Winter Journal 2016.Pub

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Maus’ cinematic-like life is reminiscent of Zelig, a earthquake. Talking with Maus must have been like 1983 mock documentary written and directed by reading a primer of late 19th- and early 20th-century Woody Allen. The title character has an uncanny American history. How fortunate for the guests of knack for meeting historic personalities of the 1920s, New Windsor’s Dielman Inn to sit down and dine from Charles Lindbergh to Charlie Chaplin. Marion with such a living legend. Perry Maus was a Zelig-like character who came to know Geronimo, Chief Joseph, Black Jack Pershing, and Buffalo Bill and to participate in a litany of epic Sources: events from Wounded Knee and the Spanish “Aged Officer Dies at New Windsor Inn,” Union Bridge (Md.) American War to the 1906 San Francisco The Pilot, February 14, 1930. Fifer, Barbara, Montana Battlefields 1806-1877: Native AN INDIAN FIGHTER IN NEW WINDSOR? INTRODUCING MARION PERRY MAUS Americans and the U.S. Army at War (Helena, Montana: BY FRANK J. BATAVICK Faircountry Press, 2005) Greene, Jerome A. and Josephy, Alvin M., Nez Perce Summer, 1877: The U.S. Army and the Nee-Me-Poo Crisis (Helena: he long, brutal Civil War was The U.S. government soon realized Montana Historical Society Press, 2000) over, and a fractured nation that something had to be done to http://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/nepe/greene/ T notes11.htm for “Nez Perce, National Historic Park, Big mourned its president’s death. The guarantee the safety of the tens of Hole National Battlefield Chapter 11, No. 53” year was 1865, and as roughly thousands of settlers pursuing Interviews with Julia Roop Cairns, March 4, 1998 and Charles 800,000 men mustered out of the America’s Manifest Destiny. Enter Lovell, November 15, 2011, New Windsor, Md. (New Union and Confederate armies, the Indian fighter and the storied Windsor Heritage) many of them sought a fresh start. soldier Marion Perry Maus Keenan, Jerry, The Life of Yellowstone Kelly (Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2006) Throughout his life, Horace (pronounced “Moss”). He enjoyed a Miles, Nelson A., Personal Recollections and Observations of Greeley (1811-1872), editor of the career worthy of the Hollywood General Nelson A. Miles, (Chicago, New York: The New-York Tribune, advised “all screen, and when he retired from the Werner Company, 1896) (Lincoln: University of Nebraska who are in want of work, Go Army, he boxed up his medals and Press, 1992.) West!” And that is exactly what memories and moved to the Rockville News, Section 3, p. 10, Washington Times, June 4, 1905 countless veterans did. The golden tranquility of New Windsor, where Settlers & Native Americans in the West 1865-1900, U.S. states of California, Nevada, and he spent his twilight years. Though History II, people.sunyulster.edu/VoughtH/Western% Oregon beckoned in each sunset, the Maus name can be found among 20Settlers%20&%20Indians.ppt but there were ten untamed Carroll County’s earliest inhabitants territories standing in the way, and Captain Maus, Indian Fighter, as and is part of the Reifsnider family About the author: Frank Batavick is a veteran of more they were far from uninhabited. illustrated by Frederic Remington. tree, research shows no certain local than 40 years in the television industry as a writer, (Public Domain-United States) genealogical connection to our producer, and director, including 16 years with Maryland A quarter of a million Native famous subject. Brigadier General Marion P. Maus, c.1912. Note Public TV. Frank is vice-chairman of the HSCC board of Americans lived in the Great Plains. Some, like the Congressional Medal of Honor suspended from collar. trustees and a co-founder of the New Windsor Heritage Pawnee and Omaha, were farmers and dwelled along Regardless, Maus was a Maryland product through (George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress) group. He and his wife, Dori, reside in Westminster. the Missouri River. Others, like the Cheyenne, and through. Born in Burnt Mills, now a section of Comanche, and Sioux, were nomadic warriors who Silver Spring, on August 25, 1849, he was the son of hunted buffalo on horseback in the High Plains, and Mary and Isaac R. Maus. Isaac was a superintendent PUBLICATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS: © 2016 these tribes had no intention of surrendering their on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and a descendant

The Historical Society of Carroll County, Maryland, Inc. native lands without a fight. Once the pioneers of a soldier in the Colonial and Revolutionary Wars. Frank J. Batavick, editor 210 East Main Street managed to get through the Great Plains and head Marion was one of nine children, and a younger Mary Ann Ashcraft Westminster, Maryland 21157 Southwest, they then had to confront the fierce brother, Louis Mervin Maus, followed him into the Samuel T. Brainerd Phone: 410-848-6494 Fax: 410-848-3596 Eleanor S. Darcy Apaches who dwelled in parts of Texas and the military and rose to the rank of colonel and assistant Email: [email protected] Website: www.HSCCmd.org James E. Lightner territories of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and in surgeon general. Sharon B. Schuster northern Mexico. If the pioneers steered their wagons toward the great Northwest instead, they As a boy, Marion Maus anxiously followed the Catherine E. Baty, Curator of Collections would meet the challenges of tribes like the Nez outbreak of hostilities between North and South and Perce who inhabited parts of the state of Oregon and became consumed by soldiers and warfare. His Gainor B. Davis, Executive Director James E. Lightner, Chair, Board of Trustees the territories of Washington, Montana, and Idaho. parents sent him to Charlotte Hall Military Academy Page 2 Page 7

in St. Mary’s County for his Grant. But, settlers continued to Viewing hostile Indian camp (left to right) Buffalo Bill Cody, General Nelson A. Miles, Captain Frank Baldwin, and Captain education. Now the Charlotte Hall move into the area and clash with Marion P. Maus, 1891. (John C. H. Grabill Collection, Library Veterans Home, the school dates them, and Grant rescinded the of Congress) (Wikimedia Commons, PD-US) to 1774 when it was founded “to order in 1874, leaving the tribe provide for the liberal and pious without a land to call its own. education of the youth of this Maryland food. Their comings and goings were providence—the better to fit them When three Nez Perce were regularly reported in the society columns of for the discharge of their duties.” murdered by whites who went local papers. The inn closed to the general Maus must have excelled there unpunished, tensions increased, public in 1927, but one of the surviving Dielman because his next stop was the U.S. and the Secretary of the Interior sisters, Carolina, continued to offer Military Academy at West Point, appointed a five-man commission accommodations to friends and special visitors New York, as a member of the in 1876 to resolve the conflict. It like the Mauses long after this date. Class of 1874. arranged a meeting with the powerful Chief Joseph at Fort Old-time New Windsor residents remembered Upon graduation from West Lapwai, but the sides failed to the retired general taking walks around town and Point, Maus was commissioned as come to an agreement. In attending services at St. Paul United Methodist a second lieutenant, assigned to response, the commission ruled in Church across from the inn. Maus also rode the 1st Infantry on the Western May 1877 that the Nez Perce were Around 1917 Maus and his wife came for a stay at about in a fancy, blue Jordan roadster with a canvas West Point yearbook photograph of Cadet frontier, and attached to the Marion P. Maus. (Special Collections, to resettle onto a reservation in the the genteel 43-room Dielman Inn in New Windsor. top, running boards, and a large spotlight. command of Colonel Nelson United States Military Academy Library) west-central Idaho Territory They must have enjoyed their time there because Frequently, local resident Sam Hill dressed in livery Appleton Miles. Miles was a within 30 days or be forced by the they returned every summer until 1930. Their and took the wheel as he chauffeured the Mauses ferocious fighter who had Army to do so. To fight back, quarters were two rooms on the second floor of a throughout the county, often with the top down. distinguished himself in the Civil War at numerous warriors killed nine settlers in two separate incidents. brick section of the inn fronting High Street, only battles, including Antietam and Fredericksburg. His On June 14, ninety soldiers left Fort Lapwai to drive accessible by outside steps leading to a balcony door. Maus apparently began to have health problems by assignment was to subdue the Northern Cheyenne the Indians onto the reservation, and the Nez Perce 1924. The Frederick Post reported on August 6 that and Sitting Bull’s Sioux in the Black Hills of South War of 1877 had begun. Operated by the Louis W. Dielman family, the inn he had been driving his roadster down the city’s Dakota. This mission became paramount after the attracted visitors from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Market Street “in a reckless and mysterious manner 1876 massacre of General George A. Custer and the At first, the Indians had the upper hand, beating the Washington seeking to escape the summer heat. and crashed into an obstacle at the Baltimore and 7th Cavalry at Little Bighorn. Army convincingly at White Bird Guests staged plays, played games, sang songs, went Ohio Station.” Police initially thought he had been Canyon in Idaho on June 17. horseback riding through the countryside, and drinking, but a Dr. McCurdy diagnosed him with Miles’ campaign was instrumental Fighting continued through the enjoyed the inn’s boxwood gardens and fresh apoplexy. Authorities contacted Mrs. Maus in New in bringing the Great Sioux War to summer and fall, with the Indians Windsor, and she admitted that he had an end in 1877, forcing Sitting often besting the Army, even not been feeling well that morning and a Bull to flee to Canada. Miles and though they sometimes numbered few months previous had “had a slight his troops, including Maus, were just a few hundred braves versus stroke of paralysis.” She asked that he then assigned to Oregon to pacify several thousand soldiers, many be taken to a hospital, and he was sent to the Nez Perce. The Nez Perce hardened in battle by the Civil Walter Reed in Washington. (French for “pierced nose”) War. Joseph, Looking Glass, and Indians dwelled in Oregon’s the other chiefs of the Nez Perce Maus was to enjoy another six years of Wallowa Valley and had been decided that it would be best to retirement before peacefully dying in his considered peaceful over the years head for the sanctuary of Canada, sleep at the Dielman Inn on February 9, because of their record of assisting and many of the battles took place 1930, at age 80. He was survived by his and resupplying the Lewis and during their long march. wife, Mattie Lindsay; one brother, Clark expedition in 1804 and the Colonel L. M. Maus; and a sister, Mrs. Bonneville expedition in the The official accounts mention James F. Allen. Maus and Lindsay had 1830s. In 1873 the Nez Perce Maus sparingly during this time. no children. Maus was buried in were granted half the Wallowa He was made chief of scouts and Arlington National Cemetery. His wife, Valley by an executive order Chief Joseph of the Wal-lam-wat-kain put in charge of a party of 32 who died in 1936, is buried with him. (Wallowa) band of Nez Perce Indians, 1900. Postcard of Dielman Inn, New Windsor, c.1912. The Mauses stayed in the signed by President Ulysses S. (Library of Congress) (PD-US) Cheyenne and three white scouts, building at far right. (New Windsor Heritage) Page 6 Page 3

Medal of Honor for “most distinguished gallantry in and on September 29 the group Monument to Nez Perce Indian Wars, action with hostile Apaches led by Geronimo and happened upon 15 or 20 Nez Perce graves of soldiers and civilian scouts killed, White Bird Canyon, Idaho, c.1883. Natchez.” It was not until January 21, 1907, that the warriors. After a fierce fight, two (National Archives and Records Indian Wars Medal was established by the War warriors lay wounded or dead, and Administration) (PD-US) Department. Maus, Miles, and others were then Maus and his men had captured 14 decorated for their brave service in the Indian Indian ponies. In at least one later Canada to join Sitting Bull and Campaigns between 1865 and 1891. account written by a scout, the Sioux. It was at this moment Yellowstone Kelly, Maus claimed of bitter defeat that Joseph is Marion Maus remained close friends with Miles who to have also captured 14 warriors. credited with delivering a poetic had become the Commanding General of the U.S. Later that day, Miles sent Maus and heart-breaking speech to Army. Maus served as an aide to him in Washington and five others to locate the main none other than the 27-year-old from 1897 to 1899. They went on an inspection tour group of Nez Perce, for whom they Second Lieutenant Maus. of Europe where they witnessed the Greco-Turkish searched unsuccessfully until dark. Joseph’s words ended with the War and maneuvers of the Russian, German, and famous lament, “Hear me, my French armies. During the Spanish American War, In October, a truce had been chiefs! I am tired. My heart is Miles commanded forces in Cuba where he saw the arranged, but a frustrated Miles sick and sad. From where the sun surrender of Santiago de Cuba in 1898 and led the violated it by seizing Chief Joseph now stands I will fight no more invasion of Puerto Rico. That same year, Maus was as he departed from their forever.” promoted to lieutenant colonel and sent with the 1st unsuccessful peace talks. The Nez Battalion, 22nd Infantry, to Mindanao in the Perce bartered Joseph’s freedom After the conclusion of the Nez Philippines, seeing considerable action subduing with their own prisoner, Second Perce war, Maus was promoted to insurrectionists and the fierce Moro tribesmen along Lieutenant Lovell H. Jerome, who first lieutenant in 1879. He was the Taraca River. had strayed into the enemy’s camp assigned to Texas in 1880 and to during the talks. Yellowstone Kelly was an the Arizona Territory in 1882. But it was in 1885 In June 1899, Maus found time to wed Mattie Poor-Maus Wedding Party, Skaneateles, N.Y., 1899. (Halstead- eyewitness to the event, and he described Miles, that he faced his biggest challenge: the capture of the Lindsay Poor, a socialite from Skaneateles, New Maus Photograph Collection, United States Army Heritage and Maus, and Chief Joseph walking out to meet the notorious Apache chief Geronimo. He and his band Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania) York, whom he met in Washington, D.C. More than Indians to make the trade, with Maus holding a white of guerillas were making bloody raids into Arizona, 3,400 wedding invitations were mailed, and the flag. They nervously made the exchange under the slaughtering whites, friendly Indians, and cattle, and Skaneateles Free Press dubbed it, “One of the most protective rifles of the Army camp. then disappearing into Mexico’s rugged Sierra brilliant social events in the history of Skaneateles.” President Theodore Roosevelt promoted Maus to Madre Mountains where they The bridegroom and seven ushers arrived in the Brigadier General in 1906, and he then commanded By October, the Nez Perce had established a base camp. private railroad car of General Miles. The dashing the Northwest’s Department of the Columbia until had traveled more than 1,100 Major John “Black Jack” Pershing, future general 1911 when he assumed command of a brigade of the miles with their women and Geronimo’s Apache name was and commander of the American forces in France in 2nd Division in San Antonio, Texas. His next stop children in tow, and they Goyathlay, meaning “the one World War I, danced with many of the ladies at the was as commander of a brigade of the 1st Division at were hungry, weary, and who yawns,” but his exploits reception. Albany, New York, from which he retired in 1913. cold. When they reached left little room for sleep or Bear Paw Mountain in boredom. Legend has it that After their wedding, the couple took up residence in After his many exotic travels and assignments, Maus Montana Territory, they Mexican soldiers dubbed him the Hotel Richelieu in San Francisco. There Maus chose to return to his native state and took up engaged the Army for the Geronimo as they pleaded served as the Inspector General of California and the residence in Rockville, Maryland. He was a member last time from late September with San Jerónimo, or St. military Department of the Columbia. In 1904 he of the Order of Veterans of Indian Wars and through early October 1877. Jerome, for help and was promoted to colonel of the 20th U.S. Infantry and presumably stayed busy with related activities. In After a number of protection during a battle on was again sent to the Philippines. Returning to 1913 Maus and Miles starred in a documentary with skirmishes, Chief Joseph, the saint’s feast day. California in 1906, Maus was temporary commander William “Buffalo Bill” Cody about the Indian with 380 Nez Perce, finally Geronimo was fighting the of the Division of the Pacific and directed the troops campaign titled Wars of Civilization. Produced with surrendered to Colonel Miles invasion of the Apache that maintained order after the April 18th San the assistance of the Department of War, the film and his superior, General Francisco earthquake that claimed 3,000 lives and used 1,000 Sioux as extras to recreate a number of Oliver O. Howard. Chief devastated 80 percent of the city. famous battles, including Wounded Knee. White Bird and some other Nez Perce Warrior. Photograph by Indians managed to escape to Edward S. Curtis, c.1910. (U.S. Copyright Office) (PD-US) Page 4 Page 5

Geronimo. Photograph by Ben Wittick, 1877. Amidst the sudden confusion of the intoxicating mescal, Geronimo and a small group Soon after this episode, Geronimo had the panache (National Archives and Records languages, too many anxious trigger Administration) (PD-US) escaped once again into the mountains. Perhaps to send a letter to General Crook, recommending that fingers, and the presence of Apache Maus had given him too much deference as a chief Maus be officially awarded for his actions and noting scouts whom the Mexicans took for by not putting him in chains and believing the arrival that his bravery and marksmanship were the ancestral lands in Mexico and hostiles, shots rang out. The of Crook was imminent. Thus, the wily Apache had difference between life and death for the soldiers. Arizona by whites, and he became Mexican commander, Major outsmarted the U.S. again and, in the process, especially vengeful when Spanish Mauricio Corredor, and a number of disposed of his wife and a rival chief. Regardless, Geronimo finally surrendered in 1886. However, the troops killed his mother, wife, and the scouts were killed, and Crawford Maus was to gain some fame for “capturing” terms of his incarceration were quite liberal, and his three children in 1858. In battle, he lay dying with a head wound. Maus Geronimo, albeit for a short period of time. General notoriety made him a major attraction at the 1904 appeared invulnerable to bullets, and suddenly found himself in charge, Crook was not so fortunate. The War Department Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis where he legends grew about his suspected and he quickly redeployed his scouts reprimanded him for the failed mission, and he sold souvenirs. Still a prisoner of war, he even rode magical powers. and managed to fend off the superior resigned his command. in President Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural parade Mexican force. in 1905. Brigadier General George Crook It is revealing of Maus’ character that his account sent two forces on the November When Maus began the journey back does not mention a moment of exceptional bravery Maus received the Silver Star for gallantry and was 1885 mission. One was to go into to the U.S. seeking care for the that became part of the official record of the Apache promoted to captain in 1890. He then became a the state of Chihuahua, and the wounded, he was approached by an campaign. During the Army’s long hunt for combatant in the 1890-1894 campaign against the second, commanded by Captain Indian woman who told him Geronimo, he and his warriors ambushed Maus and Sioux Indians and was twice wounded. Emmet Crawford, 3rd Cavalry, Geronimo wanted to talk. Maus his scouts in a narrow pass. One of the Maus, and three other officers, was arranged a meeting with him and accompanying troopers was wounded and lay The efforts of the Army to subdue the Native sent to the state of Sonora. Maus some other chiefs, including exposed to additional gunfire. Maus, who had taken American population are full of tales of heroism and was given command of a battalion of 100 hand- Natchez, and Geronimo asked Maus why he had cover behind a rock, crawled out and dragged him to adventure, but they also mark a troubling chapter in picked Apache scouts who were familiar with the come. Maus answered, “I came to capture or destroy safety, shooting and killing several Apaches who American history. This was never truer than at terrain. The cat and mouse game had begun, and the you and your band.” Geronimo supposedly rose and rushed to stop him. He then caught sight of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, considered the last chase spilled over into 1886. shook his hand, congratulating him for his honesty. Geronimo himself high above. Maus took aim and battle of the Indian Wars, if it can even be called a Maus explained that they should surrender to him fired. The bullet just missed the chief’s head, battle. In 1890, a detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry The best account of these events is in Maus’ own because the Mexican Army was bent on killing them ricocheting off a covering rock and showering debris Regiment went into a Lakota camp at Wounded words, published as part of General Miles’ 1896 in the field. Geronimo promised to discuss over his face. Temporarily blinded, he called for his Knee Creek to disarm the Indians. A scuffle broke memoir. After Crawford’s force had penetrated more surrendering with General Crook in “two moons” band to retreat. out, and then a shot was fired. The cavalry panicked than 200 miles into the and offered his wife, a chief, and started shooting rifles, pistols, and cannon from mountains, it discovered the a brave, another chief’s wife, all sides, killing men, women, and children, as well Apache camp and decided to and some of their children as as some of their fellow soldiers. By the time it was raid it at dawn. But braying collateral. Maus accepted and over, 175 Lakota lay dead and 51 were wounded. Apache burros betrayed their took off with his captives. Twenty-five soldiers also died. This horrific day still presence, and the carbines of lives in infamy in the memory of all Indian nations. Indian look-outs punctuated Almost as soon as Maus the half-light with fire. This returned to the New Mexico Maus was on the command staff assigned to spurred most of the Apaches Territory after a trek of more investigate the massacre, one of the worst in to escape into the craggy than 1,000 miles, General American history. His commanding general was surroundings before Crook sent him back out to none other than Nelson Miles, and he and Maus Crawford could mount an locate Geronimo. His visited the site the next day. Miles described it as attack. Meanwhile, Mexican emissaries again sought out “The most abominable criminal military blunder . . .” soldiers, also on a quest for Maus, who instructed them to Geronimo and Apache return with the chief. When In November 1894 Maus belatedly received the scalps, came upon the scene. they did, Geronimo and Maus nation’s highest military award—the Congressional spoke almost daily while awaiting the arrival of Maus shooting at Apache fleeing General Crook. Then, after a Geronimo, Chiricahua Apache leader. Photograph by Frank A. surprise attack, as illustrated by night of revelry and drinking Rinehart, 1898. (Rinehart Indian Photographs collection, Haskell Frederic Remington. (PD-US) ) Indian Nations University) (PD-US) Page 4 Page 5