Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane | Page 3

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LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF CALAMITY JANE BY HERSELF

My maiden name was Marthy Cannary. I was born in Princeton,
Missourri, May 1st, 1852. Father and mother were natives of Ohio. I
had two brothers and three sisters, I being the oldest of the children. As
a child I always had a fondness for adventure and out-door exercise and
especial fondness for horses which I began to ride at an early age and
continued to do so until I became an expert rider being able to ride the
most vicious and stubborn of horses, in fact the greater portion of my
life in early times was spent in this manner.

In 1865 we emigrated from our homes in Missourri by the overland
route to Virginia City, Montana, taking five months to make the
journey. While on the way the greater portion of my time was spent in
hunting along with the men and hunters of the party, in fact I was at all
times with the men when there was excitement and adventures to be
had. By the time we reached Virginia City I was considered a
remarkable good shot and a fearless rider for a girl of my age. I
remember many occurrences on the journey from Missourri to Montana.
Many times in crossing the mountains the conditions of the trail were
so bad that we frequently had to lower the wagons over ledges by hand
with ropes for they were so rough and rugged that horses were of no
use. We also had many exciting times fording streams for many of the
streams in our way were noted for quicksands and boggy places, where,
unless we were very careful, we would have lost horses and all. Then
we had many dangers to encounter in the way of streams swelling on
account of heavy rains. On occasions of that kind the men would
usually select the best places to cross the streams, myself on more than
one occasion have mounted my pony and swam across the stream
several times merely to amuse myself and have had many narow
escapes from having both myself and pony washed away to certain
death, but as the pioneers of those days had plenty of courage we
overcame all obstacles and reached Virginia City in safety.
Mother died at Black Foot, Montana, 1866, where we buried her. I left
Montana in Spring of 1866, for Utah, arriving at Salt Lake city during
the summer. Remained in Utah until 1867, where my father died, then
went to Fort Bridger, Wyoming Territory, where we arrived May 1,
1868, then went to Piedmont, Wyoming, with U.P. Railway. Joined
General Custer as a scout at Fort Russell, Wyoming, in 1870, and
started for Arizona for the Indian Campaign. Up to this time I had
always worn the costume of my sex. When I joined Custer I donned the
uniform of a soldier. It was a bit awkward at first but I soon got to be
perfectly at home in men's clothes.
Was in Arizona up to the winter of 1871 and during that time I had a
great many adventures with the Indians, for as a scout I had a great
many dangerous missions to perform and while I was in many close

places always succeeded in getting away safely for by this time I was
considered the most reckless and daring rider and one of the best shots
in the western country.
After that campaign I returned to Fort Sanders, Wyoming, remained
there until spring of 1872, when we were ordered out to the Muscle
Shell or Nursey Pursey Indian outbreak. In that war Generals Custer,
Miles, Terry and Crook were all engaged. This campaign lasted until
fall of 1873.
It was during this campaign that I was christened Calamity Jane. It