Robert McGee Survived Scalping (Picture Fixed)

Shotgun Steve · April 18, 2009, 06:24:52 PM

Today we feature a picture of Robert McGee. The picture was taken in 1890. As a child, Robert McGee was scalped by Indians. Very few people survived the horrific experience of being scalped.

Robert was the son of emigrants. In 1864, Robert and his family decided to migrate west, as was the custom of many emigrants of the day, to seek a better life. The family joined a wagon train heading to Leavenworth, Kansas. Somewhere on the trail, Robert's parents died, and he was left an orphan. Others on the wagon train cared for Robert on the trail. Once they reached Leavenworth, Robert, a mere child, was left to fend for himself. At the time, the government was in desperate need of men for the army to protect the overland trail to Santa Fe. Robert applied to join the army, but he was not accepted, because he was too young. Desperate for work, Robert took a job with a freight company to take supplies to Fort Union in New Mexico. In July of 1864 the freight company had a wagon train leave Fort Leavenworth bound for Fort Union, and Robert was one of the teamsters working on this wagon train. Because of the dangers on the trail, the wagon train had a US army escort. The wagon train traveled on the Lonesome Trail. Along the way, the group had several minor skirmishes with Indians, but because of the army escort, there were no significant problems.

On July 18, the wagon train arrived in the vicinity of Fort Larned. The teamsters let their guard down, and became careless. They assumed that because of their proximity to the fort, their would be no problems, and they ended up camping about a mile from their army escort. At about 5 in the afternoon, the camp was attacked by 150 Sioux under the command of the chief Little Turtle. The men were caught completely off guard, and the group was slaughtered.

Robert was the sole survivor of the slaughter, and he remembered the details of the ordeal. Robert had been dragged by some of the Indians to Chief Little Turtle. The chief first knocked him down with a lance, and then shot him with a revolver. The chief then shot him through with two arrows, to pin him to the ground, and then scalped him. As each of the Indians passed him, they beat and stabbed him, and then he was left for dead.

The army at the nearby post heard that there were Sioux in the area, so they sent out a patrol to check things out. The patrol reached the scene of the slaughter about 2 hours after it occurred. They were shocked to see the carnage, and even more shocked to see that Robert was still alive. He was taken to Fort Larned, where the post surgeon treated his injuries. Amazingly, Robert recovered from his wounds. He lived, even though he no longer had a scalp. It is hard for me to even understand how a person could live out there life in such a fashion, but Robert did, as evidenced by the picture above, which was taken some 25 years after the event. Unfortunately, I was not able to determine other events of Robert's life after the ordeal, other than he survived.

Dedwood Dave · April 18, 2009, 07:06:38 PM

And thats one of the reasons I'm happy to be in NCOWS in the 21st centry.

Tjackstephens · April 18, 2009, 08:14:16 PM

Shotgun Steve, For some reason the picture does not appear on my computer. Like the story though. TJ

Ottawa Creek Bill · April 18, 2009, 10:25:28 PM

Shotgun Steve.......I saw this over on the Pale Riders Posse Page where you had posted it earlier...and the photo is not showing up there either.

I've noticed that you post a lot of this type of information over there quite often....Have you considered sending some articles in to the Shootists magazine?.....I'm sure your NCOWS pards would find this info very interesting.

Bill

Shotgun Steve · April 19, 2009, 11:22:49 AM

Bill..I have fixed all the pictures on both sites. And I have some articles in the works which
I am planning on sending to Shootists magazine. I hope they will find something they can use.

Shotgun Steve

Irish Dave · April 19, 2009, 11:56:22 AM

That looks like it'd hurt....

Fox Creek Kid · April 19, 2009, 03:26:01 PM

Quote from: Shotgun Steve on April 18, 2009, 06:24:52 PM

...Unfortunately, I was not able to determine other events of Robert's life after the ordeal, other than he survived.

I think it would be a safe bet that he never ventured west of the Mississippi after the tonsorial "adjustment" as well as wore a hat often

Ottawa Creek Bill · April 19, 2009, 04:17:37 PM

Quote from: Deadwood Dave on April 18, 2009, 07:06:38 PM
:oAnd thats one of the reasons I'm happy to be in NCOWS in the 21st centry.

Deadwood Dave..........I've still got a couple of my scalping knives........

Better watch yourself at the National this year.

Bill

Chase · April 22, 2009, 01:37:56 PM

I'm sure that Mr. McGee never said to a barber, "A little off the top, please."

ChuckBurrows · April 22, 2009, 01:55:44 PM

Quote from: Fox Creek Kid on April 19, 2009, 03:26:01 PM
I think it would be a safe bet that he never ventured west of the Mississippi after the tonsorial "adjustment" as well as wore a hat often

I don't know - some those ole boys were tough - Edward Robinson lost his hair in Kentucky to the Shawnee when young and his life to to the Snakes in eastern Idaho - he was in his late 60's at the time of his death. For more info look up Edward Robinson mountain man - he met the Wilson Price Hunt Expediton going up the Missouri with two compadres Reznor and Hoback...

Deadeye Don · April 22, 2009, 03:07:30 PM

Did you say he was scalped as a child? That head wound looks alot fresher than that.

Dedwood Dave · April 22, 2009, 07:34:08 PM

Quote from: Ottawa Creek Bill on April 19, 2009, 04:17:37 PM
Deadwood Dave..........I've still got a couple of my scalping knives........ Better watch yourself at the National this year.

Bill

And I still got my dull tomohawk.

Fox Creek Kid · April 23, 2009, 02:29:54 AM

Quote from: Deadeye Don on April 22, 2009, 03:07:30 PM
Did you say he was scalped as a child? That head wound looks alot fresher than that.

I wouldn't know. I've never seen a man scalped.

Deadeye Don · April 23, 2009, 05:58:09 AM

I have seen plenty of craniotomies and that doesnt look to be that old. Usually, scalp wounds heal fast and pretty well due to the great blood supply to the scalp. However, it is a black and white photo and so may distort the actual wound somewhat. Also it is likely he didnt have a neurosurgeon closing the scalp wound . There may also be some underlying bone deformity that had occurred depending on what was used to do the "scalping". Very interesting picture indeed.

Shotgun Steve · April 23, 2009, 02:59:10 PM

Deadeye back when this man was scalped most people died because of infection. The scalp is taken
leaving the skull exposed which is very susceptible to disease. There was no way to close the wound
because the skin is gone. Many times because the skull was open to the air and bacteria it started to
rot making death a painful certainty. Some old trappers use to drill or use an awl to
bore through the skull just enough so the crainial fluid slowly seeped onto the skull. If the person was lucky
some new skin/scar tissue would close the skull to the air and disease and the person would then recover.
But the man WAS scalped as a child.

Shotgun Steve

Marshal Deadwood · April 23, 2009, 04:42:46 PM

Shotgun,,meebe you and I need'a scalp someone and see how this all works. We could film a documentary on it,,over time..let NBC show it and tell the world how pc incorrect you and I are for being 'insensitive.' !

MD *nature scalped posse