The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-05-11

informed on maneuverS of American
troops.
During this trouble reports of Sit
ting Bulls plans reached Washington
and an appropriation of $500, 900 was
made for establishment of a garrison
ed post at some strategic point in
northern Montana. The site chosen
was six miles from where Havre now
stands and the name was Fort ASSN
niboine.
Col. F. H. Ruger with the 18th in
fantry was the first commanding Of
ficer. Stone for the fort buildings was
quarried from Black butte at Pacific
Junction west of Havre. L. K. Devlin,
who had recently come to Montana
from st. Paul, was in charge of quar-
rylng and the work was done by SOL
diers. Lumber was shipped up the
Missouri river from St. Louis and was
unloaded at Coal Banks, which has
since been named Virgeue. Supplies
were also freighted from the NC
Namara & NARROW warehouse at Big
Sandy, OK teams being used on wagons.
BY late summer of 1879 matters ap-
peared to be reaching a climax and de-
tachments of troops were sent to aid
General Miles, whose headquarters
was at Fort Buford. No one knew
where Sitting Bull would attack but
General Miles believed he would strike
first in eastern Montana.
AS Miles had foreseen, Sitting Bulls
attack was made in eastern Montana.
The old chiefs forces were defeated
and pursued across the border for the
second time.
Back or the Canadian plains again,
Sitting Bull sat and contemplated his
failure to regain traditional lands of his
people. According to rumor ever pre-
valent during the years following the
1879 defeat of the Sioux, the Indians
were biding their time and gathering
their forces for N last attempt
against the whites.
! The 18th infantry at Fort ASSN
niboine had been replaced by the Goth
infantry under General Otis, after
wards military governor of the Phil
lippines. During these years the prin-
cipal activity of the troops in north
ern Montana was chasing Crees, Bloods
and Blackfeet back to their own ter
ritorieS. These Indians were inveter-
ate horse thieves and they persisted in
raiding camps of more law abiding In
dams, white settlers and even military
encampments and stealing horses.
When in the late eighties, rumors
of a Sioux uprising became more and
more alarming and the Great North
ern railway notified agents from the
western district of North Dakota to the
Sweet Grass hills to keep constant
watch and report Immediately any
evidence that the Indians were con-
templating immediate action.
Troops of Fort A~SSinniboine were dis
patched to North Dakota, where, in the
belief of the military leaders, Sitting
Bull would make his second attack.
This left northern Montana in a state
bordering on panic. Indian warfare
methods were well known. Sitting Bull
had led the American troops a merry
chase for months before the final blow
was dealt back in 1879 and the settlers.
believed that the old chief knew the
exact position of the Goth infantry and
was but waiting the right moment to
descend upon the unprotected and scat
tered villages and settlements.
AT Great Falls young men had form
ed a guard and warnings had been is
sued all along the railroad. Many SET
Tiers left ranches and moved to set
Elements until the dreaded and expected
uprising should be suppressed.
During this historical period and on
\ a qulet summer evening residents of
Great Falls were startled and fear
stricken to hear the rattle and bang of
musketry down the Missouri river, from
which direction Sitting Bull had been
expected Tor weeks. Panic swept the
W women screamed and tainted,
while men rushed madly about look
ing Tor firearms. The gunfire down the
river became more alarming every
moment and at any moment the In
dams might reach the town.
There was but one hope for Great
rails and that was the home guard.
NOT a member of that band could be
seen and none appeared as the roar of
battle down the river sounded with re-
neWed fervor. Visions of murdered
women and children increased the
panic. The men dared not leave homes
unprotected while they engaged the
Indians in battle elsewhere, for dread
tul tales of Sitting Bulls warfare had
been well circulated.
Finally, after two hours of terror. the
bombarding ceased and soon the fear
1ul watchers discerned the sturdy forms
OF the home guards entering town.
their faces alight with the ioy of
worthy accomplishment. Explanations
Followed. The home guards had been
"practlcing" a mile or so down the
river. They had gone some distance
from town for fear they might alarm
or annoy fellow citizens.
After this incident the home guards
gave public notice of intention to
practice. The expected uprising Of the
Sioux under Sitting Bull never ma
terialized.
Sitting Bull was an old man and
a discouraged n His tribe was Door
and hungry and ready to acknowledge
the supremacy Of the whites, although
neve their right to land of the Tndionc,