The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-05-23

campaign, with the expectation o
: plundering the villages.
! Indians were always uncertain
allies, and this instance was no ex
ception to the rule. They Tough
: we'll at first, but discouraged by tn
bravery of the Aricaras, decided i
was safer to invade the corn field
of the enemy. At one time it wa.
feared they might transfer their al
legiance to the besieged.
Rose, during this campaign, wa.
a member of Ashleys' company
with the rank of ensign. After il
became evident that the Aricaras
were pretty we'll subdued, he was
sent into the villages to learn whe-
Their they were sincere in the de-
sire for peace they had expressed
Rose reported that they were anx-
ious to come to terms with the
whites, and acting on this infor-
nation, Colonel Leavenworth pre-
pared a treaty, which the Indians
were willing to sign, but which did
not meet with the approval of Pill
cher or Vanderburgh, who held
that this leniency on the part of
the whites. would be looked upon
by the Indians, allies and van
pushed alike, as an evidence of
weakness.
By the terms of the treaty the
Indians were required to return to
General Ashley, what they had
taken from him. This they did not
do, and it became necessary to
force their compliance. Col Leav-
enworth was reluctant to do this,
and postponed his attack until the
following day. Rose told him the
Indians were planning to leave.
their villages, and if the attack was
postponed there would be no at
tack. as the villages would be
empty.
Colonel Leavenworth. like Ash
ley, thought he understood the sit
uation, and was uninfluenced by
the information Rose gave him.
The next morning it was discover
ed that the Indians had escaped
during the night, and again proof
was given of the trustworthiness of
the interpreter.
That Colonel Leavenworth val
ued Roses services highly is
evinced by his report to General
He says that Rose was
the only one who could be persuad-
ed to go into the Aricara villages,
and that he went into them several
times. Further, Colonel Leaven-
worth states, II have since heard
ne is not man of good character. +
Everything he told us, however,
vas fully corroborated."
The records of the military ex-
petition of 1926 show that Rose
-endered valuable assistance on
many occasions. The Indians liked
Tim. When the Aricaras were
bout to attack the Ashley party,
hey first warned Rose, who was
With it. to save himself. In civ
lized community he was held to
,e criminal; among the Crows
lie was regarded as a hero, or he ,
would not have been made chief. K
Instead of seeking to be re-
enged on the ract that had out t
awed him, he was uniformly will ,
1g to help the white men who en- 2
loyed him, and they all bear testi- I
lony in his favor. The Crows, {
lso, with whom he was allied, +
yere indebted to him for aid. Once,
hen the Blackfeet, or more likely, T
he Grosventres of the Prairie, in /
AIDED the Crow country, there was r
fierce battle waged, in which the o
'lackfeet we're victors, and the f
rows about to retreat, when Rose +,
rived on the scene. n
The Blackfeet had strongly in :
enched themselves on hill from
hich the Crows were unable to
slodge them. Rose goaded the
rows to action by accusing them
being towards. He then him
If led the charge that put the
lemy to flight, and won the day
# his followers.
One story makes Roses death as
'ectacular as his life was event
i, but whether it is true or not
IS never been proven. According
this he, and band of Crows,
ere attacked by Aricaras. These
ey were able to hold off for
ne, and until in a final effort to
i've them into the open, the Ari-
ras set fire to the grass. Rapid dy
the flames neared the fortifica- fe
IN which sheltered the Crows, NJ
len suddenly a loud explosion ali
e heard which effectua1lv dec- ae