The Billings herald. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1882-1885, 1883-02-22

their own construction near Jn(
mouth of the Big Horn, whittier
they had gone in search of gold
Six of the besieged party had beer
killed and nine wounded, and i
help did not soon reach them al
must perish. The country was re
ported full of Indians, and as his
force was small, he appealed to Tho
people of Gallatin valley, who re.
sponded by furnishing three compa
nics of militia, with whom, and
$50 Crow Indians, he marched tc
the relief Of Fort Peasc. He reach
ed Pompcy's Pillar, and hearing
that the Indians were encampcd in
a large body near the present site OF
Fort Custer, sent forward to recon,
noiters the late Muggins Taylor,
well known to the people Of Bill
lings. The speaker paid just and
glowing tribute to the memory Of
Taylor, whom he described as one
Of the best scouts and bravest men
he ever knew. Taylor accomplish
ed his mission in safety, counting
50 lodges of warriors. Sitting
Bulls town was then at the present
site of Miles City, and as Gen.
BYisbin advanced the Indian chief
drew up with a great force across
the foot of Pcase Bottom, but did
not modest the relief party. On
the 26th of March, 1876, Major
Peasc and his men were released.
and the whole force returned to
Fort Ellis. Arrived there, he found
Gen. Gibbon awaiting him, with
orders from the department COM
mander Terry, to join forces and
march down the north side of the
Yellowstone and hold the Indians
till the arrival of Gen. Terry, who,
with Custer and Crook, were COM
ing from Fort Lincoln to carry on
the recently declared war against
the Indians. This they did, keep
ing the north bank of the Yellow
stone to Eagle Point, since called
Coulson, and more lately Billings,
and thence on to Porcupinc where
they found the Indians cncampcd
at the mouth of the Rosebud. OPP
posite them on the north bank of
the Yellowstone Generals Gibbon
and Brisbin stationed themselves to
await Gen, Terry, who was some
time overdue. After some waiting
Gen. Brisbin volunteered to go
down the river in search of: Terry.
After overcoming the objections Of
Gibbon, he started in the dusk of
evening in a small skitfwith q party
of seven men. They hoped by
diligent rowing aided by the strong
current to reach the mouth of
Powder river before morning over
took them and there find General
Terry. 1t was a perilous trip
through the midst of a country
held by hostile Indians. When
morning came they found them
selves at the mouth of Tongue
river directly opposite Sitting Bulls
town. Narrowly escaping diseov-
cry, they hid themselves and their
boat in the brush through the day,
and starting again when evening
fell, reached Gen. Terry's encamp-
ment at the mouth of Powder river.
Terry was on board the supply
steamer, Ear West" and seemed
greatly pleased when he heard of
the Indians, as he had seen none
thus far in his march. When Gus
ter came on board few hours later
his eyes sparklcd when heard the
same intelligence. He repeatedly
said, We'll scoop them.'' The
force moved up the river and met
Gen. Gibbon, who, uneasy at the
prolonged detention Of Terry, had
come down to reconnoitrc.
The whole force made all haste to
return to the Rosebud fearing that
the Indians might escape to the
northward. They found the Indi-
ans still on the Rosebud but farther
up the valley. On the evening of
the Dist of June, 1876, in the cabin
Of the 'Far West" Gen. Custer re-
ceived from Gen. Terry's chief of
staff, what was destined to be his
last order. [Thc lecturer read this
order to the audience.] It directed
Custer to proceed up the Rosebud
as far as indicated by red dotted
line on map, which Gen. Terry
had before him, then to cross over
to the Little Big Horn, keeping
constant lookout that the Indians