The Montana post., 1869-04-02
PROTECTION AGAINST INDIANS.

The Proceedings of the Citizen's Meet
ing at Bozeman. calling attention to the
grievances under which they rest and
petitioning redress at the hands of the
General of the Army and subordinate
commanders, are entitled to consider
alton. Their exposition of the facts
is temperate and their requests reasons
able. 1t is truly the most exposed pOr-
tion of settled Montana. Engaged as
they are in agricultural pursuits, the in
vasions of marauding bands of Indians,
men upon farms remote from each 9TH
er and the Valley bordered by Indian
country for forty miles on the eastern
edge, the presence of force strong
enough for scouting duty is essential to
their safety and the welfare of the Ter
ritory. There are 500 square miles of
good agricultural lands in Gallatin Val.
ley, $4,000 acres of which are improved
and under cultivation, and grazing, by
the Assessors report. over 5000 head
of stock. There are several hundred
families settled in it, pursuing their
avocations and building up the perma-
nent prosperity of the country by a de-
velopment of its agricultural resources.
On their labors depends materially the
cost of living to this people; on that the
development of its minerals, and they
in turn are the treasures of the strong
box" on which Grant relies for the pay
ment of the national debt. Their val-
ley borders on hostile country, and the
two or three passes in its border range
are the doors to Eastern Montana
through which hostile Sioux might
pour as they did into Minnesota settle-
ments and make the GaIlatin the Vail
ley of Death. \ regiment of soldiers is
stationed in Montana. The garrison at
Fort Shaw protects the Sun River and
Dearborn passes, that at Fort Ellis the
Bozeman and Blackfoot passes; but the
much larger one at Camp Cook, by be-
ing badly located, is TO all intents and
purposes. isolated, remote and utterly
useless TO Montana or the Government. |
While the Fort Shaw garrison has it's
good purposes. the Fort Ellis garrison is
mt least fully as important, having a
larger scope of country and more peo>
pie directly dependent upon it for pro-
lection. Foot Infantry are no protec- |
tion against Indians, and we are in
formed that but twenty servicable horses |
are at that point. Twenty men may |
therefore be estimated as the practical |
protection given to Gallatin Valley. 1t
is plainly insufficient and inadequate to |
any good purpose. The officers and men !
have the commendation Of the citizens /
for doing all in their power, but if every |
man was Sheridan, they would not be
competent TO the task that may be- re-
luired of them at any hour. Two years |
since the inhabitants fed from their
homes, and a bill of $1.l00,OO0 is en-
tered up against the Government for
the expenses of protecting the Valley.
IL now stations a regiment on the bor-
iers and pays several hundred thousand
dollars annually for its maintenance.
rhe force is ample for all toreseen pur-
poses. Let il be made efficient by
proper distribution of the forces, and
equipment for such vice as is demand
ID of them when there is any work to
10. 1t will not materially increase the
expense. and for that matter, the num-
Der might be reduced. The suggestions
made by the citizens, are to the point
md purpose. Danger is not imminent
but disaster is at all times possible, and
he commander OF the Department will
De entitled TO the thanks of an i'm
lustrious and worthy people, by giving