The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-06-15

the garflsf,ll again ana III tho fight which
cnsqcd Taylor RlivGns was badly wounded.
He was carried into the fort by his com
radcs and tendcrly nursed during the cessa-
ton OF liostilitics that cnsued. 1t was but
few days or week at the most however.
before three parties that were out in differ.
cnt directions were attacked simultaneously
when about two miles from the stockadc.
The two parties that were down the river
got in after killing several Indians an.. cap
turing horse, gun, nil:a, and war equip
mcnts.
Ills, ,thGA party that consisted of Nrcssrs.
Mll!lgal, Mckenzie, and Gore, fought the
Indians for two hours. During the prog
grcss Of the fight Miiligan was shot through
bot shoulders by a ball from needle gun.
When he fell Mckenzie asked him ifhe was
nearly killed. ''No" replied with an oath.
Il can fight till dark" and fight hp ,,iI by
rolling over on his hr;ast and using as a
rest for hi4 ,ltle u small cluinpof sage brush,
The whites killed two horses belonging to
tic Indians and Gore insiStod that he had
Killed an Indian. His comrades thought
not but had to change their minds a week
later when Taylor, who was out scouting
found dead Indian in clump of bushes
at spring near the scene of the fight, with
bride in his hand and all his war paipt
and feathers on. He had been shot through
the hips and had crawlcl to tho watcr. on
his hands and ki,pns, ',1l.e boys" on the
ahNya nrocasiGn made it so warm for the
Ilsds tAaltity withdrew in haste, after which
fhe yictors shoullerea theif rifles and walked
into The ssupkade.
Early IN November the buffalo came
down on the fiat and to within GOO Yards of
the fort. Several men from the post among
wiiom was Taylor went out in hurry and
commenced firing into the herd, .lin,lny
Crane had killed fat buffalo ssif.,l.t; was
engaged in skinni,e u Mkilc Taylor and
W0otty woeye ~ euifed at similar task on
NO COWS and calf that had fallen about
2'W yards from Crane, but close to the post.
AS frame called out show many have you
s,'s up there boys?" Taylor looked in his
direction and Immediately cxclaims;;..:
Great God! has Jimmy Crane : hair :.;ianycd
t" black M"ody looked as Taylor smoke
and both c.ricl All indian yery near crane
which thy had mistakel, for linn !
second after Taylors rifle Went oil and
something droppcd hi,t il was not huf!-
H. IN lil4on.hdr thrce.mcn named Kenne-
~, Williamson, and Tapping, who had put
UP a cabin at the mouth OF Tulocks;' Fork
where they We're hunting and trapping,
were attacked at ,layhrcak. Kennedy being
fired upon just rs he was leaving the cabin
lie at once rctrcatc,l to the shelter uf the
house and with his comrades fought the
reds all day and reached the fort that
night.
ON tho i>t day ofJanllary. 1876 Dcwings,
Sweeney, Nuttiny, Neil, Giliis and Taylor
concluded that IA New Years call on the
buffalo that We're roaming several miles
from the post would he the proper thing
and in accordance with this intention drop
e'l in on them. killing in very few min
utes all that their horses could pack. When
abont one and half miles fT;iA the post
on the return trip the party was fred upon
and every horse killed and cacl, man
wounded This fight was one of the most
severe ant fatal af the series that took place
ne ar. the fort. Sweeney who fell at the first
fire was pulled into Il little swalc by lis
comrades and was shot twice while living
there. Taylor who was lying well to the
front made the remark to Dcwing that his
gun ''was getting hot" Dewing said 'Ill
spell you" and slid up. to chsnga places
with him when Taylor heard thud and
was in time to catch Dewings,
as he fell sho, across the breast and through
the muscles of his left arm. Dewings, after
recovering from the shock. used his left
arm for rest and continued to shoot dur
ing the succeeding two hours. One of the
boys began to lose courage as the fight pre-
crossed but was rcassured by Dcwings firm
ness. He, although desperately wounded,
told them to fight on and if worst
came to worst they could ''go out on a full
hand with the assistance of their six
shooters. In the meantime party of
about Los Indians had formed skirlnish
line in front of the fort and kept the in
mates from going to the relief of their com
ratles, while the other red devils were pour
ing q r,;yAlcr,us iiro into the little party.
Within the garrison there was gloom and
sadness after the fight had progressed for
some time, because every one save little
Joe Ilill'' (aftcrward cook for Gen. Custcr)
thought that all the hunters had fallen
beneath the fire of the reds. Joe ip4is.od
that he heard the ring of The s,bosscs"
rifle, (hcaling Taylursl every little while.
Joe's conclusions werc correct, as the
lnoa..s Moro finally driven Off The dead
and wounded were taken by their comrades
to the post in the face Of the disappointed
reds, who cut Oft the tails and fore top of
the horses as trophies. Sweeney died 16
days after the fight.
On the 2nd day of January Can, Paul
Mccormick and Mr.. Dexter wha nah some
six weeks previous g.ae up tn Bozcman
rctnrnc.:,u accompanied by train of 8 or 10
wagons loaded with provisions. Two days
days after, the Indians turned loose" ON
the stock intending to takcit, but inasmucl
as the lookout in the bastion had given
notice of their approach they got neither
bluffs at lively pace. They had begun to
the fact that nearly cvory man
in the fort was an uncrring markslnail.
On the 10th of !apNayN 4 men
went down. tho river 8 miles
from, tbs. fort. Joo Jesse who was of the
party had got mile further when they
were attacked by about 2N Indians. Joe
was cut off from the rest of the PARTY and
fought for his life for over three hours.
Meantime the party that llc had left had al!
that they could do and paid but little astcn-
ton to Joe. As darkness p.sms 9N they
thGy lad crossed and brought the Indians
hack, who killed and mutilatcd him in II
horrible manner Gre they left. All the
had their hands and feet frozen
before they reached the post.
Sitting Bulls camp was only abont O
miles from the scene of the fight. The next
day party went out aud found Joc's body
withl5 distinct bullet holes in it. The
crow Indians who have always friendly to
the whites had fight with the Sioux near
the fort at one time and killed I indians,
capturing 1900 rounds of amn.uAl!spn, II
Buffalo robes, 10 or ~ lHsirs 0f ln0ccasins.
Z Sharp's ritlas, smith " Wcssor reyolvcrs,
and tolees l,sat)s of hour sacks bearing the
Red rfoud agency brand.
The fight IN which Joe Jesse was killed
was tho last that took place in that vicin-
Ity
On the 14tl Of February, 1876, Taylor
left the fort in company with Nutting und
made the weary journey as far as Stillwatcr
where he met the 2iid regiment, L. =. cav
airy under command Of Gcn. Drisbin. This
hati been ordered by the Sccre-
harry of War to the relief of Fort rease upon
made by the citizens Of
Boxeman. At.thc request Of the officers,
Taylor decided to turn back and hQing
furnished witt, . horse, rctraQod his steps |
reaching the post on tllp 1T Of March.
lletweea tlo 1st and 9th Of March the
ln,st was abandoned by order of(seii. Bris-
bin and gpe.ls hauled away. The men who
composed its garrison arc now scattered
aloilg The Yellowstone valley and arc either
pursuing the peaceful avocatiqn Vt the
or the anchlNAn. .flae unlyl
ycstigcs of the fort that remain AMI which
arc invariably pointed out by the stage |
drivers as they pass the spot about eleven
milcs cast Of Junction City. ass yomS Logs |
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