A SOLDIER OF THE CIVIL WAR.
Cody learning of the serious illness of his loved mother instantly
saddled his horse and made all possible speed homeward. He arrived at
home to find his mother dying, and he remained by her side, a devoted
nurse, until she died.
Under the prairie sod, beneath the branches of a tree planted by the
hands of the loving son, sleeps the pioneer’s wife and a true hero’s
mother. Weeks after this most melancholy incident in Billy’s life he
went to Leavenworth and joined the Seventh Kansas Jayhawkers, who were
ordered to service in Tennessee and Mississippi. After several battles
in Mississippi and Tennessee and hard service there the regiment was
ordered to Missouri. The courage, cunning, and woodcraft displayed
by Billy had not escaped the eye of his commander, and he was made a
scout with the rank of sergeant. Serving in the capacity of scout,
soldier, and spy he rendered most valuable service to the North and was
considered the pride of General Smith’s corps.
As a soldier-scout Buffalo Bill won a great name and passed through
numberless adventures. While with the army in Missouri Buffalo Bill
again met his old “pard” of the plains, Wild Bill, who had also won
fame as a scout and spy.
Until 1865, Buffalo Bill remained in the army, and was then detailed
for special service at headquarters in St. Louis. It was while there
that he met Miss Louisa Frederici, a young lady with whom he at once
fell in love.
[Illustration: BRINGING BUFFALO-MEAT INTO CAMP.]
Buffalo Bill’s phenomenal luck did not desert him as a lover, for
the lady is to-day his wife. Having fixed the date for his marriage
Buffalo Bill returned to the far frontier and accepted the position of
stage-driver over the same route where he had killed his first Indian.
He worked as a stage-driver until he saved up a sufficient sum of money
to return to St. Louis and claim his bride.
He was married in 1866, the 6th of March, and the happy couple took
passage on a Missouri River steamer for Kansas, where their home was
to be. Arriving in Kansas Cody went to Salt Creek Valley, where he
established a hotel known as the Golden Rule House, which he conducted
with profit until the old desire for life of stirring adventures
induced him to sell out and seek employment as a scout.
Going to Junction City he met Wild Bill, who was then scouting for the
Government, and by his advice he proceeded to the military post at
Ellsworth and at once went on duty. While scouting and guiding parties
he first met General Custer who with ten men was at Ellsworth, looking
for a guide to conduct him to Fort Larned. Cody was selected for the
duty and to the day of his death Custer was a sincere friend of Buffalo
Bill’s.
Upon his return Cody was ordered to report to the Tenth Cavalry as
scout to guide an expedition against a large band of Indians who had
attacked the force working on the Kansas Pacific Railroad.
The Indians were followed rapidly and overtaken, and turning upon the
regiment of colored troops they for awhile stampeded them, capturing
the howitzer. Major Ames, however, rallied his men, and though badly
wounded recaptured the gun; but Cody discovering that another large
force of Indians was near at hand a retreat was begun, in which the
colored troops made remarkably good time. Night approaching, the
remnant of the command succeeded in reaching Hays, and Cody declared
that he would “never go Indian hunting again with colored warriors,”
but has since paid generous tribute to their more experienced records.
While at Ellsworth Buffalo Bill met William Rose, a man of many schemes
and a railroad contractor. He disclosed to Buffalo Bill a scheme to
build a city and become a millionaire out of its rise in value. Cody
entered into the undertaking with zest, selected a site on Big Creek
one mile from Fort Hays, and the town was duly laid out and the first
house built. The town was then christened Rome, and a lot was donated
to every one who would erect a building thereon. In one month’s time
there were 200 residences, 41 stores, and 20 saloons in Rome, and lots
were selling at $50 each. Rome had begun to howl. But just as the
dream of wealth was about to be realized a stranger arrived in town. He
was the agent for the Kansas Pacific road, and not being able to make
terms with the two owners of the town, Cody and Rose, he went west of
Rome and laid out a town which he named Hays City. As he placed there
a machine-shop, round-house, and depot, Rome was left out in the cold,
and Cody saw his anticipated fortune fade from his grasp.