12: Roman Nose
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This Cheyenne war chief was a contemporary of Dull Knife. He was not
so strong a character as the other, and was inclined to be pompous and boastful; but with
all this he was a true type of native American in spirit and bravery.
While Dull Knife was noted in warfare among Indians, Roman Nose made
his record against the whites, in defense of territory embracing the Republican and
Arickaree rivers. He was killed on the latter river in 1868, in the celebrated battle with
General Forsythe.
Save Chief Gall and Washakie in the prime of their manhood, this
chief had no peer in bodily perfection and masterful personality. No Greek or Roman
gymnast was ever a finer model of physical beauty and power. He thrilled his men to
frenzied action when he came upon the field. It was said of him that he sacrificed more
youths by his personal influence in battle than any other leader, being very reckless
himself in grand-stand charges. He was killed needlessly in this manner.
Roman Nose always rode an uncommonly fine, spirited horse, and with
his war bonnet and other paraphernalia gave a wonderful exhibition. The Indians used to
say that the soldiers must gaze at him rather than aim at him, as they so seldom hit him
even when running the gauntlet before a firing line.
He did a remarkable thing once when on a one-arrow-to-kill buffalo
hunt with his brother-in-law. His companion had selected his animal and drew so powerfully
on his sinew bowstring that it broke. Roman Nose had killed his own cow and was whipping
up close to the other when the misfortune occurred. Both horses were going at full speed
and the arrow jerked up in the air. Roman Nose caught it and shot the cow for him.
Another curious story told of him is to the effect that he had an
intimate Sioux friend who was courting a Cheyenne girl, but without success. As the wooing
of both Sioux and Cheyennes was pretty much all effected in the night time, Roman Nose
told his friend to let him do the courting for him. He arranged with the young woman to
elope the next night and to spend the honey moon among his Sioux friends. He then told his
friend what to do. The Sioux followed instructions and carried off the Cheyenne maid, and
not until morning did she discover her mistake. It is said she never admitted it, and that
the two lived happily together to a good old age, so perhaps there was no mistake after
all.
Perhaps no other chief attacked more emigrants going west on the
Oregon Trail between 1860 and 1868. He once made an attack on a large party of Mormons,
and in this instance the Mormons had time to form a corral with their wagons and shelter
their women, children, and horses. The men stood outside and met the Indians with
well-aimed volleys, but they circled the wagons with whirlwind speed, and whenever a white
man fell, it was the signal for Roman Nose to charge and count the "coup." The
hat of one of the dead men was off, and although he had heavy hair and beard, the top of
his head was bald from the forehead up. As custom required such a deed to be announced on
the spot, the chief yelled at the top of his voice: "Your Roman Nose has counted the
first coup on the longest-faced white man who was ever killed!"
When the Northern Cheyennes under this daring leader attacked a body
of scouting troops under the brilliant officer General Forsythe, Roman Nose thought that
he had a comparatively easy task. The first onset failed, and the command entrenched
itself on a little island. The wily chief thought he could stampede them and urged on his
braves with the declaration that the first to reach the island should be entitled to wear
a trailing war bonnet. Nevertheless he was disappointed, and his men received such a warm
reception that none succeeded in reaching it. In order to inspire them to desperate deeds
he had led them in person, and with him that meant victory or death.
According to the army accounts, it was a thrilling moment, and might
well have proved disastrous to the Forsythe command, whose leader was wounded and
helpless. The danger was acute until Roman Nose fell, and even then his lieutenants were
bent upon crossing at any cost, but some of the older chiefs prevailed upon them to
withdraw.
Thus the brilliant war chief of the Cheyennes came to his death. If
he had lived until 1876, Sitting Bull would have had another bold ally.
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