Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-01-06

gun, eight mounted men and seven
six-mule wagons and ambulances
started for Fort Hawley intending to
make crossing and pick up Benefits
companies there His plan, according
to Baldwin, was to proceed on a route
which had previously been discussed.
HE left camp at II a. m. I was
left in camp with companies G, H, I,
Is Six-rnule teams and four mounted
men with orders to march to Fort
Peck, then to Fort Buford via Big Dry
and Redwater as circumstances might
dictate as best. I shall leave in the
morning hoping TO make Fort Peck in
four days Gathered up all the rope at
the raft. including the part fastened
on the opposite shore. Our efforts have
not been successful here owing entirely
to great quantities Of ice floating down
constantly making 1t dangerous to
cross on a raft and think the move
ment up the river to Hawley wise
one"
A rather warm and pleasant day
caused more thawing With no news
received at the camp, Baldwin made
an inventory and found he had 1O6
enlisted men with officers including
himself. Is six-mule teams, men
mounted on poor ponies and horses
besides 2 orderlieS. By feeding seven
pounds to mules and 10 pounds to
horses he found he had forage which
might last for eight days. Rations for
10 days for the men were on hand.
Travel conditions were weighed also,
for the snow was more than two feet
deep.
Command Moves Out Early
The next morning the command
moved out on an old trail, starting at
5 o'clock. Within two hours the top
of hill was reached, when continuing
on the trail the command marched to
its last crossing on the main stream
of the Fourchette. camping just above.
1t was beautiful day overhead and
excellent progress was made, the dis
lance covered being % miles.
By sunrise on the morning OF Dec.
3, after starting at $50 o'clock, the
command reached the camp occupied
ON Nov. %, where departure from
the trail was made about a mile away.
The march was to the right, making
where a good road was discovered,
thus effecting a saving In travel OF
about five miles. Before going into
camp at 4:50 o'clock in the afternoon 4
Baldwin observed the distance covered (
was not less than ~ miles. An early
start on the following morning was /
made, continuing on the trail except I
making cutoffs when 1t .
was TO our advantage" and In the
evening camp was set up In a grove
Of cottonwood timber on Willow creek. T
The roads, however, were very bad
and rough on account Of thawing," so (
that only 81 miles was the distance
travelled. Good grass was available, but I
he water was tainted with alkai all
through this country"
A cold wind blowing from the north
IN the morning of Dec. made the
march unpleasant. The crossing on
Willow creek was reached at / o'clock,
passing over our camp of Nov 20 at
1890 a. m.-distance 20 miles.
The only living thing inhabiting this
'egion seen today was a few prairie
chickens and wolves. Snow all gone
excepting in small patches on the hill
Iides. Froze all day. Mules very much
Ised up and worn out"
It was noon on the following day I
hat the command arrived at Fort
Peck after march. OF ID miles
Learned as soon as / arrived there
hat Sitting Bull, with 100 lodges, was
n camp on the Porcupine, IS miles
rom Fort Peck. John Brughier, who
eft him at the crossing ON Milk river
N the Sd dnst) gives me this infor-
nation Brughier leaves for Miles
tonight with dispatches
It once set to work getting my bat
alton ready TO move out after the hos
lies at 3 o'clock D. m, with 112 men
md officers all told, two days rations,
Except bacon, $4,000 rounds Of ammu !
lition. I started out, moving up
through a ravine back Of camp on to ;
he plain, striking across to the east
NTH we reached the BufOrd road, con-
inuing east crossing Milk river about
mile when large tran was found {
rosHing the road going down to the
Missouri river bottoms about seven
niles out from Fort Peck. Several par
les Of Indians were met moving into
eek, having been frightened at Sitting