My maiden name was Marthy Cannary. I was born in Princeton, Missourri,May 1st, 1852. Father and mother were natives of Ohio. I had twobrothers and three sisters, I being the oldest of the children. As achild I always had a fondness for adventure and out-door exercise andespecial fondness for horses which I began to ride at an early age andcontinued to do so until I became an expert rider being able to ridethe most vicious and stubborn of horses, in fact the greater portion ofmy life in early times was spent in this manner.
In 1865 we emigrated from our homes in Missourri by the overland routeto Virginia City, Montana, taking five months to make the journey.While on the way the greater portion of my time was spent in huntingalong with the men and hunters of the party, in fact I was at all timeswith the men when there was excitement and adventures to be had. Bythe time we reached Virginia City I was considered a remarkable goodshot and a fearless rider for a girl of my age. I remember manyoccurrences on the journey from Missourri to Montana. Many times incrossing the mountains the conditions of the trail were so bad that wefrequently had to lower the wagons over ledges by hand with ropes forthey were so rough and rugged that horses were of no use. We also hadmany exciting times fording streams for many of the streams in our waywere noted for quicksands and boggy places, where, unless we were verycareful, we would have lost horses and all. Then we had many dangersto encounter in the way of streams swelling on account of heavy rains.On occasions of that kind the men would usually select the best placesto cross the streams, myself on more than one occasion have mounted mypony and swam across the stream several times merely to amuse myselfand have had many narow escapes from having both myself and pony washedaway to certain death, but as the pioneers of those days had plenty ofcourage we overcame all obstacles and reached Virginia City in safety.
Mother died at Black Foot, Montana, 1866, where we buried her. I leftMontana in Spring of 1866, for Utah, arriving at Salt Lake city duringthe summer. Remained in Utah until 1867, where my father died, thenwent to Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory, where we arrived May 1, 1868,then went to Piedmont, Wyoming, with U.P. Railway. Joined GeneralCuster as a scout at Fort Russell, Wyoming, in 1870, and started forArizona for the Indian Campaign. Up to this time I had always worn thecostume of my sex. When I joined Custer I donned the uniform of asoldier. It was a bit awkward at first but I soon got to be perfectlyat home in men's clothes.
Was in Arizona up to the winter of 1871 and during that time I had agreat many adventures with the Indians, for as a scout I had a greatmany dangerous missions to perform and while I was in many close placesalways succeeded in getting away safely for by this time I wasconsidered the most reckless and daring rider and one of the best shotsin the western country.
After that campaign I returned to Fort Sanders, Wyoming, remained thereuntil spring of 1872, when we were ordered out to the Muscle Shell orNursey Pursey Indian outbreak. In that war Generals Custer, Miles,Terry and Crook were all engaged. This campaign lasted until fall of1873.
It was during this campaign that I was christened Calamity Jane. Itwas on Goose Creek, Wyoming, where the town of Sheridan is now located.Capt. Egan was in command of the Post. We were ordered out to quell anuprising of the Indians, and were out for several days, had numerousskirmishes during which six of the soldiers we