Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-04-10

refuge with other tribes. Fearing that
~depredations, which in Idaho had in
Guided the killing of several settlers
would be re-enacted ii the band
reached Montana or Wyoming settle
ments, Miles hurried back with the
noncombatants to Fort Ellis near Boze-
man, where they were left.
With only rs men, Miles then hur-
ried to occupy the passes from Yellow
stone park through which the Ban
hacks often came in visiting the Crows.
The little band was divided, 40 men
going with Lieutenant Bailey TO oc-
cupy Boulder pass, a rough, difficult
way which the Bannacks might pos
sibly take. Miles, with the remaining
35 men, hurried or to the Clark's Fork
pass lis miles away.
Scouts were sent out in advance to
the Grow agency, then on the Still
water, lee the present town of Alb
sarokee, to urge the Crows TO join the
expedition. The Grows were at first
i%ndisposed to take part until abundant
rationS and ammunition and more par
ticularly, all the stock they could cap
ture from the Bannack band, were
offered TO them. When they saw, how
ever, what a small detachment Miles
really had they hesitated again. At
last two of the hardest and most deS-
perate looking warriors, as Miles de-
Scribes them, announced their willing
ness TO go. Then others joined and
finally a total of rs men were procured
from the tribe.
Hurrying as fast as the troops could
move and displaying the celebrity which
had won him more than one Indian
fight, Miles reached the vicinity Of
the pass through which the Bannacks
were expected within mi day. Rock, a
French half breed interpreter and
guide, had pushed on ahead into the
pass and had found the Bannacks just
as they were leaving the park by the
anticipated route. Circling back, Rock
got in ahead with the news and Miles
prepared to conceal his men in a
pocket in the mountains nearly sur
rounded by high cliffs
Scouts were sent out with instruc-
tons TO keep under cedar brush and
with glasses watch for the coming Ban
nacls. The soldiers, Indians and pack
outfit were kept screened in the small
park Of the pocket" Late in the
morning the Bannack band was seen
winding down the rocky trail to the
Clark's Fork valley, some II miles
away. They camped about six miles
from the troops and built campfires
and made preparations for the night.
Watch was kept until night and then
Miles band moved up to within about
two miles of the camp. Two Crows
then crept up and obtained more exact
information as to the camp location.
The night was dark and rainy and
Miles moved again as close as possible
to his foe without giving the alarm.
RAIN was falling in torrents as they
halted. Shortly afterWard a light was
seen which disclosed the location of
the camp. Spreading out his men in
skirmish formation with the light as
the center, the Grows we're placed on
the left. AS the troops cautiously
moved toward the scattered horses of
the Bannacks, the Crows started NOV
ing behind them to the right, turning
the horses to the rear.
When the soldiers were about 100
yards from the camp they opened fire.
The Indians, taken completely by sur
prise, scurried out of their tepeeS into
the tall S%agebruSh. Some Of them
jumped into the river and swan across
while others returned the fire in a
desultory fashion. Eleven warriors
were killed and a number wounded. In
the dim light many succeeded in
escaping to the hills, bereft of horses
n equipment. Some 40 or SO of the
Bannacks were taken captive by the
troops Or surrendered. The battle was
over by six o'clock in the morning.
Captain Bennett was killed in the
middle of the fight. He was shot in
the center of the breast and expired
instantly. His body was afterward sent
back to his old home in Wisconsin.
Another heavy loss was the death Of
interpreter Rock, who had been one
OF the most enterprising of scouts. He
spoke a number of Indian languages,
including both Grow and Bannack, and
had proved a very valuable addition to
Miles forces.
The Crows, who had always been
friendly toward the Bannacks, took
little part in the fight. After driving
of the horses most of them kept on to
the agency, making sure that their
prizes did not escape them. Quite a
number, after turning their captured
steeds oyer to others, went back to the
aid of the troops and one or two of
uiASAh WSAO iAS AL WIG OQltll.
Miles tells Of the mourning of the
Grows as a warrior of some conse-
quence was prepared for burial and
then, with all his most valued belong
ings about him, a carried to a burial
cairn among the cliffs at some dis
lance from the camp.
Lieutenant-C Colonel Buell., commander
at Fort Custer, had also received in
formation in regard to the Bannack
invasion and had pushed forward from
the Big Horn to stop their advance.
Delayed by the heavy rains which
made the bringing up of supplies diff
cult, his soldiers Of the Eleventh in
fantry arrived on the battle scene just
as its close. Miles turned over the
captive Bannacks to Buell. to hold at
Fort Custer until arrangements were
made for them to be sent elsewhere.
Then Miles and his own small band
turned again to the west to resume the
trip to Yellowstone park, postponed be-
cause of the Bannack incursion.
Henry A. Firth, a Billings pioneer,
was one of Buelrs command which
arrived at the scene of the battle at
its close but in time to join in the pur-