The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-12-20
LIBBY TELLS
ABOUT FISK'S
EXPEDITION
States First Moonlight Wed
ding Described in His
torical Article

NORTH Dakota's first moonlight
wedding Of which there ID any rec.
ord probably occurred in 1862, &C.
cording to historical researches by
% 6. Libby, head Of the history de-
partmeut 1t the state university
here.
Dr.. Libby tells about it in connec-
ton with the Fisk expedition OF that
year which crossed the Dakota
prairies en- route to the gold fields
Of Montana and Idaho.
The following article by DR.. Libby
is the thirtieth Of . series on North
Dakota written for the Associated
Press and it, member newspapers.
BY o. G. Libby
Captain James L. Fisk was de-
tailed by Secretary Of War Stan
ton to undertake the guiding Of sew
cral parties Of emigrants and gold
seekers from various parts Of west
ern Minnesota to the gold fields of
Montana and Idaho. His work was
to supplement that of Governor
Stevens in 1858 in laying out q prac-
ticable wagon route from the Red
River to the Pacific, with the idea of
having this wagon road develop later
into . transcontinental railway.
On June is, 1862, he left st. Paul
with q military escort of so men.
L....grants and gold seekers made up
. wagon train containing 100 persons
and S3 yoke Of oxen.
The expedition was described as
designed Ito afford guidance and
protection to the emigrants and at
the same time test the practicability
OF this northern route for future
emigration"
Bottineau Was Chief Scout
Pierre Bottineau, the well-known
Chippewa guide, was selected as
chief scout and interpreter. The
commander organized his party care
fully and included among his as
sistants surveyor, physician and
q secretary to keep the journal Of
the expedition.
The Fourth Of July was celebrat-
ed at Fort Abercrombie, the day
being honored by program in which
officers and soldiers of the post took
q prominent part. At this point,
Captain Fisk added q 12-pound
howitzer and an artillery squad to
his guard for the protection Of the
emigrants who were afraid to ven-
ture into the hunting grounds Of the
Sioux.
Since there were number Of men
in the train skilled in the use of
their axes, the larger streams were
crossed by 'ude bridges built by
these pioneer bridge builders. The
Maple, the Sheyenne, and the Mouse
r.s . were thus bridged and crossed
by the entire wagon train.
Prairie Wedding
The journalist Of the expedition,
s. r. Bond, kept entries of all the
more important events of the trip
and entered in his diary, also, such
interesting items as buffalo hunts,
an unusual display of northern
lights and meetings with Indians. At
the second crossing of the Sheycnne
river, about 30 miles south of Lake
Jessie (n0w in Griggs county,, the
journalist records . prairie wedding.
lie says: AT this camp occurred an
incident which served to break the
monotony of camp life and to con-
secrate the spot in the memories Of
ut least two Of our party Of emf
grants. A young couple ha been OBJ
served, early in our journey, to
evince q strong and growing ;ffAc-
ton for each other, and, with the
consent Of the young lady's relatives,
VINO were in the train, they deter
mined to celebrate their nuptials with
al the form and solemnity that the
absence Of municipal organization
would permit. So after the evening
meal. with the moon shedding q
bright, chaste light over the scene,
the young couple, in the presence Of
al the membl of our train,
pledged their troth to live together
as husband and wife until death
81 -uld them part" and the forms Of
the Episcopal marriage service,
which were read b one of our party,
were used upon the occasion. The
congratulations and good wishes of
friends followed, and then a dance
upon the green sward to the music
OF . violin closed the &C emony Of
this wedding on the plains"