Wandering Lizard

Biographical Notes

William Frederick "Buffalo Bill" Cody

At some point in 1871, Cody served briefly as Justice of the Peace in Cottonwood Springs, Nebraska. While stationed at Fort McPherson, at General Sheridan's request, Cody guided for a number of buffalo hunting parties which included various famous American and European personages. The most famous of these was Grand Duke Alexis, the son of Alexander II, Czar of All the Russias. In January 1872, Cody guided General Sheridan, the Grand Duke, and a large party of other notables on a buffalo hunt that attracted worldwide press attention. Following the successful hunt, General Sheridan offered Cody a commission in the army. Cody declined the offer. Following the Duke's departure for home, Cody was given a month of leave. He traveled first to Chicago where he was the house guest of Colonel M.V. Sheridan the brother of General Philip Sheridan. While in Chicago he made his first public appearance in a high society ball organized by men that had been on one or another buffalo hunts with him. He found this first exposure to the public to be embarrassing and said that he was uncomfortable with the attention that he received.

After Chicago, Cody went on to New York where he sought out Ned Buntline. Buntline took him to the theater where a dramatization of his first "Buffalo Bill" novel was being presented. Cody occupied a box seat during the performance and afterwards took the stage to be presented to the audience. Once again he was embarrassed and uncomfortable in appearing before the public, but that was soon to change. After New York he went on to West Chester, Pennsylvania to visit relatives. On February 26, 1872, the Philadelphia Public Record printed the first interview with "Buffalo Bill" Cody. Following his West Chester visit, Cody returned to Fort McPherson and was immediately assigned to scout for a detachment of the Third Cavalry sent out to pursue Indians that had attacked McPherson station near the fort. The Third Cavalry had replaced the Fifth and the patrol was commanded by Captain Charles Meinhold. Cody and the patrol caught up with the Indians on the Loup River on April 26, 1872. In the ensuing engagement Cody killed several Indians and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions.

Louisa lived with Cody while they were stationed at Fort McPherson and on August 15, 1872, she gave birth to their third child, Orra Maude. Later that fall, Cody was nominated by the Democratic Party as their candidate for the Twenty-Sixth District of the Nebraska Legislature. The district was a Republican stronghold, but the election results showed that he had been elected by forty-four votes. He did not bother to ever take his seat in the legislature, but from then on he used the title "Honorable" when signing his name. A few months later it was determined that there had been a miscount of votes and he had not won the election after all. During this period Buntline urged Cody to go on stage and play himself in western dramas that Buntline would write. On November 30, 1872, Cody resigned his post with the military and traveled to Chicago to meet with Buntline. A fellow scout, "Texas Jack" Omohundro accompanied him. Cody and Omohundro starred in Buntline's drama entitled The Scouts of the Prairie in December. Neither man had any acting experience and could not remember their lines, but they extemporized successfully. Cody's theatrical debut was considered to be enough of a success that it inspired numerous imitators.

Although there was a plethora of better actors on the stage at the time, none of the competition could match the popular appeal of "Buffalo Bill." It was widely recognized that Cody was not an accomplished actor, but no one faulted "Buffalo Bill's" sense of showmanship. Authentic Indians were added to the cast and The Scouts of the Prairie went on tour. The show was put on in various eastern cities until June 16, 1873, and was a hit wherever it played. Cody had completely gotten over his earlier stage fright and began to actually enjoy his public appearances. He made a large amount of money during the tour, but also spent money extravagantly. Louisa was critical of him for this and for not paying enough attention to his family. Buntline stayed with Cody through the entire first season, but was phased out for the second. On August 31, 1873, Omohundro married Guiseppina Morlacchi, an Italian dancer who had introduced the cancan to America in Boston in 1867. Morlacchi had been part of the cast during the first season and had an able manager named Major John M. Burke. Burke admired Cody and replaced Buntline as general factotum and company manager for the second season.

The second season was as successful as the first and the show continued in one form or another for the entire period from 1873 through 1876. A number of western personalities, including Wild Bill Hickok, appeared at various times in one or more of Cody's presentations, but the general formula remained fairly consistent. A weak plot holding together personal appearances by "Buffalo Bill" and other famous westerners, appearances by real Indians, rescues of damsels in distress, and lots of violent action and gunfire. During the summers, Cody returned to the west where he sometimes served as a scout for the army and sometimes guided hunting parties composed of influential men from the eastern establishment. Cody's son, Kit, died in 1876. This death dramatically affected Cody and he found it difficult to continue on stage. At about this time General Sheridan was organizing a campaign against hostile Sioux Indians and Cody was asked to participate. He closed the 1876 season early and informed his public that he was returning to the west to fight real Indians.

In June 1876 Cody joined General Carr and the Fifth Cavalry at Cheyenne, Wyoming. During the ensuing campaign General Crook was defeated in the Battle of Rosebud Creek and Colonel Custer and a significant part of his command was annihilated by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull in the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Carr, Cody and the Fifth Cavalry were not involved in either battle. They were deployed to the Red Cloud Indian Agency to ensure that the Cheyenne located there did not bolt the reservation and join Sitting Bull. During that deployment Cody was involved in a skirmish near Hat Creek during which he killed and scalped a Cheyenne sub-chief named Yellow Hair. Later accounts of the affair altered the Indian's name to Yellow Hand and made him a Cheyenne Chief. A dramatized reenactment of this "mano-a-mano duel" was to become a staple element in Buffalo Bill's Wild West a few years later.

In August 1876, the Fifth Cavalry joined the Big Horn and Yellowstone Expedition led by Generals Crook and Terry. They were in pursuit of the Sioux war party that had been responsible for the earlier defeats on the Rosebud and Little Big Horn. Cody was assigned to General Terry when his column separated from Crook and was assigned to accompany General Nelson A. Miles on a patrol down the Yellowstone River. During that patrol Cody carried important dispatches between Miles and Terry, but did not engage in any contact with hostile Indians. One round trip through hostile territory between the two forces stretched over 120 miles and was made in 22 hours. He was once again commended and monetarily rewarded for his efforts. On August 22, 1868, he resigned from his scouting duties to return east to organize a new play based upon the Sioux War. Omohundro struck out on his own that year and Cody organized "Buffalo Bill's First Scalp for Custer" alone. It was another success and ran in various eastern and western cities into 1877 when Cody announced that he was saying farewell as an actor.

Previous | Continue...