a horse to ride armed himself and went in pursuit. Among the number was one Felix Rooney from Potter Co., Pennsylvania, who, together with another horseman, rode up to the bluffs back of the town in time to see the Indians in the distance but out of reach of their guns. In order to observe their movements, Rooney's companion returned to town to get a field-glass, while Rooney dismounted and laid on the grass close to the bend of the ridge. His horse was grassing and Rooney held it by his lariat-rope. A bullwhacker coming along, dismounted and stopped for a short time with Rooney. Both men were well armed. Soon an Indian appeared in full war dress, dashed up to Rooney's horse, apparently thinking that the animal was picketed. On seeing Rooney he grabbed his rifle but somehow the same was fast in some way; he then drew a forty-five caliber Colt revolver and aimed it directly at Rooney. This one was taken by surprise and alarmed to such extent that he never thought of his gun but fell flat to the ground the moment the Indian fired his revolver. He afterwards said that he felt as being shot. He soon discovered to his great delight that he was alive and that the Indian was the dead man. At the moment the Indian leveled his gun, the bullwhacker fired and killed him. As the people of Deadwood had offered a reward of $200 for an Indian scalp, the aforesaid Mexican finding the Indian soon after, took his scalp and brought it to Deadwood expecting the reward. He got sixty dollars, went on a spree and before it was over he too was killed between Deadwood and Crook City."

On the same day on which Wild Bill was killed (August 2d), Rev. H. W. Smith, a Methodist minister, was killed on his road from Deadwood to Crook. He had come to the

Hills of his own accord, and preached first at Custer, in a log-house with sawdust floors, on May the 7th, 1876. He left Custer, May 22d, preached in camp at Box Elder and arrived in Deadwood May the 25th. The first record of his preaching is in the diary of Mr. E. G. Phillips, that he preached in the street on the corner of Main and Gold street, Sunday, July the 9th. He supported himself by

his labor, and preached in the cabins of the miners or on the crowded streets. It was no uncommon sight to see him hold the attention of one end of a crowd while at the other end the attention of the same crowd was held by a broker or prospector. On the day referred to and against the remonstrances of his friends, he started to walk to Crook City, there to hold service; but he had only proceeded a few miles from Deadwood when he was shot by an Indian in ambush. Information quickly reached the city and a strong scouting party was organized and started in pursuit of the red men, but its mission not only failed, but resulted in the death of Charles Holland, Isaac Brown and C. Mason, who corralled a solitary Indian on Falls-bottom near Burton's stockade. The latter was strongly intrenched and entirely screened from view by bushes and a mound of dirt, and succeeded in standing off the whites with loss as stated, and ultimately escaping under the cover of night.

Indian excitement was now at its height and the people made frequent demands for military protection. General Crook replied to these demands in the following manner :

"HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PLATTE.

IN THE FIEld.

}

To the Hon. Mayor and Council of the City of Deadwood.

GENTLEMEN: Referring to the petition of your citizens regarding that troops be stationed in your vicinity for their protection, I have the honor to state that after consulting with Lieutenant-General Sheridan, it was thought that the operations of troops which are about to be inaugurated in your vicinity will afford better protection than the permanent location of a detachment at any one point. I recommend, however, that your citizens organize so that they will be effective for their temporary protection in case of any unforeseen emergency,

I am, gentlemen, very respectfully, etc.,

GEO. CROOK, Brigadier-General."

CHAPTER III.

GENERAL CROOK IN THE BLACK HILLS.

On the 4th of August, the organization of the Big Horn and Yellowstone Expedition of 1876 was announced. The cavalry (Second and Fifth), were organized into a brigade of five battalions with five companies to each battalion. Colonel Merritt was announced as chief of cavalry. Lieutenant-Colonel Carr resumed command of the regiment, which he retained until the expedition was disbanded. Major Upham commanded the first battalion, consisting of companies A, B, G, I, and M, and Major Mason, recently promoted to that grade in the Third Cavalry, continued to serve with the regiment, and commanded the second battalion, consisting of companies C, D, E, F, and K. LieutenantColonel Royall commanded the Second and Third Cavalry, with Major Evans and Captains Noyes and Van Vilet as battalion commanders. Ten companies of the Fourth, Ninth, and Fourteenth Infantry regiments were commanded by Major Chambers, and a better body of officers and men were never assembled in the army. The Crow and Shoshone allies were commanded by Captain Randall, of the Twenty-third Infantry, and the volunteer scouts were in charge of Major Stanton, of the pay department.

The order of movement was brief and simple:

"All tents and camp equipage, bedding, and baggage, except articles hereinafter specified, to be stored in the wagons, and wagons to be turned over to the chief quartermaster at sunset. Wagons will be left at camp. A pack train of mules will accompany each battalion on the march, for the protection of which the battalion will be held responsible. The command will march at seven o'clock a. m., to-morrow, "prepared for action," and company commanders will see to it that each man carries with him on his person one hundred rounds of ammunition, and four