The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-07-26

OIL Cne country UuEluS Tie surfing tluIeS
Immediately proceeding it and for some
time after Custer's massacre, it being
my pleasure to have had intimate ac-
quaintance with General Custer, and a
great many of the officers who were
killed with him, as we'll as other promi-
nent characters who were identified
with the development of that country,
having also bad the pleasure of meeting
you, although possibly you may not re-
call it, was extremely interested in
reading this book, as it recalled many
incidents with which l was personally
familiar.
In 1873 l was appointed General
Master Mechanic of the Northern Pa
cific railroad, in charge Of their motive
power and equipment, and was in that
country until 1873. Of course after the
elapse of 36 years, it is difficult to re-
call all of the detail or events, but I
we'll remember your arrival at Bismarck
with the wounded from the Custer
battlefield, and had the pleasure of
meeting you after your arrival.
It was my impression that Capt.
Nick Benson was the pilot with you on
that famous trip, although l note that
this is not confirmed in your narrative.
l recall vividly fitting up pair Of Elk
horns, mounting them on shield, the
shield being lettered with the re-
cord of the trip, which shield
was mounted on the pilot house
Of the boat. 1t is possible however,
this referred to some other trip and not
the trip from the Yellowstone with the
wounded, although am quite sure that
Capt. Benson's name appeared as pilot
of the trip in question. 1 thought it
was probable that you might recall the
circumstance, and if am in error in
the matter, you could correct me.
There is another thing in connection
with the trip that is not quite clear to
my mind. l recall my visit to the old
warehouse on the river shortly after
the arrival of the ''Far West" with a
number of interesting relics from the
Custer battlefield, consisting Of travoirs,
tranos, lodge poles, etc., together with
large quantities of pemican in sacks
that were corded up on the levee like
ricks of cord wood. l am not sure,
however, whether this was on the
famous trip mentioned or on subse-
quent one.
It was also my pleasure to have per-
sonally conducted the trip of Gen.
Sheridan, Gen. Terry and Gen. Forsyth
and others over the Northern Pacific
railroad to Bismarck, at the time they
went there to arrange for the disarm-
ing of the Indians and take their ponies
from them. l also had the pleasure of
meeting Gen. Sherman and Gen. Terry
on the occasion of their visit to that
section mentioned in your book.
You will therefore realize that this
history and the stirring part which you
took in the events Of that day, was of
most extreme interest to me, and when
l learned of your whereabouts l could
not resist the great pleasure Of COM
municating with you, and expressing
to you my sincere congratulations that
you are still enjoying good health and
warm admiration and esteem of those
who knew you appreciate the great
service which you personally rendered
in the reclamation of that vast country
from the hands of the savages. Moth
ing would give me more pleasure than
to receive line from you, acknowledge
ing this letter, and hope that l may
sometime in the near future have an
opportunity of visiting that country
and once more meeting you.
| lido not wish to tire you with an un-
necessary long letter, but there are 50
many things and SO many details with
which you were so intimately identified
that were known to me, would like to
have an opportunity at some time to
exchange experiences with you.
With assurances of my most sincere
regards, believe me, / am,
Very sincerely yours,
w. H. Lewis.
Capt. Grant Marsh,
Washburn, N. Oak.
Pointer on HaYing
Minot Independent: Neil McDougall
gives us pointer on how to put up
hay that is worth trying. He says he
tried it for several years and can vouch
for its worth. Before cutting your