Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-05-16
Written for the AvANr COURIER
THE YELLOWSTONE STRUGGLE.
a Pioneer Story.
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
By j. V. BoGERr.

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
These successive failures did not and
: could not discourage. An Eastern con-
nection was needed, the direct line OF
which was via the Yellowstone-the long
promised route of the Northern Pacific
Railroad. Impressed with the idea that
individual effort alone would demonstrate
the value of the country, and despairing
of any early railroad approach, and at the
same time believing that gold discoveries
and furs and robes would follow perna-
nent location at the head of steamer nayi-
CATION, early in 1875 the famous
PEAsE EXPEDITION
moved from BoZeman tor Benson's Landing
on the Yellowstone. At its head was Eel
lows d. Pease, seconded by men who had
long since made their homes upon the bor-
der and had dreamed for years of the Ell
Dorado OF the lower country
The fleet consisted of three large Mack
inaws and small boat, loaded with sup
plies, a wagon, the Big Horn Gun, and
building materials, and manned by por-
ton of the command-the remainder mov-
ing overland with the horses and the ma
terial not possible to boat.
| After many adventures, the Big Horn
was reached, and on the 9th of June. 1875,
the coveted site was again occupied, and
Big Horn City again located. Here u
| hnc cfiOpo cfpol-o1a to1x 1,,;1
the gun planted upon the lookout, and
preparations made, not only to remain and
open farms, but for defence against the
hos.ilcs who menaced the little colony up
on every side. 1t proved an eventfl,l sum-
mer-attack followed dattack-supply trains
from Bozeman, and messengers from what
was now known as Fort Pease, were
again and again attacked upon the road
men were killed and horses run of by the
determined Sioux. who watched with jeal-
Gus eye this repeated attempt to settle in
the country from which they had driye.,
so many previous adyenturers.
During one attack upon the stockade
colonist was killed and scalpcd under its
very walls. and the winter witnessed such
| 4 sIIrnnssinn of assaults and s..nl, viSftHIt
espionage of the Bozeman trail. that at
last communication was completely cut
off. Provisions and ammunition grew
scarce-the most daring began to despair,
until self-preservation demanded the pro-
cural of saccor at any risk.
Peasc had performed the feat of reaching
Bismarck in skifi, and the command had
dcvolvcd upon Paulinas Mccormick. He
however, had. after many perils of the
road, reached Bozcman. intent upon secur-
ing new supples-but there he was oblig-
ed TO delay. as messenger who had vol
untecred to attempt the carrying of the
news to Fort Ellis had been killed upon
the way BY the Indians who swarned be-
tween it and the beleaguered settlement,
rendering any return impossible. At last
courier suddenly reached Bozcman. hay-
ing Travelled by night. concealing himself
during the day, and bearing the following
appeal:
"BIG Horn CITY.
February l, 1876.
"To General Jas. s. Brisbin, Commanding
Fort Ellis:
"S1R I'VE, the undersigned, bona fide
settlers and citizens of Big Horn, having
settled here upon the public domain on the
oath of June last-intending to make here
our homes, and with the intention of as
sisting in the development of the country,
find ourselves unable to accomplish any
thing because Of the immediate vicinity of
the Sioux. They daily harass us, kill
stock. Of our colony of less than fifty
men, five have been killed and nine wound
ed. We lived all summer in the hope that
winter would drive these Indians to their
camps; but, to our surprise, they still re-
main ABOUT us, and are now in larger force
than during warm weather. On the I'd of
last month we sent party of five out for
game, when they were attacked in full
view of our stockade by Sioux, and one
was killed and the other four wounded.
These Indians are about us in the brush on
all sides, and lie in wait for any chance to
kill and scalp any Of lis who may venture
out. Bearing in mind the important OBJ
jects of our settlement, we have remained
here and undergone the hardships incident
to such an undertaking. We find fine
climate and productive soil-everything
requisite in the establishment of farming
and stock-raising settlemeDt-we are upon
navigable stream - are anxious to re-
main. Can you, under any view of the
case, give us military protection? Can
You send troops to drive these Indians
OFF,
Communication with the proper authors
ties resulted in rescue expedition from
Fort Ellis, and on the 22d of February,
1876, the military force, reinforced by =
citizen command, began its march. 1t was
but 22l strong (1O6 troops and Is citizens),
but it was well supplied and made one of
the most rapid movements known in the
annals of Indian warfare.
In the meantime Lieut. Schofield, of the
ID Cavalry, had been sent to the Crow
Agency to secure Indian and citizen re-
cr,lits, and on the 9th he Joined the col
umn with 30 Crows and Is citizens, while
on the 7Sth the command received an addi-
ton of "a Crows. March 4th Fert Pease
was reached, and without molestation,
although Indians and Indian signs were
plentiful. ..r -
But nineteen men remained in the stock
ade-the remainder had been killed or had
escaped by night, and on the 9th the posi-
tion was evacuated, all movable property
was loaded upon the wagons escorted by
the column, and again Big Horn City was
abandoned. ,s5
However, not for all time -and, deter
mined to return, the Big Horn Gun was
concealed in the river BY the brave men
who, conquered, were not subdued. The
flag was left flying, and upon the stockade