The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-01-01
EXCITING TIMES IN THE YELLOWSTONE VALLEY IN 81 WHEN
SWORDBEARER ATTEMPTS TO STIR CROW INDIANS TO REVOLT

blockhouse in case of an attack
while it was stocked with provision
and water.
Swordbearer again retired to the
mountains to make medicine. The
| government at length seems to have
come to the conclusion that action
was necessary and orders were sent
for soldiers to o up preparatory
to comprising the arrest Of Sword
bearer which seemed the most prac-
teal way of ending the trouble.
Troops from Fort Kenough moved up
to the Cheyenne reservation while
| others from Fort Mckinney and Fort
Mead also started for the scene OF
activity. Gen. Ruger was placed in
charge Of operations while Major
Simon Snyder was sent from Fort
Custer to the agency with two troops.
In Billings, then a frontier town OF
about 1000 people, excitement in
creased with daily word Of Indian
war dances and threatening moves.
| Settlers who had established homes
up and down the Yellowstone valley
brought their families into town
Preparations were made to defend
the city against any attack and the
city's company of militia headed by
Captain lie Roy held daily drills.
Old Indian fighters allured by the
prospect of picking off a few Indians
!, began to gather. Uncle Billy Hamil
ton was on the scene with his trust!
gun and Liver Eating Johnson also
arrived. AS the troops began to con
centrate at Fort Custer, many o
49,. ~v,~A AL1-o - go AL1 FIN
DR.. Hersey, at that time editor o
the Billings Gazette was commission
ed by several eastern parties to &C
as war correspondent at the front
while one or two papers sent repre-
%sentatives here. A great deal Of lOca
interest was taken in the editor
costume as a wal correspondent, bu
an appropriate uniform was at lengtl
designed and daily bulletins wer
soon coming to the Gazette and tn
doctors line of papers about event
on the scene Of action.
Seek Cooperation of Cheyennes
SWOrdbearer and a number of hi
braves determined to seek the CT
operation of the Cheyennes in thei
warlike enterprise and while the so
diers gathered he jOurned rel
the Tongue river. The Cheyenne
who had been hindered in their Ow
wars against the whites by the Grow
unfriendlY attitude, were in no moo
to help their old foes. Two Moon
the cheyenne chieftain, refused
Join in the war dance. About
young C~heyennes returned wit
-SwOrdbearer, but he had expected
least several hundred to join the e.
petition.
Another ration day on October
found both sides making ready Fl
the fray. At Fort Custer, troops we
drilling under marching orders al
rations were being distributed. T.
troops were heavily armed wi
double rounds of ammunition. T.
distribution of rations was expect
% give the authorities a tab on t
4Xtent of the d~isaffectiOn. There we
100 families missing. SwOrdbeaT
and his braves we're camped a she
distance away from the agency.
The next day Scout James Cam
bell went into the hostile camp
the Indians consisting of about 2
- braves and asked for the suTrenC
- of the six or seven men includi
q S~wOrdbearer, who were deemed I
u ~ringleaders in the attack on I
pe agency. The demand was refus
~ but the scout returned unmolest
There was continued concern
~ to the extent of aid that Swardbea.
would receive in case of hostiliti
= 1t was felt that Swordbearer v
'ne being urged on by some of the M
crafty chieftain who were using h
to- as a catspaw. The probable stand
rd- Deaf Bull and Crazy Head, wal chi
nd was feared. Pretty Eagle, the N
ms powerful chief of the tribe war;
ut the soldiers that many would come
cen the aid of Swordbearer if any ARE
5 a we're attempted.