INDIAN FIGHTING--THE UNION PACIFIC--BUFFALO HUNTING.
Creede’s arrival at the Pawnee Indian Reservations on the Loop fork of
the Platte River marked an era in his eventful life. He began at this
place a period of seven years’ Indian fighting and scouting, which made
him known in the valley of the Platte, and gave him a fame which would
have been world-wide had he, like later border celebrities, sought for
notoriety in print and courted the favor of writers of yellow covered
literature.
Being naturally of a retiring, uncommunicative nature, he shrank
from public attention; and no writer of fiction, or even a newspaper
correspondent could wrest from him a single point on which to hang a
sensational story. While genial and sociable among his associates on
the trail, his lips were locked when a correspondent was in camp.
At that time the Union Pacific railway was in course of construction,
and hostile Indians continually harassed the workers and did all in
their power to retard the progress of the work. United States Cavalry
troops were put into the field to protect the working corps, and
workmen themselves were provided with arms for their own defense. The
Pawnee Indians were lying quietly on their reservation, at peace with
the whites, never going forth except on periodical buffalo hunts, or on
the war-path against their hereditary enemies, the Sioux.
Under these circumstances was begun the building of a line across
the plains. It was here that the now famous “Buffalo Bill” made his
reputation as a buffalo killer, which has enabled him to travel around
the world, giving exhibitions of life on the western wilds of America.
[Illustration]
Mr. Frank North, then a resident of the Pawnee country, and thoroughly
familiar with their language and customs, conceived the idea that the
Pawnees would prove valuable allies to the regular troops in battling
with the hostile Sioux, and with but little difficulty secured
governmental authority to enlist two or three companies and officer
them with whites of his own choosing. One of the very first men he
hit upon was Creede, whom he made a first lieutenant of one of the
companies, a relative of the organizer being placed in command with a
captain’s rank. This man was a corpulent, easy-going fellow, who sought
the place for the pay. There was nothing in his nature that seemed to
say to him that he should go forth and do battle with the fearless
hair-lifters of the plain. Even at his worst, two men could hold him
when the fight was on. He was a very sensible man, who preferred the
quiet of the camp and the government barber to the prairie wilds and
the irate red man.
With Creede it was different. He was young and ambitious, and having
been brought up by the firm hand of a step-father, peace troubled
his mind. Nothing pleased him more than to have the captain herd the
horses while he went out with his hand-painted Pawnees to chase the
frescoed Sioux. He set to work assiduously to learn the language of
the Pawnees and soon mastered it. By his recklessness in battle and
remarkable bravery in every time of danger, he gained the admiration
and confidence of the savage men, who followed fearlessly where their
leader led. They looked upon Creede as their commander, regarding the
Captain as a sort of camp fixture, not made for field work, and many
of their achievements under their favorite leader awoke amazement in
their own breasts and made them a terror to their Indian foes. If there
are those who think these pages are printed to please rather than from
a desire to tell the truth and do justice to a name long neglected, I
need but state that it stands to-day as a prominent page of the history
of Indian warfare in the West, that during their several years of
service, the Pawnee scouts were never defeated in battle. The intrepid,
dashing spirit of their white leaders inspired their savage natures
with a confidence in their own powers which seemed to render them
invincible.
[Illustration: E. DICKINSON.]
Major North was himself a brave, energetic officer, fearless in battle
and skilled in Indian craft, and not a few of his appointments proved
to be valuable ones from a fighting standpoint. Because he was always
with them, sharing their danger and leading fearlessly when the fight
was fierce, the red scouts came to regard Lieutenant Creede as the
great “war chief”; and never did they falter a moment when they were
needed most by the Government. Every perilous expedition was intrusted
to Creede and his invincibles. A favoritism was shown which permitted
certain officers to remain in camp away from danger. They never knew
how proud the Lieutenant was to lead his gallant scouts. It was a
comparatively easy road to fame with so brave a band of warriors, and
the attendant danger only served to appease the leader’s appetite for
adventures.
The notable incidents which marked Lieutenant Creede’s career during
his seven years’ service as a scout would fill many volumes such
as this. But a few can be touched upon; just enough to exhibit his
fearless nature and his often reckless daring in the face of danger.