Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-10-19
Bv IOHN MUNRO

Columbia rivers in the heart Of the
Indian country I'm the early sixties
compelled the government to af-
ford military protection 20 the
people who knew hardly where
they were going and nothing as
70 the country intervening. The
hostility Of the Sioux seemed TO
make this movement necessary and
under orders Of Secretary OF War
Stanton this duty was devOlved on
James Liberty Fisk, captain IN
the regular service. At the time
of his appointment he was serv-
ing with his regiment In central
Tennessee and the order reached
him about June 3, 1862.
People desiring to emigrate TO the
gold fields had been ordered to rem
devious at Fort Abercrombie, Dakota,
about $50 miles northwest Of St. Paul,
and there to await the escort. An act
of congress of Jan. q, 1852, approprl-
ated $4,000 for the expense OF the
expeditions on the overland routes pc
tween the Atlantic states and Califor-
mia, Oregon and Washington.
Captain Fisk Immediately repaired
to st. Paul and organized an escort
from the volunteers used 10 fronCler
life. who were mustered into the serV-
ice as a protective corps, numbering
about so, to be used as guards, SEN
tries, scouting parties, etc. He also
took a physician, a guide and an
interpreter. He also took a 12-pound
mountain howitzer. The supply and
baggage train consisted of three four
OK teams, one tWo-mule team ana one
two-horSe team, and the line was led
by a flag wagon from which the ma
tional colorS were flung.
Leaves st. Paul
Captain Fisk left st. Paul June 10
JAI 30 AhnFnE0Tl
which he reached July 3, and where
a large party of emigrantS were await
ing him since the 1st. These were put
under military discipline and ne also
learned that many others were on the
way desiring to join the party.
There are many familiar names
among the members OF all OF THESE
expeditions, particularly the flrst one,
of 1862 The commiSSary was put IN
charge of N. P. Langford, for many |
wears q. prominent citizen OF the ter
Titorv and closely Identified with our
earlv history and one OF the chronic
lers of the times as author Of 'Vig1- |
lante DAYS and Ways" James Fergus,
founder of Fergus Falls, also was
member of the party and ne became
the father of Fergus county ano core
a conspicuous part IN our early hlStOry.
Published Pioneer Newspaper
1onred to q family which bore part
in the early history Of the territory
and state. In after years he was fol-
lowed to this section by five brotners
from western New York They were
Robert Emmett, John Daniel, Wepster,
Van H. and Andrew jackson, ana
they, for more than 80 years were
interested IN OF, connected VIII one
Helena Herald, the leading newspaper
of the territory. They purchased Ine
plant and publication known as the
Radiator which the Herald succeeded,
from T. j. Favorite, who hao prougnt
q printing press and outfit from Walla
Walla in 1865.
The purpose of the emigrants was
to reach the gold fields OF western
Dakota by the shortest route, ana IL
immediately became known as the
northern route. General Stevens, on
his way to Olympia to assume the
duties of governor of washington Ter
ritorv and at the same time making a
reconnaissance for q Pacific rallroau
near the 47th and 49th parallef OF
north latitude, had explored the re-
gion from the Red river 70 tne norm
to Fort Union, near the mouth OF the
Yellowstone river, In 1858, but 1t had
in the possession OF the In
dams and the buffalo until captain
Fisk's expedition in 1862, and 1t VIZ
tually remained in their possession
until the fall of Custer IN June, 1910,
served notice on Sitting Bull and Can
that this land must be reclaimed ana
made the home of the pioneers 1ol-
owing the course of empire. True, the
Northern Pacific railroad had been
pushed to the Missouri river In 1872,
out the rails we're laid under military
escort. and here was its western Ter
minus until Willard six or seven years
alter renewed its construction toward
Montana and Puget sound: Truly ~
vas a trackleSs plain which captain
ask and party entered in mid-July,
1852.
Pierre BOttineau Guide [
r. @. Knox was wagon master and
he guide was Pierre Bottineau, Red {
liver hunter, who had been one OF /
Governor Stevens guides through the ]
COUNTRY nine years before, and his
,eryices were Invaluable through the
where the only trails were
hose of the crow or the eagle.
The emigrants and the escort joined
he officers and soldiers Of the fort s
md the settlers in the nelghborhood
n q rousing celebration on the Fourth ]
# the nations independence. The ex- G
,edition moved on July z. The first S
obstacle encountered was the WAlo
lice river, which had 70 De pIluBeu, Z
|. stream about IS feet wide and or
feet deep. The first day they made 4
bout 10 miles to the Cheyenne river,
where they found fine grass for the v
took and water and the pestiferouS
nosollito. This river, much wider ana +
Ieeper than the Wild Rice, also had v
o be bridged, but there were many +
lumbermen both among the a
and the escort, ana II Is .
aid that they Jumped into the stream d
Nth their clothes on up to their hats v
nd with their pipes in their mouths
nd they made short work OF tne
ask. 80 !,
The caravan now consisted Of 100 q
nen and women, 22O head Of stock 8
nd about 80 wagons called prairie 8
chooners, a name which they retained d
trough all the pioneer period OF the N
est. AT night the wagons were formed
1to a circle or corral, where the stock
yas held: the horses were picketed a.
ear and four men were put on guard, n
18th reliefs, as a precaution against 5