The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-03-23
,nnrH ANp PLATTE RourEs.

The assurance, given by Montanians IN
q the East. that n large emigration and
number of quartz mills will come to
rbr Territory this season, cir the over
land routes. coupled with the knowledge
aTthe hostile attitude assumed by the
indian tribes, renders the preparations
of the government To protect the routes,
dv 4 sufficient military force, of special
interest to all who are interested in the
drvelopemeut of the vast resources of
Montana. The routes from the Missouri
ayer TO Fort Laramie and thence ria
Forts Reno. Phil heaTney and Smith, is
undoubtedly the natural highway TO this
.ection, taking advantage, as il does, of
the great valley of the Platte, and the
almost unbroken line of magnificent
grazing country lying between that river
and the cities of Montana, over the
Platte route. General Grant states, full
ninety per cent ofalI the overland travel
rassed last season. and it is designed to
establish on the Bozeman route, military
1osts of sufficient numbers and strength
20 keep the Indians in check. The order
" General Hancock, that " commanders
oi posts. on receiving information of at
lacks upon trains, furnish immediate
assistance is not worth the paper it is
printed on. Any one who has had any
experience with Indians. knows. that if
The posts were only half mile apart
his assistance would come too late.
These posts must be of sufficient strength
20 cope successfully with the savages,
and if their actions betray hostility to-
ward the whites. wage an unrelenting
md discriminating war against them
Rtil they submit or are driven beyond
rae limits Of travel. There is a sickly
-ntimentality existing in some quarters,
hat revolts at a suggestion of this charac-
ier, and the rights of Z" the poor Indian
are pleaded in nasal accents, and sancti.
aonious whines. If they prefer barbar-
sn to civilization. and that because a
race of blood-thirsty, treacherous knaves
claim to have prior rights to these
Mountains and valleys as hunting
snounds, the white man must depart or
'eSuhject to massacre, and these fair do
mains with their inexhaustable wealth,
'5Inain undeveloped primeval wilder
less, where the Missouri shall not be
disturbed but by the bark canoe. and
ne Columbia "hear no sound save its own
hashlngs.' we think they are ont of
.Aeir element here. and had better return
w the Indians will permit them) to tea
.A''ies and tract societies. Twenty wag-
'as and thirty armed men is the mini
l.lm strength decided upon by General
Aaneock, for the Platte route, but Gen
,sAnt suggests that post commanders be
--oWed little latitude in this respect,
'n'eh is an eminently good suggestion,
o1her circumstances are more impor-
''H' than the actual number of men and
'Asons. Its safety once assured, it will
-'sNr the best stage route on the conti-
.5hI and il would not be surprising
"siore autumn, the States coach would
ave Tor Laramie oio the Bozeman
rOSte
Al addition 10 those now existing,
''a's viii be established on Clark s Fork
The Yellowstone. On the Northern,
minnesota route. General Sherman
- approved the suggestions of General
e'I!' and the latter states that he is
.'iilent -'le that as soon as spring opens
= VIII be authorized TO establish posts
'''e following points. as designa5ed in