Bill and the Duke

Since the beginning of the United States as a sovereign nation, relationship with Russia has at various times, been friendly, or less than cordial. For instance, during the Crimean War (1853-56), the Russians fought against forces of England, France, and the Ottoman Empire.

The Russians lost that war, but since the U.S. had given "moral" support, the Russian government was grateful, so they gave support, mainly "moral" support, to the United States government (North) during the American Civil War (1861-1865). This cozy relationship between the two countries, furthered by the abolishment of serfdom in Russia and the banning of slavery in the US was a big reason for the Russian sale of Alaska to the Americans (for $7.2 million) in 1867.

In 1871 the two countries were still on friendly terms when the Grand Duke Alexis (third in line for the Russian throne) made a much heralded State visit to the United States. That "visit" was of great importance in the US at the time and our government was determined to make it an unqualified success, to impress not only the Russians, but the whole world.

Alexis was an interesting member of the Royal Family. He was far enough down the line of succession that he harbored no aspiration to become Czar. Instead he enjoyed his opportunity to learn from the finest court tutors. He was said to speak fluently in English, French, and German, besides his native Russian, and familiar with the classic literature of all these nations.

The 21-year-old Duke was already well known for his "impetuous affairs of the heart" by the time of his American visit. As a youth he had fallen in love and married a woman, whom his father did not approve and had the marriage annulled. After that, though he never married again, he carried on innumerable flirtations and became a man who was fond of wine, women and cards. He was trained for service in his country's naval service, but conducted the major part of his naval maneuvers in Gay Paree and at the gaming tables at Monte Carlo.

At every stop on his American tour the Duke was treated to the best that city could provide. In New York he officiated at a military parade in his honor with Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and a welcoming committee of dignitaries. A decidedly handsome man; he made a favorable impression on the female population.

In Washington, D.C. he was greeted at a reception by President Ulysses S. Grant, his wife Julia and daughter, Nellie, as well as members of President Grant's Cabinet. In Boston he stayed at the Paul Revere House and inspected the Naval Yards. He also toured Harvard University and a number of the Boston Public Schools, and made the obligatory tour of the Battlefield at Bunker Hill, as well as to the shipyards at Charlestown.

All this was very pleasant for Alexis, especially the dances and parties, which were held in his honor in every city, but the Duke had a request that he repeated frequently. He had a fascination with the American Indians and had heard of the gigantic buffalo hunts that were being staged at that time in the West. He considered himself a marksman with both the rifle and the pistol, and very much wanted to test himself against the mighty buffalo.

In Omaha Duke Alexis and his party were met by a blue ribbon contingent, headed by Civil War heroes, Gen. Phil Sheridan, Gen. Edward Ord, and Gen. George Armstrong Custer, who accompanied the Duke, via a special rail train, to Fort McPherson.

At Fort McPherson, the party was met by the king of buffalo hunters, Col. William Fredrick Cody, Buffalo Bill, and a large enthusiastic crowd, plus two companies of Infantry, in wagons, two companies of Cavalry, the Cavalry's Regimental band, night riders, outriders, couriers and cooks. After a number of flowery speeches the party set out for the hunting grounds at Camp Alexis, about 50 miles and eight hours away on Red Willow Creek. More "luxuries" for the trip were added -- an open carriage for the Duke and Gen. Sheridan, a wagon for luggage, three wagons for champagne and "spirits," and 20 extra saddle horses.

Using the promise of 25 wagon loads of rations, Buffalo Bill had made arrangements with the Lakota Brule Sioux Chief Spotted Tail for the appearance of some 600 warriors, who delighted the Grand Duke with demonstrations of Indian horsemanship, bow shooting and lance throwing, followed by a intra-Indian sham battle, finishing off with a gigantic War Dance. The whole affair was met with great enthusiasm by the Duke and his party.

On Jan. 14, 1872, the Duke's 22nd birthday, he got his chance to participate in a great buffalo hunt. He was armed with an American pistol and a Russian rifle, and sat astride Buffalo Bill's own buffalo horse, Buckskin Joe, on which Bill claimed that he had killed 4,200 buffalo. Riding into a fleeing herd of buffalo at full gallop and firing at one specific animal is a skill not easily acquired, and the Duke's attempts at killing a buffalo were fruitless, until Cody and some of the other men singled out animals and slowed them 'til the Duke was close enough to make the kill. (Members of Alexis' party were eager, but were not trained for the fast paced riding the hunt required. At one point a colored Sergeant rode up to Col. Cody, saying, "Colonel, ah begs leave to report, suh, that another of those kings had done fallen off his horse!"

Grand Duke Alexis was further thrilled when he was invited the next day to accompany two of the Indian Chiefs, who demonstrated the Indian way of killing a buffalo. Two Lance, the Chief of the Nokota Sioux tribe, dispatched a large buffalo bull by shooting entirely through the beast. Alexis treasured the arrow used, taking it, so that he could display it back in Moscow.

At the conclusion of the hunt Duke Alexis, accompanied by Gen. Sheridan and Cody, rode to Fort McPherson in a heavy, double-seated open carriage, drawn by six spirited cavalry horses, not much used to the harness.. The ride started out quietly and quite pleasantly. About half way General Sheridan suggested that Buffalo Bill might take the reins. As the drivers exchanged the reins General Sheridan whispered to Cody, "Shake 'em up a little, Bill, and give us some old time stage driving!" That was all the encouragement Cody needed.

When they reached the valley of the Medicine Creek, Cody later wrote, "There was no brake and the horses had nothing to hold them back, so all I could do was to keep them running straight ahead; for three miles they ran pell mell, with one wheel and then another off the ground. The wagon bounced so violently across that rough prairie that the occupants could scarcely keep their seats. When at last the horses were checked going up a hill the Grand Duke remonstrated and said that he did not want any more of that kind of driving and preferred to go much slower."

Buffalo Bill's sister, who at the time lived at Fort McPherson, wrote that Duke Alexis told of that three mile dash when he arrived at the Fort, "I would not have missed that ride for a large sum of money, but rather than repeat it, I would return to Russia by way of Alaska and swim the Behring Strait!" Still, the Grand Duke was sufficiently impressed with Cody and the ride that when the two parted at Fort McPherson, the Duke presented Cody with a beautiful fur coat and an expensive set of cuff links.

Mari Sandoz recalled Buffalo Bill. She was about 5 years old at the time. Bill came to their house to hunt with her father, Old Jules, who had a reputation as a good hunter. "Cody and a friend of his from Alliance arrived late one fall evening, during a violent thunderstorm. In the commotion I awoke and sneaked a peek into our kitchen, to see the handsomest man I had ever seen, wearing a fine beaded jacket and beautiful flowing white hair that fell over his shoulders.

"The next morning Mother sent me to call Mr. Cody. I tapped on the door. There was no answer, so I pushed the door open a crack. The bed was empty. Buffalo Bill was up and gone hunting with my father, but on the bedpost hung that beautiful head of flowing white hair"

Source: Pioneers, Indians and Buffalos, by Bayard H. Paine, 1935