Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-10-02

) diers, who were outnumbered twic'
over.
7 The Clark's Fork pass, by forceC
: marches, was reached just one day II
! advance of the BannockS. Every pos
: sible precaution was exercised to avoic
2 detection, should the Bannocks have
chosen this pass. Soldiers, Indians
horses, pack mules were concealed in
a pocket in the mountain. Scouts were
sent to the elevations, keeping out Of
sight, but scanning the country with
field glasses or telescopes. Occasionally
an officer would perform this duty.
Any sign Of approach of the Bannocks
was to be quickly reported
About IL o'clock on the following
morning the hostile Bannocks were
sighted on the top Of mountain. They
were vending their way slowly down
a circuitous, rocky trail some 10 or u
miles away and along the Clark'S Fork
I Unaware Of any checking force, the
+ BannockS struck camp after marching
for about six miles, coming within that
distance of the Miles command. Their
horses were unsaddled and turned out
to Craze. Videttes were posted on the
adjacent bluffs. Camp fires we're built,
for apparently the raiding Indians felt
they were safe.
A level plain two or three miles in
extent formed part of the distance
between the two camps If the check
ing forces advanced, the Bannock vi
dettes would quickly take notice Miles
decided to remain in concealment A
constant watch was kept on sthe Ban
mock camp the balance Of the day
Under cover Of darkness Miles moved
to within two miles of the invaders.
Two Indians from the Crow agency
were called by Miles at nine o'clock
that evening. They we're asked to crawl
up and take careful note of the Ban /
mock camp. Miles calculated that the
Crows, wrapped in their blankets, if ]
discovered could disguise their move
ments and be mistaken for members
of the camp out looking after their
horses. 1t was between IL and l O'Clock
before the Crows returned. They re-
ported the Bannock camp to be in a
strong position. It was difficult to ap-
proach. The sage brush, as high as a
horses back, afforded excellent pro-
lection. Furthermore, the ground was
wet and soaked due to the torrential
rains which had fallen for several
hours. Rewarded for their hazardous
work, the Crows we're informed that
an attack would be made at once and
that the Crows were expected to assist.
Their part was TO capture the Ban
nock's herd Of horses.
Slowly and with no unnecessary
noise, under the guidance of the Crow
scouts, the command moved in the {
direction Of the camp. Stops were made |
to listen in the dark. Reaching a point !
near the camp, a halt was made It {
was found necessary to wait until about /
four o'clock to catch a glimpse Of the {
camp and be sure of its exact location
A dim light appeared at the left, about {
500 yards distant, giving an indication {
Of the site. 1t was then discovered that
the command had almost passed the
camp.
A skirmish line was formed The |
center was directed to proceed in the
direction of the light, supposedly caused
oy Bannock starting an early morning 6
fire. The Crows were posted on their 6
right. The troops moved slowly, eau !
iouSly. They passed through the graz {
ing herd of horses and ponies Miles
acted that the Crow allies were quietly
off some Of the Bannock
horses instead of remaining where
they had been placed. Gradually NOV
ing to the left the Crows drove the
herd to the rear.
AS dawn broke on that morning Of
Sept. 4, 1878, and the troops were able
TO see, they moved stealthily forward
TO a point within a hundred yards of
the Bannock camp. When the firing
opened the Indians were taken COM
pletely by surprise. Some plunged into
the river, when they found their horses
gone, to swim to the other side. The
attack was spirited and Of short dur
alton. Eleven BannockS were killed.
The remainder surrendered. The whole
affair was over by six o'clock that
Before the fight was con-
Guided not a Crow nor Bannock horse
could be seen. Some of them moved on
quickly to the reservation rs miles
away, arriving at o'clock in the after
noon Others left their contraband
Bannock horses with friends four or
five miles away and returned to assist
the troops, performing good service,
in calling out to the Ban
nocks to surrender The loss to the
troops was small, but great when it
was aScertained that Capt. Andrew S.
Bennett OF the Fifth infantry was
zilled IN the fight Besides the Bannock
Indians who were killed many were
and their entire camp taken
along with $50 horses.
Miles had one Interpreter. a man nv
the name Of Rock, In whom he placed
much confidence. When the Command
reached the Crow agency ON its wav
10 check the BannockS Miles sent
Rock up to Clark's Fork to learn what
he could about the enemy. Able to
speak both Crow and Bannock, Rock
contacted the latter in going over the
pass and into the park, When he left
he Bannocks, Rock passed on as if he
we're journeying in the same direction
whence they had come. Reaching what
ne considered q safe distance he circlefl
and rafa4ranI ~ tfa Miles cny,, 5000