The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-07-19


} of the attendant results of the order.
Sentiment will also largely enter into
the regret, as Fort Keogh has played
an important part in many of the stir.
ring events which go to make up the
history of this portion of the north
west and which was the last remaining
portion of what was once the western
frontier to yield to the influence of
civilization and be Wrested from the
old, wild life and all it's and
dangers. The very name the post
bears brings up. recollections Of the
days when the savage and the out
law We'd with each other in acts of
destruction and lawlessness. Built
almost Immediately after the Custer
battle, General Miles, now the rank
ing officer of the United States army,
then colonel of the Fifth infantry,
who located the fort and under whose
supervision it was built, decided to
name it after n of the brave officers
who lost their lives in that memorable
and awful conflict, Captain Keogh OF
the Seventh cavalry, the regiment
which was almost wiped out of ex-
istence in the wild charge of Gall and
the other chiefs, Sioux and C%heyennes,
Tho commanded the red warriors on
that historic field.
To those who have come since
then the story of that battle and the
era which it practically closed has
only the charm of history to interest
them, but to those who were even
then in this part of the country en-
gagged in advancing the outposts of
civilization, law and order it has a
greater and deeper interest. The
building of the post now doomed to
abandonment was the embodied word
of the government that they would
not be left alone and without protect
ion against the savages who sur
round them and whose Businesses they
had invaded to reclaim the wilderness
and make it a fit %habitation for hon
est, thrifty and sturdy men and their
families and lay the foundation of the
magnificent empire erected since then.
Many are there still in this part of
the state, in fact in the entire north
west, who gratefully recall the first
days of the old fort and the sense of
security and safety it's presence af-
forded and they will join in the re
greet that soon it will be nothing but
a name, a collection of deserted and
%decaying buildings, given over to the
bat and the owl, a silent but elo-
quent witness giving testimony to
days and events replete with the most
stirring and exciting themes.
But there are many similar posts
scattered throughout the west. The
times and the people which made
their erection and maintenance a
necessity have passed forever, and the
government in abandoning them is
looking to the practical side and act
10 WIZ " lOuOSAA6 tuC GA
pense of maintaining the army. But
Fort Keogh is not to be classed with
many of the forts abandoned in rec
ent years. 1t cannot be truthfully |
said that n excuse for it's further ex-
isteuCe can be advanced. Like Fort
Custer it stands in the center of al
large territory given over to the In
dians and the wisdom of it's abandon
ment may be seriously questioned,
the same as was questioned the wisdom
of the order which led to the evacua-
ton of Fort Custer, a post named in
honor of the chief figure in the last
great battle fought in this country
between the white and the red man.
A pretty and interesting story might
be written about the abandonment Of
Fort Custer, but it is probably not
necessary to write it now. The post
was abandoned and that ended the
matter as far as some people were
concerned.
Judging from present Indications
the men who robbed the Great North
ern train near Malta, July 8, will