Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-08

the men not equipped for such weazh-
err and they could sleep little ia camp
They were disappointed in the ap-
peaEaace Of Fort Ellis. Il was q coIlec-
ton Of log cabins, with dirt roofs COW
cred with boards. On the northwest
and southeast corners were block
houses, through the p0Kthoies OF which
an effective rifle fire could be deliver
ed The fort served to protect the ex~
trene eastern settlements OF AHog1aua.
TO the westward, scattered over q large
area, were IS 900 or 10000 settlers
while to the east, If we except the
buildings at the Grow Indian agency,
there was not 8 house for many hum
dreds OF miles.
Fort Ellis was in the upper Ga1latin
valley, three miles from Bozeman, ae-
cesslble through the three passes Of the
Madison, Gallatin and jefferson. The
Indians made hard work for the troop
perss keeping the junior officers IN thls
saddle most OF the time But excite
ment and danger had it's charm.
One OF Lieut. McCleTnand's worst ex-
periences IN his first years OF serVies
came in November, 1871. In early sum-
mer two troops had been sent down the
Yellowstone river as escort to surveyors
for the Northern Pacific railroad The
survey was discontinued early In NO
vember, at 8 point $50 miles east OF
Fort Ellis. One night on the return
march tent caught fire during high
wind, and instantly the surrounding
prairie was ablaze, and the camp de
Str0yed The weather become stormy,
and heavy snowfall made their plight
serious. Their situation was reported
by courier to Fort Ellis, and troop IN
command OF Lieut.. McClernand was
sent to their relief.
The snow lay deep on the Snowy
mountains east Of Bozeman. ard tAas
men frequently had TO stop to dig out
q horse or pack mule up 70 his back m
snow. Night overlook them only eight
miles from the fort. They went into
camp worn out, In q little grove OF
pines just below the summit Of the
divide. That night the temperature IN
Fort Ellis, LOCO feet below them, regiss-
cred IS degrees below zero. The wind
howleds In spite OF the bitter cold: and
even the animals crowded to the fires
for respite from the driving wind. NO
one tried 10 sleep. Fortunately the
weather moderated the next forenoon.
They met the returning escort, west
bound. near the big bend of the Vel
luwstone, about 2 p. m. the next day,
and both parties headed for Fort Ellis,
intending 10 camp In the cottonw0ods
about five miles ahead They had gone
about two miles when blizzard struck
them, and q driving wind cut the coarse
snow, hard as sleet, into their faces
All landmarks were obscured, and the
trail obliterated Each officer took
turns leading the column. and after
two hours Of desperate struggling IL was
discovered that they were riding IN q
circle
Cries came from all sides that ears,
noses. arms, legs and feet we're freez-
ing; troopers flung themselves froA
their horses and had to be lifted back
into the saddles; some men cried and
begged to be permitted to lie down and
lie; the animals were almost unman-
agable, and the packs could not be ad-
lusted The situation seemed hopeless,
but the only salvation lay In going
ahead 1t looked to Lieut.. McClernand
IS If his troop would be scattered over
'he storm-swept prairie.
After five hours the advance stumbled
INTO the timber they had been seek
ng, more by luck than direction
lrumpeter Page seiged his trumpet and
blew the rally" (Six years later Page
ell at the battle OF the Big Hole, shot
through the forehead.
Fortunately there was q thick growth
II willows In the cottonwoods, which
made a windbreak and enabled the
men to kindle fire. FTfty-three men
nut Of the troop Of $50 had their ex-
remities frozen. some of them severe
y. They could not have survived the
light IN the open. About the same time
! detachment Of IS men Of the Seven
h infantry, Ia field near Fort shaw,
lad similar experience, resulting tn
2 amputations.
The next year found Lieut.. McCIern-
nd again escorting surveyors OF the
Iorthern Pacific on the banks Of the
Yellowstone The escort consisted OF
our companies OF the Seventh infankxy
nd four troops Of the Second cavalry,
VI commanded by Gen. Eugene A.
,aker, who had wen earned his ia
ailiaT nickname Of Piegan Baker BY
be licking he had given the Plegans 8
w years ago. Lieut.. McCleFmand had
rs first buffalo hunt, near the moush
Clarks Fork; and here, later he was
0 experience hts first Indian fighting.
Brig.-Gen. McCIernand died Peb. 3.
20, aged "a. He was born at jackson
lie, III, Dec. 20, 184e, the son OF Brig
len. John A. McClernand, who COM
handed the 18th Army Corps In the
avU war. He entered West Point in
S66. In 1898 he was IN Cuba serving
5 acknowledgement to General Shaft
r, and was recommended for breyet
For gaIlantry in action against the
panish forces at Santiago Cuba. July
1888. for which he later received.
ls0 the Silver Star citation.
After the Santiago campaign, Gen.
EcCAernsnd served IN the Philippines
. colonel OF the 4th q. s. Infantry
olunteers. He was chief of staff Of
le Department o. the Missouri Ct
mahas Neb, IN March, 1905, and later
as ca military duty as attache with
Ne japanese army. In 1903. he coan-
a. a