Chapter XLI: Introduction

The reader of the foregoing pages can hardly have failed to observe, that the region east of the Big Horn Mountains, including the valleys of the Yellowstone, Big Horn, Powder, and Rosebud Rivers, was the favorite haunt of the Rocky Mountain hunters and trappers--the field of many of their stirring adventures and hardy exploits. Here was the "hunters' paradise," where they came to secure game for food and to feed their animals on the nutritious bark of the cottonwoods; here they assembled at the Summer rendezvous, to exchange their peltries for supplies; and here, ofttimes, was established their winter camp, with its rough cheer, athletic sports, and wild carousals.

Here, also, between the plains and the mountains, was the dark and sanguinary ground where terrific and deadly combats were fought between the Delawares, Iroquois, Crows, and Blackfeet, and between the trappers and Indians; and here, fifty years later, were enacted scenes of warfare and massacre which cast a gloom over the festivities of our Centennial anniversary.

The recent campaign against the hostile Sioux was over the identical ground where the fur-traders roamed intent on beaver-skins and adventure; and it is believed that some account thereof, and a sketch of the renowned Indian fighter who perished on the Little Big Horn, may appropriately supplement the story of the Mountain-men.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Our Centennial War with the Sioux--Scene of the Campaign--General
Aspect of the Country--The hostile Indians and their
Grievances--The People of the Frontier--The Treaty of 1868--The
Invasion of the Black Hills--Sitting Bull--Immediate Causes of the
War--The Indians Warned and Threatened--The Warning Disregarded--An
Appeal to Arms--Bishop Whipple on the Roaming Indians, 7

CHAPTER II.

General Crook's First Expedition--The March Northward--Reynolds
Follows a Trail--Camp of Crazy Horse Discovered and Attacked--The
Battle of Powder River--Return to Fort Fetterman--Crook's Second
Expedition--On the Head Waters of Tongue River--Friendly
Crows--Battle of the Rosebud--Retreat to Goose Creek Camp, 20

CHAPTER III.

Gen. Terry's Expedition--March from Fort Lincoln--Rendezvous on the
Yellowstone--The Montana Column--Reno's Scouting Party Discovers a
Trail--The Seventh Cavalry Start up the Rosebud--Custer Discovers
an Indian Village and Advances to Attack, 26

CHAPTER IV.

Gibbon's Troops Cross the Yellowstone--March up the Big Horn--A
Smoke Cloud--An Omen of Victory--Crow Scouts--Indians in Front--A
Night's Bivouac on the Little Big Horn--Site of a deserted
Village--Evidences of Conflict--A breathless Scout--Intrenched
Cavalry--Reno Relieved--"Where is Custer?" 30

CHAPTER V.

Custer's last Battle--Revelations of the Battle-field--Theories as
to the Engagement--Custer and His Officers--Capt. Tom
Custer--Boston Custer--Armstrong Reed--Burial of the Slain--Retreat
to the Yellowstone--Story of Custer's Scout "Curley"--Death of
Custer, 35

CHAPTER VI.

Reno's Battles--His Charge down the Valley, and Retreat to the
Bluffs--Benteen's Battalion--A terrific Assault--Holding the
Fort--Volunteer Water Carriers--Removal of Indian Village--Approach
of Terry--Statements of Benteen and Godfrey--A Scout's Narrative,
40

CHAPTER VII.

Kill Eagle at Sitting Bull's Camp--His Account of the Battles with
Custer and Reno--"We have Killed them all"--What Buck Elk Saw,
52

CHAPTER VIII.

Criticisms on the Conduct of Reno and Benteen--Reno's Defence--What
Benteen Says--Gen. Sheridan on the Custer Disaster, 56

CHAPTER IX.

The Midsummer Campaign--Adventures of a Scouting Party--Running the
Gauntlet--Indian Allies--Hazardous Service--Junction of Terry and
Crook--Following the Trail--At the Mouth of Powder River--Crook
Starts for the Black Hills--Short Rations--Battle of Slim
Buttes--The Chief American Horse--Deadwood--Terry at Glendive
Creek--A Chase after Sitting Bull--Close of the Campaign--Long
Dog's Reconnoitering Party, 62

CHAPTER X.

Autumn on the Yellowstone--Gallant Defence of a Wagon Train--A
Letter from Sitting Bull--A Flag of Truce--Col. Miles and Sitting
Bull Have a "Talk" between the Lines--An Exciting Scene--The
Council Disperses--The Troops Advance--A Battle and its
Results--Escape of Sitting Bull--Surrender of Chiefs as Hostages,
70

CHAPTER XI.

Terry and Crook at the Sioux Agencies--The Agency Indians Disarmed
and Dismounted--A Gleam of Daylight--What became of the Ponies--Red
Cloud Deposed--Spotted Tail Declared Chief Sachem--Gen. Crook's
Address to His Troops, 77

CHAPTER XII.

Winter Operations--Crook's Expedition--Col. McKenzie on the
Trail--A Night's March--A Charge down a Canyon--Destruction of a
Cheyenne Village--Life at the Tongue River Cantonment--Miles'
Excursion Northward--Capture of Sitting Bull's Camp--An Unfortunate
Affair--Massacre of Five Chiefs--Treacherous Crows--Winter March
Southward--Desperate Battle in the Wolf Mountains--Defeat of Crazy
Horse--Red Horse Surrenders--His Story of the Big Horn
Battles--Spotted Tail's Mission--Surrender of Roman Nose, Standing
Elk and Crazy Horse, 81

CHAPTER XIII.

George A. Custer--Early Youth--Cadet Life--From West Point to Bull
Run--On Kearny's Staff--Wades the Chickahominy--On McClellan's
Staff--Antietam--On Pleasonton's Staff--Aldie--A General at
Gettysburg--Pursues Lee--Falling Waters--Wounded--Cavalry
Engagement at Brandy Station--Marriage, 90

CHAPTER XIV.

A Raid toward Richmond--With Sheridan in the Shenandoah
Valley--Opequan Creek--Fisher's Hill--Commander of the Third
Division--Fight with Rosser--Sheridan's Army Surprised--Defeat and
Victory--The Cavalry at Cedar Creek--The last great Raid, 98

CHAPTER XV.

The last Struggle for Richmond--Custer at Dinwiddie and Fire
Forks--Petersburg Evacuated--The Pursuit of
Lee--Jetersville--Sailor's Creek--Appomattox--A Flag of
Truce--Custer's Address to His Soldiers--The Great Parade--A Major
General--Texas--Negotiation with Romero, 106

CHAPTER XVI.

The Seventh Cavalry--Hancock's Expedition--Tricky Indians--A Scout
on the Plains--Camp Attacked by Indians--A Fight for the Wagon
Train--The Kidder Massacre--Court Martialed--Sully's
Expedition--Battle of the Washita--Death of Black Kettle--Fate of
Major Elliot--Night Retreat--March to Fort Cobb--Lone Wolf and
Satanta--After the Cheyennes--Captive Women Recovered, 113

CHAPTER XVII.

The Yellowstone Expedition--Road-hunters--A Siesta--Dashing
Indians--A Trap--Fearful Odds--Rapid Volleys--Attack
Renewed--Reinforcements--The Foe Repulsed--A Tragedy--The Revenge
of Rain in the Face--Another Fight--Assigned to Fort Lincoln--Mrs.
Custer, 121

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Campaign of 1876--The Dakota Column--The Babcock
Investigation--The Congressional Committee--Grant's
Displeasure--Appeal to the President--Custer's last Campaign,
126

CHAPTER XIX.

Reminiscences of General Custer--Personal Characteristics, 132

CHAPTER XX.

The Indian Commission of 1876--Purchase of the Black Hills--Indian
Orators--Speeches of Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, Blue Teeth, Running
Antelope, Two Bears, Red Feather, Swan, White Ghost, etc., 138

THE INDIAN WAR.