Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-09-02

MNOO Mo y 4AVn dAA FaA - VI
the United States have jour.
neyed to POmpey's Pillar to
look upon that great heap of stone
and let their minds wander back
along memory's trail to the days
when Lewis and Clark invaded the
northwest wilderness and stopped
there to carve their names in the
huge rock. But few if any of these
know that Pompey's Pillar was re-
carved in 1875 by soldiers from
Fort Buford in order that the marks
might be preserved for posterity.
Grant Marsh. famous river captain
who first explored Yellowstone by
steamboat, gave a colOrful account Of
his trips up the river in an early Da-
kota newspaper, a copy Of which was
recently found.
Making a complete exploration of
the Yellowstone by order of Gen. Phil
Sheridan, Marsh left Bismarck on the
Josephine in the middle Of May, 1875,
with General Forsyth in military COM
mand- They had on board Lonesome
Charlie Reynolds, then stationed at
Fort Abraham Lincoln with Custer,
and stopped at Buford to pick up a
battalion of the Sixth infantry as es-
cort. They proceeded as far as the
present location Of Huntley, Mont,
about 80 miles above the mouth OF the
Big Horn river on the Yellowstone.
Names Recarved
When they stopped at Pompey,s
Pillar, a great stone landmark which
Marsh said was about as big as the
territorial capital of Dakota, they
found that the names carved there
nearly 10 years before had been al
most effaced. There was a Stonecutter
among the soldiers and Forsyth or
dered that the names be carved more
deeply. BY improvising tools, this was
done and an American flag planted Oh
top of the pillar.
On that trip, according to Marsh,
names were permanently supplied to
islands. creeks and other places which
had not been designated by the ex-
plorers There was big camp Of Sioux
on the bank of the river where Miles
City was first located but, according
to Marsh's story, when they saw us
they struck camp, took their tepees
down and moved off In great hurry.
When we got there the fires were
still burning and the Indians could be
Town Called Forsyth
Later Marsh asked General Sargent, /
who was building the Northern Pa
cific. if he would not name a town |
after General Forsyth in recognition I
of his opening the west. Sargent in
dicated about where the towns would i
be placed and invited Marsh to take
his choice. The captain selected the
on the Custer expedition, .
and where Sargent said a division
would probably be located. That is
where Forsyth stands today.
Important as the river exploration
Of 1875 was, In aScertaln1ng whether
he Yellowstone was navlgable IN June
and whether boats could furnish suit
able support to the army, there was
IA even earlier reconnaissance, with
which Marsh was also concerned, in
he spring of 1873. 1t Is generally
,nown that supply boats were used on
he Yellowstone during the first N. p.
expedition that year; not so well known
April, about the time that Custer and
he Seventh cavalry were reaching Da-
,ota for the first time.
Party Hits Blizzard
Sheridan had ordered an expedition
o be ready at the opening OF naylga-
ion, Marsh says, Sioux City, Ia, then
'eing the headquarters for both boat
nd army transportation. They lett
april 10, ran into blizzard at YER
1aylaid the Custer outfit when they
eft the train at Yankton-and found
he river was full of ice and snow.
While they laid up some OF the ,
aSsengers went hunting; one OF them, /,
ohm Yegen, later a prominent citizen
( Bismarck, got lost and had to Walk
cross the country to Yankton where
be boat later picked him up, hall
rozen. The unexpected storm mad
aused severe suffering among the
not yet located IN their tents;
len, dogs and horses persisted In the
now.
Kelly Is Scout 8
Near Fort Buford the boat took on {
'ellowStone Kelly, whom Marsh had I
commended to Forsyth as a scout.
ely had been trapping all winter and
ad accumulated many valuable pelts. I
General Hazen was then In command I
{ the Sixth infantry, and his wife, @
ter Mrs. George Dewey, was with Q
i'm. An escort of the Sixth went on
ith the boat. to see If the Yellow T
one was navigable as far as Glendive
the Powder river, so that the army i
)Ild be supplied from the river dur
Il the coming military expedition.
Forsyth's report was favorable. Marsh q
lade the quick trip down TO Sioux
ity. where three steamboats,, the Far a
lest. the Key West and the Peniah, h
ere loaded for the Yellowstone. Marsh a
Imself was at that time on the Key u
lest. They remained in the upper c
aters until September, crossed the o
my and surveyors above Glendive In
ay, TAXED up and down with supplies Il