Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-07-28
BY d. J. OMALLEY (N-Bar-N Kid)
~HE year 1879, especially the

~HE year 1879, especially the
winter, was a year to be long
remembered by the troops of
the United States army who were
stationed at Fort Keogh, the Fifth
infantry and the Second cavalry.
The fort was under the command
of Col. Nelson A. Miles of the
Fifth infantry. Large numbers of
hostile Indians had been captured
and brought to Fort Keogh where
there were numerous small bands Of
hostiles yet at large who were roaming
over the country committing depreda-
tions upon Isolated camps Of trappers
and settlers, stealing stock and taking
human life.
lily on the move looking for the hos
tiles with view of capturing them
and adding them to the already large
number that was being held at the
fort. The Indian bands ranged in num-
bers from small bunch of to 10
warriors to a camp of Is or 20 tepees
which would mean at least 100 to $50
were always women and children. The
soldiers would be sent out in detach-
ments numbering from is to 100 men.
Often the small attachments were
under the command of a noncommis-
stoned officer, usually sergeant.
attachments into the field, Fort Keogh
itself was placed in a precarious posi-
ton. With not more than 100 soldiers
left to garrison the fort and at least
so Of this number (the regimental
banO were not armed.
rtv,v
make the remark that If the Indians
only knew the strength Of the fort,
that there was enough of them at the
big camp to take the fort even II
armed with only bows and arrows and
clubs. This situation continued for a
period of 10 days. It was estimated
that there were at least 800 warriors
in the Indian camp.
Doctor Scares Them
The commanding officer sent word
to the Indians that by the orders OF
the white medicine chief (the doctor
at the fort) no Indian would be al
lowed to come within one-half mile
chief thought it would be safe for
all, thereby conveying to the Indians
the idea that a serious sickness was
prevailing at the fort.
The commanding officer made 1t
appear that there were plenty of SOL
QlerS al tlle lOIG. Lively ulOl llulS lllC
band would turn out and guard mount
take place. Immediately after guard
mount, fatigue or work call would be
sounded and most Of the bandmen and
as many of the line troops as could be
spared would be sent to different places
where they would be IN plain sight
though the fort was using as large
a fatigue party as they ever had.
Strict orders were issued that none
of the many children who were at the
fort were to go farther than 200 feet
from a line drawn around the fort and
in no case were children to go to the
south side Of the fort.
The Indian camp was about two
miles southwest of the fort, pitched
along the Yellowstone river. When any
of the teams about the fort had to
go any distance they had orders to
go around the fort on the west side
and it really seemed as though keogh
was full of troops.
After about 10 days some of the de-
tachments that were in the field began
to get back and soon there was good
sized force at the fort and a large
addition of prisoners at the Indian
kept up all through the winter. of 1879.
Fight in Sheep Mountains
In the fall of 1879, Lieut. Philo
Clark of Troop E of the Second caval-
ry with his troop and part OF 1 troop
Of the same regiment was sent to the
north side of the Yellowstone to find,
and If possible, bring in bunch Of
Indians who had been reported as
coming from the north and who had
killed several buffalo hunters and
others in the Big Dry country. The
Indians were estimated at being in
the neighborhood of 300 men, women
and children, and 1t was said they were
Cheyennes.
Clark's scouts sighted the Indians
near the Sheep mountains close to
the head of Custer creek. They had
Just gone into camp at large water
hole and it looked as though they In
tended to remain in camp awhile.
Clark got his command in marching
order, rode back a mile and then went
into the rough country on Custer
creek. He made almost complete
circle Of the Indian camp without be-
ing seen by them and gained q COM
manding position above the flat on
which the Indian camp was pitched
and about two miles distant from 1t.
Here he went into camp. No fires
were allowed nor any trumpet calls
sounded. The soldiers ate hard tack
and raw bacon.
Everyone waited, their horses sad