Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-20

was killed, as were five soldiers, with
IS wounded. The Indians lost 25. killed.
/ Dull Knife's village of 173 lodges and
all its contents were entirely destroyed.
About 500 ponies we're captured.
Snow Was Two Feet Deep
Crossing the river at o'clock on
the following morning it was neces-
sary to chip the ice in order that the
mules could stand up. After marching
up and around a small tributary the
| command moved south following the
! divide between Elk prairie and the
creek to the east. passing over high
| hill, descending into valley which
/ Baldwin thought was tributary TO Red
water. RationS were diminishing, and
snow stood two feet on the level. Joe
Lambert, the interpreter, came out
from Wolf Point. who, while ne had
not been in the country, had good
idea of it. The mules we're playing out,
and the gun carriage broke
without going out OF his course
Baldwin reached the Redwater valley
at o'clock on the afternoon OF Dec.
Is He thought his camp was about
80 miles south from the Missouri river.
During the days march he had TO
leave one mule, and take five out OF
the teams. He followed up the valley
about eight miles the next morning
and crossed a branch coming IN from
the west with running water in II as
IL was not frozen over. After hating
at 1890 D. m, the command went into
camp at a point three-quarCers OF q
mile below the forks after a march OF
IL miles. During the next day, march
o'clock in the afternoon, with the mules |
giving out on account of the want OF |
grain and not being shod, roads rather |
rough and travelling for about IL miles, /
some Indian trails were seen which |
were six or seven days old. An excerpt /
from Baldwin'S diary for Dec. II, the I
day before his skirmish, or battle with I
the Indians, reads:
Ground very icy, mules unable to
stand up. Stormy this morning. Cleared
up in the afternoon. Sun came out.
Found plenty Of timber all along the
creek (Redwater), which stream fol-
lowed up, course a little west Of south.
Camped under a bluff at the last tim
Der above my camp last night, but his
rolgh-Stil not bad. Have not seen a
buffalo during the trip, nor any kind
Of game"
On Monday morning, Dec. 10, Bald
win and his command marched at 7.lO I
o'clock out to the east OF the Redwater,
keeping through the breaks until
arge branch of that stream was
,roSSed. 1t was a pleasant day. The {
inc Of march was in a southerly course
through the bad lands until the com l
nand approached another branch OF
he Redwater. An attempt was mace 4
% cross over, but finding 1t rough, the
nen marched up the tributary for a
hort distance. 1t was this interruption
hat brought Baldwin in contact with
band Of Indians. He records the
light which enSued, In his diary, writ 7
ng the following record:
Indians Abandon Village
when discovered a large IN
ian village going back to the column =
formed 1t and moved forward driving
he Indians from their camp; so hur-
iedly did they retreat that they aban-
oned everything-an riding off on
onies-victory complete and effective.
fen very tired and mules played out
farched through their camp and SIX
lilies beyond to the head Of the Red
alter - camped after dark, timber a,
lenty but no water-good grass al NJ
ne Indian camp-a small spring was =
)und The Indians have been camped - -
bout one week. Distance marched, 20 ~ -
lies. Roads rough. but not very bad. ~ y,
Starting at o'clock on the following -
corning the Baldwin command crossed =.
lie divide and arrived at the head a. 2.
aters of a stream which was found y,
De CcOar creek. FOlOW1u8 GOWN tilLo -
ream the command reached the Bu- -
I'd road and camped The roads were ~
und to be good, but no grass and W
e water was bad However, there was ~.
enty Of timber at the camp. The ~
arch was resumed and after travel ~
z for a distance of is miles, camp
Is struck at 2:30 o'clock IN the after ~,
ION. -
The military campaign had been ~
ueling ordeal for both officers and =. =.
en-. A thread OF pleasant anticipa- ~ ~
N runs through Baldwins account 81
this portion of the journey as he ~
nses his nearness to Fort Keogh. He 20
cords that Scout Smith and Lieu
1ant Hinkle departed from the camp
d proceeded during the late after
on toward Tongue river. While the CT
ads were good, four inches Of snow tire
: on the ground ON the morning OF wa
C. 20, when the command marched ba.
$50 o'clock I'm the cold dawn. tw
armiug I'D later In the forenoon, ca
D command halted from noon to 2 mai
lock 10 allow the mules 10 rest and his
aEe. That night the command camped we
Caster creek where 1t was found Civ
u water was frozen 10 the bed OF
Ii m&ream. Baldwin writes inst his tzae
n had not water since the night OF bnz