Cloud Chaser faked ignorance and shook his head. “What happened?”
“Old Harney took on Spotted Tail’s and Little Thunder’s bands over near Ash Hollow last week and near wiped ‘em out. Some got away, ‘cludin’ them two chiefs, so he’s eager to git the rest. I heard his boys took down women and children durin’ the fight, if you can call a surprise attack with more men and better weapons a fair fight. They even kilt babies in their mamas’ arms, and captured a whole bunch more of ‘em. Sent the lot to Fort Kearny to be held there until they’re wagoned on to Fort Leavenworth.”
Ben grabbed a quick breath before continuing. “I sure am glad I ain’t no soldier and had to obey them sorry orders. No mama’s son should be forced to kill women and surely not children and babies. Anyways, Harney said the rest of them Brules and whoever else has been in on them raids and was in on Grattan’s Massacre has to surrender within two weeks. If they don’t, he’s gonna find their camp and attack every poor soul in it, just like he did on Blue Water Creek. He said if any of the other bands are hiding those guilty ones, he’s gonna attack them too. Fact is, he’s plannin’ to attack any camp he thinks is hostile. Lord only knows how he’s gonna judge who’s good and who’s bad, ‘specially since he’s got it in his head all Lakotas are bad. I doubt even Red Cloud, and that chief’s a good talker and well liked in these parts, even Red Cloud won’t be able to change his mind. From what Charlie and Jim told me after that parley in the Bad Faces camp, Harney’s plannin’ on ridin’ right into the enemy’s mouth and out his tail and yank out his heart whilst he’s doin’ so. Onest he invades ‘Sioux country’ as he’s callin’ it and tries that trick, a long and bloody war is sure to get started. I’m abettin’ you agree with me on that.”
Once more, Cloud Chaser experienced those unwanted sensations of near panic and soul-trembling intimidation as he realized that massive army’s march would include the Red Shield camp, which would imperil all of his loved ones. His beloved wife and son and family … To think of the same type of vicious assault he had witnessed last week taking place on their camp flooded his entire body with hatred for Harney and his blindness to right and wrong, to good and evil. He took a deep breath, exhaled the spent air, straightened, and said, “You’re right, Ben; such a challenge would make war inevitable.” But what can I do to prevent it? What can even the Creator do to prevent it? He had no answers…
Chapter Thirteen
Late in the afternoon of the following day, Cloud Chaser went to check the southwestward location downriver where War Eagle and the others were to come and wait for him after completing their task. Finding they had not arrived and knowing two patrols had galloped out this morning but toward the east and the north, he prayed his brother and friends either had caught up with the Brules or were still tracking their fleeing allies and that all of them were hidden and safe. Although he wished for the Brules to survive, he hoped they did not seek a haven with the Red Shields, which was certain to endanger his people and camp if those guilty of crimes were found there. If the remnant of Harney’s attack tried to seek refuge among them, surely his father and the council would convince them they must leave. Since he could not give advice from that distance, he pushed aside the troubling thought and returned to the fort to see if Ben had learned anything new today.
Cloud Chaser looked eastward as he saw one of the patrols galloping up the road, kicking up dust and making a lot of noise as the soldiers neared their destination, no doubt in a hurry to obtain rest and nourishment. After they bypassed his location and rode into their huge camp, he went into the store and was elated to find the genial sutler alone again, but busy putting out more items from his stockroom. “Evening, Ben. Hope I’m not intruding on your time too much these days while I’m resting up before leaving. I just got back from giving my horse some needed exercise and thought I’d stop in to talk before I make camp and eat and grab some sleep.”
“You’re no bother at all, Chase, and I can use some rest for a while. Fact of it is, I enjoy jawin’ with you. It’s about the onliest time I can speak my true mind around here. What little I got of one,” Ben added and chuckled.
Then, he waxed serious. “With all that’s goin’ on, it would seem like I been out in the prairie sun too long or I’m bedamned if I say anythin’ bad about Harney or anythin’ good about the Lakotas. Fact of it is, I’ve traded with plenty of ‘em over the years since I came here, even Brules, and never had no problems. They learned fast. After they sold their furs and hides over at the big man’s company, I give ‘em fairer prices on goods. I surely do hate to see Harney and his boys slaughterin’ most of ‘em. If the army and government treated ‘em only half as fair as I do, wouldn’t be no trouble in these parts and we wouldn’t have no war starin’ us down the throat.”
“I agree with you, Ben. I know some of those Brules and their friends have done some bad things, but it doesn’t justify challenging and punishing all Lakotas for those raids and killings. I’m like you, I’ve met and dealt with plenty of good men among them. They’ve never shot a single arrow at me or stolen anything from me. It’s gonna be—” Cloud Chaser halted as he heard boots approaching on the store’s porch. He and Ben turned and looked in that direction. He concealed his surprise and elation as a soldier entered the door and walked toward them.
“Can I help you with somethin’? I’m the owner here. Name’s Ben.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ben. I’m David Sims.”
Cloud Chaser saw David smile as he extended his right arm and shook hands with the sutler before relating his intention for coming there.
“I want to purchase writing supplies: paper, two envelopes, and a pen and ink or several pencils. Do you have everything I need here?”
Cloud Chaser watched David pause for Ben to nod.
“If I pay extra, can you post and mail a letter for me after it’s written? It’s personal, so I don’t want to stick it in my company’s mail pouch.”
Cloud Chaser deduced from David’s speech and behavior that the man was about his age and was educated and possessed manners. He had sandy hair, no visible scars, and was good-looking to a woman’s gaze. His eyes were darker blue than his sister’s and their color was enhanced by that of his uniform, one still dusty from today’s duties. He noted that David did not give a military rank when introducing himself and appeared a little nervous about being there or about his purchase…
Ben told him, “Won’t be no trouble at all, and no extra charge for mailin’ it for you. I’ll git what you need. You just wait here awhile.”
“Thank you, Ben; that’s very kind of you.”
As Ben went to fill David’s order, Cloud Chaser seized an opportunity to glean facts. “You’re one of Harney’s men, right?” He watched David half turn and look at him before responding.
“That’s correct, stranger.”
Cloud Chaser tried again to illicit information. “What you troops did down Ash Hollow way has folks in this area plenty worried. Name’s Chase Martin,” he said as he offered to shake hands, and David accepted the gesture. “Does Harney realize a massacre like that will stir up the Indians against all whites? I mean, killing women and children, destroying their winter supplies, and taking some prisoners. It’s been mostly peaceful around here since the treaty in fifty-one, but he’s challenging them to war. What man of honor wouldn’t do all he could to protect his family, home, people, and lands? In those ways, Indians aren’t any different from us whites. Yep, what Harney did to those Brules and their friends has us locals worried plenty.”
After he saw the sutler close and the lock the door, David said, “It has me and some of the others worried, too, but we had to obey our orders. Most of us didn’t mean to hit women and children, but they got in the cross fire or we couldn’t tell their sex and age in hiding or at that distance. I surely do hope and pray none of my bullets were to blame for such deaths.”
Cloud Chaser was pleased by David’s admissions and feelings. He read distress in the
man’s gaze and detected it in his voice and mood. Although he knew David had spared Brule lives, he perceived that Caroline’s brother felt guilt and anguish over that tragic incident. Perhaps if he didn’t probe too hard and too fast, he could extract more information about Harney and his plans, and David himself. “Did you ride in from back East with Harney?”
“No, I was at Pierre under Major Cady until we were transferred to Kearny in June and the major was put in charge there. After General Harney arrived last month, you could say he confiscated us to help in his campaign.”
As he set three metal cups on the counter and filled them with hot coffee, Ben motioned with his head for them to take one while he joined in on the talk. “We heard Harney built a fort at Ash Hollow and named it for Grattan. I doubt it’ll sit well with the survivors of his attack last year to have anythin’ in their territory with his name on it. I also doubt it’s sittin’ well with ‘em about the tradin’ post at Pierre becomin’ a fort a few months back. Seems to them the army’s tightenin’ its grip on their assigned territory. I guess a big show of superior power and numbers is supposed to scare ‘em into doin’ whatever the army and Harney have to say. I’m afraid Harney and a lot of innocent folk are gonna find out them Indians don’t scare easy.”
David said, “I confess I don’t agree with how the general handled the assault at Ash Hollow, but in his defense, he was obeying orders, too. He was commanded by his superiors and the leaders in Washington to ferret out the Indians guilty of raids, and killings, and the massacre of Grattan and his unit. We found letters from a mail robbery last November and items belonging to Grattan and his men in those joint Brule camps we attacked. Doesn’t that prove those were the culprits we were after and they were responsible for those crimes? Harney ordered them to surrender, but they refused.”
Cloud Chaser refuted in a genial tone, “All it proves is the Brules kept those soldiers’ possessions after they defended themselves against Grattan’s reckless attack.” He could not argue the point on the mail raid, as most knew or suspected Spotted Tail was to blame. He delayed more talk on that matter to relate the facts about the treaty four years ago, who had and had not been present, what it was supposed to achieve, the assignments of territories to friend and foe, the promised annuities and vows of nonencroachment, and how the treaty’s terms had not been honored by the whites.
He explained about the three different branches, many tribes, and numerous bands of the Dakota Nation; and pointed out that one band should not be punished for another’s misdeeds, nor should the entire Lakota branch be held accountable and punished for the crimes or retaliations of a single or several allied groups. He went on to disclose what happened the day of Grattan’s attack on Brave Bear’s camp, who was involved, and why that incident was critical to both sides. He noticed how attentive and uneasy David was about that news, and he was glad it troubled the man.
“Ben and I have lived here for a long time and we’ve learned a lot about the Lakotas, what most whites call the Sioux. I told you all of that so you’d understand what you’re facing out here, ‘cause Harney hasn’t taken the time to get any hard facts on these people and this territory or what’s really been going on here. I guess enlisted men aren’t allowed to read officers’ reports. But we know for a fact—don’t we, Ben?—that conflicting information was sent in. Our leaders in Washington just chose to believe the ones that blamed the Indians. That’s a real shame, David, a deadly mistake.”
“I suppose you have a valid point, Chase, because some of the officers don’t agree on what or how it happened at Ash Hollow. Lieutenant Warren, he’s a topographical engineer traveling with Harney, said it was unnecessary slaughter. He told me some of the Indians sought protection in the bluffs, but ‘seven women and three children were found dead’ in one cave alone. After the melee, I saw children shot in the back, head, arms, and knees. One girl even had bullet wounds on the bottoms of both feet. I saw dead mothers with dead babies in their arms. But I have to tell you, Colonel Cook, Engineer Warren, Doc Ridgely, and others tended the wounded.”
Between sips of cool coffee, Ben remarked, “Sounds to me like those Indians never stood a chance against them new long-range rifles we heard you boys were usin’. I doubt them Indians could get close enough in most cases to land an arrow or throw a lance or knife at you boys. Sounds like a one-sided battle to me. That Warren called it right: pure slaughter.”
Cloud Chaser witnessed how that dark truth affected Caroline’s older brother. The man took a deep breath, lowered his gaze, and slowly released the spent air. It appeared to Cloud Chaser as if David needed and wanted to unload or at least lighten the heavy burden he was carrying. If David possessed an evil heart and mind, Cloud Chaser reasoned, he would not be feeling guilt and shame. Those, he decided, were good signs.
David lifted his head and gaze. “An interpreter said the Indians are calling the general ‘The Butcher’ and ‘Squawkiller.’ I suppose if I’m honest with you two and with myself, he earned those names on Monday. I saw with my own eyes when Chief Little Thunder held up a white flag and came out with others to talk, but the general thought it was a trick and wasn’t in the mood for mercy or peace.”
Cloud Chaser asked, “What were the death and capture counts?”
“A hundred and thirty-six killed in Little Thunder’s camp. At Spotted Tail’s, eighty-six, mostly women and children. I heard one of the casualties was the chief’s wife and another wife was captured. We captured seven wounded warriors and took about seventy women and children prisoner. The two chiefs and some warriors fled with the rest of the women and children. Harney ordered the dragoons to pursue them, but Steel’s company came back empty-handed after chasing them for six miles or more. Afterward, Cook reprimanded Heth for his failure to prevent the Indians from getting past his line of assault because Heth was positioned at the north end of the valley. Harney sent the prisoners to Fort Kearny, but they’ll be heading on to Fort Leavenworth soon. Probably some of them won’t make it there alive because they were seriously wounded. The day following the battle, Harney sent units to their camps to confiscate anything valuable or useful and had the rest of their belongings burned in a huge fire. If any of them return, they won’t find anything left.”
Ben asked, “What about the general’s force? Any dead and wounded?”
“Our side sustained seven serious wounds and five dead. The injured were sent to Kearny, and the dead were buried near the river. There’s one man unaccounted for; he could have deserted during the attack. Lord knows I was tempted to do the same because of such unwarranted atrocities.”
Cloud Chaser saw how shocked David was about voicing that admission aloud before the embarrassed man rushed on to excuse his outburst, or perhaps to explain the motivating feelings behind it.
“It’s hard for a man of honor and decency to accept taking part in such repugnant and cruel events. Even if I weren’t bound by my sworn oath to obey orders, I couldn’t have deserted because I would have been hunted down, arrested, and executed. I suppose I should hate the Indians and not mind attacking them because they abducted my sister while she was en route to join me at Kearny. At least that’s what the army believes. I have to stay alive to find her and I’m praying she’s safe out there somewhere.”
“What do you mean by the army thinks she was taken by Indians?” Cloud Chaser asked.
“As I told you earlier, I was assigned to Major Cady at Fort Pierre, but we were shifted to Kearny in June. After our parents died and bankers took over the family property, my sister left Georgia to join me at Pierre. Since she was en route west, I couldn’t contact her about my transfer. I told the officer left in charge at Pierre to relate that news to her upon her arrival. Caroline left Pierre on August first under the escort of the last troops being relocated to Kearny. They never reached the fort. Major Cady sent out a search patrol that tracked the wagons to a grassland site a few days out from Pierre. Then, it was as if the ground opened up and swallowed them. The wagon and ho
rse prints just stopped and the patrol couldn’t find any sign of them anywhere in the area, and they searched in every direction. All they saw were thousands of buffalo tracks and new grass from recent storms; I suppose those things obliterated any trail the enemy made. Major Cady believes the Indians attacked, stole everything, killed the soldiers, and captured my sister; then, stampeded buffalo back and forth to destroy the evidence of their crimes. Something happened to that troop because men, wagons, and cannons just don’t vanish like morning fog after the sun rises.”
Cloud Chaser empathized with the man’s confusion and anguish, but felt it was necessary to mislead the army through David. “Indians might not be to blame for that mystery. Last summer there was a gang of white men dressing as Indians, right up to using full-head scalps they had lifted, and attacking military shipments and stages. During one of their raids, they killed an entire escort of soldiers bringing weapons and supplies here and stole their load. They shot arrows into those soldiers’ bodies and took scalp locks to point the army’s eyes in the wrong direction. They were killed while trying to rob a mail stage and their identities as white men were exposed. Probably some of those other raids the Indians are being blamed for were committed by that gang before it was destroyed. Could be some of its members escaped and have formed a new gang and they’re responsible for your sister’s disappearance, or maybe another gang is at work in this territory now. Ask Major Cady to check Lieutenant Fleming’s reports for last August if Major Hoffman still has them in his office. It would be a smart idea for Harney to do the same; he might learn he can’t blame Indians for every misdeed carried out in these parts. Best I recall, it was toward the first of the month, but most of us don’t keep up with day numbers out here.”
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