The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-05-11
THE INDIAN MOVEMENT.

ST. Louis, May 9th, 1867.
j. NJ. Castner, Mayor of Virginia City:
Your dispatch Of May 4, To tho Secretary of
War, l. referred to me. Our Official reports
from that quarter do not Justify such extreme
alarm hut II the inhabitants of Gallatin val
ley in such imminent danger from Indians
you may organize your people and go to their
relief and defense under the general direction
of your Governor. Troops and arms are now
coming toward the head of the Yellowstone
as fast as the boats can ascend the Missouri
river, or can march 10y land. There is no ne
ceSSIty of mastering you in for three months.
Aou should render this service in self-defense
and To help your neighbors without the for
malty of muster In or muster out.
(SigneD W. I. SHERMAN, MAJ. Gen.
The above dispatch was received yes
terday morning. 1t is sufficient author
ity for raising troops, and obviates. in
great measure, the difficulties of pro
curing equipments. Of horses there are
q sufficient number on hands to mount
all the forces called for in Virginia of
men there are any number who are
ready To go the moment they are sup
piled with the necessary equipments
The difficulty is in procuring guns, anu
tion and saddles. With the most siren
uous exertions on the part of the officials
they have now on hand only some thirty
or forty guns. not one half of these cal
culated for. cavalry service, and about
two hundred rounds of ammunition for
each. Persons having guns at all fit for
service demand for them the most out
ragcously exhorbitant figures, and the
arms are either secreted or what is more
probable, there are not enough guns and
fixed ammunition in the country To- put
three hundred men in the field, equipped
for half aday's fighting. Rifles and carbjnes
that two weeks ago We're selling at from
$fO To $40 are now held at $50 to 800,
and holders of them are very Indifferent
about selling them. Now this is ali
wrong If men have guns they can
spare. they should dispose of them un-
der present circumstances at reasonable
rates, and they should not hesitate and
retGrd the movement by Withholding
them, but give information TO headquar-
tiers There are two more full compa-
nies who will be on the way to Gallatin
in forty-eiglt hours if they can be sup
piled with arms, and good prices will be
paid tor them. The question is asked,
" Why is this delay in forwarding men ?"
l. is simply for the reason above stated
Nothing else deters. Gen. Sherman saws
troops are coming. Aye! but when
When do you expect the first boats He
says also: "Our official reports from
that quarter do not justify such extreme
alarm" We had official reports from
Major Clinton at later date than Gen,
sherman did, and we can take from their
tenor how much reliance the people of
Montana can place in reports to General
Sherman from the same source. Was
not the dispatch of General Meagher,
Acting Governor and oommanderin-chief
of the militia of Montana official p Does
he suppose our neighbors are only a
stones throw away that help" can be
furnished A. AN hours notice. without
and what department com
mander would recognize troops not mus
tered, or would Government pay for
equipPing a mob who could disband at
any moment they chOse2 There was a
panic in the valleys; it could only he
dispelled by armed assistance. The OBJ
iect is now to forward a sufficient force
to ascertain whether il was founded up
on danger or dream. 1t serves another
purpose, to be prepared if there is dan
ger and the movement has apparently
developed the lamentable fact that we
are almost totally unarmed. Sell your
surplus guns and let the boys so who
are impatiently waiting. This delay is
dangerous, costly and discreditable.