The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-07-16

most important military post in Mo
parade ground. It's military usefuIn
The federal government has sold it t
: be turned into an agricultural schoc
II beating our swords back into pIo,
Montana, were never seen befor
and have never been seen since.
Some Early Events
The first birth to occur at tn
post was that of a daughter to tn
wife of Sergeant John Ogle, Oh
August Is, 1879. The first mar
riage was that of civilian carpen
ter to a French half breed girl
The first army wedding did no
take place until Jan. 8, 1881, wher
Chaplain Dodd married JOSEPH
Benton to Emma Smith. The first
death was that of an infant dadgh.
ter of John Brown and wife, Sep
TENDER %, 1879. A man named
Charles Hairless, a civilian en-
ploye, about month later fell
from the roof of the post traders
store and was instantly killed. The
following February pneumonia
prevailed and Edward Hall, pri-
vate soldier, was the first enlisted
man to die at the post. Three COM
missioned officers also passed
away there, Major Morris, Captain
Manley and Lieutenant Low.
The famous, or rather infamous,
Riel rebellion throughout the Can
adam northwest territory, early in
1885, put the garrison at Fort As
sinniboine in a state of excitement.
Riel, it will be remembered by old
residents of Montana, was a half
breed we'll known throughout the
northwest, and a man who exerted
a wide influence upon Indians in
general and the Cree Indians-itin-
Grant bands of which are now scat
tered over northern Montana = in
particular. The military labor
growing out of that disturbance
fell to the lot of the 10th infantry,
which had relieved the 18th infan-
try, and which, with a squadron of
the First cavalry, made up the gar
rison. After the capture of Riel
and the collapse of the rebellion,
the Cree Indians poured into the
territory of Montana in large
bands.
Colonel Elmer S. Otis, who has
since been promoted to a major
generalship, and the same officer
who has been so severely criticized
over his administration of affairs
n the Philippines, was repeatedly
warned by telegraph to keep a |
harp lookout for Little Poplar, a
notorious Cree chief who for some
ears had been the terror of the
'order. For three weeks the SOL
liers at the fort slept with one eye
pen all around and when Little
Poplar did show up Colonel Otis
vas not only inhibited from attack
ng him, but also from the respect
I'll courtesy of inviting him to quit
he country. Little Poplar was
illed near the post by half breed
AIMED James ward and after an
and much Geographic
communication from Washington
him, was released and
lowed to leave that section. Thel
mains of Little Poplar were sub
,quently exhumed by Assistant
Woodruff for comparativel
irposes and the chiefs skull was
mt by the doctor to the anthropo-
gical society of Washington.
When Famine Stalked Abroad
The winter of 1869 was one
extraordinary severity and the
negade Cree Indians from across
e line, who camped near the post,
IRE reduced to the direct extremi-
s. Famine and pestilence made
roads upon their members and
ey even sacrificed their dogs to
pease the pangs of hunger. There
IS no appropriation or authority
feed the INDECENT wretches, but
: commanding officer, actuated
sense Of humanity, issued
res to these vagrant red skins
his personal risk. 1t was kind
act and after a good deal of red
e, tho officers act was approved