The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-09-05
FORT KE0GM.
TIE PRESENT Residence CT General
Miles and His Fighting Fifth.
How the Troops Transformed Des
ert Into Magnificent Dwell
ling Place.
One of The Finest Posts in the Eoan
try-var;ous 2oies.
FORT kEOGH

important garrison III The nited States
was. le,s than two years ago q wilderness
occupied by howling savzges Nov it Is
the scene Of busy activity 10 the advance.
ment Of civilization. There fourteen four
teen companies Of infantry AMI cavalry in
the garrison, and four miles away il a live
ly city" Of 500 Inhabitants tom COM
menced less than one year ago. Fort
keogh, the present headquarters OF the old
and gallant Fifth, is situated ON what might
he called prairie, about ten miles long
lying on the Yellowstones right bank, com.
mencins at the mouth OF Tongue River
and extending upwards along both streams
Thus it has Tongue River for Its eastern
boundary on the south hall OF the reserya.
ton, with the Yellowstone in front and Il
the left, and range Of high bluffs to the
south and rear.
TWO YEARS AGO
this delightful plain was the heart OF tn,
country occupied by the hostile Sioux oi
the North and their allie-. Here was iheil
winter headquarters, where their ponies
fattened on the range during the severes,
weather, and from this point the savage:
made their hunting excursions and war ex'
petitions into the surrounding for hundred:
OF miles, where game might be found or an
enemy surprised. Now this is the center OF
a line of rapidly extending settlements up
and down the Yellowstone between Fort
Buford and the Crow reservations, and for
forty miles up Tongue River. SO far as
known, there are not now any hostile ln-
dians on the east side of the main range Oi
the Rockies and south OF the British line
till White River is reached. AT the present
time, possibly, tie most dangerous Indians
in the Northwest are to be found among
the bands maseed together under Red
Cloud and Spotted Tail.
WHEN WE REMEMBER
that within two years, Spotted Tail, Cray
Horse and Lame Deer and their followers
had this country terrorized TO tie last de-
gree, SO that no white man in Northern
Wyoming, Eastern Montana, and Western
Dacotah could venture out OF sight ., a mil
ilary post without an almost certainly OF
being shot and scalped for his temerity /;
and reflect that now solitary individuals,
or parties of twos and threes travel about
hunting, having and wedding,
anywhere IL this region, il must be cvnclu-
wrought by some power.
IN THE FALL OF 1876,
General Miles, with his regiment OF Filth
Infantry, left their handsome quarters at
TT. Leavenworth and pitched their tents In
a pretty nook at the junction OF the lel-
lowstone and Tongue rivers. They pro-
ceeded at once TO erect low huts for winter
quarters, and at the same tune 10
raid the surrounding country tor hostile
Indians. They kept up this sort 81 double
duty till February, by which time Sitting
Bull WAS across the border, having declined
to try final conclusions with Miles; and
during the following year Lame Deer and
his band were captured, and Crazy III rse
driven South TO surrender 10 Crook.
THE FIGHT WITH THE Mr. PERcis.
General Miles, celebrated fight with the
Nez Perces, in which he captured Child
joseph, was the last lIdian battle fought
in this region. The Indians now here re-
spect the pioneer that has enforced such
general and unusual peace, anu now the
Crows may 60 abroad and hunt in safety,
where two years ago they would almost in
have had their sports heightened
~ the excitement of meeting hereditary
loss in war paint The fight with Joseph
Vas the hardes: in which General Miles
and his command have been engaged, but
he winter campaign OF 1867 against the
Sioux was attended with the greatest pri-
7ations, and most important results.
That brought peace. The capture Of the
Nez Perces was o3ly an episode, closing up
summer which had been more effective
n mechanics than in war.
IN JUNE 1877,
he erection OF Fort keogh was commenced,
bout two miles back from the old canton
nent, aud last fall the new quarters were
irst occupied. Now there is fine four
post laid out in the form OF
diamond, the parade ground bordered
y thrifty, young cottonwood trees, trans
'lanted last spring, broad brick walk all
he way round in front OF the officers quar-
ers, with pavements Of the same malerisl
eading up to every door. Wild rose
ushes are growing in front, and the little
Enclosures between the houses are smiling
n healthy, looking beds Of small garden
ruck." On the bottom west of the garri-
on are wide fields compri-ing regimental
Ed company gardens, covered with flour
'hing crops of vegetables Of every charac-
n suitable to northern climate, all IN
er a high state of cultivation. From the |
.eamboat landGg
ABROAD AVENUE
as been plowed up and fringed with yourg |
on both sides 1t extends in |
he form Of regular curve for three-quar-
RS of mile up to the post, and then
inds out again toward the left of its con-
nuation to the mouth of Tongue River.
ther avenues intersect this main through
ire, and all are marked or will be in an
Their year by young cottonwood trees. IL
lie plans of the General are permitted 10
E perfected, this will probably boone of the
is now one of the most impor-
mt garrisots in the United States. 1t is
Dw the key in the chain of posts from 3D.
nd to Custer and around TO Benton, and
is differed and manned by the most sue
.ssful Indian fighters that has ever appear
in the Northwest.
The garrison is now occupied by the
fifth Infantry, ten companies, and four
'mpanies Of the second Cavalry. The
fifth is the only regiment of mounted in
ntry in the United States, and as it has
en- mounted on ponies captured from hos
lie Indians, it may be considered TO have
irly won its spurs.
FAMOUS FIGHTER.
A correspondent gives the following fiat
ring notice of the Colonel of the Fifth
sneral Miles is fine specimen OF the
nerican soldier, about six feet tall and
lIdly built, with frank and fearless ex-
ession of countenance. He is in the
ime of life, about his fortieth year, and
e picture OF perfect health, as he is the
,bodiment Of irrepressible activity. lie
rsonally has a perfect knowledge of
erything going on from the direc-
N Of campaign TO the location of
ystack..
HIS ENERGY Is IRREPREsSIBLE,
may be presumed when it is stated that
has his entire available force out every
y from two till half past four, with the
ermometer in the eighties and nineties,
mounted drill. This is not the pastime
a dress parade, but the hardest kind of
rseback work, over hill and hill, through
ods and brush, and over fallen trees BY
lumn, battalion, and company, and the
rmish line extending across the bottom
m one To two miles