History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889, Part 78

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Victor, Frances Fuller, 1826-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: San Francisco : History Co.
Number of Pages: 880

USA > Idaho > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 78
USA > Montana > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 78
USA > Washington > History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889 > Part 78

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

It was found in the course of explorations that the Crow reservation occu- pied some of the most desirable agricultural and mineral lands in Montana, and that lying in the track of great thoroughfares it was an obstacle to the

711

VARIOUS EXPLORATIONS.

development of the country, besides surrounding the Indians with tempta- tion. Accordingly, when the commission appointed to examine into the con- dition of the Indians, consisting of Felix Brunot, James Wright, General E. Whittlesey, and Thomas K. Cree, visited the country, an agreement was entered into with the Crows to remove to a reservation in the Judith River basin, one third the size of that on the Yellowstone, which contained over three square miles to every individual in the tribe. For the exchange, a fair compensation was promised. Their removal was not effected; but in 1882 the government purchased a tract on the western end, forty miles in extent along the Yel- lowstone, and sixty in breadth, embracing the mineral region of Clarke fork.

The success of an effort made to ascend the Yellowstone with steamboats in 1873 determined the citizens of Bozeman, early in 1874, to send an expedi- tion down the river for the purpose of opening a wagon-road to the head of navigation, and making connection with the advancing line of the Northern Pa- cific by means of this road and a line of steamers on the Yellowstone, and also to prospect for the precious metals. The expedition failed of its purpose, being harassed by Indians after getting into the Bighorn country, and was short of supplies, though its reports were of some use to the country. It had four engagements with the Sioux, lost one man and seventeen horses killed, and had twenty horses wounded. They found the Indians to be armed with breech-loading rifles, as well as every other fire-arm, bows and arrows; they were well supplied with ammunition, and mounted. But in a battle they aimed too high, and the white men, being better marksmen and courageous fighters, killed fifty for their one. B. F. Grounds was captain; William Wright, lieu- tenant; E. B. Way, adjutant; Hugh O'Donovan, signal-officer; B. P. Wickers- ham, secretary; councilmen, F. B. Wilson, T. C. Burns, William Langston, Ad- dison N. Quivey, D. A. Yates (killed in battle), George Miller, A. B. Ford, James Hancock, Joseph Brown, and 133 others. There were 22 wagons, 28 yoke of oxen, over 200 horses and mules, 2 pieces of artillery, arms of the best description, and provisions for months. A large portion of these provisions were furnished by the citizens of the Gallatin Valley, who much desired to open the proposed road, and were greatly vexed by the return of the expedi- tion without having accomplished its purpose. Delegate Maginnis had asked congress for an appropriation for the removal of obstructions to navigation in the Yellowstone.

Year after year the troubles continued. In 1875 a government expedition was set on foot to further explore the Yellowstone River with reference to its navigability, and also the selection of sites for forts in eastern Montana. It was commanded by Gen. Forsyth, and left Bismarck, Dakota, with one com- paay of infantry, May 23d, in the steamer Josephine, arriving at the Yellow- stone River two days later, and taking on two additional companies at Fort Buford. The mouth of the Bighorn was reached June 2d. Above this point, navigation to within twenty miles of Clarke fork was accomplished with more difficulty, though proving the feasibility of steamboat navigation for a dis- tance of 400 miles up the Yellowstone. No Indians were eucountered on the expedition except a large party of Crows, going on their summer hunt, who had a three days' fight with the Sioux in the Bighorn country in July. Sites for military posts were selected at the mouths of Tongue and Bighorn rivers.

Another expedition, a government geological survey, consisting only of Colonel William Ludlow of the engineer corps of the army, four other persons, including Grinnell and Dana of Yale college, and half a dozen raw recruits, without arms, from Camp Lewis, on Judith River, garrisoned by two com- panies of the 7th infantry, under Captain Browning, left Carroll on the Mis- souri, which at that time was a town of twenty-five log houses, and made the journey to Fort Ellis, just avoiding a meeting with the Sioux after their three days' battle with the Crows, the former having gone north through the Judith gap two days before the geologists reached it going south. They found at Camp Baker, on Deep Creek, later Fort Logan, two companies of the 7th infantry, Major Freeman commanding; and at Fort Ellis, Gen. Sweitzer in command, only two of its five companies unemployed, one being

712

INDIAN WARS.

at that moment escorting Secretary of War Belknap through the Yellowstone park, to which the expedition was bound. Ludlow's Recon. to Yellowstone Park, 1-17. This book contains a zoological report by G. B. Grinnell, a geological report by E. S. Dana and G. B. Grinnell, and the itinerary of the route by Ludlow, with maps and illustrations.

The accounts brought back of the resources of the Bighorn country, by the citizens' exploring expedition of the previous year, determined a com- pany, led by F. D. Pease, late agent of the mountain Crows, to establish themselves in that country, and to lend their aid to all persons following their example. Four mackinaw boats were built, and loaded with artillery, arms, tools, and supplies for the founding and maintaining of a settlement iu a new country. Misfortunes attended the expedition. Two boats were swamped by overloading, in the rapid stream, and a large portion of the sup- plies, tools, and ammunition lost. The new settlement was located in a piece of fine bottom-land on the east side of the Bighorn, near its junction with the Yellowstone, where another party in 1863 had laid out Bighorn City. Here a rude but strong fort was erected, the famous Bighorn gun mounted, and for a short time affairs progressed favorably. But this deceit- ful calm was not of long duration. On the night of the 10th of July the place was attacked, and the savages were with difficulty kept at bay until relief came from Bozeman.

The time had now arrived when the government, having exhausted its resources of treaty, determined to take active measures to obtain by force what could not be purchased with friendship and money. The order had gone forth that all Indians should be at their agencies by the 31st of January, 1876, or take the alternative of war. From the forts all over the Rocky Mountain country troops were marched into the field. Montana fur- nished 5 companies 2d cav., 1 of 7th inf., and 1 citizen co. from Fort Ellis under Maj. Brisbin; 5 cos of 7th inf. from Fort Shaw, commanded by Capt. Rawn; and 1 co. of the same reg. from Camp Baker; the whole to be com- manded by Gen. John Gibbon, in command of the district of Montana. Wyo- ming furnished 10 cos of the 2d and 3d cav., under Gen. Reynolds, col of the 3d. From forts Laramie and Fetterman 5 cos of the 4th inf. were drawn; and Gen. Crook commanded the whole. Dakota furnished the 7th cav. under Gen. George A. Custer. Helena Herald, March 16 and 23, 1876.

The campaign opened by Gen. Crook leaving Fort Fetterman March Ist with a force of 750 officers, soldiers, and guides. Crook's experience in Oregon had confirmed him in his estimation of the importance of winter fighting in Indian wars. North of Fetterman 150 miles the wagon transportation was dispensed with, and the infantry sent back with it to Fort Reno. With the cavalry only, and fifteen days' rations, he proceeded to Tongue River, the weather being intensely cold. Scouting commenced under Col Stratton, who discovered the village of Crazy Horse, one of the bravest of the Sioux chiefs, consisting of over 100 lodges, on the Powder River, ten miles above the con- fluence of the Little Powder; and also that Sitting Bull, the most noted of all the Sioux since Red Cloud, was encamped on the Rosebud River.

Sitting Bull first became famous in white circles, in the Sully and Sibley expeditions of 1863 and 1864. He fought Sully north of the Black Hills, driving him through the Bad Lands beyond Powder River. He then returned to the Bighorn and drove out the Crows. In 1865 he warred on steamboats, and captured and killed the crews of mackinaws. He attacked one steamer with troops on board and was repulsed. At the peace council opposite Fort Union he wheedled the commissioners out of 20 kegs of powder and ball, and then went for their scalps. They cscaped to the steamer, and under a shower of their own bullets, took refuge in Fort Union. He kept Fort Buford in a state of siege that winter. He refused to attend the treaty in 1868, but was present to witness the dismantling of the forts Kearny and Smith. He marched 300 miles to strike tho settlement on the Musselshell; but the set- tlers lay in wait and killed 36 of his warriors. In 1869 he fought peaceable

713

CROOK, TERRY, GIBBON, AND CUSTER.

tribes because they were peaceable, and besieged Fort Buford again that winter. The next winter congress appropriated $750,000 to purchase peace with him; and still he was in the field. Epitome of a Speech of Delegate Maginnass on Defences for Montana.

Crook divided his command, retaining but two companies, and sent Rey- nolds with the main force to attack Crazyhorse, while he pursued the trail to Sitting Bull's camp. Reynolds surrounded and surprised the village of Crazyhorse. Captain Eagan of the 2d cavalry obeyed his orders and charged the Sioux. But Captain Webb of the 3d cavalry, who was to have charged simultaneously from the other side, failed to meet him half-way, and instead of a victory there was a defeat. Crook, on learning the manner in which his orders had been disobeyed, ordered a retreat, and returned to Fort Fetter- man, and thence to Omaha, preferring not to encounter the now exasperated Sioux with a command which could not be depended upon.

There seems to have been an effort made to cover up the conduct of the guilty officers, and there were directly opposite reports published in the news journals concerning the affair; but the evidence is against them. The Ind- ians lost their lodges and the contents, among which was a large amount of ammunition, but otherwise their losses were trifling. Reynolds' loss was ten killed and wounded.

Toward the last of May Crook once more marched against the Sionx with about 1,000 men. At the same time Gibbon, who had been since the Ist of March in the field watching the enemy, and making roads and bridges, was encamped opposite the mouth of Rosebud River, and General Terry with Cus- ter's cavalry was marching from Fort Lincoln, in Dakota, to cooperate with the other divisions. On the 13th and 17th of June Crook came upon the enemy in large numbers on the upper Rosebud, and in a hard battle lasting for sev- eral hours put them to rout, losing nine men killed and twenty wounded.

General Terry, who had arrived at the mouth of Powder River on the 7th, discovered the location of Gibbon's command, and held a conference with him on the 9th, when it was decided to establish a supply camp at Powder River, where the supply steamer Far West was lying, and to operate from this initial point. Six troops of cavalry under Major Reno were sent to scout up Powder River, which reached the forks and crossed to the Rosebud, following it down to its mouth without encountering Indians. On the 21st General Terry held with Gibbon and Custer a final conference, when a plan of campaign was adopted. Gibbon was to cross his command near the mouth of the Bighorn, proceeding up the stream to the junction of the Littlehorn, and thence up the latter; but to be at the junction on the 26th. Custer was to proceed up the Rosebud to ascertain the direction of an Indian trail discovered by Major Reno, and if it led toward the Little Bighorn, it was not to be followed, but Custer was to keep south for some distance before turning toward the stream, in order to intercept the Indians should they be coming that way, as well as to give Gibbon time to come up. Crook was supposed to be advancing from the south, and with so large an army, commanded by experienced generals, nothing but the complete humiliation of the Sioux was anticipated.

Custer left the mouth of the Rosebud on the 22d, with twelve companies of the 7th cavalry, striking the trail reported by Reno. On the 24th his scouts discovered fresh trails twenty miles up the Little Bighorn. The fol- lowing morning a deserted village was discovered, and the scouts reported a large village two miles or more down the stream, and that the Indians were fleeing. This last information determined Custer to risk an attack without waiting for Gibbon. At this time Reno was on the west side of the river with a battalion of seven companies of the cavalry, and Custer's adjutant was sent to bring him over to the east side when the attack was planned. Reno was ordered, at half-past twelve o'clock, to recross to the west side and attack from the upper end of the camp, while Custer would strike the lower end and meet him half-way.

The village was located in a valley, on a narrow strip of bottom-land, backed by woods which extended up the bluff. It was arranged in four rows of lodges, and extended with one narrow street in the middle for three or

714

INDIAN WARS.

four miles. Reno, at the time appointed, leaving a reserve of four companies under Capt. Benton as directed by Custer, entered the valley and rode rapidly after the Indians, who made no resistance until the troops had almost gained the village, thus decoying them into a trap set for them there. As they came near the lodges, warriors seemed to start up out of the earth in swarms on every side, and Reno saw that instead of attacking he must defend him- self. His men were dismounted and fought their way on foot to and through the woods to the summit of a high bluff, whence he sent Captain Weir with his company to open communication with General Custer. But finding it im- possible to reach Custer, being surrounded immediately, Weir retreated, and Reno, dismounting his whole force, hurried the pack animals and cavalry horses into a hollow between heights and prepared to be assaulted in position.

It was not too soon. A furious attack took place, in which he lost eighteen men killed and forty-six wounded. The battle lasted until 9 P. M., when the Indians retired to hold a war-dance, and Reno devoted the night to digging rifle-pits, having abandoned the hope that Custer would be able to get through the Indians to his assistance. No suspicion seems to have occurred to any one that the general had met with any disaster worse than their own, and knowing that Gibbon would soon arrive, the troops kept up good courage, though much suffering was experienced for want of water, a want which was not relieved for thirty-six bours, or until evening of the 26th. A few canteens full were obtained, which cost one man killed and seven wounded. The thirst of the fighting men was terrible, their swollen tongues protruding from their mouths.

At half-past two on the morning of that day the attack on Reno's position was renewed with great fury. The noise of the firing was compared by a Crow scout to the snapping of threads when a blanket is being torn, so rapid and continuous wasit. At least 2,500 warriors surrounded Reno's 700, who fought from rifle-pits barricaded with dead horses and mules, and boxes of hard bread, and being picked off by skilled marksmen, whom that officer believed to be white outlaws.

At 2 P. M. the grass was fired in the bottom, causing a dense smoke to ob- scure the movements of the Indians, and it was not discovered until sunset that they were removing from their village. At that hour they filed away in the direction of the Bighorn Mountains, moving in almost military order, and taking as long to pass as the cavalry corps of a great army. The meaning of this movement was explained when news was brought that evening that Gib- bon's command was only six miles away, and would come up in the morning.

Reno was still looking for Custer to make his appearance, when a lieuten- ant of Gibbon's scouts dashed into camp with the astounding information that Custer and every officer and man who went with him into the valley on the 25th was lying naked and lifeless upon the field where they had fought. Cus- ter's body escaped mutilation or even scalping, probably through the hurry of the Indians, the absence of the Sioux women who were busy with Reno's dead, and the circumstance that Custer's rank was concealed by a hunting-suit of buckskin. About half of Custer's dead were scalped. Report of Lieut Bradley, in Helena Herald, July 27, 1876. Bradley discovered the battle- field, and his account, although it does not agree with newspaper stories of mutilation, I take to be correct. Reno's dead, says the same authority, were frightfully cut in pieces. Custer was accompanied by his brother Captain Custer, a citizen brother Boston Custer, a brother-in-law Lieut Calhoun, two nephews Capt. Yates and Mr Reed, besides Capt. Keough and lieutenants Cook, Smith, Harrison, Porter, Sturgis, and Riley of the 7th cavalry, and Crittenden of the 20th inf., Dr Lord, Mark Kellogg, a correspondent of the N. Y. Herald, and 207 men, all of whom were killed. Reno lost lieuts Hodgson and McIntosh, and surgeon De Wolf; Capt. Benton and Lieut McIntosh were wounded. Charles Reynolds, a citizen, was killed. About 50 enlisted men were killed, and as many more wounded, some of whom died. In July 1877 the bodies of Custer and his brothers were re- moved east by Col Sheridan of the 7th cavalry and buried at Fort Leaven- worth. The graves had been disturbed, most of the bodies being unearthed.

715

DEFEAT AND DEATH OF CUSTER.

The remains of Reynolds were 'brought away in a handkerchief.' Bozeman Avant-Courier, July 19, 1877.

When Custer separated from Reno he proceeded with his five companies around the base of a high hill overlooking the valley through a ravine only wide enough to admit a column of fours. No Indians were in sight among the bluffs on that side of the river, and nothing impeded the progress of the troops until they had passed around the hill and come in sight of the village. The bugles sounded a charge, and Custer waved his hat to his men to en- courage them. As they came to the ford leading across to the village, a sharp fire was opened on them by the enemy concealed in a thicket on the opposite side of the stream, which checked the advance. A portion of the command were dismounted and thrown forward to return the fire of the Indians, but as they now began to pour out of the village in hordes, and to deploy across his front and to his right as if with the intention of surrounding him, Custer withdrew toward the hills on his right, the Indians following, and his men fighting dismounted and leading their horses. By marching in a circle, taking advantage of the ground, and keeping the horses in the rear, a little time was gained, but it was impossible to avert the end. The Indians also dismounted, and completely surrounded Custer's command, which fought bravely but hopelessly as long as their ammunition held out. The scene which followed had no witnesses on the side of the troops, for within two hours every one of the command had met a bloody death. Reno's officers surveying the country from high points toward the close of the afternoon encountered only illimitable silence.

The little that is known of Custer's fatal fight was related to Gen. Terry after his first report was made up, by a half-breed Crow scout, called Curley, who accompanied Custer, and who escaped by drawing a blanket around him after the manner of a Sioux. But being hidden in a ravine, he could not have witnessed the closing scene. As he did not see Custer fall, it is probable he was not killed until near the end. Helena Herald, July 20, 1876.

Thereupon the troops retreated to the Yellowstone, where a fort was being erected at the mouth of Tongue River, which was named after Capt. Miles W. Keough, one of the slain officers of the 7th cavalry. A fort erected in the Bighoru country in 1877 was called Fort Custer, and the Montana legislature changed the name of Bighorn county, calling it after the lamented general who had given his life in the service of the territory; and the Little Bighorn River also was called thenceforth Custer River.

Terry's division, under Gen. Gihhon, remained at the mouth of the Big- horn, to which several steamers ascended during the summer, fighting their way with the Indians on the banks. Toward the last of July, Crook's force, en- camped on Goose Creek, near Fort Philip Kearny, was reenforced by cavalry, and increased to 1,174 men, and Terry's to 1,873; but although Sheridan had 'stripped every post from Manitoba to Texas,' there were still not troops enough to give battle to the Sioux in a body in their chosen position. But a fair fight was not what Sitting Bull desired, and the delay in concentrating troops furnished him the opportunity of dividing his force into several war parties, going in different directions, and making war in detail.

Early in August, Gen. Terry, having been joined by the 5th infantry regi- ment under Gen. Miles, and six companies of the 21st infantry under Col. Otis, moved up the Rosebud River to form a junction with Crook, but only to march down again, Sitting Bull evading a meeting, and going north of the Yellowstone, whither he was followed by Terry. All through the remainder of the summer the United States forces marched up and down, from the Missouri to the Black Hills, having numerous skirmishes, and occasionally doing material harm to the enemy, as when Miles with 150 men surprised a village of forty lodges, on the road to the Black Hills, and captured their winter stores and a large number of horses.

Persistent warfare, in their own fashion, began to tire the Sioux in Sep- tember, who sent begging parties to the agencies, where they received noth- ing, and soon a few made propositions of surrender. Sitting Bull, however, still held out, and after the troops, excepting the garrison on the Yellow-

716

INDIAN WARS.

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CAMPAIGN OF MILES AND BRISBIN.

stone, under Gen. Miles, had returned to their posts for the winter, kept up a show of being master of the situation. On the 10th of Oct. he intercepted a supply train of ninety-four wagons on the way from Glendive Creek to the cantonment at the mouth of Tongue River, and forced it to turn back for as- sistance. On returning, five days later, with an escort of nearly 200 men and eleven officers, the train was again attacked, and advanced with diffi- culty, fighting the Indians, who had set fire to the grass around it. On the day following, Sitting Bull sent a despatch to Col. Otis, demanding that he should leave the train in his hands, and retreat to Glendive. But as no no- tice was taken of this command, the chief pretended to repent of his arro- gance, aud sent a flag of truce, with a request for a council. This also was declined, unless he would come within the lines, which he refused to do, sending three subordinates instead. To these ambassadors Otis said that they must come to Tongue River, to Gen. Miles, if they wished to open peace negotiations; and giving them some food, dismissed them.

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History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana : 1845-1889, Part 78

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Victor, Frances Fuller, 1826-1902 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: San Francisco : History Co. Number of Pages: 880

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918; Victor, Frances Fuller, 1826-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: San Francisco : History Co.
Number of Pages: 880