The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-05
WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT.
Indians Melted Away Before Forty
Men Whom They Knew to BE Scalp
Takers
From the Phlladelphia Times.


Men Whom They Knew to BE Scalp
Takers
From the Philadelphia Times.
In the pioneer days to reach Montana
from Cheyenne. in Wyoming, required a
roundabout journey that involved a
double crossing of the Rocky Mountains,
with a change of base at Salt Lake City
The United States government brought
about a better condition of travel by con-
structing a trail through the Gallatin
valley along the course of the Gunpowder
river, reaching around the base of the
mountains in curvilinear form, which
avoided the nights of the rockies. To pro-
tect this route from marauding Indians
three forts were built-Reno, Phil Kear-
ny. and G. f. Smith. These were garri-
Soned by United States troops.
In 1866 the murderous Sioux from the
course up through the Galatin valley
and into Montana II was marked by
rapine and plumber. They besieged Fort
Reno and killed many of it's garrison, in
environed Fort Phil Kearny, and wiped
from the face of the earth every human
Then they surrounded Fort c. f. Smith,
where 200 union soldiers found themselves
surrounded by more than 1000 death
seeking Indians. Escape seemed impos-
ton of affairs to Gen. Hancock, who was
then stationed at st. Paul and he sent
a messenger to the governor of Montana
at Bozeman, calling upon him to relieve
the besieged garrison. The chief eXecu-
tive of the territory of Montana at that
time was Green Clay Smith, who, by the
way, recently died in Washington a Bap-
fist clergyman. He had been a member
of congress from Kentucky, but President
Lincoln made him territorial governor
of Montana. He was seated on the porch
on his residence in Bozeman when Han
cocks message was handed to him. To a
visitor from the east, who was seated by
his side, and who is authority Tor this
narrative, he said:
What in the name of heaven can do?
Fort C. F. Smith is $50 miles away. The
country between here and there Is filed
with Sioux Indians. Our militia force
consists of exactly 427 men. Not a man
Of them could reach Fort G; F. Smith
alive. | am absolutely powerless. How
ever, I will send for Col. Howie."
At that time Col. Neil HOWE was Uni
ted States marshal for the territory of
man. He commanded the Montana vol
unteers, and 1t has been said of him that
Gen. Sherman might have been at Boze-
man City with $500 troops and the people
of Galatin could not have escaped the
scalping knife of the savage; but Col
100 miles of exposed frontier, but a little
distance from the hostile tribes"
1t was to this man that Gov. Smith adj
dressed himself, handing him Cen Ham
cocks despatch and saying: Colonel.
we can't do anything for those poor dew
lis in Fort c. F. Smith. We haven't
enough men, and those we have couldn't
get there. Am not right?"
mo-" said Col. HOWE, quietly, without
any exhibition of excitement and with the
gentle voice of a woman. There is no
trouble about that governor. We can ar
range that matter and still leave the
Montana frontier protected. l will need
some picked men and a good leader for
them. l think Capt McCabe Is best fit
ted for this undertaking. l will go out
and find him"
McCabe was another gentle voiced man
with blue eyes. He didn't make much
noise. He acted He said to the COVER
nor: "Oh, yes; it Is easy enough But
I'll need forty of the best men / can Sc
lect. You can keep the rest of your vol
unteer force here" Gov. Smith looked at
him in amazement. So did the visitor
from the fort They both thought ne
was either insane or a braggarf. Gov
Smith said to him: How in the name
of heaven do you expect to raise the siege
of Fort G. +. Smith with forty men when
you know that il is surrounded by more
than 1000 bloodthirsty Indians and that
the country between here and there rs
covered with thousands more of muir
derous Sioux2"
Said McCabe quietly: "Why. governor
il is easy enough. The Indians know u.s.
and know that we know them better than
they know themselves. You folks from the
east have an idea that what you call In