The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1920-07-16
MEMORABLE POWDER
RIVER EXPEDITION
lContinued from Page One.)

land the DeNlI lower vi INC oelIe
Fourche river.
At Little Missouri
On the Goth, instructions were re-
ceiyed from Conner as to the desti-
nation and route. Colonel Walker
vas met at the Little Missouri. At
this time the troops We're without
guides. One having died another
accidentally shot, while the third ran
Iaway. Scouting parties were sent
out to find road to the Powder
river.
On the Box Elder creek, tribu-
tarv of the Little Missouri, an In
dian hurrying ground was passed.
The Indians bury their dead either
on scatfolds With all their belongings
or III trees
| Bv the 18th OF August, Colonel
Coles men We're out OF provisions,
having used the two months supply
which they left Omaha with No
grass was to be found for the stock.
In this section Of the country, dur
| ing this season, water and feed are
always scarce. as the rainy season is
over. The mules We're poor and I'M
able 70 carry the heavy loads.
Reach Powder River
Scouts who We're sent to the Pam
Their mountains to find trace Of Gen
eral Conner, returned having found
Inc depot OF supplies, which Conner
said would be there, or any indica-
tions of any one having been there
| lef1re them. The only conclusion to
De arrived at was that Conner had
not gone IL the Panther mountains
and the best thing to do would be
to so 10 Fort Laramie by way OF
the Powder river, toward the Big
| Horn mountains, ana then to the
North Platte.
| Shirmish with Indians
When ney reached the Powder
river the herders who were some dis
tackled 10y The Indians who ran off a
| part OF the stock. AS result the
hrs, Indian fight occurred. il which
| four white men and 2o Indians were.
| killed.
Colonel Walker. who was now with
! Colonel Cole, reported that his scouts
! had seen a smoke signal in the di-
| rectiou Of the Yellowstone A con-
! ference decided to Investigate in the
| direction Of the smoke and ascer-
tain Whether it was Conner. At the
| end of the first days march they
reached what is now known as the
narroWs OF the Powder river. Durins
the night it turned extremely cold.
After this storm they abandoned the
| plan 10 proceed further and divided
to return to get provisions, thought
| to lie at Fort Laramie.
Battle Near Eroadu~
At this time 22o horses had died
from exhaustion and extreme hot and
cold weather. On the morning of the
J fifth the men We're attacked by the
| Indians who numbered about 5000.
! This battle was won hy the tropos.
| The Indians followed closely behind
them. They We're again confronted
| by the Indians who sought to stop
the troons from crossing the Powder
river. However, with artillery they
We're able TO drive them away.
\ terrific snow storm occurred.
During the night 475 horses died at
the picket. After this all the wagons
and harness We're burned and all the
machines which would not burn were
buried. On the 10th OF September
they started on to Fort Laramie. The
hunger and suffering during their
march along the Powder river is in
descrihabla.
At the mouth of Crazy Woman
creek the Indians ceased their pur-
suit. having followed ali the way up
the Powder river from the 3rd of
September. They went to their
lodges on Crazy Woman creek.
On September IL, scouts from
Conner arrived informing Colonel
Cole OF a cache on the Powder river,
north of Pumpkin hu,tes at old Fort
Conner. AT this point there is now
monument.) Cole sent a dispatch
to Conner telling Of his wherea bouts
and condition. On the goth day of
September they arrived at Fort Con-
ner. Colonel Coles troops having
traversed nearly 1.20O miles OF I'M
known territory since they left
Omaha. Coles men were in terrible
condition, many without shoes and
their feet swollen twice the normal
size. General Conner arrived on the
cath OF September. Two days later
he command started for Fort Lar
annie.
The expedition was failure 1t
had not accomplished the object for
"IiSA II was oiSdlllEe9. me forces
OF Colonel Cole. Colonel Walker and
Generai Conner had failed to meet
IN the Panther mountains. The Pow
der river expedition has never gone
down in history and the only &C
counts to. be had are from the men
who We're with the command. With
in few years these survivors will
not he living. and no trace can be
had. Il have consulted personally
William DeNine of Sheridan, who
vas with Colonel Coles command,
and also have reierred to Palmer's
diary, VINO was with Conner.)
BrOaduS on Historical Ground