The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-10-12
SIR GEORGE GORE AND HIS EXPEDITION
INTO MONTANA lM ga; TRAVELLED DELUXE;
AT OUTS WITH VAUGHN AND CULBERTSOM

Sir George Gore came west in
1853, passing the season principally
in Colorado, visiting the parks and
| wintering at Fort Laramie. Sir
| George started with wagons and used
them through 1853 but disposed of
all but six He made late start
in 1854 owing to waiting for supplies
| from the east. Bostwick was not
with him the first year but joined
| him at Laramie. In August, 1854,
Sir George left Laramie with forty
one men, four six-mule wagons, two
| three-yOke OK wagons and twenty
one French carts, painted red, each
drawn by two horses. One wagon
was loaded entirely with Sir Georges
private arsm, of which he had some
seventy-five rifles with large num-
Der, twelve or fifteen, shotguns, and
two wagons with Sir Georges fish
ing tackle. One of his attendants
was a skilled fly maker and was
constantly gathering new material
for flies. Sir George was abundantly
supplied with everything necessary to
his convenience and comfort. He
had a large linen tent, about 10x18
feet, hung throughout with striped
lining, a brass bedstead that un-
screwed and packed in small space,
a portable iron table nd iron wash
stand, and three milk cows. He car
ried with him also splendid tele- |
scope with about six-inch lens, sup |
ported upon tripod, an instrument
of great power. He was supplied |
with large number of guns, single
and double-barrel, of the best work
manship, all muzzle-loaders except I
one Sharp's rifle. He also had a
large number of pistols of every des-
cription including revolvers.
Built Fort on Tongue River
During the season of 1854 he as
cended the North Platte to Box Elder
then crossed to Powder river, follow
ing down the Dry Fork to where
Fort Reno afterwards stood, des-
cended Powder river to the Yellow
stone and assembled the Yellowstone
to Tongue river, on whose right bank
eight miles above the mouth, he
built fort, including stables, store
houses and quarters for his men. 1t
was his intention TO have wintered
here, but, unfortunately, Bostwick
set the woods ON fire by accident,
destroying all the grass in the vicin- ;
ity so that it became necessary to
seek new grazing grounds at the j
mouth of Tongue river. Sir George ,
passed the winter with a part of his !
men in the rude quarters at the lat !
ter place, the remainder wintering
at the fort. Sir George caused to be !
built for his own use a small log ,
building, into which he also admit
ted his favorite horse, Steel Trap, a
Kentucky horse, grey, !
tall, but of light build. :
During the winter each man was
required to gather one hundred and
twenty-five pounds of cottonwood :
bark as forage for the animals but =
Sir George fed his favorite horse on +
Fought With Indians :
During the winter the Piegans ran b
,ff twenty-one of their horses. They !,
we're followed by eleven mounted i
nen some sixty miles but without :
success as heavy snowstorm COM
,letely obliterated the trail. The =
3loods made a subsequent attempt .
When the horses were in the corral, E
hree effecting an entrance, but the =
loise made by them in removing the =
tickets reused the men and Sir 9
Georges cook fired, wounding Major I
Julbertson's brother-in-law, Big =
plume, who was one of the maraud- :,
ng party, whereupon the Indians
led, without securing any horses.
hey were followed some thirty miles
through deep snow but the animals
f the pursuing party began to give i
ut and pursuit was discontinued Il
The next spring, about March J., V
fl