The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1866-02-03
LETTER FROM FORT BENTON.
Indians on the War Path-.Shockina
Murders-.HeaVy K KObberies of stock
--Determination ON the Part OF the
settlers to Kill the Last Indian.
Fort BENTON JanDarv 1o+b 1888

MEsSRs. BERKN AND BEIDLER-GeRtIemea: In COM
phanee with your request herewith give memorap-
uum OF depredaOns committed the white settlers nj and
near this place by the PegLn and other bands Indians
since the conclusion Of treaty with said Indians ON the
lst day of November. 1865
We will first state that during the time the
on the part of the United States and the Chiefs of the
named tribe of Indians sitting in council of peacs
there were parties in the adjacent hills running off our
STOCK but as our settlement yet small and the Indians
were then eucamped ner dwellings and greatly out.
numbered US 1t useless small party of whites m
make any resistance or try to reclaim their property
How long this state of affairs is last we cannot saw
but we are glad To know that our citizens have at
last, awOke to sense OF Indignation and have determined
TO put themselves footing for mutual protection
and with the cooperation of our friends in the varous
mining camps of the Serritoy hope to make safe by
next summer for any white tread when and where
he Pleases, on the prairie and motto shall be wine
om existence the udIne of Pegan, Blood and Blackfot
Below give facts in regard to few of the MANY
"uraSes we have been subjected to since the conclusion OF
the treaty:
First at the time the Indians were encamped here await
ing the distribution of their annuity goods Mr. Baker lost
some eighteen twenty head of horses Nessrs Carroll
ana Steele lost some ten twelve head and nearly every
whte man on the bottom that had horse suffered from
the thieving propensities of the Internal Indian few
days after the treaty, party of Pegans stole from Mr.
hennedys Rancho, Preky Pear, five head or horses
killed half breed and stole all of Michael Ogden
horses from the creek there fUrty-fve head in
TINS oand vi horseS About the 10th Of December party
OF Blood Indians arrived here from the head the Yellow
stone who had with them several hundred dollars in gold
dust which they boased OF having taken from three white
men whom they murdered the Yellowstone river They
still have some OF the gold dust in eaup. They also had
one Sorre American horse and horses that bore
marks Of having belonged to white men.
detail Of all the OurageS that have been com.
mtted would require much space; so we will conclude
with the last but not least of the dLmnabe ourage
Of the season. We refer Messrs Huncke and Iapree
who went to the Gros Ventres camp to reclaim their Stolen
horses In returning from their mission they were caught
IN Storm and while lying tor pleasant weather they
were set upon by party of Indians (supposed 70 be
Pegans) and murdered This occurred in the Bears Paw
Mountains, about seveutyfve miles from this place
party Set in search Of the missing ones returned
without hnding any particulars in reg rd their fate
We the undersigned certify that the foregoing are but
very few Of the facts connected with the numerous out
RACES and losses sustained by the whites at ard about this
place. II. A KENNEDY,
JOSEPH HILL,
GEORGE STEELE.
J. j. HEALY.
WIN L. HAMILTON
A. B. HAMILTON