Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-07-17

Many army officers who were
stationed in Montana in the early
DAYS became enthusiasts over the
scenery. climate and resources Of
/ the territory. Gen. Nelson A. Miles
was one of those keenly interested
! in the development OF the cOun-
1 try but none became such Mon
tana booster as Gen. James Snanks
BriSbin, who played prominent
mart in the Indian warfare period
but whose name is now almost for
gotten.
The agricultural and livestock posi-
bilities of the country in particular en-
gagged his enthusiasm and he became
! interested financially toward the end
of his service in the west in various
farm and stock enterprises. His rural
proclivities as well as his constant talk
on his favorite subject won him the
nickname of "GraSShopper Jim" from
his fellow officers.
His service both in the Civil war and
on the plains was distinguished, al
thought it is limited that he was not
as resourceful and energetic in the In
dian campaigns as General Miles. Like
many other generals of the Civil war,
his initial training was in the field
of politics which may account for any
deficiency as a campaigner. Before the
war although still in his early twenties,
he had made quite name in his ma
tive state of Pennsylvania as an anti
slavery orator.
He entered the army as private but
was quickly appointed a second lieu
tenant and was twice wounded at the
battle of Bull Run. He took part in a
number of campaigns and was made
colonel of a colored regiment OF cav
airy. He was made brevet brigadier-
general for gallantry and subsequently
brevet MAORI general.
Made Major in 1858
After the war, in 1868, he was made
a major in the regular army and a
lieutenant colonel in 1885. Like many
other officers, he was generally known
by the title he attained in the Civil
war. He was stationed at Fort Ellis near
Bozeman for a number of years with
the second cavalry and during part OF
the time at least was commander OF the
post.
In the campaign against the Sioux
whose first phase ended in the disas-
trous defeat of General Custer, Major
Brisbin was with the forces under
General John Gibbon. These troops
came down the Yellowstone from Fort
Ellis and at the mouth Of the Rose
bud met the forces Of the Seventh cav
airy which had come from Bismarck
under the immediate leadership of Gus
ter with General Terry in command of
all the forces.
Major Brisbin took part in the coun-
Gil of officers there when the general
plan of the campaign was outlined.
According to L. A. Huffman, who was
post photographer at Fort Keogh while
Brisbin was there several years later,
the major always felt strongly that Gus
ter's defeat was caused by his impetu
osity and his deliberate failure TO fol-
low the orders of General Terry. At
the council, General Gibbon offered
to send the four troops under Major
Brisbin with Custer, but Custer re-
fused, saying that If the Indians were
too numerous for the Seventh to attack
the added troops would not change
the situation.
Gibbon and Brisbin after the coun-
Gil went back to the Big Horn with |
their troops and followed that stream |
up to the Little Big Horn through |
some very rugged territory, keeping in
touch with the steamer Far West I'M !
der Capt Grant Marsh which also as
cended the river. The tidings Of dis
aster from Curley, the Crow scout, hur-
ried the troops on and Reno was res
cued and the horrible fate Of Custer |
and his men discovered. Major Bris- !
bin therefore had first hand knowl-
edge Of many phases Of the Custer
disaster.
The account of the Custer massacre"
given to the world through the Bis
marck Tribune has often been COM
mended as a fine piece Of reportorial |
work. G. A. Lounsbury, the editor, how
ever, had excellent material for his
story for the Far West took along with
the wounded soldiers, the campaign