except work of Indians. Smoke so thick we could not see our way. Broke camp him "Sitting Bull."75 Was a dog the Indi­ that we had in our canteens, which held ans had left behind. about a quart each. A great many of the again about 6 P.M. and started to make a infantry fell, exhausted. They were night march. We marched until 2 A.M. August J5. This proved another hard placed on pack mules. One soldier fell and bivouacked on the Rose Bud River. day's march over a mountainous coun­ out of the column and called on Dr. Made twenty miles. I spread my blanket try. Guard [Grouard] reports numerous Paszche [Patzki], who saw that he was out on what I thought was a nice patch Indian trails, evidence that the redskins not sick, but desperate from heat and of grass, but it turned out to be an ant (the body that massacred Gen. Custer's thirst, and ready to do most anything to hill, and I had no more than settled my­ command) have divided. "Sitting Bull," get transportation into camp.72 The doc­ self for a few hours' rest when I felt Burt's dog, and "Walloper," Capt. Toby's tor talked very kindly to him, offering to about a dozen of the most excruciating dog, had a fight to-day. "Walloper" carry his gun and ammunition on his bites on my body and legs. We never came out victorious. "Sitting Bull" (Paszche's) horse, which offer the soldier disrobe when following the trail of Indi­ deserts camp. Marched twenty-two accepted. When, however, the doctor ans, and the ants had crawled in under miles. We had a wag of a fellow in my gained possession of the gun he tumed it my clothing and next to the skin in a company named James Radcliff,16 who on the soldier and began prodding him way that made me wince. enlivened the march by his comic songs along at the point of the bayonet. He August JO. Marched down Rose Bud and remarks. To-day he composed a started him off on the double quick and about fourteen miles. Gen. Terry' [s] song while marching, Which ran some­ kep.t him moving until he rejoined his command, consisting of twenty-two thing like this: company, where he was placed under companies of infantry and eleven troops We went with Crook to the Rose Bud guard, but later released. of cavalry, appeared in the distance. to fight the Indians there;

195

D Nebraska History - Winter 1997

We came near being baldheaded, but where we surprised a village of thirty­ the burden of his patient and faithful they did not get our hair. five lodges and 300 warriors under Chief horse. The head of the column went into We lay upon the ground, in the American Horse. Captured 200 ponies camp about 10 P.M., after marching forty dirty, yellow mud, And we never saw an onion, a and all the stores of the Indians. They miles. The men came straggling in all turnip, nor a spud. came back at dusk with re-enforce­ during the night. Had the Indians known And there was Corp. O'Donahue and ments and attacked our camp. Engage­ of our weak condition they would have Sergt. The-Devil-Knows-Who, ment lasted two hours. Indians driven had an opportunity to avenge them­ They made us march and toe the off at ail points. Our scout, Charley mark in gallant Company Q. selves for the thrashing we gave them at And the drums would roll upon my White, and one soldier killed during the Slim Butte. I will say, however, that in the soul, and this is the way we'd go: fight. One officer and seven men event such a thing had occurred they Forty miles a day on beans and hay, wounded. Captured eight squaws and would have met with a warm reception, in the regular army o.n three bucks, and their chief, American as the men were half-crazed with hunger, The entire column would join in the Horse, who was mortally wounded and and would have welcomed a go at Mr. chorus of this song, thus diverting our died next day. Indian. Camped on Willow Creek, well mirids from the hardships of the march. named, for its banks were lined with wil­ August 16. Started out as usual; [After the Slim Buttes engagement low brush, which made good fuel. Those marched about twenty miles over a very Crook ordered Mills to proceed ahead of us who came in camp early started rough and rugged road. Radcliff enliv­ to the Black Hills for provisions, which fires, the light of which served as a bea­ ened the column with his new song. To­ he did. On September 13, a supply train con to those who had dropped out dur­ day he nicknamed Maj. Chambers and a herd of cattle from Crook City in ing the march, guiding them into camp. "Route Step," owing to the fact that he the northern Black Hills met the com­ September 13. Camped on the Belle always gave the command "Route Step" mand along the banks of the Belle Fourche River, a very rapid mountain after the order to march. He was one of Fourche River. After bivouacking there stream. Most of the infantry were so ex­ for two days the troops proceeded south the most methodical officers I ever hausted they could not wade the served under. Every formality of military under Col. Wesley Merritt while Crook stream, for in case they had the current discipline had to be observed before hurried on to Fort Laramie to consult the would have swept them off their feet. the column could get under way.7B Missouri Division commander, Lt. Gen. Some who reached the stream first Philip H. Sheridan. On September 18, the August 23. Last night on the came near drowning while attempting command under Merritt started south Yellowstone. At 8 P.M. a terrific rain to wade it. The pack mules were, there­ through the Black Hills gold camps. For storm set in, which lasted ail night. We fore, employed to carry the men across. the rest of the month and through half provided ourselves with wickiups over We went into camp on the opposite side of October the soldiers bivouacked in which we spread our blankets; a pretty of the stream, where we had our first the vicinity of Custer City before starting fair shelter under ordinary conditions, supplies-some flour, bacon, and pota­ for Camp Robinson, Nebraska, where on but on this occasion they were useless. toes, which were brought out from 24 General Crook formally Stood up with blankets over our shoul­ October closed the expedition.Bo-Ed.] Deadwood City.B' ders ail night. Commands separate here, I paid 50 cents per pound to a Jew Col. Miles (now Gen. Miles) left to estab­ September 12. This was a record-breaker. sutler for some potatoes, and ate them lish Fort Kehoe [Keogh] on the We broke camp at sunrise, traveled all raw at first, my hunger was so intense. Yellowstone, Gen. Terry went down day through mud the like of which I Our quartermaster learning that the men Yellowstone. Buffalo Bill left for the East have never seen before or since. We were paying fabulous prices to the Jew to start his Wild West show.79 marched in the trail (following) of the sutlers for the necessities of life, ordered cavalry all day and until late at night. In September 5. It was here that Gen. laid everything in the way of eatables to be short, we were fourteen hours on the plans for ending the campaign. Rations purchased and paid for by Uncle Sam. about exhausted. Crook decides to road and no sign of camp. The officers Men went so far as to pay $5 for a single head for the Black Hills by compass. all marched at the head of the column, loaf of bread. Some of the men who thus leaving the companies to follow or reached camp first, and who had no September 8. Entire command living on lay down at will. The men were falling money with which to buy grub, were horseflesh. Crook details detachment of out of the ranks from sheer exhaustion. standing around a wagon where two cavalry, selecting best horses, to go to the For miles the trail was strewn with Jew sutlers were quarreling over the Black Hills and hasten rations out to com­ played-out men and horses, cavalry price which they should charge for maneI, then on the point of starvation. saddles, blankets, &c., each trooper bread. One Jew wanted to sell it at $1 September 9. Camped on Slim Butte, abandoning his traps in order to lighten per loaf, but the other demurred, saying:

196

j Diaries of the Great Sioux War

rousted the followers of Sitting Bull north of the Yellowstone in a series of encounters that ultimately made them seek refuge in Canada. In January Miles ascended the Tongue River in pursuit of Crazy Horse, defeating the Ogialas and the refugee Cheyennes at the Battle of Wolf Mountains. Following that engage­ .".iII..; ment, most of the Indians, including ...~ Crazy Horse, traveled into the Dakota '..-'{J'!i: and Nebraska agencies and gave them­ selves up. A few isolated encounters oc­ curred, but by the late summer of 1877 the Great Sioux War was over.

Notes

I For an enumeration, see Paul L Hedren, Traveler's Guide to the Great Sioux War (Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 1996), 18n. , For overviews of the Great Sioux War, see "The Maj. Alexander Great Sioux War: A Military Perspective," in Battles Chambers (1832-88), andSkirmishes ofthe Great Sioux War, 1876-1877: Fourth Infantry, com­ The Military View, ed. Jerome A. Greene (Norman: manded the infantry University of Oklahoma Press, 1993), xv-xxvii; and battalion of Crook's "The Great Sioux War and Indian Testimony,' command, consist­ Lakota and Cheyenne: Indians Views ofthe Great ing of Companies 0, Sioux War, 1876-1877, ed. Greene (Norman: Uni­ F, and G, Fourth versity of Oklahoma Press, 1994), pp. xiii-xxi. For Infantry; C, G, and H, focused studies of early battles of the conflict, see Ninth Infantry; Jesse W. Vaughn, The Reynolds Campaign on Pow­ and B, C, F, and I, der River (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, Fourteenth Infantry. 1961); Vaughn, With Crook at the Rosebud (Harris­ Courtesy of U.S. burg: The Stackpole Company, 1956); Neil C. Military Academy Mangum, Battle ofthe Rosebud: Prelude to the Archives Little Bighorn (EI Segundo, Calif.: Upton and Sons, Publishers, 1987); and, especially, Edgar I. Stewart, "No, py krashus; tey has lots of moneish, other campaign to strike the Oglalas of Custer's Luck (Norman: University of Oklahoma let tern pay $2 for it: While the row was Crazy Horse in the area of the upper Press, 1955). in progress these moneyless soldiers Tongue River in Wyoming and Mon­ 3 Seattle Daily Times, May 21,1920; The Post­ overturned the wagon, drove the Jews tana. Instead, on November 25, 1876, Intelligencer (Seattle), May 21, 1920; Francis B. off with stones, and made short work of Heitman, comp., Historical Register and Dictionary Fourth cavalrymen under Col. Ranald S. ofthe United States Army I (Washington: Govern­ the bread and provisions it contained. Mackenzie of Crook's command discov­ ment Printing Office, 1903):946; Official Army Reg­ The Jews complained to the command­ ered and charged a large North Chey­ ister, January I, 1920 (Washington: The Adjutant ing officer, who told them it served enne village of chiefs Little Wolf and General's Office, 1920),920; OfficialArmy Register, them right for acting the hog. July 21, 1921 (Washington: The Adjutant General"s Dull Knife in the Big Hom Mountains, Office, 1921), 1389. killing forty of those people as they at­ October 26. Went into winter quarters • Joy Werlink, manuscript curator, Washington 82 at Fort [Camp] Robinson, Nebr. tempted to flee their lodges in the icy State Historical Society, Tacoma, to the editor, dawn twilight. The Dull Knife battle Oct. 24, 1996. Determination that the diary is in As mentioned, the Great Sioux War ended Cheyenne participation in the Taylor's hand followed comparison of that did not end with the close of Crook's war; refugees from the fighting jour­ document's script with samples of Taylor·s pen­ campaign at Camp Robinson. Soon af­ neyed north to Crazy Horse's camp or manship contained in his Appointment, Commis­ sion, and Personal (ACP) File, Record Group (RG) ter, the general, on Sheridan's directive, turned themselves in at the agencies. 94, Records of the Adjutant General's Office, Na­ sent cavalry to surround and dismount Crook returned to Camp Robinson. tional Archives, Washington, D.C. Meantime, Fifth and Twenty-second in­ the Sioux followers of Red Leaf and 5 Co. B, Capt. James Kennington and 2d Lt. Red Cloud. He then organized yet an­ fantrymen under Colonel Miles had Charles F. Uoyd; Co. C, Capt. Daniel W. Burke and

197 Nebraska History - Winter 1997

1st Lt. John Murphy; Co. F, Capt. Thomas F. Tobey 9 Fort Fetterman, Wyoming Terr., stood on a Brininstool, Bozeman Trail, 1:228; Wyoming Atlas and 2d Lt. Frederic S. Calhoun; and Co. I, Capt. sage-covered plateau adjoining the south bank of & Gazetteer, 44-45. Frank Taylor and 2d Lt. Richard T. Yeatman. Since the North Platte River. Established in 1867 to af­ I" See ibid. August 1875 most of the Fourteenth Infantry, com­ ford protection to various emigrant routes in the manded by Col. John E. Smith, had been stationed vicinity, the post stood adjacent to the Bozeman 17 Taylor here probably means Sand Creek. Wind in Utah Terr., with headquarters and companies B, Trail, which led to the western Montana gold Creek, not Wind River, with its various forks lies C, F, H, I, and K at Camp Douglas. Companies D, E, fields. Fort Fetterman closed in 1882. Frazer, Forts two drainages farther northwest. Ibid., 54. ofthe West, 181; Robrock, "Fort Fetterman," 5-76. and G were at Fort Cameron, Utah, while Company 18 Near present Ross, in Converse County. A visi­ A was at Fort Hall, Idaho Terr. Thomas M. Ander­ For particulars of Crook's movements in and out tor in 1880 noted a mud-chinked log hut present at son, "The Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry," in The of Fort Fetterman in 1876, see ibid., 4!Hi5; and Antelope Spring. Howard B. Lott, ed., "Diary of Ma­ Army ofthe United States, eds. Theophilus F. Paul L. Hedren, Fort Laramie in 1876: Chronicle of jor Wise, an Englishman, Recites Details of Hunt­ Rodenbough and William L. Haskin (New York: a Frontier Post at War (Lincoln: University of Ne­ ing Trip in Powder River Country in 1880," Annals Maynard, Merrill, and Company, 1896), 606--7; Ros­ braska Press, 1988),52-53,87,98,207,214-15. ofWyoming 12 (Apr. 1940):115. ter of Troops Serving in the Department ofthe Platte The Little Medicine Bow River is located directly Commanded by Brigadier-General George Crook 19 In present Johnson County. Ibid. Fort Reno north of the Medicine Bow River. Wyoming Atlas & stood along Powder River to protect emigrants (Omaha: Headquarters, Department of the Platte, Gazetteer (Freeport, Me.: DeLorme Mapping, May, 1876), copy in Entry 3740, General Orders, passing over the Bozeman TraiL Established on 1992),32. Dept. of the Platte, RG 393, Records of U.S. Army June 28, 1866, by Col. Henry B. Carrington, Eigh­ Continental Commands, National Archives; James 10 Apparently in present Carbon County, Wyo., teenth Infantry, Fort Reno was abandoned in 1868 Willert, comp., March ofthe Columns: Chronicle of where the Little Medicine Bow River courses in a in accordance with conditions of the Fort Laramie the 1876 Indian War, June 27-September 16, 1876 roughly north-south axis. Ibid. Treaty of that year. Frazer, Forts ofthe West, 184. A detailed study is in Robert A Murray, Military Posts (EI Segundo, Calif.: Upton and Sons, 1994), 62. II In present Converse County. Ibid. in the Powder River Country of Wyoming, 1865­ "Camp Douglas, Utah Terr., was established Oc­ 12 These mishaps seemingly occurred in the area 1894 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, tober 26, 1862, east of Salt Lake City to protect re­ of what is now the Medicine Bow National Forest. 1968), 13-27. gional mail and telegraph lines from Indians and Apparently the troops followed the Box Elder 20 For George Crook's military record, see to oversee area Mormon activities at a time when drainage until within about fifteen miles of Fort Heitman, Historical Register 1:340. For a sketch of the religious group was suspected of disloyalty to Fetterman. Ibid., 44-45. the Union. The post was designated Fort Douglas his life, see, Jerome A. Greene, "George Crook,· in on December 30, 1878. Robert W. Frazier, Forts of 13 From Fort Fetterman, Taylor's Company I, Four­ Soldiers West: Biographies ofthe Military Frontier, the West: Military Forts and Presidios and Posts teenth Infantry, along with Companies B, C, and F ed. Paul A. Hutton (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Commonly Called Forts West ofthe Mississippi of that regiment, and Company G, Fourth Infantry, Press, 1986), 115-36. See also Martin F. Schmitt, River to 1898 (Norman: University of Oklahoma would proceed north accompanied by Company C, ed., General George Crook: His Autobiography Press, 1965), 166. In-depth histories of the post are Ninth Infantry, and Company F, Fourth Infantry. The (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1960). in Charles G. Hibbard, "History of Fort Douglas, latter two units, commanded by CoL Alexander Crook had been first into the field in 1876, and Utah," unpublished manuscript dated 1990, copy Chambers, had departed Crook's Goose Creek part of his command under CoL Joseph J. provided by author; and Leonard J. Arrington and camp on June 21, four days after the Rosebud Reynolds attacked a village of Northern Chey­ Thomas G. Alexander, "The U.S. Army Overlooks battle. They escorted the wounded from that en­ ennes along Powder River on March 17, 1876. Salt Lake Valley: Fort Douglas, 1862-1965," Utah gagement, along with Crook's supply train, which Three months to the day later, on June 17, Crook's Historical Quarterly 33 (Fall 1965):326--50. needed reprovisioning, to Fort Fetterman. John G. troops encountered, battled, and lost to a large Medicine Bow Station, Wyoming Terr., served as Bourke, On the Border with Crook (New York: body of Sioux and Cheyennes at Rosebud Creek, a pump station for furnishing water from the Medi­ Charles Scribner's Sons, 1891),319-36. Montana, an episode that brought the general's withdrawal from the war zone to await sufficient cine Bow River for steam rail engines on the Union 14 The command followed the Bozeman Trail, reinforcements before proceeding north again. Pacific Railroad. In 1876 it became the major drop which during the 1860s led diagonally northwest For details, see Mangum, Battle ofthe Rosebud; point for provisions earmarked for Crook's summer from the North Platte River to Montana. For the and Vaughn, With Crook at the Rosebud. campaign against the Sioux. From Medicine Bow, Bozeman Trail, see Grace R. Hebard and Earl A George Custer led his command to defeat on the supplies went north via wagon to Fort Fetterman. Brininstool, The Bozeman Trail, 2 vols. (Glendale, Little Bighorn on June 25, just eight days after David P. Robrock, "A History of Fort-Fetterman, Calif.: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1922). The Crook's encounter with the Indians at Rosebud Wyoming, 1867-1882,· Annals of Wyoming 48 historic route from Fort Fetterman corresponds to Creek. For Custer's military brief, see Heitman, His­ (Spring 1976):55-56. For a history of the commu­ the present course of Wyoming State Route 93. torical Register 1:348. For an interpretive biogra­ nity that evolved at Medicine Bow, see Mrs. Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer, 45. For succinct histo­ phy, see Robert M. Utley, Cavalier in Buckskin: Charles Ellis, "Medicine Bow, Wyoming," Annals of ries of the trail, see Burton S. Hill, "John Bozeman George Armstrong Custer and the Western Frontier Wyoming 9 (July 1932):673-77. and the Bozeman Trail," Annals ofWyoming 36 Tradition (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, (Oct. 1964):205-33; and Sherry L. Smith, "The 7 Company G, Fourth Infantry, commanded by 1988). Bozeman-Trail to Death and Glory," Annals of Capt. William H. Powell and 2d Lt. Albert B. At the Old Fort Reno camp, 2d Lt. Frederic S. Wyoming 55 (Spring 1983):32-50. For a concise Crittenden, was from Fort Sanders, near Laramie, Calhoun, Company F, Fourteenth Infantry, learned synopsis of its northwestwardly route through Wyo. Roster of Troops Serving in the Department of of the death of his brother, James, a first lieutenant Wyoming from Fort Fetterman in relation to the the Platte, 8, 10. The company consisted of two of­ in the Seventh Cavalry with Custer at the Little Big­ modem landscape, see Hill, "John Bozeman and ficers and forty-seven men. James Willert, comp., horn. Thaddeus H. Capron, Marching with General the Bozeman Trail," 213-14. For discussion of the After Little Bighorn 1876 Campaign Rosters (La Crook; or, The Big Hom and Yellowstone Expedi­ Sage and other creek crossings mentioned by Tay­ Mirada, Calif.: James Willert, Publisher, 1985), tion against Hostile Indians in the Summer of 1876, lor, see Maurine Carley, comp., "Bozeman Trail intrq. . .. Being the Diary ofLieutenant Thaddeus Hurlbut Trek," Annals ofWyoming 36 (Apr. 1964):43-77. 8 See the following diary excerpts of Pvt. William Capron, Company C, Ninth Infantry, ed. Ray W. Jordan for details of the troops' fording of the 15 Brown's Springs Creek was a branch of the Meketa (Douglas, Alaska.: Cheechako Press, Medicine Bow River. Dry Fork of the Cheyenne River. Hebard and 1983), 29. At the same time, 2d Lt. Albert B.

198 Diaries of the Great Sioux War

Crittenden, Company G, Fourth InfanlIy, learned that Crook detailed some officers to accompany Ft Fetterman Wy Ty July 4 1876." RG 94, National of the loss of his cousin, 2d Lt. John J. Crittenden, them to prevent such an accident. The Shoshones Archives. in that battle. paraded around the camp "in all the glory of war­ 32 The attack on Crook's bivouac, known as the bonnets, bright blankets, scarlet cloth, headdresses 21 Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer, 64. skirmish at Tongue River Heights, occurred on of feathers, and gleaming rifles and lances. n June 9 at a point where Prairie Dog Creek enters 22 In present Sheridan County. Ibid. Bourke, On the Border with Crook, 337. the Tongue. There were no casualties in the en­ 23 Ibid., 63. Fort Philip Kearny, established on 26 Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Terry (1827-90) was a counter, which consisted of warriors firing into the July 13, 1866, to act in concert with Forts Reno Yale alumnus who entered the volunteer army at soldiers' camp from a bluff north (east) of the and C. F. Smith (in Montana) in guarding the the outbreak of the Civil War and emerged a ma­ stream and a brief pursuit by cavalry. Greene, Bozeman Trail, stood at the base of the Big Hom jor general in 1865. Terry garnered aregular army Battles and Skirmishes, 20-25; Wyoming Atlas & Mountains between Big Piney and Little Piney commission as brigadier general and continued in Gazetteer, 69. creeks, some fifteen miles north of the modem the service, by 1876 serving as Crook's counterpart 33 Crook's force departing down Tongue River on community of Buffalo, Wyo. Like its sister posts, commanding the Department of Dakota at Fort August 5 consisted of twenty-seven companies of Fort Kearny was abandoned by the government in Snelling, Minn. Heitman, Historical Register, 1:951; the Second, Third, and Fifth cavalry regiments, ten 1868. Frazer, Forts ofthe West, 183-84. For specif­ John M. Carroll and Byron Price, comps., Roll Call companies of the Fourth, Ninth, and Fourteenth ics of the construction of Fort Philip Kearny, see on the Little Big Hom, 28June 1876 (Fort Collins, infantry regiments (total number of troops= 1,875), Murray, Military Posts, 28-49. Colo.: Old Army Press, 1974), 158-59. ForTerry's 250 Shoshone and Ute scouts, thirty citizens, and work in the West, see John W. Bailey, Pacifying the 2< Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer, 63, 69. Crook had 350 pack animals bearing 150,000 rounds of am­ Plains: General Alfred H. Terry and the Decline of withdrawn to this point following the Battle of munition. Willert, After Little Bighorn Campaign the Sioux, 1866-1890 (Westport, Conn.: Green­ Rosebud Creek. The location of this camp on Big Rosters, intro. Goose Creek (South Fork of Tongue River) on July wood Press, 1979). For the Crow messengers from 13 was southwest of present Sheridan and close Terry to Crook, see Bourke, On the Border with J.I Terry's command, rationed for twenty-five against the Big Hom Mountains. As will be seen, Crook,339. days, consisted of twelve companies of cavalry, twenty-two companies of infanlIy, forty the camp changed locations every few days to pro­ 27 Capt. Alexander Sutorius·(ca. 1837-1905), a artillerymen (1,713 soldiers total), seventy-five vide new grass for the hundreds of animals on native of Switzerland, had served with the Third Crow and Arikara scouts, and 203 wagons, each hand. A few days previous a scouting detachment Cavalry since 1854. He was promoted to captain in drawn by six mules. Ibid. For personal accounts of from Crook's command under 2d Lt. Frederick W. 1869 and saw extensive western service, but owing the meeting between the forces of Crook and Sibley experienced a brief encounter with the Indi­ to his predilection for alcohol, as noted by Taylor, Terry, see Charles King, Campaigning with Crook ans in the Big Hom Mountains. The soldiers, forced Sutorius was dismissed from the ariny on Septem­ (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1964), to abandon their horses, managed to return to the ber 25, 1876. Heitman, Historical Register, 1:937; 70-73; and Finerty, War-Path and Bivouac, 161-65. base camp after several harrowing days eluding the Carroll and Price, Roll Call on the Little Big Hom, For a description derived from multiple sources, warriors.John F. Finerty, War-Path and Bivouac; or, 158; Bourke, On the Border with Crook, 345. The Conquest ofthe Sioux (Norman: University of see Jerome A. Greene, Yellowstone Command: Oklahoma Press, 1961), 113-28; and Joe DeBarthe, 28 See Wyoming Atlas & Gazetteer, 69, for the up­ Colonel Nelson A. Miles and the Great Sioux War, per Tongue River area. . Life and Adventures ofFrank Grouard, ed. Edgar 1. 1876-1877 (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1991),41-44. Stewart (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 29 See Bourke, On the Border with Crook, 344-45,

1958), 136-46. and Willert, March ofthe Columns, 268-71, for the 35 Crook's march north from Wyoming took him Besides Taylor's diary and the following excerpts union with Merritt and the Fifth Cavalry. Also with into present Big Hom and Rosebud counties, Mont. from Private Jordan's diary, the course of Crook's Col. Wesley Merritt were 120 recruits for the infan­ It was in Rosebud County, near the confluence of expedition from this point is well documented in a try and cavalry companies, plus sixty-seven re­ Rosebud and Miller creeks, that the junction of the number of memoirs, journals, and diaries. In addi­ placement mounts. Willert, After Little Big Hom forces of Crook and Terry took place. Montana Atlas tion to those previously cited here, see the corre­ Campaign Rosters, intro. The ten companies of the & Gazetteer (Freeport, Me.: DeLorme Mapping, sponding letters and/or diary entries in James H. Fifth Cavalry (583 men) were among the reinforce­ 1994), 32-33, 46-47. Nottage, ed., "The Big Hom and Yellowstone ments slated to join Crook following the Rosebud Expdition of 1876, as Seen Through the Letters of battle. Commanded by Colonel Merritt, these 36 Thomas F. Tobey (1840-1920), a Rhode Island Captain Gerhard Luke Luhn, n Annals of Wyoming troops, gathered from among several posts on the native, served in that state's volunteer infantry 45 (Spring 1973):27-46; Agnes WrigIJ.t Spring, ed, southern plains, had on July 17 met a contingent regiments as an officer through most of the Civil "Dr. McGillycuddy's Diary: Denver Westerners' of Cheyennes enroute north from Red Cloud War before transferring to the Fourteenth InfanlIy Brand Book, 1953 (Boulder, Colo.: Johnson Pub­ Agency near Camp Robinson. Merritt's force fired in 1865. Tobey received a first lieutenant's com­ lishing Company, 1954); Susan C. Reneau, comp., on the tribesmen at Hat, or Warbonnet, Creek, mission, and won promotion to captain in 1874. The Adventures ofMoccasin Joe: The True Life Nebr., then chased them back to Red Cloud be­ He retired from the Fourteenth Infantry in 1892. Story ofSgt. George S. Howard (Missoula: Blue fore returning to Fort Laramie and resuming the Heitman, Historical Register andDictionary, 1:963. Mountain Publishing, Inc., 1994),50-83; John trail north to meet Crook. Paul L. Hedren, First Ohio-born 2d. Lt. Richard T. Yeatman (1848­ Scott Payne, "Marching with the Fifth Cavalry: The Scalp for Custer: The Skirmish at Warbonnet Creek, 1930), Taylor's subaltern in Company I and an Reminiscence of J. Scott Payne: South Dakota Nebraska, July 17, 1876 (Glendale, Calif.: The 1868 West Point graduate, joined the Fourteenth History 23 (Spring 1993):5-32; and Cuthbert Mills, Arthur H. Clark Company, 1980). InfanlIy in 1872. Successively promoted first lieu­ The Cuthbert Mills Letters to the New York Times tenant and captain in 1883 and 1892, Yeatman sat 30 Presently within the city of Sheridan. Wyoming during the Indian War of 1876, ed. James Willert out the Spanish-American War in Alaska, but Atlas & Gazetteer, 69. (La Mirada, Calif.: James Willert, 1984). served with his regiment in the Philippines, 1899­ The Association ofthe 25 These were 213 Shoshone scouts under Chief 31 The excerpted entry for Pvt. William W. 1900. Ibid., 1066. See also Washakie from Wind River. Crook's aide, 1st Lt. Jordan's diary, which herein follows Taylor's, indi­ Graduates ofthe United States Military Academy, John G. Bourke, wrote that the Shoshone scouts cated that the troops pulled out of Fort Fetterman Annual Report, June 12th, 1933 (Newburgh, N.Y.: feared that the recently arrived infantrymen might on July 4. The muster roll for Company B, Four­ The Moore Printing Company, n.d.), 75-79. confuse them with the Sioux and fire on them and teenth Infantry, stated that the unit "marched from Frederic S. Calhoun (1847-1904) had served

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briefly with Ohio troops during the Civil War. Com­ east. Robert M. Utley, Frontiersmen in Blue: The 56 Ibid., 74-79. For personal reminiscences, see missioned second lieutenant in the Fourteenth In­ United States Army and the Indian, 1848-1865 Bourke, On the Border with Crook, 370-73; King, fanlIy in 1875, he won promotion to first lieuten­ (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1967), Campaigning with Crook, 106-15; Finerty, War­ ant in 1886 and retired in 1890. Heitman, Historical 275-79. Path and Bivouac, 188-93; and "Charles King's De­ Register, 1:274. An in-depth biography is in Tho­ "In present Billings County, N. Dak. scription of the Ravine Fight at Slim Buttes," South mas R. Buecker, "Frederic S. Calhoun: A Little­ Dakota History 23 (Spring 1993):33-38. Known Member of the Custer Clique," Greasy 48 Fort Abraham Lincoln, Dakota Terr., stood 57 For details of the afternoon fight, see Greene, Grass 10 (May 1994):16-25. along the right (west) bank of the Missouri River a few miles below Bismarck. Frazer, Forts ofthe Slim Buttes, 8 1-88; the official reports of Crook 37 This parenthetical addition is in the handwrit­ West, I II-12. and the battalion commanders in ibid., 130-39; ten manuscript, suggesting that this generation of and the reports of the infantry company com­ the diary was modified from another, doubtless "In present Stark County, N. Dak. manders (including Taylor) in "Reports of the In­ earlier version from surviving notes. 50 The command crossed both branches of the fantry Battalion at Slim Buttes," South Dakota His­ 38 The troops camped on Pumpkin Creek. For de­ Cannonball River in present Slope County, N. Dak. tory 23 (Spring 1993), pp. 39-47. For accounts by tails of the Crook-Terry maneuvers enroute to the participants, see Bourke, On the Border with 51 Anson Mills (1834-1924), from Indiana, at­ mouth of Powder River, see Greene, Yellowstone Crook, 374-75; King, Campaigning with Crook, tended West Point for two years before leaving the Command,47-51. I 16-24; and Finerty, War-Path and Bivouac, 194­ academy in 1857. At the outbreak of the Civil War, 96. Indian accounts of Slim Buttes appear in "" Presumably the "commanding officer" in ques­ Mills received a commission of first lieutenant in Greene, Lakota and Cheyenne, 85-92. tion was Maj. Alexander Chambers, Fourth Infan­ the Eighteenth Infantry and later was promoted to try, in charge of Terry's infantry battalion. See the captain in that regiment. After the war, Mills saw 58 This fatality was Pvt. John Wenzel, Company reference to Chambers in Jordan's diary excerpt much western service. Transferred to the Third A, Third Cavalry, struck square in the forehead by for August 16. Cavalry in 1870, he remained with that unit until a bullet as he approached the ravine. Ibid., 66. '0 For discussion of Crook's determination to 1878, when he was assigned to the Tenth Cavalry 5. The death of Scout Charles (Jonathan) White move, see Greene, Yellowstone Command, 53-55. as major. Heitman, Historical Register, 1:713. Mills occurred after Crook's men had reached the Taylor's remark about Crook's proposal to move be­ authored an autobiography, My Story (Washing­ scene of the fighting and as White and other ing superseded by Terry's authority as commander ton: Byron S. Adams, 1918). During the Great scouts tried to force the refuged Indians from the of the Department of Dakota, in which both com­ Sioux War, Mills played distinctive roles at the ravine. Ibid., 75. battles of Powder River and Rosebud Creek, as mands were operating, is significant because of the 60 Largely unknown to whites at the time, Ameri­ well as in the Battle of Slim Buttes, in which con­ date, August 18, only one day after the combined can Horse was the son of the Oglala leader Smoke. text he is mentioned in Taylor's diary. force reached the mouth of Powder River. Crook fi­ Gravely wounded in the abdomen during the ra­ Actually Mills took five officers with him. His nally departed on August 24, with Terry following vine fight, he received treatment from the army command consisted of an escort for the pack train the next day until news of the presence of warriors surgeons, but died near midnight. Ibid., 50, 80, 90. along the Yellowstone turned him back to that river. of sixty-one mules in the charge of 1st Lt. John W. Thereafter, Crook was on his own. Bubb, Fourth Infantry. Mills's force was divided 61 This notation references Taylor's statement in into two battalions of seventy-five men each, one the preceding enlIy. At about 3 A.M., Companies G, 'I This stream was likely Whitney Creek. Mon­ under 1st Lt. Emmett Crawford, the other under 1st Fourth Infantry, and B, F, and I, Fourteenth Infan­ tana Atlas & Gazetteer, 64. Lt. Adolphus H. Von Luettwitz. Accompanying the try, posted themselves on the hills south and southwest of the village site, ready to meet any re­ 42 Capt. Daniel W. Burke (1841-1911), from Con­ battalions were two second lieutenants, George F. necticut, had served as an enlisted man and of­ Chase and Frederick Schwatka. Jerome A. Greene, turning warriors. A brief exchange took place at ficer in the Second Infantry during the Civil War. Slim Buttes, 1876: An Episode ofthe Great Sioux dawn as Crook's command pulled away from their Later serving as a captain with the Forty-fifth Infan­ War (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, bivouac and headed south, resuming the march try, he transferred to the Fourteenth in 1869. 1982),46-47. for the Black Hills. Greene, Slim Buttes, 90-92. The Black Hills mining community of Deadwood Heitman, Historical Register, 1:263. 62 Muster Roll, Company C, Fourteenth Infantry, City, situated on the Great Sioux Reservation in vio­ "The "north branch" is apparently the main August 31-0ctober 31, 1876. RG 94, National Ar­ lation of the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, lay ap­ chives. Enlistment papers of William W. Jordan, in branch of O'Fallon Creek. Montana Atlas & proximately 150 miles south of Crook's command. Gazetteer, 64. ibid; "Register of Enlistments," vol. 80 (1879), en­ Laid out in April 1876, Deadwood consisted, in try 52, 140, in ibid.; Pension File of William W. Jor­ 44 This "small stream" is probably Pennel Creek. fact, of an assortment of communities organized dan, SC 7825, National Archives. Jordan married Ibid., 51. around gold claims. The Deadwood boom was in Maria A. Donald in Beaver City, Utah, in 1878; she full heat during the summer of 1876. Watson 45 Reference is to the trail of Col. David S. died in 1909. At the time of his death from heart Parker, Gold in the Black Hills (Norman: University Stanley's Yellowstone Expedition of 1873, which disease at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, of Oklahoma Press, 1966),91-97 and passim. accompani'ed a surveying party of the Northern D.C., Jordan was drawing a pension of $20 per Pacific Railroad up the Yellowstone Valley to the 52 On September 5, because of the dearth of ra­ month based on his Indian wars service. He was landmark called Pompey's Pillar. Robert M. Utley, tions, General Crook decreed that abandoned cav­ buried in the national cemetery adjoining the Frontier Regulars: The United States Army and the alry horses would be shot for food at the rate of Soldier's Home.

Indian, 1866-1890 (New York: The Macmillan twelve per day (three per cavalry battalion). 63 Jordan severely injured his hand in this work, Company, 1973),242-43. Greene, Slim Buttes, 49. and the resulting impairment was likely the basis " In July and August 1864, Brig. Gen. Alfred Sully 53 Ibid. See also Hedren, Traveler's Guide, 76-79. for his leaving the service in 1885. Ten years later led a brigade of volunteer cavalry into the " an army comrade vouched for Jordan's injury on 54 For details of Mills's"attack, see Greene, Slim an application for pension increase: "While on Yellowstone-Missouri hinterland seeking to intimi­ Buttes, 59-66. Mills's report is in ibid., 132-35. An date various Sioux tribesmen. The trail encoun­ duty in [the] stone quarry at Camp Douglas, en­ account by Mills is in Greene, Battles and Skir­ gaged in rolling heavy rock, claimant cut the third tered along the Yellowstone River by Crook's men mishes, IIO-I5. in 1876 was that of Sully's return march to the finger of his right hand with a piece of rock; finger confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri and 55 Greene, Slim Buttes, 60, 66. became sore and has since been apparently use­

200 Diaries of the Great Sioux War

less to him; little finger of same hand appears also Life andAdventures ofFrank Grouard. Fourth Infantry and in October 1876 was promoted to have been disabled.... While in [post] hospi­ lieutenant colonel, Twenty-first Infantry. Heitman, 72 Julius Patzki (ca. 1838-1930), a native of tal he frequently visited the barrack room, and I Historical Register, 1:293-94. Prussia, had served with the New York artillery noticed his finger was bent ... and he complained during the Civil War, and in 1867 was appointed 79 Following later conflicts with the Nez Perces of suffering from said injury .... He has been assistant surgeon in the regular army. Promoted to and Bannocks, Nelson Miles remained along the crippled in the fingers since date of injury." major (surgeon) in 1889, Patzki retired in 1892. Yellowstone until 1880, when, promoted to regular .. "Indians and Indian Wars," book 3, Dawson Heitman, Historical Register, 1:776. army brigadier general, he took command of the Scrapbook, vol. 12, Colorado Historical Society, Department of the Columbia. In later years, Miles Denver. 73 The best Cody biography remains Don Russell, orchestrated Geronimo's final surrender, oversaw The Lives and Legends ofBuffalo Bill (Norman: army operations during the events leading to 65 This was 1st Sgt. Francis Gallagher of Company University of Oklahoma Press, 1960). Wounded Knee in 1890, and commanded the U.S. C. Willert, After Little Bighorn Campaign Rosters, 90. 74 There was no soldier named Shuttles in the Army during the Spanish-American War. Heitman, 66 Charles F. Uoyd (1851-1924) graduated from Fourteenth Infantry battalion (Companies B, C, F, Historical Register, 1:708-9. The best biography is the U.S. Military Academy in 1874, when he was and I). The closest sounding name is that of?vt. Robert Wooster, Nelson A. Miles and the Twilight commissioned second lieutenant in the Four­ Andrew Shields, Company I. Willert, After Little ofthe Frontier Army (Lincoln: University of Ne­ teenth Infantry. Uoyd resigned from the army in Bighorn Campaign Rosters, 90, 92. braska Press, 1993). For his activities in the 1883, but during the Spanish-American War served Yellowstone-Missouri country, see Greene, four months as lieutenant colonel of the Third U.S. 75 Capt. Andrew S. Burt (1839-1915), from Ohio, Yellowstone Command. Volunteer Cavalry. Heitman, Historical Register, enlisted in his state's infantry at the outbreak of Miles established the Tongue River Cantonment 1:637. Pvt. John Desmond appears in Willert, After the Civil War, but soon received a commission in in August 1876 at the confluence ofTongue River Little Bighorn Campaign Rosters, 89. the Eighteenth Infantry. Burt transferred to the with the Yellowstone River. In 1877 a larger post, Twenty-seventh Infantry in 1866, then to the Ninth Fort Keogh, superseded the cantonment a short 67 Apparently Pvt. Thaddeus ("Pat") Robinson. Infantry three years later. Heitman, Historical Reg­ Ibid.,90. distance away. It stood on the south bank of the ister, 1:267. Burt's years in the West are chronicled Yellowstone. From these posts, Miles and other of­ Indians, Infants, and Infantry: 68 The troops, as noted in the preceding diary, in Merrill 1. Mattes, ficers campaigned against several tribes, including had joined Crook's force on July 13. Andrew and Elizabeth Burt on the Frontier (Denver: the Lakotas and Northern Cheyennes. Frazer, Forts Old West Publishing Company, 1960). ofthe West, 82. 69 Contrast this account of the fire's cause to Taylor's. 76 Pvt. James Radcliff is listed in Willert, After The parenthetical reference to "now Gen. Miles," Little Bighorn Campaign Rosters, 90. as well as the mention of Fort Keogh, which was 7. Eugene A. Carr, appointed lieutenant colonel not named until 1877, constitute embellishments of the Fifth in 1873, he continued to command the 77 Radcliff did not compose the song, although that could not have been known to Jordan in regiment until July I, 1876, when Colonel Merritt he likely contrived new verses to fit the occasion, 1876. Likewise, although Cody performed on east­ assumed command. (Carr commanded the regi­ as became army custom. The song, "The Regular ern stages at this point in his career, he did not ment after joining Crook, who placed Merritt in Army, O'-most associated with the frontier start his Wild West show until 1883. These suggest charge of the entire cavalry brigade.) Carr later be­ army-was popularized in 1875 by two New York that Jordan modified his diary some time after the came colonel of the Sixth Cavalry, and advanced vaudevillians, Harrigan and Hart, and quickly events discussed, using notes or a previous diary to brigadier general in 1892. He retired in 1893 with found acceptance in the ranks. Innovative soldiers kept during the campaign. forty-six years of service. Heitman, Historical Regis­concocted a variety of verses, some obscene, to fit 80 Greene, Slim Buttes, 97-111. ter, 1:285. A full-length biography is James T. King, their circumstances when on the march. Those War Eagle: A Life ofGeneral E. A. Carr (Lincoln: > Jordan ascribed to Private Radcliff appear to be 8' Foodstuffs also arrived from Crook City, on> University of Nebraska Press, 1963). modifications of known verses. Don Rickey, Jr., Whitewood Creek, east of Deadwood and in the Wesley Merritt (1834-1910), who graduated from Forty Miles a Day on Beans and Hay: The Enlisted foothills of the Black Hills. Greene, Slim Buttes, West Point in 1860, was one of Lieutenant General Soldier Fighting the Indian Wars (Norman: Univer­ 105. Crook City is described in Parker, Gold in the Sheridan's favorite officers going back to the Civil sity of Oklahoma Press, 1963), 189-90. That the Black Hills, 97.

War and had emerged from the war a genuine song, with contemporary applicable verses, was 82 For an in-depth study of the post during its hero. He later won promotion to brigadier general, also sung by members of the Fifth Cavalry during early years, see Thomas R. Buecker, "A History of superintended the Military Academy, and in 1895 the 1876 campaign is confirmed in King, Cam­Camp Robinson, Nebraska, 1874-1878" (Master's was advanced to major general, commanding the paigning with Crook, 148-50. thesis, Chadron State College, 1992). For the activi­ Division of the Missouri. Heitman, Historical Regis­ 78 Maj. Alexander Chambers (1832-88), gradu­ ties of certain Fourteenth Infantry officers as In­ ter, 1:706; Greene, Slim Buttes, 124-25. A full­ ated from West Point in 1853 and served as a lieu­ dian agents at Red Cloud Agency during the sub­ length biography of Merritt is in Don E. Alberts, tenant in the Fifth Infantry until 1861. After service sequent year, see Buecker and R. Eli Paul, eds., Brandy Station to Manila Bay: A Biography ofGen­in the Civil War he became captain in the Twenty­ The Crazy Horse Surrender Ledger (Lincoln: Ne­ eral Wesley Merritt (Austin: Presidial Press, 1980). seventh and Eighteenth infantry regiments, then braska State Historical Society, 1994). 71 A controversial player in the events. of 1876 transferred as major to the Twenty-second and and 1877, Grouard's autobiography is in DeBarthe, later to the Tenth regiment. In 1870 he joined the

201