New Sources on Arikara Scouts

service while with the column.” 15 Crook’s search led to the battle at Slim Buttes, but by thenRunning Wolf and his companions had been directed back to Fort Lincoln again.In October 1876, the scouts served under Terry and Col. Samuel D. Sturgis of theSeventh Cavalry, and participated in a mission to dismount and disarm the Lakota Indians at theStanding Rock and Cheyenne River Agencies. This mission, which was conducted in greatsecrecy, was a success. Although the scouts did not get to take revenge for the loss of theirfriends at the Little Bighorn, taking the horses and weapons from the Lakotas did offer somedegree of satisfaction. Among the Arikara scouts who later drove the horse herd from Bismarckto Fargo, North Dakota, were Little Sioux and Red Star, both featured in the interviews below. 16Some Arikara scouts remained in service between 1877 and 1881. Bear’s Eye, Big John,Eagle Tail, Left Hand, Little Soldier, Only Brave, Vermillion, White Breasted Rat, Little Sioux, andYoung War Eagle periodically served at the various forts in the area. They also patrolled theU.S.-Canadian border to prevent Sitting Bull’s followers from raiding in the United States.Mainly, however, they served as couriers between troops in the field and the military posts.Little Sioux, for example, carried mail for the army between 1878 and 1882. He earned $25 amonth.THE STRUGGLE FOR PENSIONSYears after their enlistment, many former scouts began to suffer from ailments whichthey attributed to the harshness of their years in the military. Both President Ulysses S. Grantand Lt. Col. Custer had promised that they would be looked after following their service.15 James Willert, ed., Bourke’s Diary: From Journals of 1 st Lt. John Gregory Bourke, June 27-Sept. 15, 1876. Chronicleof the 1876 Indian War (La Mirada, CA: James Willert, Publisher, 1986), 173. Charles M. Robinson III, ed., TheDiaries of John Gregory Bourke vol. 2, July 29, 1876-April 7, 1878 (Denton: University of North Texas Press, 2005),89-90. John G. Bourke, On the Border With Crook (<strong>New</strong> York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1891/Columbus, OH: CollegeBook Co., 1950), 361.16 Unfortunately, we do not know for certain all of the names of the Arikara scouts who were with Terry during thiscampaign, but the register of enlistments for that month shows that the following scouts served at Fort Lincoln atthis time: Barking Wolf, Bears Ears, Black Calf, Black Fox, Black Porcupine, Bull, Bull in the Water, Bush, Climbs theBluff, Curley Head, Foolish Bear, Forked Horn, Good Elk, Good Face, Goose, Horn in Front, Howling Wolf, Left Hand,One Feather, One Horn, Owl, Rushing Bull, (Little) Sioux, Soldier, Strikes the Lodge, Strikes Two, Wagon, WhiteCloud (Dakota Scout?), Running Wolf, Young Hawk, Young War Eagle. Register of Enlistments in the United StatesArmy, 1798-1914. Volumes 150-151, 1866-1877, Indian Scouts, M233, Roll 70-71. From Red Star’s pension recordslisted below, it is clear that he, too, was present in this mission under the name Strikes-the-Bear. For descriptionsof this mission see Hugh L. Scott, Some Memories of a Soldier (<strong>New</strong> York: The Century Company, 1928) and Rev.John E. Cox, Five Years in the United States Army (<strong>New</strong> York: Sol Lewis, 1973).10