The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-03-21

with some of his people, was sent tt
Leavenworth and afterward to the
Indian Territory and now the re
mainder of the great Indian fighting
force was to be sent to their differ
ent reserves.
1t was in the latter part of the
month of June, 1881. Colonel Guido
Elgess of the Fifth infantry, who was
in command of Fort Keogh, sent
John Brugier, scout, to the Indian
camp about two and one-half miles
west of the fort, with message or
dering the Indians to break camp and
move down the river about two miles
north of the fort, where they were
to embark on five steamboats, which
were to take them down the river to
| Standing Rock. The Sioux were ar
rogant, and sent back word that if
| the White Chief wanted their tepees
down, to come and take them down.
Colonel Elgess at once had the call,
Boots and Saddles" sounded and
in very short time every soldier in
the fort was mounted and in line
fully armed and ready to fight if
need be. They marched out on the
flat between the fort and the Indian
camp and halted. Immediately in
front of them we're placed four Cat
ling guns of the six barrel revolving
type and two single barrel Hotchkiss
guns. These latter were feared by
the Indians on account of them
shooting an explosive ball and were
called by them, "Shoot today, kill
tomorrow" Gunners stood by the
guns ready to fire.
Again Brugier was sent to the
camp with orders to the Indians to
break camp and this time break they
did. In less than half an hour the
tepees were down and the Indians
were lstringing out to their last camp
on the Yellowstone. By night all the
lodges were up and fires lighted.
Troops were stationed to guard the
camp.
Four of the river boats that piled
the Yellowstone in those days were
tried up at the bank close to the
Indian camp. They were the Fanny |
the General Rucker, Katie |
P. Kountz, and the Nellie Peck |
some misunderstanding the
fifth boat had not arrived. The I
water in the river was falling fast /
and fears were entertained that it
would fall to point too low for the
boats to make the trip down. After
.hree days wait the last boat put in
It's appearance. 1t was the Far West
rhe Far West was one of the most
'amous of the steamboats, of the
carly days. 1t was the Far West that
n 1919 oorrfad c11nn1fac fa,. ff1o q nm =,
n the campaign that ended with the
massacre of General Custer and his
nen on the Little Big Horn. The
lay after the arrival of the Far West,
he troops were stationed around the
amp and messengers were sent to
he various chiefs to prepare their
,eople to go on board the steam
Ioats.
All was hustle and hurry among ]
he Indians. The squaws were hust- {
ing their many belongings together,
ach and every one of them shouting,
rying, and laughing and the multi [
ude of dogs aiding in the general I
oise by their yelping and barking.
he warriors stood in silent groups
making no move to help
he women. The camp was sur .
ounded by people from the fort who s
ad come to see the Indians depart. I
Iany of the squaws were shaking :
ands with the soldiers wives whom !,
hey knew and bidding them good
we.
About nine-thirty trumpet sound
i and the tepees began to fall. In :
very short while every lodge was
own and ready for loading and the
isk of embarkation begun. The
oats were loaded in the following
rder: Nellie Peck, Far West, Katie
Kountz, General Rucker, Fannie
achellor. When the Peck was
AIDED and the big whistle blew and
lie boat began to back out into the
ream pandemoninm seemed to