Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-03-29
VAUGHN BRAVED
WRATH OF SIOUX
TO SHORTEN TRIP
FEW WEEKS OR EVEN FEW DAYS
SAVED WAS HELP TO
PIONEERS

In the rush in the early sixties
to reach Alder gulch from the
beaten immigrant track that led
through southern Wyoming there
we're many holder spirits who
we're eager to run the risk OF
Indian ambush in new paths
1 through the wilderness In the
/ hope thereby of shortening their
1 journey by a few weeks or even a
few days.
At the same time that John Boze-
man, after whom the city Of Boze-
man was named, was at Fort Laramie
trying to organize a train to take a
cutoff route east Of the Big Horn
mountains, a trader at this post by
the name of Mcknight was organizing
a caravan to go northwestward
through the Wind River country west
of the Big Horn mountains. thereby
penetrating the heart of the wild re-
pion where Red Cloud and Sitting
Bull reigned over 10000 or 10000
Sioux.
Mcknight was confident that his
route offered great advantages over
all others and he issued a call for
500 determined men to join him with
100 wagons.
Vaughn Among First to Respond
Among the first to respond to this
appeal was Robert Vaughn, who died
at Great Falls about two years ago
Vaughn spoke for himself and four
others. Out of the scores that passed
through Laramie that day bound for
the new gold diggings 20 joined the
Mcknight train This company Of
close to 100 men pulled out about a
quarter Of a mile in the direction
they were to travel and established
camp.
Mr.. vaughn's story Of the expedition
follows:
"This camp was kind Of refinery.
Here one and all might consider the
perils and privations likely to be en-
countered. The faint-hearted ones
took the safer route by way OF the
South Pass However, in few days we
had $50 men and more than 100
wagons. We were aware that we were
going to travel through several hun
bred miles of untrodden wilderness
infested by Sioux, so 1t was necessary
FOR us to be well armed and organized
Before starting we took a vote and
selected a captain and two heutenants,
and a committee of three to examine
every one and see if he was prepared
with guns and sufficient ammunition
and if his outfit was substantial
enough to make the trip
Depended Great Deal on Guide
"a paper was drawn in which YVES
Inserted a provision that we were to |
stand by and defend each other at all |
hazards; to this we all signed our
names. We realized that it was a |
1erilous undertaking, but we pressed |
onward. We depended great deal on
our guide. He was reared in Canada |
and had been in the employ Of the |
7udson's Bay company. His tact and
courage, on more than one occasion,
resulted in the avoidance Of trouble
With hostile Indians.
"Roll was called every evening. Each
nan had to be on guard for four con-
,ecutive hours during the night To
form the camp the first wagon had
20 make a circle until it faced the
lindmost one, and each one followed,
forming thus stockade, the horses |
)eing driven past the inside hind |
wheel Of the wagon in front; after
the tongue was thrown
over the wheel and rested on the |
axle. At night all the horses and tents |
we're on the inside and the sentinels |
we're on the outside.
when the Sioux came to our camp |
hey would go from one tent to an
)ther in a sullen manner with a con-
look as though they were |
yotng to massacre every one Of us |
Probably the reason they did not was |
hat we had taken them unawares;
,esides we were as good as an equal |
number Of soldiers If it had come to |
lighting BY the year following they |