The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-05-20

ANOM AAORG AL AAAG IA ALN0
selshell City arrived with the spring Of
1869. General Hancock, commanding the
department of Dakota, under which mill
tary Jurisdiction Montana territory was
then located, directed the survey for a
military roa from Fort Ellis, near Boze-
man, to the mouth OF the MuSselshell
river, and a suitable military reservation
site was selected near the latter point.
This work was performed und the sup
erintendence of Captain Cliff of the
Thirtieth Infantry. The reservation site
which Captain Cliff chose was one mile
square and bordered the Missouri river
embracing both banks of the Musselshell.
This action OF the part of the military
seemed to portend the establishment Of a
military post; but the war department.
apparently did not sanction such a prop
osition. AS the result, no protection was
afforded the little town.
In the meantime, the hostile Sioux in
creased their activities against the whites
who were -endeavoring to protect their
little settlement.
Three Woodlands Killed
In March, 1869, a large war party OF
the Sioux advanced against the town.
Passing up the river, they attacked a
group of Woodlands killing three. A
fourth, though badly wounded, reached
his cabin where another man was con-
valescing from wounds received in a pre-
vious encounter with the natives. The
two wounded men were successful in
6NdLluLLlE O4 bllC 4AA0AdAAog III AAcA
reached the settlement after having en-
dured Understandable hardship and suffer-
ing.
About the first of May, the Sioux began
crowding the post where the settlers had
AXE refuge. The Indians had appar-
emily been reinforced strongly. At this
time the Sioux were beginning to feel
the pressure Of advancing civilization in
Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas; and
many of the tribes from those parts
1893 41kN AHnNfnno fnrrf-
tory. This undoubtedly accounts for the
rapid rise in numerical strength Of h
Montana Sioux during the late sixties
and the early seventies. AS they were
forced westward their bitterness against
and hatred for the whites increased to
fever heat; nd, as the post at the mouth
Of the Musselshell constituted the prtn-
cipal white settlement in eastern Mon
tana territory, it was at this point that
the reds centered their attack.
The Sioux Attack
It happened that in these early May
days of 1869, there were about so men
gathered at the Musselshell post await
ing the arrival of the first steamboat
from st. Louis. Part of these were at
the trading post n the remainder at
w~oodyards which had been established
across on the north AMI of the Mussel-
shell. In the camp were two squaws.
One morning these started out to gather
dry ireWoOd. On approaching the n
of the Musselshell, they were attacked
by the Sioux, Of them receiving Sert-
Gus Wounds. They escaped to the settle
ment, and as soon as the news Of the at
tack was received by the traders and
WOodhaWks, every man OF the entire
party turned out with all the firearms
and ammunition available. 1t was de-
cided to at this time teach the Sioux a
lesson" and the little army sailed forth
bent upon reprisal for the many lives
that had been sacrificed to the jealous
whim of the natives. The whites pro-
ceeded in skirmish formation over the
dered the Musselshel1. At this point
there was a scattering growth of cotton
wood trees.
Colonel Clendennin was on the left of
the line, toward the Missouri; and, as
the steep bank Of the MuSSelShel Afford
ed the Sioux an excellent cover, he pro-
posed to first ~reconnoitre the position of
the enemy by keeping close to the Mis-
souri, until he arrived at the mouth OF
the Musselshell from which point be
could get a good view Of them up the
valley. Acting upon this plan, Clenden-
min discovered a numerous body of war
riors running along h bank OF the
MusSelshell and turning the point in the
distance, while about half a dozen were
seen to enter a small raVine as if to shell
ter themselves from the rife fire he had
instantly opened upon them. Returning
at once to the main party, Colonel Glen
denning at once apprised the whites OF
his discovery. At nee the whole line
advanced against the ravine, hoping tt
capture or kill the small warrior banC
that had been seen to enter it.
Leaders Folly
AS they approached, however, a heav!
/ fire was opened from the direction of TIT
ravine and continued with such rapiditl
that the whites were compelled to lii
down in the shelter of the S~agebrush. II
l this position, they exchanged shots will
l the reds who were we'll concealed behinC
) the rim of the cutbank. In the mean
/ time, Jacob Leader, a German, who wa
2 employed by Colonel C~lendennin as
Crow interpreter, Joined the line ant
{ rashly started forward toward the ra
vine. Stimulated by his apparent fear
lessness, the entire party Of whites moves
2 forward. They were met by a hot fire
and Leader fell dead. A bullet had en-
tered his mouth and plowed its wa
through the back of his head. II
; dropped back into the arms of the lat
; Colonel G. R. Norris, who was a membe
Of the party and who was directly be
d hind the unfortunate victim. TIL
e checked the advance for the time being
the whites again dropped into the sage
brush or behind cottonwood trees.
y achievements
About this time a number OF wood
& hawks from across the Missouri arrive
: to reinforce the little white army. Thu
, the fact that a heavy rainstorm had sc
in, it was decided to continue the al
: tack and clean up as many of the ms
rauders as was possible. A direct attac
70 upon the ravine was not deemed prT
D dent, as such a course would mean tn
sacrifice Of several Of their number.
Finally Jim Wells, Frank Smith, Hem
> Mcdonald and Joe Bushaway proceede
le TO a point somewhat below the raviI
" and succeeded in crossing the river. The
q Occasionally the friendly Crows yisi