The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-07-13

sidering all pertinent conditions, it
seems a rational estimate to fix the
number at $50 or more, combining SOL
diers and a few civilian employees. Be-
ing cavarlymen, all of them had horses.
In n place the number of animals"
presumably horses and oxen-is men
toned as between three and four
hundred" Much of the time grass
was greatly insufficient for their
healthful ~sustenance. Never was the
grazing fully sufficient until they got
into the, Montana mountain country
in the approach to Virginia City.
It is notable that these United States
soldiers going from Fort Sanders, Wyo.,
to Fort Ellis, Mont, did not travel over
the Bozeman trail, much the shorter
and better course. The explanation is
that the Bozeman trail had caused war
fare with the Sioux and Cheyennes
from 1866 to 1868, when Forts Phil
kearney, Reno, and c. F. Smith were
in constant besiegement. A treaty in
1868 had brought removal of all troops
from those posts and a full acknowl-
edgment of that region as restrictively
an Indian hunting land. EmigrantS
continued to travel through it, but US
ually in very large trains, for self pro-
lection, and not guarded or protected
by soldiers. It would have been a vio-
lation of that treaty if these soldiers
in 1869 had passed over the Boze-
man trail.
The crossing of Snake river, June II,
was over Taylor's bridge. The diary
says that Taylor & Anderson had a
store there. Probably they also owned
the bridge and collected toll for its use.
At any rate, other toll bridges and two
toll gates are mentioned. One of the
toll gates was in Stinkingwater valley
now known as Ruby valley-eleven
miles from Virginia City as they ap-
preached that famed gold mining camp.
A toll gate was encountered also as they
went over the divide east after they left
| Virginia City. At this place travel fare
was collected for use of a graded road
owned by j. A. Slade, a man noted for
his capability in pioneer enterprises, but
too eager to use a gun, and who end
ed his career a a victim Of Virginia
| City's vigilantes.
The soldiers remained in camp over
a day in Twilight gulch, just above
| Virginia City. Colonel Bracket re-
corded very pleasant thoughts of the
nospitahty OF NE pep
pie IN tnat livery ROCKY mountain ceL-
Ter OF placer mining: mere Is men
lion OF a pay al Inc Ineatce tnat Ilgnt
SATURDAY, June 20. fHe1e,eIlce Is niaue
| 10 line oullolngs ne mao hoG expect
ed TO ZEE. IN particular: me ma
| sonic nan. a u stone mouse, Is Ine I'M
est ouliolng IN the terrltory. IN
same STRUCTURE Is YET IN use as tle
masonic nau al ina Official ceilter VI
county.
oterhng, a pushing quartz INNING
calnp III tioSe oays, was reaclleo on Ile
evening OF June 70 me olary tells OF
various quartz HILLS tEere tnp LIE
golo u OF ore from NEARBY s!a1Is OF
In iact, Sterllng soon became
an apanooneo camp ana now IL Is pu'
a oim memory.
Inc Wesc GaHatin river was crossed
al ErskuaeS ton pr!oge. camp wa
SET up soon a1ter ina crossing wa:
mace. ooHe on Inc solo1ers went 1lsn'
ing: 1ney caught several OF a species
OF 1isn strange 10 them Ihey deslgnat'
co IL "hal1-trout:' Inc descrlptlon IN
o1cates u was Wnat 1lshermen there II
present times know as grayhng.