The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1882-06-08
OLD FORT PEASE.
The First Expedition From Boseman into
the Yellowstone Valley, in 1873
Fighting Indians for 81 Days,
Adventuvs Of the Party 0fRosrsd by
Major Paaae and Captain Paul
MoCerniok At Later Period.
Arrival at the Big Horn Erection Of the
Fort McOonniok's Adventure Death
Of Edwards and Shively,
The Story Of a Survivor.

The Story Of Survivor.
Prior To the year 1873 the vast domai,
bordering upon the Yellowstone rive,
and extending from what Is known n,
Bcnson's Landing to the mouth of IA,
river, at Tort Duiorl, was a compara
lively unknown country. Hunters, trap,
pc~ and traders had roamcd the coum.
try IN their own nomadir manner, and
had on returned to Roxrman aflc,
months spent In this region, with sucl
tales of,hc mineral deposits that cropped
out from almost every hillside MS to leu,l
even some Of the sobercst citizens ol
Boxcman to think seriously ol bnvinu
the dangers known 10 exist, Cor the pur.
pose Ut securing portion of tho wcultl,
which only awaited their coming IL bc
utilized. During the winter of 1929
preparations were made and u company
organized having for its purpose pros.
pccting tour through tho Wolf Mountains
and Goose creek, Tho company mum.
bcring l5l men embarked upon their
pcrilous enterprise on the 10th day Of
February, 1873 and proceeded down the
Yellowstone as far as the mouth of the
Porcupinc, crossing from that point 10
Rosebud creek, where they met Il band of
Indians that ut once disputed their right
TO travel through the country. Fighting
commenced as soon as the Indians es.
pied the prospectors, and continued for
2l consecutive days. The party was on
the move nearly all the time that they
were being harassed by the reds, select.
ing the morning of each day as tho
proper time to advance and the
afternoon 10 recruit aud rest.
At noon Of each day halt was called,
rife pits were thrown up, the cattle
a guard mounted and prcpar.
atoms made to rcpel the attacks of the
reds. Not day passed that did not
witness Il dash Of the savages upon the
corral, but in every instance they were
lriven off with the loss of either men or
ponies.
The conformation Of the buttes along
he route was such as to afford shelter
or the reds, who did not fail to take
advantage of their knowledge of the
'ountry and pour continuous fire into
he explorers camp. One incident of the
rip was the shooting of q horses by
solitary Indian who had hidden behind
! log and accomplished the havoc before
lie could be dislodged.
When the party reached Fort C. F.
'mith, an abandoned military post stu
ted in the canyon of the Big Horn, the
learts ofa number of the explorers be-
an to fail them in consequence of the
elentless vlgor with which |!
he reds pursued and
arassed them, and they began to make
nown their intention of returning to
'ozeman. \ meeting of the whole COM
any was called and after due delibera-
ion it was decided that retreat should
e made. They were then 250 miles
asst of Bozcman as the crow flies, but in
heir wanderings had travelled a dis
ance over circuitous route extending
70 miles.
The preparations for the return trip were
,ade with alacrity, and the journey ac-
in much less time than had
cen consumed in reaching Fort c. F.
NTH. Bozeman loomed up in their view
sa haven of rest on the 3rd day of May.
hey had been absent 60 days, had had
ne man (Yates) killed and one wounded
/ their encounters with the Indians.
In the interval between their depar-
ire and return their friends at Bozeman
ad become fearful for their safety, and
last about the middle of April induced
zen, one of whom was Maj Reed for
erly Indian agent at Milk river, to
art on the IT, all Of the party.
These men followed the trail, and
lught up with the company about the
me they were ready to leave Fort G. F.
NTH. The spirit of adventure which !
I'd animated the party when it started |
It was effectually subdued ere it !
ached home and when the confines
town were reached many of those
ost prominent in organizing the ex-
edition vowed that they would never 9
ain 90 on such harum scarum trip. {
Two years were allowed to elapse be- /
re another effort was made to settle +,
e Yellowstone valley. In the spring
1875, however, Major Pease induced
lpt. Paul McCormick-now a promi-
mt business man at Junction Gty-and i
others to undertake trip to the il
outh of the Big Horn river, holding
rth the inducement that on account of
s acquaintance with the powerful :
ief of the Sioux Sitting Bully he q
,uld be enabled to establish q most t.
crative trading post in the valley of t,
e Yellowstone, and that he was aware d
at Gen. Sheridan was anxious to de- .
lop the valley, but could not leave
oops there unless there were settlers
protect. Inasmuch as the Steamer
sephine with two companies of infan- s
aboard was to make prospecting Fl
p as far up the Yellowstone as possible y
1875, Major Pease wished to have the \
st established at the Big Horn before
c arrived, SO that the troops might be
t there. ft
The party under the command of Mai Il
ase and Capt. Mccormick did not Il
we Bozeman as soon as they had ex. :,
tted to and consequently when they : !
ahed point about six miles above "
dpresent site of Billings, they ascer- 81
nd from an Indian scout that the re
saner had been there and. returned ki
WI the river. They thus found them hi
lvA in a very unpleasant predicament. ~
lcyl were in country filed with !.