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MiaKayla Koerber at May 13, 2020 02:24 PM

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Under the eagle eye of the great generals who have been the principal factors in contemporaneous history, like those already named, he found at once a field to put to good use his every strategic skill, knowledge of the habits and traits of the Indian. His previous training enabled him to meet cunning with cunning; craftiness with craftiness; and when his patience, endurance and courage were combined with these he triumphed, for he was as the eagle to the fox.

Christopher Columbus may perhaps not improperly be placed first among the great scouts, although he was not one of the famous "men in buckskin" who came after him. His was the true spirit, however, of the scout and his the dauntless courage. His destiny led across the pathless waters and not across the trackless plain, but the pluck and perseverance with which he held upon his way, despite all obstacles and the entreaties of his discouraged sailors, show that he along among them was the true metal of which scouts were made.

Although, as has been said, every settlement had its scout of local fame whose deeds are local traditions--men deserving monuments--the name of Daniel Boone shines forth a star of the first magnitude in the constellation. He is described as having been a man of medium height, with a peculiarly bright eye, and a robust and athletic frame. He possessed sagacity, judgment, intrepidity and withal gentleness of manner and a humane disposition.

The outer garment of these men, and one which has, with few changes, been perpetuated to this day, so well suited is it to its purpose, is described as follows:--A loose, open frock or hunting shirt made of deerskin, beautifully dressed and tanned, long leggings of the same material, and moccasins upon the feet. The broad collar and the leg scams were adorned with fringes of bright hue, a leather belt encircled the body, in which were worn a hatchet, ammunition pouches and a hunting knife.

Accountred in such fashion, Boone penetrated the mountains from North Carolina, and on the seventh of June, 1769, from the top of an eminence near the Red River, saw the beautiful land of Kentucky, soon to be known as the "dark and bloody ground."

Four years later Boone led a small party of settlers into this new country and made a lodgment. The events of the succeeding years are part of the history of our country. Constant Indian warfare, the capture and recapture of their children, and the capture and escape of Boone himself, are among the most romantic and thrilling stories in the history of the New World.

With the name of Daniel Boone will ever be associated in the pioneer annals that of his friend, Simon Kenton. At the age of sixteen he engaged in a rough and tumble fight with a rival in the affections of a neighbour's daughter, and thinking he had killed his opponent he plunged into the forest and henceforth led a life of peril and adventure until congress gave him a pension and Kentucky a grant of land, on which he passed his last years.

Kenton was a picture of manly beauty. Over six feet in height, well formed, handsome and graceful. His fair hair, bright complexion and laughing grey eyes added to the attractiveness of his recklessness. Frequently captured, he was compelled eight times to run the gauntlet, that fearful ordeal, and three times he was tied to the stake. Several times in his adventurous career he owed his life to the impression made on the susceptible female heart by his splendid presence.

The dark and bloody ground of Kentucky produced the man who was destined to be the successor of its discoverer, Daniel Bonne, and take equal rank in border annals--Christopher Carson, known everywhere as "Kit" Carson. He was not only like Boone and others in skill, sagacity and self-reliance, but he had the more uncommon virtues of modesty, sobriety and perfect self-control. Though small in stature, Carson was broad-chested, compactly built and remarkable for quickness and agility. He passed his early years in hunting and trapping, and his skill in these pursuits led to his employment as scout by Gen. John C. Fremont in the explorations of this great pathfinder in his trips across the plains and over the Rockies.

During the civil war his services to the Government in New Mexico, Colorado and the Indian Territory were invaluable, and he rose to the rank of brevet brigadier-general. In one of his expeditions with Fremont, alone with one companion, he pursued a body of predatory Indians, dispersed the Indians who occupied four lodges, recaptured thirty stolen horses, travelled in the pursuit and return over one hundred miles, and was back in camp for thirty hours.

Incredible as these feats seem to those of us who dwell in cities, similar achievements in the same line of duty have been recorded in our own time to the credit of Colonel Wm. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bills"), who stands to-day the most prominent of the last living exponents of that famous historic hand of scouts who have passed away for ever.

Col. Cody has had the honour of serving as Colonel and Brigadier-General of the Nebraska National Guard, has been mentioned in official dispatches of the United States Army, and wears the Congressional Medal, and now holds the rank of Judge Advocate General of the Wyoming Nation Guard.

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Under the eagle eye of the great generals who have been the principal factors in contemporaneous history, like those already named, he found at once a field to put to good use his every strategic skill, knowledge of the habits and traits of the Indian. His previous training enabled him to meet cunning with cunning; craftiness with craftiness; and when his patience, endurance and courage were combined with these he triumphed, for he was as the eagle to the fox.

Christopher Columbus may perhaps not improperly be placed first among the great scouts, although he was not one of the famous "men in buckskin" who came after him. His was the true spirit, however, of the scout and his the dauntless courage. His destiny led across the pathless waters and not across the trackless plain, but the pluck and perseverance with which he held upon his way, despite all obstacles and the entreaties of his discouraged sailors, show that he along among them was the true metal of which scouts were made.

Although, as has been said, every settlement had its scout of local fame whose deeds are local traditions--men deserving monuments--the name of Daniel Boone shines forth a star of the first magnitude in the constellation. He is described as having been a man of medium height, with a peculiarly bright eye, and a robust and athletic frame. He possessed sagacity, judgment, intrepidity and withal gentleness of manner and a humane disposition.

The outer garment of these men, and one which has, with few changes, been perpetuated to this day, so well suited is it to its purpose, is described as follows:--A loose, open frock or hunting shirt made of deerskin, beautifully dressed and tanned, long leggings of the same material, and moccasins upon the feet. The broad collar and the leg scams were adorned with fringes of bright hue, a leather belt encircled the body, in which were worn a hatchet ammunition pouches and a hunting knife.

Accountred in such fashion, Boone penetrated the mountains from North Carolina, and on the seventh of June, 1769, from the top of an eminence near the Red River, saw the beautiful land of Kentucky, soon to be known as the "dark and bloody ground."

Four years later Boone led a small party of settlers into this new country and made a lodgment. This events of the succeeding years are part of the history of our country. Constant Indian warfare, the capture and recapture of their children, and the capture and escape of Boone himself, are among the most romantic and thrilling stories in the history of the New World.

With the name of Daniel Boone will ever be associated in the pioneer annals that of his friend, Simon Kenton. At the age of sixteen he engaged in a rough and tumble fight with a rival in the affections of a neighbour's daughter, and thinking he had killed his opponent he plunged into the forest and henceforth led a life of peril and adventure until congress gave him a pension and Kentucky a grant of land, on which he passed his last years.

Kenton was a picture of manly beauty. Over six feet in height, well formed, handsome and graceful. His fair hair, bright complexion and laughing grey eyes added to the attractiveness of his recklessness. Frequently captured, he was compelled eight times to run the gauntlet, that fearful ordeal, and three times he was tied to the stake. Several times in his adventurous career he owed his life to the impression made on the susceptible female heart by his splendid presence.

The dark and bloody ground of Kentucky produced the man who was destined to be the successor of its discoverer, Daniel Bonne, and take equal rank in border annals--Christopher Carson, known everywhere as "Kit" Carson. He was not only like Boone and others in skill, sagacity and self-reliance, but he had the more uncommon virtues of modesty, sobriety and perfect self-control. Though small in stature, Carson was broad-chested, compactly built and remarkable for quickness and agility. He passed his early years in hunting and trapping, and his skill in these pursuits led to his employment as scout by Gen. John C. Fremont in the explorations of this great pathfinder in his trips across the plains and over the Rockies.

During the civil war his services to the Government in New Mexico, Colorado and the Indian Territory were invaluable, and he rose to the rank of brevet brigadier-general. In one of his expeditions with Fremont, alone with one companion, he pursued a body of predatory Indians, dispersed the Indians who occupied four lodges, recaptured thirty stolen horses, travelled in the pursuit and return over one hundred miles, and was back in camp for thirty hours.

Incredible as these feats seem to those of us who dwell in cities, similar achievements in the same line of duty have been recorded in our own time to the credit of Colonel Wm. F. Cody ("Buffalo Bills"), who stands to-day the most prominent of the last living exponents of that famous historic hand of scouts who have passed away for ever.

Col. Cody has had the honour of serving as Colonel and Brigadier-General of the Nebraska National Guard, has been mentioned in official dispatches of the United States Army, and wears the Congressional Medal, and now holds the rank of Judge Advocate General of the Wyoming Nation Guard.