NR 34 VÅREN 2017

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HIGH CHAPARRAL

2016

FROM

THE OLD

WEST

Stuart Whitman

Howdy Citizens!

Då närmar sig en ny säsong med stormsteg och jag kan tänka mig att alla är spända på vad som hänt i den småländska vilda western under vinterhalvåret. Alltid lika spännande att se hur många medborgare vi blir inför den nya säsongen. Nu har man justerat avgiften för medborgarna och det kan ju påverka en del beslut. För att få till den rätta skrivar andan har jag satt på Western Musik med Ennio Moricone som gör att man får till den rätta känslan. Jag hoppas ni alla har haft en bra start på det nya året och ni har funnit ett sätt att få till lite western känsla under de mörka månaderna. Man har ju alltid möjlighet att kolla lite film eller lyssna på en o annan westernlåt. Hoppas någon tog sig ann min utmaning från förra numret och skapat er lilla western dag.

KLÄDMODE På klädfronten har jag väl hittat några kläder och något kul tillbehör i de butiker jag brukar besöka. Svårt annars att hitta gammalt, men ibland har man lite tur. I detta nummer har jag kollat lite på herrmode, och då med focus på lite finare klädsel. Jag har försökt vaska fram några gamla bilder från en svunnen tid. Målet denna gång är på skjortor o slipsar, där man kan se att det finns många varianter.

THE OLD WEST Fortsätter med lite indianshistoria runt Lakota indianerna ute på prärien. Det rör sig mycket om det två hövdingarna Amerikan Horse den yngre och den äldre. Jag försöker att inte blanda in politik i mitt kåseri men jag kan inte låta bli i detta fall. Det är för mig ofattbart att man fortfarande väljer att köra över minoritets-folken i USA. Nu rev den s.k. nya presidenten upp avtalet som var tecknat av tidigare administration och flyttade tillbaka dragningen av den nya oljeledningen över helig mark vid Standing Rock i USA. Detta hände bara dagar efter att man sagt att nu skulle makten tillbaka till folket och alla skall få komma till tals. Från början var det tänkt att man skulle dra ledningen där över men protester och andra aktiviteter gjorde att man flyttade ledningen. Då kunde man visat sig stor och behållit detta beslut, men icke. Så vad som hände för 150 år sedan händer idag också. Beklagligt och mina tankar går till mina indianbröder där borta.

HIGH CHAPARRALL Naturligtvis längtar jag till första öppningslördagen i parken för då skall jag gå till Kates och ta kl-11 ölen som är en gammal sedvänja. Sitta där och insupa den härliga öppnings-atmosfären blir en härlig start. Detta nummer innehåller ju även en hel del bilder på många av alla härliga medborgare och snart så träffas vi igen, så ha en bra fortsatt vår. // Red

HC CITIZENS 2016 En DAG I WESTERN

De gamla telefonstolparna

plockades ner, skickades till

High Chaparalls speciella

sågverk och kom tillbaka som

plank o brädor till en helt ny

fantastisk fasad.

I förra numret var det bara rent

trä, men nu har det kommit på

lite färg. Fantastiskt snyggt.

Detta kanske kunde blivit en

plats för nästa medborgarbild

med oss utspridda över hela

vägen.

Movie Ranch Man får känslan av en hederlig Movie Ranch

där gamla westerns spelades in.

SENSUR!

Icke

tidstypiska

saker

En annan variant av

den gamla härliga

saloonshowen kan

ses på gatan utanför

Kates.

Skönsjungande

damer som även kan

sprattla med benen.

Jag lyckades även

fånga dom när dom

var på turné i parken.

Lika fagra från alla

håll o vinklar.

Utanför Medborgarstugan är det oftast välbesökt. Här kan man ju ta sig en kopp kaffe eller kolla in lite kläder o prylar som medborgare säljer. Finns alltid något att hitta.

Då har jag lyckat hitta en kamera som lägger in krutrök i mitten på bilderna, eller är det andar från en svunnen tid jag lyckats fånga på bild. Många westernhjältar trotsade den lite regniga dagen under rendezvous. Denna nya grupp av ”Red Banners” ser man lite då och då smyga fram längs med gatorna, undrar om dom är besläktade med dom ökända ”Red Legs” från inbördeskriget.

En våffla i Kristinastugan är aldrig fel, men som jag sagt innan, håll huvudet lågt.

Runt 1862 skapade general Thomas Ewing

organisationen Kansas ”Red Legs” för att

bevaka gränsen mellan Missouri och Kansas

mot konfederationens gerilla förband som

gjorde räder in i Kansas. Styrkan var som

mest 100 man. Man hade röda eller

ljusbrunfärgade leggings av läder.

WESTERN HEROS FROM THE SCREEN

Stuart Whitman Stuart Whitman född 1-februari 1928

i San Francisco.

En skådespelare känd för sina robusta

roller I filmerna. Han började med en

mängd biroller i flera filmer och man

såg efter hand hans förmåga och han

fick en rad framstående roller.

Han spelade med i en av de första

western äventyren som jag såg som

liten. Det var serien Simmaron Strip

som kom 1967.

Kommer ihåg att det kommenterades

han sätt att rida då han hade en

bakåtlutande stil och inte upprätt eller

framåtlutande.

Har bara valt ut dom westernfilmer

där han haft en framträdande roll och

hoppat över dom filmer med bara en

mindre biroll.

Denna såg man i svart vitt.

WESTERN HEROS FROM THE SCREEN

John Wayne som alltid är bra naturligtvis, är med i denna bra rulle om dom ökända Comancheros. ( Comancheros var namnet på oftast vita som handlade med indianerna och sålde både vapen och sprit). Stuart spelar den tvångs värvade Texas Rangern Paul Regrett

En film jag inte sett så jag kan inte kommentera den. Den finns upplagd på You Tube så jag tänkte se den en dag framöver.

En bra Rulle: Här även med Richard Boone som den hämndlystne gamle sydstataren, vars fru och barn blivit dödade av indianerna.

WESTERN HEROS FROM THE SCREEN

WESTERN HEROS FROM THE SCREEN

Sheriff Jim Crown råkar ut för allehanda olika händelser i staden Cimarron. Man gjorde 23 avsnitt som vardera varade i 72 minuter. Klart sevärd serie och jag blev själv såld på hans revolver som ter sig blank som om den var kromad och pipan ser ut att var längre än 7,5 tum Filmen Cimarron med Glen Ford, som inte är lika action fylld som denna serie, är också baserad på samma landområde.

WESTERN HEROS FROM THE SCREEN

Cimarron Strip is a lavish American Western television series starring Stuart Whitman as Marshal

Jim Crown. The series was produced by the creators of Gunsmoke and aired on CBS from

September 1967 to March 1968. Reruns of the original show were aired in the summer of 1971.

Cimarron Strip is one of only three 90-minute weekly Western series that aired during the 1960s

(the others are The Virginian and, for one season, Wagon Train), and the only 90-minute series of

any kind to be centered primarily around one lead character in every episode. The series theme and

pilot incidental music was written by Maurice Jarre, who also scored Lawrence of Arabia and

Doctor Zhivago.

The series is set in the late 1880s in the Cimarron Territory, which would become the Oklahoma

Panhandle in 1890. For complex historical reasons, this rugged strip of land existed as a virtually

ungoverned U.S. territory for several decades. It was sometimes called No Man's Land, with a

reputation for lawlessness and vigilante activity. On the show, Marshal Jim Crown is trying to bring

order to the region before its political status is finally resolved.

The Cherokee Outlet across the Cimarron River was the last free homestead land in America. It was

leased and controlled by cattlemen, and the newly arriving farmers were expecting authorities in

Washington to send news that they would be given rights to the land, for which they had been

campaigning. U.S. Marshal Jim Crown (Stuart Whitman), who led a rather wild life and had cleaned

up Abilene, was assigned to the town of Cimarron. He arrives to find that the sheriff has resigned,

leaving Crown on his own to settle the increasing unrest caused by the news he brings, that the

cattlemen's leases have been revoked and a final decision on the land is postponed indefinitely. With

no sheriff and no support from Army troops, Crown is on his own to keep law and order in this

borderland between the Kansas Territory and Indian Territory.

Dulcey Coopersmith (Jill Townsend), born in England in 1869, arrives in Cimarron City on the

same train as Marshal Crown, two months after her mother's death in Providence. Dulcey worked as

an upstairs maid and traveled to Cimarron to be with her father she had not seen since the age of

five, only to discover he had been killed by a beer wagon. Her father's partner was MacGregor

(Percy Herbert), a Scotsman, who had let the Wayfarer's Inn fall into disrepair. He was a retired

Colonel in Her Majesty's (Queen Victoria) forces. Another friend of Dulcey's father was Francis

Wilde (Randy Boone), born in St. Louis and trying to make his way in the world as a reporter and

photographer.

Från filmen Comancheros där

Texas Rangers försöker

avvärja en attack från dessa

banditer. Inget klår väl när

John Wayne skall uttala det

franska ordet monsieur

Det blir ungefär missör.

Stuart ses här i röd kavaj o

krås skjorta. En sån skjorta

jagar jag själv. Tycker dom e

riktigt fräcka.

WESTERN HEROS FROM THE SCREEN

HC CITZENS 2016

Fagra damer i härliga kreationer lyfter alltid atmosfären i parken.

Köper ni era kläder eller syr ni själva? Skulle vara intressant att veta. Kvinnor har ju en stor möjlighet att hänga på sig många olika tillbehör som å andra sidan kan vara svåra att få tag på. Man kan hitta en del i välsorterade second hand butiker.

HC CITZENS 2016

Vad har dessa härliga trappers gemensam med det fräna loket nedan? Jo det kan komma en rejäl rökpuff ur pipan. En fantastisk dag på HC med lagom värme, såna dagar är få, men just denna dag var perfekt. Det gröna loket ännu utan front-guard tuffar fram i den härliga western solen.

HC CITZENS 2016

I väntan på att stugan skall öppna så man kan få sig en kopp kaffe. Det går naturligtvis att ta sig en kopp med tidsenlig mugg på något annat cool ställe som Kates där jag nu har kommit upp mig lite

HC CITZENS 2016

Passar på att ta mig en tur med hjulångaren till Mexico, och på båten träffar jag både Kapten Jens och fagra Maria som jag språkar en stund med. Mycket trevligt.

México: År 1521 erövrade och

koloniserade Spanien territoriet och

administrerade det som

vicekonungadömet Nya Spanien som så

småningom skulle bli Mexiko då

kolonin blev självständig år 1821. Efter

självständigheten präglades den

följande perioden av ekonomisk

instabilitet, territoriell utbrytning och

inbördeskrig, inklusive utländska

interventioner av två imperier och två

långa inhemska diktaturer.

HC CITZENS 2016

HC CITZENS 2016

Westerngatan ligger öde så här sista dagen och vemodet sprider sig bland många och hur skall man klara sig till nästa säsong. Men det går fort och i mellan perioden får man hitta egna sätt att bibehålla westernkänslan. Adventskalendern från parken är ju ett sätt. Läsa Gazetten är ett annat. Man kan också börja tälja på en revolver i trä vilket nog kan ta sin tid om man börjar med ett rejält träd Virka en sjal går också bra.

Den sista helgen i parken är det ju fest och dags för artisternas avslutnings shower, vilka alltid brukar vara väldigt bra. Många medborgare och anställda samlas för att ta del av arenans show, och den krönes med ett fantastiskt stunthopp från högre höjd än vanligt. Själv hade jag knappt dykt från 2 meter.

Vill ni se meeer?

Det annars

12m höga fallet är nog närmare 20

nu.

THE OLD WEST Här fortsätter storyn om lakota Indianerna och då främst om de två hövdingarna American Horse. Fortsättningen här kommer att handla om American Horse den äldre som mötte sitt öde i ett av slagen efter Little Big Horn. Luta er tillbaka och läs om en av alla de mörka perioderna i erövrandet av en hel kontinent. Hoppas det går bra med lite engelska.

The Smoke People Chief American Horse was a son of Old Chief Smoke. Old Chief Smoke was an Oglala Lakota

head chief and one of the last great Shirt Wearers, a highly prestigious Lakota warrior society. The

Smoke People were one of the most prominent Lakota families of the 18th and 19th centuries. Old

Chief Smoke was one of the first Lakota chiefs to appreciate the power of the whites, their

overwhelming numbers and the futility of war. He appreciated the need for association and learned

the customs of the whites. Old Chief Smoke had five wives who bore him many children.[1] Old

Chief Smoke’s sons carried the Smoke People legacy of leadership in Oglala Lakota culture into

the early 20th century. The children of Old Chief Smoke were Spotted Horse Woman, Chief Big

Mouth (1822-1869), Chief Blue Horse (1822-1908), Chief Red Cloud (1822-1909), Chief

American Horse (1830-1876), Chief Bull Bear III, Chief Solomon Smoke II, Chief No Neck and

Woman Dress (1846-1920

Treaty of Ft. Laramie 1868 Chief American Horse was one of the principal war chiefs allied with Crazy Horse and Red Cloud

during Red Cloud's War (1866-1868). American Horse was a signatory to the Fort Laramie Treaty

of 1868, along with Chief Red Cloud and Chief Blue Horse, his brothers. The treaty was an

agreement between the United States and the Lakota Nation guaranteeing the Lakota ownership of

the Black Hills “Paha Sapa“ and land and hunting rights in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana.

The Powder River Country was to be henceforth closed to all whites. The Treaty ended Red

Cloud's War. A month or so after the Treaty of 1868, four "Ogle Tanka Un" (Shirt Wearers, or war

leaders) were chosen: Crazy Horse, American Horse, Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses and Man

That Owns a Sword.

THE OLD WEST Crook’s Horsemeat March Crook’s "Horsemeat March” marked the beginning of one of the most grueling marches in

American military history. Crook’s command consisted of about 2,200 men: 1,500 cavalry, 450

infantry, 240 Indian scouts, and a contingent of civilian employees, including 44 white scouts

and packers. Crook’s civilian scouts included Frank Grouard, Baptiste “Big Bat” Pourier,

Baptiste “Little Bat” Garnier, Captain Jack Crawford and Charles “Buffalo Chips” White. News

of the defeat of George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25 and 26,

1876, arrived in the East as the U.S. was observing its centennial. The American public was

dismayed and called to punish the Sioux. On August 26, 1876, with his men rationed for fifteen

days, a determined General Crook departed from the Powder River and headed east toward the

Little Missouri pursuing the Indians. Crook feared that Indians would scatter to seek game rather

than meet the soldiers in combat after the fight with Custer. All other commanders had

withdrawn from pursuit, but Crook resolved to teach the Indians a lesson. He meant to show that

neither distance, bad weather, the loss of horses nor the absence of rations could deter the U.S.

Army from following its enemies to the bitter end. War correspondents with national newspapers

fought alongside General Crook and reported the campaign by telegraph. Correspondents

embedded with Crook were Robert Edmund Strahorn for the New York Times, Chicago Tribune

and the Rocky Mountain News; John F. Finerty for the Chicago Times; Reuben Briggs

Davenport for New York Herald and Joe Wasson for the New York Tribune and Alta California

(San Francisco).

THE OLD WEST

Chief American Horse at Slim Buttes The Battle of Slim Buttes was fought on September 9 and 10, 1876, in the Great Sioux

Reservation between the United States Army and the Sioux. The Battle of Slim Buttes was

the first U.S. Army victory after Custer’s defeat at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June

25 and 26, 1876, in the Great Sioux War of 1876-1877. Brigadier General George R. Crook,

one of the U.S. Army’s ablest Indian fighters led the “Horsemeat March”, one of the most

grueling military expeditions in American history destroying Oglala Chief American

Horse’s village at Slim Buttes and repelling a counter-attack by Crazy Horse. The American

public was fixed on news of the defeat of General George Custer at the Battle of Little

Bighorn; and war correspondents with national newspapers fought alongside General Crook

and reported the events. The Battle of Slim Buttes signaled a series of punitive blows that

ultimately broke Sioux armed resistance to reservation captivity and forced their loss of the

Black Hills “Paha Sapa“.

The Village Following the Battle of the Little Big Horn, Lakota leaders split up, each doing what they

thought best for their people. Most were heading back to the reservations. On September 9,

1876, Chief American Horse’s camp of 37 lodges, about 260 people, of whom 30 to 40 were

warriors, was attacked and destroyed by General George Crook at the Battle of Slim Buttes[

Chief American Horse’s camp was a rich prize. “It was the season when the wild plums

ripen. All the agency Sioux were drifting back to the agencies with their packs full of dried

meet, buffalo tongues, fresh and dried buffalo berries, wild cherries, plums and all the

staples and dainties which tickled the Indian palate.” he lodges were full of furs and meat,

and it seemed to be a very rich village. Crook destroyed food, seized three or four hundred

ponies, arms and ammunition, furs and blankets. In a dispatch written for the Omaha Daily

Bee, Captain Jack Crawford described the cornucopia he encountered: “Tepees full of dried

meats, skins, bead work, and all that an Indian’s head could wish for.” Of significance,

troopers recovered items from the Battle of Little Bighorn, including a 7th Cavalry

Regiment guidon from Company I, fastened to the lodge of Chief American Horse, and the

bloody gauntlets of slain Captain Myles Keogh. “One of the largest of the lodges, called by

Grouard the “Brave Night Hearts,” supposedly occupied by the guard, contained thirty

saddles and equipment. One man found eleven thousand dollars in one of the tipis. Others

found three 7th Cavalry horses; letters written to and by 7th Cavalry personnel; officers’

clothing; a large amount of cash; jewelry; government-issued guns and ammunition."

THE OLD WEST

Chief American Horse’s Defiance On September 9, 1876, Chief American Horse's village at Slim Buttes was assaulted in a dawn

attack by Captain Anson Mills and 150 troopers. At the onset of a stampede of Indian ponies and

cavalry charge, Chief American Horse with his family of three warriors and about twenty-five

women and children retreated into one of the ravines that crisscrossed the village amongst the tipis.

The winding dry gully was nearly 20 feet deep and ran some 200 yards back into a hillside. Trees

and brush obstructed the view of the interior. “We found that some of the Indians had got into a cave

at one side of the village. One of the men started to go past that spot on the hill, and as he passed the

place he and his horse were both shot. This cave or dugout was down in the bed of a dry creek. The

Indian children had been playing there, and dug quite a hole in the bank, so that it made more of a

cave than anything else, large enough to hold a number of people.” Troopers were alerted about the

ravine when Private John Wenzel, Company A, Third Cavalry, became the first army fatality at Slim

Buttes when he ill-advisedly approached the ravine from the front and a Sioux bullet slammed into

his forehead. Wenzel’s horse was also shot and killed. An attempt was made to dislodge the Indians

and several troopers were wounded. “Grouard and Big Bat Pourier crept close enough to the banks

of the ravine to parley with the concealed Indians in endeavors to get them to surrender. But the

savages were so confident of succor from Crazy Horse and his much larger force, who were

encamped only a dozen miles to the west, and to whom they had sent runners early in the morning,

that they were defiant to the last.” The Souix felt no urgent need to surrender, for they defiantly

yelled over to the soldiers that more Sioux camps were at hand and their warriors would soon come

to free them. Chief American Horse, anticipating relief from other villages, constructed a dirt

breastworks in front of the cave and geared for a stout defense.

THE OLD WEST

General Crook at the Ravine On September 9, 1876, General Crook’s relief column endured a forced march of

twenty-miles to Slim Buttes in about four hours and a half hours arriving at 11:30 a.m.

The whole cheering command entered the valley, and the village teemed with activity

like an anthill which had just been stirred up. Crook immediately established his

headquarters and set up a field hospital in one of the Indian lodges. Crook inventoried

the camp and the booty. The camp held thirty-seven lodges. A three- or four-year-old

girl was discovered, but no bodies were found. Over 5,000 pounds of dried meat was

found and was a “God-send” for the starved troopers. Troopers separated the stores to

be saved from the greater number to be destroyed, and the remaining tipis were pulled

down. General Crook then turned his full attention to Chief American Horse and his

family in the ravine.

While General Crook had been an adversary in the field of combat, he had also been

a man of honor and an advocate for Indians.

“Crook, exasperated by the protracted defense of the hidden Sioux, and annoyed at

the casualties inflicted among his men, formed a perfect cordon of infantry and

dismounted cavalry around the Indian den. The soldiers opened upon it an incessant

fire, which made the surrounding hills echo back a terrible music.” “The

circumvalleted Indians distributed their shots liberally among the crowding soldiers,

but the shower of close-range bullets from the later terrified the unhappy squaws, and

they began singing the awful Indian death chant. The papooses wailed so loudly, and

so piteously, that even not firing could not quell their voices. General Crook ordered

the men to suspend operations immediately, but dozens of angry soldiers surged

forward and had to be beat back by officers. “Neither General Crook nor any of his

officers or men suspected that any women and children were in the gully until their

cries were heard above the volume of fire poured upon the fatal spot.” Grouard and

Pourier, who spoke Lakota, were ordered by General Crook to offer the women and

children quarter. This was accepted by the besieged, and Crook in person went into

the mouth of the ravine and handed out one tall, fine looking woman, who had an

infant strapped to her back. She trembled all over and refused to liberate the General’s

hand. Eleven other squaws and six papooses were taken out and crowded around

Crook, but the few surviving warriors refused to surrender and savagely re-commenced

the fight.

THE OLD WEST

"Rain of Hell" Chief American Horse refused to leave, and with three warriors, five women and an infant,

remained in the cave. Exasperated by the increasing casualties in his ranks, Crook directed some

of his infantry and dismounted cavalry to form across the opening of the gorge. On command,

the troopers opened steady and withering fire on the ravine which sent an estimated 3,000

bullets among the warriors. Finerty reported, “Then our troops reopened with a very ‘rain of

hell’ upon the infatuated braves, who, nevertheless, fought it out with Spartan courage, against

such desperate odds, for nearly two hours. “Such matchless bravery electrified even our enraged

soldiers into a spirit of chivalry, and General Crook, recognizing the fact that the unfortunate

savages had fought like fiends, in defense of wives and children, ordered another suspension of

hostilities and called upon the dusky heroes to surrender. Strahorn recalled the horror of the

ravine at Slim Buttes. The yelling of Indians, discharge of guns, cursing of soldiers, crying of

children, barking of dogs, the dead crowded in the bottom of the gory, slimy ditch, and the

shrieks of the wounded, presented the most agonizing scene that clings in my memory of Sioux

warfare.”

Surrender of Chief American Horse When matters quieted down, Frank Grouard and Baptiste “Big Bat” Pourier asked American

Horse again if they would come out of the hole before any more were shot, telling them they

would be safe if they surrendered. After a few minutes deliberation, the chief, American Horse,

a fine looking, broad-chested Sioux, with a handsome face and a neck like a bull, showed

himself at the mouth of the cave, presenting the butt end of his rifle toward the General. He had

just been shot in the abdomen, and said in his native language, that he would yield if the lives of

the warriors who fought with him were spared. Chief American Horse had been shot through the

bowels and was holding his entrails in his hands as he came out and presented the butt end of

his rifle to General Crook. Pourier recalled that he first saw American Horse kneeling with a

gun in his hand, in a hole on the side of the ravine that he had scooped out with a butcher knife.

Two of the squaws were also wounded. Eleven were killed in the hole. Grouard recognized

Chief American Horse, but you would not have thought he was shot from his appearance and

his looks, except for the paleness of his face. He came marching out of that death trap as straight

as an arrow. Holding out one of his blood-stained hands he shook hands with me. When Chief

American Horse presented the butt end of his rifle, General Crook, who took the proffered rifle,

instructed Grouard to ask his name. The Indian replied in Lakota, American Horse.” Some of

the soldiers who lost their comrades in the skirmish shouted, “No quarter!’, but not a man was

base enough to attempt shooting down the disabled chief. Crook hesitated for a minute and then

said,‘Two or three Sioux, more or less, can make no difference. I can yet use them to good

advantage. "Tell the chief,“ he said turning to Grouard, "that neither he nor his young men will

be harmed further.This message having been interpreted to Chief American Horse, he beckoned

to his surviving followers, and two strapping Indians, with their long, but quick and graceful

stride, followed him out of the gully. The chieftain’s intestines protruded from his wound, but a

squaw, his wife perhaps, tied her shawl around the injured part, and then the poor, fearless

savage, never uttering a complaint, walked slowly to a little camp fire, occupied by his people

about 20 yards away, and sat down among the women and children

THE OLD WEST

Crazy Horse Attacks Crazy Horse attempted to rescue American Horse and his family. Indians who escaped

Mills’ early morning assault spread the word to nearby Lakota and Cheyenne camps, and

informed Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull and other leaders they were attacked by 100-150

soldiers. Crazy Horse immediately assembled 600-800 warriors and rode about ten miles

northward to rescue Chief American Horse and recover ponies and supplies. During the

afternoon Chief American Horse and some of the squaws informed Gen. Crook, through the

scouts, that Crazy Horse was not far off, and that we would certainly be attacked before

nightfall. In anticipation of that afternoon tea party which was promised to be given by

Crazy Horse, Crook deployed his forces to give that chieftain the surprise of his life.

Concealing the major portion in the ravine in up-to-the-minute readiness and eagerness for

an attack, he deployed just enough of the boys in plain sight to carry out the impression,

which the Indian couriers had conveyed to Crazy Horse, that only about a hundred soldiers

would be found to oppose his eager and confident large reinforcements. As a grave was

being dug for Private Wenzel, and the starved troopers were ready to dine on captured bison

meat, rifle shots were heard from the bluffs above and around the camp. Crook immediately

ordered the village to be burned. Then followed the most spectacular and tragically gripping

and gratifying drama of the whole Sioux War, enacted with a setting and view for those of

us in the ambushing corps that could not be improved upon. The huge amphitheater, leading

from our position in the front orchestra row, up over a gradually rising terrain to the rim of

the hills which surrounded on three sides, was not unlike the situation which Crazy Horse

had chosen for his Battle of the Rosebud. Finerty tells how the Indians attacked. “Like the

Napoleonic cuirassiers at Waterloo, they rode along the line looking for a gap to penetrate.

They kept up perpetual motion encouraged by a warrior, doubtless Crazy Horse himself,

who, mounted on a fleet, white horse, galloped around the array and seemed to possess the

power of ubiquity. Strahorn reported, “Suddenly the summits seemed alive with an eager,

expectant and gloating host of savages who dashed over and down the slope, whooping and

recklessly firing at every jump.”

Crazy Horse was surprised to find American Horse’s village massed with Crook's main

column of over 2,000 infantry, artillery, cavalry and scouts. Crazy Horse so little dreamed of

the heavy reinforcements of Captain Mills’ small band that, in the utmost confidence of

‘eating us alive’ he launched his followers right down upon the front and flanks of our

splendid defensive position. They were permitted to approach with blood curdling whoops

and in a savage array within easy and sure-fire rifle range before the order to fire was given.

They reacted to the deadly shock in a manner that was the real beginning of the end of the

Sioux War, so far as any major performance of Crazy Horse was concerned. Bewildered and

demoralized by the well-aimed volleys of our two-thousand guns, they dashed for cover in

every direction, closely followed by details of our boys who were allotted that much-sought

privilege. Failing to break into that formidable circle, the Indians, after firing several

volleys, their original order of battle being completely broken, and recognizing the folly of

fighting such an outnumbering force any longer, glided away from our front with all

possible speed. As the shadows came down into the valley, the last shots were fired and the

affair at Slim Buttes was over.

THE OLD WEST Casualties Captain Mills reported the assault: It is usual for commanding officers to call special attention to

acts of distinguished courage, and I trust the extraordinary circumstances of calling on 125 men to

attack, in the darkness, and in the wilderness, and on the heels of the late appalling disasters to their

comrades, a village of unknown strength, and in the gallant manner in which they executed

everything requited of them to my entire satisfaction.” U.S. Army casualties were relatively light

with a loss of 30 men: 3 killed, 27 wounded, some seriously. Because the Lakota and Cheyenne

warriors maintained a distance of five to eight hundred yards, and consistently fired their weapons

high, casualties were few. Those who died in the field were Private John Wenzel, Private Edward

Kennedy and Scout Charles “Buffalo Chips” White.” Private Kennedy, Company C, Fifth Cavalry,

had half the calf of his leg blown away in a barrage, and throughout the night medical personnel

labored to save his life. Private Kennedy and Chief American Horse died in the surgeons’ lodge that

evening. Lt. Von Luettwitz had his shattered leg amputated above the knee and Private John M.

Stevenson of Company I, Second Cavalry, received a severe ankle wound at the ravine. “The

Indians must have lost quite heavily. Several of their ponies, bridled but riderless, were captured

during the evening. Indians never abandon their war ponies, unless they happen to be surprised or

killed. Pools of blood were found on the ledges of the bluffs, indicating where Crazy Horse’s

warriors paid the penalty of their valor with their lives.” Reports of Indian casualties varied, and

many bodies were carried away. Sioux confirmed casualties were at least 10 dead, and an unknown

number wounded. About 30 Sioux men, women and children were in the ravine with Chief

American Horse when the firefight began, and 20 women and children surrendered to Crook. Ten

individuals remained in the ravine during the “Rain of Hell” and five were killed; Iron Shield, three

women, one infant and Chief American Horse who died that evening. The rest were made prisoners.

Charging Bear resisted most desperately and was finally dragged out of his lair at the bottom of the

deep gully with only one cartridge left. Taken prisoner, he soon after enlisted with General Crook,

exhibiting great prowess and bravery on behalf of his new leader and against his former comrades.

THE OLD WEST Death of American Horse Chief American Horse was examined by the two surgeons. One of them pulled the chief’s hands

away, and the intestines dropped out. Tell him he will die before next morning,” said the surgeon.

The surgeons worked futilely to close his stomach wound, and Chief American Horse refused

morphine, preferring to clench a stick between his teeth to hide any sign of pain or emotions, and

thus he bravely and stolidly died. Chief American Horse lingered until 6:00 a.m. and confirmed

that the tribes were scattering and were becoming discouraged by war. He appeared satisfied that

the lives of his squaws and children were spared.” Dr. Valentine McGillycuddy, who attended the

dying chief, said that he was cheerful to the last and manifested the utmost affection for his wives

and children. American Horse’s squaws and children were allowed to remain on the battleground

after the dusky hero’s death, and subsequently fell into the hands of their own people. Even “Ute

John” respected the cold clay of the brave Sioux leader, and his corpse was not subjected to the

scalping process. Crook was most gentle in his assurances to all of them that no further harm

should come if they went along peacefully, and it only required a day or two of kind treatment to

make them feel very much at home.

THE OLD WEST Något som ofta är uppe för diskussion är klädmodet och typ av kläder. Idag har jag tittat lite på modet runt finskjortor o slipsar. Det är ju en del diskussioner emellanåt hur såg skjortorna ut, och hur såg slipsarna ut. Jag har här hittat lite bilder på gentlemän i olika kreationer som jag här visar och man kan väl säga att det fans en hel del variationer.

Bilden på den här gentlemannen är från 1865. Skjortan är en mer traditions lik modell med nedvikt krage och slipsen ser ut att vara lite randig o rutig. Vad jag också tycker är spännande är att det är lite olika material på kragen på lång kavajen, vilket jag ibland har hittat på vanliga lite kortare kavajer i sekond hand affärer. Det ena materialet är lite glansigare.

THE OLD WEST

Här ett foto på en man från 1865 som hette Verney Lovett. Han har en typ randig skjorta med antingen fluga eller kravatt. Skjortkragen är en nedvikt krage. Här kan man också se en krage på kavajen med dubbla material.

THE OLD WEST

Det fans till och med modekataloger på den gamla goda tiden här ca 1865. Man ser även modet på de ritade personerna med väldigt små händer o fötter. Bilden på nästa sida är från 1870 och visar skjorta både nedvikt och stående krage med snibb. Både medel långa kavajer och något kortare fanns att köpa. Både randiga o rutiga brallor. Polisonger verkar vara ett hett mode vid denna tid.

THE OLD WEST

THE OLD WEST

Senator Powell 1872

THE OLD WEST

Okänd gentleman 1870

THE OLD WEST

Här kommer ett antal bilder som visar olika skjortor och mode på slipsar och olika typer av halskreationer. Bilderna är från 1873. Man hade även gigantiska polisonger på en del håll. Man ser också tidens mode att inte titta in i kameralinsen. Om man kastar ett getöga (vilka kan vara svåra att få tag på) på de olika kavajernas slag så ser man här

massor med variationer.

Men vi kan ju konstatera att det fans en hel del olika skjortalternativ att ha till lite finare tillställningar eller vid ett besök i stan. Man såg också ganska allvarlig ut och det berodde väl på den tidens fototeknik mm. Det är dyrt så var stilla och allvarlig.

THE OLD WEST

Med mitt norra öga ser jag också ett antal slipsnålar vilket jag skall kolla om jag inte kan hitta mig några. Detta kan ju vara ett kul tillbehör för oss män. Man har också olika västar i förhållande till kavajerna. I någon tidsperiod kom det ju att kavaj o väst skall vara av samma tyg o snitt, men här ser man både enfärgat o mönstrat. Vi kan också se på västarna att det är olika typer med hög o låg skärning. Vad man kan konstatera i alla fall är att herrmodet har hållit sig ganska likt under många år. Till nästa gång skall jag hitta lite kvinnliga varianter, kanske dyka på djupet bland hängslen o livremmar. Kanske vardagsklädseln som man hade då man inte stilade som på dessa bilder. Men det är svårt att hitta vardagskläder då få fotografer jobbade på fältet.

THE OLD WEST

Den här krulliga gentlemannen fastnade på bild 1875 och jag gillar stilen på hans glasögon vilket är ett av de svåraste tillbehören att hitta. Man skall ju helst kunna se genom glasen och lämna in gamla bågar för att glasa om är inte heller lätt. Klänningen på nästa sida är från1870 får avsluta modesektionen och bli en liten treat till våra kvinnor.

THE OLD WEST

ACTION PICTURES FROM THE CHAPARRAL

ONCE UP ON A

TIME IN THE WEST