



Figure 3. — Satanta addressing the peace commissioners at Council Grove, Medicine Lodge 

 Creek, Kansas. (USJVAf jS^rSj; Smilhsonian photo jSjgS.) 



witli some distinction as Broiiicrtoii was breveteci 

 major for gallantry as a result ol" his unit's perform- 

 ance." Unfortunately for posterity, Stieffcl did not 

 record his impressions of this little-known sideshow of 

 the C:ivil War. 



The Battle of X'alverde was StiefTel's only experience 

 in formal combat so far as the record shows. After 

 the final withdrawal of Sibley's force into Texas 

 whence it had come, the 5th Infantry turned its hand 

 to ]jolicinE( the Indians and was almost constantly in 

 the field during the period 1863-1866.'^ .Stieffel, 

 however, was seldom with his unit during this time. 

 When not on one of his frequent stays in the stockade, 



1' rbid., sen 1, vol. 4^, pt. 2, p. 1246. 



'* Rodenbough and Haskin, op. cit. (footnote 7), p. 472; 

 Muster Roil, Co. K, op. cit. (footnote 7), April 30, 1863; June 

 30, 1864; October 31, 1865. 



he was on extra duty at the closest army hospital.'^ 

 He continued on such duty for most of the remainder 

 of his service,""' except for confinements, a period of 

 desertion, and necessary changes of station. 



StiefTel's e.xact unofficial status in Company K over 

 the years is difficult to account for. It is possible, 

 though hardly probable, that Captain Brotherton had 

 developed a friendship with the German, which might 

 account for both his acquisition of the paintings and 

 Stieffel's extra-duty tours. But such is doubtful. 

 Brotherton was a hardened professional ofhcer in an 

 era when there was a far wider gap between officer 

 and enlisted man than exists today. There is no 

 evidence that Stieffel was a shirker. At the end of 



'■' The first note of such duty is in Muster Roll, Co. K, ofi. cit. 

 (footnote 7), February 28, 1863. 



'".See Muster Roll, Co. K, op. ctl. (footnote 7), 1863-1882. 

 The muster rolls were submitted bimonthly. 



BULLETIN 225: CONTRIRCTIONS FROM THE MUSEUM OF HISTORY .AXD TECHNOLOGY 



