al was such a complete surprise that the Indians
gave up and began waving the white flag. Then all firing ceased.

On rounding them up we found that we had captured about two hundred and
fifty warriors, women, and children, most of whom were from the Spotted
Tail Agency.

The general had the Indians instantly disarmed. Most of their tepees
were up and they were ordered to go into them and remain there. We
placed a sufficient guard around the whole camp so that none could
escape. On the arrival of the wagon-train, for which a scout had been
sent, the command went into camp.

Taking me aside, General Reynolds said:

"I want you to send one of your fastest men back to Fort McPherson. I
am sending dispatches to General Ord, asking for instructions."

I selected White to make this trip, and he was ready for duty in five
minutes.

We were then sixty-five miles from Fort McPherson Station. I told White
that the matter was urgent and that he must get to that telegraph
office as soon as possible. At ten o'clock the next morning he rode
into our camp with a telegram to General Reynolds. The general was
ordered to disarm all the Indians and send them under guard of a
company of cavalry to the Spotted Tail Agency.

General Reynolds was very much delighted with the success of the
expedition. On his arrival at the Fort he received congratulations from
General Ord and from General Sheridan. General Sheridan asked in his
telegram if Cody had gone along. The general wired back that Cody had
gone along and also wrote a letter telling General Sheridan how he had
reported in evening dress.

Of course the papers were soon full of this raid. Al Sorenson of the
Omaha _Bee_, who had seen my evening clothes and silk hat in Omaha,
wrote an extremely graphic story of my arrival on the Plains. I soon
found that the officers and men in the Third Cavalry knew all about the
incident.

During the spring of '72, the Indians were rather quiet. We did a
little scouting, however, just to keep watch on them. One day, in the
fall of that year, I returned from a scouting expedition, and as I
passed the store there were a lot of men crowded in front of it. All of
them saluted me with "How do you do, Honorable!" I rode straight to the
general's private office. He also stood at attention and said:

"Good morning, Honorable."

"What does all this 'Honorable' mean, General?" I demanded. He said:
"Of course, you have been off on a scout and you have