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Chicago [Dispatch?]
12/5/93

CHIEF OF SCOUTS
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Frontier Hero Whose Name Will Live in History.
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Colonel William F. Cody and His Valuable Servies to His Country.
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His Valor and Courage the Theme of the Great Writers of the War--Praised by Custer, Logan and Sheridan, and Indorsed by Buell, Emory, Merritt and Sherman--Endured the Terrors of the West for the Protection of the People and Not for Cheap Notoriety.
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In the mind of the rising generation there exists considerable doubt as to whether or not such a thing as a real live frontier scout ever existed. Yet along the borders of the Arkansas river and its numerous tributaries, on the sides of the black hills, are hundrends of little graves where no loving hand has set even a headstone to mark the spot where a scout lies, while on the great prairies and in the river bottoms and valleys hundreds of little heaps of whitened bones show where faithful scouts, in twos and threes, have fallen beneath the shower of hostile arrows.

Greatest of Them All.

Among those who have survived the awful privations of this hazardous life, the most conspicuous of all the heroes of the plains is Colonel W. F. Cody, or, as he is better known, Buffalo Bill. During the past thirty years no name has been so often mentioned in the war office reports as that of Colonel Cody. In the writings of Generals Custer, Logan and Sheridan, as well as mnay other famous Indian fighters, Colonel Cody is a prominent figure and is held to the light as the ideal scout, a courageous soldier and a patriot of the stamp to which the west owes its present prosperity. No thoughtful person can hesitate to give much men as Wild Bill Hitchcock, California Joe, Frank Gruard, gallant Jim White and Buffalo Bill the undying credit they deserve. Of these brave men who guided our little frontier regiments in and out of the hostile countries, who rode by night and day to fight nad die beside the wagon train or adobe cabin of some unfortunate settler, Buffalo Bill alone remains. The history of his life is but a part of that of his country.

Name Lives in History.

Thousands of letters from such men as Generals Sheridan, Custer, Logan, Buell, Emory, Merritt and Sherman, show how high Colonel Cody was held in their estimation and how much confidence these warriors placed in his abilities and advice. In late years Colonel J. W. Forsyth and General Miles have shown the same confidence, which the records of the war department prove was never violated. Though in the service of his country many years and the hero of a thousand desperate rides, and though he cuold justly claim the credit of a dozen battles, Colonel Cody has asked nothing from the government beyond the ordinary pay of a scout when on actual duty, and, while holding a colonel's commission, he has always preferred to assume the more dangerous duties of a scout.

It is as it should be, that the honor or conveying to the residents of foreign lands at least a faint idea of the hardships and privations that marked the onward march of the pioneers in bygone days, should devolve upon the man whose very name was held in reverence by those of the weaker sex who, by chance or fortune, had found their way into the far west; whose name has in war times bruoght something akin to fear to the stoic red man.

Buffalo Bill is proud of his title; he thinks more of the uncouth appellation than of the military handle "Colonel," which his army connection entitles him to use. Nor is this altogether to be wondered at. It was under this cognomen that he learned the cunning of the copper skinned aboriginals and became and adept in fighting them with their own weapon--devilish stealth. Under this title W. F. Cody earned the reputation of being the "greatest scout on earth."

In all the broken country known as the far west there is not a footpath, perhaps, where the treacherous warrior has trod, but Buffalo Bill can point it out. No man today, either in or out of the army, is better accquainted with the general topography of that territory.

Led the March.

The march of civilization has been gradual. In 1865 there were fully 165,000 Pawnee, Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Arapahoe Indians in and about the Bad Lands and No Man's Land districts. Each succeeding year saw the great tribes lessened in strength of numbers, and their decedence could only be likened to the disappearance of the mighty herds of buffalo that once roamed the plains. Perhaps the Sioux uprising in 1891 is the last revolt of Indians the world will have to contend with. To the young minds the tales of carly struggles are always welcome as well as beneficial and no one will argue but that an illustration of those pioneer times is a great aid to the rising generation. Nor will anyone contend that the effort could be successfully accomplished by any other than one who had spent a life on the plains.

William F. Cody knew scarce any home for years but the rolling prairies and broken hills. To him the whizz of the hated red man's arrow was sweet music, for it portended a fray; the battle clouds were many nights his only shelter from the heavens. As the years rolled on William F. Cody was lost to view and in his place Buffalo Bill attained fame and honor. To-day he stand above all as the best all around crack shot and his steady arm has sent more than one red-faced warrior to the happy hunting ground and, perchance, a long account. It is, then, fitting and proper that Buffalo Bill should assume to teach the growing generation the great lessons of life on the frontier in bygone days.

Chicago Sunday Democrat

The editor of THE SUNDAY DEMOCRAT has known Colonel Cody for the past twenty-five years. He has done more, perhaps, to build up the western country than any other living man. The War Department at Washington will show conclusively that his record is that of a brave man and a great scout. He needs no certificate of character to prove these facts, but THE SUNDAY DEMOCRAT gives below a few of the numerous strong letters from the highest civil and military authorities in this country. His fame is worldwide. He is as well known and beloved in Europe as in America, but he is an American of whom we are justly proud.

STATE OF NEBRASKA.

To all whom these presents shall come, greeting:

Know ye, that I, John M. Thayer, governor of the state of Nebraska, reposing special trust and confidence in the integrity, patriotism and ability of the Hon. William F. Cody, on behalf an in the name of the state, do hereby appoint and commission him as aide-de-camp of my staff, with the rank of colonel, and do authorize and empower him to discharge the duties of said office according to law.

[SEAL.]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused to be affixed the great seal of the state. Done at Lincoln this 8th day of March, A. D., 1867. JOHN M. THAYER.
By the governor.
G. L. LAUR, Sec'y of State.

The following letter received with a photograph of the hero of the "March to the Sea," Gen. W. T. Sherman:

New York, December 25, 1886.
To Col. Wm. F. Cody:
With the best compliments of one who, in 1866, was guided by him up the Republican, then occupied by the Cheyennes and Arapahoes as their ancestral hunting grounds, now transformed into farms and cattle ranches, in better harmony with modern civilization, and with his best wishes that he succeed in his honorable efforts to represent the scenes of that day to a generation then unborn. W. T. SHERMAN, Gen'l.

New York, December 28, 1886.
Col. Wm. F. Cody:
DEAR SIR:--Recalling the many facts that came to me while I was adjutant-general of the Division of the Missouri, under General Sheridan, bearing upon your efficiency, fidelity, and daring as a guide and scout over the country west of the Missouri river and east of the Rocky Mountains. I take pleasure in observing your success in depicting in the East the early life of the West. Very truly yours,
JAMES B. FRY, Ass't Adj't Gen'l,
Brevet Maj. Gen'l, U. S. A.

Headquarters Army of the U. S. A.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 7, 1887.
Col. Wm. F. Cody was a scout, and served in my command on the western frontier for many years. He was always ready for duty, and was a cool, brave man, with unimpeachable character. I take pleasure in commending him for the many services he has rendered to the Army, whose respect he enjoys for his manly qualities.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieut-Gen'l,

Los Angeles, Cal. Jan. 7, 1878.
Col. Wm. F. Cody: Dear Sir--Having visited your great exhibition in St. Louis and New York City, I desire to congratulate you on the success of your enterprise. I was much interested in teh various life-like representations of western scenery, as well as the fine exhibition of skilled marksmanship and magnificent horsemanship. You not only represent the many interesting features of frontier life, but also the difficulties and dangers that have been encountered by teh adventurous and fearless pioneers of civilization. The wild Indian life as it was a few years ago will soon be a ting of the past, but you appear to have selected a good class of Indians to represent that race of people, and I regard your exhibition as not only very interesting but practionally instructive. Your services on the frontier were exceedingly valuable. With best wishes for your success, believe me very truly yours, NELSON A. MILES,
Brigadier-General, U. S. A.

"HE IS KING OF THEM ALL."
Headquarters,
Mounted Recruiting Service,
St. Louis, Mo., May 7, 1885.
Major John M. Burke: Dear Sir--I take pleasure in saying that in an experience of about thirty years on the plains and in the mountains, I have seen a great many guides, scouts, trailers, and hunters, and Buffalo Bill (W. F. Cody) is King of them all. He has been with me in seven Indian fights, and his services have been invaluable.
Very respectfully yours,
EUGENE A. CARR,
Brevet Major-General, U. S. A.
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Bonaparte and Gen. Miles and Staff Guests of Col. Cody.

All the tourists of America and foreign countries who have Chicago as their objective point, recently or remotely, have heard of Buffalo Bill's Wild West exhibition, and keep the fact well in mind. They seem to be improving the opportunity pretty fast for at every performance, afternoon and evening, the most interested spectators are the tourists. Yesterday there was royal blood in attendance. Prince Roland Bonaparte and his suite were the guests of Col. W. F. Cody, as well as Gen. Nelson A. Miles and staff. After the performance the entire party was entertained by Col. Cody in his private quarters. Prince Bonaparte was greatly pleased with the exhibition. He found in Col. Cody a most interesting conversationalist. The colonel regaled the prince with many stories of his life as a scout. The hour of the evening performance has been changed from 8 to 8:30 o'clock.
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Chicago [S....?] 15/5/93