The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-09-14

pCd1d III VI rOICE Ellis. IL was q COleC-
ton of log cabins, with dirt roofs COW
cred with boards. On the northwest
and southeast corners were block
houses, through the portfolios of which
an effective rifle fire could be deliver
ed. The fort served to protect the ex-
IRENE eastern settlements of Montana
To the westward, scattered over a large
area, were $500 or 5000 settlers,
while to the east, if we except the
buildings at the Crow Indian agency,
there was not a house for many hum
dreds Of miles,"
Fort Ellis was in the upper Gallatin
valley, three miles from Bozeman, &C
cessible through the three passes of the
Madison, Gallatin and Jefferson. The
Indians made hard work for the troop
pers, keeping the Junior officers in the
saddle most of the time. Butexcite-
ment and danger had its charm.
One of Lieut.. McClernand's worst ex-
periences in his first years of service
came in November, 1871. In early sum
two troops had been sent down the
Yellowstone river as escort to surveyors
Tor the Northern Pacific railroad. The
survey was discontinued early in No
vember, at a point $50 miles east Of
Fort Ellis. One night on the return
march a tent caught fire during a high
wind, and instantly the surrounding
prairie was ablaze, and the camp de-
Stroyed. The weather become stormy,
n a heavy snowfall made their plight
serious. Their situation was reported
by courier to Fort Ellis, and a troop In
command of Lieut.. McClernand was
sent to their relief.
The snow lay deep on the Snowy
mountains east Of Bo1eman, and the
men frequently had to stop to dig out
a horse or pack mule up to his back In
snow. Night overlook them only eight
miles from the fort. They went into
camp, worn out, in a little grove Of
pines just below the summit of the
divide. That night the temperature In
Fort Ellis, 1000 feet below them, regist-
cred 48 degrees below zero. The wind
howled, in spite of the bitter cold; and
even the animals crowded to the fires
Tor respite from the driving wind. No
one tried to sleep. Fortunately the
weather moderated the next forenoon.
they met h returning escort, west
pound, near the big bend of the Vel
loWstone, about 2 p. m. the next day,
n both parties headed for Fort Ellis,
intending to camp in the cottonwoods
o five miles ahead. They had gone
about two miles when a blizzard struck
them, and a 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 it was
discovered that they were riding in a
circle
Cries came from all sides that ears,
noses, arms, legs and feet were freez-
ing; troopers flung themselves from
their horses and had to be lifted back
into the saddles; some men cried aid
begged to be permitted to lie down and
ole; the animals were almost unman-
agable, and the packs could not be ad-
Justed The situation seemed hopeless,
but the only salvation lay in going
ahead. It looked to Lieut.. McClernand
as if his troop would be scattered v e
the storm-swept prairie.
After five hours the advance stumbled
onto the timber they had been seek
ing, more by luck than direction.
Trumpeter Page seiged his trumpet and
blew the Rally" (Six years later Page
fell at the battle of the Big Hole, shot
through the forehead).
fortunately there was a thick growth
:. OF WILLOWS in the cottonwoods, which
maze a Wlndbreak and enabled the
men to kindle a fire. Fifty-three mer
out OF the troop of $50 had their ex-
tremltles frozen, some of them severe
r. ~. They could not have survived the
Inght IN the open. About the same time
a detachment of IS men of the Seven
Tn infantry, in a field zeal Fort Shaw.
had a similar experience, resulting in
% amputations.
The next year found Lieut.. McCleru-
ana again eScortlng surveyors of the
NorChern Pacific on the banks of the
yellowstone. The escort consisted of
TOUR companies of the Seventh infantry
ana TOUR troops of the Second cavalry.
an commanded by Gen. Eugene M.
BAKER, who had well earned his ia
nllhar nickname of Piegan Baker by
Inc licking he had given the Piegans a
Jew years ago.. Lieut.. McClernand had
MS nrst buffalo hunt, near the mouth
OF Clark's Fork; and here, later, he was
W experience his first Indian fighting.
Brlg.-Gen. McClernand died Feb. Q
1870, aged "a. He was born at Jackson
vllle' ILL.,, Def. %, 1848, the son of Brig
zen. John A. McClernand, who com
manded the 18th Army Corps in the
Cavll war. He entered West Point In
1866. In 1893 he was in Cuba, serving
as acknowledgement to General Shaft.
er, n was recommended for a breyet
For g~allantry in action against the
) spanish forces at Santiago, Cuba, July
l, 1893" for which he later received.
also, the Silver Star citation.
After the Santiago campaign, Gen.
!, McClernand served in the Philippines
as colonel Of the 18th U. S. Infantry
volunteers. He was chief-of-staff Of
the Department of the Missouri at
, Omaha, Neb, in March, 1905, and later
was on military duty as attache WITH
the Japanese army. In 1906, he com
manded the First Cavalry at Fort CLARK,