Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-09-28

say is his In BOothin inst outside
of Billings. You know where Boot
hill Is. just where you turn 10 the
left as you come down the high
way toward the town. You may
not know IL Is BoothiII but, If ever
you have passed there, you surely
have noticed the men and women
practicing with pistols and with
other guns That's the place. Right
Rext to the gun range.
The graves there aren't much shucks
as graves 90 and Muggins' is the least
conspicuous of the lot. He is lying
there, with the old yellow soil Of the
Yellowstone keeping him warm and
when the guns sound loudly, he may
stir a bit. You see, Muggins Taylor
lived and died by guns and he lived
and died an honorable man.
Muggins believed in the things which
were right He was a true son of the
old west, frontiersman, a scout and
then, deputy sheriff In Old Coulson,
where he died. He did his duty as
order and when the end came, he
wasn't afraid to meet it.
He was modest man and he prob
ably doesn't give five shucks whether
he ever has or has not monument.
Commended for Bravery
Brave and honest, Taylor feared no
man. With utmost daring he ventured
time and again into the Indian coun-
try to gain information which often
saved the troops from surprise. These
traits, combined with honesty and q
thorough knowledge of the Crow coun-
try, made him one Of the most valued
civilians who accompanied the troops
on the memorable campaign Of 1876
against the Sioux He was commended
for bravery many times.
He was one of the scouts with Glib
bonS and Terry when Custer left them
on the fatal trip to the Little Big
Horn to locate the Sioux village and
it was only by accident that he did
not accompany Custer. Three of
Taylor'S companions were sent to
guide Custer but he remained to guide
other cavalry and infantry.
The soldiers he guided had rations
for eight days and these were re-
plenished at intervals from the Far
West, a supply steamer which fol-
lowed the troops and infantry. Hard
tack and bacon were the principal
items of nourishment.
While scouting ahead of the cavalry
with Lieutenant D0ane, June %, Taylor
sighted a herd Of more than 1000
buffalo. He and Doane killed several
of the animals and the cavalrymen
had a feast. Portions of the animals
were retained for the infantry but, due
to the insiStence of the sergeant IN
wagons keep moving, none of the meat
was picked up by the infantry.
On the night of June %, when
troopers and scouts under Lieutenant
Bradley were exploring in the valley
Of the Big Horn about is miles above
its mouth, they came across three
Crow scouts, formerly with Bradley's
command but whom he had sent with
Custer These Crows had run when
Custer sighted the Sioux. Through an
they gave the first account
army forces had of the fight.
Taylor and another scout named
BoStWick. probably were the first CT
villains to meet the conquering Sioux
after the battle. During the afternoon
of that same day General Terry sent
them forward by different routes
toward the village Of the Sioux to re-
connoiter and communicate with Gus
Ter should he have won the fight OF
which the Crows told.
The Terry command then advanced
slowly and cautiously The smoke of
large village could be seen and In
dams were lowering on the edges OF
Ihe command.
Reaches Village
Not long after he had left, BoStWick |
came galloping back to the soldiers
and reported that he had proceeded
up the valley for several miles and
had discovered a considerable body |
Of Indians. Taylor returned shortly
after BoStwick with a report that he !
1ad reached the main village and had
barely escaped with his life after |
1f7Ish with the Sioux
Terry'S command then advanced and !
,Ook its position near the Sioux village |
accompanied and led by Taylor. He
vas still with the command when Reno |
arrived and took over.
General Gibbons then decided that
/ message had to be sent to Fort Ellis
md designated Taylor to carry it. He
eft while, the troopers stu were busy
,urying the terrible dead Of the Gus
er fight.
The supply boat, Far West, was
irawn up to the river bank and the
JUNCTION of the Little Big Horn and
he Big Horn when, at dawn, the
roopers tumbled out to the rattle OF
runfire from the guards. They OBJ
erVed a lone rider who, riding fur1-
usly before a pack of pursuing In
Iians, turning to fire at them every
ew minutes, was headed for the boat.
A1AC OOA0ACAo ASoktOAAA~A " AA~o
ures for aid but, by the time they
cached shore, the Indians, had seen
he Far West and had given up the
Iursuit. The man fighting them was
'aylor. From there on until he reached
he fort he had little more trouble.
Goes to COuIsOn
Taylor continued with the army as
scout for some time after returning
nth other dispatches but eventually
to civilian life. Citizens OF
,oulson, the father town" Of Billings,
eeded a marshal. Twenty three per-
ons had been buried in their cemetery
nd only one, an infant of few days,
ad escaped gunshot death.
Taylor took over as deputy sheriff
nd handled his job so as to gain
dmiration and respect of all good
itizens. However, he ran afoul Of
r1lnken marauder and was killed IN
gun fight himself while attempting
} disar1n the desperate.
He was buried among the others.
...n.- -~rov-e r,rcro,,f s,aof11Odc rough A