Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-12-15
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
LIFE AT CAMP HANCOCK.
IEUT. COL. DAN. HUSTON, of
the 9Th, was in command at Fort
Mexican when the work of build.
1 ing quarters was being rapidly
pushed. Major, afterward Col
Orlandao FL. Moore, was stationed there
with DIR. Boughter as post surgeon.
On Sept. 1, 1872, our old and valued
friend arrived from the department of the
south to take command, and under his fos-
tering care the new post became one of the
finest in the west, and when completed was
called Fort Abraham Lincoln.
On August 18th we bad a visit from Gen.
Sheridan, who with a military escort of
Capt. Bates company of the 22d came
overland from Fort Seward (now James
town. on a tour of inspection to the down
river posts. Sheridan was more at home
in a tent than anywhere else, and despite
his brusque manners, was the kindest of
men. We had no mosquito bars at Camp
Hancock, and HAD the lace curtains from
our quarters at Fort Rice. wreathed around
the bedstead. This did not suffice to keep
them out, and my face and arms were dis
figured by their bites. The general was
very sorry for us, and promised to send us
mosquito bars, which he did as soon as he
reached st l'aul.
On the 10Th we had our first Indian
olarsn Gonno horNoro IN milo Troo
creek were attacked by a large body of
Indians, and one of them was killed. Lieut..
Chance and squad of soldiers, were sent
out next day to bring in the dead and mutt
lated body, and 1t lay all night in the
hospital back of our tent. The next day it
was buried by the soldiers, On the lots,
where the Presbyterian church now stands,
and where a number of others were after
ward buried. First Sergeant Smith Of Co.
d read the burial service. This was the
first funeral in Bismarck.
This was the first of many Indian alarms
and 1 spent many sleepless nights on
this account. If the Indians were to be
feared in a strongly garrisoned fort, how
much were they to be dreaded in a frail
tent that offered no resistance to their en-
trance?
On August 10, a man came in from the
camp of DR.. Burleigh's workmen, thirty
miles east, saying a body of Indians, 100
strong, had appeared at the camp and de-
manded foed, which being refused they
had taken by force. The men urgently
requested that arms be sem them. Capt.
Clarke at once dispatched Lieut.. Chance
and twenty men to carry the arms to them.
A party cutting hay on the Fort Steven
son road about the same time, we're at
tackled by six Indians, and moved their
camp into town.
Fort Mexican also had its full share of
Indian hostilities. On II occasion the
Sioux attacked the fort and killed the
officers COWS.
There were constant skirmishes across
the river, between the Sioux and friendly
Arrickarees. many of which took place in
full view of the new city.
One day an Arrickaree scout came into
my tent at Camp Hancock, and held up
before me a fresh Sioux scalp, with long,
black scalp lock and having one ear still
attached. L turned faint and dreadfully
sick at the sight, which the Indian took as
a great personal atfront, for the scalp was
that of the young Sioux chief who had lain
in wait for me at Fort Rice. The scout
thought that the "medicine squaw" should
reward him with 'heap big sugar" and
laugh and dance because her enemy was
dead.
1t was so horrible: yet how could l feel
sorry, for my own scalp seemed to set more
closely to my head after that. [ gave the
Indian an order for ten pounds of sugar to
get him to take himself and the scalp
away. and he afterwards went over town
and sold it.
AS DR.. Slaughter and J. expected to
locate in the new city, we were intensely
interested in all that concerned it, and we
soon became acquainted with the people
August Doth was the fourth anniversary
OF our marriage, and the boarders al
Anthony's hotel gave us a party. Father
Anthony had gotten a floor laid in the
house, and the climbing daubed up. The
music was two violins, one of them played
by l.. T. Marshall, a noted musician of the
time. Col. Sweet and Mrs. Anthony led
the grand march. and dear Mrs. Anthony
moved through the dance with an elegance
of movement, that a younger but less arts
tocratic lelle might been envied. She
wore a heavy trained black silk dress will
costly, white thread lace shawl, and wore
an evening robe of white silk, as became
bride. The collation. was of champagne
and buffalo tongue sandwiches. This was
the first party ever given in the city.
On August 2Sd Col. Sculley, U. S. A.
from Fort Rice,and Montgomery Meigs, Jr.
Engineer Northern Pacific railroad, laid
out and stakcd Oft the plat OF the ne"
post. The men OF Co. ID were then set h
work in the timber OH the bottom by the
river, to get out logs to build the quarters
August oath was a red letter day In the
history of the town. and of the Upper Mis-
souri, river posts. BY instructions received
from the company's Office In New iork
the town had been named Edwinton, II
honor Of Edwin NJ. Johnson. the first chic