Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-07-17
From j. r. Stilwell. ESQ,
Fort Assinniboin, Montana, / '@=. H.,
:. ~ June 80, 1879. <--". - (--L.-l -

s*ss rom E'l' = y. L. SUI o>tllllWetl. Esq. .>@
Fort Assinniboin, Montana, | ...7. ,...,>~. .
e !. June 80, 1879. - s.t:' ~@".5'
Editor of the Little Falls Transcript,
Thinking that some description Of this
far western country might interest your
readers, I herewith give you brief ac-
count of the journey of the Government
expedition that left St. Paul on the 4th
Of June to build fort at this place, with
which party am engaged. We arrived
at Bismarck on the morning of the 9Th,
at which place we embarked on board
the steamer 'sDacotah," of the Coulson
line. The country between Fargo and
Bismarck is principally flat prairie, and
apparently well fitted for wheat growing.
After leaving Bismarck the country has,
from the river, wild and rocky appear
ance, but is no doubt better further back.
On the 9th observed vein of coal in
the bank of the river of about five feet in
thickness and nearly mile in length.
About 130 miles northwest of Bismarck
we passed Forts Stevenson and Berthold.
The latter is an Indian agency for Recs
and Mandans. For 100 miles there are
no whisA settlers, and all wood for the
boats has to be procured from the In
dians. We went ashore at several of
their ranches. They are hard looking
lot. :. The squaws carry the axes and do
all the chopplng while the bucks lie
around and smoke. On the 10th inst.
we passed through beautiful country,
with fine green pastures and deep soil.
Large numbers of deer tracks were obs
served. On the 18th we reached Fort
Buford, 490 miles west of Bismarck.
Here is the junction of the Yellowstone
and Missouri rivers, on the Montana
frontier. On the evening of June 18th
we arrived at Poplar creek, an Indian
agency. 5000 Sioux are here in 600
lodges. A dance was in progress on our
arrival, close to the river bank, in which
40 or SO Indians were engaged. Some
400 were standing around about dozen
were seated around rude drum upon
which they played sort of jig, the re>
mainder dancing around in a circle.
They were clad in thorough Indian Co.'S
tune, and were painted and tatooed very
Enthusiastically. noticed that many of the
men were armed with Winchester rifles,
and even lads of IA or Is years of age
carried revolvers. One thing particular
ly striking was the apparently strong
muscular power of the men, On Friday,
June 18th, we stopped at Wolf Point.
Here are 200 lodges of Assinniboin Sioux.
The name of the place is fitting one
for of the large party of Indians who
came TO receive us, the majority were
accompanied by two or three large wolf
dogs. A few hours later we passed the
steamer Red Cloud, on its way from
Fort Benton to St. Louis, loaded with
fat cattle for the Eastern market, which
will give your readers better idea OF the
fertility of the great valleys of Montana
than can. On Sunday, June 18th, we
saw herd of about sixty buffalo cross
in front of us, while several hundred
more were observable on the hill sides.
This must be their highway of travel
north and south, for we'll beaten roads
could be followed by the eye for miles.
The country now assumes wild, rough
aspect, and timber becomes very scarce.
On Monday, June 10th, we were laid up
five hours through the breaking of rud-
der strap. and so had a good run on
shore. The principal growth here is a
mass Of wild rose bushes, which smell
very sweetly and scent the air for dis
tance around. While on shore we killed
an antelope and several rattlesnakes.
The country from here becomes wilder
all the way, the rocks standing up per-
pendicular and grand. Mountain sheep
may be seen in large numbers climbing
the steep rocks. On Wednesday, June
18th, we reached the coal banks, the end
Of our journey by river some sixty miles
east of Fort Benton, and proceeded the
rest of our journey, about forty miles, on
foot, reaching our destination on Satur-
day, June 21st, at noon, Our trip
throughout was pleasant one; we had
good weather, and the officials in charge
did their utmost to make us comfortable.
Nearly every evening we had quite a con-
cert on the forecastle of the boat, there
being plenty of talent in our party. The
expedition is under the management of
Col. }. G.. G. Lee, of the Quartermaster's
Department, U, S. Army, a gentleman
who is we'll known for his kind and
pleasant manner. The General Superin>
tendent is Mr.. Charles K. Poor, of Sioux
City. The management of the carpenter
| work is in the hands Of Mr.. George
Hartzel, Of Minneapolis. Mr.. Hediger,
of St. Paul, has charge of the masonry
and brick work. All of the above named
gentlemen have done their utmost to
make the tri p as pleasant as possible.
Upon arriving here we found the 18th
infantry and two. companies of the End
cavalry, camped on the ground. The sit>
uation of the new fort is on Beaver creek,
which runs into Milk river, a tributary
Of the Missouri. We have now been
here over week, and our work has fair
ly commenced. We are all comfortably
housed in large hospital tents. It is ex~
pected thot our work will last about four
months from this date, after which we
will be transported back to st. Paul on
our way home. j. T. ST1LwELL.