The Montana post., 1867-09-07
VOICE FROM CAMP.
FORT T. F. MEAGHER,

Tirrinia city. " T.
SIR: A messenger has just come
through from Colonel Howie for ambu-
lance 70 take care of his wounded. The
Colonel has been. and probably is now.
fybting the red d-s, with what success
I douot know. Colonel Nelson has just
,.,r,ed. with all the available force in
tbis camp. 10 reinforce Howie. fear
s,r Colonel Howie, however, not on ac-
,ouut Of his men not being fighters. but
his force is small and poorly provided
tor. He is following directly into the
heart of the Indian country. and against
,be combined forces of Upper Sioux,
RIsckfeet and Crows. There is now no
LONGER a question bat what the Crows
have Joined the Sioux and Blackfeet, and
are bent upon war of determination
sgainst the whites. The Crows Ger
tainly killed Captain Weston and Frank
Hodges, and articles have been found in
,beir camp, Boulder. known to have be-
lonCed 10 Brown and his party, probably
killed. They have been stationed all
simmer on the Bozeman road, and only
oue company of emigrants have reached
here from Fort Smith, although it is
known that a number of small parties
have started to como through and no
tidings been heard of them after leaving
Fort Smith. How many of these hardy
pioueers have been butchered by these
feuds and their bones leit 10 bleach
upon the plains, or burned 10 the stake
after the "friendlies" had exhausted
themselves in their efforts at torturing
their helpless victims, no one can tell,
but they are doubtless many, yet Sher-
man says, peace or war is to be had at
our own election" What he means by
peace, he perhaps knows-certainly we
do not vino have lived so long upon the
plains, unless it be the few pieces the
Indians leave of the brave pioneerNyho
seeks his home and fortune among his
kindred and kind away in these noun
tains. am not easily provoked to speak
harshly of the Government Of the Uni
ted States am like majority of the
men who are trying here TO protect their
lives and future homes-have given four
years of the best portion of my life to
protect the Government in its hour of
peril, yet IL seems she has forgotten that
service rendered, and forgets that she
has friends who have been, and will still
be true To her when their service is re-
quired. away in Montana and now while
we are in danger refuses TO lend her aid.
Had it not been for the troops now here,
volunteers from Montana, not a living
white man would be to-day found in the
Gallatin Valley; and even now the red
d-s have visited that garden spot of
Montana" and stolen stock-all the stock
that the poor squatter in some cases has
bad tor his means of tilling the rich soil
Of the valley, and forced him 10 60, per
hOps 10 some other locality and take q
new start.
/ have the utmost confidence in Col
Howie and his command, yet il Is too
small TO successfully contend with so
large Il force as is coming up the country
in this direction. We must have more
men and supplies for them, or more of
desolation of homes and numbering of
brave men, enslaving of women and
butchery of children will be heard of
soon. Ii the Government will not aid
us we must protect our own Territory
or leave il. Which shall we doI We
have a handful of Government regular
soldiers in Gallatin Valley, close by the
thickest settled portion of the country,
where. in case of danger from Indians
the settlers can protect them but they
are not prepared TO do more than protect
themselves.
l have written this in great haste.
The ambulance is just leaving TO go for
the wounded at Col. Howje's command.
We are sending every pair of boots we
have here TO help some of the men there
who are barefooted, in getting over the
pTickly pears. Dc knCG more sent GIRHse-
diatsLy. We want two hundred pairs of
boots TO properly outfit the men. We
can get along well enough for other
things at present, but boots arc must hare
al once.
NV opinion is, that the volunteers can
not be removed from here this fall, or
before snow falls, so thRE the Indians
cannot cross the mountains, otherwise
they will visit the settlements in too
strong a force TO be resisted successfully
BY them. The troops are in good spirits
and are gaining every day in discipline
and efficiency Now that we know we
have TO fight, no farther complaining
will be heard, ii they only had boots
Every man now knows that he has got
TO fight, and he goes ut il with a will
Hoping that all the troops now at Vir-
sinia and other towns in Montana will
be sent 20 the front st once,
remain with much respect. your ODE
dent servant,
ISAAC F. EVANS,
Capt. & a. Q. NJ. 1st Reg. NJ. V
p. S-The three men who have jus
arrived here left Fort Smith on the 21st
They were armed with the improved
breech-loading Springfield rife, will