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


Baldwin and his command
marched al night dec. and 8,
1870 en- their way to Fort Peck
after decidiag not TO risk a fight
with Sitting Bun. 1t was the cold.
est night he had ever experienced.
The men were exposed TO a severe
north wind across the plain THE
extreme suffering Of the men can
be but III appreciated by one who
has mot been there himself" he
wrote i'm ais diary.
The command was halted at s O'Clock
@n the morning OF the eighth for a
rest. Fort Peck was still seven miles
away. Baldwin rode in ahead to have
ehe tents pitched. The command ar
rived at / O'Clock that afternoon after
Baldwin sent three wagons after them.
Trouble was encountered in getting
MAong with the animals. Ropes could
not be made fast on account OF the
cold. The men marched In as cheerful
as could be, "and it was really pleas
amt sight to see such spirit manifested
by them" he wrote.
81 have hardly closed my eyes since
4 q. M, the Sixth-am nearly used up.
The doctor reports that 25 of my men
reported at sick call this morning
mAore or less frosted but none of them
badly frozen. They will be rested and
Itkhly lO4 MO1k dStAAA III q b1At4C.
Baldwin thought a great deal over
The Immediately previous movement.
He indicates IN his diary he feels the
best thing was done.
'sIt would have been most foolhardy
30 have attacked, and to remain near
him (Sitting Bulb would have exposed
say men to the extreme cold without
tents or blankets. and by moving back
they would have all, and further,
Ill a &N
think he was safe to remain where he
was for time At least, it would give
nae time to communicate with General
Miles and get help, or assist him In
case he should move across from Big
Dry to the head of Bark creek. To-
night dec. 81 at 10 p. m, an Indian,
Left Hand, departed with dispatches
for General Miles"
At o'clock on the afternoon of
Dec. 8, Boyd, the clerk, coming to the
command, reported after going. about
and that as the Indian presumably
Left Hand was down in the river bed /
be heard two shots fired. and that he /
believed he was killed at 1906 o'clock |
B. m"
Boyd, with two white men, departed I
sOr General Miles camp. Baldwin fur
aished him with one horse, and sent
Sergeant Mitchell and Is men to the
nouth of the Big Dry $50 as to attract
me attention Of any Indians that
night be making for Boyd's trail.
Sergeant Mitchell returned at o'clock
Ringing In an Indian who belonged
1t the agency. 1t was still cold. A raw
Wind was blowing. The men were i'm
sroving.
Il trust 1 shall be able to move again
CONAN fixing UP an old howitzer
hat found at the agency-.one wheel
S broken all to pieces, but the car
'enter completed his work tonight
viii have TO use the front truck of a
Yagon as there is no lumber for it.
{ will be better than nothing. am ,
till very tired Left Hand came in all
lgfat, says that he saw nothing, but !
1St Boyd I started him out after
ark to find or go to Sitting Bulls
amp and see If he had moved from {
lark creek, and If so, to come back I
nd let me know where he had gone Z
o-several of the Yanktonais are /
alking about going out and fighting {
lifting Bull. am doing all can to /
,op q feeling OF hostilities between t
Country similar to Kansas" I
Baldwin spent all day, Dec. 10, at II
ort Peck. Inspection was at IL a. m. v
n Unkpapa Sioux came to the fort, t
1t when Baldwin sent for him che v
out and was not seen afterwards" b
hen Major Mitchell with an escort I
so ASsinnfboines came In from Wolf t
pint he reported that Sitting Bull h
I'd moved over on the Redwater creek.
sveral other Indians who were con- n
dered reliable made the same report Il
aldwin decided to move the next n
ornfng as there were good prospects g
getting q number of the ASSinni- n
n
ri
TDAm St