Colonization Indian Scares; Organizing in Self Defense, etc.
In the autumn of the year of 1878, a gentleman by the name of John Joplin
was sent out from Zanesville, Ohio, to select a suitable place in Western
Kansas for the purpose of locating a colony. The intention was to start a
co-operative business in farming. After surveying the country at large, he
came to the conclusion that the Crooked Creek valley, Meade County, where
I was living at the time, was the most desirable for the purpose. He
returned home and gave a glowing report of what he had done, and his
efforts and report received the approval of the future colonists. They
made their arrangements and moved westward in the following spring. When
they had reached their destination, they learned that Chief Dull Knife, a
leader of a band of northern Chyenne Indians, had left the reservation at
Ft. Reno where he and his followers were held as prisoners of war.
Followed by a numerous retinue of tribesmen he started for the Black Hills
and had passed through the Crooked Creek Valley, killing the settlers.
They continued on their way, killing, burning, and destroying everything
and everybody in sight until they were re-captured at Ft. Robinson,
Nebraska. From there they were brought back and placed on the reservation
once more.
The particulars of the Dull Knife Raid will be given in another chapter.
Needless to say, these reports caused considerable excitement in the
valley. Every few days rumors were circulated that the Indians were
returning, or would return as soon as the grass had begun to sprout
again. Hardly had one rumor died until another was put into circulation.
Excitement reached such a degree that all deemed it necessary to organize
for protection. A meeting was called which all the settlers were invited,
or requested, to attend. The Colonists assembled at the dug-out of a Mr.
M. B. Wilson, one of the leading spirits of the movement, to devise ways
and means for protection in case the Indians should return. After a
general discussion of the prevailing conditions, it was unanimously agreed
that we should appeal to the Governor of Kansas for fire arms, as there
were few of us that had any, many had none, and some had no money to
purchase them, and some that did have them, had very little knowledge of
their use. Our secretary was instructed to write to the governor, explain
the conditions of affairs, and request him to send us the necessary guns
and ammunition with which to protect ourselves against the Indians in case
they should make another descent on the valley, which they would likely do
as they were threatening to leave the reservation and go on the warpath a
second time. After a good deal of correspondence and red tape we succeeded
in getting the governor's attention, and he kindly informed us, after
several week's delay, that if we wanted any assistance from the state, we
should join the militia. He informed us that when we were duly sworn in,
he would send the necessary arms for protection of our homes and families.
To the disinterested reader this action on the part of the governor may
seem magnanimous, but to the settler whose family was living in a dug-out
with nothing to protect them but a fire shovel or a hatchet in case of an
Indian raid, it looked very much like a case of criminal neglect. Another
meeting was called, and it was well attended. There were many women
present who seemed anxious to organize a company for the protection of
their homes. After some discussion it was decided to organize and join the
militia. Among those present was a veteran of the Civil war. He was
elected Captain on his war record--one of the home-made kind, as none of
his comrades of the war recollected any time or place where he performed
any deed of valor--as he would most likely know the best thing to do at
the proper time. To hear the Captain tell of his numerous exploits, the
number of men took prisoners of war, how he had on several occasions
leaped over the breastworks of some beleagured fort in the midst of a
shower of grape and canister, and tore down the Confederate flag, one
would think that he, Capt. Milligan, bore a charmed life. It seemed
strange to me that such a thoughtful man as Abe Lincoln did not send
somebody down south to assist the Captain as he seemed to be doing all the
heavy fighting himself. Such was our captain, the last and the greatest of
the Milligans up to that time, and it would require a remarkable scion to
eclipse his record, if one hundredth part of what he said was true.
Returning to the thread of my story, and I hope you will pardon the
digression but it would be impossible to pass over the merits of our
worthy Captain without bringing to the notice of the world at large his
claims to the honor conferred upon him, we elected G. W. Brown First
Lieutenant, Mr. Gantz, Second Lieutenant, and C. M. Rice, Sergeant. The
above officers were veterans, or had been scouts, and the remainder
required to complete the contingent had no military experience whatever.
We instructed the secretary to notify the governor that we had organized
and were ready to be sworn into the State Militia. We did not actually
want to join the militia, but would rather join the Women's Relief Corps,
or the Suffragette Movement, or the Populist party, anything to get the
guns and ammunition. (The swearing part of the program did not play a very
important part as there had been enough swearing done along the Creek
already over the Governor's indolence and failure to send the relief
requested, yes, enough to have sworn in seven regiments with some to
spare.)
As the assemblage was about to disperse, some one called for a speech.
Others called on Capt. Milligan to harangue the multitude. This was kept
up until the Captain, with all the dignity of a well trained
parliamentarian, condescended to make a few remarks to show his
appreciation of the favor conferred upon him, etc. He selected a small
knoll from which to deliver himself of the sentiments that filled his
manly breast. He assumed the pose of an orator of the old school and
delivered a discourse in something like the following words:
"Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentlemen: We are now on the eve of a
terrible conflict to decide whether the white man with tens of thousands
of years of civilization, culture and refinement behind him, or the wily
undomesticated, uncivilized, uncouth, uncultured, unrefined, undressed
savage will rule the plains. Whether the untutored savage will continue to
water the virgin soil of the rolling prairie with the blood of the best of
our citizens, or whether the white man shall give to the unlimited area of
the plains the advantage of a training developed by centuries of progress
in the arts of peace and agriculture. (Cheers, and hurrah for Milligan). I
am here to state my views and express my sentiments on the question that
each and every one of us is debating in the depths of the individual
heart." It was quite evident that the Captain was laboring under
difficulties, as he delivered the above in a very hesitating manner. What
he lacked in fluency of speech, he made up by violence and frequency of
gestures. He swung his arms and stamped his feet to emphasize the degree
of his perturbation while contemplating in advance the horrors to which
they were to be subjected. He became so wrapped up in his subject and was
so earnest in his endeavors to move his hearers, that he did not realize
that he was standing on a hill inhabited by a colony of red ants; nor was
he aware that a regiment of them had set out to explore the depths of his
unmentionables and were at that very moment making rapid progress through
the recesses of his underwear. Suddenly he became aware of something
peculiar about his feelings and to cover the difficulty under which he was
laboring, and at the same time to prove to his hearers that his reputation
was above reproach and his patriotism beyond question, he accentuated his
remarks by more violent gestures than before, striking himself on the
thighs and even reaching beyond the limits to which gestures were supposed
to extend, realizing that farther speech with decorum was out of the
question he was compelled by force of circumstances to desist from further
efforts. He made an assault on his personal enemies as best he might under
the circumstances in such a public place. He squeezed and pinched, slapped
and crushed, but the greater the efforts he made, the more they seemed to
be impelled to greater efforts of offense. He rolled up his trouser legs,
as far as public decency would permit, but exposure only drove the enemy
to seek more advantageous hiding places. He could not ask his friends to
help him because it seemed such a personal affair, and besides, they were
at that moment helpless in their efforts to stifle their laughter. In his
desperation he started for the creek, which, fortunately for him, was
close at hand. A clump of hackberry and plum bushes screened him from the
multitude, and in the friendly cover offered him by nature herself, he
began to put the enemy to rout. However, mindful of the position to which
he had been elected, and the duty incumbent on him of stirring them up to
the proper degree of patriotism, he sent word that he would return shortly
to continue his harangue. More than half an hour elapsed before he
returned, and to guard against more interruptions, we pulled an old wagon
to the fore and fixed it up in proper shape for him to continue his
remarks.
Upon his arrival he was assisted by Sergeant Rice and Lieutenant Brown to
mount the newly made rostrum. After apologizing for his abrupt departure,
he continued his address as follows; "Ladies and Gentlemen: I am ready
for the worst if it must come. A brave man dies but once, whilst the
coward dies every time danger approaches. There is no use of being timid
nor chicken-hearted in the present cause. I do not encourage cruelty, but
we must stand firmly together to defend our rights and protect our
families and firesides. (Cheers). For my part I want to emphatically say
that no invader can leave his moccasin track on my threshold, nor disturb
the peace of my household until he has crossed over all that is mortal of
Capt. Milligan. Do you think that I would sit silently and submissively by
and see him shoot down the old family watch-dog, work him up into
bouillion, and eat his repast in the shadow of my "sorghum stack." I say,
No! a thousand times, No! I would prefer to meet their leader in single
combat on the open prairie and when I had driven him from the field of
battle, follow him to his tepee, destroy his totempole, tear his wampum
belt from his body and carry it away as a trophy of the expedition."
(Tumultuous applause.)
As it was getting rather late, and many had long distances to travel
before reaching home, the Capt. closed his harangue, thanking them for
their attention and assuring them that their interests were his interests,
and that he was willing to go to extreme lengths to defend their rights,
and homes.
In a few days we received word that the Governor had instructed Adjutant
General Noble to proceed to Dodge City and thence to Crooked Creek where
he was to receive the oath of allegiance of the colonists, and deliver the
guns and ammunition, and give us such instructions as he deemed necessary
for us in our line of duty. On the following Thursday he arrived and went
through the formality of enlisting us and delivering to us the weapons of
war. Henceforth we were full-fledged members of the Kansas State Militia.
After turning over to us the arms and ammunition, he delivered a short
talk in which he instructed us in our duties to the State and to one
another.
When the arms were distributed, it was found that there was a surplus
left, which came in handy to shoot antelope with afterwards. These guns,
in the meantime, were left in charge of Lieut. Brown. The Adjutant-General
then bade us good-bye and departed for home.
We immediately set to work to provide for our defense. After some
deliberation, we concluded to provide a fortification in which to place
the women and children and all those who might happen to be in the
neighborhood in the time of danger. As funds were lacking, and rock, or
timber was not to be had, we decided to build it of sod. The following
Saturday was the day set aside to vote on the proper location of our
future fortification. On the appointed day, all assembled. They expressed
their willingness and eagerness to do anything to further the project. One
thing each one was determined on was to have it built as near his claim as
possible. It did not take long to arrive at a conclusion regarding the
position in which the fort was to be built. As it was impossible to
satisfy everybody, we abandoned the project entirely, and it was further
decided that each one was to take his share of the guns and ammunition and
take care of himself. Another subject that gave us much concern was the
matter of drilling. The adjutant had told us to become familiar with the
use of the arms, to meet at least once a week and drill to render
ourselves fit for duty. When the time arrived for our first lesson in the
"manual of arms," it was found that there was not a man present who knew
anything about it. The old scouts who were present, knew all about how to
ride a horse, and to lie down in a buffalo wallow and take a shot at an
Indian if one came in sight, and they were, besides, first class hands at
discovering watering places and the like, but in the matter of drill they
were entirely unsophisticated. Even Capt. Milligan, if he ever knew
anything about the matter, declared he had forgotten it entirely. He felt
sure, however, that it would be impossible to perform the proper
manoeuvers with those short-barreled guns, and that if the Governor would
send some with long barrels that he would be right at home in the matter.
As no one seemed capable of conducting the class, we settled the
difficulty in the same manner as we did that of the fort, by abandoning it
also. It was unanimously agreed that in case of trouble, each should go to
the aid of his neighbor if assistance were needed. This was very
satisfactory for me especially, as I was fortunate in the possession of
splendid neighbors, Sergeant Rice living on one side of me, and First
Lieut. Brown on the other. Both were possessed of abundant fighting
material at all times, and knew how to use it in an emergency.
Things seemed to drag along in the usual way, everybody settling down to
his own affairs and everything would have gone along tranquilly enough
were it not for the numerous cowboys passing through the settlement,
spreading reports as they went, that the Indians were mixing war medicine
and would shortly make a descent upon the palefaces. It was a source of
great delight to them to stampede the settlers by disquieting reports, and
then have a good laugh about it. Their efforts at fun kept the settlers in
a state of ferment.
It happened that Capt. Milligan's claim was located on the south side of
the settlement and nearest to the Indian Territory. As he was rather
nervous and always on the alert, he kept inquiring continuously of the
cowboys, of the possibility of an Indian raid, and, of course, they filled
his anxious ear with war news. Nearly every other day I noticed the
Captain calling on either Sergeant Rice or Lieutenant Brown, and as he had
to make a ride of ten miles or so to make the visit, I concluded that
there was some significance to these numerous calls. However, as they were
my superior officers, I did not feel at liberty to make any inquiries
about the Captain's frequent visits. I did not have to curb my curiosity
very long before acquiring the desired information. In a few days I saw
the Captain riding up in my direction on his old bald-faced horse and
could see at a glance that his arrival was something of importance as he
was riding straight up in his saddle with as much dignity as it was
possible for one horse to carry. Upon his near approach I felt that I must
do something to acknowledge the presence of my captain. Not being versed
in military etiquette, I doffed my Stetson hat. As I was leaning against
the fence, with a spade in one hand and my hat in the other, I realized
that my appearance lacked something of the military precision required in
a subordinate, and I apologized for my lack of training in the case. He
dismounted from his horse and condescended to shake hands with me and said
that the salute was only a matter of form anyway; that he understood my
position exactly; that he was a recruit once himself; that on such
occasions as this he could overlook little technicalities of the kind, but
on the field of glory he would have to be more exacting with his men. I
then invited the Captain to take a seat on a cottonwood log near at hand
so that we could discuss matters pertaining to the Company more at leisure
I congratulated him on the choice of officers which he had made.
"Yes," said he, "they are all good men and true, but if I had it to do
over again, I would try to have you act as First Lieutenant of the
Company. Brown is a good man and a good scout and has seen some service
with the Indians, but he lacks aggressiveness. I want men who are
aggressive and who will go into battle as if they are going to breakfast.
By the way," he continued, "I dropped over to see you and to leave orders
for you to go down into the Indian Territory and size up the situation.
Find out if the Indians are in an ugly mood, and if they are likely to
make a raid in the near future. Then report to me on your return and I
will take some steps in the direction that will be best for all concerned.
The cowboys have been circulating some reports concerning an intended
raid, but I do not know whether any credence is to be placed in them or
not. Consequently I decided to come over to see you and send you down to
look the field over, and then I would feel more satisfied, and know just
what action to take in the matter."
I asked the Captain how he expected me to go down there, and who would
bear the expense of my journey.
"Oh," said he, "you can take your own horse, and I suppose the State will
be responsible for any bills you make whilst under my orders." I then
asked him what I should do for food for myself as well as for my horse. A
broad smile lit up his countenance and he replied, "Don't you know that
the cowmen will be more than pleased to have a soldier stop at their
ranches for the feeling of security his presence will engender? Your board
and horse-feed will not have to be considered at all. You can go to the
R-S ranch, the Doc Day ranch, the Y. L. ranch or the Driscoll ranch, and
they will receive you with open arms. I can assure you that no charges
will be even mentioned."
During this short interview I discovered a nigger in the Captain's
wood-pile. The fact was that the cowboys had him half scared to death by
telling him all kinds of Indian war stories. The particular reason he had
in calling on me, was to have me go down to the Territory, and if I was
not scalped while on my mission, and if I found that the Indians were
really going on the warpath, I should report to him without delay so that
he might be able to withdraw his precious(?) person from the zone of
danger and escape to Fort Dodge. I told the Captain that he was somewhat
mistaken in the estimate a cowman places on a soldier as a means of
defense where the Indians were concerned. I assured him that I had learned
their personal views on the subject, and they had arrived at the
conclusion that the soldier was a detriment and an encumbrance to them in
case of trouble with the Indians, and, moreover, they felt quite capable
of taking care of themselves in times of danger from such sources. I went
on to tell him that if he were anxious to have an investigation of
conditions made, he might come over to my place in a day or so and we
would go down together and make the inquiries proper to the occasion, and
that I would feel safer with him than if I were alone. I immediately saw
that the Captain was getting an attack of what the hunters call
"buck-ague." "Thunder and turf," he exclaimed, "I cannot go. I am subject
to orders from the Governor, and I should be in a queer fix if I were
called to duty in some other part of the State while I was down in the
Territory. However, I can order Corporal Copeland to go with you." I told
him that the Corporal had no horse, and it would not be right to send him
on foot. I also informed him that he would have to look around and make
some other arrangements, as my horse was too old, and his knee was sprung
from roping cattle, so that an Indian war horse could catch him without
any trouble. Conditions being such, I told him I did not think I would go.
"What!" he shouted, "you do not mean to disobey orders!" His eyes bulged
out until they looked like old English watches, and his chest measurement
seemed to increase perceptibly. He jumped up from his seat on the log and
started for his horse, saying on his way, "If you persist in disobeying
orders, I shall be forced to disarm you and court-martial you for
insubordination." "Well," said I, "you will raise the deuce
court-martialing me, when there is only five or six members of the Company
who can read or write and they are all on my side." I heard nothing more
from the Captain for several days. Finally I received a letter from him
telling me that he had written to the Governor regarding my disobedience.
I replied to his message, saying that if the Governor was as tardy in
taking action on my case as he was in sending arms and ammunition, I
should die of old age before the matter would be adjusted. I also informed
him that I had received word that the Indians would be in our neighborhood
in a few days, and that he should see to it that means were taken for our
defense. Next day I received another note from him in which he told me
that he had changed his attitude toward me, and that I should call on
Sergeant Rice and Lieutenant Brown and tell them to report to him for duty
at once, and I was to accompany them. The message I received by special
delivery. I made a visit up the creek to see my friends, Rice and Brown,
and reported the change that had taken place in the Captain's attitude,
and also showed them his request and instructions, asking at the same time
their opinions on the matter. Brown replied, "O pshaw, that does not
amount to anything. Those cowboys over on Sand Creek have the old Captain
about frightened to death, and I think we had better remain where we are.
There's not an Indian in the country, and I do not think there will be."
We acted on Brown's suggestion and remained where we were.
At this time the cowmen were holding their Spring round-up on Sand Creek,
to cut out and take back to their ranches the cattle that had drifted off
during the winter, besides branding the calves before turning them loose
again on the range. There were about one hundred cow-punchers at the round
up, all well mounted and well armed. Each man had from three to five
horses in his mount, all in good shape because they had been grain fed for
the occasion. Their arms consisted of Winchesters and six-shooters. There
had been so many rumors circulated about the possibility of an Indian raid
that all went prepared for any emergency. One day while they were all
lying around awaiting the arrival of the round-up herds from the
Southeast, a happy thought occurred to them to put to the test the bravery
of Captain Milligan, of which they had heard much, thinking at the same
time to have some sport at his expense. They formed a company of about
thirty, dressed up like Indians, or near enough to the real thing to be
mistaken for them at a distance. The leader was fitted with a red saddle
blanket decorated with sage brush for a war bonnet, with a few cat tails
for plumes. He looked more like a grizzly bear than an Indian, but his
appearance was well calculated to strike terror into the heart of any
civilized human being, especially when everyone was looking for trouble
from such a source anyway. The rest of the crowd dressed up as each saw
fit, carrying their hats inside their shirts so as to travel bareheaded
after the Indian fashion. When all was ready they took a direct route for
Captain Milligan's place. They all knew how to render the Cheyenne war
whoop when the proper time arrived, and the leader rode along at a
moderate pace chanting his war song. They came to a halt to decide whether
they should burn him alive, or capture him and hold him for ransom. One
man said it was useless to hold him for any ransom as he knew most of the
company, and as for burning him alive, he did not think there was a
cow-puncher in the crowd that would waste time necessary to gather chips
for the sacrifice. In the meantime the chief kept ranging around and
waving his hands, keeping his war bonnet as much in evidence as possible.
They moved up to a position within about a quarter of a mile of the
Captain's house and then gave a war whoop. By this time the object of the
joke became aware of their presence and felt his peril keenly. He made a
dash for his corral where he kept a little, old, notch-eared, sore-backed
pony that he always kept saddled for any emergency. To say that he went
rapidly, is putting it mildly--he fairly flew. When he got started the
Indians(?) made a rush to capture him, firing at him in the meanwhile.
They remained a safe distance behind so as to be sure not to capture him,
but kept up the shouting and whooping for about two miles. The Captain
took the shortest course to Fort Dodge, and the cowboys returned to camp
laughing heartily at the brave man's flight.
When the Captain had made about five miles of his hasty retreat, he
happened upon one of his neighbors, Mike O'Shea, who had begun to dig a
well. As he passed in his headlong flight he shouted to Mike, "Tell Rice
and Brown they are here, and I am going to Fort Dodge for relief and
succor." He was in too great a hurry to stop and explain the cause of his
excitement, and as Mike explained it afterwards, he said he thought he was
going for a "thafe and sucker" or something of the kind, or maybe it was
"relafe and supper, or something like that." He also noticed that the
Captain's horse was almost out of breath, and the gentleman himself was
very much excited.
Whilst Rice and Brown were interviewing Mike, another man came along and
stated that he had seen the Captain about ten miles north, and he reported
having had an engagement with the Indians that day at his claim, and said
that he had stood them off until they had retired. As he was about out of
ammunition at the time of their departure, he took advantage of their
retreat to make his way to Fort Dodge for relief and succor. He did not
say how many he had killed, but maintained that he had a very narrow
escape.
I suppose, if Captain Milligan is alive today, he does not fail to tell of
the time he stood off five hundred Cheyenne Indians, single-handed and
alone, and how, after driving them off, he beat them to Fort Dodge in
quest of aid.
A few days after the encounter with the supposed Indians, Lieutenant Brown
received the following note from the Captain:
Fort Dodge, Kansas, April--,'79.
Lieutenant Brown:
Dear Comrade:--I am in receipt of a telegram from the Governor,
ordering me to go at once to Topeka, to take charge of the
strike-breakers. The railroad employees have gone out on a strike, and
it will take the strong arm of the militia to hold them in check. Sell
my land and all my effects, and forward the proceeds to my address,
which will be, State Capitol, Topeka.
Yours in command,
Captain Milligan.
P. S. Regards to all the comrades.
Thus terminated the war of 1879.