THE DOG SOLDIER ARTISTS PLAINS INDIAN LEDGER DRAWINGS BY JEAN AFTON In the latter days of the Indian Wars, Tall Bull, the recalcitrant leader of the Cheyenne Dog Soldiers decided to make a dash for the South Platte River in northeastern Colorado and seek safety among the friendly Lakota Sioux of the North Plains. In May of 1869, Major A. E. Carr, with eight companies of the Fifth Cavalry and 150 Pawnee scouts under Major Frank North, relentlessly pursued the Dog Men. In order to confuse the soldiers, Tall Bull's followers scattered in small bands to meet at predetermined places and times. In early July, the band came together at White Buttes
in northeast Colorado — called Summit Springs by the whites. The Pawnee scouts discovered the camp on July 10, 1869, and launched a full-scale attack the following day. A few women, children and old men escaped on those horses picketed in the camp. Tall Bull and about twenty others perished in a deep ravine where they had sought safety. Wolf-with-Plenty-of-Hair, one of the Cheyenne warriors, died defending his people, wearing the no-retreat dog rope. The battle lasted only a few hours. After drawing lots for the horses and looting the lodges, the soldiers burned
the village. Surviving the flames was a notebook of Indian drawings. A Fifth Cavalry trooper wrote across one page: "This book was captured by the Fifth U.S. Cavalry on their charge through the Indian Village July 10th 69. 60 Indians killed and many wounded. 400 head of stock also captured. Immense destruction of Indian property:" Ira W. La Munyon was a deputy United States surveyor for the Union Pacific Railroad at the time ofthe battle. He lived with his family at North Platte, Nebraska, and was acquainted with the cavalry personnel at nearby Fort McPherson. Following the engagement
PISTOL His own mount wounded, Pistol rides off on a stolen horse. The drawings are X-ray style and Pistol sometimes has to correct his first attempt.
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The Clarion