The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-11
ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
F. George Haldl's EulOgy on the Late
General Chiffon.
IN COMMAND AT FORT SHAW
Many Old ime North montanans
heard the News of His Death
"A 18th Much Regret-An
interesting story.

Great Falls, Feb. 1O.--General Glib
bon. whose death at Baltimore last
Thursday was announced in the Stand
ard Of Friday, was well and popular
~ known by every old resident OF
Northern Montana. lie was in COM
mand of the military district of Mon
tana, which included Forts Shaw, Mis-
soula. Ellis, Logan and Benton, for
nine years. His headquarters were
established at Shaw, the old military
post now used as an Indian industrial
school, % miles west of this city, and
he was personally known to every set
tier in the sun River valley. F. George
Heldt, now of Great Falls, was con-
nected with the suffers store at Fort
Shaw during its occupancy as mill
tary post and was intimately acqualnt-
ed with Gibbon. Referring to the gen
eral and his occupancy of Fort shaw,
Mr. Heidi said to a Standard reporter
tonight:
THE news of General Gibbons
death came as a painful surprise to his
old friends in this section, who remem-
Der him as an active, hale, hearty.
vigorous soldier He came to Mon
faul in 1871. short time after Baker
disciplined the BlaCkfeet Indians, and
relieved Colonel de TrObian from com
major general, his real rank at that
time was colonel of the Seventh in
fantry-a regiment that discharged
from its ranks many private soldiers
who have since became prominent citi-
zens Many of the buildings were not
finished when Gibbon arrived, but with
Characteristic energy the general push
ed the work TO completion and before
he left, after a sojourn of nine years,
the fort was one of the handsOmest in
the West. The buildings We're not as
stately as those of military posts since
constructed, but there were handsome
driVeways, beautiful lawns, thrifty
shade trees, pleasant walks and other
features that made the post attractive.
He had a large ditch constructed and
solved the irrigation problem by
bringing water to the fort from the
Sun river, a distance of six miles. The
land was arid and nothing had ever
been grown there. but with the water
secured by the ditch he irrigated so
acres of land thoroughly ana made it
blossom as the rose.
AS a soldier Gibbon was the pride
of his regiment Dignihed and yet
Courtly. he maintained strict discipline
while his men were or duty, but when
that was over he was the most socia-
bic of men. He was accessible TO pri-
waite soldier, commissioned officer or
citizen and had a pleasant word for
all. The Indians, at that time a dis
turbing element, respected esteemed
and yet feared hm-knowing they
would be punished for any violation of
agency rules, if the agent called upon
him for assistance.
THE settlers Of Sun River valley
have reasons to remember him kindly
lie made the fort a market place for
the entire valley. and encouraged
ranchers TO furnish all supplies the
troops needed.
Il well remember when he started to
intercept the Nez Perces Indians. Ev-
erybody knew there was trouble ahead
if he got within fighting distance of
the Indians, and they were not disap-
pointed. He rode at the head of his
troops into the Indian camp before the
dawn of day and one of the hardest
battles in modern Indian warfare re-
suited. The general lost three COM
missioned officers-Captain Logan.
whose family now reside in Helena
Lieutenant Bradley and Lieutenant En-
glish. whose families We're at shaw
and 20 enlisted men. Gibbon had two
horses shot under him and was wound
cd I'm the leg; his adjutant, Lieutenant
Woodruff was also badly wounded. as
were also Captain Coolidge, Captain
Williams and thirty odd enlisted men.
There was no organized militia in Mon
tana at that time, but Governor Potts
had called upon the citizens to assem-
BILE at Deer Lodge to aid in repellng
the Indian invaders. Captain James
II. Mills, OF Deer Lodge. was acting as
adjutant for the governor and distrib-
uted arms to miners and others who
evinced a disposition to take a hand
in rounding up the Indians. Some OF
these volunteers were with Gibbon and
fought like heroes, side by side with the
regular troops. The Indians were
whipped, but the troops had sustained
such n loss that il was deemed unwise
to follow them and the wounded were
taken TO Deer Lodge for treatment
and the dead soldiers We're buried on
the battlefield. General Gibbon was
also on the Yellowstone expedition. Sec
ond in command, under General Terry
when General Custer and his troops
were massacred by Sitting Bulls band
of Sioux warriors.
After the Indian trouble had been
settled Gibbon returned TO Fort Shaw
and remained there until 1850, when n
was ordered TO another department
much 10 the regret of the people OF
Montana. He was a brave officer ar
accomplished gentleman, and his death
is mOurned by wide circle of friends
and admirers in this part Of Montana
where he was a familiar figure for 50
many years.
speaking Of Fort Shaw and army
officers" continued Mr.. HEIDI, remind,
me that Captain Payn and Captain
Noale formerly stationed at Fort
Shaw. and well known in Northern
Montana. aHa now located al Fort Smell
ling. near st. Paul. Captain Pawn has
been promoted and is now colonel of hi:
ola regiment. Captain N,ale has ais,
been promoted and is lieutau1 ut-colone
of the same regiment. Both of thess
officers have many friends ia Montana
who viii be- glad To learn Of theil
vher-a bouts and success"