The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-01-30

chat with Capt. Marsh in regard
to the open winters. Always in the
fall of the year, he was selected to
make the so-called vegetable trip
up the Missouri, which was for the
purpose of supplying the various
military posts with vegetables for
the winter. In the fall of 1869, he
left Sioux City on the Steamer
North Alabama which was heavily
laden with potatoes, cabbages, on
ions, beets and all kinds of vegeta-
bles. (Those days it was not sup
posed that vegetables of any kind
could be raised in Dakota territory.)
Going up the river, the following
forts were the ones supplied
Forts Randall, Hale, Sully, Ben
nett, Rice, Stevenson and Buford
at the mouth of the Yellowstone
river. Major Bannister, of Ottum-
wa, Iowa, paymaster, was on board
and was going to Buford to pay
the troops. During his entire trip
he was plentifully supplied with
every variety of wild game and the
trip was made without incident
until they reached the place where
Williston now stands on the 22nd
day of October. They had but one
post left to supply, namely Fort
Buford, and the vegetables for that
point we're stored in the hold of
the boat.
That night the weather turned
bitterly cold, a severe blizzard was
raging and before morning the river
was closed, frozen solid. They
built fires in the hold of the boat to
save the vegetables, as this meant
good food for the post for the en-
tire winter, while the loss Of the
vegetables meant pork and beans
to the soldiers for s long months.
On board the boat were some Rec
Indian scouts, who were sent to
the authorities at Ft. Blu
ford of the situation. The soldiers
came down to the boat in covered
army wagons, in each Of which was
a small stove, loaded with vegeta-
bles and took them to their desti-
nation. The trip was a successful
one, inasmuch as not one single
was lost.
The Department Commander
gave Capt. Marsh and his crew
great credit for saving the vegeta-
bles, which meant SO much for the
They laida this place 10
days, during which time the weather
moderated, the river opened and
they started down the river. (This
is the only time on record that the
river broke up after being frozen
ten days,) The day they passed
Fl. Berthold, the. Sioux Indians
had made an attack on it and had
killed several of the Berthold In
dams.
At this time Jos. H. Taylor, of
this place, and Jos. DIETRICH, of
Bismarck, we're keeping woodyards
at Knife River and Painted Woods.
Mr.. Dietrich had charge of the one
on Knife River and Mr.. Taylor at
Painted Woods. They stopped at
Knife River and took on wood
on the down trip. The Indians
got SO bad during the winter
that Mr. Taylor was obliged to 60
up and stay with Mr.. Dietrich and
there Mr.. Marsh found them when
he made his first trip in the spring
of 20 on the Steamer Ida Rees,
No. 2. No two men ever under
stood the habits and customs of the
Indians better than those two Nc
Lean county pioneers. Capt. Marsh
kept on on his down trip and
managed to reach Sioux City Nov.
18th. This was on record as a very
open winter.
Maj. Galpin's wife and daughter
Miss Lu, were at Sioux City await
ing the return of the boat to Stand
ing Rock. The ladies had been to
to purchase a wedding
for Miss Lu, who was mar
ried on her return TO Maj. Harmon
Of the 18th Infantry, and for many
years following, Mrs. Marsh-wife
of the Captain-and Mrs. Harmon
we're inseparab]e friends. Mrs.
Harmon was highly educated, hav-