The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-08
WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.
Indians Melted Away Before Forty Men
Whom They Knew to BE Scalp Takers.


In the pioneer days to reach Montana
from Cheyenne, in Wyoming, required a
roundabout journey that involved double
crossing of the Rocky Mountains, with a
change of base at Salt Lake City. The
United States Government brought about
better condition of travel by construct
ing a trail through the Gallatin Valley
along the course of the Gunpewder River,
reaching around the base of the mountains
in a curvilinear form, which avoided the
heights of the Rockies. To protect this
route from marauding Indians three forts
were built-Reno, Phil Kearny and c. F.
Smith. These were garrisoned by United
States troops.
In 1866 the murderous Sioux from the
Yellowstone Valley pursued a sanguinary
course up through the Gallatin Valley and
into Montana. 1t was marked by rapine
and plunder. They besieged Fort Reno
and killed many of its garrison, including
a broth er of 4. X. Mcclure. They en-
vironed Fort Phil Kearny and wiped from
the face of the earth every human being
whose walls it failed to protect. Then
they surrounded Fort G. F. Smith, where
200 Union soldiers found themselves
surrounded by more than 1000 death
seeking Indians. Escape seemed impos-
slble. A courier got word of this condition
OF affairs TO General Hancock, who was
then stationed at ST. Paul, and he sent a
messenger to the Governo- Of Montana at
Bozeman. calling upon him to relieve the
besieged garrison. The chief executive of
the Territory of Montana at that time was
Green Clay Smith, who, by the way, re-
| Gently died in Washington, a Baptist cler-
gyman. He had been a member of Con-
gress from Kentucky, but President
Lincoln made him Territorial Governor of
Montana. He was seated on the porch of
his residence in Bozeman when Hancock
| message was handed to him. To visitor
from the East, who was seated by his side,
| and who is authority for this narrative, he
said:
What in the name of heaven can do?
Fort G. f. Smith is $50 miles away. The
country between here and there is filled
with Sioux Indians. Our militia force
consists of exactly AT men, Not man of
them could reach Fort c. T. Smith alive
| am absolutely powerless. However, I
will send for Colonel Howie.''
AT that time Colonel Neil HOWE was
United States Marshal for the Territory
of Montana. He was a typical frontiers
man. He commanded the Montana vol
unteers, and it has been said of him that
General Sherman might have been at
Bozeman City with 5000 troops and the
people of Galatin could not have escaped
the scalping knife of the savage; but Colo
mel HOWE, with less than 400 men, pro-
| tected 100 miles of exposed frontier but a
little distance from the hostile tribes
1t was to this man that Governor Smith
addressed himself, handing him General
Hancock's dispatch, and saying: "Colonel,
we can't do anything for those poor devils
in Fort c.. F. Smith. We Haven't enough
men, and those we have couldn't get there.
Am not right2"
NO" said Colonel HOWE, quietly, with
out any exhibition of excitement and with
the gentle voice of a woman. "There is no
trouble about that, Governor. We can
arrange that matter and still leave the
Montana frontier protected. | will need
some picked men and good leader for
them. | think Captain McCabe is best
fitted for this undertaking. l will go out
and find him.
m; Mcca abe was another gentle.yojced man
much me 'i Noise eyes He act acted did9 make sae
to the Governor: "oh, yes; it is
easy enough. But FL need forty of
the best men | can select. You can keep
the rest of your volunteer force here.h
Governor Smith looked at him in amaze
ment. So did the visitor from the fort.
They both thought he was either insane
or a braggard. Governor Smith said to
siege of Fort G. T. Smith with forty men
when you know that it is sur
rounded with more than 1000 blood
thirsty indians and that the country
between here and there is covered with
thousands more of murderous Sioux?'
Said McCabe quietly: "Why, Governor.
it is easy enough. The Indians know us,
and know that we know them better than
they know themselves. You folks from
the East have an idea that what you call
Indian atrocities are simply unmeaning
exhibitions OF brutality; that scalping, for