The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-09-20
Leavcnworth Times.

Leavcnworth Times.
The site of this post, probab ly the most
important garrison in the United States,
was, less than two years ago, wilderness,
occupied by bowling savages. Now it is
the scene of busy activity in the advance
ment of civilization. There are fourteen
companies OF infantry and cavalry in the
garrison and four miles away is a lively
lefty or 900 tnhabitants-a town COM
menced less than one year ago. Fort
Keogb, the present headquarters of the old
gallant Fifth, is situated on what might be
called a prairie, about 10 miles long, lying
on the Yellowstone's right bank, commen-
cling at tile mouth of Tongue river, and ex-
tending upwards along both streams. Thus
it has Tongue river for it's eastern bounda-
ry on the south half of the reservation, with
the Yellowstone in front and to the left, and
a range Of high bluffs to the south and
rear.
TWO YEARS AGO
This delightful plain was the heart of the
country occupied by the hostile Sioux Of the
north and their allies. Here was their
headquarters, where their ponies fattened
on the range during the severest weather
and from this point the savages made their
hunting excursions and war expeditions
into the surrounding country for hundreds
of miles, where game night be found or
an enemy surprised. Now this is the CEN
ter Of line of rapidly extending settle
ments up and down the Yellowstone be-
tween Fort Buford and the Crow reserva-
ton, and for 40 miles up Tongue river. So
far as known, there are not now any hos
tile Indians on the east side of the main
range of the Rockies and south Of the Brit
ish line till White river is reached. At the
present time, possibly, the most dangerous
Indians in the northwest are to be found
among the bands massed together under
Red Cloud and Spotted Tail.
WHEN WE REMEMBER
That within two years, Spotted Tail, Crazy
Horse and Lame Deer and their followers
had this country terrorized to the last de-
gree, so that no white man in Northern
Wyoming, Eastern Montana, and Western
Dakota could venture out of sight of mill
itary post without an almost certainty of
being shot and scalped for his temerity;
and reflect that now solitary individuals. or
parties of twoes and threes travel about
prospecting, hunting, haying and wooding
anywhere in this region it must be conclud-
ed that wonderful changes have been
wrought by some power.
IN THE FALL OF 1876
General Miles, with his regiment Of Fifth
Infantry, left their handsome quarters at
Fort Leavenworth and pitched their tents in
a pretty nook at the junction of the Yellow
stone and Tongue rivers. They proceeded
at once to erect log huts for winter quar-
ters, and at the same time to raid the sur
rounding country for hostile Indians.
They kept up this sort of double duty till
February, by which tune 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 Horse driven
South to surrender to Crook.
THE FIGHT WITH THE NEz PERcEs.
General Miles celebrated fight with the
Nez Perces, in which he captured Chief Jo-
seph, was the las5 Indian battle fought in |
this region. The Indians now here respect |
the pioneer that has enforced such general |
and unusual peace, and now the Grows may |
20 abroad and hunt in safety. where two
years ago they would almost invariably |
have their sports heightened by the excite
ment of meeting hereditary foes in war |
paint. The fight with Joseph was the hard
est ia which Gen'l Miles and his command |
have been engaged, but the winter cam
paign of 1867, against the Sioux, was at
5ended with The greatest priyations, and |
most important results. That brought |
peacs. The capture Of the Nez Perces was
only an episode, closing up summer that