INTERESTING NARRATIVE OF AN OLD INDIAN SCOUT

Comrade Webb:
I am an ardent reader of the Winners of the West. I followed the accounts closely on the Dull Knife fight, the latest write-up of Mackenzie's last fight with the Cheyenne in 1876. It is with a fervent spirit of keen memory I desire to express my own experience in the occurrence of 1878 with the band of Cheyenne under Dull Knife's command, which broke away from the Indian Territory assignment abode.

I was in Rapid City, South Dakota, attending United States Federal Court when the United States 7th cavalry arrived. I was employed as scout and interpreter. My first order was to scout for the Cheyenne war party's movement. I went through the Bad Lands country across the Cheyenne River over to the head of Bad River down to White River and Wounded Knee Creek, where I overtook the army after a three days' scouting. We established headquarters at Camp Sheridan for the 7th cavalry from where the scouting parties were sent out. Word was received at Camp Sheridan that Dull Knife and his band had been captured; they were in dugouts in a heavy timber.

A misunderstanding of their interpreter as to surrender caused Col. Carlton of 3rd cavalry to send to Col. Tilford of the 7th Cavalry for aid in the use of a cannon and an interpreter to interview Dull Knife as to his intentions.

Adjutant E.A. Garlington was detailed to take a detachment of soldiers, cannon and the interpreter, myself, who arrived at Col. Carlton's tent about midnight; he informed me to try to gain a meeting with Dull Knife. With their interpreter I called to the Indians in dugouts, and after some parleying was admitted into their camp where I remained the rest of the night, hearing the repeated appeals not to return to the assigned territory, repulsive in climate and habits.

In the morning Adjutant Garlington took me to Col. Carlton's camp, who upon hearing my reported interview commanded me to get Dull Knife and three of his men to talk to them. As a result of my untiring efforts with the Indians through the night in my repeated explanations to avoid bloodshed which seemed imminent at any moment, to look forward to the future development of their succeeding generations, I gained some assurance which ended in Col. Carlton giving them a half hour to surrender or fight, which meant being shelled out.

I explained to the Colonel, Indians have no knowledge of clock time, hence I returned with Dull Knife to his dugout, who told his warriors of the order to which they agreed to surrender and be taken to Camp Robinson without fighting. I gave the signal answer, which immediately started the lineup of the men marching; I assisted in loading the women and children in wagons, seeing them start off peaceably.

At my present age of seventy-five years it gives me humble satisfaction that I take pleasure in stating these words of Brig. General Garlington's (retired) letter of 1917 to me:

"I have always felt that it was entirely due to your influence with the Cheyenne band who had dug themselves in the banks of Chadron Creek, that they consented to go without a fight, in performing the valuable duty of your interpretation of that night's service."

If there are any comrades living who remember this happening, I'd be very glad to hear from them.

I live on the old Ft. George site on the Missouri River bottom, farming a thirty-five acre tract of land, twenty-one miles southeast of Pierre.

Yours in loyal service.
LOUIS DEWITT
Indian Scout of 1878 to 1884