Luther Kelly
From birchyHistory
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(→American Western Frontier 1868-1885) |
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Not long after his arrival at Fort Buford, Kelly volunteered to carry dispatches to [[Fort Stevenson]], approximately fifty miles down the Missouri River. He left the fort on February 5, 1869. The route between the forts was considered so dangerous, due to the presence of [[Sioux]] warriors, that mail carriers were generally accompanied by a cavalry escort, but Kelly set out alone. He arrived safely at Fort Stevenson then set out on his return journey, spending the night at the camp of [[Bloody Knife]], an Arickaree chieftain. The next morning, Kelly was ambushed by two Sioux warriors. The first wounded Kelly's horse with a rifle, while the second shot Kelly in the knee with an arrow. Kelly managed to shoot and kill the first attacker quickly, but the second took cover behind a tree. Kelly eventually shot and killed his second assailant, then returned to Bloody Knife's camp to tell the story. Kelly spent a few days at Bloody Knife's camp recovering from his wound, then rode back to Fort Buford, becoming "something of a hero and a local celebrity" for defeating his two assailants. | Not long after his arrival at Fort Buford, Kelly volunteered to carry dispatches to [[Fort Stevenson]], approximately fifty miles down the Missouri River. He left the fort on February 5, 1869. The route between the forts was considered so dangerous, due to the presence of [[Sioux]] warriors, that mail carriers were generally accompanied by a cavalry escort, but Kelly set out alone. He arrived safely at Fort Stevenson then set out on his return journey, spending the night at the camp of [[Bloody Knife]], an Arickaree chieftain. The next morning, Kelly was ambushed by two Sioux warriors. The first wounded Kelly's horse with a rifle, while the second shot Kelly in the knee with an arrow. Kelly managed to shoot and kill the first attacker quickly, but the second took cover behind a tree. Kelly eventually shot and killed his second assailant, then returned to Bloody Knife's camp to tell the story. Kelly spent a few days at Bloody Knife's camp recovering from his wound, then rode back to Fort Buford, becoming "something of a hero and a local celebrity" for defeating his two assailants. | ||
| − | [[22 Jan 1878 | + | [[22 Jan 1878]] Kelly was in Bismarck recently. He had been at Berthold looking for information on Indian movements was told that they had probably moved north. On his way to [[Fort Buford]] his face was badly frozen in a severe blizzard. He then made it to the [[Fort Keogh]]. |
==Alaska expedition, 1898== | ==Alaska expedition, 1898== | ||
