Old Times in the Black Hills 



out from the post to spy upon their move- 

 ments. As I rode into camp I noticed they 

 were just finishing supper. During the argu- 

 ment that followed my arrival and proposition 

 to join them, I observed a large, powerfully 

 built man, dressed in buckskin, seated apart 

 from the rest. He was eating the meat from a 

 section of ribs he had scraped out from among 

 the coals and ashes. He took no part in the 

 conversation until, in answer to a question, 1 

 stated that I was a Kentuckian. At this he 

 rose and settled the matter by saying that if 

 I was a Kentuckian he would vouch for my 

 honesty of purpose, and that I would stand 

 fire in the scrimmages that we were certain to 

 have with the Sioux. This was California Joe, 

 who for years had been chief of scouts with 

 General Custer. He afterward informed me 

 that he was from near Danville, Kentucky, 

 that his name was Mose Milner, and that he 

 had gone West in the forties. I mention this 

 from the fact that I have since read an account 

 referring to him as one of the most noted 

 characters in the West, whose life was sur- 

 rounded by mystery, as he always refused to 

 tell his real name or whence he came. 



75 



