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Article Title: “‘The Men Behaved Splendidly,’ Guy V Henry’s Famous Cavalry Rides”

Full Citation: Thomas R Buecker, “‘The Men Behaved Splendidly,’ Guy V Henry’s Famous Cavalry Rides,” Nebraska History 78 (1997): 54-63.

URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1997GuyHenry.pdf Date: 7/7/2010

Article Summary: Captain Guy V Henry commanded troops from Fort Robinson, Nebraska, on two winter marches, sixteen years apart: in 1874 and 1890.

Cataloging Information:

Names: George A Custer, John Gordon, H W Bingham, Thomas M Tolman, Alfred H Terry, Robert H Ottley, Columbus Delano, William W Belknap, Luther P Bradley, Edward O C Ord, William H Jordan, William L Carpenter, Raymond [a white frontiersman guide into the Hills], John H Bridgeman, Dr John A Ridgely, James B Fry, Richard I Dodge, , Nelson A Miles, William O Wilson, Cyrus T Brady, Falling Stars, Guy V Henry Jr, Rain-in-the-Face

Place Names: Fort Robinson; Fort Sully; ; Elkhorn River; Niobrara River; River; ; Agency; Fort Laramie; Elk Creek; Agency; Camp Robinson; Camp Sheridan; White River; Wounded Knee Creek; Badlands; Ash Springs; ; Drexel Mission; Chadron, Nebraska; Custer, ; Standing Rock Agency; Omaha

Keywords: Minneconjou Lakota; Brule; Fort Laramie Treaty; ; Gordon Party; Hunkpapa; Company D; Buffalo Soldiers; Ninth Cavalry; Army and Navy Journal; Cheyenne Daily Leader; Ghost Dancers; Cuny Table; Wounded Knee; Seventh Cavalry; Harper’s Weekly; Indian Fights and Fighters

Photographs / Images: Major Guy V Henry on his horse “George,” Bellevue, Nebraska, 1890s; Map of 1874-1875 Ride; Richard I Dodge illustration of “Winter on the Plains—A Terrible Experience in the Teeth of a Norther,” published in Our Wild Indians, 1884; Officers of the Ninth Cavalry at Pine Ridge Agency, 1890-91 with Guy V Henry; Map of 1890 Ride; Troop K of the Ninth Cavalry at Pine Ridge Agency, 1890-91

"

'Guy V. Henry's ~amous (avail)! R~de§

By Thomas R. Buecker

One great ride ina cavalryman's career to some enterprising whites the reward Custer, South Dakota), where traces of would stand as a fitting testament, but was worth the risk. The job of prevent­ gold had been found on French Creek. two such feats would seem without pre­ ing their illegal entry into the dangerous Anxious to commence prospecting, the cedent. However, one man, Guy V. yet tempting Sioux domain fell to the Gordon party made its last camp and Henry, Sr., a noted Army United States Army. The army under­ began construction of a substantial log officer during the Indian Wars period, took the task, ill-prepared as it was, to stockade.5 did just that. He commanded troops prevent a war that any white invasion of Evidently the Sioux who saw the party from Fort Robinson, Nebraska, on two the Hills would undoubtedly bring.3 crossing Cheyenne River reported them marches-separated by sixteen years­ To the military the assignment of to H. W. Bingham, the Indian agent for that became a celebrated part of west­ keeping miners out was a virtual impos­ the Cheyenne River Agency, some dis­ ern military lore. Those memorable epi­ sibility. With the vast open territory tance to the east on the Missouri River. sodes, along with his reputation as a around the Hills, bands of miners could Bingham quickly contacted Captain Rob­ "born soldier" and a "noble and genu­ slip in from several directions. Because ert H. Offley, post commander at Fort ine Christian gentleman," have long there were no nearby posts or canton­ Sully, seven miles below the agency, for been remembered. 1 The details of ments, any field deployment of troops troops to pursue and eject the intruders. Henry's rides seem to confirm these presented the army with huge logistical On December 5, Offley received orders high opinions. problems. The difficulty of pursuit and to act on Bingham's request. He sent In the fall of 1874 Capt. Guy V. Henry supply would only be compounded in Captain Thomas M. Tolman with twenty­ commanded Company D, Third Cavalry, the winter months. Cold weather did not one First Infantry soldiers, temporarily stationed at Camp Robinson near Red keep out small, daring groups of miners mounted, to chase the reported miners. Cloud Agency in northwest Nebraska. seeking the promised riches.4 Agent Bingham also accompanied the Rumors abounded that parties of miners In early October 1874 a small party of detachment. had entered the mysterious and forbid­ adventurers organized by John Gordon Department of Dakota commanding den Black Hills of . Sev­ left Sioux City, Iowa, for the Black Hills. general Alfred H. Terry, from his head­ eral months previous a large army col­ The so-called "Gordon Party" consisted quarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, had res­ umn led by Lt. Col. George A. Custer of twenty-six men, one woman with a ervations about not sending cavalry on legally entered the Hills on a reconnais­ small boy, and six wagons. They incon­ the pursuit, but the only regularly sance expedition. Miners accompanying spicuously traveled westward along the mounted troops in the departinent were the expedition found gold, confirming a Elkhorn and Niobrara River valleys into companies of the Seventh Cavalry sta­ fact known to westemers for several de­ northwest Nebraska. Hoping to avoid tioned at posts far distant from Fort cades. Reports of their findings spurred any contact, the party then followed the Sully. The regiment had recently partici­ considerable interest, regardless of the White River into the Dakota Badlands. pated in the arrest of the Hunkpapa treaty forbidding whites to enter the As the party reached the Cheyenne . chief Rain-in-the-Face at the Standing Black Hills region. 2 River, it was spotted by Sioux Indians Rock Agency far to the north. Terry wor­ The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty estab­ and again as it moved up Elk Creek. Un­ ried over the excitement and unrest his lished the bounds of the Great Sioux daunted by being discovered, the Gor­ capture stirred among Standing Rock In­ Reservation, which included the Black don party traveled north along the east­ dians, explaining "I am unwilling to Hills. The treaty also prohibited unau­ ern slope of the Hills to Bear Butte. Here weaken Custer just at present."6 thorized entry into the Hills; however, it entered the Hills proper and followed Meanwhile, on December 6 the small Custer's trail south to the interior. On force of mounted infantry left Fort Sully. Thomas R. Buecker is curator ofthe Nebraska December 23 the party reached the site It quickly moved west and actually fol­ State Historical Socif!/y's Fort Robinson Museum. of Custer's main camp (near present lowed the Gordon party thirty miles into

54 Guy V. Henry's Famous Cavalry Rides the Black Hills, "at times close behind."7 ley ordered Capt. Guy V. Henry, Third Point in 1861, he eventually com­ But Tolman's horses gave out, and he de­ Cavalry, at Camp Robinson to find the manded the Fortieth Massachusetts Vol­ cided it best to give up the pursuit and reported trespassers. A small but mobile unteer Infantry through much of the return to the post. The detachment was force under Henry's command was to Civil War. During the war he received in the field for eighteen days and rode proceed from Robinson to Camp repeated brevets for "gallantry and meri­ more than four hundred miles. While on Sheridan, the military post at Spotted torious service in action" and by war's the outbound march, Tolman had a con­ Tail, to pick up as its guide the Indian end held the rank of brigadier general ference with some "hostile" chiefs who who saw the party. Henry was then to of volunteers. He was later awarded the wanted to send their young men after the march to the Black Hills "to discover Medal of Honor for actions at the Battle miners. They promised to await word of and expel a party of miners reported as of Cold Harbor. After the war Henry be­ the success of his pursuit. General Terry having been on Elk Creek." II Capt. Will­ came a captain in the Third Cavalry and was openly chagrined over Tolman's ac­ iam H. Jordan, post commander at served in Arizona Territory against the tions in counseling with the Indians: Camp Robinson, was to assign one lieu­ Apaches. In 1871 the regiment moved to "Captain Tolman seems to have con­ tenant and enough enlisted men from the northern Plains, and Henry served at verted his expedition from one intended the Ninth Infantry to increase Henry's several stations in the Department of the to drive out those lawbreakers into one field strength to fifty men. Platte. On November 12, 1874, he and for their protection."8 By this time in his career, Guy Henry his company reported for duty at Camp After the detachment returned, agent was a respected and experienced troop Robinson near the turbulent Red Cloud Bingham telegraphed the commissioner commander. Graduating from West Agency. 12 of Indian affairs that "troops should be .. '-'--:-.-:--;';7---:-:-":.::'"?-~:.:~~-----·· . sent at once to drive out the miners." '-.';." Secretary of the Interior Columbus Delano concurred and admonished Sec­ retary of War William W. Belknap to use "the most effective measures within the powers of the War Department ... to­ ward all persons making encroach­ ments upon said territory," and that "all intruders be pursued, overtaken, and expelled from it."9 On December 17 an Indian called Falling or Twenty Stars reached Spotted Tail Agency, the Brule agency forty miles northeast of Red Cloud Agency. There he reported that twelve days ear­ lier, he had met twenty-one whites with six wagon teams on Elk Creek. Word of the intruders was quickly sent to District of the Black Hills headquarters at Fort Laramie. District commander Lt. Col. Luther P. Bradley telegraphed the news to Brig. Gen. Edward O. C. Ord at De­ partment of the Platte headquarters in Omaha. On December 22 Ord passed the reported sighting to Division of the Missouri headquarters and asked if he should send out a cavalry company to intercept the miners. The next day he received approval from the division. 10 That same day (December 23) Brad­ ley at Fort Laramie was notified to send Maj. Guy V. Henry on his horse, "George," at the army's Bellevue, Nebraska, rifle out troops as soon as the weather per­ range, 1890s. Henry rode George during the winter march at Wounded Knee. mitted. In a hastily written dispatch Brad­ Courtesy U.S. Army Military History Institute

55 Nebraska History - Summer 1997

After word of the deployment was received by mounted courier at Camp Robinson on December 24. arrangements for Henry's winter march were quickly made. As per orders Captain Henry and thirty-six enlisted men of Company D /"'... were joined by 1st Lt. William L. Carpen­ NORTH ter. Ninth Infantry. and twelve enlisted men from the various companies of that regiment at the post. The command gath­ ered rations and forage for thirty days and "a plentiful allowance of ammuni­ tion" that was carried by twelve wagons. apparently to be driven by the infantry­ 11874-1875 Ride 1 meri. Wall tents with Sibley stoves-bor­ rowed from the infantry companies at Camp Robinson-were taken to shelter Gordon Camp • the soldiers while in overnight camp. Dec. 23, 1874 Likewise. horse blankets were taken to protect the 140 horses and mules carry­ ing the men and supplies. 13 Departure for the "expedition to the Black Hills" was set for December 26. Henry later recalled. "The day after Christmas the command ... bidding adieu to families and friends. started on our march into the wilderness." 14 Be­ sides having an expectant wife. field ser­ vice brought other concerns. That fall had seen particular unrest among the Sioux at Red Cloud Agency. To Henry the Indians "were far from friendly. and were liable to break out at a moment's notice. The knowledge of all this made our farewell a sad one."IS As the detachment left Camp Robinson. Bradley telegraphed Ord that Spotted Tail Agencl he thought the assigned search would require several companies. not just one. Camp Sheridan He was also concerned about snow in the Hills and thought a force sent on such duty would need supplies for at o 20 MILES least sixty days. Ord was also concerned L....__-'--_---'. about the winter weather and as a con­ sequence did not want to place addi­ "put the oldest inhabitants to comparing tions. The writer from Red Cloud also tional troops in the field. Henry's com­ dates. and they have at last arrived at noted. "We fear we may yet hear of mand would be alone on this difficult the conclusion that since the winter of . great loss of life." 17 mission. 16 1848-9 they have never known it to get On the evening of December 26. Unfortunately for Captain Henry and up and howl as it has done." During the Henry's command made camp halfway his soldiers. the winter of 1874-75 last of December and into January. tem­ to Camp Sheridan. the troops having en­ proved to be one of the most severe on peratures in the double digits below joyed comparatively mild weather. The record. A correspondent from Red zero were reported with uncomfortable first night's camp was made with Cloud Agency wrote the cold snap had frequency from all upper Plains loca­ "horses under the shelter of a bank"

56 Guy V. Henry's Famous Cavalry Rides with blanket covers; the men in their Here are found what scientists regard as He had wanted to return by way of tents, with stoves, were comfortable. IB the richest deposits of bone, backs of the Cheyenne River, following it until turtles, etc. It may be easily imagined, Camp Sheridan was reached the next however, that under the circumstances they were directly north of Camp . evening. Henry found that Falling, the this subject did not occupy our thoughts.21 Robinson, but his wagons were begm­ Sioux guide, could not be persuaded to ningto break down, and following the Camp on New Year's Eve was at Ash accompany the command. Prudently Cheyenne route might bring unknown Springs, between White River and the fearing the weather, neither he nor any hazards. There was also the chance of a Cheyenne. On New Year's Day the sol­ other Indian would agree to guide the heavy snow at any moment, so he chose diers crossed the divide and camped on troops to the Hills. Finally a white fr~n­ the route they knew. " the Cheyenne. When the comman~ tiersman named Raymond offered hIs The return march through the Bad­ crossed the river, Raymond, the gUIde, services. Henry found out that Raymond lands was tough on men, horses, and said he would prospect a little. He rea­ was an "old soldier" and well ac­ equipment. It once took three hours for soned if there was gold in the Hills it quainted with the country. Besides serv­ the wagons to ascend a hill. One of the would show in the Cheyenne. All Henry ing as a guide, he could als? act a~ an wagons was so badly damaged it had to saw him accomplish, however, was to interpreter "in case of meetmg IndIans be abandoned. It was the only govern­ thaw out a couple of frozen fmgers.· 22 so that the object of our trip could be ment property lost on the expedition, al­ Meanwhile, back at district head­ explained and no trouble :aused: Be- , though five other wagons broke down at quarters the military authoriti~ trie~ to fore leaving, Henry drew five more days one time or another.25 Luckily for the enlist Sioux assistance in locatmg mmer rations for his men. 19 suffering command the wind was light trespassers. Bradley ordered th~ com­ On the morning of December 28 the and at their backs for several days. manding officers at Camps Robmso~ troops left Camp Sheridan, marching to When in camp the men could make and Sheridan to advise agents at theIr the White River, where they camped for themselves and their animals more respective agencies to send out "compe­ the night. The soldiers found the river comfortable. tent and discrete" Indians to search for valley contained good shelter, woo~, On the last day's march (January 8) illegal parties in the Hills. In theory the and grass for the animals. As a harbm­ the troops broke camp early in the scouts were only to locate, not attack, ger of things to come, however, some of morning "in gay spirits, as we thought the miners, and then lead troops to the men had to be treated for frostbitten that evening would bring us to Camp them. Considering the harshness of the fingers. Setting up camp proved to be a Robinson:26 As the command moved weather, the agency Sioux did not jump time-consuming process. With the out, the cavalry rode ahead on a differ­ at this opportunity.23 ground frozen solid, wooden tent pins ent trail and became separated from the On January 2 the soldiers reached were nearly impossible to drive, and "wagons. At 7:00 A.M., an hour out of Elk Creek. Henry's men made a careful the next morning they were equallydif­ camp, a strong Arctic wind arose, ,:,hat search on both sides of the creek valley, ficult to remove. The men were forced the frontiersmen called a "norther, and but could find no signs of the miners' to tie their tent ropes to trees or bushes. hit the column with full force. Produc­ trail. Raymond told Henry that Elk Additionally all food had to be thawed ing extremely low wind-chills, the Creek was the only route into the Black before cooking. Before mounting, bits norther was one of the dreaded hazards Hills along its eastern slope. The troops had to be warmed before putting them of winter travel on the upper Plains. One then moved up the creek toward the in the horses' mouths.20 experienced military officer and p~ains­ Hills until they were south of Bear Butte. While on the march the command man described how "oftentimes WIthout Here they surmised the miners· had en~ generally moved through rolling, tree­ the slightest warning, a wind will come tered the interior farther north and west less country, without any shelter from from the north, so piercing that on expo­ of where the troops had been ordered the wind. A thermometer with the com­ sure to it for any length of time is certain to search; in fact, the miners had fol­ mand once recorded forty degrees be­ death to anything:27 Henry called the lowed Custer's exit trail into the Hills, low zero. During the whole trip the norther worse than fire or shipwreck, not Elk Creek.24 weather was stormy with the threat of deadly if men or animals were caught in By this time the weather had turn"ed heavy snow at any moment. the open without shelter. With the freez­ severely colder. The troops had been. Camp on December 29 was made ing wind that day came blinding snow, out a week and were suffering. FrostbIte where Wounded Knee Creek entered causing piling drifts and loss of any forced some of the men from their the White River. The next day the troops sense of direction.2B saddles to ride in the forage wagons. entered the Badlands. Remembering Henry found his command in a " With no trace of the miners and the their march through the desolation of tough situation. With the blind~ng snow specter of losing more men to the cold, what he termed "the lower regions with and wind, the men could not find the Henry decided it was best to tum back the fires extinguished: Henry recalled: protected campsite they had just left, to Camp Robinson.

57 Nebraska History - Summer 1997

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"Winter on the Plains-A Terrible Experience in the Teeth of a 'Norther.'" From Richard I. Dodge, Our Wild Indians (1884) and, even if they had, the wagons with keep the command together. To be cabin to thaw out. Bridgeman told their tents would not have been there. abandoned in the norther was to die. Henry he was only fifteen miles from Sending parties to search for the wagons The march became a desperate Camp Robinson; the ranch was located could not be done without risking lives. struggle for life, the men's only hope in along the White River, several miles Henry decided it was best to push on for knowing the post could not be far away north of the road between Robinson Camp Robinson. and someone would reach it. Finally, in and Camp Sheridan, explaining why the Throughout the morning and into the a last bid for survival, Henry ordered his soldiers had not seen it before.31 afternoon, the suffering troops plodded men to mount. Lost in the terrible storm, Aware that shelter at the ranch of­ on. The cold was so intense Henry had he realized their only chance was to fered only a temporary respite, and con­ the men dismount and lead their horses trust the horses to somehow find shelter. sidering the physical condition of his to keep from freezing. As the snow piled Henry ordered the men forward hoping frozen command, Henry knew that he up, the exhausted soldiers struggled to "the instinct of our horses would alone would have to send word to the post for keep moving and to control their frantic save those who could hold OUt."3D assistance. Because of the unabated mounts. Hands and faces froze. noses On through the storm the belea­ danger of the storm, an Indian col­ and ears bled. and eyes became "abso­ guered command staggered, when sud­ league of Bridgeman's at the cabin lutely sightless from constant pelting of denly. after turning the curve of a hill, could not be persuaded to ride for help; frozen particles. "29 Many of the weak­ they came upon a half-buried ranch. therefore Henry and three of his men set ened men gave out, refused to move any The owner and occupant, John H. out for the post. They arrived that farther, and were beaten to keep them Bridgeman, promptly rendered assis­ evening, and the next morning Captain moving and alive. Captain Henry and tance to the frozen detachment. The Jordan sent an ambulance and several the stronger soldiers lifted exhausted horses were put up in his corrals, while wagons with blankets and robes to men and tied them in their saddles to some thirty men crowded into his small bring in the disabled. Meanwhile

58 Guy V. Henry's Famous Cavalry Rides

- -, - -- . -­ Officers of the Ninth Cavalry at Pine Ridge Agency, 1890-91. Guy V. Henry is seated, fifth from right. NSHS-W938:21-1 Henry's supply wagons also stumbled the enlisted men required immediate moved, "flesh sloughed off, exposing across Bridgeman's cabin before the medical attention. So many of Henry's the bones. "37 All his fingers were frozen Camp Robinson relief arrived. It was men were incapacitated from exposure, to the second joint; one finger on the said "the scene was pitiful," with a cabin· some for weeks, that Captain Jordan re­ left hand was amputated at the first full of frost-damaged, exhausted men­ ported Company 0 as unfit for duty. joint. The joints in his left hand had be­ but every man was present and alive.32 While the cavalrymen recovered, infan­ come so stiff from the cold, he was After a night to warm up, Lieutenant trymen at the post cared for their horses never again able to bend his fingers Carpenter arrived at Camp Robinson on and provided their barracks with water fully. Although his recovery was slow­ the morning of January 9 with twenty­ and wood. Lieutenant Carpenter suf­ for months he was lost to duty on sick five men. Ten other soldiers who were fered severe frostbite to his nose and report-his personal sufferings were unable to ride were brought in later that right ear. Contrary to some reports and lightened by the birth of his son, Guy V. day by the relief wagons. With them subsequent retelling, however, there Henry, Jr., on January 28. came Henry's supply wagons and their were no major losses from amputation.34 After hearing of the plight of Henry's infantry teamsters. It was Henry who suffered the most, men, General Ord requested that troops Recovery for the frozen command "so much so that it is said he will not be from his department be ordered into the was a slow process. Dr. John A. Ridgely, able for duty in a long time:35 After the Black Hills only conditionally, depend­ the civilian contract surgeon at Camp ride from Bridgeman's ranch, Henry re­ ing on the state of the weather. In his Robinson, took "great interest ... in the called, "Entering my own quarters I was words, any such movements made be­ performance of his duty in relieving the not recognized owing to my black and fore April were "extremely hazardous:38 suffering" of Henry's men.33 Of the two swollen face. "36 His hands were so stiff On February 4 the men of Company officers and fifty men on the ill-fated ex­ from being cold his gloves had to be cut o penned a resolution of thanks to Dr. pedition, both officers and forty-five of off. When the leather strips were re­ Ridgely for his care during their conva­

59 Nebraska History - Summer 1997 lescence. Copies of the document were o 10 MILES sent to theAnny and NauyJourna/, a na­ t L..'___'-­__...... 1' tional publication, and the Cheyenne Fairburn Daily Leader, where it was published as a testament of their appreciation. Ridgely humbly thanked the company for "the flattering language which they represent my professional services to them." He added that duty and human­ ity demanded nothing less.39 Later that spring another cavalry com­ PINE RIDGE pany successfully located the Gordon INDIAN party and escorted it out of the Black RESERVATION Hills.40 By then the damage had been done. The increased incursions into the Hills by miners after gold brought a clamor to purchase the Hills from the ./">.. Sioux, a diplomatic effort that failed. NORTH This failure eventually led to a military i ~ solution by the u.S. government, the -77, which ~ Oelrichs ~ brought the defeat of the Sioux and the final opening of the Black Hills to whites. ~ Although initially reported in the Drexel Mission i contemporary press, Henry's Black Hills ~ ~ "march" was first chronicled in book ff ~ . Pine Ridge Agency form in 1879. Col. James B. Fry included PAKOTf, the tale in his volume on Indian Wars _~OUTH ~ NEBRASKA battles and expIoits.41 Fry's reason for ~~~~~f)~ publishing the book was summed up with this statement: "Stories without end \ might be told of the hardships and suf­ ferings endured by our soldiers and of In each telling Henry's leadership reservation were Troops F, I, and K of which the world knows nothing. "42 and devotion to duty loomed large, his the all-black Ninth Cavalry stationed at Three years later the march appeared in "intrepidity and bulldog courage~ re­ Fort Robinson. Later Major Henry, with Col. Richard I. Dodge's tome about life counted and extolled. Nevertheless, he Troop D of Fort McKinney, , ar­ on the frontier.43 By the mid-1880s the never took full credit for saving the com­ rived to join the regimental camp at march or "ride" became an integral part mand; rather he praised his men for Pine Ridge Agency. Henry took com­ of frontier army lore. In later years their fortitude and determination. "All mand of the Ninth Cavalry squadron whenever the names of Henry or Fort the men," he reported, "behaved splen­ and prepared the "buffalo soldiers" for Robinson were brought up in the press, didly during the whole, and especially the eventuality of field service against the winter march was often mentioned, the worst part of the trip."45 the Sioux.46 a touchstone "still remembered as one Sixteen years after his 1874-75 Camp life at the agency was fairly of the heroic achievements of the pe­ march, Guy V. Henry, now a major in routine until mid-December. The violent riod." And inevitably, as the story was the Ninth Cavalry, again found himself death of Sitting Bull at the Standing told and retold, it was distorted. One commanding troops in the dead of win­ Rock Reservation on December 15 version had the command chasing ren­ ter in the Dakota Badlands. It was the changed the situation. A large band of egade all the way to the Ca­ time of the 1890 Pine Ridge Campaign, Minneconjou Lakotas left the Cheyenne nadian border, where it was caught in a when troops were called to the Sioux River Reservation, supplemented with snowstorm. Another has Henry sitting Reservation to ease the fears of agency many of Sitting Bull's followers, and all "stark and stiff" in his saddle "as though employees and quell rebellious Ghost were thought to be heading for the he were an object of stone," chilled Dancers. Among the first units mobi­ Ghost Dance camp at Pine Ridge Reser­ almost to insensitivity.44 lized in November and moved to the vation. The camp was located on the

60 Guy V. Henry's Famous Cavalry Rides

Cuny Table, a geographic feature called Minneconjous. Under winter conditions distance traveled while scouting on the the "Stronghold," some fifty miles north­ the scouting was rough work. Luckily no 29th, the three troops had covered west of Pine Ridge Agency. Fearful that severe storm blew in. eighty-four miles in twenty-four hours. the arrival of these newcomers would up­ On December 29 after a long day in As the weary cavalrymen prepared to set the delicate negotiations underway to the saddle, Henry's squadron made make camp, Corp. William O. Wilson, coax the dancers back to Pine Ridge, camp for the night. The men were just who earned a Medal of Honor for this Gen. Nelson A. Miles, in overall com­ settling in when· a courier suddenly ar­ gallant deed, galloped in with word that mand of army operations, ordered rived with the alarming news of the the wagons were under attack.49 When Henry's squadron to investigate the Wounded Knee fight and with orders for the train was about two miles north of Stronghold vicinity. If possible, it was also the troops to return to the agency imme­ the agency, a large band of warriors­ to find and intercept the Minneconjous. diately. Henry with three troops left angered at the killings at Wounded On the afternoon of December 24, camp at 9:45 P.M. on a forced march; Knee-attacked, killing one of the Henry's troopers moved out. With one troop followed with the pack mules column's advance guards. The wagons cheers of "Merry Christmas!" from their and wagon train. Thus began Henry's were quickly circled as a sharp fight en­ comrades remaining behind, the riders second winter ride. sued. Henry's men remounted and rode clattered out of the agency camp and In spite of winds and snows that to the relief of the train. The attackers headed northwest.47 Behind the column night, Henry pushed his column on, were chased off and the wagons es­ followed a long train of wagons and aiming to reach the agency before day­ corted to the squadron camp. pack animals loaded with supplies for light to avoid being attacked. Of that As the black troopers again relaxed, the men and their horses. After a long night march he later recalled: word came that Sioux warriors had night's march the squadron reached the The wind was cold, and as it howled out turned with a vengeance elsewhere. Stronghold on Christmas morning; one of the canyons and swept over the valley, They had set fire to acabin near the of the cavalry troops had covered fifty­ it carried with it the crystals that had Drexel Mission, four miles north of the fallen the day before. There was no moon, three miles in twenty-one hours. The sol­ the night was inky dark, even the patches agency. Seventh Cavalry troops were diers set up camp at Harney Springs, co­ of snow which lay here and there on the dispatched to investigate, while Henry's incidentally near the same site Henry's ground gave no relief to the eye.48 command was allowed to rest. North of earlier expedition used on its march to the mission the Seventh came under the Black Hills. Through the night the column moved heavy fire from Indians commanding For several days the soldiers scouted on. Finally, at 6:00 A.M. on the morning the hills on both sides of the regiment's the area, examining the approaches to of December 3D, the tired troops rode position. The call came for Henry's the Stronghold and looking for the into Pine Ridge Agency. Including the squadron to help extricate the white

61 Nebraska History - Summer 1997

troopers from their precarious situation. suffered from the cold and from snow One of the Party, David Aken, Vona, California," At noon Henry's squadron "moved at blindness. Late in the day the hard­ undated typescript, Fort Laramie National Historic once to the sound of the guns."so Reach­ pressed command reached Fort Site, Fort Laramie, Wyoming. ing the mission, he quickly divided his Robinson, a two-day march totalling 'Telegrams, Dec. 6, 23, 1874, "Citizen Expedi­ tions" to the Black Hills, Feb. 1874-0ct. 1875, troops, who swept the warriors off the sixty-three miles through heavy snow "Special Files" of Headquarters, Division of the hills above the imperiled Seventh Cav­ drifts. Recalling Henry's earlier winter Missouri, Relating to Military Operations and Ad­ alry. After the brief skirmish both com­ experience, one correspondent gently ministration, 1863-1885, National Archives Micro­ mands returned to the agency. The fight reminded his readers-and Henry­ film Publication MI495 (Washington: National Ar­ at Drexel Mission was the last major en­ "for a winter's march or exposure to the chives and Records Administration, 1987), roll 2; hereafter cited as "Citizen Expeditions." gagement between Sioux Indians and cold of a Dakota climate a necessity 7 Telegram, Dec. 21, 1874, "Citizen Expeditions." United States soldiers. should always exist. "54 The march of the buffalo soldiers on Together with his epic 1874-75 8 Telegram, Dec. 23, 1874, "Citizen Expeditions." December 29 and 30 has gone down in march, Henry's 1890 winter ride also , Anny and Navy Journal, Jan. 9. 1875,329. See history as "Henry's Ride," during which became an important part of army lore. also U.S. Congress, Senate, Message from the Presi­ the troopers traveled 102 miles in thirty One was invariably compared to the dent ofthe United States, transmitting, in answer to a Senate resolution ofMarch 15, 1875, infonnation hours, all over rough country in winter other. In 1893 an endurance ride be­ in relation to the Black Hills country in the Sioux In­ weather. Accordingly, it was memorial­ tween Vienna and Berlin by German dian Reservation, 43rd Cong., spec. sess., S.Doc. 2, ized as the most famous ride ever per­ arid Austrian army officers attracted Serial 1629. sl formed by troops in the United States. worldwide attention. Countering Euro­ 10 Telegram, Dec. 22, 1874, "Citizen Expeditions."

By mid-January the last of the bellig­ pean boasts of human and equine en­ II Special Orders No. 10, Dec. 23, 1874, Head­ erent Ghost Dancers had returned to the durance, Henry's winter 1890 ride was quarters, District of the Black Hills, Records of the agency and surrendered to the army. As offered as proof of one of the "Great United States Army Continental Commands, the situation cooled and army forces re­ Rides by Americans."ss In 1895 Henry, Record Group (RG) 393, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; hereaf­ turned to their stations, the Ninth caval­ himself, wrote about both "rides" for a ter cited as "Special Orders, RG 393." rymen remained at their Pine Ridge Harper's Weekly series on "Adventures 12 Dan L. Thrapp, Encyclopedia ofFrontier Biogra­ camp. Although the winter of 1890-91 of American Army and Navy Officers." phy 2 (Glendale, Calif.: Arthur Clark Co., began fairly mild, January and February Several years later Cyrus T. Brady, a per­ 1988):649; Francis B. Heitman, Historical Register turned bitter. One correspondent wrote sonal friend of Henry's, wrote of both in and Dictionary ofthe United States Anny 2 (Wash­ from the cavalry camp: his frontier army classic, Indian Fights ington: Government Printing Office, 1903):523. We have had 12 snow storms in 30 days. and Fighters (1904 and subsequent edi­ J3 Special orders No. 10, RG 393. Nothing but snow can be seen, and above tions) and brought these exploits to the 14 Guy V. Henry, "A Winter March to the Black our camp, under the bank, it forms a wall attention of another generation. Under Hills," Harper's Weekry, July 27, 1895, 100. at least 40 feet high and 10 feet thick.52 the dogged leadership of Guy V. Henry, I; Ibid. As the cold weeks slowly dragged on, the accomplishments of his Third caval­ "Telegram, Dec. 28,1874, "Citizen Expeditions." rymen and Ninth Cavalry "buffalo sol­ the men suffered in the cold. One re­ J7 Cheyenne Daily Leader, Jan. 21, 1875; Anny flected, "ours is not to reason why, [ours diers" were duly recorded in the annals and Navy Journal, Feb. 20, 1875,436. of the Old West. is] but to freeze and cry."S3 IS Henry, "Winter March." In late March the troops finally re­ Notes I' Ibid.; Anny andNavy Journal, Jan. 30, 1875, ceived the welcomed orders to return to 390, contains Henry's report of the march. the comforts of Fort Robinson. Unbe­ The author wishes to thank Dr. James W. Raymond is probably Enoch W. Raymond, who lievably, one last winter march re­ Wengert, Omaha, for biographical materials on married into the Brules and resided near the Spot­ mained for Guy Henry! On March 24 the Guy V. Henry and assistance with the preparation ted Tail Agency. of this article. remaining soldiers left Pine Ridge 20 Henry, "Winter March." I New York Christian 'World, Nov. 2, 1899; Omaha Agency for Nebraska. After a hard 21 Ibid. Henry, regarded by others as possessing Daily Bee, Oct. 28, 1899. march, and with a blizzard threatening, "an admirable Christian character," probably pre­ Henry led the troops into Chadron, Ne­ 2 For more on Custer's , ferred this description for the Badlands rather than see Donald Jackson, Custer's Gold (New Haven, the earthier "Hell with the fires out." braska, the midpoint for their return Conn.: Yale University Press, 1966). journey. There a local roller skating rink "Ibid. 3 Watson Parker, "The Majors and the Miners: 23 Special Orders No. 13, Dec. 31, 1874, RG 393. was rented to provide shelter for the The Role of the U.S. Army in the Black Hills Gold command. The march continued the Rush," Journal ofthe West 11 (Jan. 1972): 102. 24 Anny and Navy Journal, Jan. 30, 1875,390. next day through heavy snowdrifts 'lbid.,103. 25 Cheyenne Dairy Leader, Jan. 21, 1875; Anny (ironically very near the site of and Navy Journal, Feb. 20, 1875, 436. S "Narrative of the John Gordon Stockade Party Bridgeman's cabin). Many of the men in 1875 Contributed to the Custer Chronicle by 2' Henry, "Winter March.'

62 Guy V. Henry's.Famous Cavalry Rides

27 Army and Navy Journal, Feb. 20, 1875, 436; Ri­ 36 Henl}', "Winter March: troubles and subsequent Pine Ridge campaign re­ chard I. Dodge, Our Wild Indians (Hartford, Conn.: 31 Ibid.; Cyrus T. Brady, Indian Fights and Fighters mains Robert M. Utley, The Last Days ofthe Sioux A. D. Worthington & Co., 1882), 502-3. (New York: McClure, Phillips & Co., 1904),344. Nation (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1963). 28 Henl}', "Winter March: 38 Telegram, Jan. II, 1875, "Citizen Expeditions: 41 Unless otherwise noted, this account of Henl}"s ride was reconstructed from the author's 29 Dodge, Our Wild Indians, 510. 39 Army and Navy Journal, Feb. 27, 1875, 452; paper, "The Ninth Cavall}' in the Pine Ridge Cam­ Cheyenne Daily Leader, Feb. 16, 1875. Descendants 3D Henl}', "Winter March." paign of 1890: presented at the University of of Dr. Ridgely donated the original, handwritten Wyoming's symposium, "Blacks in the West: Im­ 31 Army and Navy Journal, Jan. 30, 1875,390; resolution to the Nebraska State Historical Society age and Reality: Sept. 21-23, 1995. Dodge, Our Wild Indians, 511. John H. Bridgeman (NSHS Museum Collections 11,46&-1). was married to an Oglala woman of Young Man 48 Guy V. Henl}', "A Sioux Indian Episode: 40 Watson Parker, ed., "The Report of Captain Afraid of His Horses's band. Later in 1875 Harper's Weekry, Dec. 26, 1896, 1274. Bridgeman served as an assistant farmer at Red John Mix of a Scout to the Black Hills, March-April 49 The life and career of Cpl. William O. Wilson Cloud Agency. From the published clues his ranch 1875: South Dakota History 7 (Fall 1977):385--401. are examined in Preston E. Amos, Above andBe­ ·was near the 1871-73 site of the Spotted Tail 41 James B. FI)', Army Sacrifices, or, Briefs from yond in the West: Black Medal ofHonor Winners, Agency along White River. Official Pigeon-Holes (New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1870-1890 (Washington: Potomac Corral of The 1879), 118-26. 32 Henl}', "Winter March;" Army and Navy Jour­ Westerners, 1974),36-39. nal, Feb. 20, 1875, 436; Cheyenne Daily Leader, 42 Army and Navy Journal, Feb. 22,1879,519. 50 "Report of Major General Miles, September 14, Jan. 21, 1875. 43 Dodge, Our Wild Indians, 509-11. In an earlier 1891: Report ofthe Secretary ofWar 1 (Washing­ 33 Army and Navy Journal, Jan. 30, 1875, 390. work, The Plains ofthe Great West and Their Inhab­ ton: Government Printing Office, 1892):151. itants (New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1877),41, 34 Record of Medical Histol}' of Post [Fort 51 Alex W. PeTl)', "The Ninth United States Cav­ Dodge alluded to the 1874-75 Black Hills expedi­ Robinson]. tablet 31, Eli S. Ricker Collection, MS all}' in the Sioux Campaign of 1890: John M. tion, but gave no specifics. 8, Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln; Capt. . Carroll, ed., The Black Military Experience in the William H. Jordan to' asst. adj. gen., Jan. 16, 1875, 44 Brady, Indian Fights and Fighters, 344. For ex­ American West (New York: Liveright, 1971),254; Letters Received, Dept. of the Platte, RG 393; amples qf incorrect versions of the stol)', see Chi­ Brady,lndian Fights and Fighters, 354. Merrill J. Mattes, Indians, Infants and Infantry: An­ cago Chronic/e, Oct. 28, 1899, and Omaha Daily 52 Army and Navy Journal, Mar. 14, 1891,491. drew and Elizabeth Burt on the Frontier (Denver: Bee, Oct. 29, 1899, written at the time of Henl}"s Old West Publishing Co., 1960), 198. death. 53 Ibid., Mar. 7, 1891,471.

54 33 Medical Histol}' of Post; Cheyenne Daily 45 Army and Navy Journal, Feb. 20, 1875, 436. Ibid., Apr. 4, 1891,546. Leader, Jan. 21,1875. 46 The standard source on the Ghost Dance 55 Omaha Daily Bee, Jan. 29, 1893.

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