Montana oil and mining journal., 1939-12-23

hver opposite Squaw creek on the
south side, at noon on November Is.
Accompanied by two men, Baldwin rode
to the mouth of the Musselshell river
which he found to be quite a stream
wide valley with much timber. The
large extent. The command went into
camp opposite the mouth Of Squaw
creek in a grove of cottonwood trees.
Immediately on arrival in camp,
Baldwin says. L went to work and
built a raft 80 feet long and II feet
wide, having nothing but one and
one-half inch auger hand saw and
axes, with rope to do 1t with-have not
4 launched 1t yet-will do so In the morn
/ ing. The men worked well never
saw a lot of soldiers work better. Looks
very much like rain tonight. I am very
tired. Marched is miles"
During the day Captain Bennett,
commanding Company B, with 50 men,
started for Carroll, about -four miles
from our camp of last night on Four
chette creek He goes there to secure
ammunition" Many buffalo we're seen
after reaching the Missouri river. to-
gether with elk, deer and chickens.
The camp was well located. "A corporal
killed two deer today just as we ar
rived at the mouth Of Squaw creek.
weather Turns warmer
1t was warm and pleasant on the
following day, with the temperature so
degrees above zero, when Baldwin
the Missouri river. The water was deep
and the current was running swiftly.
THE raft lodged in the middle of
the river on a snag where 1t lay until
cut loose about 3 o'clock. General
Miles. Lieutenant Pope, myself and IL
men we're on tt-succeeded in running
rope from the raft to the south
shore, and with a boat made with
wagon sheets stretched over the bed Of
a wagon made several trips TO that
shore. landing six men, but after five
rope from the north shore TO the raft, |
finally gave this up on this account
and the much more dangerous obStruc-
ton in the shape of heavy floats OF
ice, we cut loose from the snag and
were pulled to the north shore by a
line carried to that shore by the wagon
boat. We have spent an eventful day
on the Missouri river suspended in |
the center of the stream on an i'm 1
mersed snag. All the dangers incident |
al to such position were realized and /
experienced Giving up this effort we /
went on shore waiting for the light |
Of another day. Our men worked eX-
ceedingly well, especially Bellows Of E /
company, and MontroSe and Kelley /
Of company. These men are excused :
from all duties with their companies
for one month. Many Of the men got
very wet. Eight elk. one buffalo and
Two deer were killed today by the I.
nen"
Early on the morning of Nov. %, be-
ginning at $50 o'clock, Baldwin, ac-
by % men, went about
lalf mile below the camp and sue
'eeded in reaching the opposite shore
II the Missouri river with the end of ,
. long rope. 1t was well stretched across
he river when General Miles ap-
'roached land wanted the rope taken !
n and put across lower down"
Baldwin demonstrated, but after
aging all could TO retain 1t where
was, moved it and was again sue
essful in getting the line across and
Ten secured"
The raft was brought down and at
ached to the north end. With a sec
nd line attached to the raft. we
t loose and we're carried out and
yer to the south bank by the cur
ent"
However. more trouble was IN store
l the further attempts made to Sue
aSsfuIly cross the river on the raft, the
etails Of which will be told in the
ext installment which viii appear
ext week