Glacier County chief., 1939-06-02
White Scout Took Supreme Command of Kootenai
Tribe i'm EARLY Day Battle With Bluckfeet Indians
By ELMO

long a resident of the Still
water country around Colum-
bus, was virtually commander in
chief of the Kootenai tribe in a
brief war with the Blackfeet in
1858. While the Kootenais were
friendly and, at that moment well
coined his help, Hamilton was
faced with the necessity of saving
his own scalp, and joining with
the Kootenais was about his only
way out.
Hamilton, accompanied only by
from Colonel Wright's cantonment in
eastern Washington to ascertain the
temper of the Indians east of the
Rocky mountains. An official envelope
and the mysteries he interpreted from
its contents were the medicine" which
carried him safely through until he
had joined the kootenais for trade on
the way home.
Hamilton and Mckay were in the
vicinity of St. Mary's lake enroute to
the Kootenai camp when they had to
kill three Blackfeet braves intent upon
taking their scalps. Arriving at the vii
lage they were welcomed by the Koo-
tenais, who had been victimized by the
Blackfeet and were afraid of a gen.
eral attack.
The Kootenais were short of powder
and lead. Hamilton made the head
man a present Of a 10-pound keg Of
powder and sack of trade balls.
Secretly he expected-nor was he
wrong-that the gift would be used as
much in his defense as that Of his
friends.
Hamilton's design was to remain
with the Kootenas for protection and
to trade until he reached the Tobacco
plains, providing we ever got there"
Uneasy About Blackfeet
Hamilton arranged with the chiefs
to have the squaws take care Of his
several horses and mules in camp and
to look after his trade-laden pack ami
mails on the trail.
At a general council the Kootenais
expressed uneasiness, since the young
bucks had brought word that Black
feet had been in the neighborhood.
with $50 lodges, the Indians could
muster only 300 warriors. Three routes
were available to the Tobacco plains.
The southern route was chosen, with
old Chief Black Bear in command.
Next morning Mckay and koo-
tenai on guard brought in Black
feet prisoner; each had killed Black
feet SPY as we'll. 1t was found five
Blackfeet had been killed in a quick
dawn battle. The stock had been
rounded up the animals while the vii
lage broke camp. The Blackfeet
prisoner was given lashing, and he
left there lat a l5-mile gait until he
passed over a ridge and out OF sight.
A shot was heard and soon young
Kootenai, brother to one who had re.
Gently been killed, appeared IN camp.
He said the Blackfeets mar was 700
short for a scalp.
Hamilton and Mckay placed them
selves with the warriors on the tran.
After is miles they discovered $50
Blackfeet behind and to one SIDE OF
the caravan A sanguinary battle was
fought while the village kept moving.
Hamilton felt the Kootenais were poor
generals, since they did not press tneir
advantage when the Biackleet re-
Endorsements might join the enemy,
and the Blackfeet had been heard to
declare they would take revenge IN
the mountain pass ahead. With only
as scalps, the Kootenais had secured
SO horses and much property lald
down by the Blackfeet when ire ilght
started.
Dresses Indians Wounds
Mckay had been wounded in the
possible care after the rescue.
The Kootenais now made haste 10
cross the mountains into their own
country. round up the scattered bands
of braves and mass their warriors lot
the fight that was certain to come.
Hamilton had been seen dressing
indians demanded his services. con-
sidering him a great medicine man:
This nights camp was at the base OF
the mountains, and an attack was eX-
nected next day in the pass, or just
after it, high In the hills; Hamilton
broke out the remainder OF his poWdeI
and lead for common use; Cour rH MAO mao
tenai warriors. .
The main villages OF the BlackIeet
were in Saskatchewan, and Black Bear
said that with the system OF signals
used, since the fight that day the
Blackfeet had put their call Tor rem
forcements, and that even now their
f,iIl knowledge Of this nights camp
location. BY the next night 500 add
tionaI Blackfeet would be in the tim
Der around the mountain pass.
The Indians yielded to Hamntons
advice to move early and get through
the pass canyon. for at the opposite
end the Kootenais could h0fd OH any
ments arrived. Hamilton and Lewis
dressed in Kootenai war garb for dis
g1lise and for convenience. 1t was
known by the Blackfeet that they were
in Kootenai country. and they were
particular objects Of Blackfeet enmity:
Leaving the timber, coming out OF
the pass next day $50 mounted
Blackfeet were seen 300 yards from the
trail. Others were on foot. All halted,
evidently surprised at meeting the
Kootenais so far advanced. The Black
feet charged: One made off with
white mule-Hamilton's favorite serv-
ice mount Hamilton went after him,
disregarding danger on all sides. In
an almost hand to hand encounter he
made good" Indian and regained
his mule.
Enemy Is Reinforced
Other reinforcements Joined the
enemy, and they tried to stampede the
Kootenai stock. Just then 40 Kootenai
reinforcements arrived and the yell
they turned loose made the Blackfeet
believe their numbers were legion, and
thew retreated into the timber taking