Smyrna times., 1907-08-14
DID NOT FIRE A SHOT
Why Thousands of Indians Melt
ed Away Before Forty Men.
"A STORY OF PIONEER DAYS.

Captain Mecabe Knew the Sioux Bet
er Than They Knew Themselves, and |
the Indians Knew the Captains Men
Were nead Shots and Scalp Takers.
In the pioneer days to reach Mon
tana from Cheyenne, in Wyoming, re-
quired a roundabout journey that in
volved 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 constructing a
trail through the Gallatin valley along
the course Of the Gunpowder river,
reaching around the base Of the noun
tains in a curvilinear form, which
avoided the heights of the Rockies. To
protect this route from marauding In
dians three forts were built-Reno,
Phil Kearny and c. F. Smith.
/ In 1866 the murderous Sioux from
the Yellowstone valley pursued a san
culinary 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. They envirOned Fort
Phil Kearny and wiped from the face
of the earth every human being whose
walls it failed to protect. Then they
surrounded Fort c. F. Smith, where
200 soldiers found themselves sur
rounded by more than a thousand
death seeking Indians. Escape seemed
impossible. A courier got word of this
condition of affairs to General Han
cock. who was then stationed at st.
Paul and he sent a messenger to the
governor of Montana at BOzeman.
The chief executive of the territory
Of Montana at that time was Green
cav Smith. He had been a member
of congress from Kentucky, but Pres
ident Lincoln made him territorial gov
ernor of Montana He was seated on
the porch Of his residence in BOzemaI
when Hancock's message was handed
to him. To visitor he said:
"What in the name of heaven can
do? Fort c. F. Smith is 250 miles
away. The country between here an(
there is filed with Sioux Indians. Gu
militia force consists of exactly 40
men. Not a man of them could reacl
Fort c. F. Smith alive. am absolute
ly powerless. However. l will sem
for Colonel Howie"
At that time Colonel Neil Howie wa
United States marshal for the territor
Of Montana.
It was to this man that Governo
ID hfnacoIf handing hiT
General Hancock's dispatch and sa!
ing: Colonel, we can't do anything fC
those poor devils in Fort G. F. Smitl
Am 1 not rightT'
''No" said Colonel Howie quietl
and with the gentle voice of woma
"There is no trouble about that, go
ernor. We can arrange that matt
and still leave the Montana 'front.'
protected. 1 will need some pick'
men and a good leader for them.
think Captain McCabe is best fitted f
this undertaking l will find him."
McCabe was another gentle voic
man, with blue eyes. He didn't ma
much noise. He acted. He said
the governor: "Oh, yes; it is ca
enough. But I'll need forty Of the be
men l can select. You can keep
rest Of your volunteer force here"
Governor Smith looked at him
amazement. So did the visitor frC
the fort. They both thought he "
either insane or a braggart. Cover
Smith said to him, "How in the nal
of heaven do you expect to raise
siege of Fort G. F. Smith with fOl
men when you know that it is S
rounded by more than 1000 bio
thirsty Indians and that the coun
between here and there is covered W
thousands more of murderous Sioux
Said McCabe quietly: "Why, G
ernor, it is easy enough. The Indi
know us and know that we kn
them better than they know th'
selves. You folks from the east h
an idea that what you call Ind
atrocities are simply unmeaning e,
billions Of brutality; that scalping.
instance, is simply a form Of tort
In that you are mistaken. The Ind
believes that no man can go to
happy hunting grOund-heaven we
dt-who has been deprived of his
Their motive in scalping a victim i
carry out fiendish hatred to its utn
by preventing him from having
by hereafter. Therefore to deprive
Indian of his scalp is to rob him of
hope Of n happy hereafter. My
never kill an Indian without seal
him, and the Indians know that
forty men viii select for this exI
tiOn are unerring in their aim
the rife. They can shoot sixteen S
in sixteen seconds, and every
means a dead Indian, and every
Indian means a scalp. and every S
means warrior deprived eternall
a chance of ever reaching the h
hunting ground. My forty men
walk from here to Fort G. F. S
without firing a shot"
Incredible" said Governor Smi
''True." said Captain McCabe.