The Montana post., 1869-04-02
MASS MEETING AT BOHEMIAN.
The Voice OF the People.

Pursuant to a call extensively adj
vertised. the citizens of Gallatin Val>
I ley met at Fridley's Hall, in the city of
Bozeman. on Monday, March %, 1869,
aud organized by the election of the
following officers: j. J. Davis, Presi>
dent; John L. Wells. Vice President;
and Davis Wilson, Secretary. The
/ President stated the object of the
meeting TO be. TO take into considera>
tion the expediency of memorializing
the commander of the L. s. Military
forces for an increase of men, horses,
and munitions for Fort Ellis. for the
better protection of the citizens of this
valley. The following preamble and
resolutions were adopted:
WHEREAS, Gallatin Valley is situa~
ted in a very exposed and dangerous
part of the Territory of Montana, with~
in thirty miles of the valley of the
Yellow Stone, which is the hunting
ground of nearly all the Indians of
this and adjoining territories-a sort OF
neutral ground where Crows, Bloods,
Blackfeet, Flatheads, Nez Perces, Ban
nacks, Shoshones, Sioux, Cheyennes
and Arapahoes hunt and fight, and
WHEREAS, Gallatin Valley is the
scene of frequent Indian depredations
every spring and summer, not only suf~
good citizens finding untimely graves
at the hands of this insidious foe, aud
WHEREAS, The people are engaged
principally in agricultural pursuits and
are thereby scattered throughout the
valley, thereby rendering self~protec>
tion, in the midst of the farming sea-
son, utterly impossible, and can look
TO no other source of protection than
Fort Ellis, and that although
it's commander has exerted every
effort to aid in our assistance
in recapturing stolen stock and keeps
ing squads on the lookout among the
passes during past Indian invasions,
yet from the inadequacy of his COM
mand but little protection could be
afforded; and it has furthermore come
to our knowledge that he has repeat
edly made acquisitions for animals and
material to make of this an efficient
and serviceable post, but from some
unaccountable reason no heed has been
taken and
WHEREAS, said Post is not now pro-
vided with only twenty horses tit for
Indian service, and the troops do not
number over one hundred and fifty,
and we ale informed by the first of
June will be reduced below hunds
red, not one In three of whom knows
anything about riding,--this reduction
occurring just at the season when war
parties are continually prowling about
and when it takes good men and good
horses to overtake them--and
WHEREAS, The policy of the War
Department in employing soldiers al
most exclusively in the erection of the
frontier posts has ,onverted them into
laborers, ignorant ol drill, undisciplIned
in E0h and ha fati
of riding day after day, be it therefor
ResULUed, That it has become obviS
ously necessary that there should be 8
strong force of mounted troops stationed
at Ft. Ellis, that marauding parties OF
Indians may be pursued with speed
that a small party cannot undertake
with due regard 10 safety.
Res0tUed, That we urge strenuously
the necessity of keeping the soldiers
or at least detachment-tot their leglt-
innate duties, that their efficiency may
be brought up to its highest point; that
the Post be supplied with horses fit for
the work-good American horses, that
can travel thirty or forty miles day for
a week, if necessary. In addition, would
ask that the Post commander be furn-
ished with a supply of the best kind of
arms for the purpose of
gency, as well as an extra supply of
saddles and other horse equipments.
Hes0,Ced. finally, That we, the people
Of Gallatin Valley, in mass meeting as
,embled, do hereby ask and petition the
Commanders, Lieut.. Gen.
Sherman and Gen. Terry, and through
hem the General Government, to listen
20 this appeal from the people, who
know and feel the dangers that environ
hem and the necessities equired to se-
.ure their safety and grant them this
support, which otherwise must result in
he abandonment of this portion of the
country by the settlers.
Res0Laed, That a copy of these resolus
ions be sent to Gen. Sherman and Gen.
Terry, and TO each of the Montana
press a copy for publication.
On motion, a committee was appointed
consisting of Messrs. r. p. V:vion, @.
J. Holloway, John Il. Wells, w. w.
and It. B. Gray, to draft me-
norials to be sent to Gems. Sherman and
Terry, in accordance with the senti-
nents of said resolutions. In due time
aid committee reported said memorials,
which were adopted, and afterward
igned by those present.
On motion, II was voted that said me-
norials be forthwith forwarded TO the
Generals aforesaid by the Secretary of
his meeting.
The meeting then adjourned sine die.
J. J. DAVIS, President.
DAVIS WILSON, Secy.
n no