The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-01-05
VAUGHN BRAVED
WRATH OF SIOUX
MONTANA PIONEER MEMBER OF
M'KNIGHT EXPEDITION
TO ALDER GULCH
Caravan of 400 Men and 100 Wagons
Kept Under Army Discipline Dur
ing Progress Through Territory of
Sitting Bull; Many Massacred on
Same Route Following Year.

In the rush in the early sixties tt
reach Alder gulch from the heater
immigrant track that led through
southern Wyoming there were many
holder spirits who were eager to ruI
the risk of Indian ambush in new
paths through the wilderness in the
hope thereby of shortening theiI
journey by few weeks or even q
few days. At the same time that
John Bozeman, after whom the city
of Bozeman is named, was at Fort
Laramie trying to organize a train
to take cutoff route east of the
Big Horn mountains, a trader at this
post by the name of Mcknight was
organizing caravan to go north
westward through the Wind River
country west of the Big Horn noun
tains, thereby penetrating the heart
of the wild region where Red Cloud
and Sitting Bull reigned over 10000
or 10000 Sioux.
Mcknight was confident that his
route offered great advantages over
all others and he issued call for
500 determined men to join him with
100 wagons.
Vaughn Among First to Respond
Among the first to respond to this
appeal was Robert Vaughn, who died
few years ago at Great Falls.
Vaughn spoke for himself and four
others. Out of the scores that passed
through Laramie that day bound for
the new gold diggings, 20 joined the
Mcknight train. This company of
close to 100 men pulled out about a
quarter of mile in the direction
they were to travel and established
camp.
This camp was kind of 'refin-
cry, said Mr.. Vaughn, in recounting
his experience. Here one and all
might consider the periIs and priva-
lions likely to be encountered. The
ones took the safer
route by way of the South Pass. How
ever, in few days we had $50 men
and more than 100 wagons. We were
aware that we were going to travel
through several hundred miles of I'M
trodden wilderness infested by Sioux,
so it was necessary for us to be we'll
armed and organized. Before start
ing we took vote and selected a
captain and two lieutenants, and a
committee of three to examine every
one and see if he was prepared with
guns and sufficient ammunition, and
f his outfit was substantial enough
% make the trip.
A paper was drawn in which was
Inserted provision that we were to |
tand by and defend each other at |
Ill hazards; to this we all signed our
lanes. We realized that it was a |
'erilous undertaking, but we pressed |
We depended great deal
IN our guide. He was reared in Cam
da and had been in the employ of /
he Hudson's Bay company. His
act and courage, on more than one
occasion, resulted in the avoidance
f trouble with hostile Indians.
Roll was called every evening.
ZACH man had to be on guard for
our consecutive hours during the
light. To form the camp the first
'agon had to make a circle until it
aced the hindmost one, and each one
forming thus a stockade,
he horses being driven past the in
de hind wheel of the wagon in
ont; after unhitching, the tongue
as thrown over the wheel and rest
on the axle. At night all the
orses and tents were on the inside
Id the sentinels were on the out
de.
Indians Taken Unawares
When the Sioux came to our
mp they would go from one tent
another in sullen manner with
contemplate look as though they
ere going to massacre every one of
. Probably the reason they did
It was that we had taken them I'M 4
Vares; besides we were as good as
equal number of soldiers If it had
me to fighting. BY the year fol- :
wing they were better prepared for
ey had obtained guns and ammu- I
ton from the traders. Then they
lied many immigrants. The sue s
eding year travel through that
TT Of the Sioux country was entire r
discontinued, and Fort Phil Kear-
y was established. A few months
er occurred the Fetterman fight,
len Fetterman and his command of =
were wiped out by the Sioux And
ese savages kept up their murder :
S deeds until the Sioux war of :
76. &c
ut was against the rules of our
mp for any one to kindle a fire :,
er dark The object was to pre-
1T the Indians from locating us at
hit. We were obliged to camp
ere an abundance of water could
obtained. A small spring would -
meet our requirements, for we Nd
nearly 300 horses. 1t was hard
US to secure game of any kind
the Indians kept driving it away p
we went, and it was not prudent =
US to venture far from the course ID
were pursuing to look for any.
One day at dinner time I climbed =