THE OFFICER-SPY.
Kit Carey knew Big Foot, the Sioux chief, as a brave, cunning, and
dangerous man, and one whose influence was great among the different
tribes.
Colonel Forsythe, he knew, was watching him, but would the soldiers be
able to surround the Sioux leader and force his surrender before aid
came from the hostiles in the Bad Lands, was a question hard to answer.
Still he was well aware that there was no better officer in the
service than Colonel Forsythe, and if not hampered by orders from
Washington,[3] he would accomplish all that the commanding general in
the field expected of him.
On his way to scout around the band of Chief Big Foot, Kit Carey
visited a fourth squad of his Indian scouts, and the largest one in
point of numbers.
He sent four redskins from there to the band near the Bernard ranch,
and dispatched two couriers, one to General Carr's command, another to
General Brooke, with a full report of the situation as he had thus far
discovered it.
In his report he stated:
"From what I can learn from my Indian scouts, old Chief Red Cloud is
forced to remain among the hostiles, and there is some trouble between
the Ogallalas and Brules. The following chiefs are known to be among
the hostiles: Kicking Bear, Short Bull, High Hawk, Turning Hawk,
and Little Wound, the last most dangerous of all. My Indian cavalry
nearly surround the hostiles' camp, for I have seven squads of men
in hiding, with a couple of men from each scouting by day and night.
Each squad has orders to send couriers at once with any information of
reinforcements of the hostiles, or movements of raiding bands. I go now
toward the advanced camp of Chief Big Foot, whom Colonel Forsythe is
moving against. If Big Foot's band is not plotting mischief I shall be
surprised."
Written in duplicate on copying-paper, these reports were dispatched
with all haste, and, scouting his way as he went, Kit Carey moved
toward Wounded Knee Creek, where Big Foot's band were camped.
It was perilous and tedious work for the daring officer and the two
Indian scouts who accompanied him; but he at last reached the vicinity
of the Indian camp, and, unfolding his blanket, proceeded to carefully
"make up."
In other words, the daring soldier intended to "play Injun," and get at
the bottom facts of the situation.
His Indian scouts shook their heads dubiously as he progressed with his
toilet, but aided him all in their power.
His handsome mustache was first sacrificed, and his face clean shaven.
Next came the coloring of the skin, face, neck, hands, and arms to the
elbows.
The war-paint followed, with a wig of long, black hair, the head-dress
and war-bonnet, buckskin suit of hunting-shirt, leggings, and moccasins.
The "ghost shirt[4]" was next put on, and last the never-failing
blanket.
If any one could then detect the dashing, handsome Lieutenant Kit Carey
of the Seventh, beneath the paint, feathers, and make-up of an Indian
chief, a keen eye he would have, indeed.
Thus accoutred for the work Kit Carey left the two Indians in camp with
his horse, and started forth upon his mission of danger, for he had
determined to know just how matters stood with Big Foot and his band.
The camp of the Sioux was on a level strip of ground, along the banks
of a ravine some fifteen feet deep, and from fifty to a hundred feet in
width.
The tepees of the Indians extended along the banks of the ravine for
several hundred yards, and were formed in the shape of a crescent.
To reach the camp from the rear, by way of the ravine, Kit Carey found
it no easy task; but it was accomplished, and at last he glided into
the midst of the hostile band.
Dressed as he was, and it being night, he did not fear detection, for
he spoke the Sioux tongue perfectly.
Then, too, his walk, movements, and appearance was that of a Sioux
chief.
His greatest danger lay in not being recognized, but this he intended
to overcome by claiming to be a Sioux chief, long absent from the
tribe, and giving the name of a chief whom he knew to have been killed
near Fort F---- some months before, and whose fate was not known.
There were a few camp-fires, with groups of bucks, squaws, and
children, about them, and one apart, where only warriors were seen.
Indians were moving to and fro, and it was very evident to the officer
that some move of importance was about to be undertaken.
Folding his blanket closely about him he lay down in the shadow of
a tepee, and watched and listened, for he was within hearing of the
voices of the warriors about the fire, where no squaws or children were
allowed.
Several had spoken to him, but with a grunt he had passed on, and
thrown himself down near the tepee.
The light of the fire shone upon the faces of the Indians on the other
side from where he lay, and one face he recognized at a glance.
It was the Chief Red Hatchet, and he was talking to the others in an
earnest, vindictive tone.
A few words that he said reached the ears of the officer-spy, and he at
once arose, glided away among the tepees, dropped down into the ravine
unseen, and made his way rapidly back to his camp.
His Indian scouts were on the alert, and the three were soon flanking
the camp at Wounded Knee and riding rapidly in the direction in which
Colonel Forsythe's command was expected to approach.
It was just before dawn that the sound of many hoofs fell upon his
ears, and he drew rein to await the approach of the command, for he
knew that the splendid Seventh Cavalry were on the march.
"Now, Chief Big Foot, you will never carry out the plan Chief Red
Hatchet has decided upon, for the avengers of the brave Custer are hot
on your trail."
Soon after the soldiers came in sight, and then Kit Carey hailed:
"Ho, the Seventh Cavalry!"
Instantly a halt was ordered, carbines clicked, and a stern order came:
"Advance and report yourself, sir!"
To the surprise of the advance guard three horsemen rode forward in the
darkness, who appeared to be Indians.
"I am Lieutenant Carey of the Seventh, in disguise, and desire to see
Colonel Forsythe," was the startling response of the supposed Indian
chief, as he rode forward toward his regiment.
The men could hardly be kept from cheering when the gallant Carey
appeared in the disguise of an Indian chief, for it told them that he
had just come from some daring venture, for which he was famous.
"Ah! Carey, it is you in the guise of a Sioux chief?" cried Captain
Wallace of K troop, riding forward and grasping his hand. "It is
dangerous work for you, Lieutenant Carey, to ride upon the Seventh
Cavalry rigged out as a Sioux chief in full war-paint."
"I joined the Sioux, Captain Wallace, to learn what Big Foot and his
band were up to, and I have news for Colonel Forsythe," was Kit Carey's
response.
"Then I will keep my advance guard at a halt and ride back with you,
Carey, to the colonel," responded Captain Wallace, who little dreamed
how close to him the Angel of Death was hovering, though had he known
his fate, so soon to follow, the brave soldier would not have hesitated
an instant in his duty.[5]
So back along the column of troopers they went in the early dawn,
the soldiers supposing that the captain was taking in a Sioux chief
prisoner, whom the two Indian police had captured.
Colonel Forsythe was soon found, and Captain Wallace said in his
pleasant way:
"I do not bring you a Sioux prisoner, colonel, but Lieutenant Kit
Carey."
"Lieutenant Carey! who would have ever suspected you of being other
than a Sioux chief?" cried Colonel Forsythe, as Captain Wallace rode up
to the commander of the troops.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 3: It is a well known fact that interference from Washington,
writes an officer in the field, has proven more dangerous to a
commander than the enemy in his front. The foe at his face he can
fight, but the foe two thousand miles in his rear unnerves ever so
gallant and able an officer.]
[Footnote 4: A white shirt put on over the other clothing and painted
with Indian signs.]
[Footnote 5: Captain George D. Wallace was killed on the 27th of Dec.,
1890, at Wounded Knee in the treacherous attack of the Sioux under
Chief Big Foot, upon the Seventh Regiment of Cavalry. Captain Wallace
was known as one of the most daring and able officers of his regiment.]