to the last, and compelled them to kill him to save their own lives.  Nothing could exceed the rage of the Indians, and especially old Spotted Tail, as he saw the body of warrior after warrior carried down the hill, until nine dead Indians were laid beside Anderson.  In his grief for the loss of his braves, the old chief kicked the corpse of poor Anderson, and the other Indians came up and mutilated it horribly.

In a few minutes after the death of Anderson, a mounted party was seen coming over the hills, and about thirty warriors rode up to Spotted Tail, and reported that they had captured the ambulance and killed all who were in it.  They exhibited to Spotted Tail the scalps of all Captain Mitchell’s late companions, except that of Cramer.  The ambulance horses were brought back, each carrying what is known “down East” as a “noble red man.”

In a few moments the warriors had their dead comrades securely strapped to ponies, and, mounting their own, set out toward the Republican.  As soon as they were out of sight, and it became dark, Captain Mitchell started for the camp, where he arrived about ten o’clock, and told the story of the “Cottonwood Massacre,” as I have here related it.

Early the next morning I was sent out with a large force to pursue and, if possible, overtake and punish the Indians.  For two days I followed them hard, and, on the evening of the second day, came upon a small party as they were crossing a stream, but in attempting to charge them, they scattered over the prairie and were soon lost in the darkness.  The trail now divided in every direction, and it would have been impossible to follow it unless each soldier had pursued some half a dozen warriors, when it is not likely he would have returned.  So we turned back, and marched for Cottonwood.  The bodies of the dead had been brought in and buried, and everything had been found as Captain Mitchell had stated.

Private Wise was severely censured for not immediately going to camp and giving the alarm, but he said he had no idea the wagon and its sick men had ever left the canyon, for there were at least one hundred and fifty warriors around it when he came away, so he thought he might as well rest until morning before bearing such dismal news as he had to communicate to his fellow-soldiers.

In 1867 nearly all the Plains tribes of Indians evinced a sullen disposition, and the indications were that the country was on the eve of a prolonged savage war.  The cause of this, perhaps, might well be attributed to the encroachments by the whites, upon the great hunting-grounds of the tribes.  The transcontinental lines of railway were nearly completed and in their wake followed an immigration from the Eastern states, unprecedented in the history of the nation.  President Andrew Johnson appointed a Peace Commission, composed of a large number of the most distinguished men of