Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-11-24

a grand party and banquet, as q token Of
joy in their safety.
The object of this expedition on the
part OF the engineers was to find the last
stake set by the chief engineer-a pre.
yious expedition accompanied by Gen.
Rosser himself, having failed to find it
on account OF a severe snowstorm that
drove them back to the fort. After
finding the stake, Engineer Eccleson ran
q preliminary line across the divide be-
tween the Big and Little Heart rivers
striking the Little Heart at the base of
"Crittenden Butte the large butte that
stands out so prominently on the bori-
zon southwest Of Bismarck. It was then
the intention to have the railroad cross
the river at the mouth of the Little
Heart, but this was changed to the
point opposite the present site of Fort
Lincoln On the hill, and this plan was
changed later on, and the crossing
finally made at the mouth of the Big
Heart river, now Mandan.
On the morning after the Masonic
party as DR.. Slaughter and his escort
rode back to his post at Camp Greene
they were fired at by Indians from the
willow bushes, but no one was struck
and the Indians did not follow them.
On the 9Th day of June, 1872, the post
OF Fort Rice was thrown into a autter
OF excitement by the arrival from Sioux
City of the steamer "Miner," having on
board the 9th Regiment U. S. Infantry,
bound for Fort Buford, to take station
there, and relieve the troops there and
at Fort Stevenson. Two companies also
were under orders to relieve the troops
at Camp Greene.
Gen. Hazen was in command, and
with his staff and family-and the regi-
mental band wa on board. Social calls
we're interchanged and q grand ball was
given at night in honor of the new ar
rivals. The music was furoished by the
two regimental bands, either of which
wa equal to the famous marine band of
Washlnton. The officers attended in
full uniform and the costumes of the
ladies' would have been admired at Paris.
Outside the stt ckade the wolves howled
Il the wild Sioux crept closer to in
spect the steamer under cover of the
night. But inside the fort all was gay
ETY. and mirth, and the hours few on
enchanted wings. I was exceedingly
happy that night, because on the NOR
row the troops at Camp Greene would be
relieved and come marching home. and I
would see my husband again, Act.
Asst. Surgeon Boughter, who was to re-
lleve him at Camp Greene, having come
on the steamer. But late IN the even
ing, while waltzing with an officer of the
9th, l was told by my partner that there
were orders for him to accompany the
9Th to Fort Buford and take station
there. This was in part q mistake, for
the orders were for him to accompany
the regiment to Buford and return
to Rlce on the same 8 Gamer. But the
effect upon me a just the same. For
months my husband had been exposed
to all kinds of hardships, sleeping in a
frail tent in all kinds of weather, absent
on perilous expeditions during which I
did not know for weeks at q time
whether he were living or dead, coming
home to the fort only when some official
duty ca led him there, and then looking
so worn and ill that it made my heart
ache to see him, and now when I had
hoped to have him home for q little
while, to have him sent away hundreds
of miles, where I might never see him
again, was not to be borne quietly. /
instantly resolved to set military law at
defiance and go with him. I never
waited to finish that waltz, but Just as
soon rs I could reach my quarters, toss
my ballroom finery into the closet, and
don a travelling suit, I was on my way
with nurse and baby to the steamer.
l had no permission to leave the fort,
and orders in that regard were strict,
but 1 had sent for Post Adjutant Potter
to escort me to the boat, who I knew
was too polite to be ipquisitive, and of
course we passed the gates without
challenge. General Hazen had been an
old friend of my father, aud g%raciously
consented that I should make the trip
with my husband, and DR.. Boughter re-
signed his stateroom to me; so a difficult
feat vas easily accomplished after all.
Early next morning the boat pulled
out. It was heavily loaded and moved
slowly up stream. At 10 o'clock we
reached Camp Greene. Two companies
were landed here, and as soon as the
two surgeons had turned over to each
other the hospital property in their re-
spective charge, my husband came on
board-very happy to meet me there
and the boat moved on.
About noon the boat landed at "Carle-
ton City," 1t was a motley camp indeed.
One frame building, the storeroom of
"Cathcart and Shaw" many tents of all
sizes, many blankets stretched over the
tops of the willow bushes, beneath
which men were engaged in cooking
this was the much talked of "Carleton
City," Some 200 men we're there vari-
ously clad, of many nationalities, and
apparently, from every grade Of society.
The officers of the 9Th with one accord
condmemed it as the most beastly place
they had ever seen aud Gen. Hazen's
views we're afterward expressed in his
pamphlet entitled "Our Barren Lauds,"
but l have always thought that the
Generals opinion OF the country was
biased by his wife's disgust at being
sent to a station so remote from the
fashionable centers Of the east.
We we're told that the men ut "Carlton
City," had gathered there from all parts
of the country aud were waiting to fluid
ont just where the railroad would cross
the river, and the town located perman-
nently, when they would take lots, build
houses and go into business.
looked upon the scene with wonder.
There was something pathetic to me-. in
the sight Of all those mon, standing
there houseless and homeless, patiently