August, Tuesday, 1869.
This morn at 9 a.m. we commenced the trial and kept it up for 6 hours when the Indians were all sent home but six who were indicted and could not be let off.


Friday 6.
This morn got news that the Commander was at Ogallala so I went down and met Lute at Depot we crossed the River and rode to camp.


Saturday 7.
This morn crossed the South Platte with the whole command and moved north cross North Platte and camped I went with Lute to the Depot this morn and paid him and gave him a pass home.

Luther North wrote, "I had a few words with General Carr and when we got to the Fort (Sedgwick) I resigned and came home the first of August."


Sunday 8.
Move at 7 a.m. and had a long dry march and camped on a little slough when the Indians camped a few days ago.   The trail here is very plain and I have some hopes of overtaking the Red devils hardly think wagons will come here tonight.

The command was attempting to overtake the survivors of the Summit Spring fight. This attempt was designated as the Niobrara Pursuit.


Monday 9.
This morn moved at 6:30 a.m. and marched about 20 miles passed lots of water and three of the Indians camps.  I think we will get them tomorrow.  we start with 5 days rations.  I leave my money and watch in Camp and trust in god for safety.


Tuesday 10.
This morn moved at daylight in a heavy fog with five day's rations on pack mules and 120 Scouts and 300 whites on the trail marched 30 miles passed two Indians camps and camped on a very bad lake for the night.  trail seems fresh.


August, Wednesday 11. 1869.
Moved out early this morn and came up to Barclay about 8 o'clock a.m. and moved on fast as horses would stand it Kisslingbury in advance.  camp on Niobrara marched 35 miles 2 horses gave out and went back.


Thursday 12.
Col. Royal abandoned the Chase.  we issued all rations and started back marched 14 miles had nothing to eat tonight.

Maj. W. B. Royall reported by telegram to Gen George Ruggles, August 18th, 1869 from a camp on the North Platte River: "Pursued Dog Soldier Indians 8 miles north of the Niobrara, 128 miles north and west of the Platte over the most desolate sand hill country...There were but two (enemy) camps between the Platte and Niobrara. They abandoned 42 head of stock. I have lost 17 animals and am leading many barely able to walk."


August, Saturday 14. 1869.
today we are bound to make the Wagons in order to get something to eat. we are nearly starved out. The Cavalry lost ten horses today.  Gave out and shot.  arrived at camp at 9 p.m. very tired.  Eat heap tonight.


Sunday 15.
one men died and was buried he was taken sick the day I left here and nothing could be done to save his life.  I don't know what the disease was.


August Tuesday 17. 1869
This morn moved at 4 30 a.m. and we marched hard without water and arrived at Platte at 3:30 p.m.  wagon came in late  4 of our horses were left today and several cavalry horses.


Wednesday 18.
Today marched down north side of North Platte 21 miles and camped in a miserable place.  Misquitoes and high weeds are very plenty.  too much so for comfort.


Saturday 21.
Moved at 6:10 a.m. this morn and at 12 m we were at Fort McPherson with our command.  went below Fort 2 miles and camped in a fine place.  Misquitoes plenty here not much sleep tonight.


August, Monday 23, 1869.
Went up to the Fort this morn and transferred 11 ponies to the A.A.Q.M. and the Officers all drew clothing for their men  at 6:30 we went and saw a horse race between Cody and Doherty the latter winning $20.00.

William F. Cody served as a scout for the fifth Cavalry on the Republican River Expedition


August, Thursday 26, 1869
Arrived home at 5:30 left Cap. Cushing at Silver Creek to see to unloading ponies.


September, Wednesday 1, 1869
I was in court all day talking Pawnee

Frank North served as interpreter at the McMurty murder trial


Thursday 2.
today another seige in Court


Friday 3.
today we had not much to do at Court as no new witnesses were brought. arrived home 2 a.m.


September, Saturday 4. 1869.
this morn went to Omaha and had an investigation in the afternoon nothing new brought to light.  a bill was found by Jury and the two Indians were asked Guilty or not Guilty to the charges.  They plead not guilty  came home.


Monday 6.
went to Omaha and arrived just in time to find that court had adjourned until Nov.3.  I came home again had the phthisic all day real bad  am feeling some better tonight.

North suffered from asthma


Wednesday 8.
left at 12:40 for Fort McPherson arrived at 9 p.m.  found horses and wagon for me.  came to Camp.


September 10.
today boys draw rations and forage to last all this month.  I have not been out of camp at this writing.


Sunday 12.
Rained all day and was all we could do to keep from freezing.   stayed in Camp all day.  The men did not drill today to bad weather.  Ladies and officers visited us this eve.  ladies appeared to be very much afraid of the Indians.


Tuesday 14.
this morn we was to have moved but got orders counter-manding the move.  I took the Battalion out and drilled them for two hours then went to town and got two six mule teams.


Wednesday 15.
Moved this morn at eight a.m. and came to Medicine Lake the teams were very late and we were very hungry.  got orders tonight to start one company for Pawnee House in the morning.

General Duncan had been ordered to send the weakest company of Pawnee Scouts to the Pawnee Reservation because the Sioux were threatening.


Friday 17.
moved this morn at 8 a.m. and we marched 18 miles camped in a large bend of the Medicine.   it is where we camped last fall with Gen Augur.


Saturday 18.
Today moved at 6 p.m. and came ahead of the Column and marched 21 miles.  Camped on a small creek emptying in the Medicine  we are awfully crowded tonight  the train mules are all around our tents.


Sunday 26.
today we marched 24 miles I and Cody came ahead to the Creek and 6 Indians got after us and gave us a lively chase you bet.  I got my men out and they killed one Indian and got two ponies a mule and lots of trash.

General Duncan reported the following. "The indians attacked Major North, the Commander of the Pawnee Scouts and guide William Cody who were hunting buffalo a short distance ahead of the pioneer detachment. The main column was about a mile and a half in rear of the pioneers. Lt. William J. Volkmar, 5th Cavalry, who was in command of the pioneers at once charged with them to rescue the two men whom the Indians were either trying to kill or capture. The Indians retreated across and up the creek soon showing themselves in considerable force. The pioneer detachment after a charge of about five miles gained an eminence on the south side of the creek, from which a large Indian village was seen among the trees on the stream. The Pawnee scouts joining the pioneer detachment, another charge was made and the indians abandoned their village, flying in a westward direction up the creek. Pursuit was continued until dark. One hostile Indian was killed and a number believed to be wounded. A great deal of camp equipage and provisions were captured in the village No casualties on the side of the command."


Monday 27.
today moved 8 miles.  we stopped where the Indians had been camped and destroyed all their Lodges, Robes, saddles, meat and everything they left.

Click HERE to read excerpts of October thru December


The excerpts you are reading was taken from the book Journal Of An Indian Fighter, The 1869 Diary Of Frank North. It was edited by Donald Danker.