Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-05-09
Written fer tho AvAyT Corp,rr-.
THE YELLOWSTONE STRUGGLE
A Pioneer Story.
BY j. V. BoGERT.
lCONTISUED FROM LAST WEEK.

vi CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
H. In January. 1874, Bozeman, the extrcl
&C. Eastern town of Montana, determined
organize large expedition, to be know
rs
Ia THE YELLOWSTONE WAGON ROAD A,
!, PROSPECTING ExpED1r1oN.n
ID Its objects were the location Of warc
k road along the river to what might see
o its head of steamboat navigation; ii
10 prospecting of the country for gold ar
It silver; the procural of data rcgas ding +
/. valleys. SOIL climate. streams ard natur
D and probable productions - in fact. IL
0 collection of such general information 9
0 would place the resources of the rcgio
/ sought in proper light. The results hone
4 for were the settlement of the country
t the opening OF direct Eastern com.aunica
+ ton; the encouragement of the Nor.acr
4 Pacific railroad and the enticement @
, steamers the decentralization of the IIaZcl
theories, and the general good of the Ter
ritory.
, Its organization was effected under til,
Presidency of Hon. John p: Bruce. tls
Secretary and Treasurer being j. V. Bo
gert. the labor Of organization being plac
Gu With them and an executive committee
consisting Of II. n. Mcguire, d. II. Car
penter, c. L. Clark. w. J.. Perkins. Walter
Cooper, Charles Rich, l.. S. Wilson. Mel
son Story. S. 3. Bowen, Il. c. Burns, and
5. W. Langhome, representing every sec
ton of the Union.
And on the 18th Of February $50 men
began TIE march, ti,cir outfit having been
contributed generally by the people of
Bozcman and the Gallatin Valley. Public
meetings had been held all over the coun-
try. and so high was the interest raised
that men of all classes abandoned their
spring work and preparet! to venture to-
ward Goose Creek and Tongue River"
The party was differed by four picked
men, provided with two secretaries and
council, drove 213 head Of horses and
m''les and So Of oxen in its wagon train.
was armed with 230 guns and GO, 900 rounds
OF anmuntion-and moving out with the
Big Horn Gun and a brass piece. nroyidnd
with 400 rounds Of ball, grape and canis-
ter, and provisiOned and supplied for four
months. it represented the hopes of East
crn Montana.
AS the expedition moved, the country
was prospected and diaricd until the mouth
of the Big Horn was reached Here
stakes were set and the city again located.
and breastworks built. but as the now f,-
nous Rosebud country was reached the
Sioux appeared. And. as usual, with
blood in his eye, prepared to dispute occrl-
patton of this his peculiar inheritance. The
advance guard of the cxpclitionary party
espied fifteen savages-the latter stop and
begin the pursuit, yelling and firing as
they dash over the plairic. But suddenly
the guard tulns-the game changes, and
without blood upon either side, the Indian
camp is captured, and the plans for future
action are argued that night in the desert
cd hunting camp of Sitting Bulls cohorts.
The first act had been played, and the
country was not yet to be occupied. For
this skirmish. but the prelude to a contin-
ued opposition. opened the ball and intro
duced the tactics fatcd to again drive the
white man back to his settlements.
Emerging from Bad Land section, In
dians worry the command by day-and by
regular nightly attacks render sleep impos-
sible, and grazing Of the herd dangerous.
The pickcts are continually driven in, and
at last one is severely wounded. The In
dians motion for a parley, but ambushing
the party sent forward, expose their game.
ind firing ensues all alone the line. Sever
al Sioux are killed and wounded, when,
they suddenly retreat. But
at daylight the attack is renewed. Again
driven of, the expedition resumes its
march; but day after day and night after
night attack follows attack, until at last.
willie passing piece Of heavy timber,
sortie is made. and the command,
put to its best effort, runs out its artillery,
and shells the llalf-concealed foe. AS the
grape and canister rattles through the am
bush, and shells burst screeching among
the startled braves, they rush demOralized
TO the surrounding bluffs, where, re-orSan-
zed by their chiefs, they again turn, and
open a CALLING fire upon the train. The
artillery had sent several braves to happier
hunting grounds; but the determination
70 rout the little party seemed so desper-
lte that offensive operations were decided
lpon, and body Of % picked men, under
,oyer of the guns and terrible fire of
rifles and muskets, made for the hills, and,
outing the enemy, retired with but one
nan wounded, and leaving the field strewn
With Los killed and wounded, and captur-
ng fifteen ponies and an outfit of robes
md camp supplies. However, such work
lad begun to tell upon the animals "a
ount of the losses showing twelve dead
lorses, two oxen, and four wounded hors-
$. Yet, the Indian force was not dis ,
numbered GOO to 500 warriors
veil mounted, and the heart Of the Sioux /.
Ountry was evidenced by the number of {
amp-grounds and burial places scattered ,
very where along the line of march. So.
Watching as they move, the adyenturers !
each the rifie-pits dug by Lord Gore in /
$50. Indian signs and fresh trails exhibit
D all directions; but the diarying of the b
ountry proceeds, and Notwithstanding the
danger, the road survey contin- y
es, and every stream is panned. Still the il
ttacks were to be repeated, and one night
lille all but the sentries slept terrific v
harge was made by 200 Indians, who, s
arieking and yelling, rushed upon the n
erd. No calamity could equal that of be-
q ''set afOot'' in the heart Of the Sioux re- d
srves, and in a moment the camp is n
wake. The herd is surrounded-the ar
llery opens-half the men drive in the
iglltened animals, while the others, drop h
ing upon their knees, open a CALLING fire s.
pom the charging savages, at last turning a
'em with heavy loss. Here Yates, one Of II