I made money and began
to get accustomed to the new life, but in 1876 the call for which I had
been listening came.
The Sioux War was just breaking out. I closed the show earlier than
usual and returned to the West. Colonel Mills had written me several
times to say that General Crook wanted me to accompany his command.
When I left Chicago I had expected to catch up with Crook at the Powder
River, but I learned en route that my old command, the gallant Fifth
Cavalry, was on its way from Arizona to join him, and that General
Carr, my former commander, was at its head.
Carr wanted me as his guide and chief of scouts, and had written to
army headquarters in Chicago to learn where I could be reached.
As soon as this news came to me I gave up the idea of overtaking Crook.
I hastened to Cheyenne, where the Fifth Cavalry had already arrived,
and was met at the depot there by Lieutenant Charles King, adjutant of
the regiment, who had been sent by General Carr from Fort D.A. Russell.
In later years, as General Charles King, this officer became a widely
popular author, and wrote some of the best novels and stories of Indian
life that I have ever read.
As I accompanied the lieutenant back to the fort, we passed soldiers
who recognized me and shouted greetings. When we entered the Post a
great shout of "Here's Buffalo Bill!" arose from the men on the parade
ground.
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