William Hepworth Dixon, White Conquest: Volume 1

This tragedy has a counterpart in the massacre of Medicine Lodge. A band of Osages, living on the lands set apart for them, strike their tents, and ride into the Plains in search of grass and game. Some Osage families are tame, men of mixed blood, who till their land, and live in decent huts; but nine in ten of this savage family are wild men, living by the chase. Driving their mules and ponies, and accompanied by their squaws and imps, they wander up and down; but game is scarce, and much of the grass has been lately burnt. They have to spread their wings, and follow distant trails. No buffaloes are found, the herds appearing to have crossed the frontier line into Kansas.

One of these bands of Osages, numbering nineteen hunters, ten squaws, and about eighty ponies, are encamped near the frontier, looking in .vain for game. Two White men ride into their camp. These persons come from Medicine Lodge, in Barber county, Kansas, and are members of Captain Rickers' troop of horse. “ Have you seen any buffalo? ”