The Sea of Grass by Walter R Echo-Hawk

Author:Walter R Echo-Hawk
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing
Published: 2018-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

THE RAARIPÁCUSU’ BEGAN to strip themselves for the fight. We unsaddled our tired horses and took off most of our dusty clothing except for a few items—just enough to distinguish us from the Sahé camped less than a mile away. I daubed my face with red paint; other scouts painted black circles around their eyes. We rubbed Horse Medicine into the nostrils of our tired mounts to refresh them for a punishing charge under a hot sun in the blistering afternoon heat.

Now the boys were ready. We sat quietly on our horses. A Cheyenne encampment on the prairie is a beautiful sight to behold. I knew that, for I had seen them before. On horse-taking expeditions, I slipped unseen into the camps of the sleeping Sahé to lift their horses. On this day, I thought only of the Starvation Years, when the Sahé fought Pawnee hunters to deny access to the herd. I hoped Tall Bull had some more Sacred Arrows, for I wanted them.

Shaggy Eyes ordered the troops into battle formation—two hundred and fifty men in all. Four companies and the Scout Battalion were in the front line as advance attackers; the Raaripákusu’ occupied the left flank of the center column. The second line had two companies in reserve. Shaggy Eyes sounded the charge! At once, my heart raced as the assault force rushed full speed ahead. The reserves advanced at a fast dogtrot.

The onrush came as a complete surprise to Tall Bull. The Sahé would have to fight without their allies, for the Throat-Cutters plunged into the river the night before. Dripping wet, Pawnee Killer and Whistler escaped into the night, leaving Tall Bull behind. We reached the village ahead of the troops. Among the first ones were Red Fox, now called John Box; Flying Hawk Whistling, now called Eli Shotwell; High Eagle, Brave Hawk, now called Billy Osborne; Dog Chief; Traveling Bear; Peter Wood; and me. Some went after horses; others shot at running Cheyennes. I stayed close to Traveling Bear in the brisk fighting.

Our sudden appearance caused a big panic, but the surprised Human Beings quickly rallied. During the frantic retreat, warriors held off the soldiers while the families ran. As we raced after the Cheyennes, Tall Bull led his family and several Dog Soldiers into a ravine to make a stand. They were determined to fight to the death. No one knows for sure who killed Tall Bull, but Traveling Bear charged into the ravine while we provided covering fire. Many white soldiers claimed credit, but Traveling Bear is the one who returned with four scalps, including Tall Bull’s hair.

By the time it was over, the command killed seventy-six Sahé, destroyed nearly a hundred lodges, and captured seventeen women and children. Most of the Sahé herd was captured. We brought home lots of horses and trophies, and set fire to the rest. But we could not save all the white captives. Susanna Alderdice and her baby were dead. Maria Weichel was wounded, but alive. The next day a funeral was held on the burning plain for the mother and child.

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