Chapter VII

THE SIEGE--GATHERING OF THE SETTLERS--CONSTRUCTION OF BREASTWORKS AND RIFLE PITS--ANGUS’ WONDERFUL RIDE--OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE--RESCUED BY ORDER OF PRESIDENT BENJAMIN HARRISON

Terrence Smith had seen and heard the firing on the K. C. ranch in the morning, and divining its import, had ridden to Buffalo, notifying the settlers as he went. Sheriff Angus swore in a posse of 12 men and started about sundown to the relief of his Powder River friends. Meantime, other citizens of Buffalo and countrymen as they came in were being deputized and armed. Jack Flagg and his stepson rode rapidly to Grabing, 30 miles, reaching there at 9 o’clock. Securing three good men as recruits at this point they started back to the assistance of the men they supposed to be still imprisoned at the K. C. Reaching Carr’s ranch at 12 o’clock, they met 12 more men going on the same mission, having learned the news from Terrence Smith while on his way to Buffalo. As the combined force was mounting for the start the regulators were discovered approaching, and the little band prepared to ambush them. Fortunately for the murderers, one of the boys let his gun go off accidentally, when the advancing column took the hint and escaped by making a detour as described in a previous chapter.

Flagg’s party then went into camp for the rest of the night and in the morning followed on north, passing the TA ranch and reaching Buffalo in the afternoon. Reinforced to 48 men, they rode out to the TA ranch and at daylight on the morning of April 11th, the invaders were completely surrounded. Sheriff Angus had in the meantime returned from the K. C. ranch, having ridden 120 miles in the marvelous time of 14 hours, and reported the shooting of Champion and the burning of Ray’s body. This news greatly increased the prevailing excitement, and during the day of the eleventh a crowd of between three and four hundred well armed and determined men, making a stand in defence of their homes and their liberty, were on the ground to aid in dislodging the enemy. In the absence of the sheriff, Arapahoe Brown and E. U. Snider were placed in command. Monday night was devoted to digging rifle pits and throwing up breastworks around the besieged. Tuesday brought recruits from Sheridan County and the distant parts of Johnson, thus swelling the ranks of the home defenders. Early on Monday morning the cattlemen opened fire on a bunch of settlers 400 yards up the hill, and the battle was on. A brisk fire was kept up most of the time from the opening shot until the final surrender. There was not a cannon in the country save at Fort McKinney, and the commanding officer there refused to loan one to the settlers. Realizing that the fortifications were impregnable to small arms and fearing state interference at an early day, it was determined to construct a moveable breastwork that could be run down the hill sufficiently near the fort to admit of throwing against its walls the dynamite captured from the cattlemen’s supply wagons. For this purpose two of the captured wagons were used. A correspondent on the ground describes this “Go-Devil” as follows:

“The idea of building a movable fort or breastwork originated with Arapahoe Brown and E. U. Snider. The running gear of the captured Arp & Hammond wagons, two pair, were placed side by side several feet apart and then fastened together by a framework of logs. The rear of the wagons was the front of the fort and was comprised of two thicknesses of eight-inch logs fastened together by wire. This formed a breastwork over six feet high, with five port holes in it, also protected by eight inch pieces. If necessary baled hay could be placed inside, making the protection still stronger. Five men could slowly move the ingenious contrivance, fifteen could move it easily, and it would protect 40 men. The plan was to move it down upon the white caps near enough to throw giant powder into their fort. It was in working order and had been moved about 100 yards when the soldiers came in sight. All proceeding at once ceased and the men who for 48 hours had held the fighting cattlemen at bay cheered the troops lustily as they advanced to the rescue.”

The two days’ fight had resulted in no killing on either side, but on Wednesday morning the conditions were anything but promising for the cattlemen. During the previous night rifle pits had been dug within 300 yards of the fort and the Go-Devil, or Ark of Safety, was ready for business. The first bomb sent into the enemy’s camp would have forced some of the men from cover and the sharpshooters in the rifle pits would have sent them to earth. Two hours’ delay in the arrival of the government troops would have proven, in all probability, fatal to the besieged white caps.

A little after sun-up on the morning of the 13th, Colonel J. J. Van Horn filed into camp with three troops of cavalry from Fort McKinney. The Colonel, bearing a flag of truce and accompanied by his staff, Captain Parmalee, Governor Barber’s aide-de-camp, and Sheriff Angus, advanced to the fort and demanded the surrender of the party. Major Walcott, in command of the invaders, replied: “I will surrender to you, but to that man (turning and pointing to Sheriff Angus), never. I have never seen him before, but I have heard enough of him and rather than give up to him we will die right here. He has the best of us now, because our plans have miscarried, but it will be different yet.” (The above response of Major Walcott is as reported by the press correspondent present at the time, and is accepted by the public as true.)

Preparations were at once made for the transfer of the captives to Fort McKinney and in two hours’ time they were on the road to the post. The citizens quietly dispersed, many going directly to their homes and others riding into Buffalo. All seemed to be satisfied with the turn of affairs, but all equally insisted that when the excitement cooled off somewhat, the prisoners should be turned over to the civil authorities for trial.

The following is a list of the men who surrendered to Colonel Van Horn:

A. B. Clark, E. W. Whitcomb, A. D. Adamson, C. S. Ford, W. H. Tabor, G. R. Tucker, A. R. Powers, D. E. Booke, B. M. Morrison, W. A. Wilson, M. A. McNally, Bob Barlin, W. S. Davis, S. Sutherland, Alex Lowther, W. J. Clarke, J. A. Garrett, Wm. Armstrong, Buck Garrett, F. H. Labertaux, J. C. Johnson, Alex Hamilton, F. M. Canton, W. C. Irvine, J. N. Tisdale, W. B. Wallace, F. DeBilleir, H. Teschemaker, W. E. Guthrie, F. G. S. Hesse, Phil DuFran, Wm. Little, D. R. Tisdale, J. D. Mynett, M. Shonsey, Joe Elliott, C. A. Campbell, J. Borlings, L. H. Parker, S. S. Tucker, B. Wiley, J. M. Beuford, K. Rickard, Frank Walcott, B. Schultz.

George Dunning of Idaho, in the confusion incident to the surrender, secreted himself in the loft of the house until dark, when he walked away. He took the “wrong end” of the road and went into Buffalo, where he was arrested by Sheriff Angus and put in jail. R. M. Allen, manager of the Standard Cattle Company, of Ames, Neb., had left the party after the K. C. murders, and when met by the news which caused the retreat to the block house, presumably going to hurry up reinforcements, by order of the mob, and was captured at Buffalo. Dudley, suffering with a broken leg, had been sent to the military hospital before the TA engagement. Another Texan, shot in the groin, was not taken with the party, but sent for later.

A Buffalo paper of April 14th, speaking of the situation just after the surrender, says:

“Here in Buffalo, all was excitement and unrest; rumors of all descriptions, preposterous, ludicrous and probable, pervaded the atmosphere. No two men could start a conversation but what a crowd would soon gather around. Knots of men could be seen on all street corners, earnestly speculating on the outcome; but for all the utmost decorum and good nature prevailed. But few arrests were made by the officers, and those only for the personal safety of the individual arrested.

“Soon after the return of the troops with the prisoners to Fort McKinney criminal complaints were sworn to before Justice Reimann and warrants for murder and arson issued against these men. Sheriff Angus served the warrants on Colonel Van Horn, demanding the surrender of the criminals to the civil authorities of Johnson County, but his request was denied.”

The history of this remarkable siege would not be approximately complete without showing how the rescue was brought about. Hence, the reader will pardon the introduction of copies of the various official telegrams that passed over the wires on the subject.

The private telegraph line from Douglas to Buffalo being in the hands of the cattlemen and no message permitted to pass while the expedition was moving north, was at once ordered opened to business when the gang went to the TA fortification. The raiders’ friends telegraphed the situation to Acting Governor Barber as soon as the line was repaired, and he immediately opened up communication with Washington, as the public believes, in harmony with previously arranged plans. The delay in repairing the line came nearly proving disastrous to the invaders, for it was late on the afternoon of April 12th when Barber received notice of the perilous condition of his friends. At once the following message was given for transmissal:

(Telegram)

Cheyenne, Wyo., April 12, 1892.

The President, Washington, D. C.:

An insurrection exists in Johnson County, in the state of Wyoming, in
the immediate vicinity of Fort McKinney, against the government and
said state. The Legislature is not in session and cannot be convened
in time to afford any relief whatever or take any action thereon.
Open hostilities exist and large bodies of armed men are engaged
in battle. A company of militia is located at the city of Buffalo,
near the scene of action, but its continued presence in that city is
absolutely required for the purpose of protecting life and property
therein. The scene of action is 125 miles from the nearest railroad
point, from which other portions of the state militia could be sent.
No relief can be afforded by state militia, and civil authorities are
wholly unable to afford any relief whatever.

United States troops are located at Fort McKinney, which is 13 miles
from the scene of action, which is known as T. A. ranch. I apply to
you on behalf of the state of Wyoming to direct the United States
troops at Fort McKinney to assist in suppressing the insurrection.
The lives of a large number of persons are in imminent danger.

AMOS W. BARBER,
Acting Governor.

To this President Harrison replied as follows:

(Telegram)

Washington, April 12, 1892, 11:05 P. M.

The Governor of Wyoming, Cheyenne, Wyoming:

I have, in compliance with your call for the aid of the United States
forces to protect the state of Wyoming against domestic violence,
ordered the secretary of war to concentrate a sufficient force at the
scene of the disturbance and to co-operate with your authorities. You
should have a competent and authorized representative at the place.

BENJAMIN HARRISON.

To this is added the following telegram from General Brooke at Omaha:

(Telegram)

Omaha, Neb., April 12, 1892, 11:37 P. M.

Governor Barber, Cheyenne, Wyoming:

Order of President received and commanding officer at McKinney
ordered to prevent violence and preserve peace in co-operation with
you. Have you a representative to join the commanding officer? The
troops will move at once and will act with prudence and firmness.

JOHN R. BROOKE,
Brigadier General, Commanding.

A Washington press dispatch of the 13th says that Senators Warren and Carey were wired from Cheyenne late on the night of the 12th as to the situation at the T. A. ranch, and that they both called upon the President, arousing him from his bed. After consultation the secretary of war was called upon and that distinguished officer was induced to immediately telegraph General Brooke at Omaha, ordering relief from Fort McKinney to the imprisoned cattlemen. As United States Senators, Warren and Carey were the moving power in the case.

Military history fails to record another instance where such prompt action and celerity of movement was had as in this case. Barber’s telegram to the President left Cheyenne after dark on April 12. Reaching Washington, 2,000 miles away, a consultation between the President, secretary of war and Wyoming’s Senators was held, a telegraph order was flashed to Omaha, 1,500 miles, and in turn transferred to Fort McKinney, another thousand miles, all before 1 o’clock on the morning of April 13th, or inside of six hours. Within another hour three troops of cavalry were in their saddles on the road to the besieged white caps, and before sunrise their bugle notes sounded “rescue” to the waiting barons, 15 miles from the post.

The casual reader of these pages cannot help but note the strange phraseology of Governor Barber’s dispatch to President Harrison--“An insurrection exists in Johnson County.” There was no insurrection. The people were in arms, but they had taken them in defense of their homes and their lives, against an invading army that was killing citizens, burning homes and laying waste the country as it went. An insurrection is “A rising against civil or political authority; the open and active opposition of a number of persons to the execution of law in a city or state.”

Johnson County citizens were doing none of these things unless the invaders were acting under orders of the executive when they marched north to murder and burn.

Another passage in the telegram strikes the informed reader as peculiar--“the continued presence of the military company (Co. C, N. G.) is required in Buffalo for the purpose of protecting life and property therein.” There is no record of Company C having been called out to active duty by the governor until after the sending of the telegram to the President. The truth is believed to be that they were not so ordered out. The captain of the company being a white cap, and fearing lest some of the guns of the company might be pressed into service for use against his friends at the T. A. ranch, ordered and kept a squad of the men at the court house day and night to “watch the guns.” The company did no guard duty, as a company, in the town during the siege, and the above executive utterance was entirely superfluous. But it served his purpose, deceived the general government officials and saved his friends.

Wednesday morning, after the surrender, Major Martin received orders from the government to call out Company C and report to the mayor of the town--but the invaders were safe in the hands of Colonel Van Horn before the company members were so called. It is known, also, that the captain of Company C was called on by Sheriff Angus Sunday afternoon, when the first news of the invasion reached the town, and that he refused to obey the sheriff’s orders and call out the company to defend the lives and property of his fellow citizens against the approaching enemy. He was ready, however, to act promptly when his friends were in danger.

On the 13th of April Governor Barber telegraphed General Brooke for an escort, to which the following is an answer:

Omaha, Neb., April 13.

Governor Barber:

Your dispatch received. The commanding officer at Fort McKinney
reports the surrender to him of Major Walcott and 45 men, with
horses, arms and ammunition, who are being held as prisoners at the
post. Under the circumstances I can send a troop of cavalry and
transportation for your party to Gillette, or I can send the Walcott
party to Douglas or Gillette, as you may direct. Please advise me of
your wishes early.

JOHN R. BROOKE,
Brigadier General, Commanding.

The governor changed his mind and replied to the above as follows:

Cheyenne, April 13, 1892, 10 P. M.

General John R. Brooke, Commander Department of the
Platte, Omaha, Neb.:

Answering your telegram of this evening, owing to the present
excitement existing in Johnson County, it seems best that you should
send the Walcott party with suitable escort to Douglas. I thank you
for your kind offer to supply me with transportation and escort from
Gillette to Buffalo, but the occasion for this trip at this time is
so likely to be entirely dissipated that I will probably not go.
Please advise me of your action regarding the Walcott party.

AMOS W. BARBER,
Acting Governor.

Colonel Van Horn having refused to turn over the prisoners to the civil authorities of Johnson County, Sheriff Angus sent the following telegram:

Buffalo, Wyo., April 14, 1892.

Amos W. Barber, Cheyenne, Wyo.:

Make a request on General Brooke to have the commanding officer at
Fort McKinney to surrender the 44 men now held by him as prisoners to
the civil authorities for trial under the charge of murder. Warrants
have been issued for the above men.

W. G. ANGUS,
Sheriff of Johnson County.

C. H. Parmalee, the white cap sympathizer, learning of Angus’ request, sent the following protest:

Buffalo, Wyo., April 14.

Amos W. Barber, Governor:

The sheriff made a demand this morning upon Colonel Van Horn for
prisoners. He will hold them until his orders are received from the
President. If prisoners should be placed in county jail at Buffalo, I
fear it would not be entirely safe for the peace of the town just at
present.

C. H. PARMALEE,
Captain and Aide-de-Camp.

To this the governor replied:

Cheyenne, Wyo., April 15.

W. G. Angus, Sheriff of Johnson County, Buffalo, Wyo.:

Answering your telegram of yesterday, the military authorities will
at the proper time be requested to deliver to the civil authorities
the men now held at Fort McKinney. They will not be delivered until
order and quietude in Johnson County are so fully restored as to
convince me that no further violence will be offered them and that
the civil authorities of that county are entirely willing and able to
give them the protection which the law requires to be given to all
prisoners. An immediate request for their delivery will not be made.

AMOS W. BARBER,
Acting Governor.

Meanwhile, to make doubly sure the retention of the men by Colonel Van Horn, the following dispatches were forwarded:

Cheyenne, Wyo., April 15, 1892.

Colonel Van Horn, Commander, Fort McKinney, Wyo.:

I request that you obtain the custody of and take to Fort McKinney
and there give protection to the men belonging to the invading party
who were arrested before the surrender, and who are now confined in
the county jail at Buffalo. This is done in order that all the men
belonging to the invading party may be certainly protected from any
violence due to the present excitement in that vicinity. I made a
similar request upon General Brooke, and have directed Sheriff Angus
to deliver the men to you.

AMOS W. BARBER,
Acting Governor.

Cheyenne, Wyo., April 15, 1892.

General John R. Brooke, Commander Department of the
Platte, Omaha, Neb.:

I have directed Sheriff Angus to deliver the men belonging to the
invading party, who are now in jail, to commanding officer at Fort
McKinney.

AMOS W. BARBER,
Acting Governor.

Cheyenne, Wyo., April 15, 1892.

W. G. Angus, Sheriff of Johnson County, Buffalo, Wyo.:

You are hereby requested to deliver at once to Colonel Van Horn,
commander at Fort McKinney, the men belonging to the invading party,
who were arrested by you before the surrender and are now confined in
the county jail at Buffalo. This is done because the excitement and
hostile demonstrations in that vicinity require it.

AMOS W. BARBER,
Acting Governor.

Cheyenne, Wyo., April 15, 1892.

Colonel Van Horn, Commander Fort McKinney, Wyo.:

Angus, Sheriff of Johnson County, asks that the men who surrendered
to you be delivered to the civil authorities of that county. I have
declined to make the request for the present for the reason that
there seems to be too much danger of the civil authorities not being
able to give the men adequate protection against violence.

AMOS W. BARBER,
Acting Governor.

Cheyenne, Wyo., April 15, 1892.

Governor Barber, Cheyenne, Wyo.:

I am assured by the telegraph company that my order of 9 P. M. of the
13th to Colonel Van Horn reached him last night. Under that order he
will hold the Walcott party until he gets orders from me. The line
from Douglas to McKinney ceased working about 2:30 A. M. today.

JOHN R. BROOKE,
Brigadier General, Commanding.

The fear that the culprits who had deliberately and in cold blood killed two of their fellow citizens might be turned over to the civil authorities where the crime had been committed, so preyed upon the governor’s mind that in order to make assurance doubly sure, he wired the secretary of war to instruct the commander at Fort McKinney to deliver the prisoners at Cheyenne, nearly 400 miles distant, and at great expense to the state. To this he received the following reply:

Washington, D. C., April 15, 5 P. M.

A. W. Barber, Governor of Wyoming:

Orders have been sent to General Brooke to deliver to you as soon as
he can do so, the captured party under Walcott.

S. B. ELKINS,
Secretary of War.

These several dispatches show very clearly where the executive heart was, and to the unprejudiced mind explain, in a measure, the lack of official action at an earlier stage of invasion proceedings.