not only is the command habitually dependent on them for good routes and comfortable
camps, but the officer in command must rely on them almost entirely for their knowledge of
the position and movements of the enemy."
Therefore, besides mere personal bravery, a scout must posess the moral qualities as-
sociated with a good captain of a ship -- full of self-reliance in his own ability to meet and
overcome any unlooked-for difficulties, be a thorough student of nature, a self taught weather-
prophet, a geologist by experience, an astronomer by necessity, a naturalist, and thoroughly
educated in the warfare, stratagems, trickery and skill of his implacable Indian foe, because,
in handling expeditions or leading troops, on him alone depends correctness of destination,
avoidance of dangers, protection against sudden storms, the finding of game, grass, wood and
water, the lack of which, of course, is more fatal than the deadly bullet. In fact, more lives have
been lost on the plains from impompetent guides than ever the Sioux or Pawnee destroyed.
Our best Indian-fighting officers are quick to recognize these traits in those claiming
frontier lore, and to no one in the military history of the West has such deference been
shown by them as to W. F. Cody, as is witnessed by the continouos years of service he has
passed, the different commands he has served, the expeditions and campaigns he has been
identified with, his repeated hodling, when he desired, the position of "Chief of Scouts of
W. T. Sherman (with whom he was at the making of the Comanche and Kiowa Treaty), Gen.
Phil. Sheridan (who has often given him special recognition and chosen him to organize ex-
peditions, notably that of the Duke Alexis), old Gen. Harney, Gens. W. S. Hancock, Crook,
Pope, Miles, Ord, Augur, Terry, McKenzie, Carr, Forsythe, Merritt, Brisbin, Emory, Gibbon,
Royall, Hazen, Duncan, Palmer, Pembroke, and the late lamented Gen. Custer. His history,
in fact, would be almost a history of the middle West, and though younger, equaling in term
of service and in personal adventure Kit Carson, old Jim Bridger, California Joe, Wild Bill,
and the rest of his dead-and-gone associates.
As another evidence of the confidence placed in his frontiersmanship, it may suffice to
mention the celebrities whose money and position most naturally sought the best protection
the Western market could afford, and who chose to place their lives in his keeping: Sir George
Gore, Earl Dunrave, James Gordon Bennett, Duke Alexis, Gen. Custer, Lawrence Jerome,
Remington, Professor Ward of Rochester, Professor Marsh of Yale College, Major J. G.
Hecksher, Dr. Kingsley (Canon Kingsley's brother), and others of equal rank and distinction.
All books of the plains, his exploits with Carr, Miles and Crook, published in the New York
Herald and Times in the summer of 1876, when he killed Yellow Hand in front of the military
command in an open-handed fight, are recorded references.
The following letter of his old commander and celebrated Indian-fighter, Gen. E. A.
Carr, written years ago relative to him, is a tribute as genrous as any brave man has ever
made to one of his position:
"From his services with my command, steadily in the field, I am qualified to bear
testimony as to his qualities and character.
"He was very modest and unassuming. He is a natural gentleman in his manners as
well as in character, and has none of the roughness of the typical frontiersman. He can take
his own part when required, but I have never heard of his using a knife or a pistol, or engag-
ing in a quarrel where it could be avoided. His personal strength and activity are very great,
and his temper and disposition are so good that no one has reason to quarrel with him.
"His eyesight is better than a good field-glass; he is the best trailer I ever heard of, and
also the best judge of the 'lay of country' -- that is, he is able to tell what kind of country is
ahead, so as to know how to act. He is a perfect judge of distance, and always ready to tell
correctly how many miles it is to water, or to any place, or how many miles have been marched.
"Mr. CODY seemed never to tire and was always ready to go, in the darkest night, or
the worst weather, and usually volunteered, knowing what the emergency required. His
trailing, when following Indians, or looking for stray animals or for game, is simply wonder-
ful. He is a most extraordinary hunter.
"In a fight MR. CODY is never noisy, obstreperous or excited. In fact, I never hardly
noticed him in a fight, unless I happened to want him, or he had something to report, when
he was always in the right place, and his information was always valuable and reliable.
"During the winter of 1866 we encountered hardships and exposure in terrific snow-
storms, sleet, etc., etc. On one occasion that winter MR. CODY showed his quality by quietly
offering to go with some dispatches to Gen. Sheridan, across a dangerous region, where an-
other principal scout was reluctant to risk himself.
