Indian Pursuit
       Second-Lieutenant George A. Armes, Second US Cavalry

      Meig's Ranch, 21 January 1867
      Orders came yesterday afternoon to take four six-mule wagons and twenty-five men of my company, proceed to an old canon fifty miles from the post and take possession of a large amount of stolen goods reported to be there and capture the robbers if possible. I left the post at daybreak, and in crossing the Platte river the wagon broke through the ice. I was detained four hours, and am now camping out in a very cold snowstorm without wood or anything to burn, even to make coffee. Mr. Hughes, owner of the ranch, has kindly let us have the use of his fireplace to cook what coffee we need, but cannot give us any further comfort.

      Pole Creek, Twenty Miles from Laramie Ranch, 22 January 1867
      During last night, just as I had gotten half asleep under my blanket in the snow, the sergeant of the guard reported that he believed a party of Indians were trying to break into the camp. Quietly having all the men placed under arms, with instructions not to let an Indian or robber get away alive, I went to the outpost and soon heard my name called in English, and Sergeant Widman reported with twenty-five men, handing me the following letter:
        Headquarters Fort Sedgwick, 23 January 1867
        Sir-I send you a wagon loaded with forage and rations, about four days each, also your saddle horse Ranger, some bandages and lint. You must not take your wagons too far in a fight. They would ruin you. Leave them at a safe place. When you get near the Indians, use your own judgment, always keeping in mind that your horses have much hard work to do after this trip. I cannot spare you any more men, for we must keep enough here to protect the post and keep matters quiet around us. I think you have men enough to fight all the Indians that you are likely to meet. At all events you must do the best you can with the men at your disposal.
        J. Mix, Captain, Commanding Post
      I sent a sergeant back to the post with a request that at least fifty more men be sent to me, as some forty or fifty men who were sent to Laramie, coming to Sharp's Woods, were surrounded by Indians and almost starved out. One man had ventured out and got to me with this information. Not waiting for reinforcements, I started out at three o'clock this morning in the snowstorm with fifty-five men and five wagons for the wood-choppers' camp, about forty miles up in the canons. I halted at eight this morning at Lewis' Ranch on Pole creek, and at nine o'clock was again on the march to rescue the citizen wood-choppers. We had not marched more than twenty miles when a band of Indians came dashing at us. I at once had my wagons parked and left them in charge of the teamsters and ten soldiers. Then I deployed my men, placing Lieutenant Jenness in command of the left, and charged the Indians, who wheeled and ran over the hills into the deep ravine full of snow, my little command after them, firing our carbines, yelling and making as much noise as we could. After a chase of three miles the Indians disappeared, and all we got was one Indian pony with a war-bag full of dried meat, saddle and bridle, bow and quivers, shield and a number of Indian trinkets, with six or seven head of cattle they had just stolen and driven from the wood-choppers' camp, which is only ten miles further on. My scout thinks all the men have been murdered, and that the Indians are making for the village with the stolen stock, so I will not wait for reinforcements, but go forward tonight and search the camp if possible. The snow is over a foot deep on a level, and five and six feet deep in the canons. I first sent in a request to the post to hurry me forward more men if possible, stating that I will go forward tonight, and that one of my men was killed or captured by the Indians, but I lost no time in spite of the suffering of myself and men. If it had not been for the assistance of Lieutenant Jenness I hardly believe one of us would have been left, but he helped to cheer the men forward and charge when, judging by the large band of Indians, it was hopeless.

      Pole Creek Crossing, Lewis' Ranch, 24 January 1867
      After taking the captured cattle and ponies to the wagon camp we got a little coffee and something to eat. No signs of reinforcements coming, we started for the wood camp, about twenty miles northwest in the mountains, which we reached about ten o'clock last night in the midst of one of the coldest Dakota blizzards I ever experienced. The Indians who had been holding the wood-choppers prisoners scattered the moment the little command was discovered, when the citizens rushed out wild with excitement and rejoicing over our arrival and their rescue from starvation and death. They had been out of provisions for two days, and were boiling their shoes and boots to appease their hunger. My men divided their rations with them, got a hasty meal, and after getting warmed up a little by the good fires they had there, we started on the trail of the Indians, hoping to surprise and capture their village, about ten miles further on. Twenty of the wood-choppers, well armed with Winchesters and revolvers, volunteered to go with me, the rest starting on our back trail for the wagons we had left behind, taking orders to the sergeant in charge to return to this ranch and wait for further orders. We discovered the village about four o'clock this morning, and charged into it to find it empty. Not a live Indian could be seen, and my scout soon informed us that from what he had discovered he judged the village had been abandoned about five hours, and that the Indians who had held the wood-choppers prisoners, discovering our approach in the night, supposed I had a large force, hastened to their camp with the alarm, and the Indians got their families out as quickly as possible, starting for the mountains in a panic. After following their trail about ten miles I found it useless to attempt it further, as the horses would plunge in the ravines filled with soft snow from five to ten feet deep, and as the men were beginning to grow numb with the cold, I started for the ranch about twelve o'clock. It has taken me eleven hours to come twenty-five miles.

      Meigs' Ranch, 25 January 1867
      It was between eleven and twelve o'clock last night when we reached Lewis' Ranch. When I was taken off my horse and carried into Mr. Lewis' room, which he kindly gave up to me, and as soon as the ice had melted from over my mouth so I could speak, I requested runners to be sent in to the post for two or three ambulances for the frozen men, who are unable to sit on their horses without great suffering.

      Lewis gave his cowboys orders to have all my horses put under his sheds and well fed and to bring a lot of dry hay into the ranch and make all the men as comfortable as possible, while he and his clerk gave their personal attention to me. I was bathed in cold water and rubbed with towels until the doctor thought I would pull through without losing any fingers or toes. Many of the men who had to be taken off their horses will lose their fingers and toes, and in one or two cases, I am afraid, their hands and feet.

      I must mention the kind attention of Mrs. Major Kellogg. After she had started on to Fort Laramie the blizzard became so severe that she came back to this ranch, and upon her arrival, although suffering from the cold herself, she at once lent a helping hand to us all.

      It was after ten o'clock this morning before I could get away from Lewis' Ranch, as I had to put my frozen men in six-mule wagons, making them comfortable as possible, and after being placed on my horse and my feet and hands bundled up, we started for this ranch.

      About three o'clock this afternoon the only ambulance from the post met us, and after placing seven of the worst cases in it I sent it to the post with orders to hasten back to this ranch for more men who are unable to sit on their horses at all.

      The ranch being too small to give us shelter, we are all camped in the snow tonight, and as fire only makes us worse, we are doing without any.

      Thirty-two of the forty men who went with me to the Indian village are badly frozen, which gives the other ten men a great deal of extra work, as they have the care of the horses in addition to waiting upon their frozen comrades.

      It is a good thing the Indians did not discover the strength of my little command, for if they had and we had met them in their village not one of us would have been left, as the scouts say there were ten Indians to one of us, and with the assistance of their squaws could have massacred us in a few moments.

      Fort Sedgwick, 26 January 1867
      Two ambulances arrived at my camp during last night, and I sent fourteen more of my frozen men to the post, then saddled up and marched the rest of the command in, reaching the post at twelve o'clock, where I was placed in a cold room by Dr. Latham and every attention shown that could be to cure me. Captain Mix called on me with General Potter, Colonel of the Thirtieth Infantry, who are now in camp near the post waiting for the storm to abate before going forward to Fort Laramie. Several of his officers called to see me during the day, but I am in such a suffering condition that I could not talk or entertain them. I feel considerably cheered up from the fact that I return to the post without the loss of a man or horse being left on the plains, with the exception of the man killed or captured by the Indians during the first day's fight. Meeting Mr. Coad last night, he gave me proof that "sixty-seven head of cattle and one pony which Lieutenant Geo. A. Armes, Second United States Cavalry, captured from the Indians belong to me and my company. Witnesses, Thomas Randall, Alva Wylie. (Signed) J. F. Coad."

      Mr. Coad being the contractor, the recovery of his cattle will be a godsend to him as well as the families at the post, as he can bring his wood here now, which we were in great need of. Mr. Coad is now one of the prominent business men in Omaha, Neb.

      I prepared and submitted my report as follows:
        Fort Sedgwick, 26 January 1867
        Capt. J. Mix, Second U. S. Cavalry, Commanding Post, Fort Sedgwick:
        Sir-I have the honor to inform you that Sergeant Weidman, with twenty-five men, overtook me at 11 o'clock PM on the 21st inst. twelve miles from this post, at Meig's Ranch, where I stopped a short time. I left Meig's Ranch, with thirty-seven men, at 3 AM on the 22d; reached Lewis' Ranch, at Pole Creek Crossing, thirty miles, at 9 AM, ate breakfast, and left at 10 AM for the canons on Lawrence Fork, thirty-eight miles, to rescue Coad and his men; proceeded up Pole creek twelve or fifteen miles, when I discovered Indians; sent my wagons to a safe place and parked them, and started after the Indians with thirty-four men; followed them four miles, when they scattered in the bluffs and hid behind rocks, etc. They tried to decoy me with traps, by sending one or two out at a time. I sent a sergeant and four men out, and captured one pony, which an Indian had ridden out most too far; the Indian escaped behind the rock. I dismounted my men, climbed up the bluffs, and tried to get in rear of them, but failed; the snow was so deep it was impossible to follow them. I then mounted and started, and in trying to cross gullies the horses would sink in so deep it was with the greatest difficulty that the men could get them out, even by dismounting. I concluded it was not policy to risk my men in the canons, as it was growing dusk, and the Indians ten to one. So I returned to the wagons, after a round trip of fifteen miles, then fed the animals, and started on to Lawrence Fork, which was twenty-three miles; reached there, and rescued Coad and twenty-one men at 2 A. M., the 23d inst.; fed and rested until 7 AM, then started for the Indian camp, eight miles; found it deserted, and took fifty head of cattle, which they had left behind in their hurry. I returned to Lawrence Fork at 11 AM, took four mules from the teams, packed them with grain and blankets, and started on the trail at 3 PM; marched all night until 4 AM, the 24th, when I stopped near Pine Bluffs, making forty miles; fed and started again at 7 AM, marched twenty-five miles, when I lost the trail, as the wind had blown the snow in and filled it up so that it could not be found. I then started for Pole Creek Crossing, which I reached at dusk, making a march of fifty-eight miles; left Pole creek at 10 AM, on the 25th, and reached Meig's Ranch at 7 PM, thirty miles; stopped all night, and left this morning, the 26th at 7 o'clock, and arrived at this post at 10 AM. Twenty-seven of my men are frozen, or are in such a condition that I am afraid they will not be fit for anything more than garrison duty as long as the cold weather lasts. I have not lost any horses. I lost one man, who, I think, was captured by the Indians when I charged into the bluffs, as I have not seen him since. I turned over sixty-seven head of cattle and one pony, which I captured from the Indians, to J. F. Coad & Co., after having sufficient proof that they belonged to him and his company. Second Lieut. John Jenness, Twenty-seventh U. S. Inf., who was on his way to join his regiment, volunteered his services, which I accepted. I furnished him with a horse, and he rendered valuable service in the charge, and behaved himself in a gallant manner. When in the canons, and in great danger, he set a fine example to the men by his coolness and determination. It is my opinion he will be a daring and useful officer to the Government. Great credit is due the five citizens whose names I will send in to you soon, with the recommendation that they be employed in the Quartermaster's Department, as they are now out of employment and badly frozen. Most of the Indians were dressed in blue overcoats and mounted on American horses. Citizens whom I have talked with, and who were near them six or eight days ago, state that some are armed with Spencer carbines and seem to think they are the same Indians who partook in the massacre at Fort Phil Kearney. Sergeant Keane, Corporals Furniss and Dimmock, and, in fact, all the men, behaved themselves in a gallant manner, and endured the hardships like true soldiers and men. From the appearance of the arrows found, the Indians were Cheyennes. A war bag was taken from the captured pony, which I judge contained at least twenty days' rations of dried meat, etc. I omitted to mention that seventeen head of cattle were found along their trail, which they had left in their retreat when I charged into the canons after them. It is the opinion of all those with whom I have talked that the Indians from above are coming this way for the purpose of meeting those from the Republican and attacking this road some time in February. Total number of miles marched since I left this post, two hundred and forty-nine (249). The horses seem to be still in good condition and not much worn.
      Capt. Mix endorses my report as follows: "Lieut. Armes has in this case, as he always does, carried out his instructions with energy and discretion. The severe loss in frost-bitten men is to be regretted, but the citizens on Lauren's fork would doubt have been massacred but for the assistance sent."

      Colonel George A. Armes. Ups and Downs of An Army Officer. (Washington, DC: 1900), pp. 205-212.