The Life of Buffalo Bill · Chapter
Scouting explained
Cody serves as guide and chief of scouts for the Fifth Cavalry under General Carr and Colonel Royal.
What happens
Cody serves as guide and chief of scouts for the Fifth Cavalry under General Carr and Colonel Royal. He leads the command to water, has a creek named after him, survives an ambush, and participates in skirmishes with Native Americans. He also demonstrates his buffalo hunting skills by driving a herd directly into camp.
Themes in this chapter
Frontier Expansion and Manifest Destiny
The military campaign pushes into Native American territory, asserting U.S. control over the Plains.
Masculinity and the Frontier Hero
Cody's bravery, marksmanship, and resourcefulness in combat and hunting exemplify the frontier hero ideal.
Conflict and Coexistence with Native Americans
The chapter details multiple skirmishes and the pursuit of Native American bands, highlighting ongoing violent conflict.
Violence and Survival
Cody survives an ambush, engages in running fights, and participates in a severe skirmish with fifty Native Americans.
Characters to notice
- Buffalo Bill
Acts as guide and chief of scouts; has Cody's Creek named after him; survives an Indian ambush; kills buffalo for the command.
- General E. A. Carr
Commands the expedition; trusts Cody's navigation; names a creek after Cody; orders pursuit of Native Americans.
- Colonel Royal
Commands the Fifth Cavalry; initially skeptical of Cody's hunting methods but is impressed by his buffalo drive into camp.
- General Philip H. Sheridan
Introduces Cody to Colonel Royal; orders the regiment to march against Native Americans.
- Major W. H. Brown
Messes with Cody during the expedition; one of the officers Cody becomes acquainted with.
- Billy Comstock
Referenced as a scout whose judgment is contrasted with Cody's during the navigation dispute.
Key passages
“I replied that it was about twenty-five miles, and he said we would make it the next day.”
Cody estimated the distance to the next camp at twenty-five miles, and General Carr agreed to cover that distance the following day.
Shows Cody's role as a reliable guide.
“The General, upon learning from me that the stream—which was only eight or nine miles long—had no name, took out his map and located it, and named it Cody’s Creek, which name it still bears.”
General Carr named the previously unnamed stream 'Cody's Creek' after Cody led the command to water there.
Demonstrates the practice of naming landmarks after military personnel.
“I didn’t care about asking for any wagons this time, Colonel; so I thought I would make the buffaloes furnish their own transportation.”
Cody explained to Colonel Royal that he drove the buffalo into camp to avoid needing wagons to haul the meat.
Highlights Cody's cleverness and showmanship.