few minutes. Quite a number of persons were frostbitten in simply crossing the parade ground, but there was work to do and no time was allowed for repining. The sentries walked the platforms and maintained their post in spite of the thermometer ranging close on to forty. There was wood to be prepared, water to be hauled, stock to be cared for and supplies to be issued but in spite of all this the gloom of death pervaded the garrison and men could not help thinking of those brave, cheerful comrades of the past who were sleeping the sleep which knows no awakening, in the narrow chamber of death at the foot of Pilot Hill. There have been many reports of this tragedy but most of them, I am sorry to say, were largely mixed with fiction. An eastern newspaper published what purported to be the story of an eye witness but there was not one word of truth in it as there were no survivors, no onlookers except Indians, even from a distance. The faces of the dead told the only story and these were mute, speechless and dumb. Red Cloud, in after years, talked often of the heroism of the little band and gave incidents of the bravery of some of the men. One citizen, he said, killed seven Indians and wounded nine more before he was overpowered. The loss of the Indians on this occasion was very great but all have refused to give the number killed. It is reported that the women of the garrison fully believed that the Indians would in time capture the fort and that they begged to be killed to insure their not falling into the hands of the Indians. The story is told that a quantity of dynamite was placed under Colonel Carrington's quarters and arrangements completed to blow up the building in case the fort was captured and that the women had agreed upon signal to rush into this building with their children that all might meet death rather than the savage cruelty of the Indians. I am unwilling to vouch for the accuracy of such reports but it is reasonable to suppose that some such arrangement was in contemplation. The story is also told that Colonel Carrington sent out three men at different times

to carry the word to Fort Laramie of the desperate condition of the garrison and the awful calamity that had befallen it. The riderless horses of these men, it is claimed, came back to the fort thus apprising the garrison of the futility of their efforts. This may or may not be true. I do know, however, that John Phillips, a noted scout, hunter and trapper, who had lived in Wyoming for many years, was at Fort Phil. Kearney at the time and that he was offered his own price if he would carry a dispatch to Fort Laramie. He refused reward of any kind, but approaching Mrs. Grummond, he told her he would go for help. He was willing to risk his life for the sake of the women at the garrison but he would not accept money as a compensation for the desperate undertaking. He only made one condition, which was that he be allowed to choose his own horse. Colonel Carrington readily consented to this and the scout's choice fell upon a beautiful thoroughbred belonging to Colonel Carrington. The distance to be traveled was 235 miles, the country covered with Indians, and the thermometer when he started ranged in the twenties. After darkness fell upon the fort, on the night of the 22nd, the brave scout mounted the noble animal which was to bear him on this journey fraught with life and death, and, with a few crackers in his pocket, rode up to a postern gate where he found Colonel Carrington ready to let him out into the darkness beyond. Never was a messenger sent forth on a more important errand than John Phillips. He knew and felt that the earnest prayers of those noble and beautiful women at the fort would be offered in his behalf and somehow he felt that he would be instrumental in bringing relief to the beleaguered garrison. The first night he picked his way through the dangerous country and with the first streak of the morning hid himself and horse in the brush to await the coming of the darkness of another night that he might go forward on his journey in the behalf of humanity. The incidents of that ride are unknown, except that on three different occasions he ran

on to Indians and escaped each time by the fleetness of the thoroughbred upon which he was mounted. John C. Friend tells me that he met Phillips on the day he passed Horse Shoe Station, and took a message from him to be sent by telegraph to General Palmer, the commander at Fort Laramie. Friend was at the time telegraph operator at Horse Shoe Station. The message briefly related the facts of the massacre and the desperate condition of the depleted garrison. At the time the dispatch was received at Fort Laramie a Christmas ball was going on in the building known as Bedlam. General Palmer did not think it wise to make known to the dancers the sad news from Fort Phil. Kearney, as it would serve no good purpose to horrify the merrymakers, and for this reason he adopted the plan of allowing the festivities to go on for a time. One by one, the leading officers were communicated with and preparations were begun to send out the relief asked for. At midnight John Phillips arrived, and soon after the news of the massacre was known to all. This was on Christmas night, 1866.

Daniel McUlvane, since the above was written, tells me that John Phillips did not make the ride from Fort Phil. Kearney alone, and that there were five men in the party. He is certain of this, as he saw and talked with them when they reached Bridger's Ferry, and rode with them a considerable distance toward Fort Laramie. McUlvane's story will be found in the history of Laramie County.

Reinforcements were hurried away but it was a terrible march through the bitter cold and snow but they finally arrived at Fort Phil. Kearney and there was great rejoicing in the garrison because of this succor that had come to them in their need. The reinforcements consisted of two companies of cavalry under command of Brigadier General H. W. Wessels. It had been the plan of Department Commander Cooke to make a campaign against the savages during the winter and for this purpose he intended to use 300 men drawn from the forces of Colonel Carrington. This of course was absurd, for how could men fight

without ammunition, or what could 300 men do against several thousand savages? But I shall have more to say about this man Cooke in another chapter.

George Lathrop, who is well known throughout Wyoming, both as a stage driver and a stage manager, went with the Carrington expedition, being connected with the supply train service. He was at the fort at the time of the flag raising and also when the Fetterman Massacre occurred. Wm. Murphy, who has been a prominent merchant in Cheyenne for many years, was a member of the Eighteenth Infantry and participated in the stirring events around Fort Phil. Kearney and helped to build that famous structure. On the day of the massacre he was in the command which was sent to the relief of the Fetterman party. Both of these men have been connected in a prominent way with the History of Wyoming and their names will appear irother places in this work.

CHAPTER XL.

RED CLOUD CONTINUES THE WAR.

1867.

GOVERNMENT WANTS PEACE-RED CLOUD JUBILANT-BRIGADIEr General WESSELS TAKES COMMAND OF FORT PHIL. KEARNEY-CARRINGTON GOES TO FORT MCPHERSON-General P. ST. GEORGE COOKE REMOVED AND GENERAL AUGUR ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE PLATTE REport of CongRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON THE FETTERMAN MASSACRE-Red ClouD WITH A LARGE FORCE HOVERS ABOUT FORT PHIL. KEARNEY-MAKES PREPARATIONS TO STORM THE FORT-MAJOR POWELL'S DESPERATE FIGHT WITH RED CLOUD-INDIANS Severely BEATEN RECRUITS HIS FORCES FROM OTHER TRIBES-SPOTTED TAIL PUNISHES Deserters--BUILDING OF FORT FETTERMAN-FORT D. A. RUSSELL Located.

The construction of the Union Pacific Railroad westward to O'Fallen's Bluffs during the summer and fall of 1866 was destined to have a direct effect on the Indian troubles. This was an important station on the old Overland and was located 307 miles west of Omaha. Troops and supplies in the spring of 1867 were forwarded by railroad to that point and thus the distance of hauling by wagon trains was considerably lessened. The Government having violated every treaty it had made with the Indians north of the Platte, had now a war on its hands of such magnitude as to call for heavy reinforcements, not only in Wyoming but through Nebraska, along the line of construction of the railroad. The Interior Department, and notably the President, was anxious for peace with the wild tribes and showed a disposition to pay tribute rather than furnish money for defense. The attitude of the Government seemed to amuse the hostiles. When Red Cloud was approached and asked to accept terms of peace, he invariably replied by demanding the evacuation of troops from his country