Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-10-16
WHY FIT. ELLIS SHOULD BE RE.
BUILT Avn CAVALRY
RETAINED.

We ahlSl iiV'u tiC lIUUu OfI
Terry. published in another column, tina
the principal reason which led to the OF
der for the removal Of the Cavalry fron
Ellis Is the fact that improvements and re
building OF quarters necessary to tn
> health and comfort Of the troops hav
been sadly neglected for years. Almos
everything. in fact. of Il pull ic nature con
nected with the interests and safety of tn
settlers in Gallatin Valley has either bee,
neglected or has failed through comb
nation OF unfortunate circumstances. Sc
that, what should have been the mos
comfortable and permanent military post
~ 1t is evidently the most important one
In the Territory. has been allowed to be
come dilapidated and tumble-down sort
Of garrison. ready to be deserted at any
moment. Several years ago ample pro.
vision was made and authority given fol
rebuilding the entire post, but manifest
perversty or contrariness on the part OF
one or two prominent officials thwarted
the entire plans and purposes of the War
Departm mt and deprived the residents OF
Gallaiin county OF those benefits. rights
and privileges which they had good reason
to demand and expect from the General
Government.
There can be no question in regard to
the necessity Of retaining Fort Ellis as an
important military post for many years TO
come. Montana is dotted all over with
Indian reservations and literally swarming
with Indians. and Gallatin county is in
close proximity to one Of the strongest
and most warlike tribes in the Northwest
1t nodes nothing to say that the Crows
are friendly and peaceably disposed. The
experience Of the past two hundred years.
and. in fact. the lesson of to-day teaches
us that no reliance whatever can be placed
on an Indians professions of friendship
unless, perhaps. soeh favors and protec-
ton were guaranteed and enforced us are
practically impossible under our present
form of Government and in this age OF irrc-
sistxble progress. The Crows arc appar-
emily peaceable to-day; so were the ties
u month ago; so were the Bannacks lit
tic over year ago; SO were the Nez Per-
ces but little over three years ago. The
same, or similar. influences which brought
about the hostility OF the last three tribes
mentioned are rs surely ut work with the
first. Encroacling, or so-called trespass-
Ing upon, the real or pretended rights of
Indians, to a greater or less extent is
and the result is no longer
guess work. Abandon Fort Ellis and the
Wholesome restraint over those Indians is
It once removed. Take away the Cavalry
mi the citizens OF Gallatin county are at
,nce placed not only at the mercy of the
Crows. but OF every thieving and hostile
land Of Indians who roam the Territory.
In addition to other reasons assigned for
he retention Of the Cavalry here, We may
all attention to the fact that Fort Ellis is
y locatrl as to directly protect aud con-
MANI aii the most important approaches
D the y ellowstone National Park. The
experience OF the past two years has DEM
.istrath it to be the most strategical
oint in the whole Territory, during In
ian hoslilities.
Had there been an adequate Cavalry e
,rce ut Ellis at the time Of the NeZ Perez
ar, two years ago, there would have been +
o necessity to have followed the defiant d
nd savage horde down the Yellowstone, Fl
yer the Muscleshell. across the Missouri. d
ID almost to the British line; they could t
ave been intercepted and snbtlncd ere b
icy could have made their exit from the
cllowstone Park.
The pitiable strait to Which the conf
anJing officer at Ellis was reduced lit
8 over = year ago, when the hostile Bali
lcks were known to lie marching unmO- :"
ste,l through the Park. is too fresh In
. iI:nds OF the citizens OF BOzeman TO
so soon forgotten. lie was compelled \,
ask for small force Of citizen vol,ln- =.
ers IN order to protect the settlers on the \,
per Yellowstone. and had 1t not been for
c active efforts and timely arrival Of ~
of troops from Gen. Miles -,
the savaccs would have been n
e to pursue their line Of inarcll-ot theft an
d murder through the sixlrce settle M
.nts Of the yellow stone. when another ~
citing and expensive chase would have a.
icn place towards the northern bound a.;
? line. y.
Whenever tho facts have been fairly rep ".
ented to General Terry, We believe he mr.
! always been disposed to take them TN =,
? due consideration and to act in har- In
my with right and justice; and we are G,i
IS convinced that il he were but tully in mi
med In regard to all our circumstances hp
the real condition Of things here. hc hrr
uld not hesitate To constitute Fort Ellis so,
m company post, with ut least six COM dol
lies Of Cavalry. p,
ran WUAT r. :. ,.0.rw Civ
nnl
n oe;r;ng suye.,stians and rcot,r,or ing