TH E STORY OF MONTANA

BY KATE H AMMOND FOG AR TY

NEW Y ORK AND CH ICAG O

THE A . S . BARNES COMP ANY C O P Y R I G H T 1 1 6 B Y , 9 , & R S C M T H E A . B A N E O P A N Y

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(Dm A4 3 8 1 6 6 PREFACE

“ The writing o f the Story o f Montana was under taken while the author was o n the staff o f the Butte Public Library to meet the demand f o r a suitable text

f o r c o f book s hools , and also for the many lovers Montana wh o wish to become familiar with the main facts o f its early as well as present-day history without t c e having o onsult many separat volumes .

M ur di uch interesting so ce material has been stu ed , and it is hoped that others may be led to c onsult

t o these sources with profit themselves . The author gladly acknowledges her indebtedness t o those who have aided her in gathering the material ; to those who have granted permission to use certain illus t rat io ns , and more than all to those who by their encouragement have enabled her to overcome many obstacles . KATE HAMMOND FOG ARTY

CONTENTS

X O O PART I . EARLY E PL RERS IN M NTANA ri 1. The First White Men to go up the Missou River o in l The Boats they Came

s O The People they Met - e The Scenery they Saw m The Animals they Hunted a The Posts they Built fl The Journals t hey Wrote

H E PART II . T INDIANS hi 1. f Be ore the W te Men Came i a a nd 2 . Wh t the Explorers Learned bout the I ans

a n a 3 . The Fur Traders mong the I di ns G reat Peace Councils n di 5 . Sources of I an History

F PART III . THE UR TRADE r The Men at the Hea d of the Fur Trade e t The Fur Companies of Montana e p The Posts of the American Fur Company - s a t Transporting G oods to the Mount in s n e N oted Trappers

s e The Hudson Bay Company in Montana r« The Journals and Letters of the Fur Traders

VIS ITO R S PART IV . TO THE POSTS

1. Prince Maxim ilian Ca tlin the India n Painter

3 . N Audubon , the aturalist 4 . Father D e Sm et

5 . a . G o v . Is ac I Stevens t 6 . The Books hey Wrote vi CONTENTS

TH E To PART V . MISSIONARIES THE INDIANS

1. The Iroquois i Flathead Delegations to St . Lou s Father Desmet ’ Mar s Missio n St . y Z

St . Ignatius Mission Blackfeet Missions Crow Missions ’ Father D e Sm e t s Journ als

TH E PART VI . FIRST SETTLERS Western Em igration G old in Montana Settlers in Montana Road Agents and Vigilantes Montana Made a Territory Later Discoveries Books Written by Pioneers

H D E PART VII . T E SOL I RS IN MONTANA l i 1. Early Mi itary Expedit ons i i 2 . M l tary Roads Montana Forts 4 Battles Fought in Montana li 5 . Sources of Mi tary History

V M PART VIII . DE ELOP ENT OF THE STATE

a 1. Early Quartz D ys

2 l N k. . Exploration of Yel owstone ational Par ’ a 5 G e 3 . Mont na Early ov rnors 4 Building of Railroads u l 5 . Agricult ral Val eys

- 6 . Stock raising i 7 . Development of Rich M nes

8 . Later G overnors 9 Montana a State

PART IX . TRANSFORMATION OF THE INDIANS

1. Trea ties

2 . Reservations i 3 . Soldiers and Ind ans CONTENTS vii

i l i s 4 . Fr end y Ch ef i i 5 . Francis Leupp and Ind an Leg slation

6 . Indian Farmers

N O R M I O PART X . ATI NAL P OBLE S N M NTANA

at 1. Irrig ion - in 2 . Dry land Farm g

3 . Forestry CONCLUSION TITLES FOR COMPOSITION AND OR IGINAL RES EARCH Q UESTI ONS ON THE STATE OF MONTANA PR ONOU N CING G LOS SARY

X INDE .

LIST OF ILLUSTR ATIONS

The State Capitol at Helena Hea d of the Big Blackfoot Valley The Flatheads m Bull-Boats

In G The Buffaloes Roamed reat Herds . Pend d ’ Oreille Indian Village Relics of Indian Days ’ The Indian s Wagon . The Buffaloes were tame

o u f L dges made of B falo skins . Old Fort Owen All that 1s left of Fort Benton

G o v t G . Stevens Distribu ing oods

Charlot , Chief of the Flatheads A Little Flathead i n House Bu lt by the I dians .

The Mission of St . Ignatius The House which w a s built for them First House of the Missionaries Old Fort Benton The G reat Salt Lake Trail An old Prospector Panning out G old The old Stage Coach “ ’ ” ’ e Robb r s Roost , a Road Agent s Resort A Mud Wagon Cantonment Stevens m t he Bitter Root Valley i ’ Cantonment Wr ght . Lieut . Mullan s Winter Quarters The First Army Stat ion in Yellowstone Park Custer’ s Last Stand A Sioux Warrior ’ s G rave Prospector Panning out G old Hydraulic Mining Anaconda Hill

- A Jerk Line , Tw elve x LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Sheep at the River An Old Time Cattle Ranch A Ranch Interior The Old OX ” Cow Camp Sheep in Custer County Sheep Shearing Hauling Wool to the Warehouse A Miner’ s Cabin in Butte Real Cowboys ’ Pend d Ore ille Indians Painted Lodges of the Black feet The Rising G eneration The Last of the Buffaloes The G reat Falls of the Missouri in their Natural state and after completion of Power Development

LIST OF MAPS FACIN G PAGE Lewis and Clark Route and Verendrye Route 8 V Tribal Homes of the Indians 22 The River Systems of the N orthwest 72 ’ ’ D e Sm e t s G overnor Stevens route to Washington . Father First Trip to the Flatheads First Settlements Military Posts and Military Roads

The State of Montana showing important Towns . TH E S TORY OF MONTANA

PAR T I

EARLY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA

TH E S H ME N ‘ G U P TH E M S S 1. FIR T W ITE TO O I OURI

' - Lo o king f o r t h e P a cific O ce an . The first white men t o go up the Missouri h ad a great Object in view . They were looking for the Pacific Ocean . It seems strange to us that the year 1743 had been reached before the people o f America had learned the first thing about the western continent . But just consider for a moment the conditions as they were in those days . H o w many miles would yo u

o ne o r care to travel at stretch on horseback , in a stage - coach ? Or h o w far do you think yo u would care to go up a river if yo u had to ro w all the way ?

o r Canoes were their boats , and horses oxen their m only eans of land locomotion . Steamboats were not used until 18 19 and Such a thing as a railroad n 0 was o t known anywhere until 183 .

o f Then there were , course , no supply stations and they had to carry with them provisions enough to last until their return , and they were in great

o f o f danger falling into the hands the hostile Indians , 2 EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA

with no way o f escape ; o r o f being badly wounded

and unable to return to their homes .

difficu lt ie S With all these in the way , men were indeed brave who would venture far in the wilder t ness , and even having such a grea object as the

o f discovery an ocean had not charms for many .

Th e Fre nch f u r trad e rs . The French fur trad

ers were great men for seeking new lands . They were continually pushing farther into the wilderness and building trading posts where it would seem im possible for white men to go . These Frenchmen

were friendly to the Indians , because they wanted

their trade . They would go into their lodges and become like members o f the tribe and the Indians would tell them stories about their life in the

wilderness . — Ve re nd rye an d h is so n s One of the traders b was much interested in a story often told y t the

o f f Indians , a river which lowed from far up in the

western mountains , and of another river which flowed in the opposite direction and which had its head waters so near that of the first river that only the

mountains stood between them , and this second e riv r flowed down into a great salt sea , so great that

no Indian could venture far o u t in a canoe .

'

This French trader , Pierre Gaultier de Varennes ,

w a s Sieur de la Verendrye , an employee at Fort

Ni o e n r o f . p g , a trading post no th Lake Superior He very much desired to see this great salt sea ; but how was the feat to be accomplished ? He knew that in order to do it he would have to have a num ber of

companions , and they would need provisions enough TH E FIR ST WHITE ME N 3

to last them several years . Who would put up the capital f o r such an enterprise ? He had a hard time to persuade those who were in a position to help

his n n him , that desire to explore this u k own country was not a wild scheme . At last the fur company by whom he was em ployed agreed t o supply the needed money , and it

HEAD OF THE BIG BLACKFOOT VALLEY

was hoped that he would bring back furs enou gh to

cover the expenses . — I Exp e ditio n l e ave s Mo nt re al . n 1731 they left

Montreal ; Verendrye , his three sons , a nephew , a

o f Jesuit missionary , and a number boatmen and

o f hunters . It was twelve years from the time their

first start until they beheld the R ockies . They went up the Assiniboine R iver and then up th e Mouse o r Souris River and from there over into EAR LY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA

what is now Dakota , until they came to the Mandan Villages o n the Missouri River near the point where

now stands Bismarck .

‘ Fo rt d e la R e ine . This trip was not all made

at o ne time . They stopped and built forts and n traded along the way . The fort o the Assiniboine

River was named Fort de la R eine . While they were M at this fort , Verendrye went back to ontreal twice

to take his furs and to buy supplies . Once he went over into the Mandan Country and there he met an

Indian who had just come from the Far West . This Indian told him that by taking a round - about way

they could eventually reach the Pacific . Verendrye

would have gone on with him then , but about that time his interpreter deserted him and his bags of

f o r presents the Indians were stolen , and he had to

go back to Fort de la Reine for reinforcements .

tt ac e d b S io u . A k y x Before he was able to return ,

o ne the fort was attacked by Sioux Indians , and son ,

the missionary and some of the men were massacred .

About the same time the nephew died . Verendrye himself was taken ill and was not able to go again

to the Mandan Village . His two sons were undaunted by these failures and agreed to go alone o n the expedition ’ — V e re nd r e s so ns . In o f 174 2 y the spring , the

- sons , Pierre and the Chevalier , with two Canadians , went over into the Mandan Country expecting to find some o n e who could guide them over the moun

. M tains They were disappointed , for the andans

did not know the way , and no Indians happened to be in their village at that time who had been in TH E FIRST WHITE MEN 5

that country . However two of the Mandans agreed to take the explorers to some Indians who were friends to a tribe which could lead the way . — R o u t e o f t h e Ve re nd rye s . The route that they followed after leaving the Mandans has been puz zlin hi g to storians , for in the Verendrye records they f speak o the Beaux Hommes , the Little Foxes , the

Pio as y , the Horse Indians , the Bow Indians , and

o ne o f the Choke Cherries , and not these tribes can

o ur be positively identified , for Indians are all known “ now by different names . In the Contributions to ” the Historical Society of Montana , the route is given as following up the Missouri River to the Gate o f the Mountains and then crossing o ver to the Wind R iver Mountains ; but later historians

his agree more fully with Francis Parkman , who in “ ” Half Century of Confl ict gives a map of the route

as he has studied it out . According to Parkman , they went only into the southeastern part o f Mon tana and no farther west than the Wind River

Range . When they had reached the country o f the Bow

ul Indians they thought their way wo d be clear , for these Indians were about to go on a war expedition

against the Snake Indians . The Bows knew that

fin d t o the Snakes could the way the Pacific , for they had had captives of the Snake tribe who had

told them about seeing the great salt sea . The ex

lo re rs did p not even reach the mountains , for at that point the Bow Indians became frightened at hearing that the Snakes were about to attack their - f Village , and fled panic stricken from that part o the 6 EAR LY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA

country . It was useless for the Frenchmen to try

o n o f to go without the escort the Indians , so they

turned back , hoping to return at some future time .

m o nu m e nt in t h e h o e h e co u n A C k C rry try . M On their way back to the andan Village , they visited the Choke Cherry Indians , and while in their country planted on an eminence a lead plate on

ve which were engra d the arms of France , and erected a monument of stones which they called Beau

H arn f h e o IS o t . , in honor Governor of Canada

Lo st land m ark s . For many years historians ff searched for these two landmarks , but all to no e ect , and it was decided that the plate had been washed into the river , and the monument leveled to the n ground . N O o e could be really sure what places the explorers had visited unless these could be found .

n - B u rie d o ne h u ndr e d a d s e ve nty ye ar s . One 19 13 February day in the year , two children were going home from school in Pierre , South Dakota , when o ne of them stubbed her toe against a pro t ru ding object . They dug up the piece and found it to be a curious bit o f metal . They carried it home and some o ne knew what it must be . It was the Verendrye plate & Come to light after o ne hundred and seventy years & — S till a m yst e ry . But historians are still puzzled . It was found farther down o n the Missouri than some o f them had supposed it would be , and their

o ne theories had been upset . However , question

: has been definitely settled , and that is that the Ve re nd rye s d id not go near the Gate of the Moun

EARLY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA M tion of the upper issouri . When Thomas Jefferson e o f h became Pr sident the United States , he saw t opportunity to accomplish a plan which he had long cherished . This was to procure the Oregon Country for the United States . He had watched the move ments o f the Canadian fur companies in that co u nt r and saw how they were gaining in wealth and i influence over the Indians . He wanted the wealt ni w n and power and opportu ty for his o country . C o ngre s s d e cid e s t o s e nd an e xpl o ring party int — th e ne w l and . After he had succeeded in bringin about the Louisiana Purchase , there were many people who criticized him , because they though

su it abl that the Far West was a barren waste , not t h for the homes of men , and they thought that

Je ff e rs Rocky Mountains were impassable . But o still believed that it was a great country and afte a while he succeeded in getting Congress to agre to send an exploring party up the Missouri R ive and from there to the Pacific Ocean to study t h manners and characteristics o f the native Indians to make arrangements for the establishment o f trad

e x lo r ing posts with the tribes , and to thoroughly p the country.

L e wis and Cl ark ch o se n l e ad e rs o f e xp e d itio n . Meriwethe r Lewis was chosen leader o f this expedi tion and William Clark his associate . The party

o f ni when organized , consisted ne young men fro S Kentucky , fourteen oldiers of the United State

t w o army , French watermen , an interpreter an hunter , and a black servant belonging to Captai

Clark . In addition to these were engaged a corpora

TH E FIR ST WHITE MEN

ix and S soldiers , and nine watermen to accompany M the expedition as far as the andan Village , to assist in carrying the provisions and to be a protection in case of an attack while passing through the Sioux country .

i rs int e r is s s d in t . i Th e r fi t w pa e S Lo u s . They 1803 — were obliged to spend the winter of 4 in St .

Louis , as the Spanish authorities at that village would not allow them to pass into the newly a c ffi quired land until the o cial papers were received , notifying them of the change of ownership .

in - Th e Mand ans aga . The following winter they M & spent in the andan Village , having arrived there in October . This was an important stage of their journey . It was here they secured an interpreter for

- the trip . This was Charboneau , a half breed . It was necessary to have some o ne who could converse with all tribes they might meet and explain to them the object o f the expedition . They must gain the good will of the Shoshones , who lived in the neigh b o rh o o d o f the passes over the mountains , and unless there Should be some way to communicate with them it would be useless for them to attempt the journey . Charboneau would not consent to aecom pany them unless he could take along his wife ,

Sacajawea . The explorers looked with disfavor upon this proposition . They had no desire to be burdened with the care o f a woman and a young baby o n such

. re a hard trip But as Charboneau was firm , they lu ct ant ly allowed her to join the party ; and it was

f o r well that they did , otherwise they could not have

o f S obtained the favor the hoshones , EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA

’ S acaj aw e a s st o ry . The story o f this brave

woman , who was herself a Shoshone , is an interest

o ne . ing and romantic She was captured , when a

small girl , by the Minnetarees , who were deadly

o f enemies her people , and was sold to Charboneau

as a slave . He fell in love with her and made her

his wife . No doubt it gave him a great deal o f sat isf act io n t o think o f taking her back to her o w n people and showing them that she was being well

Cared for . He knew that she was better able to stand the

o f f o r hard trip than many the men , it was only a f continuation o her daily life . Lewis speaks o f

her in his Journals in the highest praise , saying that she stood the journey as well as the men

and far better than Charboneau , who was often

disabled . — ve r th e m o u nt ains t o th o ce an. In O e April ,

1805 o u t , they started into the unknown country , n whence , as far as they k ew , no white man had ever ventured . They had not heard about the journey of the Ve re nd rye s . As they went up the river in their

canoes , their escort went down the river in the keel

o f boat , carrying with them the collection animal

o f skins and skeletons , specimens flowers , and many curious things that they had found in their journey from St . Louis t o the Mandans .

r hr h n Th e ou te t oug Mo nta a . The explorers fol lowed the Missouri u p to the headwaters of the

f R o ne o f t h e o f Je ferson iver , which is Three Forks

Th cro s the Missouri . e y s e d the mountains over into a Idaho and passed the site o f the present Salm on TH E FIRST WHITE MEN 1

City . They purposed going down the Salmon River and then down the Columbia , but when they arrived at that point they found that that route was too rough and devoid of game and berries . The Indians told them that it would take seven days t o pass the

l & bad traveling . An o d Indian in the Shoshone village knew of a way to get over into the Bitter Root i t u . Valley from here , and they engaged him as a g de

f o r Even that way was hard , they had to cut a trail in places in order to get the pack horses through . l After they had arrived in the Bitter Root , they stil had , in order to reach the Columbia River , a range

Lo i to cross , but the Lo tra l was not considered ’ “

t he . hard by Indians Lewis journal says , Our guides traverse this trackless region with a kind o f instinctive sagacity ; they never hesitate , they are

S O n never embarrassed , and undeviati g is their step , that wherever the snow has disappeared for even a

. hi hundred paces , we find the summer road T s hi was written about the return trip , w ch was made over the same road . On their return from the Pacific the party di LO Lo vided after they had passed over the trail , and Clark went back through the Bitter Root Valley and crossed over the pass which divides that valley

’ from the Valley o f the Big Hole . He then went to the Three Forks and went over what was afterwards known as the Bozeman Pass into the Valley o f the

H e m i Yellowstone . ssed by only a few miles the ” f wonders o the Yellowstone Park . Lewis went through the Hell Gate Valley and over the Big Black foot Pass t o the Dearborn River and thence down to 12 EARLY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA

the Missouri , and down that river t o the mouth o f

the Yellowstone , where he joined Clark .

Th e e xp e d itio n a s u cce s s . The work o f explora

tion being now accomplished , they proceeded , with

no further stops , down the river to St . Louis where

o n - o f they arrived the twenty third September , 1806 .

The expedition had been entirely successful . They had found the Pacific Ocean and they had proved

that it was possible to cross the Rocky Mountains . But it was not f or this alone that these men made for themselves such an important place in the his

tory o f North America . It was because they had

o f gone under the authority the government , and were able to give complete records o f the journey

through the government publications . Furthermore , they had S hown the Canadian Fur Companies that they intended to protect their frontier ; and they

secured to the United States , by right of exploration ,

the Oregon Territory .

i . Fu r t ra d e rs f ro m S t . Lo u s The fur traders b e M gan going up the issouri River from St . Louis before

the return o f Lewis and Clark . They were French men and it was hard to get ahead of the French fur

traders in those d ays . There was not a part o f Canada that had not been explored pretty thor

oughly by this time , and they were only waiting for

a chance to get into this country . — Jo h n C o lt e r. When Lewis and Clark were at

o n the Mandan Village their return voyage , they u met t w o hunters who were going p the river . They

o f w h o asked to have the services John Colter , was A o ne o f the exploring party. s the work of t he

14 EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA that the minds o f the people were occupied with the

f r o f 1812 . o War Men , thirsting adventure , found it at home , without venturing into the wilderness .

' TH E S H M I 2 . BOAT T EY CA E N — Early b o at s . The boats used by the early travel ers would look queer to us now , and it was so hard t o get them up the river that the invention of the steamboat was as wonderful to the people then as being able to fly in machines is to us now . There were four different kinds o f boats used by the e Xp lo r

: - ers and the fur traders canoes , bull boats , keel boats , and mackinaws . ’ r nd r n r e s Ve e rye s b o at s . The Ve e d y came in i canoes , but they were not l ke the canoes used after ward by the Missouri River Voyagers . These first explorers were Canadians . Naturally they brought their canoes with them , as they had come all the way by boat and portage from Canadian waters . They were made o f birch -bark which grows in such abundance in that country .

Mis s o n o u ri Rive r cano e s . The canoes made the

Upper Missouri River were different . There were few birch trees along the r1ve r. A substitute was found in the cottonwood logs . These logs they cut into lengths o f from fifteen to twenty feet and dug o u t the center of each , leaving only the shell . These canoes were much better than bark ones for Missouri

f o r River use , they were strong enough to stand the

o f wear rocks and snags . w The canoes ere much used , not only by the indi vidual traders who brought their stock with them , TH E BOATS THEY CAME IN 15

but later by the fur companies . The principal use by the fur companies was in transporting goods from post to post , and for sending important messengers “ down the river to headquarters , and there are several records o f their having been used to trans ’ port freight such as bears Oil , which was exten

S ive ly used In St . Louis as a substitute for lard in the days when S wine were scarce and black bears ” plentiful Honey was also transported in this way , which had been taken from bee trees in the Missouri

Bottoms .

L e wis a nd Cl ark cano e s . The canoes were some

o f times bound together , two them , side by side , and

e rio u e s . floored over . These they called p g There were two of these in the fleet that Lewis and Clark

u t . started o in from St Louis , and they took them as

o ne far as the Marias R iver . Here was anchored

o ne o n until their return . The other they took to the foot of the Great Falls , and left at anchor .

M a S ix At andan Village they m de new canoes ,

o f single ones . These they traveled in to the head the Jefferson River . They portaged them and their

t h e m baggage around the Falls , by taking the mast of second p e rio gu e and sawing it in pieces for wheels for wagons . These rude wagons they pushed and pulled over the eighteen mile portage . When they came to the place where canoes were l no more possible for transportation , they fi led them with stones and sunk them to the bottom o f the

u . stream , so they wo ld be there when needed again The canoes were used by Clark and his men in going down the Jefferson River and were taken down EAR LY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA to the Lewis party after Clark had gone o n to the

Yellowstone , and Lewis and his men took also the p e rio qu e s which were in anchor at the Great Falls and the Marias River .

- B u ll b o at s . The other small boats mentioned in the journals were called bull - boats because they f were made o the skins of the buffalo bulls . The skins of the cows wer’ e not as strong nor as able to

THE FLATHEADS IN BULL-BOATS

stand the rubbing against the rocks . The frame work o f the boats was about thirty feet long and twelve wide , and was made o f willow poles firmly lashed together with raw hide . No nails were used . The pieces of S kins for the covers were sewed together f s nk with bu falo sinew , the hides dried and shru , and f the seams were pitched with bu falo tallow and ashes .

- A loaded bull boat could be handled by t w o men . At night when the landing was made the boat was u n l oaded , then turned over to dry . In this position it TH E BOATS THEY CAME IN 17

served as a shelter for both cargo and crew . In the morning the seams were rep it ch e d and any rents carefully patched . The boat was then launched and reloaded and the voyage resumed .

- t w o e rio u e s K e e l b o at s . Besides the p g Lewis and

“ Clark had a keel - boat which was the largest of their ik three boats , and were l e those used afterwards by the fur companies to freight their goods up the

- river . They were called keel boats because they were the only boats o n the river that had keels .

S They were large , sometimes ixty or seventy feet long . They were pulled up the river by a rope called

a cordelle . It took from twenty to forty men to

- pull a keel boat , while they walked along the bank . When they came to a place where the men could

not walk they pushed the boats along by poles . S Sometimes they used ails , if the wind was right ,

and again they rowed their boats . AS Chittenden says in the book he has written “ about the fur trade , Thus by one means or another ,

no w - and and then by all together , the early keel boat worked and worried its way up the turbulent current

f o f o the Missouri whatever the method propulsion , ” however , the task was always extremely laborious . n — Macki aw b o at s . The mackinaws were used by

the fur traders to carry goods down stream . They were built at the Upper River ports and were floated

down . They were not taken back up stream , as it was easier and cheaper to build a new boat than to

take o ne up t he river . f They were made entirely o timber . The building “ places f o r these boats were called chantiers which 18 EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA

- was French for navy yard . There w a s a chantier for every post , and it was built as near to the post as they could find a wooded spot . The Fort Union

-five chantier was twenty miles above its post , while that of Fort Benton was three miles below .

The mackinaw boats were large , sometimes as long as fifty feet . The cargo of furs was piled in

o f the center the boat , covered over with large skins , which were fastened down with cleats to the

o f sides the boat , in order to keep the furs as dry as f possible . In front o the cargo were the seats for the oarsmen , while the steersman sat in the stern o n an elevated perch from which he could look over the cargo and study the river ahead .

V o yag e urs . The men who did the work o f man “ aging the boats o n the river were called voyageurs “ and were usually Frenchmen . The voyageur was a very important figure in the early fur trade . He was always singing at his work , laughing and jok ing with his companions , and cheerful and happy in

e n his manner . His willingness to toil , complacent durance o f the most prodigious labors and his long acquiescence in the scanty provision for food and shelter made him the cheerful slave o f the fur trade .

E H E T 3 . TH PEOPLE T EY M

n n — e r d r e s h o s Th e Ma d a s . The V en y met some tile tribes in their long journey from Montreal to

the Missouri River , but they found friends when

they came to the valley o f the Mandans . These

Mandans were in many ways unlike Indians , the

principal o ne being their fair complexions . By TH E PEOPLE THEY MET

some o f the early travelers they were called white

Indians , and they were so friendly with all the white travelers that many people really thought that in some way they were a mixture o f the white

race with the Indians . n n th e M nd n — L e wis a d Cl ark a d a a s . When Lewis and Clark were nearing what is no w Montana

o f they also came t o the Village the Mandans . There they spent the winter hearing the Indians tell o f

tribes who lived nearer the mountains , and learning the directions o f rivers and landmarks by which

they were to be guided . They also met Indians from other tribes who came down to the Mandan

Village to trade with men from the British Posts . N o Mo nt ana Ind ian s e nco u nt e r e d o n th e Mis — M so u ri. After Lewis and Clark left the andans they saw no Indians until they came to the Shoshone Village M above the Three Forks of the issouri . Here and there they found deserted campfires which they knew must have been the camping places o f the Gros Ventres o r Minnetarees and they were glad to m iss meeting these Indians because they were no t a

friendly tribe . h sh — Lo o king f o r th e S o o ne s . As they went along through that great empty land they began t o be afraid that they would miss the Shoshone Indians as well and if that should happen they would have t o im turn back as Verendrye had done , for it was possible for any o ne to cross the mountains at that n day without the help o f the Shoshones . But o e thing

saved them from this fate , and this was the presence f o o f t he . Sacajawea , the wife interpreter She knew EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA

where her people hid from their enemy , the Black feet , and she knew where they made their camps

o n ff when the way to the bu alo hunt , and she led the explorers unfalteringly to their village .

S u rpris e t o t h e S h o s h o n e s . The white men were ’ a great curiosity to the Shoshones . Lewis journals “ tell us that They &the Shoshones&had indeed , — abundant sources o f surprise in all they saw the

o f appearance the men , their arms , their clothing ,

the canoes , the strange looks of the negro and the

o u r sagacity of dog , all in turn shared their admira tion , which was raised to astonishment by a shot

- from the air gun . This operation was instantly con ‘ ’ sid ere d , great medicine , by which they , as well as the other Indians , mean something emanating directly from the Great Spirit , or produced by his invisible ” and incomprehensive agency . — Th e Fl ath e a d s . At the head of the Bitter Root

Valley they met the Flatheads , and had a pleasant conference with them . The Flatheads were then o n their way over into the Jefferson Valley and the buffalo country . They told the explorers about the pass from the Bitter Root over into the Jefferson

o n Valley , and this was the pass that Clark used

the way home . — Ove r int o Id ah o . After leaving the Bitter Root

no w Valley , Lewis and Clark went into what is

e z o f Idaho , among the N Perces who spent much n their time with the Flatheads o their hunts . Here

f o r they found a chief , Twisted Hair , who made them a m ap o f the country into which they were to go . This chief took care o f their horses until their

22 EAR LY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA M R ockies , at the head of the valleys of the ilk

o f and Marias . On the western side the mountains

o f lat h e ad s was the home the F , and of their allied ’ d Ore ille s o r tribes , the Pend the Kalispells and the

lat h e ad s Kootenais . The F lived in the Bitter Root

Valley , while the others were in the Flathead Valley h near the lake o f the same name . On t e headwaters o f the Three Forks of the Missouri were often to be

Bannacks found villages of the Shoshones and , whose real homes were in the Snake R iver Country ; and in that fearsome part of the country where stronger tribes were afraid to go , now known as the Yellow stone National Park , was the small band of the

Sh e e e at e rs w h o o f p , , like the game the present day , found there a safe refuge out of the reach o f their enemies . All along the Valley of the Yellowstone

o f were the Crows , but the part it that they loved best was up along the stream called the Big Horn .

They called this Absaraka , and considered it their real home .

E A 4 . TH SCENERY TH EY S W — V e re nd rye a nd th e m o u nt ains . Lewis and Clark were the first to cross the Rocky Mountains , but

o f the sons Verendrye were the first to see them . Historians d o not know just what part o f the moun

Ve re nd r e s tains the y saw , but it is thought from the direction they took according to what the ir jour nals tell us , and the distance they traveled in each day that it was the Big Horn Mountains o r prob ably the Wind R 1v e r Mountains that they saw o n ’ 1 that New Year s Day in 74 3 . We can imagine how

TH E S CENERY THEY SAW 3

nk they longed to climb those peaks , thi ing that if

they could only reach the summits , they could look over into that unknown land and perhaps see the

ocean itself . But we know that they were far from

the long dreamed of land , that from those summits t o f only more mountains were be seen , and no di ferent

o r view could be had for two three hundred miles , and the ocean itself was more than eight hundred

miles away . n h n in — L e wis a nd Cl ark a d t e m o u t a s . It was on 26 1805 May , , that Lewis and Clark first saw the

no t Rockies . This was at Cow Creek , far from the s Judith River . In his journal Lewis spoke of them “ as the Rock Mountains the object o f all our ” hopes , and the reward of all our ambition .

Th e S t o n e W all s . They saw much fine scenery

before they came actually to the mountains . There was o ne place they called The Stone Walls where the cliffs rose from two hundred to three hundred

feet high , and where they looked in places like

spires and turrets and columns , and in other places like walls laid with im mense black rocks in regular

rows . — Th e Gre at Fall s o f th e Mis s o u ri The Minne

o f M tarces , the friends the andans , had told Lewis

o f M and Clark about the Great Falls the issouri , “ so they were not surprised when o ne day their ears were saluted with the agreeable sound o f a fall of ” water . They had traveled seven miles after first

hearing the sound , and at last seated themselves o n some rocks under the center o f o ne o f the falls

and enjoyed the sublime spectacle . EAR LY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA

This fall was only o ne o f several cascades and falls

o f o r extending for a distance ten miles more . Every thing was as the Indians had told them even the ’ Eagle s Nest was seen o n an island just below the “ n Upper Falls . Here o a cottonwood tree an eagle had fixed her nest , and seemed the undisputed mis

o f tress a spot , to contest whose domain neither man nor beast would venture across the gulfs that

surrounded it , and which is further secured by a

‘ mist rising from the falls . This solita ry bird could not escape the observation of the Indians , who ’ made the eagle s nest a part o f their description of ” the falls .

f h n ins — In f u ll Vie w o t e m o u t a . After leaving the Falls the explorers were constantly in full view o f M the Rocky ountains , which were not then known by “ that name . Lewis in his journals says , They glisten with great beauty when the sun shines o n them in a particular direction , and most probably from this glisteni ng appearance have derived the name o f the ” Shining Mountains . f h M n n — Th e G at e o t e o u t ai s . After several days the explorers approached a wonderful pass in the t moun ains , where the rocks came down to the river

- o n both sides . For five and three quarters miles the rocks rose perpendicularly from the water ’ s edge

to the height of nearly twelve hundred feet . The j ournal says , Nothing can be imagined more tre m n u o f e d o s than the frowning darkness the rocks , which project over the river and menace us with

destruction . During the whole distance the water

at is very deep even the edges , and for the first TH E SCENERY THEY SAW 25

three miles there is not a spot , except o ne o f a few

yards , in which a man can stand between the water

and the towering perpendicular of the mountains .

t o We were obliged go on sometime after dark , no t being able t o find a spot large enough to camp

o n ; but at length , about two miles above a small .

o f island in the middle the river , we met with a place o n the left side where we procured plenty o f

light wood and pitch pine . This extraordinary range ‘ o f rocks we called the Gate o f the Rocky Moun

s f h Mi — Th e Th re e Fo rk o t e s s o u ri. In the last

f 1805 e x lo re f s o July of , the p reached the sources o f the Missouri . They named the Three Forks for Thomas Jefferson who was then President o f the

o f United States , and two members his cabinet , M Albert Gallatin and James adison . The o n e named for Jefferson was really a continuation of the river ; the others were large branches , but all were so nearly o f a S ize that they took them for three forks . This had been a spot of historical interest f o r a good many years , and was for many years after . All the Indian trails in the country seemed to cross at this point , as the easiest pass into the Yellowstone

Valley : the buffalo country . The Blackfeet claimed the country around the Three Forks but no tribe dwelt there permanently . n in O n t h e s u m m it o f th e m o u t a s . When the ex plo rers finally stood upon the summit of the mountains ‘ “ they rejoiced that they had no w reached the hidden f sources o that river , which had never yet been seen by civilized man . As they quenched their thirst at 26 EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA

the chaste and icy fountain — as they sat down by k the brin of that little riverlet , which yielded its distant and modest tribute to the parent ocean they felt themselves rewarded for all their labors and ” all their diffi culties .

TH E LS 5 . ANIMA TH EY HUNTED

n G a m e . Travelers o the eastern slope of the M Rocky ountains never wanted for game . Buffa loes , bears , deer , elks , antelopes , and beavers were their chief objects o f food . Fowls of all kinds and

fish , too , were to be had in plentiful quantities . — B e ar s . Bears were the hardest o f all the game

to kill , because unless they were shot squarely through the brain or heart , they were not killed , and when wounded would turn upon the hunter and fight furi “ l : o u s y . The journal of Lewis says The wonderful power of life which these animals possess renders them dreadful ; their very track in the mud or sand , which we have sometimes found eleven inches long and seven and a fourth inches wide , exclusive of the talons , is alarming ; and we had rather encounter two Indians than meet a single brown bear . Of the strength and ferocity o f the grizzly bear the Indians had given us dreadful accounts . They never attack him but in parties of six or eight persons , and even then are often defeated with a loss o f o ne o r more of

r . thei party Having no weapons but bows and arrows , and the bad guns with which the traders supply

t o them , they are obliged to approach very near the

m i bear , and they frequently fall a sacrifice if they ss

rifl e m an their aim . To a skilled the danger is very

28 EARLY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA

m sa e manoeuver and sometimes relieve each other , till ” they decoy it from the party , when they seize it . — B u ff al o e s . The explorers found the buffaloes so gentle that they were obliged to drive them o u t of

the way with sticks and stones . Small wonder that they had all the buffalo meat they wanted & The buffaloes roamed in great herds over the country between the Missouri and the Yellowstone . More than once when Clark was returning down the Yellow

hi s f stone , party was delayed by herds of bu faloes

crossing the river before them . These herds some

times were in columns a mile wide , and would be as

long as an hour crossing the river . How can we but wonder that these are al l gone now ? History tells us that they were slaughtered by the Indians and

Am the trappers for the erican Fur Company . The small numbers that were left were hunted down by the settlers until no w there are only a few in zoologi

cal gardens and nat ional parks . — B e ave rs . The beavers were usually killed for their skins but the early travelers used them for food as well . They were considered a great delicacy ,

ul partic arly the tails , which , when boiled , were like

len fresh tongue . One tail was large enough for a p

tiful meal for two men .

TH E H UI T 6 . POS TS T EY B L l Fo rt Lisa . The first trading posts were bui t by

M ni t o anuel Lisa , the Spa ard who had come up St . Louis from New Orleans and became a rival to the

o f Chouteaus . He we nt up to the mouth the Yellow

stone , and then up that river to the Big Horn River TH E POSTS THEY BUILT 29

o f o f in the heart the country the Crow Indians , and — built Fort Lisa , the first building in what is now

known as Montana . He was not as successful in

m i choosing a location as he ght have been , for the Blackfeet had the best beaver groun ds and the Crows were enem ies of the Blackfeet but in spite o f “ his these facts , Lisa came down the river with boats piled , heaped and laden to the gunwale edge f with furs o u t o the Yellowstone . — At th e Th r e e Fo rk s . Noting the advantage it f would be to trade with the Black eet , Lisa and his partners moved over to the Three Forks the next

t o season , expecting do an immense trade there , for being a spot which nearly all tribes passed at some

r time du ing the hunting season , it would seem the most advantageous point for a trading post . But they had reckoned without the Blackfeet . Lisa could well boast of his friendship with all the other tribes , but no o ne could count the Blackfeet as friends . — They were foes to every o ne Indian or white especially any o ne who dared to set up an establish ment in their country . ’ It was Lisa s part o f the work t o take the furs to

St . Louis and bring up the fresh supplies . Andrew

nr his He y , partner , commanded the fort , and did the trading and was overseer o f the trappers . Soon after the post was opened the Indians b e came so hostile that it was un safe for the men to go

ui outside the fort to hunt , and they were q ckly being

driven to a state o f starvation . They were soon forced t o o f move over t o the other side the main range ,

r into the territory o f the Snake o Shosho ne Indians . 30 EARLY EXPLORER S IN MONTANA

’ Th e o st e p n ar H e nry s Lak e . The post which they built over the range was the first American establishment to be b uilt o n any of the waters of the Columbia River . It was near the boundary line ’ between Montana and Idaho . Henry s Fork of the ’ Snake River , and Henry s Lake were named for the commander , Andrew Henry .

Although more secure at the new location , the fur traders felt fearful for their safety and at the end of the season all were glad to turn towards home . At the Mandan Village they met Lisa , who was coming back up the river in search of them , as he had become alarmed at hearing no news from them .

H L H 7 . T E JOURNA S T EY WROTE

S o u rce s . What we call the sources of history are the journals and accounts written at the time of historical events . For a good many years the story o f the early exploration of the West and the fur n trade was entirely u known to the public , because the journals had not been put into readable shape . Of late years historians have hunted up these Old records and edited and reprinted them S O that if o ne has access to a fair sized library o ne can learn enough o f the events o f those days to form a con n c e d e t story . ’ V re n r e s n - f e d y j o u r al . Some o the journals are so brief , that we sometimes must lament that so little was told us . Such for instance were Veren ’ “ : drye s journals . As Francis Parkman says If the f travelers had been less sparing o words , they would TH E JOURNALS THEY WR OTE 1 doubtless have told us that as they entered the village square the flattened earthen domes that surrounded it were thronged with squaws and chil ” dren , and many other little incidents , too , that would have straightened o u t several puzzling questions for us .

o f This journal was course written in French , but it has no w been translated into English . Because the names they gave to the tribes they met are dif f e re nt from those by which these tribes were known

no t later , the journal is as valuable as otherwise it might have been . — is nd o n s Th e L e w a Cl ark J u r al . When Lewis and Clark were gathering together the provisions and supplies f o r their long journey into the wilder ness they did not forget ink -horns and quills and

so blank books , they might write down all their adventures . Lewis encouraged every o ne to keep a journal , and around the twilight fires the men wrote every night . Lewis , Clark , Ordway , Gass , Fraser ,

- all busy with their stub quill pens and ink horns , ’ recording the day s adventure . They were not schol

o f o f e ars , any them , but men action , pione rs and f ” o . explorers , heralds the nation ’ — G a s s j o u rnal . Patrick Gass had a goodly share o f Irish wit , and as his schooling was limited there f must have been a good deal o fun over his efforts . Eva Emery Dye in her account o f the Lewi s and “ Clark expedition makes him say , I niver wint to school but nineteen days in me boyhood , and that ” was whin I was a man , and she says of him : “ but what Pat lacked in books he made up in o b 32 EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA

servation and shrewd reasoning ; hence it fell out that Patrick Gass ’ journal was the first published

o f account the Lewis and Clark expedition , with the help o f a Scotch schoolmaster Patrick published his book the next year , immortalizing the name of the gallant Irish Sergeant . He lived to become a great student in his old age , and an authority o n

Indians and early times . ’ ff L e wis j o u rnal . The o icial journal o f the ex i i p e d t o n was written by Meriwether Lewis . This would naturally be so because he was the leader of

Je ff r the expedition , and also had been President e ’ son s private secretary . He had orders to write down what ever would be of interest to people who

and might want to trade with the Indians , make such observations of the mountains and rivers as would be needed by the War Department in making maps o f the country . After the return o f t heexpedition Lewis was o ccu pied during his leisure time wi th preparing his journal

f o r . publication , but he died before it was completed There are no w several good editions which include

f b e the journals o both Lewis and Clark , and give sides excellent notes taken from the observation o f o f later travelers , and from the journals others who f wrote at the same period o time . — B ra d b u ry and Brackinrid ge Tw o early travelers who did not reach the Upper R iver Country have written valuable records . As they were connected with Lisa in some o f his journeys their works would be interesting to students of Montana History . Chit “ tenden says in his History o f the American Fur TH E JOURNALS THEY WR OTE 3

’ ‘ Trade Bradbury s well -known book Travels In ’ North America is o ne o f the most useful works of this period , and one which the careful student of

Louisiana History never fails to consult . It is the best existing authority on many points , and in some the only o ne . Irving drew largely upon it in his ’ ’ f h i ri narrative o Hunts Voyage up the I sso u .

Br kin i h i Henry M . ac r dge ascended the I sso u ri with

Lisa i n 1811. He was a young man of good education , very observing , and a promising young

iew o ana . V Lo u isi writer His f , and his journal of ’ l\Iisso u ri his voyage up the , like Bradbury s Travels , ” are among o u r most reliable early authorities . ’ u nt f is n n M Acco o L a s fir st e xp e d itio i t o o ntana . ’ “ s In Chittenden work we read that , The data for the history o f this expedition is less complete than

. Lo u isia na Gazette could be wished The , the first f o . o ne o ur newspaper St Louis , and now of best authorities upon those early times , was not estab 180 lish e d until 8 . There are no letters or documents

a extant bearing upon this enterprise . Our main u t h o rit ie s Brackinrid e are g , who received an account o f the expedition direct from Lisa , and Thomas

o f Biddle , who wrote from personal knowledge the work of the fur traders in the early years o f the country . — f N e w e ditions o f t h e o ld j o u rnal s . One o o u r hi pres ent day storians , Reuben Gold Thwaites , has

f o ld made a collection o the journals , and edited

hi b e them with notes . T s is a most useful work cause it brings the sources within the reach of all ’ f . o readers Hiram M . Chittenden s History the 34 EARLY EXPLORERS IN MONTANA American Fur Trade of the Far West is another work of equal usefulness . He has taken the o ld journals and formed them all into o ne connected

o f story , which gives us a picture those times taken directly from the sources .

’ PEND D OR EILLE INDIAN VILLAG E

6 TH E INDIANS

winter storms came on they found some sheltered

valley up in the mountains , where they were pro

t e ct e d from the cold winds , and where they lived o n the food that they had dried in the summer . — Th e fir st h o rs e s . At one time some Spanish traders came up from the Southwest . They brought

RELICS OF INDIAN ’ DAYS

f horses to the Indians , and what a di ference those horses made in their lives & Before this time all journeys had been made on f oot . Dogs had been m their only beast of burden , and the Indians the \ selves always had to carry large packs o n their backs . Even the children had to carry a share of the b ur — dens , but as soon as they had horses , they had found a beast of burden that would carry not only BEFORE TH E WHITE MEN CAME 37

no w ul their packs , but themselves , and they co d go long distances into valleys that before had been inaccessible .

Th e co m ing o f th e Bl ackf e e t . Later on another

“ event happened to these first inh abitants . A tribe o f Indians came down from the north and drove them back into the sheltered valleys . These new In dians had a number o f guns that they had procured

- from the Canadian fur trading posts . It was useless to attempt to resist these invaders , for the guns were l ike magic arrows , and could make a deadly wound from a long distance .

The new Indians had no horses , they had walked a long way f rOm the country between the Peace and

Saskatchewan Rivers in Canada . They had had strong enemies there who had driven them o u t of their homes , and they had come this long distance

- over burnt over prairies and rough country . Their

- moccasins were travel stained and black . The Flat S e heads and hoshon s called them the Blackfeet , and the name has clung to them .

D ri n n n n — ve b e yo d th e m o u t ai s . With their guns the Blackfeet soon took from the Shoshones horses

enough for themselves , and with guns and horses they had no fear o f any tribe . The Flatheads and

s a Shoshones w that it was no use to resist . The

Blackfeet had come to stay , and the Flatheads fled over the mountains in to the Flathead and Bitter R oot Valleys , while the Shoshones went up to the

- th e M head waters of issouri and over into Idaho . — H o stility B e gin s Once or twice a year they ff stole over into their old country to hunt bu alo . 38 TH E INDIANS Sometimes they were fortunate enough not to meet their enemies ; at other times they would come upon

o f parties them and then there would be a battle . In this way they came t o be thinking about war a

o . P rm i i n N A . F r yt Butt e ss o f o s h, e

’ TH E INDIAN S WAGON

o f great deal the time , and the men spent their best

efforts in making good warriors o f themselves . The Blackfeet liked nothing better than a battle with t h e Shoshones because it always made more horses f o r

them , and made them more powerful . — Th e row s Th e C Crows , who lived in the

Yellowstone Valley , also feared the Blackfeet . One BEFORE TH E WHITE MEN CAME 39

tribe o f the Blackfeet they especially hated was

f r the Gros Ventres . The reason o this probably was

because they were such near neighbors to the Crows . \ Their home was in the Valleys of the Judith and

Musselshell . The Crows finally moved up into the

f o f . streams o the Yellowstone , spending most their

time in the Big Horn Valley . — Th e S io u x The Blackfeet were no t the only

enemies o f the Crows . There was another strong

o n : nation lower down the Missouri River the Sioux . They too liked t o come into the Yellowstone Valley

t o hunt buffalo and other game . The Crows had a c hard time between the Bla kfeet and the Sioux .

“ They had to resort t o all sorts o f clever devices and after a time they learned how to steal horses away

from the Blackfeet and other Indians , until they t o o

were as well equipped as any . — Ye arly h u nt s f o r b u ff al o . After a few years the tribes again led a settled life . They still went about

o ne from place to another , but they were not often far from their home valleys . One long expedition they took every year . That was into the Yellowstone

f o ne for bu falo . This valley was a long and was full o f ff o f bu alo , so there was plenty room and game for

o u t o n all the tribes . When a tribe went the hunt , practically the whole village went along . The braves

t o o all had g to hunt and to protect the expedition ,

t o the women had to go prepare the meat and skins ,

o f t o course they had take the youngest children , and h l that left only t e o d men and women , and the children

wh o were o ld enough to be left behind . Sometimes a village would go and return without meeting any 4 0 TH E INDIANS

other Indians , but oftener they would meet two or

three different parties . If they should meet a party

which was going along peacefully as they were ,

bound only for the hunt , then there would be no trouble ; but if they should meet a horse - stealing party , then they would have to watch very care

TH E BUFFALOES WE RE TAME fully to see that the strangers did not have a chance to run o ff with their horses ; and if they chanced to meet a war party then there was apt to be very

serious trouble . The Indians had the reputation for being very

fond of war . They undoubtedly were , especially when they were out on the war - path and well pre pared for battle ; but to the village it was a great f . o dread It meant the destruction their homes , WHAT TH E EXPLORERS LEARNED 4 1

o f hi the murder or capture the women and c ldren ,

o r o f and the death torture the braves . Villages were sometimes entirely destroyed ; those no t killed

t o were carried into captivity , there be either tor t u re d o r made slaves . Still they were fearless and never hesitated to pursue an enemy to avenge the

f o f o r t o death o members their villages , secure for themselves stores o f which they were in need and o f which the enemy had a plentiful supply .

2 H TH E X S D B . W AT E PLORER LEARNE A OUT TH E INDIANS — At th e Mand an Village . When Lewis and Clark were at the Mandan Village they learned all they could about the country which they were to explore . There was a chief there who drew a map o f the

Upper Missouri on a robe with a piece o f coal . Others told them about the band o f Blackfeet who were

lVIinne t are e s sometimes called the of the Prairies , and sometimes th e Gros Ventres . (It Is a puzzling matter not to conf use these names because the Indians who were near neighbors of ' the Mandans were also called

Mnn r e s et a e and Gros Ventres , but these were known M as the Minnetarees o f the sso u ri. ) All the Indians told them about the hostility o f this tribe o f the

w h o Blackfeet , but the Assiniboines lived north of the

o f Missouri and east the Blackfeet , being neighbors , had more reason t o fear them . The Indians at the Mandan Village agreed that they must find the

ui Shoshones t o g de them over the mountains . Other n tribes k ew the passes over the mountains , but the Shoshones were the only ones who had horses 42 TH E INDIANS

in such abundance that they could have them for

exchange . — S h o sh o ne s and Minne t are e s e ne m ie s The ex plo re rs heard stories of the enmity between the Sho

M o f Mi shones and the innetarees the ssouri . The student may wonder how such widely separated

tribes could come in contact with each other often . It may be that their troubles existed before the Sho

shones were driven beyond the mountains . We can at least be sure that these were the two

tribes , because Lewis and Clark found Sacajawea there in the Minnetaree Village where she had been

taken a captive from the Shoshone Village , and she herself told them o f her capture at the Three Forks

o f the Missouri . — S acaj awe a at t h e Th re e Fo rk s Sacajawea had been a little girl when she was captured by the

Minnetarees , but she could remember all about it . e Furthermore , she rememb red how her people had

o f often been at the Three Forks the Missouri , and

when she reached that point with the explorers , she pointed up the Jefferson and said that was the way over the mountains ; she pointed up the Gallatin and said that was the road all the Indians took when they went over into the buffalo country : the

Yellowstone Valley ; and up the Madison she pointed , saying that that was a valley where her people often

were in camp . She told them that this spot was a

o f natural cross roads , that all the tribes the west f passed this point o n the way to the bu falo hunt . — With t h e S h o sh o ne s . When the explorers came

o f t the village o the S hoshones , they saw how cowed

44 TH E INDIANS can Obtain the scantiest subsistence , they d o not leave

o f the interior the mountains ; and , as soon as they

o f have collected a large stock dried meat , they again retreat , thus alternately obtaining their food at the

o f hazard their lives , and hiding themselves to con

o ri ht M t C y g L. A. H u m an il Ci y p fi , es LODGES MADE OF BUFFALO SKINS

” s hk t o the ume it . The Pa e e s are supposed be

Blackfeet .

Th e f i n r e d ly Fl ath e a d s . When the explorers had arrived in the Bitter Root Valley they met a band o f

o . Indians , whom we suppose t be Flatheads The ex l p o re rs called them the Oo t lash o o t s . The journal “ s : n ays They seemed kind and friendly , and willi gly s s hared with us berrie and roots , which formed their FUR TRADERS AMONG TH E INDIANS 45

sole stock o f provisions . Their only wealth is their horses , which are very fine , and so numerous that this party had with them at least five hundred . These Indians were o n their way t o join the other bands

h o o n f w were hunting buffalo the Jef erson River , ” across the Great Divide . Th e h o stil e Blackf e e t Lewis and Clark would have preferred t o have found the Missouri as lonely

n o n going dow as it had been their journey up , but they ’ were no t so fortunate . Lewis party came upon a party o f eight Blackfeet . These were supposed at that time t o be Gros Ventres but George Bird Grinnell , in his “ ” o f sa S Trail the Pathfinders , y that the Piegans tell o f the adventure as having occurred t o members o f their band . Of their safe escape from this band we have already read , and the explorers were glad t o n M see no more Indians o the Upper issouri .

3 TH E FUR D S M TH E . TRA ER A ONG INDIANS — Th e first f u r t ra d ing . Before posts were built in the Indian country , the fur traders came up the river and traded from their boats and returned home when their goods were exhausted . We can Im agm e with what interest and curiosity the Indians regarded the goods o f the white men & At first the boats were small and the traders had only a few things such as

- ni . nk looking glasses , k ves , needles , hatchets Just thi what a strong steel needle would mean to an Indian woman & And a sharp knife to a man & Or a looking glass to a young brave who delighted in decking himself in articles of Indian beauty & We can im h f agine , then , with what delig t the boat o a trader 4 6 TH E INDIANS

was sighted . How , before he had drawn his boat up n to the ba k , the whole village would be crowding

around ready to have the first chance at a trade . The Indians did not realize how valuable their furs — — were o r perhaps they better realized how great ni a convenience the needles and k ves were , for they would give away a beaver skin for something of no value at all ; but we ourselves give fabulous sums for cheap but necessary things when we are out in

the wilderness . We have heard of the time when flour was a dollar a pound right here in Nf o nt ana ; and if we had quantities of beaver skins now and no

flour , would we not be willing to give two or three skins for one sack of flour ? So it was with the In dians ; and it was not such an injustice for the traders k to take many s ins for their goods , because they had

t o to work hard get their boats up the river , and they had to go through many dangers in order t o

reach the Indian country . — ’ Th e s sini o ine s ni t h e first A b Fort U on , perma

hIo nt ana ui nent trading post in , was b lt near the mouth of the Yellowstone for the Assiniboine Indians 18 hi e in 29 . The lodges of t s tribe were to be se n here and there all the way from a short distance below the mouth of the Yellowstone to the mouth of the Milk

R iver . They were also to be found in the territory

t h e to north , as far as the Saskatchewan , and east ni to the Assi boine R iver . They had long lived there ,

but they had a tradition that , many years before , n their fathers had lived o the salt water , but they could not tell how long it had been o r what route

they had followed on their westward journeyings . FUR TRADERS AMONG TH E INDIANS 4 7

- During the best days of the fur trade , they num bered in the neighborhood o f Their main subsistence was the buffalo . They were considered good robe-makers by the traders and for this reason they were an important tribe to them . Before the ni l trading post at Fort U on was estab ished , they di took their trade to the Cana an posts , and after ward it was the constant care o f the trader to supply them with all their needs , so that they would not want to return to their former traders . They were generally friendly to the whites , although they were not always to be trusted . —A Th e C ro ws . good deal of the trade of this post was with the Crows , from up the Yellowstone Valley . The Crows were considered the best robe-makers o f ff all the Indian tribes . At di erent times posts were l estab ished in the Crow Country , but these people were such a roving class that they were not long enough in o ne part o f the valley to make it worth while t o establish a permanent post . It was found that the best way to trade with the Crows was to go o u t with a stock of provisions to their camps and then take the furs back t o Fort Union . E i — f l arly h s t o ry o f th e C ro ws . Some o the o d Crow warriors told the traders that they had not i always l ved on the Yellowstone . They came from

ul the South , but they themselves co d not remember living farther South than the Kansas R iver . When they came North they divided into two tribes ; o ne called the Minnetarees o r the Gros Ventres o f the Missouri settled around the Missouri River near the

Great Bend in what is now North Dakota , the others , 4 8 TH E INDIANS w h o o ld o f kept the tribal name Absaraka , which means Crow , went to the Yellowstone , and they called the Big Horn Valley , the favorite valley o f their new home , by the same name . — C ro w t rait s . The Crows and Minnetarees were the tallest and finest formed o f any o f the Bl isso u ri

River Indians . They were fond o f dress and orna “ ments . Chittenden says about them : However much they might excel other tribes in physical de ve lo m ent p , they were in no degree behind them in f the vices and defects o Indian character . They were the most expert o f horse -stealers and the most skillful robbers among the Missouri tribes . Because o f this trait they possessed more fine horses and were better horsemen than any o f their neighbors . — A trad ing po st f o r t h e Bl ackf e e t When the traders began to know more about the Indians , they learned that the Piegans lived in the best beaver country . All this time the Piegans were taking their furs to the British Posts . The Canadian fur traders make a specialty o f beaver skins and they offered great inducements to the Flatheads and the Piegans to come north t o trade . The American traders were rather fearful at start ing a post in the Blackfoot country . They had heard so many stories from the Indians o f the h o s t ilit o f s y this tribe , and so many individual trader a had come to grief in their country , that it seemed

. t o o perilous undertaking Then , , the Assiniboines and the Crows did not want their enemies t o have a post

o w n f o r s in their country , they would then be tronger still if more o f them would have guns . But the trad FUR TRADERS AMONG TH E INDIANS 49

o f ers thought only the beaver skins , and they decided

to take the consequences .

Pie n Fo rt ga . The first Blackfoot post was named

Fort Piegan . During the years that followed it had different names until at last it came to be known as

Fort Benton . After this a new life opened up to

the Blackfeet . Before, they had had only hostile feelings for the white men ; thei r only thought upon

Kindness of Mont ana H ist ori cal S o ciet y Library OLD FORT OWEN

meeting one was to kill him . But now they had a ff di erent feeling , for while before , the whites had been

intruders , now they were clearly there f o r the In ’ dian s advantage . They supplied a market for their furs and brought to the Indians many comforts and luxuries . The visit to the post became o ne of the

’ s o f event the year , and the arrival o f the company s boat with the supplies and provisions from St . Louis

i n i was a sight o t to be m sse d .

Th e ro w s C att ack t h e po st . The Crows were so dissatisfied with the establishment o f the new post 50 TH E INDIANS

that they planned to attack and destroy it . Major

o f Alexander Culbertson , who was in charge the post , was warned by a squaw , who had been captured by the Crows but had escaped . She took the news to Major Culbertson that the Crows were preparing to

o n make an attack the fort at an early date .

The fort was put in readiness for the attack , and soon the Crows came in large numbers and camped around it . They had expected to enter the fort to trade but they were not allowed . They had never before traded there and Major Culbertson knew that their plan was to get inside and then destroy t h e fort . They surrounded the fort and a state of siege M existed for ten days . ajor Culbertson thought it would be better to avoid any bloodshed , if possible , but when the food gave o u t and his men were in

o f danger starving , he sent a messenger to say that

e o f if they were not gon by noon that day , he would

fire o n them . They paid no heed to his warning and at noon the cannon was loaded and shots fired , whereupon they immediately took down their lodges ,

t h e packed their belongings , and disappeared up river , and were not seen again in the vicinity .

Ara o o ash p , the chief who had led the besiegers , was o ne o f the greatest that the Crows had ever had . He had wanted to keep peace with the whites , but his people were so determined to destroy the post that he had to do their will ; but whe n his d men showe such a cowardly spirit , when it came to

battle , he felt that he had been forever disgraced . To S how that his people were not such cowards as

they appeared , he planned an expedition against the

52 TH E INDIANS

: Crows , it was Often said in those days As long as ” there are Crows and Gros Ventres there will be war . n This was not hard to be u derstood , because the

Crows were such thieves . They doubtless often richly deserved the punishment they got from the Gros

Ventres . — m a o o n th e Mis s o u ri. In 1837 S llp x , the annual boat for some reason was delayed and the Indians at Fort Benton were impatiently waiting for its n arrival . When ews at last came of it , the traders

were much dismayed , for there was smallpox o n & board That was a terrible calamity in those days , for there was no knowledge o f fumigation o r ne ce s

sary precaution . What to do they could not tell , for the Indians were depending upon the supplies and they could not be made to understand the dan

. M ger ajor Culbertson , who was then in charge of

M o f the Upper issouri posts , told them the terrible

f o f e fects the disease , but they thought that they

u o f were s ch a strong , sturdy race that nothing that nature would affect them . They insisted upon hav ’ ing the ship s cargo unloaded , and as they were in much stronger numbers than the traders , the latter

. ff had to yield to their wishes They su ered terribly , f r o they were destroyed by thousands . The disease spread to other tribes and the Indians died in great In numbers . This scourge greatly diminished the dian population of Montana . What was most sur prising o f all was the fact that notwithstanding the knowledge the traders had o f the condition o f the

Indians , the furs that season were sent down the river as usual . GREAT PEACE COUNCILS 53

The Montana Indians were not the only sufferers . The disease gained such headway in the Mandan Village that that nation was practically destroyed ; only thirty - one o f the tribe were left &

N o Flath e ad o r S h o sh o ne p o st s . There were no posts of the American traders among the Shoshones because the Shoshones led such a miserable existence

ul that they had no skins t o trade . They co d find barely enough for their o w n use . The Flatheads were in a fine beaver country , but their home was o n the western side o f the mountains in the land

w as known as the Oregon Territory , and at that time British Territory .

UN S 4 . GREAT PEACE CO CIL

n Th e Ind ians and th e m issio arie s . The mis sio narie s who came in the early forties made a great f diff erence in the life o the Indians . The Flat heads especially profited by the temporal help that

m hi Father D e S e t and s followers brought . Being hi b e dden away beyond the mountains , they were yond the game haunts and were more dependent than other tribes upon roots and berries ; the intro duction o f grains and vegetables made their food supply more to be depended upon . The building of f warm cabins took away the dread o winter . The spiritual benefits taught them to be more merciful to

t o i f each other , taught the men l ghten the work o the women , and taught them all that there was a higher motive o f life than war . Th e d e sire f o r pe ace . The fur traders had given up the task o f making peace between the tribes as an 54 TH E INDIANS

Impossibility , but the missionaries still hoped that it might be accomplished . The Superintendent o f In dian Affairs knew that it must be brought about before many more white people came into the country

. n to make homes These fierce battles must not go o . n nn A co u cil pla e d . At last a great council was planned to be held at Fort Laramie o n the Platte R iver with as many tribes of the West as could be 185 1 induced to come , and in a delegation o f Indians b M from the Assini oine , innetaree and Crow nations met at Fort Union to go overland to Fort Laramie .

There they were rejoiced to see their Old friend ,

D e Sm e t w h o Father , had come up from St . Louis purposely to attend this council . Because o f his long connection with the western Indians and his

acifi cat o r deep sympathy for them , his services as p were much desired by the government . He , with his

Indian companions , went up the Yellowstone from Fort Union to Fort Alexander and up the valley at the base of the Big Horn Mountains until they n struck the Oregon Trail o the Platte River . — D i Th e O re go n t rail . Father e Sm e t tells us the m pression the view o f the Oregon trail had upon the Indians :

Our Indian companions , who had never seen but the narrow hunting paths by which they transport themselves and their lodges , were filled with admira

o n tion seeing this noble highway , which is as smooth a as a barn floor swept by the winds , and not a bl de o f grass can shoot up o n it o n account o f the contin

& o f ual passing . They conceived a high idea the count less white nation , as they express it . They fancied GREAT PEACE COUNCILS 55 that all had gone over the road and that an immense void must exist in the land of the rising sun . Their countenances testified evident incredulity when I told them that their exit was in nowise perceived in ‘ the lands o f the whites . They styled the route the ’ great medicine road o f the whites . They visited and examined in detail all the forsaken camping grounds o n the way . They brought a great variety of objects to me to have their use and significance explained ; they filled their pouches with knives ,

f - forks , spoons , basins , co fee pots , and other cooking articles , axes , hammers , etc . With the bits of earth

‘ e nw are which bore any figure or inscription , they ” fabricated some ornament for their necks and ears . “ Th e co u ncil . Chittenden says : The council with its attendant incidents lasted from the 12t h to the 23rd of September (185 1) and was term inated to the satisfaction of all concerned . Great harmony

t h e prevailed . All features of troublesome situation were discussed and earnest effort was made to reach some good result . The treaties formed with the vari o u s tribes recognized the rights o f the whites to cross their lands with roads , etc . , recompensed the

Indians for losses sustained , and provided payments ’ ” f r l o o sse s in the future .

n . G o ve rno r Isaac 1. S t e ve s This council applied more t o the southern tribes those o n the north still waged warfare among themselves . At last came a man with the determination to bring about

” the peace between the Montana tribes . This was

Isaac I . Stevens , the first governor of Washington

Territory . He had the authority to give promises 56 TH E INDIANS o f rewards to the Indians for good conduct and treaties kept . 1853 Governor Stevens had been appointed in , and in order to reach his capital at Olympia , Washington , he took the I\Ii sso u ri River route . He held councils with the Assiniboines at Fort Union and with the

Blackfeet at Fort Benton . He remonstrated with

lat h e ad s the Blackfeet for their treatment of the F , who had to come through some part of the Black foot country every time they came over to hunt the buffalo . The Flatheads were brave warriors , ready

r to stand up before the Blackfeet , and were v e v often the victorious ones ; but they were , when com pared to the Blackfeet , such a small tribe that it would not be long before they would not only lose i all their horses but eventually be ann hilated . The older warriors told Governor Stevens that , although they were ready to accede to his wishes , it was not s o easy to curb the younger men . But they all

finally agreed to keep peace , leave the Flatheads

o f alone , and steal none their horses , until such time as they could have a general council with the Flat heads and other tribes , to come to some agreement

- as to hunting grounds and common trails and passes . This council was appointed to be held at Fort Ben

18 5 r ton in 5 , when Governor Stevens would have e

turned from Olympia . He found the Flatheads wi ready to treat th the Blackfeet , but they were not so sanguine that the Blackfeet woul d live up to their

agreement . The council was to have been held at Fort Benton but when the time had arri ved no word had been GREAT PEACE COUNCILS 57 received about the presents and provisions for the in Indians , to be given case the treaty went through

m i . n a cably Until the arrival of these , the cou cil would have to be postponed . This was very much a di in drawback , as the In ans were gathered great numbers . Twelve thousand were in the neighbor hi hood , the greater part of w ch were Blackfeet . There was not enough game in the vicinity of Fort Benton to keep such a large gathering for such a length of time , and this was , as well , their usual time ’ for putting in their winter s supply of meat , and one by one the tribes left to go to the Yellowstone . All i agreed to return , if poss ble , when the council was about to begin . n i f — C o u c l o 1855 . Governor Stevens at length decided to move the coun cil ground to the mouth of ’ n the Judith River , thereby savi g several days delay

When all were assembled , only about were 16t h 1855 present . On the of October , , Governor

Stevens formally opened the council . It lasted for ’

hr . l t ee days The fo lowing extract , taken from the f Li e of Governor Stevens , explains the main features o f the coun cil : “ hi k n The best feeling prevailed , all the c efs ma i g earnest and sincere speeches in favor of peace , con t rast ing the advantages of hu nting in safety and trading between the tribes with the continual losses o f their youn g braves and the steady decline in numbers from perpetual war , although some of them expressed doubts as to restraining the ambitious young warriors . Only one passing shadow was cast over the assemblage , and that but for a moment . 58 TH E INDIANS

The treaty made all the country south o f the Mis

souri a common hunting ground for all the tribes , while the country north of the river was to be re

t o l served the Blackfeet for hunting purposes , a though open to the western Indians f o r trading and T hi . o visiting t s restriction Alexander , the Pend ’ ‘

Oreille . : d chief , demurred Said he A long time ago this country belonged to our ancestors , and the

Blackfeet lived far north . We Indians were all well pleased when we came together here in friendship . N o w you point us out a little land to hunt o u r game in . When we were enemies I always crossed over there , and why should I not now when we are friends ?

Now I have two hearts about it . What is the reason ? Which o f these chiefs (pointing to the Blackfeet) says ’ we are not to go there ? Which is the One ? The ‘ : Little Dog , a Piegan chief It is I , and not because we have anything against you . We are friendly , but the north Blackfeet might make a quarrel if

no you hunted near them . Do t put yourself in their ’ ’

. : way On Alexander s insisting, the Little Dog said ‘ Since he speaks so much of it , we will give him lib ’ e rt y to come o u t in the north . “ This was a matter o f a good deal of importance ’ to Alexander s people , for this pass across the moun tains was directly opposite to their country and by, being able to hunt there they were enabled to find buffalo at the end o f a short trip ; the other way was much longer . “ On the last day the commissioners and the chiefs and headsmen of all the tribes present signed the treaty amid the greatest satisfaction and good feel

60 THE INDIANS

particular at t e nt l o n was given to him by the o ld “ story tellers , and he , in his turn , was made chief ” speaker . The Indians , who have been so misun

d erst o o d and mistreated by the whites , have been

reticent about telling their history to us , and hence we know very little about the history of the separate

t o ui tribes , and it is hard disting sh the legends from

the real events . It is now becoming known that much o f their traditional history is verified by recent discovery as to battlefields and events .

D e Sm et Father , the Jesuit missionary to the Mon

his tana Indians , has given us in letters and journals many stories about the Flatheads ; and the Black feet have told their stories to George Bird Grinnell , who has written for us some interesting and valuable

o n . books the subject Hiram Chittenden , in his works on Missouri River history and the fur trade ,

‘ h as w o ven o the histories of the tribes t gether , giving a better general idea o f the Montana Indians than

' any other o f the writers to date . Bu t t h e historian who would give the main events in the history of hi each tribe , with the names of illustrious c efs and ff warriors , would find it a di icult if not impossible matter . PART III

TH E FUR TR AD E

TH E ME N TH E TH E FUR 1. AT HEAD OF TRADE

Th e C h o u t e au s . There was a great profit in furs in the Eighteenth Century and many men from New Orleans went up into the fur countries to make their f P . o Li u is fortunes One these was ierre Laclede g t , who obtained “ a charter for the right to hunt and trap and trade with the Indians on the Missouri

River . He took his family with him when he started upon his quest and made his headquarters at the f M junction o the issouri with the Mississippi . His wife had been married before to René Auguste

o ne Chouteau , and she had son whose name was

Auguste Chouteau . She had four children after her

& Li u ist o f o ld marriage to g , but because an French

law , she and all her children had to keep the name

o f the first husband , so that she was always known M as adame Chouteau , and her descendents have all

retained that name to the present day . The one o f her sons who was most interested in the fur trade o f M the issouri was called Pierre Chouteau , although his name by o u r American law should have been Li i Pierre gu st .

Fo r one hundred years after St . Louis was founded , the fur trade was almost the only business pursued 6 2 TH E FUR TRADE

o f in the country , outside farming and mechanical

o ne labor . Every who possessed a little capital or who could borrow it invested in such merchandise as would be attractive to the Indians , and went up the river to trade . The Chouteau family were the most prominent traders , as they had held the first license to trade . Nearly all the men interested with them were connected with the family in some way .

. o ld Pierre Chouteau , Sr , was only five years when

‘ his parents and Older brother founded St . Louis . When he was o ld enough to take up the work of In his father , he engaged in trade with the Osage R dians , who lived up the Missouri iver not far from

St . Louis . Afterward he extended his trade to the

Arickare e s Platte Indians , the Omahas , the Sioux , , and Mandans , and finally met those who inhabited the upper regions of the Missouri as far as the

Great Falls . This was all before Lewis and Clark made their journey up the Missouri . It is not stated in the journals that he visited these last Indians in their homes , but in those days the Indians Often came a long distance to trade and he probably met them at some point lower down the river . Some of f . o ne o them came as far as St Louis , for we read in “ l ‘ the o d St . Louis histories that The house and grounds o f Pierre Chouteau was for many years n o e of the most noted in the place . His long inter course and traffic with the tribes of the Lower Mis souri had given him great influence over them and they held him in high respect . In their frequent visits to our village he kindly allowed them the use

o f his large grounds for their temporary abiding place . HEAD OF TH E FUR TRAD E 63

Their visits to the place , particularly of the upper

l\Iand ans Arickare e s tribes , the , the and others , were

m m i always , in the su er season , com ng down in their

Ma canoes in y and June , in company with the boats ” o f the traders , who had spent the winter with them .

l hi s He encouraged his sons to fol ow in footsteps , for in 1809 he took them and his nephew up the Missouri

River to some of the upper nations of Indians . One

f Jr. o these sons , Pierre Chouteau , , was the one who was the most notably concerned in the history of the fur trade of the Upper BIisso u ri. It was he who took the first steamboat up as far as Fort Union in — 183 1 2 hi s , and it was son Charles , grandson of 185 9 Pierre , Sr . , who took the first steamboat in

ni lVIarias i from Fort U on to the mouth of the , with n twelve m iles of Fort Benton .

r We can readily see that these th ee Chouteaus , B . Jr. Pierre , Sr , Pierre , , and Charles , were the ones connected with EIo nt a na history . Their work was in conn ection with the M sso u ri Fur Company and the American Fur Company .

Nf anu l fir Manu e l Lisa . e Lisa was the st trader to build a post in BI o nt an a . He secur ed as a part ’ ner George D ro illard (called D re w y e r in Lew is journals) who had been one of the men o f the Lewis and Clark Expedition . Lisa was a rival of the Chou t e au s his W l hi s ; he put hole ife into trade , and was hi considered quite a wonderful man in s day . He “ ” l lWisso u ri was cal ed by some The Cortez of the , hi but the Indians trusted and respected m . They knew that he was not trying to get the best of them . Ten months of every year it was his custom to bury 4 TH E FUR TRADE

f himsel in the wilderness , until he became so familiar

with the fashions Of the Indians , the size and color

o f f the favorite blanket , the shape and length o toma

hawks , that no trader was more a favorite than he .

t o o f He took them seeds pumpkins , beans , potatoes ,

and turnips , and taught them how to cultivate them .

His blacksmiths worked for them , fashioning metal

f o r scrapers their animal skins , and mending their

kettles and doing other little services for them . He l lent them traps . The o d and weak knew that they

could find refuge from the enemy in his forts . By these means he acquired the confi dence and friend

o f ship the Indians , and of course , obtained from

them their choicest skins in trade .

s h . Willia m H . A l e y Quite different in his way

was the trader General William H . Ashley . With the

Chouteaus and Lisa , the fur trade was their whole

e n life , with Ashley it was a side issue , a business

r ri t e p se engaged in for a few years and then dropped . f was o . General Ashley a Virginian , a man culture He went into the fur trade because it was the most p rofitable as well as the most respectable business o f f that day . The rendezvous o his traders and trap pers have become familiar to all through Washington ’ “ ” Irving s Bonneville . After he retired from the

fur trade , he spent his remaining years in enjoyment

f o f o the fortune he had made . The account his adventures in the mountains will be found in the

history o f the Rocky Mountain Fur Company . — Jo h n Jaco b Ast o r. The St . Louis traders had a

rival whom they greatly feared . This was John

o f Jacob Astor , the man who founded the wealth the FUR COMPANIES OF MONTANA 6 5

f m New York family o that na e . He had emigrated to America from Germany when he was a young

o f . man twenty On the ship in which he came over , was a man interested in the fur trade , and this man

' advised him t o put his small savings into furs . This he did and at the end of a year he took his furs to

Europe and sold them . He was successful from the very start and soon began to acquire riches . He bought furs in Canada and from what was then known as the Northwest , the region around the Great Lakes .

o f He started a post at the mouth the Columbia , but that proved unsuccessful , and at the beginning ” o f the fur trade o n the Upper Missouri he tried to become a member o f the company o f the St . Louis traders , which was then known as the Missouri Fur

Company . The St . Louis men at first prevented him

o m m from j g their company , but in a few years time f they were glad t o have the use o his capital . The

company , aft er he was admitted , took the name of The American Fur Company by w hich; f nam e his former company had been known .

TH E FUR M S MO 2 . CO PANIE OF NTANA — Th e e arlie st co m panie s in S t . Lo u is The first

fur company in St . Louis was formed by the French i men who were interested w th the Chouteaus . They formed the company In the latter part of the Eigh

t e e nt h Century , in order to show the Canadian fur companies that they meant t o prevent intrusion upon

o f their country at the sources the Missouri . W hen M anuel Lisa appeared in St . Louis from New Orleans with the sole right t o trade with the Osages and 6 TH E FUR TRADE

Misso u rl other tribes , it put their company in a new

light . The right had previously been held by the Cho u teaus and either they had not thought it ne ce s sary t o renew it o r Lisa had been the first to secure

the new o ne . The only solution of the problem was

Kindness of Mont ana H isto rical S o ciet y Library ALL THAT IS LEFT OF FORT BENTON

t o consolidate , and when Lisa returned from his trip to the mountains he entered into a partnership with the St . Louis fur traders .

Th e Mis s o u ri F u r C o m pa ny. It was while he was connected with this company that Manuel Lisa co n ducted the first trade in Montana with the Indians . After the war of 1812 it was five years before busi n 818 ess picked up again . In 1 Lisa planned to go

8 TH E FUR TRADE

the Mandan post . Both Immel and Jones had been

killed . This was a great blow to the Missouri Fur Co m pany and showed the utter impossibility o f attempt

ing to trade with this tribe . Little more is known o f the company from that time until those who were most interested went into the American Fur

Company . n in n Th e R o cky Mo u t a Fu r C o m pa y. The first operation of this company in Montana was near the

o f 1822 . mouth the Yellowstone , in William H .

Ashley and Andrew Henry came up from St . Louis and established a post no t far from where Fort

Union was built seven years later . They had ex p e ct e d to push o n to the Three Forks of the Mis

souri , but this became impossible because their

. horses were stolen by the Assiniboines It ,was then decided t o be more to their advantage to work

o f toward the south the Three Forks , and from that

time their operations were in the Green River country . Their method o f business was different from that o f

the French traders . They dealt entirely with the

o f white trappers and hunters instead the Indians . ’ - A f Ashl e y s t rapp e rs . few o the trappers proved themselves to be men o f such unusual ability that

. o f Ashley took them into his company One these ,

Robert Campbell , had gone to the mountains f o r

a t w o his he lth , and William Sublette , with his broth M ers , ilton and Andrew , were men with an inherited

f r f o r love o the wilderness , their grandfather had been a companion o f Daniel Boone . Campbell and William Sublette were the principal partners ; they FUR COMPANIES OF MONTANA 69 looked after the affairs of the company in the moun i tains . Other prom nent mountain men in the com

pany were David E . Jackson , Jedediah Smith , James

Bridger , and Fitzpatrick . Their yearly meeting was

e call d a rendezvous , and the traders came overland f . o from St Louis , by way the Platte River , to the f l Green River country . Several o the o d journals tell us o f these rendezvous ; they were unique n events ; nothing like them is k own in history .

F u rs in th e rive r. One season Ashley secured an

lo t o f immense furs , so many in fact , that he was able

that year to retire from business . When he was tak ing these furs down the river he met with an acci

dent at the mouth o f the Yellowstone . A boat was f overturned and the packs o furs were floating away .

This was a very serious matter , for each pack was valued at from three to five hundred dollars .

S o ld ie rs o n t h e Ye ll o wst o ne . While the men were frantically trying to recover the packs , they were suddenly startled by a most unusual sight . Out of the bushes o n the banks sprang a number o f sol f diers who swam t o the rescue o the floating packs . The traders were more used to seeing wild beasts than human b em gs o u t in the wilds , and the pres ence o f those men was amazing as well as a great relief . The soldiers were members o f the General Atkin so n w h o t o Expedition , had come up the river hold treaties o f peace with the Indians . Ashley was only t o o glad t o accept their escort down the river .

sh e — A l y re tire s . After Ashley retired , the work

n : was carried o by his faithful partners Smith , Jack 70 TH E FUR TRADE

. 1830 son , and William Sublette In , these men sold

o u t to Thomas Fitzpatrick , Milton Sublette , James

raeb Bridger , Henry F , and Jean Baptiste Gervais . At this time the Company f o r the first time took

o f the name The Rocky Mountain Fur Company . ’ Before that it had gone under Ashley s name . n Th e co m pany co nti u e s . The doings o f the company in the next four years are interesting and exciting . Chittenden gives a full account o f the period . It was during this time that Bonneville was in the mountains and that the Battle of Pierre ’ s f Hole occurred . The operations o this company

o f come properly in the history Idaho and Wyoming , but no history o f Montana is complete without

o f some mention it , because so many of the furs were procured in Montana around the Three Forks o f the Missouri and o n the headwaters o f the Yel l o w st o ne .

n Th e co m pa y s e ll s o u t . The Rocky Mountain Fur Company proper continued only four years and the latter part o f that time they were greatly dis t u rb e d by the actions o f the American Fur Co m pany . This last firm had begun operations on f the headwaters o the Missouri . They followed the Rocky Mountain Fur Company f o r several months in

r order t o discover the good fur fields . The latter e

f t o sisted their e forts , going great extremes in order to avoid and mislead them , but the American Fur

w as o o Company t strong an organization to oppose , and in 1834 the Rocky Mountain Fur Company sold their traps and outfit to Fitzpatrick , Sublette , and

t o Co m Bridger , who in turn sold the American Fur FUR COMPANIES OF MONTANA 71

6 pany in 183 . Bridger and Fitzpatrick went into the employ o f the latter company . — Th e Am e rican Fu r C o m pany. John Jacob Astor ui 1822 started operations in St . Lo s in when he established a western department o f his company

1827 firm o f there . In the Bernard Pratte and

Company went into partnership with Astor . Pierre

Jr. o ne Chouteau , , was of the principal members of

his nfl c McKe nz ie the firm . Through i uen e , Kenneth became interested in the firm in the same year . ’ Pierre Chouteau s company w as to have charge o f “ afi airs at St . Louis and be the agents of the West i ern Department o f the Amer can Fur Company . Kenneth McKenzie was to have charge of all the trade above Fort Pierre . His part of the company l “ M was Stil known as the Upper issouri Outfit , and was a part of the Western Department . Ram sey Crooks was over all and had charge also o f the

Northern Department aroun d the Great Lakes . His headquarters were in New York . — n Ke nne th McKe nzie . K owing as he did the

f McKe nzie ways o a large concern , was an invaluable aid in establishing the trade . He advised the co m

o pany t o launch into the far wilderness , to g into the haunts o f the buff alo and procure their valuable ni skin s . He told them that the Canadian compa es

hi o f could no t compete with them in t s line the trade , as the buffalo skins were t o o heavy to pay f o r their i transportation over the portages , wh le these could be

‘ lVIiss u ri easily brought t o St . Louis down the o River . The Canadian companies dealt exclusively in the

ne t o small , fi furs , and it would not be hard secure 72 TH E FUR TRADE

/ the trade o f t h e Indians in the vicinity o f the Mis

souri .

P s m u th f Y — o t at o o e ll o wst o ne . Acting o n the

o f McKe nzie advice , they sent an outfit up the river 1827 in , to prospect and find out the disposition o f the Indians in the matter . McKe nzie led this o u t

u o f fit , going p as far as the mouth the Yellowstone .

Here they found the Assiniboines , who were desirous o f having an accessible post . This was a beauti

o f ful site , abounding in the best timber , above , below and Opposite the fort , and with all kinds of

u game . He sent o t couriers t o all camps in the vicinity , inviting Crees , Chippeways , and Assiniboines

t o . come and trade This they did in large numbers ,

- as well as did many half breed families . A post was built about two miles a bove the f 1 o . mouth the Yellowstone , and named Fort Union

Here in a short time a good trade was established , ’ and McKe nzie s next ambition was to secure the trade o f the hitherto unapproachable Blackfeet . — Th e Bl ackf o o t po st While he was wondering h o w he should come into communication with this

o f tribe , a trapper by the name Berger came to

Fort Union . He had been employed at the post in

Canada where the Blackfeet had been trading . He knew the Blackfeet well and he was their friend . He agreed t o go with a party up the river t o the Black wi feet country , and make arrangements th them to trade . Twelve men accompanied him . They went up the Missouri and up t o the head o f the Marias

1 This post being two miles above the mouth of the Yellowstone brought it within the limits o f the present Montana .

74 TH E FUR TRADE

Indians from going over into Canada to trade . Every means was taken to gain p ermission t o sell

. McKenzie the liquor , but to no purpose Finally found a way t o evade the law without seeming

to openly violate it . He built a distillery at the

f o r post , there was no law against the manufacturing

o f liquor . It merely stated that no liquor was to be taken up the river . As the American Fur Company was as grasping a

trust as any that we have at the present day , it is

no t to be supposed that they had no enemies . Some ” o f these reported the fact o f the existence of the still to the Government and the company had a very

serious lawsuit . In fact , they would have lost their license to trade had it not been for the clever work ’

f . . o Thomas H Benton , the company s lawyer Mc

Kenzie left Fort Union soon after . He spent some

time in Europe and came back to St . Louis , but was

no more actively engaged in the work of the company . — st o r re tire s In 1834 A , Astor retired from the

business . He had made a vast fortune and had seen

all his plans realized . His interest in the Western

Department was bought by Pratte , Chouteau and 1838 Company . In , this firm was changed to P .

Jr. Chouteau , , and Company , and from that time until the decline o f the fur trade the business was

t h o f . entirely in e hands Pierre Chouteau , Jr

3 TH E S TH E M FUR M . PO TS OF A ERICAN CO PANY

Fo rt Unio n . The most important trading post

o n the Upper Missouri was Fort Union . It was

built in 1828 and at first was named Fort Floyd . TH E AIVIE R ICAN FUR COIWPANY 75

1 2 The name was changed to Fort Union in 8 9 . The trade was with the Assiniboines . Kenn eth lVIcKe nzie w as the first master of the post , and of the posts

i : above Fort Union . Ch ttenden says From his

ni McKenzie ul headquarters at Fort U on , r ed over an extent o f country greater than that o f many a notable empire in history . His outposts were h un

o f dreds of miles away . His parties trappers roamed

r un far and wide th ough the fastnesses of the mo tains . From every direction tribes of roving In dians came to his posts to trade . — Maj o r Al e xand e r C u lb e rt s o n . Alexander C ulbert f h & so n was the next master o t e post . He had gone to Fort McKe nzie as a clerk when a you ng man of twenty -fou r and in a few years was sent to Fort

' f - i ni . o n U on as master At the age thirty ne , he was made agent for the whole company , with headquarters at St . Louis . — La st d ays at Fo rt Unio n . For several yea rs no especial re cord is to be foun d o f doings at Fort

Lar e nt e ur Union . Charles p , who was one of the

i in his ur o f h e clerks at Fort Un on , tells us Jo nals t “

ni . o f 1864 last days at Fort U on In the spring , I made arrangements with Mr . Chouteau t o take charge of Fort Union We arrived early in the morning and came in sight of the fort unobserved . The doors were all closed and not a living Object

ff hr was stirring except some bu alo , passing about t ee n hu dred yards from the fort . But the door was

soon opened , the flag hoisted , and the artillery fired , hi in to w ch salute the boat responded. We were formed that the Sioux had been and were still so bad 76 TH E FUR TRADE

no that the men dared t keep the doors open . h f 13t o . On the June , Mr Chouteau arrived with ‘ ’ his steamer , the Yellowstone , bringing a company o f soldiers for the protection o f the fort and o f the

. c o lu n Assiniboines It was Company I , Wis onsin V

teers , commanded by Captain Greer ; and Major

Wilkinson , the Indian Agent , also arrived . The - f r Yellowstone left o Benton the same day . On the

o f second July , it returned from Benton , and after

s o f all arrangement had been made , I took charge Fort Union f o r the last year of the American Fur h 5 1 65 . . t 8 Company On the of June , , Mr Chouteau arrived o n the Yellowstone in great distress ; having been reported as a rebel , he could not obtain a license

and was obliged to sell out all his trading posts , ex

cept Benton ; all other posts he sold to Hubble , f . f i Co o . . o Hawley and , which A B Sm th Chicago ‘ was the head ; it was called The Northwest Fur M This r. Chouteau was Charles P . f o . Chouteau , the son Pierre Chouteau , Jr — o rt e nt o n . F B Fort Piegan and its successors ,

McKe nzie Fort , Fort Chardon , Fort Lewis , and Fort f Benton , were all near the site o the present

Fort Benton . They were all practically the same p ost , as their trade was with the same Indians every

year . The sites were changed t o suit the co nven

ie nce f O the Indians .

Pi n —‘ Fo rt e ga . Fort Piegan was built by James

o f 183 1 o f M . Kipp in the fall , at the mouth the arias

- He was accompanied by about seventy five men . They had c ome up the r1ve r in a keel -boat laden ’ su c with goods . The first winter s trade was more TH E AMER ICAN FUR COMPANY

f l o f ce ss u than they had hoped , but because the remoteness from civilization and the severity of the

t o winter , the men were unwilling serve another year ,

' so when Kipp returned to Fort Union in the spring t o take down furs and bring up supplies for the next season , all the men accompanied him , with

o f the exception three , who were left partly to assure the Indians that the company had not deserted the spot and partly because they were satisfied with the savage life and had taken to themselves wives from

o the Piegans . The fort had been built as near t the river as possible , so that the goods could be easily moved from the boats . As t he Missouri is ever

changing its channel , in the course of time the banks were gradually washed away , until long ago the site

f o l o d Fort Piegan was washed into the river .

o rt McKe nzie . o f 1832 F In the summer , M h David D . itc ell , with sixty men , went up the river and built the second post , naming it Fort

McK nzi e e . The Indians had burnt Fort Piegan . When he took the furs to Fort Union in the spring o f 1833 , he was accompanied on his return trip by

Major Alexander Culbertson , who had recently

arrived from St . Louis and had been assigned to

duty at Fort McKe nzie . h n — In 1 4 1 M ard o in ch ar e . 8 C g , ajor Culbertson

t o was transferred Fort Laramie , one of the posts on

McKe nzie the Platte River , and Fort was put in

o f charge F . A . Chardon , a man who had had some

experience with the Sioux . Major Culbertson was u nwilling to go because he was afraid that Chardon

t o wi was not the right man leave th the Blackfeet, 78 TH E FUR TRADE

”

t o . but he had Obey orders His fears were realized , f o r in a short time Chardon antagonized the Black

feet . The Indians immediately declared war and it “ was found necessary t o abandon the fort, a post that f o r ten years had been o ne o f the most p ro fit ” able maintained by the American Fur Company .

n . A. o rt h ard o . F C Fort F . Chardon was then built at the mouth o f the Judith and Fort McKe nzie

was burned . None but the Piegans traded at Fort Chardon and they gradually stopped until there was no trade at all . The Indians were so hostile that it was necessary for the men to remain within the walls f o f the fort most o the time . The Indians even

carried their hostility as far as Fort Union , driving

Off the horses and killing two men .

Much against his will , Major Culbertson was put

In charge o f the post again . He was the only man

o f o u t f who was capable straightening the di ficulty , f o r the Indians knew him and knew that they could

trust him . It took some time t o build the new post f o r they had to be careful t o keep the Indians in ignorance o f their plans until everything was ready

f o r h the trade . W en all was completed , word was

l t o sent by an o d Blackfoot, who happened come

t o o f near the fort, his people, with presents tobacco

t o and blankets , inviting them to come to the post a

Fo L n . . e d s ; council The new post was named g/ r The Indians came and talked the matter over W t o with Major Culbertson , hom they knew be their

b e friend . The Indians agreed to at peace , and with f a distribution o presents , they departed to their

village . Fort Chardon was burned down and all the TH E AMERICAN FUR COMPANY 79

effects moved t o St . Louis . Trade was restored and

a profitable season followed . — e wis . In 184 6 Fo rt L , Fort Lewis was removed

o f to the present site Fort Benton , but retained the

a t he di o ld name . It was practic lly same buil ng , as the same timbers were used and were put in the

same position as before . The season was a most

o ne profitable , as the new location was more con

e nie nt f o r In v , it having been necessary before the

dians to cross the river , a dangerous undertaking ,

especially in winter . — o rt e nt o n . Ih 1850 F B , an adobe fort was built r at Fort Benton , in place Of Fo t Lewis , and it was dedicated o n Christmas night with a grand ball and f o . renamed at the time in honor Thomas H Benton .

Andrew Dawson , for whom Dawson County was

In o f named , was left charge Fort Benton after the

o f departure Major Culbertson , and he remained in

charge as long as the company operated in Montana . — Th e Ye ll o w st o ne po st s . Fort Cass was the first trading post o f the American Fur Company o n the ll . . h . u o c Yellowstone It was built by A J T , two

i o f 1832 m les below the mouth the Big Horn , in “ ” Lar e nt e u r - p says , in his Forty Years a Fur Trader ’ “ Tu llo ch s o f first returns consisted mostly elk , deer ,

o f m i and all kinds horns , which made great rth at ‘ ” Fort Union ; yet his trade had been profitable .

Trade was opened again , the next year , and con

t inu e d until 1835 . This was considered a dangerous

o f o f wh post because wandering bands Blackfeet , o became so persistent that the men were even afraid t o go o u t t o chop wood . 80 TH E FUR TRADE W The Crows ere rather changeable , asking the f t removal o the post from time o time . Van Buren was the second post built : It was at the mouth of 1835 1842 the Rosebud and was continued from to , at which latter date it was replaced by Fort Alex

Lar e nt e u r ui ander . Charles p b lt this fort and burned

o ld Fort Van Buren . Fort Alexander gave way to

Fort Sarpy , which was built by Alexander Culbert

i 1850 o f so n n . , , at the mouth the Rosebud

4 S DS To TH E . TRAN PORTING GOO MOUNTAINS — By l and . The Rocky Mountain Fur Company usually sent their goods overland to the Green River

Country by pack train . When the traders started ’

o n . s their return to St Louis with the season s fur , ’ they were indeed an imposing sight . In Hyde s “ ” History o f St . Louis we read that an eyewitness

- who met a cavalcade , states that the pack horses ,

o f richly laden with bales valuable furs and peltries ,

the hunters and assistants accompanying them , and a lo t o f half -breeds with th eir squaws and papooses

filling in the open spaces , made a line that stretched ” L r n f o r a mile along the road . And a p e t e u r says in “ his journals : It is impossible t o describe my feel ings at the S ight o f all that beaver all those moun tain men unloading their mules in their strange

o f o f mountain costume , most their garments buck

ff so skin and bu alo hide , but all well greased and worn that it took close examination t o tell what they f ” were made o . f By wat e r. The four primitive types o boats used by the explorers were the only kind used o n

82 TH E FUR TRADE

Louis when the season was over . Although the In n dians were rather suspicious , they finally co sented

t o o n to allow them proceed , but only condition that they take the chief along with them to assure him that all was well . This they willingly did and n there was o further trouble .

As the years passed , the Indians began to look for the annual boats in anticipation and eventually t o look upon the Americans as a people to be ad mired for their great works , at least more so than N the French o r English . o such boats were t o be

o n seen Canadian rivers in the West , therefore they

t o were glad to give their trade this superior nation . The steamboats looked much larger than they really were , because they rode almost entirely upon

o f the surface the water , the hull being only about three o r four feet in the water . The topmost deck

o ne . a was a small , known as the Texas It cont ined ’ f the o ffi ce rs quarters . On top o that was the pilot house , which stood high up over the boat and the i river , giving the pilot every opportun ty to see the

channel and any dangers in the way . The pilot was n the most important officer o the boat . He even o u t f ranked the captain . He had t o be a man o unusual knowledge and judgment , able to locate snags and

swift currents . A careless man would be a menace t o the boat . After the steamboats had once made their way up t o no t so Fort Union , the smaller boats were much

t o . used from there St Louis , but they were still used all through the most important o f the fur -trad

i . ing days , from Fort Un on to Fort Benton We NOTED TRAPPERS 83

n o f Mo n must thi k , then , the steamboating days in

no t 1859 tana as beginning until , a period which

t o o f o f belongs the part the story the prospectors .

5 S . NOTED TRAPPER

o f Trapp e rs . The wanderings the trappers took them into many hitherto unexplored parts o f the

o f West , giving them a knowledge the country which was o f great value t o the government expeditions of “ later days . Chittenden says : It was the trader and trapper who first explored and established the

o f routes trade which are now , and always will be ,

f The the avenues o commerce in that region . y were ‘ ’ at hfi nd e rs o f no t the p the West , and those later O Official explorers whom posterity so recognizes . N feature o f western geography was ever discovered i by government explorers after 184 0 . Everyth ng was f o r . already known , and had been a decade — Jam e s B rid ge r. James Bridger is a fam iliar name to Westerners , and yet there is little written about him in history . He had such a distinct per so nalit y that all who came in contact with him re membered him . He came to the mountains first in

1822 o f , at the age eighteen , with Ashley and Andrew f Henry . While in the service o the Rocky Mountain

Fur Company , he explored the Great Salt Lake in 1824—5 1830 , and by he had visited the Yellowstone . He was with the American Fur Company f o r seven years . At the end o f that time he set up an establishment o f his o w n at the head o f the Green

River , not far from the Great Salt Lake . This he called Fort Bridger . He ch ose a convenient site 84 TH E FUR TRAD E

f o r for it , afterward both the Oregon Trail and the Salt Lake Trail passed by his door and he b e came a character well known to all emigrants and

. . f prospectors Reuben G Thwaites , in one o his ” o f f hi volumes Early Western Travels , says o m : “ There he lived f o r many years with his Indian wife (a Shoshone) , greatly aiding Western em igra tion . His ability as a topographer was remarkable and he knew the Trans—Mississippi country as did few others . His services as a guide were therefore in great demand for all Government and large private d expe itions , General Sheridan consulting him in

t o 1 6 reference an Indian campaign as late as 8 8 . AS the West became civilized and lost its distinctive frontier features , Bridger retired to a farm near .

1881. Kansas City , where he died in His name is ’ attached to several western regions , notably Bridger s

Peak in southwestern Montana . The figure of the

o f M trapper in the dome the ontana state capitol ,

o f at Helena , is said to be a portrait this picturesque character . He was so noted for his remarkable tales o f western adventures and wonders that his d e scrip f tions o Yellowstone Park were long uncredited , being ‘ ’ contemptuously referred to as Jim Bridger s Lies .

6 TH E D S BAY M Y . HU ON CO PAN IN MONTANA — o f Th e O re go n C o u nt ry . The western part Mon

o f - o f tana was , at the time the fur trade , a portion

no t e ni the Oregon Country , and did becom U ted States territory until 184 6 . Until the Treaty between the 184 6 United Stat es and Great Britain , in , the Oregon Country was a disputed piece o f ground and both

86 TH E FUR TRADE

A n D n l ngu s McD onald . A gus Mc o a d was a clerk in the Hudson Bay Company and was at o ne time

o f . o ne o f in charge Fort Colville In his manuscripts , no w in the Historical Library in Helena; he speaks o f

o ld an post above Thompson Falls , which was last o c

cu ied o f 1849 p by himself and a party men in . This may have been the same post built by Thompson in

1810 f r s , but we have no authority o o stating . McD o nald built the Flathead House about thirty

o f F o n miles south lathead Lake , Post Creek , at the

o f M o f 184 foot the ission Range mountains , in 7 .

This post was torn down several years ago . Duncan

McD o nald so n o f , the the old trader , was for several

years clerk at Flathead House . He is now a pros p e ro u s farmer o n the Jocko . During the trading

days , the Indians who came to the post were Flat heads and their allied tribes . Sometimes there would be as many as a thousand lodges o f Ne z Perces 1 V . 872 Ba camped in the alley In , the Hudson y Company sold all their claims to the United St

and at that time the post was abandoned . Such traders as Major Culbertson and Angus Mc Donald had a great influence f o r good over the In

dians . The Indians trusted them and learned to think more o f the white race than they were at first

n f o ld disposed to d o . In o e o their councils , an Indian expressed his feelings t o Angus McD o nald in “ t he following words : I am already o ld ; I was young when I heard o f yo u ; I was far when I heard

‘ o f yo u ; and yo u gave flour and ammunition and blankets and shirts and flint s and awls and thread t o o u r people ; and yo u covered o u r dead and yo u LETTERS OF TH E FUR TRADERS 87

F r went to see the sick . o all that and f o r more than that we heard o f yo u . The white man says he has a God , and says he has a priest , and says he has a

Y u o . Christ . often were a Christ to us Our dis tressed were relieved by you ; we preserve yo u in o u r

“ o u hearts with good will , and keep y there as a Great

Y u o u r Chief . o are here and hearts and o u r eyes are glad yo u came . — N o o th e r po st s in Mo nt ana It is well f o r the reader t o remember that the Hudson Bay Company had no posts in Montana except this one among the

' lat h e ad s F , and that the companies had no other con ne ct io n l\Io nt ana with history , as far as we know , with the exception o f occasional trapping parties

u r into the mountains , and the trading of o Indians up at their posts in Canada .

TH E S D S TH E F 7 . JOURNAL AN LETTER OF UR TRADERS

- Jo u rnal s . In the fur trading days some o f the traders kept journals but very few o f these are in a shape for general reading . The head men o f the posts thought that these traders were wasting a lo t o f Th “ . e m ad e i time y fun of them , calling them S cr b ” f — bling clerks . To those o us who are able t o find them , these journals are of the greatest value . TW n — O J o u r al s acce s sibl e . Only t w o journals which have any connection with Montana history are at present in shape to be used by the general “ ”

. i public One s called The River o f the West .

Mrs . . . It is an account by F F Victor , taken from f the journals o the trapper Joseph Meek . This is 8 THE FUR TRADE

l no t an o d book , found in many libraries . The

o f Lar n other journal is that Charles p e t e u r. This

u e has been published and edited by Elliott Co s , “ under the name , Forty Years a Fur Trader . The editorial notes are as valuable as the journal itself , for Dr . Goues had access to other journals and was able t o verify certain parts and correct misstatements . ’ — n in s nn i A W as hingt o Irv g B o e v ll e . good many years ago o ne o f the o ld journals fell into the hands of Washington Irving , who took extensive notes from it and wrote a book entitled “ The Rocky ” Mountains , which is now published under the name “ f ” o f The Adventures o Captain Bonneville . Bonne ville ’ s mountain life was spent more to the south f o the present Montana , but his description of fur trading days applies to Montana as well as Wyom ing , Idaho , and Utah . Washington Irving , in his preface , tells us how he found the journals , and how

Bonneville wrote them . He tells us that into the journals he has interwoven stories that he himself heard from other mountain men , and has given it “ a tone and coloring drawn from his o wn observa tion during an excursion into the Indian country beyond the bounds o f civilization . But the work is ’ o f principally Bonneville s , and many the passages are in the words o f the original journal . In this work is a good description o f the Rocky Mountain f Fur Company , and the life o the trappers is told in a most interesting way . “ General Chittenden says in his History o f the “ American Fur Trade o f the Far West It will no t be far wrong t o say that the greatest service which

90 TH E FUR TRADE o r their present whereabouts are unknown , but enough are still in existence to settle most of the

o f doubtful points upon the operations the St . Louis ” traders .

h nu i — O t e r m a scr pt s . Other letters and journals are in the possession o f descendents of the fur trad ers . Many of these are the only authority upon many points connected with the history of the fur trade . It will probably be many years before these are published , for there is not enough demand at

f u r present for books about that period o o history .

Edit o rs o f th e j o u rnal s . We should be grateful to

. Co u e s such men as General Chittenden , Dr Elliott ,

w h o o u t and Reuben Gold Thwaites , have searched all the o ld records and made some o f them available ’ “ f o r o u r use . Chittenden s American Fur Trade of “ t h e h e ad o f the Far West would come under , sec o nd ar y sources , but it is as valuable to us as a pri mary source for he has gone to the primary sources and brought o u t from them for o u r use the points that would be o f the greatest interest to us and which we may never get in a printed form . His

t o o work is more to be trusted in some cases , , than the originals for he has compared all the writings and determined the truth by the comparison . PART IV

VISITOR S TO TH E POSTS

1 X M . PRINCE MA I ILIAN

Eu ro pe an scie ntist s The news o f the discovery

t o s o f the Great West extended Europe , and scienti ts s became intere ted in hearing about the new country , about the different animals and flowers and the tribes of Indians t o be found there . N0 books had been written o n the subject and the only way they could find o u t anything was through letters from the fur traders .

P ince Max im i ian . r l One German scientist , Prince

o n Maximilian from Coblentz the Rhine , was an exten sive traveler . He had been over a large part o f 1833 South America , and , in , although he was an o ld o f f man seventy years , he determined to Se e o r himself this interesting new country .

In S t . Lo u is . In that early day every o ne w h o was going up into the mountains o r beyond the

t o . settlements went first St Louis . It was the

o n largest settlement the frontier , the best place t o buy an outfit and find men to help in transporting

goods . Like all others , Maximilian went first t o St .

Louis . While he was there preparing f o r his journey 92 VISITORS TO TH E POSTS

o f he made the acquaintance Pierre Chouteau , who was so actively interested in the fur trade . — Th e b o at s in which h e t rave l e d . H e made the

o n voyage up as far as Fort Union the Yellowstone ,

ne o f M o the first steamboats to go up the issouri .

The boat was at that time making her third trip . The voyage from Fort Union to Fort McKe nzie was

- made in a keel boat with the fur traders . In return ing , mackinaw boats were used . f Eve nt s o t h e trip . The steamboat voyage was

f o r uneventful , except the gathering of unusual speci f mens . Nothing o u t o the ordinary routine of one o f the o ld posts happened for the two weeks that

Maximilian stayed at Fort Union .

- The voyage o n the keel boat was more exciting . At the Judith River they were hailed by a large band o f Gros Ventres who wanted to come o n the boat f . . M . o and trade D D itchell , who had charge the goods , wanted to wait until they reached Fort Mc

o n Kenzie , but , as the number of men the boat were l on y about fifty , and the Indians numbered eight o r no t nine hundred , they could openly refuse to trade . Mitchell understood the Indians and knew h o w to handle them ; he finally persuaded them to wait f until they reached the fort . He was not afraid o any violence although the Indians swarmed all over the boat , looking into all the apartments and exam

o f ining everything . The Prince and the men the boat were badly frightened f o r they thought that there wou ld surely be trouble if the Indians did not get what they wished . At last the boat was cleared f o the intruders , and the Prince could enjoy the

94 VISITORS TO TH E POSTS

’ f r o the Prince s specimens , among which were cages with two live bears . Six men accompanied him and 14 t h 1833 they left the fort September , , after a stay o f five weeks .

D e stru ctio n o f th e sp e cim e ns . On the way down ’ to Fort Union the Prince s collection o f wild flowers was ruined by water . This was a hard blow , but he

o ne o n - suff ered a more severe later , for after he had stored his whole collection o n a steamer going

t o . . down St Louis , the steamer took fire and burned

f o r A terrible disappointment this was , the collection would have been a valuable addition to any museum . — ’ A pl e a s ant m e m o ry . Maximilian s visit was o ne

o r long remembered at the posts , f he was a unique character and caused a great deal o f merriment among the men .

2 TH E . CATLIN INDIAN PAINTER

“ G e o rge C atlin . Another scientist had been up as far as Fort Union before Maximilian . This was

George Catlin , the famous Indian painter . He had gone up the Missouri in 1832 o n the first steamboat that went up t o Fort Union . He spent the whole summer at Fort Union making sketches o f Indians and traders .

‘ 3 DUB TH E . AU ON , NATURALIS T E f arly li e . Another scientist o f note visited the

Upper Missouri Country some ten years later . This

o f was John James Audubon , a native the South ,

o n having been born a plantation in Louisiana , o f

French parents . Early in his boyhood he displayed

f o r a love ornithology , which his father encouraged , AUDUBON TH E NATURALIST 95

sending him to Europe t o be educated at the age o f

fifteen . On his return , his father settled him o n a

i m i so farm in Pennsylvan a , but his nd was set o n his studies o f birds and other animals that he neg

lect e d o f his farm , spending much the time in the

woods with his gun and dog . These long excursions

into the woods fitted him for others more extended . — Q u ad ru pe d s o f N o rth Am e rica . Not until he had been in Europe for some years attending to the

o f publication his works , and not until he was sixty

three years old , did he make this trip to Fort Union . He was preparing a work which was to be known as “ ” o f The Quadrupeds North America , and he was f seeking information o r it on his western trip . — In . S t L o u is H e arrived in St . Louis o n the

28t h o f 1843 March , , but it was the middle of April before the ice in the river was broken suffi ciently f o r “ ” the steamer The Omega to start up the river safely . While waiting he employed his time in studying

the animals around St . Louis and cultivating the

o f acquaintance Pierre Chouteau , whom Audubon “ found a worthy Old man so kind and so full o f ” information about the countries o f the Indians . Up th e rive r Audubon mentions the French Canadian or Creole trappers wh o were o n board the

boat . Some o f these men probably had served as

- Voyageurs o n the keel boats in earlier years . M Near Independence , issouri , they met another

steamer coming down the river . On this was Father D e Sm t e n t o . , who was o his way back St Louis ,

after having been among the F lathead Indians . He and f several army o ficers , who were fellow passengers 96 VISITORS TO TH E POSTS

o n with him , came board The Omega to greet Mr .

Audubon . Father D e Sm e t was peculiarly able to

tell him all about the country that he wanted, to ’ know . We can tell from Father D e Sm e t s letters that he was a man interested in all around him , and keenly appreciated all the natural wonders o f the

Upper Country . A ni n — 3 1 f M t o rt U o . On st o a F the y , The Omega ” reached Fort Pierre in South Dakota where

f o r they stayed a few days , and , continuing their journey up the river arrived at Fort Union o n the 1 h f 2t o June . Mr . Audubon found the master of the “ fort , Major Culbertson , a companionable man , ready and willing at all times to add to the co lle c f ” o . . tion birds and animals Mrs Culbertson , too , “ he found , was handsome , and really courteous and ” refined in many ways . This was rather surprising

S h e - to the traveler , as was a full blooded Blackfoot

o f Indian . She was the daughter a chief and W as very proud o f her Indian blood . It was October before Mr. Audubon arrived in St . Louis again . His

o ne o f long journey had been a trying , but in spite his age we find no complaint in all the pages o f his journal , except that occasionally he must give up f some extra exertion o n account o his years .

4 H M . FAT ER DES ET — n r Mo nt ana D e Sm e t First m is sio a y t o Father ,

1 r M o u t the first m 1ss o na y to the ontana tribes , came in 1840 t o minister to t h e Flathead Indians . He came to the m o u nt am s by the land route with the fur traders who were bound for Green Rive rfi He

S S S . 9 GOV . I AAC I TEVEN 7 returned by the way o f the Yellowstone River and the Missouri but he did not stop to visit at the posts . f 184 6 Visit s t h e Bl ack e e t . In he went over the mountains into the Blackfoot country from the Bitter Root Valley t o meet these Indians in order to bring about a peace between the tribes . He met them in the Yellowstone Valley and went with them t o Fort Lewis (which was the new name f o r Fort

McKenzie ) . He and a companion were at Fort Lewis h t e . f o r some time , holding councils with Indians

m n After Father D e S e t went o t o St . Louis he left

t he who b Father Point at the post for winter , esta lish e d a mission there .

5 G v S o . . . I AAC I STEVENS

n f n n First go ve r o r o Mo t a a . Toward the close o f the fur - trading days an important party o f visi tors came to Fort Union and Fort Benton . They were Governor Isaac I . Stevens , the newly appointed Governor o f Washington Territory (which then in cluded the western part o f Montana) and a party o f f surveyors , who under the direction o the Gov e rno r were looking for the most practicable route f o r a railroad across the continent . f f The surveyors were in di ferent parties , some o

t o them going up the river Fort Union by boat , and the others going overland from St . Paul and Fort , o n Union , mules , their baggage being carried by o x — teams .

At o rt Uni n F o . The traveling equipment of the surveyors was only sufficient to take them to Fort 8 VISITORS TO TH E POSTS

Union , and while at this post they were occupied in outfitting themselves for their journey across the

mountains . Pembina carts were made o f cotton

wood logs , and other transportation was purchased

o f the fur company . From the company they also

secured guides and hunters . As their investigations were to extend over the winter time they were glad to accept from the Indian women at the fort wives o f the traders presents o f gloves and moccasins f and other comforts o early traveling days .

S u rve ying ne ar Fo rt Unio n . While this work o f outfitting was going on some o f the men were e n

o u gaged in surveying trips t from the post . They thoroughly explored the country to find o u t which would be the best route f o r a railroad . — At Fo rt B e nt o n . After nine days spent at Fort

Union they pushed o n up the valley . When they arrived at Fort Benton , they examined voyageurs

t o and Indians in regard the mountain passes , and general character of the country , to find if it would be possible to cross the mountains in winter , for a railroad would be of little use if it was closed from f all tra fic in the winter time . In order to learn about the situation “ winter posts were established ’

. no w at Fort Benton , and in the St Mary s Valley ( known as the Bitter Root n O t o Olym pia . The main party then continued their journey to Olympia , the capital of the new ’ Ca d o t t e s territory , Washington . They went over Pass which was about twelve miles south o f the o ne taken by L ewis o n the return o f the Lewis and

o f Clark expedition . At the summit the divide

100 VISITORS TO TH E POSTS

we determined to change the council from Fort Ben

o f ton t o the mouth the Judith , I undertook the duty o f seeing the necessary messages sent to the various bands and tribes and to bring them all to

the mouth o f the Judith at the proper moment . I succeeded in securing the services o f a fit and

o ne o f reliable man for each the bands and tribes , lk except the Gros Ventres camped on Mi River .

There were several men , who had considerable ex

e rie nce vo a e u rin p among the Indians and in y g g , who

desired to go , but I had no confidence in them , and accordingly I started my little son as a messenger to

the Gros Ventres . Accompanied by the interpreter ,

Legare , he made that Gros Ventres camp before

o f —five dark , a distance seventy miles , and gave his

message the same evening t o the chiefs . they

were in the saddle early in the morning , and reached f my camp at half past three . Thus a youth o thir teen traveled o ne hundred and fifty measured miles ’ ’ from ten o clock o f o ne day to half past three o clock ” o f the next .

6 TH E K S H . BOO T EY WROTE

Acco u nt s o f th eir trave l s What has made the visits o f these famous men so important is that they have written such extensive accounts o f their jour

neys . They have given us an idea of the conditions

in those days that we could not otherwise have had . They have told us about little things that the trad

ers thought too trivial to set down in their journals . P i — r nce Maxim ilia n . Upon his return to Europe Prince Maximilian published an account o f his TH E BOOKS THEY WROTE 10 1

n 1 travels which is very e x t e s ve . It covers all sorts f o subjects , the Indians and the animals , geology ,

o f plants , and description the country , as well as interesting stories and bits o f history . The great drawback is that it is published in German , and for that reason it is inaccessible to the general public .

o f However , an abridged edition it has been given “ us by Reuben G . Thwaites in his Early Western f Travels . A copy o the original edition in German is o ne o f the treasures in the library o f Peter Koch o f Bozeman . Chittenden says that Maximilian is the most reliable published authority upon the early history o f the American Fur Company . ’ — C atlin s pict ure s W e are told that in his great

e interest in everything pertaining to Indian lif , George Catlin was prejudiced and his pictures were “ not always true to life . Chittenden says : It is regrettable that o ne who did so much work o f real worth should have marred it by a characteristic ” o f which throws doubt upon the accuracy it all .

But in spite of the fact that so much is inaccurate , his work is still referred to by students o f history o f

f o r o f f that time , he gives pictures a condition o life f which has gone o u t o existence . ’ Au d - In u b o n s j o u rnal s . the journals which were

m e nt l o ne d originally published , Audubon very briefly his journey to Fort Union , and little was known about it until 1896 when two o f his granddaughters found a

o f part his journal that before w as no t known t o exist .

It was in the back o f an o ld secretary . It gives a very

o f o f o f full description Fort Union , the lives the traders

o f and the conditions as they were in his day . 102 VISITORS TO TH E POSTS

’ ath e r e s m e t s o u a s a nd d i n F D J rn l In a S k e t ch e s . All the time that Father D e Sm e t was traveling about

the West he was writing letters to his friends . He kept his journals too , so that now his works are in four o r five large volumes . Maximilian and Audu

bon were more interested in animals and plant life , ’ while Father D e S m e t s special interest was the Ih dians . He did not overlook anything , however , and

we find his letters full of descriptions of the country ,

the animals , and flowers , as well as the Indian life . He has also written some Indian sketches that give ’ o f an idea the Indian s conception of Christianity . f — R e po rt o t h e s u rvey . The United States Gov e rnm e nt has made an extensive report of the survey in all its divisions . This is in thirteen large volumes .

It gives the experiences with the Indian tribes , the finding o f the trails and passes ; descriptions of the animals and plants , and rivers and mountains , which they saw upon the way , and the posts of the fur traders . Three of these volumes are devoted to the

4 7t h parallel and the work of Governor Stevens . f G o ve rno r S t eve ns . The life o Governor Stevens has been compiled by his son Hazard from the Gov ’ e rno r s letters and journals . This gives many inter esting events not mentioned in the report . The outcome o f the council o f 1855 is especially interest

1v1n o f ing , g g the conversation the chiefs and describing all the scenes of the council .

O4 MISSIONARIES TO TH E INDIANS till the soil and gain a living which was more to be depended upon than the search for wild fruits and game . The Flatheads were a religious people in their o w n beliefs and they were impressed with the

P rm i i n o N . A. F r yt Bu tt e ss o f o s h, e

CHARLOT . CHIEF OF THE FLATHEADS thought o f the better life to be found in the belief o f the white man as taught by the Black Robes . They wanted t o know more about the Great Spirit and the Life which is t o come . The Iroquois as a R nation had not been friendly to the Black obes , but a mere handful o f their number who believed FLATHEAD DELEGATIONS TO ST . LOUIS 105 the truth were able to carry the teachings o f those missionaries far into the wilderness and make a beginning among new people which has been so

- wide spreading in its influence .

A H D S To ST . S 2 . FL T EA DELEGATION LOUI — Th e first j o u rne y. Many years passed and we can imagine the nights that were spent around the campfires when the Flatheads would listen so in

o f - t e nt ly to the stories the Iroquois half breeds . At last the enthusiasm o f the Flatheads was raised to such an extent that four young men volunteered t o

t o go to St . Louis to ask have Black Robes sent t o them . — Th e Gre e n Rive r ro u t e . It was in 183 1 that h t ey left their home in the Bitter Root Valley , going down , it is supposed through the Green River

country to the Platte and then down the Missouri . There are confl icting stories told about the route but the best authorities say that it is supposed that they went in company with the traders who had their yearly rendezvous in the Green River Country f and the headwaters o the Snake River . This sup position is very natural because the Flatheads and Nez Perces attended these rendezvous and the In

dians arrived in St . Louis at the same time that the ’

c . fur company s aravan did Now , we can go t o St .

Louis in two days , but at that time the trip was a

great undertaking ; indeed , when the Iroquois first i 1812 came to them , n , it probably was more than

o ne n o t any would undertake , so much because o f

o f the hardships but because hostile tribes . After 106 MISSIONAR IES TO TH E INDIANS

fur traders began to operate extensively on the l\Iis

souri and its tributaries , there was more chance for

a safe passage .

In S t . o u i . . L s On their arrival in St Louis , owing

to the change in food and the climate , they all fell

o f . ill , and two them died Some authorities say that they were feasted and made a great deal o f while in

. n St Louis , and others say that they found no o e who could speak their language and they went back to the mountains without having any one know who they were or how they came . IVe do know that they went to see Governor Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and that Roman Catholic priests attended them when they were ill , and that the two who died were buried in the Catholic

. cemetery . They also impressed upon the minds o f some what they desired , for the next spring mission

o u t hIe t h o dis s aries were sent by the t of St . Louis :

Th e w ay h o m e . It is not known by what route they started home whichever way it was , they fell in with hostile tribes or were killed by wild beasts , for they never reached the Flathead country . n R Th e Fl at h e a d s at th e Gr e e ive r. In the mean time the Flatheads were waiting anxiously the re ’ f turn o f their men . W hen the time o the rendezvous drew near they went down to the Green R iver to meet their long expected Black Robes . But no Jesuits had come and the Indians shook their heads in disappointment when they saw the Methodist h missionaries and their wives . The Black R obes ad

so m e n no wives , the Iroquois had said , and these

‘ did not wear the black gowns . There was some mis

MISSIONARIES TO TH E INDIANS

about to attack the Flatheads , but as they did not care to fight any but the Flatheads , he , being Iro

u o is q , would be given an opportunity to withdraw with the white men to a place of safety . Ignace b replied that while he was y birth an Iroquois , the

Flatheads were his adopted people and , if there was t o be a battle he wanted to do his share of the fight

A LITTLE FLATHEAD

ing . Another messenger was sent him just before the battle , who returned with the same answer . The

Sioux greatly o utnumbered the Flatheads . The latter

no t . were all killed , but without a struggle Ignace f himself killed nine o the enemy before he died .

- A f o u rth d e l e gatio n . The courage and patience o f the Flatheads was not t o be overcome by even so great difficulties . A fourth expedition was planned .

- Tw o Iroquois , Left handed Peter and Young Ignace , FATHER DESMET 109

ni off ered t o go . They accompa ed some Hudson Bay

traders down t o St . Louis where they were assured

that a priest would be sent in the spring . One of the two stayed t o gu ide the missionary to the moun

t o tains , while the other went home tell the glad

tidings to his people .

3 H M . FAT ER DES ET

ac R o e at a st A Bl k b l A Jesuit , Father P . J .

D e S m e t , was the missionary chosen for the work .

u f 8 0 He set o t in the spring o 1 4 . He went up the

usual way to the Green River with the fur traders , where he met a few Flatheads who were to guide him ’ o f to the camp the Flatheads near Pierre s Hole .

After he had talked with the Indians for a while , he knew that he alone could never teach them all

they wanted to know . He decided to go back t o

St . Louis for helpers . — Ove r t o th e Th re e Fo rk s . H e w ent with the In

o f M dians as far as the Three Forks the issouri .

They were on their way back into their own territory . ’ Their route lay over the mountains north o f Pierre s ’ Hole t o Henry s Lake across to R e d Rock Lake and ff R down the Je erson iver to Jefferson Island , where

they held a service , the first ever held in Montana . They continued o n as far as the Three Forks o f the Missouri where the time o f the m 1ss1o nary was spent in baptizing the children and instructing the

elders .

D o w n — th e Ye ll o w st o ne . At the Three Forks the ’ Father left them after a month s time, first giving

them his word that he would soon return . He crossed 110 MISSIONAR IES TO TH E INDIANS

over to the headwaters o f the Yellowstone and went down that river with an escort o f Flatheads and a Flemish man who had come with him from the ren

d e zvo u s on the Green River . The Flat h e ad s went

him o f as far as the Crow country with , the rest the

way was made with the Flemish man alone . The

Crows were very hospitable to the party , the Father being at a loss to know how to attend all the ban hi qu e t s tendered m . He found these Indians also

anxious to have the Black Robes in their villages , but he was unable to make them any promises . In his letters he describes the j ourney down to St .

Louis and the many frights they had . It was a journey of great peril for two lone men to take , but the end was reached in safety four months after leaving the Flatheads .

— In 184 1 u Fath e r De s m e t re t u rns . he ret rned

with five companions , two of whom were priests and the others lay brothers . The priests were Fathers Gregory Me ngarini and Nicholas Point and the l brothers were Wil iam Claessens , Charles Huet , and fi e Joseph Specht . The rst of thes brothers was a

m i hi blacks th , the second a carpenter , and the t rd a tinner . They went up the river over the same route previously traversed by Father D e Sm e t to the Green River and met the Indians in the Beaver ll head Va ey , going with them from thence over into

R w a Of l the Bitter oot , by y the Deer Lodge and He l l hi Gate Va leys . Then began the work w ch has since continued for seventy - fiv e years and which has estab lish e d the R oman Catholic Church o n every reser

vation in Montana .

112 MISSIONARIES TO TH E INDIANS

justly dreaded by those who navigate that stream . R I had traversed the Willamette , crossed the ocky

Mountains , passed through the country of the Black

d o f feet , the esert the Yellowstone , and descended the Missouri ; and in all o f these I had not received ” the slightest injury . — ’ D e Sm e s Lat e r visit s . Father t work was not

r that o f a resident priest , although his great desi e

t o had been to stay and minister the Indians , but his services were so valuable as a messenger o n im portant errands that his time w as continually taken up with the latter work . Everywhere he went he was recognized as the Indian ’ s friend and was able t o pass through the countries of even hostile tribes 1845 in safety . He visited the Mission in and again 1859 in , giving them encouragement in their work but not being able t o stay but a short time o n each

occasion . M ’ S T . S S S 4 . ARY MI ION

In th e Bitt er R o o t Vall e y . The first missionary

station was established in the Bitter Root Valley . It ’ was named St . Mary s Mission . The little town o f Stevensville grew up around it after the settlement o f

m i the valley by the white men . The ssionaries lived among the Indians at first in their skin lodges

learned to eat the same food , and went with them

o n their hunting expeditions . Gradually they taught

o f lo them the ways civilization , how to build g cabins ’ f o r w 1nt e r t o the , how prepare the white man s food , ’ and how to dress in the white man s clothes . Each

“ year they added to their farm lands , teaching the M ’ M SS ST . ARY S I ION 113

Indians how to till the soil and harvest the crops . After a little they began to gather together some chickens and pigs , horses and cattle . They had

flocks o f sheep t o o . All this took a great deal o f time , because the live stock had to be brought a great way . The larger stock was driven up from the Spanish settlement in the Southwest (gold had not yet been discovered in California) o r over the moun

U THE MISSION OF ST . IGNATI S

tains from Fort Colville , on the Columbia , which ’ was a Hudson Bay Company s fort . Their supply

o f . tools , seeds , groceries , clothing , etc , were shipped from Europe to the mouth o f the Columbia River

and transported up that river . 1844 Fath e r R avalli. In Father Ravalli went

u . o t to the Missio ns . He had just arrived in America He spent the first winter with the Kalispells where

‘ Father Palladino says o f him : Here he learned the wonderful secret o f living without the necessaries o f ” life . He spent the rest of his life in the Bitter Root 114 MISSIONARIES TO TH E INDIANS

m 1nist e re d Valley , where he at first to the Indians and in later years to the white men as well . He was f the beloved friend o all men . His grave is in the ’ little cemetery at St . Mary s in Stevensville and the

’ county in which the land lies bears his name . The Montana people thus pay a small tribute to the man who gave his all to save the so ul s o f his fellow men .

M n arini The other pioneer priests , Fathers e g and

Point , were not long with the Flatheads . The former 1850 was transferred in to California , and the other

' 84 1 7 t o . in Canada Of the three lay brothers , Wil liam Claessens and Joseph Specht lived the rest o f their lives with the Flatheads . ’ —In 1 0 r s c o s d . 85 n S t . Ma y l e it was found e ce s f ’ sary t o abandon the mission o St . Mary s because o f the hostility o f the Blackfeet . The b u ildings were

t o sold Major Owen , who built a fort near the site o f the mission and traded with the Indians .

Fl ath e a d s t ru e t o t h e ir f aith . When Father D e Sm e t visited the Flatheads in 1859 he found that they had kept up as far as possible the teachings o f f o . the missionaries , even after the close the mission

The chiefs held morning and evening prayers . The

Angelus was rung as usual , and they observed the f sacredness o Sunday . — ’ Th e m is sio n again o ccu pie d St . Mary s was

Cu i 1866 189 1 again o c p e d by the Fathers from to , during which time services were held and schools maintained . When the Flatheads at last went onto

t o the Jocko Reservation live , the mission was per l l m ane nt ly abandoned . The o d church stil stands in

MISSIONARIES TO TH E INDIANS

I was enabled to Observe the manner in which f the affairs o the mission are conducted . Brother Charles (Huet) has charge o f the buildings and

t o attends the indoor work , cooks , makes butter and

cheese , issues provisions and pays the Indians for

their work , which payment is made in tickets bear

f o r so ing a certain value good many potatoes , and

FIRST HOUSE OF THE MISSIONARIE S

so . much wheat , etc By this arrangement the Indians are able to procure their subsistence in the summer by hunting and fishing and have tickets in store for living during the winter . They are well

o f contented , and I was pleased to Observe habits industry growing upon t hem . In the barn we saw their operations o f threshing : four boys rode as in many mules abreast a circle , being followed by

fl ails w h o t w o girls with , appeared to be perfectly at home in their business . There appeared t o be a BLACKFEET MISSIONS 117

great scarcity o f proper implements and in digging pota ” toes many had nothing better than sharpened sticks . f i — S ist e rs o f th e H o u s e o Pro v d e nce . In 1864 four sisters o f the House o f Providence were sent out to the m issions to assist in the education o f the women

and children . The house which was built for them to

o f live in was logs boarded on the outside , with the hi windows gh up from the ground , a precaution

against the curious eyes o f the Indians . The Sisters found it a hard life ; the journey in itself o f several

months duration was a hard and dangerous o ne . The

Indians were much interested in them , many never having seen a white woman before .

6 K S S S . BLAC FEET MI ION — Fath e r P o int . The missionary work was no t con fined to the Flat h e ad s although it was a number of years before any regular work was done among any o f the other tribes . Father Point o n his way t o 1847 Canada in passed through the Blackfoot country , wintering at Fort Lewis , the principal post o f the

o n Bl isso u ri American Fur Company the upper , and

his ministered t o the Indians . During few months stay with them he accomplished a great deal , visit ing the diff erent bands and spending with each sev eral weeks . He was a skilful artist and w o n the hearts and the good -will of the chiefs by painting i their portraits . Hav ng translated by the help o f an interpreter their prayers into the Blackfoot langu age he taught them to both the children and the adults .

o f A volume Indian drawings , apparently his work , f o . is preserved in the University St Louis . 118 MISSIONAR IES TO TH E INDIANS

Mis sio n b u ilt . After the departure o f Father Point there were no more missionaries among the

1859 H e k Blackfeet until , when Fathers o c e n and

Im o d a were sent there . They found what they co n sid e re d a suitable site f o r a mission o n the Teton

River near the present town of Chouteau . The W Blackfeet ere a restless , roving tribe and were co n f st ant l o . y desiring the change location Soon after , it was reestablished , at Sun River , but the Fathers

H o e cke n were shortly called away , Father to the

Im o d a t o . States and Father the St Ignatius Mission . The latter was returned the following year in com

G io rd a pany with Father , and with instructions to establish a permanent mission which was to be known ’ 1862 o n as St . Peter s . It was built in Sun River 186 6 near Fort Shaw . In it was closed because o f

troubles between the Blackfeet and the settlers . It

was not reopened until 1874 .

Like their fellow laborers with the Flatheads , the Blackfeet missionaries followed their Indians from

camp t o camp . When the reservation was made smaller and the Indians were moved to the Northern part , a branch mission was built near the Agency , ’ sixty miles from St . Peter s .

W S S 7 . CRO MI IONS

C ro w s . Although the Crows had expressed to Father D e Sm e t their desire to have m issio narl e s l n

their villages , it was forty years before this request

was granted . The first mission was built for them

- f in 1887 . These Indians t o day show the lack o i f civilizing nfluences . They followed the ways o

PART VI

TH E FIRST SETTLER S

S M 1. WE TERN E IGRATION

n 184 9 G o ld in C alif o r ia . The year was the great

- turning point in Western History . In that year gold

was discovered in great quantities in California . Such an excitement as there was & Everybody who

was free to go to the gold fields went , that is , if they were no t afraid o f Indians and were willing to go

into a desolate land where few people lived . Here n n tofore o o e had cared anything about the West . They had thought it was a good place for the In

dians , and they were willing to let the fur traders have the whole country if they wanted it . But now

o ne it was different & Gold was scarce . No ever had

enough , and here it was to be had in California , and all o ne had t o do was t o go o u t and shake it out f & i o the sand Many men took their famil es along , and there was a stream o f people travelling West

e . ward from St . Louis to the Pacific Oc an — did Th e t rail o f th e e m 1grant . They not take R t o o the Missouri iver route , because that was far hi north . They went instead over a road w ch had been found by explorers and fur traders to be much easier ; up the Platte and across t o the Mormon in f country the Valley o the Great Salt Lake , then WESTERN EMIGRATION 121

across Nevada to the Sierras and down t o the coast . l This road was called the Great Salt Lake Trai . “ Father D e Sm e t said it was as smooth as a barn f . N o t o floor , swept by the winds a blade grass could shoot up o n it o n account o f the continual n passing . The Indians thought that every o e must have left the East with such a stream o f people com

Kind ness of Mont ana H istorical S bbiety Library THE G REAT SALT LAKE TRAIL

ing from the rising sun ._ They called the road The f Great Medicine Road o the Whites .

— all m i Pro spe ct o rs . At first the e grants were

fo r ni bound Califor a , but many stopped before they reached there , sometimes because their oxen and other beasts o f burden gave o u t and sometimes b e cause they came to a country which they thought would make a good home . There were many men ,

no l l who had fami ies with them , who iked the soli

o f tudes best . Some these turned o u t o f the beaten

k t o o f way , thin ing find an Eldorado their o wn . 122 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

These last men called themselves prospectors , and in time they came to be as important a class as the

fur traders themselves . They prospected all through

the Rocky Mountains , in Colorado , in Utah , and in

Idaho , and some went even as far north as Montana .

2 . GOLD IN MONTANA

s M n s Earlie t o nt a a pro p e ct o rs . Thus in the years from 1850 to 1860 a gradual change took place in the country where the fur trader and the Indian had

before held undisputed sway . Occas ionally the trap

o f pers would come upon the cabin a prospector , and no w and then a miner would come to the posts to “ f get a stock o provisions . — S i e rth o rne . lv One of these , known as Silver

o ne 1856 thorne , came day in to Fort Benton . He had been successful in his search for gold and he had

o f a quantity gold dust which he wanted to exchange .

The traders looked at it rather dubiously , remem “ bering that all is no t gold that glitters . They did not quite dare take the gold at the Company ’ s risk , but Major Culbertson at length took it as a

m an o ne private venture, giving the thousand dollars

f o r . it Afterward he received for it at St . f l f ’ Louis . This was one o the ear iest excha nges o go ld dust in Montana .

N e l s Kie s . Sometime afterward a man by the nam e o f Nels Kies caused quite a little excitement among the men at the fort by telling them about his gold m 1ne s that he had discovered in the upper

lanm n country . They were p g to go with him to find ll the location , but unfortunately the man was ki ed

24 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

o f Washington . He then proceeded o n to the

coast . — C o u ncil o f 1855 . H e returned to Fort Benton in

1855 and , held the council with the Indians which f we told o in the chapter on the Indians . There is no t doubt that the agreement , made at that ime with the

Montana tribes , had much to do with the security

that the Montana settlers enjoyed in later years . “ — a m e s and ran i e S t u art . In 1857 t w o J G v ll , Cali f o rnia prospectors started from California o n a trip

. o n to the States When Malad Creek , which is

o f near the Old town Corinne , Utah , Granville Stuart was taken ill with m ountain fever and was unable

to travel . The party was in a bad predicament , f o r the Mormons were in a state o f revolt and were extremely hostile to the Gentiles (the name the Mo r M mons gave to all w h o were not ormons) . The

o f Mormons , because their unwillingness to respect

o f the laws the United States , had been driven from their original settlements in Missouri and had made a home f o r themselves in the Valley o f the Great Salt

m i Lake . As e gration moved westward and settlers

came about them , once more they found themselves

t o in trouble , and in order quell their disturbances a company o f soldiers was sent o u t under General

Jackson t o bring them t o subjection . In order to

defend his people , Brigham Young , the Mormon

o leader , declared the colony under martial law . L cal troops were organized and an edict was declared

that no supplies should be granted t o any Gentile , no r should they be allowed thoroughfare through the

Mormon country . GOLD IN MONTANA 125

The Stuarts and the men who were accompanying them were delayed here just as the Mormon troops were organizing , and they found themselves greatly puzzled as t o the course t o pursue . At length it was deemed advisable for most o f the party t o con t inu e on before the barricade was raised . This they

a did , leaving Reese Anderson with the Stu rt broth

t o o n ers , come afterward as soon as the sick man recovered . But by the time this was accomplished matters had progressed until the travelers did no t n dare t o go o . Just about this time a man by the k name o f Jacob IVIe e s happened along . He told the

o f o n Be averh e ad men his intention of wintering the ,

500 t o some miles the north , and asked them to go along with him , which they did . 1857—8 t h All through the winter, , they stayed in e vicinity of the present Dillon , and were surprised at the mildness of the climate . They had no houses .

f o r o f f They made themselves teepees bu falo robes , such as the Indians used . They found these re

rk l o n m a ab y warm . With furs the ground and with

o f the small fire in the center the teepee , they kept c as omfortable as though they were in a cabin . These teepees allowed for a four -foot space in the

f o r center the fire , with the outside ring wide enough fo r the men t o lie with their feet within about eigh teen inches o f the fire and their heads toward the o f utside o the teepee .

Pro visi o ns scarce . They had procured a limited amount o f supplies from the Mormon post o n Malad

Be averh e ad Creek , before their departure for the ,

’ m f o r but these had been given the in great secrecy , 126 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

as has before been stated , no provisions were t o be

o f sold to Gentiles at any these posts , as the Mor mons were afraid o f thus harboring spies from Jack ’ In i son s army . Early the spr ng their provisions grew lo w i and they planned to go to Fort Bridger , n tending t o stay there until they could move on to the East . But , although there was no snow o n the

Be ave rh e ad and had been very little all winter , they found it impossible to drive their horses through

o f the Pass because the deep snow there . They turned back to wait a more propitious time . — N e s o f a o d d isco e . w g l v ry During their wait, there came a man from the Deer Lodge Valley , a

o f Captain Grant , father John Grant , who was the

first rancher in Deer Lodge Valley . He told the ’ men o f Be ne t se e s discovery of gold about five years

o n before near the Deer Lodge Valley Gold Creek . The Stuarts and Anderson decided to put in their waiting time by prospecting around in that vicinity .

o n They had been living meat alone with no salt , ” o r bread other food meat straight , as it was called in those days . On their way over into the Deer

Lodge Valley they saw some mountain sheep , which they shot and found them much more palatable than the lean game which they had been living upon . — O n in . n no t Fl t Cre e k O Flint Creek , far from the present Drummond , they prospected under great

ffi : di culties , for their tools were very primitive a broken shovel and an old pick which they found , and their bread pan (not needing it for bread any more

since the flour was all gone) . Here they prospected , but even the possibility o f ten cents to the pan had

128 TH E FIRST SETTLERS — O th e r e m igrant s . People in the east were hear ing o f some rich claims having been found in the

Salmon River Country , and many people turned to f that part o the west t o seek their fortunes . Two parties o f emigrants w h o were bound for the Salmon River heard about the disco veries o f James and t i Granville S uart , and finding the way to their n tended destination longer than they had expected

t o and winter about set in , they decided to go up

where the Stuarts were and prospect there instead . nn B a ack . About the time that these last e m i grants arrived in the Deer Lodge Valley rich c laims were discovered o n o ne o f the Creeks o f the Beaver

a hi head , the Grasshopper , by man named John W te . 6 This was in July of 18 2 . As soon as the find was

kno wil made all the prospectors went over there , and

formed a settlement , which they named Bannack,

o f w h o after the tribe Indians , lived in that valley . f Lif e in B annack . The fame o Bannack reached the Salmon River Country in the fall o f 1862 and many people went from there over to the new settle f . o ment Among them went a lot rough people, gamblers and saloon -men and keepers of rough dance

‘ halls . Soon Bannack was like all the other early

western settlements , a rough town with more saloons and gambling houses than there were stores and homes . The people o f Bannack were shut O ff from the

rest o f the world f o r months at a time . It was while

h o w the Civil War was in progress , and much they all would like to have known what was going o n at & “ the front N . P . Langford says in his Vigilante SETTLERS IN MONTANA 129

Days and Ways All the stirring battles o f the

o f 1862 season , Antietam , Fredericksburg , and n f Seco d Bull Run , all the exciting debates o

Congress and the more exciting combats at sea , first became know n to us o n the arrival of the first news

a d s rin o f papers n letters , in the p g Fo r nearly a year Bannack was the most important

o f gold placer east the Rockies , and then Alder Gulch was discovered & — Ald e r G ulch . Many had not been successful in finding rich ground and the unsuccessful were o u t

- A f prospecting for better things . party o six w hd j had come over from Idaho set o u t on an expedition into the Big Horn Country . They were Barney.

To m F al r Hughes , Cover , Henry Rodgers , Bi

e r weather , Henry Edgar , and Bill Sweeney . é & had been another party under the le ad e rshl p m es and Granville Stuart which had started o u t t

t o e before , expecting explore the Yellowstone Vall y an

find o u t its possibilities . This party the men fro m ’ a t o o Id ho hoped to overtake , but gained

much headway , and very soon after reaching the Cro w country the six m e n came upon a camp o f Indians who showed such unfriendly feeling that

t o . they were obliged turn back Disheartened , they

t o started to return Bannack , and toward evening they camped upon a little stream then known as f Alder Creek . Two o the men were delegated to

t o get supper , while the others , pass the time , sat

o u f . down by the creek to pan t a . little o the dirt f Soon there was a shout of joy rom Bill Fairweather . He had found gold & All of the six men went to pan 130 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

ning o u t gold and supper was forgotten . They sank a few feet and they were surprised at the richness o f

o f the sand . One the pans had brought At last they had found their Eldorado & It later proved to be the richest gold placer ever before discovered .

AN OLD PROSPECTOR PANNING OUT G OLD

It was the bed o f an ancient river, and several mil

‘ ’ lion dollars worth o f gold was taken from it . At the present day the gulch lies deserted looking as though it had been swept by a powerful cloudburst . — B anna ck h e ars th e ne w s In order to work the claims they had to go to Bannack to procure a stock o f supplies ; They decided to tell a few of their

t o o friends , so that they could share in the good for

132 TH E FIRST SETTLERS — H OW th e pro spe ct o rs ca m e . The early pros

ul o x - n p e ct o rs came by m es and teams overla d , and

Suffered many hardships , for there were few places

to buy supplies if the original stock ran low . The mules and oxen would become jaded if the journey

o r f fi was t o o long , taken without su cient resting t imes . In every way it was a long weary trip .

In the rush to get to the gold fields , the people in the east were looking for a quicker and safer way

’ in x - o f getting to t h e m o u nt a s than by o teams . About the time of the discovery o f gold the American Fur Company had found that it was possible t o take their

steamboats up as far as Fort Benton . Before 1859 it had not been thought possible to go beyond Fort

Union with these larger boats . There were t wo

boats which made the voyage that year together .

They brought only supplies for the fur trade . In i 1864 there were four steamers wh ch reached there, f and in 1865 eight . These brought many o the i pioneers and their families , with their suppl es . In

- - 1867 . 1866 thirty six came , and in , thirty nine The hi number increased every year . T s made Fort - di Benton a town instead of a fur tra ng post .

The trip from St . Louis to Fort Benton was no

o short way , taking from two to three m nths , accord

ing to the obstacles to be met . Occasionally. an acci

o r n dent would happen , the boat go agrou d ; then the passengers had t o wait patiently for another boat

o n to come and take them , and perhaps in the mean time they had to hunt game to keep themselves from

o n going hungry . The pilot house the boat was a

f o r i favorite resort the passengers , for during the qu et R OAD AGENTS AND VIGILANTES 133

stretches o f river the pilot would become storyteller and b eguile the weary hours away . The voyages were not always quiet, sometimes the travelers were in great danger from Indians . The Sioux , the same tribe that made the em igrant trail farther

o n f o r e m i south so dangerous , were the watch river grants . Many times the boats passed unmolested , finding traces of hostilities t o those ahead and hear ing afterward of unf ortunates who were just behind .

D N TS D S 4 . ROA AGE AN VIGILANTE — R o ad age nt s Those people who came up t he r1ve r In o f 1863 the summer , expecting to find safety a at m is fter arriving the settlements , were sadly taken for they found o n arriving at the camps that the people were in a state o f panic over a condition f f hi f o a fairs w ch before they had never thought o . The stage coaches had been several times held up and robbed & In those days the currency throughout

” the community was gold dust . Every business place

had its gold weighing scales . The dust was sent

' m i east to the nt, usually by stage coach , either by

. f o o r . h way Fort Benton Corinne , Utah W en

o f large amount treasure , as it was called , was to be

- o u t l o f and S sent , the townspeople usual y knew it , O it was not surprising that any desperat e character

ul wo d also hear of it . Soon after the first robbery a

r his man was mu dered and all money taken . — W h o we re t h e gu ilty o ne s? Who could have done it ? Before this time there had been no thought o f dishonesty , although other frontier towns had been in troubled that way . True, there were the rough 134 TH E FIRST SETTLERS men o f the town who spent all their “ time in the saloons and dance-halls and occasionally they would kill each other in a fight . But this was a different

THE OLD S TAGE COACH Fort Benton to the settlements

u matter , for the people who led q iet lives were n w h the victims . No o e could tell o the guilty ones were for there were no witnesses in the o ne case and in the other the robbers were heavily masked .

136 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

l miners present . In such a court a gui ty man seldom

escaped punishment . A trial by jury was always pre

ferred by the rough element , as it gave the friends o f the prisoner an opportunity t o avenge the death

o f w s their comrade , in case he a found guilty . At this time any juryman who dared decide against

the prisoner was threatened with his life . During

o ne trial , the roughs became so angry that they determined to shoot every man who had taken

part in the trial . They succeeded so well in their intention “ that within five months after the trial not more than seven o f the twenty -seven who par

t ici at e d f p in it as judge , prosecutor , sherif , witnesses

and jurors , were left alive in the Territory . Eight o r nine are known to have been killed by some of ” the band , and others fled to avoid a like fate . f A ne w sh e riff . As the fear o the desperadoes

o f increased , many the citizens prepared to leave

town . They all thought the roughs outnumbered

the honest men , and felt that resistance would be

o f f useless . One the men who left in fear o the f road agents was the sheri f, Crawford . An election f was held to fill his o fice , and Henry Plummer was

elected to the position . He was thought to be a good man and he seemed to have confidence that

he would be able to bring the guilty ones t o justice . Although he was respected by the good citizens and r m was often in thei ho es , still he had several friends

among the roughs . These , he told his electors , he thought would be able to help him in the search for

an d S criminals , it was arranged that they hould act as

deputies in case a posse should be needed at any time . ROAD AGENTS AND VIGILANTES 137 — N o w H e nry Pl u m m e r. Henry Plummer was in f reality the leader o f the band o outlaws . As sheriff all the positions under him were held by members o f this band , and as these were the positions that would be most dangerous to them if held by others , their safety was assured and crime was increased t o an alarming extent . — A vigilant e co m m itt e e . During this time o f plunder and violence the best citizens were co n st ant ly but quietly pondering the question o f how to bring t o the community law and order more

o f speedily . They dared not call a meeting the citizens , f f o r some o the outlaws would be sure to be there . hi While t ngs were in this state , a man named f o . William H . Bell died mountain fever He re quested that he should have a Masonic burial . His friends feared that there were not enough Masons in

t o the camp perform the ceremony , but when the men gathered at the appointed place , there were so many that it was necessary to move to a larger room . This meeting was so satisfactory that a lodge

was formed , and at a secret session was planned the formation o f a vigilante committee which was to clear the territory o f the noted band o f robbers and f murderers . Plummer suspected the motives o the M asons and made several attempts to join the order, but admittance was refused him ’ P u m m hi l e r s cl aim . About t s time a report went about that the sheriff and some of his deputies had found a silver ledge out in the hills and some o f ’ Plummer s friends decided to watch him , so that

they too perhaps could gain a good claim . Colonel 138 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

Wilbur F . Sanders heard it and went to him , saying “ o u Plummer , I hear y have a good thing o u t here N . o w in the hills I would like to get in on it . ” Let me go with you when you go . This w as no ’ presumption on Colonel Sanders s part , as he was a friend t o Plummer ; the latter had often been enter t aine d at his home and it is said that a more gentle manly and agreeable man than Plummer could not be found in the country . But Plummer denied that n the rumor had a y foundation . As he was even then

making preparations to go out of town , Sanders was

suspicious that he was going to the claim . The truth o f the matter was that Plummer and his men

were preparing to make a raid upon the stage coach , which was supposed t o have upon it a large amount f o treasure which was being shipped by N . P . Lang ford and some other men . The road agents were

f r u doomed to be disappointed this time , for the o t nate possessors o f this large amount of money had

o r had it sent by freight a day two before , while

giving o u t that it was to go by stage coach . — ’ S and e rs f o ll o w s . Sanders replied to Plummer s “ : N o w denial , Plummer , there is no need for you ’

t o f o r . N o w deny it , it must be so if you won t tell ” me truly I am going t o follow yo u . Plummer re m o nst rat e d with him and said that he had never

o f o u t heard such a thing, but if it turned that

o f any the others had , he would divide his share f with Sanders afterwards o r give him part o the claim . nk Colonel Sanders , however , thi ing it over , decided

— that that would hardly be fair to the others , and

soon after Plummer had started Sanders followed .

140 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

sought to quiet the drunken man , who suddenly b e came very friendly and invited Sanders to have a drink . All became quiet ; the drunken man , too , t k found a ick for his blan ets , and soon both were

. c asleep Through the night the whole band ame in ,

ne o ne . o by , and went to bed

T d n m d — H enry il e ak e s a isco ve ry. In the mean

. r time other things , had been happening Hen y Til

a i o f den , young man n the employment Governor

o u t Edgerton , had been sent to a neighboring field to

. o u t hunt up some horses While , he was held up by

o f m a party men who he , of course , knew must be the road agents . They all wore black masks and as ’ they were going through the young man s pockets , a slight breeze blew up the mask of one Of the men il and his features were exposed to T d e n . What was

his surprise, to recognize in them those of Henry Plummer & He was allowed to go o n his way with a

f r hi scolding o not having any money about m . When

o o n t o : he t ld his story his return town , he said

Governor Edgerton , I saw Henry Plummer in that ” “ : & Y o u band . The Governor exclaimed Nonsense ” are mistaken & Of course it was not Plummer . “ Tilden calmly answered : If it is possible for o ne man to know another by his features , then it was ” n m i & Henry Plummer . I know that I am o t staken Alarm was then immediately felt f o r the safety o f

Colonel Sanders . A messenger was sent t o the

Rattlesnake Ranch , and in order to get him away ’ o f without arousing the suspicions Plummer s men ,

w h o e , wer known , to be there word was given to Sanders that his wife was very ill and that he must R OAD AGENTS AND VIGILANTES 14 1

come home at once . Safely home , he was told the

alarming truth , and from that time no eff ort was spared to collect evidence o f the guilt o f these men

and bring them t o justice .

Vigilante s co ll e ct e vid e nce . They hesitated about i tak ng immediate steps , as the outlaws were supposed

to greatly outnumber the better citizens , and it was necessary to kn ow who all the criminals were and

bring them all at once speedily to justice , that none

o f m ight be left to avenge the deaths their comrades .

o o r The evidence collected , they were waiting the pp t u nit y to bring it into eff ect when the murder o f

hib au lt m an Nicholas T , a young of Virginia City ,

‘ precipitated a crisis . i hi N ich o las Th b au lt . T bault had been given a sum of money to take to a neighboring ranch to

ul . buy m es On the way he was overtaken , robbed

and murdered . As the days went by and he did not

his return , employers concluded that he had left the

country with their money . They found the true

story after a few days . A man was out hunting

- grouse when o ne fell in a clump of sage brush . When

o he went t pick it up , he found it lying on the

breast o f a dead man . There was a bullet in the ’ unf ortunate man s head and his body showed signs

o f having been dragged . The hunter went to a

b o f teepee near the spot , occupied y Long John , one ’ Plummer s men , and asked assistance to carry the

body to Nevada City , in the gulch near Virginia f o r c . so City , identifi ation Long John was unwilling t o have anything to do with it that the man becam e

o f suspicious that he knew something the murder . 142 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

The hunter then , unaided , lifted the body into his

wagon , drove to Nevada City , and reported the

matter . — i i ant e s ro ce e d . o f V g l p Hearing it , the Vigilantes went o n horseback to the teepee o f Long John and

o f took him to the scene the murder , leaving a large

force to guard the men who had been with him . When he found that the Vigilantes were bent on f justice , Long John confessed his knowledge o the b murder , telling that it had een done by George

Ives , a man known to the Vigilantes as a road

agent and a thoroughly bad man . He was one o f those who were then guarded in Long John ’ s teepee and it took but a short time to return and put him

under arrest . They took Ives , Long John , and those they suspected as accomplices to Nevada City ; Ives

nearly escaped on the way , pretending to run a race

w ith the men . His horse was fleet but tired from a

o f hard trip , while those the Vigilantes were fresh ,

r o u o otherwise he might have slipped t of their hands .

o n After this episode , a strict watch was kept the

prisoners , even after they were in jail and heavily

chained . — ’ Th e rst h n in . In fi a g g the trial , Long John s

testimony was most valuable , and the evidence was

so strong that the jury brought in a verdict of guilty ,

o ne man alone voting for acquittal . The murderer

di o f his was promptly hung , much to the smay friends , who had supposed that the people were afraid to expose themselves to such danger , and indeed such would have been the case , but for the f bravery o Colonel Sanders , who was the prosecuting

144 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

P u m m e r h u n . o f l g Two the roughs , Buck Stin

so n r and Ned Ray , were a rested just before Plummer ,

and the three prisoners were marched to the gallows , b Plummer egging hard for his life . They found it “ no easy matter to hang him . Stinson and Ray

were common villains ; but Plummer , steeped as he

o f was in infamy , was a man intellect , polished , ge

nial , affable . There was something terrible in the idea ” o f hanging such a man . His o w n family had never suspected that his life was that o f a criminal ; even f his wife had no knowledge o it .

Five h u ng . After the execution of Plummer at Ban

nack , the rough element at Virginia City made prepa

rations to leave the country , but the Vigilantes were f t o o strong for them . The people o Virginia were

o ne surprised , day , to find their town surrounded by

a strong guard o f Vigilantes . One o f the roughs

escaped the guards by crawling through a drain . Five who remained were arrested and hung without

delay . “ ” — f Evid e nce o f R e d . One o the five was known “ by the name o f Red . His real name was Erastus

Yager . Before his execution he gave full information ’ o f concerning Plummer s band , which there were

- twenty four men In all . Several escaped after Red ’ e turn d state s evidence , but these the Vigilantes deter m m e d to hunt down . f In pu rsuit o f th e o th e rs . A party o over twenty

men started toward the Bitter Root Valley , as it was supposed that the robbers would go that way into

‘ At t h e Idaho . Big Hole they captured one man and

m e n hung him a t once . Two were arrested at Deer ROAD AGENTS AND VIGILANTES 145

Lodge ; o ne was hung and the other liberated f o r lack of evidence . He lost no time in leaving the country . At Hell Gate , now a deserted town , situ ated near Missoula , three men were arrested , and three more in the Bitter Root , and all were summarily hung .

’ ’ R R ROBBE S ROOST , A ROAD AGENTS RESO T

Th e ast o f th e ro ad a e n s . o ne l g t By this time , only t o man remained unpunished , and as he was heard be in Gallatin Valley the Vigilantes returned to Virginia City and a party from there was sent in pursuit o f him . He was found in a cabin about twenty miles “ o f from the Gallatin . The death Hunter marked f ’ the bloody close of the reign o Plummer s band .

“ He was the last o f that terrible organization to fall a ” victim t o vigilante justice . Those hung in Virginia were buried in the cemetery there , where their graves 146 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

are still to be found . They were buried in a s emi

circle , with a small granite boulder at the head o f

each otherwise unmarked grave .

5 . MONTANA MADE A TERRITORY

e rs -It Civil o fli c , must be understood that all the

o f activities the Vigilantes occurred from December ,

1863 t o _ 1864 , February , , before there were any terri

t o rial laws . Montana was not made a separate terri ’ 1864 tory until May, , and it was autumn before any f f o the executive and judicial o ficers were appointed . The Vigilantes had continued their watchfulness over

the safety of the people , but there had been very f little crime to punish . Many o the citizens were so well satisfied with the vigilante code that they re

lu c n l ffi t a t y welcomed the civil o cers , declaring they needed no better law for their protection than they

already had . But they readily conformed to the ’

w . la s , and the vigilantes rule gradually disappeared — Ne w int e re st s When the settlers felt safe from

crime they began to take an interest in other affairs .

There were many subjects to be discussed , such as “ o f o f M the creation the new Territory ontana , the

o f l st 1864 establishment Government mails (July , ) with its consequent regular stage transportation from f o f o fli Salt Lake City , the installation Government

o f o u r cers , the election and action first Legislative

o f Assembly , the construction a telegraph line , the permission o f the Government to have newspapers

o f transmitted in the mails , the building the Union f R . o Pacific ailroad These were , in the words the “ Honorable W . F . Sanders , events in which we took

MONTANA MADE A TERRITORY 147 a profound interest and which deeply affected the f material and social interests o these communities . — Mo nt ana a t e rrit o ry. Montana had been a part 1864 186 1. o f Idaho since March , In a bill was introduced into Congress by J . M . Ashley (who was n then o the territorial Committee , and was after

o ne o f o f hi ward the Governors Montana) , w ch asked

o f for the creation a territory named Montana . After the boundaries were discussed some o ne asked him where he had found the name Montana , and he answered that it was a Latin name meaning moun i t a no u s . The name was adop ted and the bill was

o n 22nd o f 1864 . passed the May , Bannack was

o f c made the capital the new territory , the ourts 20th organized October , and the first legislature con vened December 12th o f the same year . — G o verno r Ed ge rt o n . The first governor of the territory was Sidney Edgerton , who had been living in Bannack while it was still in Idaho Territory . He had been the judge o f the Idaho courts . The go v e rno r was appointed by the President of the United States and the appointment had to be approved by

f . Congress , as also had the other territorial o ficers ffi As soon as all these o cers arrived at Bannack , the

first session o f the legislature was held . — First l e gisl ative a s s e m bly. The first act of this assembly was the form ing o f laws which applied to the local needs , such as the necessary procedure in l ni fi ing mi ng claims , etc . ; public schools were con sid e re d ; it was made unlawf ul t o carry concealed weapons ; and the H istorical Society o f Montana was incorporated . 148 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

— C o u ntie s m ad e . Another important p oint settled o f was the dividing the territory into counties . This had been done before while it was yet Idaho , and very few changes were made . The counties formed by the first legislature were Missoula , Deer Lodge ,

Be ave rh e ad J , Madison , efferson , Chouteau , Dawson ,

Big Horn , and Edgerton . The names of the last two were changed by later legislative assemblies ,

t o Big Horn being changed Custer , and Edgerton to

Lewis and Clark . It is an utter impossibility to trace the boundaries of the first counties accurately because those w ho determined the boundaries knew so little about the country themselves , for no surveys had yet been made It is very difficult to trace the boundary lines o f a country which are described as commencing at a point where a certain degree of longitude intersects a certain river when the two do ” not intersect by a hundred miles or so . This was not a matter o f much importance at that time b e

no t cause there were many people in the territory ,

but when the p opulation became larger , it became necessary for people t o know under what county

government they were living , that they might know t o which county to pay their taxes and for what set 1 o f county officers to vote . In 867 the boundaries were made more exact by having them follow rivers and mountains instead o f lines o f latitude and lon

git u d e .

o f Mo nt ana Hist o rical S o cie ty. The founding the Historical Society was an important act of this

first assembly . To this Society was confided the “ trust o f accumulating information illustrative of the

150 TH E FIRST SETTLERS

sent for their families , and Virginia and Bannack became settled towns .

6 . LATER DIS COVERIES

‘ n Last Ch a ce G ulch . When people o n the out side began t o hear o f the wonderful richness of Alder Gulch there was a great stream o f emigration into the camp . Virginia could not find claims for all these people and so many started out to find new f placers . One p arty , under the leadership o John

Cowan , found the placers at Helena . This they called Last Chance Gulch because they had been prospect ing all through the spring with very little success hi and when they came to t s spot , they considered i t “ ” f their last chance o finding gold that season . They had started f o r the Kootenais country but had turned back when they heard that the prospects in that sec

o n tion were not good . Then they tried their luck

the Little Blackfoot , and when that failed they crossed over to the east S ide o f the range and pros

p e ct e d at Last Chance . Their bad luck was over .

15 1864 o f . On July , , they found an abundance gold

i -u As they were mak ng their first clean p , two other

men came t o the spot in looking for game . They

- were home seekers who had their fam ilies with them . They settled immediately and an em igrant train

o f from Minnesota , camping near the place , hearing hi the discoveries , stopped to prospect . T s was the f o f o . beginning Helena , now the capital the state

— o f H e l e na . There was the usual rush miners and

adventurers to the place and a little town grew up .

Constance and Ju rge ns were the first to open a store . LATER DIS COVERIES 151

They had been living at Montana City , a stage sta

tion on the road from Fort Benton to the mines . It hi was then quite a settlement, but now not ng is left to mark the place but a Great Northern station . At a

f o r public meeting called the purpose , the new town was named Helena by John Somerville, after his former town in Minnesota . Several wanted the name

h . To m a , but Helena received the most votes Water being more convenient in the gulch , the town was built there and the location was no t afterward

” o f 1865 changed . In July the next year , , a large

o n o f n nugget was found the claim Maxwell , Rolli s 5 N o . . Company , It was entirely free from quartz and was worth — f — e at e u ch . In o 1864 5 C o nf e d r G l the winter , a new placer field was discovered about thirty-five miles from Helena . This was at Confederate Gulch

(in Meagher County) . These placers were much so richer than Alder Gulch , although not nearly ex tensive . It was a very hard gulch to work because

f h - o f o the great dept of bed rock , the amount water , and the immense boulders that had to be e nco u n t e re d in the running o f drains . Perhaps this will all be clearer if we give here a description o f the m anner o f working a placer mine as told t o some New York

. f 1866 . people in , by H L Hosmer at that time Chie

Justice o f Montana .

ace r m ine . A pl Gold was not found , even in the rich districts ‘lying around loose ’ as is generally sup

n o f posed . The ordi ary mode working a gulch is t o sink a shaft t o what m m 1n1ng parlance is known as bedrock , which is nothing more than the solid clay 52 TH E FIRST SETTLER S

f o ul . underlying the soil the g ch Gold , by its supe

- rior weight , finds its way to that bed rock . If none is found there , the presumption that there is none i there is acted upon by the m ner, who renews the search elsewhere . Frequently these shafts are sunk

o f to the depth sixty feet , without success ; and often , when the metal is found , drain ditches of miles in extent must be excavated before it can be o b ‘ ’ t aine d . The pay dirt is carefully scraped from the

- i o i - bed rock and thrown nt a slu ce box , which is a

o f o f ni trough boards indefi te length , through which f a constant stream o water passes . The water re leases the gold from the soil , and it settles upon the

t o cleats fastened the bottom of the sluice , or is taken up by the quicksilver which has been placed there . Sometimes this sluicing process is carried on f o r t several days withou cleaning up , and hundreds of dollars are taken from the boxes at a cleaning . The quicksilver is relieved of its burden in various ways — the most common in Montana mining being to

- in strain it through buck sk , which leaves the resid uum nearly pure . The fame of Confederate Gul ch died o u t with the working out of its placers and attention w as given t o other fields . — S ilve r Bo w C re e k . About the time that Last

o n Chance was discovered , men were prospecting

Bo w . Silver Creek , near the present Butte Silver

Bow was the original town , the same prospectors

t r m pushing up the creek , y g first Rocker and then

“ Butte , the first gold being found between the old

' town o f Silver Bow and Silver Bo w Junction . The

154 ‘ TH E FIRST SETTLERS

a stream flowing down through Dublin Gulch and here the first cabins were built , near where is no w f the crossing o Anaconda Road . Others were built near , but when , a few years later , prospects showed

o ne that the camp would probably be a permanent , f the town site was changed , with post o fice near the f corner o Main and Broadway . The placers held

f o r o u t five years , producing in the neighborhood o f eight million dollars ; then a dry season disheartened o the settlers , th se who had not faith in the quartz ’ o u t f o r mines looked new fields , and Butte s placer days were over . Indeed the placer days o f all the towns around were over practically , and the people began t o look about f or some more per manent if no t so lucrative an industry .

Pio ne e rs . As the West grew and railroads were

o f being built , the hardships travel were in a way

h o u over . Those w o came t t o the mines partly by rail and finished the journey by stage coach came in comparative comfort . They felt that they were

f o r pioneers , too , they had left their homes and many comforts and had had to d o without so much that before had seemed essential . Their lives , truly , were brave and steadfast , but those who had come o u t before them were the real pioneers . These latter

o ne had proved that the undertaking was a feasible , that the land was suitable for a home , and that a m an could make a profitable living f o r his family . Like the m 1ss1o nar1e s who came o u t to the Indians “ before gold was ever thought o f : they had t o learn f t o live without the necessities o life . But now that was all over , and while they had endured much BOOKS WRITTEN BY PIONEERS 155 privation many o f them in those hard days had

all o f l gained great wealth , and them cou d enjoy the settled conditions and the fact that their homes were permanent ones , and their territory a land which promised t o fl o w with milk and honey .

K BY S 7 . BOO S WRITTEN PIONEER

Th om as J . D im sdale . The first book published in Montana was a history o f the struggle o f the settlers with the road agents . It was written by i f Thomas J . Dimsdale and entitled The Vig lantes o ” “ Montana . The title further described it as Being

o f a correct and impartial narrative the chase , trial , ’ e o f capture , and xecution Henry Plummer s Road

o f Agent Band , together with the accounts the lives

o f o f and crimes many the robbers and desperadoes , the whole being interspersed with sketches o f life f ” in the mining camps o the far West . This very f aptly gives the contents o the book . The times

o f his described were indeed days terror , and account

o f - is full stirring events and blood curdling deeds .

Mr . Dimsdale was the first school teacher in Vir ginia and although not a citizen at the time he so graphically described , received his information from

N . P . Langford and published it asa series o f articles M ” M in the ontana Post , the first ontana newspaper . N th a anie P . n o rd . Mr 1 93 a f . 8 l L g Langford , in ,

a o f published a much fuller ccount , under the title ” o f o f Vigilante Days and Ways , telling the sway

m 1n1n o f the road agents in the g towns Idaho , as they o ne by o ne moved to the new camps o f Mo n

. tana (Our account is taken from these two works , 156 TH E FIRST SETTLERS with some additional information from Bl iss Sarepta

o f Sanders , a sister Colonel Wilbur F . Sanders . ) — Granville S tuart . In 1864 Granville Stuart wrote “ a short book entitled Montana as it is , which is a very good description o f life as it was in the early

days .

i tio ns th e Mo tan ist i C o ntr b u t o n a H o r cal S o cie ty. In the Publications of the Historical Society we have many interesting sketches written by pioneers , and an many more m uscrip ts remain to be published . “ ” Th e Mo ntana Po st . The first paper published in “ M Montana was the ontana Post in Virginia City .

The first issue came o u t in 1865 . Many interesting l bits of history are to be found in the O d files .

Jo urnals in pre paration . Granville Stuart is pre paring for publication the journals that he kept during his pioneering days . When this is ready it will be a valuable addition to Montana history .

Wilbur F . Sanders wrote many interesting articles lVI n n at difi e re nt times during his o t ana career . U fortunately they , with much other unpublished

his matter , were not collected for publication before death . As many pioneers are yet living opportunity may yet be had for valuable information to be brought to light ; and a good picture of those early days may be gamed by talking to pioneers about their experiences .

58 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

22 1825 The Missouri Advocate , for October , , we find the following account o f the return o f this expedition “ ’ O Fallo n General Atkinson and Major , commis

R e e n rs . Mc t o sio e , accompanied by Lt , aide the Gen

R . eral , Capt . B . iley , and Lt Rogers , arrived at this

o n place in the Barge Antelope , the evening of the

0 h . . 2 t inst , all in fine health The expedition left

o n 16 o f Fort Atkinson the th May , and after the necessary delay in treating with the intermediate

o f n tribes Indians , arrived at Ma dan villages , where the commissioners waited for the arrival o f the Crow

w h o 3rd o n Indians , came in on the August ; and the 4t h , having concluded a treaty with the commis sio ne rs 6t h , the expedition embarked on the for the f o n 17 o . Yellowstone , and arrived there the th August h . w o At this point , Gen Ashley , had spent the pre vio u s winter in the mountains , with a detachment o f his party , arrived in two large skin canoes , with ’ o ne hundred packs o f beaver . General Ashley s party remaining at the mouth o f the river and Capt .

o f o ne Riley , with two the largest transports and hundred and fifty men , being left in command , the commissioners proceeded up the Msso u ri o n the

20t h o f 000 M , and reached the mouth 2 ile Creek , o ne hundred and twenty m iles above the Yellow o u 24 t h stone , the , and passing that point eight

o n o f 5th o f miles , the evening the 2 August , the f expedition commenced its descent o the river , having accomplished everything that was practicable o r o f f consequence , and arrived at the mouth o the Yellow

o n 26 h stone , again , the t Here Gen . Atkinson , to EARLY MILITARY EXPEDITIONS 159

o u r afford that protection to fur trade , which he has always manifested the strongest disposition to do , and to relieve Gen . Ashley at once from all

o u r further apprehensions , received enterprising and

o f worthy fellow citizen , his party and rich cargo

n o f o n 27t h furs o board the transports , and the

m i continued descending the river . The com ssioners ,

o f as they were descending , halted at the villages the Mandans o n the 3 1st ; o n the 4t h o f September

i r n h e Arr ca e s . o at t ; at Ft Kiawa , Great Bend , the

9t h o n 12 ; at the Poncas village the th , and arrived f at the Council Bluffs o n the 19th o September . n Here the commissioners remai ed until October 7, making treaties with surrounding Indians .

R e sult o f th e e xpe dition. The commissioners did not succeed in finding the Blackfeet , as they had

d o hoped to , but they left the Upper Missouri with the feeling that the fears o f the fur traders were rather exaggerated and that the Indians were no t

no n s inclined to be hostile . They did t deem it e ce n sary , at that time , to build military posts o the

Upper Missouri .

Th e railroad surve ys . After gold had been dis covered in California the people in the East began t o realize that they were a long way from the Pacific

Coast . By that time a number o f railroads had been built in the East , and the people wondered if it would be at all practicable t o build a railroad to the

Pacific Ocean . At different times men interested in the West had introduced bills into Congress propos

o f ing the building a road , but nothing definite was done about it until 1853 when Congress appropriated 160 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA to be used in thoroughly surveying the

West , to find the best route to the Pacific . — Five surve ys W e must understand that they were not only to find a route, but they were to find the best route , and as the country was so big , stretch ing from Canada to Mexico , it was decided to divide the expedition into fiv e different sections . Each section was to have a division of the country and was to find o u t which would be the best route in that particular division . These were divided by the par allels o f latitude and were called by the name o f the parallel , as for instance , the most northern route was known as the 4 7t h Parallel — the route afterward taken by the Northern Pacific . As this was the only o ne o f M the sections which came into ontana , we f n will only tell o the explorations of that o e .

rt The no h e rn surve y. The work of the surveys was under the supervision of the engineering corps

f . o . the U S Army , and I . I . Stevens , an assistant in

o f the U . S . Coast Survey , was given charge the

Northern route . Washington was made a territory the same year and Stevens was made the first gov

rn r f e o o the new territory . Thus he combined the t w o ffi o f hi o n his o ces , having charge the survey w le

u him way o t to his new field . He had under several lieutenants and scientific men wh o had charge o f the ff di erent departments .

ssin Cro g th e m o untains . The most important part o f the survey was the practicability o f crossing the mountains ; not only the easiest passes were to be found , but those that were the most practicable f r o winter crossing .

162 THE SOLDIERS IN MONTANA said that his people always re -crossed the mountains

o r in December January , men , women , and children , f with their horses laden with meat and bu falo robes . It was only very severe winters that they could not cross in January o r February . The Washington Territory Indians went to the hunt in October or ” November , and returned in February and March .

Although he had secured this knowledge , Governor “ Stevens kept the whole mountain region un der

‘ observation . and solved the questions o f climate and

snows . Indeed he had the range crossed at every

o ne month in the year by or other of these parties .

Taking wago ns ove r th e trail . After it was found that the mountain crossing was no very serious

obstacle , the next question which arose was the possi bilit y o f taking wagons over them . This had been accomplished several years before in the passes further south but as yet it had not been done in the survey

at this latitude . Lieutenant Mullan was especially f interested in this phase o the question . Many were the conversations he held with the Indians and early travelers wh o came to their camp that winter in the

’

Bitter Root Valley . From them he learned much

o f no o ne about the geography the country, but ’ seemed to have any practical ideas to o fl er about a

f o r no o ne wagon road , had ever really needed to take wagons over the mountains and they had never

considered the idea .

- dh One half breed , Gabriel Pru omme , who had been a voyageur and a companion o f the earliest ' m i ssionaries in their j ourneys to the Flathead country ,

gave him the most encouragement , in fact he finally EARLY MILITARY EXPEDITIONS 163

f thought o a way they could take . They went to Fort

ur Benton , proc ed a wagon , and came back easily over hi the trail , in March . T s was considered such an im portant accomplishment that a special messenger was sent to Governor Stevens , at Olympia , with the news . The cro ssm g of the Bitter Root Mountains was a

ffi ul nl hr more di c t matter . At o y t ee places could

’

I . CANTONMENT WRI GHT . L EUT MULLAN S WINTER Q UARTERS

’ they pass even with horses ; these were the Clark s

- . a L L Fork , the St Regis Borgi , and the o o trail .

Z Ene as him f , an old Iroquois Indian , told o a trail

hi ul w ch he thought co d be used for wagons , through

’ ‘ o r e lik e oe d Alene M a g g pass in the C ur oun tains .

hi n c (T s is now k own as S hons Pass . ) From others ’ o f he learned the Clark s Fork , and a trip was taken ll hi i to Fort Colvi e , in Was ngton , go ng by the way ’ o f ni the Clark s Fork and retur ng by the St . Regis ’ Co d Al e ne M n Borgia over the eur ountai s . The time o f year chosen made this a bad time for the Clark ’ s 164 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

Fork , for it was at high water and the crossing was difficult . The objection to the other route (which they had not learned at that time) was w 1t h deep snows in winter , and naturally at this time it seemed the best route ; also , being further south , they sup posed it would be more open in winter . Afterward when they found their mista ke Lieut . Mullan said : “ It is a self evident proposition to those familiar

o f with the winter character the Rocky Mountains , that it is impossible for a man to express a winter

View from a summer standpoint . — Tre atie s with th e Ind ian s Crossing the moun

Ork tains was not the only w of the survey . They were given many other things to do . One was to find o u t how the Indians would treat any settlers who might come in and how they would feel if a railroad were built through their country . Governor Stevens held councils with the tribes o n the Missouri and also with those west of the mountains and ar

ul ranged with them where their reservations wo d be . First Of all they had to promise t o be at peace with e ach other and this they agreed to do at the coun cil

n he R 1855 o t Judith iver in . — A u se f u l pie ce o f w o rk . This railroad survey f was a useful piece o work for the railroad builders . Much o f the work they did was used afterward in the building o f the Northern Pacific road ; the f M further Observations o Lieut . ullan when building his wagon road determined the course o f the railroad through Western Montana . ’ i din h e n Lie u t . Mu llan s e xp e d itio n f o r b u l g t w ago

. M ro ad . It was some time before Lieut ullan was

166 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

f try , measuring the snow at di ferent localitie s and

different times , so that they could help travelers who might be passing through the country at future

times .

A strange f r e ak o f clim at e . One strange climatic feature they noticed while working in this valley : this was that along the Bitter Root River (which we now call the Missoula) the temperature was much warmer than in the St . Regis part of the valley : They were only fifteen miles northwest o f where the two rivers come together , and flow through the ’ range into the Clark s Fork Valley , but there was such a difference in climate that at their camp the snow was a foot and a half deeper than at the junc l tion . The meteorologic description of this latter p ace f (where now is the town o St . Regis) gives it the same climate as that of St . Joseph , Missouri . The warm wave that passes through this part of the valley goes through the Clark ’ s Fork Valley and Lake Pend ’ ll d Orei e . Lieutenant Mullan discovered too late that

his he had chosen a wrong pass for road , for had ’ he taken the Clark s Fork Valley , wagons could have crossed with comparative ease all through the winter

h o f S o h o ns months , w ile at the summit the Pass ,

where the road was built , the snow in the winter was sometimes from seven to nine feet deep . — R o ad co m pl e t e d t o Fo rt B e nt o n . The road was roughly completed through to Fort Benton by the f first o August . When the expedition arrived at Fort Benton they found awaiting the opening o f the road a detachment o f 3 00 soldiers under IVIaj o r

e o n t o a l . Blake . They wer their way W lla Wa la EARLY MILITARY EXPEDITIONS 167

Lieutenant Mullan and his men accompanied them over the road . l I m pro ving th e ro ad . The fol owing summer they

o f made a number changes in the road , improving it considerably by widening it through the timber,

hi o f making side cuts along the lls in place bridges , and building stronger bridges in places where the washouts were most frequent . The winter quarters for that year were at the junction of the Big Black foot with the Hell Gate near the present town o f

Bonner . They called the camp Cantonment Wright ,

m f and they spent there a rather unco ortable time, for the winter was one o f the most severe in the his f tory o the West . The work was entirely finished by

1862 : 624 m f August , a road iles long , at a cost o

’ — 1 C apt ain R ayno l d s e xpe ditio n . In 859 Congress sent out an expedition under Captain Raynolds o f the Engineering Corps o f the Army to explore the

o f hIisso uri headwaters the Yellowstone and Rivers , hi and the mountains in w ch they rise , and to find the best route from the Yellowstone to Fort Laram ie o n the Platte River . Captain Raynolds had eight assistants and they were escorted by a company of thirty soldiers from f Fort Randall . The guide o the party was the noted

o ld . Jim Bridger , the fur trader The party went up the river by boat t o Fort

Pierre . From there they went by wagon across the country to the Black Hills and then into Montana

o f (which was then still a part Nebraska) . They entered the state near the present town of Graham 168 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

in Custer County . They went down the Little R M Powder iver to izpah Creek . Here the Captain lost a watch charm , and he named the creek for the motto which was inscribed upon it . At this point they turned west and continued in that direction until they came to a place o n the Yellowstone near f the present town o Forsyth . At that time the fur trading post of Fort Sarpy was in operation o n the

Yellowstone , and they stopped there for the supplies which they had sent up the river from Fort Pierre .

o f As it was now near the end the summer , the party turned their faces toward Fort Laramie , expecting to spend the winter there . — Th e p arty divid e s At the mouth of the Big Horn f Lieut . Maynadier and a portion o the men left ’ the main party and went up Tu llo ch s Fork while the others went up the Big Horn as far as the Big M Horn ountains , going around the eastern side of the mountains in a southeast course to the Platte ’ i s . Ma nad e r River . Lieut y party followed the same

course about thirty to fifty miles to the east . The whole expedition at different places crossed most o f

the headwaters o f the Yellowstone . They were in

winter camp o n the Platte for seven months . On their return the next spring they again divided

into two parties , Lieut . Maynadier going down the

Big Horn River to the Gray Bull River . Here they took a northwestern direction crossing squarely the ’ : o f following streams Stinking Water , Clarke s Fork R R the Yellowstone , ocky Fork , and Big osebud , reaching at last the Yellowstone and continuing up

that river to the Blackfoot Pass . It is interesting

170 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

reached the summit they were too weary t o care

anything about it Wet and exhausted as I was , all the romance o f my continental tea - party had de R parted , and though the Valley of Green iver was in plain sight I had not the energy to either visit it o r send t o it . Captain Raynolds had planned to cross over into the Yellowstone from this spot and see some o f f the wonders o which Bridger had told them . But Bridger knew it would be impossible on account o f the high mountains . When they reached the point where “ they could see these mountains , Bridger remarked ‘ triumphantly and forcibly : I told yo u yo u could ’ no t get through . A bird can t fly over that without taking a supply o f grub along I had no reply t o offer and mentally conceded the accuracy o f the f ‘ f ” information o the Old man o the mountains . After reaching the headwaters of the Columbia it was an easy matter to reach the Three Forks of the ’ f o r Missouri , they crossed by Henry s Lake where the pass is only four miles from , and two hundred feet

so f above , the Lake , and level that it is di ficul t to locate the exact point at which the waters divide . Captain Raynolds considered it o ne o f the most re markable and important features o f the topography f “ o the Rocky Mountains . As we approached its summit I put spurs to my horse and galloped ahead

‘ ” over the boundary line and into Nebraska .

x H o m e ward b o u n d . At the Three Forks the e p e dition divided again , Lieut . Maynadier going down the Yellowstone Valley , Captain Raynolds going by

o f boat down the Missouri , while a detachment twenty MILITARY ROADS 171

men . with all the camp equipment , the guide Bridger , the naturalist , artist , meteorologist , and the topog & h r o f ra e . p , under the command Lieut John Mullan ,

ffi o f the o cer at the head the military escort , followed the ridge between the Missouri and the Yellowstone t o Fort Union . The three divisions o f the expedition met at Fort

1 d Un on , and returne to their homes by boat , down the Missouri R iver . ’ — C apt ain Fis k s e xp e d itio n In the summer o f

62 o 18 u t . , an expedition was sent from St Paul under f o . the leadership Captain James L Fisk , to open

r a to e d . a wagon from St Paul Fort Benton . The appropriation from the Government was not suffi cient to properly do the work , but at that time there — ’ were many men going o u t to the gold fi e ld s and some were engaged to do the work , for their transportation . There were also one hundred and twenty - fiv e emi grants who accompanied the expedition . — Th e w o rk acco m plish e d . All the streams not fordable o n the entire route were bridged and many rough places improved .

R e n — t u r by th e Pacific . All the emigrants wh o accompanied the expedition stayed in Montana , and f f also some o the soldiers . The remainder o the expedition went over the Mullan R oad t o Walla Walla and returned by way o f the Pacific Ocean and the Isthmus t o Washington .

DS 2 . MILITARY ROA

Th e M — M u an R ad . ll o The ullan Road , the build o f ing which we have described , was built for th e 172 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

o f e comfort trav lers into Oregon and Washington . It also was built f o r the rapid movement o f troops over the mountains in case of Indian uprisings . This road , after leaving Fort Benton , crossed the moun tains near Helena , over the same pass now taken by the Northern Pacific . It passed Deer Lodge and Hell Gate (the o ld stage station near the present Mis soula) . After going through the Missoula Valley the road crossed the Bitter R oot Range over into ’ e d Ale ne the Co ur country in Idaho , and from there ‘

' t h e h e a d down to Walla Wal a , of navigation on the ’ a Columbia . This made connection between the M issouri and the Columbia , so that emigrants could pass in comparative comfort from St . Louis to the

Pacific .

Th e B o ze m an R o a d . After gold was discovered in Montana , a road was built by J . M . Bozeman ,

t o which was a short cut from the Platte River . Vir ginia City . After leaving the Platte , the road crossed

o f o the headwaters the Powder , Tongue , and R sebud M Rivers . After entering ontana , it crossed the Big Horn R iver and went in a due western direction to

o f Bozeman , several miles south the Yellowstone River . i Milit ary pro t e ct o n . The Bozeman Road ran

- - -k f Ab sa ra a o . through , the land the Crows These R Indians themselves were friendly to the oad , and

o r made no objections t o emigrants using it , soldiers

t w h o pro ecting it , but the Sioux and Cheyennes , had had many fierce battles with the Crows about the

o f possession this land , gave the emigrants and the soldiers no p eace . The road was finally abandoned by the soldiers , after many lives had been lost .

TH E MONTANA FORTS 173

3 TH E S . MONTANA FORT

- ’ C . m ith . F o rt . u Fo rt C . F . S F Smith was b ilt in 1866 by the 18t h U . S . Infantry under the co m

. n mand o f Colonel H . B . Carrington It was o e o f a string o f posts built to protect the Bozeman R oad .

THE FIRST ARMY STATION IN YELLOW STONE NATIONAL PAR K

It was occupied a few months only f o r the Sioux and Cheyennes were so hostile to the headquarters 9 1 Post (Fort Phil Kearney in Wyoming , miles

south of Fort C . F . Smith) that the military o ccu

o f t o pancy the whole road had be abandoned .

r E Fo t llis . Troops from this regiment were to t o W f be sent Fort Ellis , at the estern end o the Boze 174 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

R man oad , but they found that they had not a su ffi

cient force to build and protect three forts , so for

o f the time the occupancy Fort Ellis was postponed . 186 6 In August , , Brevet Brigadier General Hazen

t o came Fort Phil Kearney on a tour of inspection . He went o n overland to Fort Benton and other

him posts on the Upper Missouri , taking with Lieut . Bradley and twenty - six picked men o f t he mounted

infantry . Lieutenant Bradley from this time was con ne c e d i t with Fort Ellis , his regiment be ng changed 18 h h from t Infantry to 7t Infantry . It was at Fort Ellis that he gathered the historical matter published in the Contributions to the Montana Historical

Society . Fort Ellis was one of the forts built by 1 hIa . 86 j o r Eugene M Baker in 6 . It was three miles from Bozeman and was for many years o ne o f

the important military posts of Montana .

n e — Fo rt S h a w a d C am p Bak r. Fort Shaw was on the Sun River and was the headquarters for the posts

built by Major Eugene M . Baker in 1866 . Camp Baker was built by Major Baker o n the Sm ith River just over the range from Diamond City . After the Battle o f the Big Hole the name o f Camp Baker was changed to Fort Logan in memory o f Captain Logan

who was killed in that battle . The first command ing officer o f these posts was Lieut . Colonel Albert

G . Brackett , but he was there but a short time when the command was given to Major Baker .

S t ro nge r f o rt s . After the troubles with the Siou x and Cheyennes from 1866 to 1876 it was thought best to give a different equipment to the

t h e posts . During that time posts were built more

176 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

o f - charge Fort Benton during the fur trading days , and had later gone to farming in the Prickly Pear

Valley . The deed was done by a distant relative o f his wife (who was a Blackfoot) . This Indian had had some grievance against the settlers and blamed

Clark for it . The excitement became intense and

the people becoming alarmed , the troops were sent o u t to punish the band of Indians who had been mixed up in the affair . A command of four companies of cavalry left Fort

o n Ellis under Major Baker , and reaching Fort Shaw

o f were joined by two companies infantry . The trouble was soon settled after a battle o n the Marias near the Big Bend in which o ne chief was killed and

several I ndians taken prisoners . These last were quickly released when it was discovered that some o f

them were suffering from smallpox . The Indians

soon quieted down and never after gave any trouble . ’ — Mo nt ana s Ind ian b attl e s The two great In dian battles fought in Montana were not with In

dians whose homes were in Montana . In the Battle f o the Big Hole the Nez Perces were the enemies .

They were simply passing through Montana , fleeing

t o from the soldiers , trying find a place where they no t could live as they liked , and go upon a reserva

‘ ' o f tion . In the Battle the Little Big Horn , when li Custer and his men lost their ves , the Indians were Dakota Indians who came into Montana to

no t o hunt . They had right hunt in that coun

o f f o r try , even by the laws the Indians , the land belonged t o the Crows and they had the fi rst right t o it . BATTLES FOUGHT IN MONTANA 177

— F Th e S io u x in Ye ll o w st o ne . o r m any years the Sioux had hunted in the Yellowstone regardless o f

l o f the hosti ity the Crows , and later , as settlers n moved i to the Lower Missouri Valley , it was more and more necessary for the Sioux to hunt o n the

Upper Valleys o f the River . When the Cheyenn es of the Black Hills o f eastern Dakota divided their bands o ne portion went to the Red River Country and the other portion went to the Valleys o f the

Powder and Tongue Rivers . The Sioux now foun d in the Cheyennes an ally against their enemy , the f Crows , and the Crows had to su fer both these tribes to choose the best lands for hunting and in some

cases for homes. A - - - — Th e Bo ze m an R o ad in b sa ra ka . When the Bozeman Road was built through the Big Horn

n Ab -sa -ra -ka o ld Cou try , it ran through , the home

o f the Crows . The Crows did not resent the passing

o f hi through the w te men , and even welcomed the

di o u t sol ers who were sent to guard the road , for now they could hope f o r help t o drive o u t their o ld

m i ux ene es . But the Sio and the Cheyennes could not see the justice o f the white men being allowed to go through their lands when they themselves were ’

no t o t h ro u h t h e hi . allowed to g g , w te man s lands . Furthermore they had no intention o f peaceably giving

up this land that they had stolen from the Crows . — S io u x t ro u bl e s in D ak o t a . When gold was dis in covered the West , the Sioux began to have trouble i l with prospectors , because the Black H l s , which

f o r became famous their rich mines , were right in

the Sioux Country . The white men had no right to 178 TH E SOLDIER S IN MONTANA

e work the min s on the reservation , and the Indians

‘ had just cause to be indignant . The Government ,

t o in order keep peace , held a council with the Sioux in which they offered t o buy the Black Hills from

the Indians , but the latter had noted that the pros

e c o rs p t had found riches there , and they asked a very high price for it . One Indian said that if th e Great Father (the Indian name for the Government) would give each Indian family hundreds o f kinds o f stock every year that it would not begin to pay for the Black Hills ; and he was right . But the Govern ment could not buy it at such a prohibitive price , and so they let the matter rest . The prospectors went on with their mining and they could no t be

ne restrained . If o was arrested he would serve out

o r his imprisonment pay his fine , and as soon as he gained his freedom he would be back at his claim again . While the Government was trying to solve the problem the Indians became restless . When they were ordered to stay on their reservation they

o u - rebelled and many went t on the war path . — Tro o p s s e nt t o qu e ll th e S io u x Affairs came to such a pass that in 1876 it was necessary to send o u t troops to quell the disturbances . The Indians had retreated to their o ld hunting gro unds and there the soldiers followed them , and the battle was fought

no t in Montana , although they were Montana

Indians . This was the campaign that ended in the dreadful Custer massacre . The Sioux were such a powerful tribe that it needed a large number o f soldiers to subdue them . All the forces in the Rocky Mountain Country were called

TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

o f Chicago , placed the number Indian warriors at

o o ne eight hundred t thousand only . ’ — e n JTh C u st r s pl a s . e village was located o n the

Little Big Horn , and Custer divided his regiment

f r into three battalions o the attack . Five companies were t o go with him to the foot o f the village t o the north ; Captain Benteen , with three companies , was t o make a detour to the south and prevent escape ’ in that direction according to General Terry s orders . Major Reno with three companies was to attack and charge the upper end o f the village across the river ; the remaining company under Captain McD o u gal was to guard the pack train o f supplies and reserve

ammunition . — ’ C u st e r o ve rl o o king t h e vill age When Custer s scouts stood o n the bluffs and looked over the village

o f the larger number lodges were hidden from view ,

f a around a point of the blu f , so that the village p

e are d p much smaller than it in reality was , and it is supposed that Custer felt positive that with his force he could easily surround and annihilate the

whole village , pursuing the same tactics which had

w o n f o r him Victory at the battle o f the Wichita .

f o r o f o ne But he was sadly mistaken , Instead thousand w arrl o rs the number reached between three

and five thousand . — R e no b e gins t h e att ack . Reno crossed the river 25 and was the first to attack , about noon , June , 1876 ’ , and very shortly discovered Custer s miscal o f culation . He was amazed at the large number

so the enemy , and dismounted his men that they

could thus better defend themselves . They soon BATTLES FOUGHT IN MONTANA 18 1 retreated and the soldiers fled in panic across the river . — Jo ine d b y B e nt e e n and McD o u gal . Benteen and McD o u gal joined them and they entrenched ’ themselves o n a hill . About five O clock they marched f to a point o the bluff t o see if they could find Custer . From this bluff they looked in all directions for

Custer but he was nowhere to be seen . A few shots

him had been heard , and they , supposing to have been repulsed and to have retired down the river , returned to the hill whence they had started and i improved their r fle pits and other defenses , to be ready in case the Indians should come back and attack them . It was well they were prepared , for

, i , the Indians & after they had ann hilated Custer came with added numbers and stormed their

o f ni the rest the afternoon and the evening , begin ng the attack again at dawn of the next morning . For seven hours the battle lasted , then the Indians retired from the field . n Th e I dian vill age re tre at s t o t h e s o u th . The soldiers feared the Indians were planning another

o f attack , but instead that they were preparing a ll retreat , and in the afternoon the immense vi age was packed up and hurried o ff to the south to a i place of safety , they having d scovered the approach o f Terry and Gibbon from the north . — N e w s o f u st e r. 27t h C The next day , the , Reno and Benteen were reinf orced by the remainder o f ’

Terry s command ._ From them they learned the

o f M n n terrible news the Custer assacre , wherei o t o ne s f o r di t o l ingle o ficer sol er survived te l the story . 182 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

As the Indians were gone , the soldiers all went to

o f the scene the battle , to bury the dead . — Th e C u st e r b attl e The bodies were mostly found o n a high ridge o f hills well back from the

river , a spot well chosen for defense , where the gal lant Custer had been quite surrounded by thousands ’ o f Indians . Calhoun s company had been the first

o To m t fall , and the others under Keogh , Yates ,

Custer , and Smith , in one irregular but clearly de

o f fined battle line , fell at their posts duty . The body o f Custer himself was found in a group of about ffi hi thirty o cers and men on a little ll at the right .

o f T m Near him was the body his brother , Captain o

Custer . The Chief Long Hair , as Custer was called

by the Indians , was not scalped as were the others ,

no r was his body mutilated in any way . Many

reasons have been given by historians for this , but no o ne really knows why the Indians did no t muti

‘ It u late his body . was tho ght at first that the Indians had left him thus out of respect f o r his

bravery shown , not only in this battle but in many

e others , from whence he had always before return d

-In - - victorious . Rain The Face , a Sioux chief , tells us

To m differently . He it was who killed Captain ’ Custer , the General s brother in the fight , and tore

o u t his heart and ate it . This he had threatened to

him do , when Captain Custer had had imprisoned f o r murdering two men connected with the reserva

—In - - a tion some time before . Rain The Face s id that

t o no man was too brave be scalped , and the reason that General Custer was no t so mutilated was b e cause the Indians did no t recognize him and could

84 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

r . t not find his body Before sta ing the campaign ,

f o r Custer , the first time , had had his long yellow hi hair , which had given him his name C ef Long Hair

o ne among the Indians , cut short , and this was reason why he was no t recognized . He also wore a suit o f n buckskin , like a frontier hunter , and bore o his f person no insignia o rank . ’ — E . P x s n s P aintin S . a o g Several paintings have

o f o ne been made the Custer massacre , but only is

‘ ic r f r a true p t u e o m a strictly historical sense . That h o ne t . . is by e Montana artist , E S Paxson , who ‘ ’ / s ciaI f makes a p e t O Indian subjects . He studied the matter thoroughly f o r years and talked with

Indians who were in the battle , and learned from them as far as possible the exact positions o f the principal victims in this great tragedy . The late

f m . . o co Colonel W S Brackett , a nephew the first

ffi o f w ho f manding o cer Fort Ellis , knew many o ficers and men who served in the army in that campaign , and made a study of it , and of the battle , has stated that he believed this painting to be historically accurate in every particular .

Th e s e n e n C u t r m o u m t . The Custer monument and the graves o f the brave soldiers are t o be

' seen from the Burlington Railroad near Fort Custer . f The graves are scattered all over the blu fs , and

ne there is o quite a little distance from the others , that o f a soldier w h o tried t o escape from the fearful foe .

Th e ‘ 1 u e — S 0 x scap e d . The Sioux escaped carry

1n ' d w as no g their ead with them , and there small number as the Indians have themselves acknowledged . BATTLES FOUGHT IN MONTANA 185

They were hunted down , in the course of time , by

t o the soldiers and returned the reservation , but

Sitting Bull , the great chief , escaped into Canada .

S itting B u ll . Sitting Bull had pretended to be a hi great medicine c ef , but whenever there was a pros peo t of a fight he would retire to the bills t o make

C ri t Mil it L. A. H u m an C op y gh , ff , es y ’ A SIOUX WAR RIOR S G RAV E

AS medicine . soon as the battle was over he would return to the village and claim all the honor o f the victory , saying that it was through his medicine that the braves were able to conquer the enemy . He was finally brought back to his reservation where he was t o the day o f his death a man of great power among his o f his people . The fstory the last days of life

t o and his tragic death belongs the history of Dakota . — Th e S io u x su b d u e d After the Custer massacre 186 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

the Crows and the white settlers o f Montana were no

more troubled by the Sioux . They were forced to n stay o their reservations in Dakota . The Chey ennes were given a reservation o f their own in south

eastern Montana . n n Mo re I d ia tro u bl e s . The Montana people were no sooner settled down to a feeling of peace than there were rumors o f Indian troubles to the

e z west . This time it was the N Perces who were o n

- “ the war path . This was surprising because the Nez Perces had always been friendly Indians to both the l whites and the Indians , having been especially a lied ’ ill with the Flatheads and Pend d Ore e s . Their home

was in Oregon , in the Wallowa Valley . They had i welcomed the wh te settlers , Offering no Objections

e i t o to them , but th y did not take k ndly being

compelled to stay upon a reservation . — Th e N o n-t re aty N e z P e rce s Many of the Nez

e l Mi s Perces , and esp cia ly those connected with the ’ t o sion , agreed stay upon the reservation , but

there was a band who object ed to it . These were

- hi called the Non treaties . They were under C ef

so n o f Joseph . He was a Old Joseph , who had been

him Head Chief before . His home had been very

i l hi . dear to th s o d c ef He would never sign a treaty . He said that the earth was his mother and that no man had a right to Sell his mother . When he died he requested his sons never to S ign a treaty giving away ’ his w their mother . Joseph was true to father s ish , although he always entertained a friendly feeling

i h ad no toward the wh tes , and he felt that they right t o put him o n a reservation .

188 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

o r them and demanded either surrender , that they turn over to him all arms and ammunition . The Indians replied that they wished only to be allowed to pass quietly through the country ; that if they were granted this request , no harm should be done the settlers o f the Bitter R oot Valley ; they were on f their way to the Bu falo country , in the Yellowstone i Valley , and that they des red to have no trouble with the whites . Captain Rawn paid no heed to their request and placed a strong guard at the mouth

o f . the canyon Great was his chagrin , a few hours later , to discover that the Indians had quietly slipped down a ravine left unguarded , and were already o n their march up the Bitter Root . Captain Rawn fol lowed them until he discovered that they greatly outnumbered his small force , and that it was folly to attempt an attack .

e R e — In t h e Bitt r o o t Vall y . The Indians were not slow to see his move and took their own time in passing through the valley . They stopped at Stevens l l vi le to trade with the settlers , and wel supplied themselves with guns and ammunition . If they had made quicker time , they could easily have reached the British possessions before they could have been overtaken . But they knew that General Howard was several days behin d them and they never thought i of such a th ng as forces from another direction .

Such there were , however , and General Gibbon , who arrived in Missoula with his troops two o r three ’ days after Captain Rawn s adventure with them , was fast gam m g upon them . The Indians went leisurely n over the trail and down i to the Big Hole Valley . BATTLES FOUGHT IN MONTANA 189 — G e ne ral Gibb o n o ve rt ake s th e m . A day o r two before the battle Lieut . Bradley and Lieut . Jacobs ’ o f General Gibbon s command had been sent ahead with the mounted volunteers and eight of the Sec n if o d Cavalry to exactly locate the Village , and possible drive o ff the herds and render the escape o f the Indians impossible . They moved o n cautiously and when informed by the scouts that they were nearing the village , the two lieutenants and a cor

o n In poral crept ahead , leaving the men camp . By climbing a high pine tree they were enabled to see n the village , with all the i habitants peacefully o c f f cu pie d in the duties o camp li e . The squaws were n engaged in cutting lodge poles , for o the march ahead o f them there were few trees and they must needs carry their lodge poles with them . Lieutenant Bradley immediately sent a courier to General Gib

o n b and then waited in camp for the coming o f the, command . B — n B attl e o f th e ig H o l e . O the morning of 9 h 18 t 77 . August , , the attack was made Lieutenant Bradley was sent down the stream with his men to attack the village from that side . They could easily

Off f e arm have run the herd , but g to arouse the vil ni lage before all was ready , they left the a mals quietly grazing . They later saw their mistake , for the

all ponies were not guarded at , so secure had the i Ind ans felt in their camp . A herder was the first to awake in the camp . He was going o u t to look

’ after the horses . He was shot down by Bradley s party and killed . This was the signal for the begin

o f ning the battle . The Indians were completely TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

surprised and ran yelling from their teepees , some o f

so them badly frightened as to forget their guns .

e They soon gain d composure , and the battle raged

o n hotly both sides , the squaws fighting as hard as

the men . Many brave men lost their lives , among

them Captain Logan and Lieut . Bradley . They Th were both killed early in the fight . e soldiers

were at last compelled to retreat to shelter . At once the squaws set to work to prepare the village

i f

for departure . Teepees were taken down and all ff the e ects packed , and the squaws and children

r retreated down the rive , driving the loose ponies

before them . The warriors stayed with the fight , surrounding the brush in which the soldiers had taken

refuge . On the morning of the eleventh the warriors

retreated .

e Bitt r R o o t s e ttl e rs kill e d . There were several

Bitter Root settlers who were killed in the battle . They had joined the soldiers in the pursuit o f

o f the Indians . The Flatheads and other friends the Nez Perces felt that this was a poor return for the peaceful passage which the Nez Perces had mad e

re through the unprotected valley . But we must member that there were few modes o f co m m u nica tion in those days and these people had heard wild

f o n - stories o h o w the Nez Perces were the war path , and were coming through the country killing all in

- their way . The settlers were panic stricken , even

after the Indians had passed , not knowing when they migh t return and make use o f the guns and ammunition which had been reluctantly sold to them

n w h o i Stevensville , and the men joined the soldiers

192 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

o n hemmed in all sides , they kept the soldiers back fif f o r four days and nights . On the th day a messen

l\Iile s ger was sent by Colonel to ask for a surrender . As the term s were to be unconditional Joseph refused and the fight was continued .

e - J o s e ph s u rre nd rs . Again Miles asked f o r an in

e r ie w o n o f t v with Joseph , and the promise the former that the Indians should be allowed to have their home again and all be sent to the Lapwai Reserva vation in Idaho , Joseph surrendered with all that f was left o his people .

S 5 . SOURCES OF MILITARY HI TORY — G o ve rnm e nt re co rd s The records of all e xp e dit io ns and works performed by the Government are f to be found in the Government documents . In o r mation which can be found nowhere else is often found there , and we can be sure that it is accurate . Unf ortunately a great deal is not available to the i general public , because often the reports are put n

o f ff if r with others a di erent character , and the e l ports are not very carefu ly catalogued , they are not to be found .

o f o ld Then again , in the case the Very reports , these have been long o u t o f print and are hard to f get Copies o .

o f l s S u rve y re po rt s . The reports the rai road ur ve y in 1853 are full o f all sorts of inf ormation about o the West . These rep rts are in twelve large volumes , o r rather thirteen f o r the twelfth volume is in t w o parts . The first and twelfth volumes are the ones

that tell about the surveys in Montana . They not SOUR CES OF MILITAR Y HISTORY 193 only tell about the lay of the land and the character o f the rivers , the trails , and the passes over the i mounta ns , but they also describe the plants , and i anim als and rocks , and tell about the Ind ans whom the su rveyors met in their travels . They also tell about the lif e at the Missions and at the trading posts .

Mu an . Lie u t . ll The Government has issued a report of the b uilding o f the l\Iu ll an Road givin g i \’ ll the route and other deta ls . Lieutenant l Iu an gives many facts which are interesting to those studying about the early days . It is especially so to those l Whi iving in the country through ch the road passed . This report is only to be Obtained from second - hand dealers . ’ R n i C apt ain ay o l d s . Capta n Raynolds report o f his exploration is to be foun d in the Senate Docu 2n 4 0t h 1867—68 d . ments , Session , Congress , It is

. a Executive Document No 77 . It gives a d y by day o f o f report the events the exploration , and a good description o f that part o f the country before there was any settlement . — Arm y and N avy Jo u rnal s In the Army and Navy Journals the record is given of all operations

il o f at the posts , the bu ding new posts , and the account of all battles and engagements . So if you

& kn ow the date o f an event you can fin d it in the

o n e Journals , if you can find for that year . — arris n 1f e o f G o i . Some the soldiers who were stationed at posts in Montana have written about their experiences and the wives of two of the soldiers have written for us books which give an idea of 194 TH E SOLDIERS IN MONTANA

o f garrison life and the everyday life the soldiers .

& These two women are Mrs . Custer and Mrs . Car

rington . ’ ’ Mrs . u st e r s o o s . . C b k Mrs Custer s stories , “ ” Following the Guidon , Boots and Saddles , “ u n and Te ting o the Plains , are full of interesting f f f details o army li e in the west , not much o it

o f Montana life , but enough to form an idea what

the life o f our o w n soldiers was . The letters t o his wife from Colonel Custer form a large part o f her

o f f books . They tell the story the preparation o r

the last march into the Yellowstone Country . The ” last pages o f Boots and Saddles give the despair “ o f the garrison when the news came which wrecked the lives of twenty - six women at Fort Lincoln “ and of the orphaned children o f officers and soldiers &who&joined their cry t o that o f their bereaved ” mothers . — ’ n t n . . Mrs . C arri g o Mrs Carrington s narrative

- s -ra -ka o f Ab a ; the land Massacre , tells all about the experiences o f the 18t h Infantry while they were m stationed at Fort Phil Kearney in Wyo ing . She gives a full account with full sympathy for the Indians o f the trouble between the Sioux and the

Cheyennes and the whites . Her narrative is added o to by her husband , C lonel Carrington , who gives the ending o f the W hole trouble with the Custer

Massacre . — a d e . Lie u t . B r l y Lieutenant Bradley wrote a num ber o f historical sketches while he was stationed at

Fort Ellis . His manuscripts were presented by his wife t o the Montana Historical Society , and they

PART VIII

D EVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

Z 1. EARLY QUART DAYS

i Int ru d e rs . Wh le the white men were digging

t o u t o f heir fortunes the earth , the Indians looked o n m i in ru in sorrow , and well they ght , for these t d ers had appropriated to themselves the very land most prized by all the tribes ; the common hunting ground . Here in the protected valleys the Indians h o f ad been sure finding game the year around . But the passing back and forth o f hundreds o f wagons and horsemen had driven the game back into the l mountains , and the Indians might we l follow . It

o f was no use to remonstrate . The experiences other tribes had proved this to them . And there was no hope that the white men would go back to the land from whence they had come , for they were building i permanent villages and plant ng farms . — Th e o ld pl ace r t o wns The placers had been a

N o o n e great gain to the whit e men . can compute the value o f the m illions of ounces o f gold dust

f no r taken o u t o the sands of the gulches , can any o ne tell how many fortunes had been made and M lost again in those first years . any had gained

f m f h a re the nucleus o a co ortable income , others d

invested and had lost all . Five mining towns had EARLY QUARTZ DAYS 197

: ni been made Bannack , Virgi a City , Helena , Butte ,

and Diamond City . Of these five , all except the last in one , which was Confederate Gulch , have played

o f an important part in the development the State . Although the placers were highly important in their l richness , stil they were not permanent , and were

soon worked o u t . What made the placers of most value was the fact that they showed the presence o f

rf quartz under the su ace , and it was the quartz dis co ve rie s that turned the placer diggings into per

fi e . v e manent towns Of the camps , Butte and H lena became the most important ; Butte because o f her

o r o f immense e deposits ; and Helena , because her

o f central location . The railroads , course , had much

o f to do with the development these towns , but had

o f the quartz Diamond , Bannock , and Virginia warranted it , the railroads would have found a

way through them , too .

o f M The stage stations issoula , Deer Lodge , and

o f Bozeman , with Fort Benton , the head navigation , have also grown into important towns .

D e f isco v ry o f qu art z . The first discovery o gold bearing quartz was made in 1862 (the same year that the first rich placers were discovered) , at Ban

D ako t ah nack , when in November the Lode was located . A rudely constructed m ill was completed in 1863 for the purpose of reducing the Ore from this

. hi mine T s was the first quartz mill , but others were

built before the year was o u t . More quartz disco v 1864 1865 hi eries were made in and at Helena , P lips

burg , and Butte . Philipsburg was then known as

the Flint Creek District . The quartz m ines there 198 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

were o f silver which in those days meant as much as gold . The mines at Helena were of gold and those o f

Butte were o f silver . It was no t until a rich strike in copper was made in the Anaconda Mine in the

PR OSPECTOR PANNING OUT G OLD early eighties that Butte was known as a copper camp .

P e ro sp ct o rs. These discoveries were only pros p e ct s ; many were thought at that time t o be only

“ ” holes in the ground . It was the later develop f ments which proved the value o the mines . The men who found the lodes were only prospectors who were usually employed by some o n e else t o go o u t

DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

— H e l e na The quartz found around Helena was 1864 gold . The first strike was made in by James M W . Whitlatch , in the Whitlatch Union ine , and in . o n three years it yielded over e million dollars . But the richest o f the gold mines was the o ne known as

Lu m m o n the Drum , discovered by Thomas Cruse ,

who himself owned it . o f B u tt e . The quartz mines Butte were no t discovered as soon as the others although it was

known that there was quartz there , for the greatest interest was with the placer mines and only those who were themselves owners Of quartz claims gave

e much attention to it . The real pione rs of Butte m were G . O . Humphreys and Willia Allison . They

Ma 1864 located two claims in y , , the Original and the

Missoula , but it is not known which was the first .

o ne A little work had been done previously , by some

o n unknown , the Original , as there had been a hole

dug . This hole might have been dug by Indians

co lo re d ° s o ne s searching for gay t , as the diggings had

been done with elk horns .

Th e Travo nia . Other lodes were located soon after those o f Humphreys and Allison ; these were in the southwestern part o f the town o n what was after ’ ” wards known as Lovers Knoll . The principal dis co ve r Travo nia y there was the , which was made by f William L . Farlin and was a producer o r a number

o f . years The Black Chief , the Parrot , the Shakes peare Parrot , the Grey Eagle , and the Mountain were located at about the same time , and had it not been for the richness o f the placer mines soon

Bo w is after discovered along the Silver Creek , it EARLY QUARTZ DAYS 201 probable that Butte ’ s quartz boom would have come

did f o r o f several years earlier than it , all these f properties were o good promise . — S ilve r Bo w . The present mining district was

i l li as organized w th Wil iam Al son president and G .

. t h e O . Humphreys as recorder Silver Bow became

o f county seat Deer Lodge County , which then em

o f l braced the three present ones Powel , Deer Lodge , 1865 and Silver Bow . The following year , , the county seat was removed to Deer Lodge . Silver

Bow then had a thousand people . Butte began t o grow about 1866 . Mail for the people there came by

f i Was way o Virgin a City , and brought across by Pony Express which was operated by William Ver

e non . He carried only letters , and charg d twenty

fi ve cents each . - in 9 . ar in . 186 W . L F l When Butte was deserted T f there were a few who stood by the camp . w o o these were W . L . Farlin and Joseph Ramsdell , and they were well repaid for their faith . They re ceived for years nothing but ridicule f o r working their n hi quartz claims with such patience . Duri g t s time l h Mr . Far in took a journey t o Salt Lake and t e

o f o re his States , taking with him samples from h claims . W en they were assayed they proved rich in silver . On his return to Butte he told no o ne o f his

, discoveries but prospected more and when January

1 1875 - hi re . , came , he located t rteen claims Others soon guessed the good news and many claims were l . Tr f ocated The avo nia was o ne o those which Mr.

re - hi Farlin had located . He had been s pping the o re 1865 o e ever since t Fo rt Benton by wagon . Th 202 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

o re was rich and well worth shipping . In 1875 he

determined to work his own ore , and built the Dexter

M Travo nia ill in what is now the Addition . ’ r F rlin s M . a success infused new life into the camp , business picked up , and many who had deserted the ” - town returned . The o ld timers felt that it was

Mr . Farlin alone who had saved Butte from oblivion ;

HYDRAULIC MINING others had done nobly in a smaller way but none to

a s such an extent he .

m . P Willi a J ark s . There were a number o f men who had claims up around what we now call Ana

c . o n onda Hill Only e was at first worked . This was owned by a man named William J . Parks . It was the Parrot Mine , which has for many years ’ o ne o f e been Butt s big mines . He would work at other things until he could get enough money to buy

f o r provisions to keep him a few months, then he

o n 5 would work his claim . After sinking his sh aft 15 feet he came to paying o re . The others w h o owned

204 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

for Eastern capitalists . A dispute over a water right caused the unfortunate antagonism ' bet ween these

w o t men , which afterward for many years kept the

o f r western part the State in a political tu moil .

ne —I Th e Anaco nd a Mi . t was Marcus Daly who

M f o r o f bought the Alice ine the Walker Brothers , Salt 1876 Lake , in for He left their employ soon after and identified himself with another company , 18 for whom he bought the Anaconda Mine , in 81. The property at the time was only a prospect but he paid f o r it . It was bought for a silver mine , and it was rich in silver , but before the shaft

o f had been sunk far , a vein copper was discovered o f such dimensions as to startle the people o f the camp , and start a new era in mining development .

TH E X TH E 2 . E PLORATION OF YELLOW S TONE NATIONAL PARK

n S t o rie s o f a strange l a d . The settlers had been hearing from time to time wonderful stories o f a strange regl o n in the vicinity o f the Upper Yellow stone . These stories were told by an occasional

o r o ld trapper mountaineer , but as these men were

o f fond embellishing the truth , not much attention was paid to them . After awhile people began to wonder if there really were such a region and ex

e dit io ns l o f 1866 p were ta ked , as early as , to explore the Upper Yellowstone ; but at that time the Indians in the neighborhood were beginning to be fearful o f the encroachments o f the whites and were inclined t o t o be rather hostile , and men were afraid venture

' into their country without proper military escort . YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK 205

— 1 s m art . In 86 9 . . Th e Fo l o p y the year , D E Fol

Mr . som , C . W . Cook , and a Peterson determined

t o go at all hazards . They went and returned u n

molested . They visited the Grand Canyon , the Falls f Y l o the el owstone , the Yellowstone Lake , and the

Lo wer Geyser Basin . These phenomena were so wonderful and strange to them that they hesitated l i to te l what they had seen , think ng that their word , f t o o . o , might be doubted TO a few their friends only they told the whole story and these friends planned to go at a later date and see f o r themselves these

wonders . — n 8 0 Th e W ash b u rn party. I 1 7 quite an exten

o f sive party was organized . The men this party

were Henry D . Washburn , Cornelius Hedges , Samuel

m i T . Hauser , Warren C . Gillette , Benja n Stickney ,

. t Walter Trumbull , Truman C Evar s , and Nathaniel

P . Langford . General Washburn was chosen leader f o . the expedition . Five soldiers under Lieut G . f . n . ni C Doane o the 2 d U . S Cavalry accompa ed IL h t e m .

Th e e w o nd e rs o f th e Ye ll o wst o n . They p ro c e e d e d ll from Bozeman up the Ye owstone , past the

Mammoth H o t Springs to the Grand Canyon . They were filled with wonder and awe at the sight of the

Grand Canyon and Falls , the boiling springs , the

Mr. sulphurous mountain , and the mud geyser , and Langford said that the Lake seemed to them t o be

o f the most beautiful body water in the world . About t w o weeks was spent in making a tour aroun d the hi Lake , during w ch time they had many thrilling

adventures . 206 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE — A m an l o st . Their most serious adventure was f f . o o . that losing one their number , Mr Evarts He was no t found until about a month after the return f l o the expedition . Two experienced trappers and o d mountaineers found him about seventy -five miles hi . s from Fort Ellis . Mr Langford says in diary “ f f - o . o The narrative Mr Evarts , his thirty seven

days sojourn in the wilderness , furnishes a chapter

o f in the history human endurance , exposure , and

inst ru c escape , almost as incredible as it is painfully ” tive and entertaining . This narrative was pub ’ lish e d M 1871 in Scribner s agazine for November , , and in Volume V o f the Montana Historical Society

Publicat ions . — e s e rs . G y After leaving the Lake , where they

missed Mr . Evarts , their whole thought was to reach

b e home as soon as possible , as the provisions were coming lo w and they were anxious to reach civili

z i n at o in order to send out help to the lost man .

o n They had decided to do no more exploring , but

hi f o r their way , as they were searc ng the Upper

o f M Valley the adison , they came upon the Fire & Hole River with all its wonders . They were amazed They had seen innum erable boiling springs and pools o f f o r both mud and water , but now the first time they were gazing at real geysers . A n i n — at o al p ark . It was no t to be wondered at that these explorers might have schemes for making from these wonders of nature some personal

o n gain . There was m uch discussion among them the subject , until finally a thought was presented b M y r. Hedges that the whole region be set apart

208 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

f o r f West some years , having been chairman o the

o f hi Committee Territories w le he was in Congress . It was he w h o had introduced the bill f o r the organ izat io n o 18 63 f Montana Territory in February , , and w h o M had suggested the name ontana . When Ashley became governor his family came o u t to the Terri tory by rail as far as Ogden , and from there to

Helena by stage . These stage rides were full of dis comforts , especially for little folks , for the stages were nearly always crowded . During this ride o ne of the little boys was squeezed in between two grown

o n hi persons a seat far too narrow , w le his brothers were seated on trunks outside . — n P tt s B e nj a m i F . o Governor Ashley was in office no t longer than two years when he was removed

. a for political reasons , and Benjamin F Potts was p pointed to succeed him . Governor Potts held the

ffi 1883 . O ce by reappointment until January , His was the longest administration o f any governor in

1 Montana , and during that t me the Territory devel oped rapidly from a mining country to o ne o f many resources .

L D S 4 . BUI DING OF RAILROA

o R ailro a d s a no ve lty . Twenty years the people f

no Montana had been without a railroad . This was t the hardship in t hose days that it would be t o us no w . R ailroads were almost a novelty at the time that gold

M f o r o ne was discovered in ontana , the first in the 0 T United States had not been built until 183 . here were many places in the E a st which had not rail n connections . The people were quite used t o traveli g BUILDING OF RAILR OAD S 209

- no t by stage coach , but even so it was pleasant o r restful .

Th e first Mo ntana railro ad . The first Montana railroad came up from the south . It was a branch o f the Union Pacific connecting with that line at Ogden ,

as Utah . It was a narrow gauge and went as far

C ri t L. A. H u m an op y gh , fi “ A JE R K -LINE TWELV E Garrison where a year later it connected w ith the

Northern Pacific . There was great dissatisfaction with the new road , for such exorbitant freight rates

teaming methods , finding it cheaper to ship their goods by private teams to and from the Union Paci fi c. The building o f the Northern Pacific in 1883 210 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

was a great relief to them , for with the rise o f com

petition the rates became cheaper , and the new route

was more direct . h n P i Th e N o rt e r a c fic . The Northern Pacific Company was formed by a number o f Néw England

no t men . They did accomplish much until 1869 when they succeeded in interesting in it a large banking firm , J . Cooke and Company , which was in considered one of the strongest firms the country . Through the influence o f this firm the new road was given an immense land grant from Congress . As far a s the road continued they were allowed a number of

o f o f miles on each side the road , making a strip land sixty miles wide in the States and one hundred miles wide in the Territories , from St . Paul to the Pacific

o f f Coast . Such an immense amount land o r o ne company & A great panic occurred in 1873 and much t o the surprise o f everybody this strong banking i firm failed , and the Northern Pac fic Company was

o f bankrupt . The controlling interest all transpor t at io n m i o f facilities at the Pacific ter nal the road , which they had Obtained through the influence o f

no w . this firm , was lost i in B ll gs and Vill ard . Nothing further was done until 1879 when Frederick Billings became president

f t o ni o the road . He secured money enough fi sh the f construction o it . Another influential man then became interested . This was Henry Villard . He

Fo r hi was working for his o wn interests . mself he bought the transportation facilities in Oregon and R formed the Oregon ailway and Navigation Company ,

nk o f building a road up the south ba the Columbia ,

212 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

a town at the Great Falls o f the Missouri and it f saved the town o Fort Benton from oblivion . Fort Benton had been for twenty years the business center o f Montana and the stopping of the boat lines

had been a sad blow to the town .

’ ” - Jim Hill s R o a d . The Great Northern was ’

n . k own as Jim Hill s Road It ran from St . i Paul to the Pac fic Coast , parallel with the Northern

Pacific , but a hundred miles or more to the north . It entered Montana through the Missouri Valley

o ld where Fort Union used to be , but it left the Missouri at the mouth of the Milk River and

went up that valley , crossing the mountains by the

Marias Pass . The road was not finished to the 1893 coast until , but it had reached Helena in 1887 The building o f this road was quite remark i able because t was so well managed . Other trans continental roads had all sorts o f financial troubles b u t this o ne was built without any State o r Govern

ment land grant . When Mr . Hill took it in charge there was a debt o f thirty million dollars to be over

come , but during all his management the road never “ once defaulted the interest o n its bonds o r passed ” a dividend .

5 S . AGRICULTURAL VALLEY

f e Early arm rs . There had been a few farms di since almost the first , when it had been scovered that everybody was no t going to get rich by find h ing gold . Those w o were unsuccessful in locating a good claim tried their hand at some occupation All w hich would be useful to the successful miners . AGRICULTURAL VALLEYS 213

m i had t o have butter , eggs , lk , meat , and vegetables , and the o ne who would raise these necessities was

eagerly patronized . e r Th e Bitt e r R o o t Vall y. The fi st farms were in ll l the Bitter R oot Va ey at Stevensvil e . A few men “ w ho lived at Fort Owen or near there planted the first crops and took the first fruit up the valley and

Co ri t L. A H o m an p y gh , . fi SHEEP AT THE RIV ER

over into the Big Hole Country to the mines .

fir Thomas W . Harris was the st man in the Bitter R oot to take up farming as a business . The m is sio narie s had had a farm there f o r ten o r more years

Mr before . Harris planted his first crops , but their

object was merely to raise enough for their existence , h i t e o . Mr and to teach Indians farm ng meth ds . Harris farmed o n a small scale at Fort Owen until

1863 t o hr Mi , when he moved T ee le . There he 214 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

1866 planted his orchard in . His trees did fairly

no t well , but he was as successful as were the Bass Brothers who planted their orchard in 1870 at Ste ll ve nsvi e . It took some ten years to make fruit grow ing a paying business , but once started it gained for the Bitter Root Valley a name o f which it is justly proud . There were a few farmers at Hell Gate , a small town now abandoned , which stood about five miles below the present Missoula . — i In 1 6 - M s so u l a . 8 4 a saw mill was built o n the

o f present site Missoula . This was followed by a

- grist mill and the place was called Missoula Mills . This was in the same year that Stevensville was established as a town . Before that Stevensville had ’ n been known merely as Major Owe s Trading Post .

- Th e Uppe r C o l u m bia B a sin . The Bitter R oot

Valley was a part of the Upper Columbia Basin . There were three valleys in this basin : the Bitter

Root , the Missoula (Hell Gate) , and the Flathead . As the latter was the reservation for the Flathead ’ and Pend d Ore ille Indians it was not developed as the other two were , although it was quite as fertile .

Th e D e e r Lo d ge Valle y. The Deer Lodge Valley was up in the mountains at the head o f the Msso u la

Valley . It was an important agricultural section in the early days but it suffered in later years from the f mines and smelters o Butte and Anaconda . The beautiful little Deer Lodge River became a gray muddy stream ; the fish which had been o ne o f its chief attractions sought other streams and the water was unfit for irrigating purposes . Although there l d are stil large farms in the Deer Lo ge Valley , it

216 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

by the limits of water for irrigation . In the

Bitter Root and Hell Gate Valleys , which are the oldest agricultural districts , orchards have been brough t to a point o f production and are expected to

. fl o u rin bear largely this season Seven g mills ,

o ne three in Gallatin , two in Missoula , in Lewis and

A. u Copyright L. H fi m an A RANCH INTERIOR o ne Clark , and in Madison &Counties&, produced about sacks o f flour &in This flour from Montana wheat is equal to the best imported and gives conclusive evidence of self - sustaining agri ” cultural capacity .

o ld o f These reports , some them issued by the

Government and others by local newspapers , are interesting for they S how h o w agriculture and stock raising progressed from year to year until at the end STOCK—RAISING 217 o f the century there were farms in all the valleys o f the State ; Montana apples and strawberries became famous , and the farmers found that by diligence and proper irrigation almost anything could be raised that would grow in the temperate zone .

6 K - S . STOC RAI ING

t o o H o rse s . Farming was slow an occupation for many of the settlers and some of the unsuccessful miners found even other avenues to success . One man saw an opening in taking care o f the horses o f the prospectors . He kept them in a herd a few miles o u t o f In , town , bringing them whenever they were

To hi his o w n needed . t s herd he added horses of

o n until it grew into a ranch . Later another horse rancher joined him and together they maintained the old V . F . ranch , which was well known in all that country for many years . They needed horses

h ad back East in those days , as many horses been

1n killed in the war . They needed them the army , and they needed them at home t o work o n the

f o r . farms , and other domestic uses Another man w h o raised horses shipped them down

M o u t the issouri by boat . When the hay gave the crew would have to hunt along shore for something f o r hi the horses t o eat . T s was not very hard after they reached the part of the country where there

o ne t o were farms , as any was glad exchange hay for gold dust ; but in the Upper Country sometimes there was nothing but cottonwood boughs to give them . The horses never suffered f o r food and were

f o r fat enough market when port was reached . 2 18 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

— - tt e . Ca l Other men engaged in cattle raising . Those who had come across the country remembered the grassy plains where their stock had had plenty o f fattening food , remembered that the buffalo thrived o n these grasses and lived through the winters with no prote cti o n . They rightly thought that cattle also

C ri t b L. A H u m an op y gh y . ff TH E OLD O X Co w CAMP c ff ould live just as the bu alo had . So they tried

so it with a few head , and these did well that more were added and then they began turning them o u t into the open stretches o f country and soon more tried it until the re were cattle all through the Yellow

stone Valley , the Big Hole , and the Missouri . Sum mer and winter the cattle looked after themselves ; they were no t used for milking but were like wild

220 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

I m po rt e d cattle . The first cattle were brought , in from the South . They were Texas cattle and were accustomed t o range life ; then other breeds were imported from the East , Durhams , Herefords , and l others . The mixture made a Very good breed we l able to stand the rigors o f the climate and produce desirable beef . These thrived so well that Eastern

SHEEP IN CUSTER COUNTY l capitalists became interested , invested in catt e , and l sent them o u t to Montana . This was the more easi y done then for they could be shipped o u t by rail . So many were shipped o u t that at last the ranges became overstocked .

o f A se ve re wint e r. The overstocking the range would not in itself have been a drawback as there were still more remote valleys where all coul d have ranged , but there came a severe winter with much snow which had followed an extremely dry summer . Th e cattle were no t able to stand the severe weather STOCK—RAISIN G 221

hi and tens o f thousands perished . T s was the winter — di o f 1886 7 . The capitalists were so scouraged that

o u t many sold at any price they could get , and the eff ect was that the market was nearly ruined , and

' the evil effects were felt for several seasons . The cattlemen had been taught a lesson . They saw that they would do well to care f o r the younger and

o f 1n r weaker stock during the heaviest part the w t e . Those w h o stayed with the business in time over came their losses and many became cattle kings o f the State .

S h e e p . On the free range there was often fric S e tion between the cattle and he p owners . The

o f o n t w o kinds animals cannot graze the same area . A band o f sheep will make a range unfit f o r cattle ” and will drive the latter o u t . Sheep crop the hi grass short , they leave not ng in their path , every i th ng goes before them , weeds , grass , and small brush . A lane through which a band o f sheep has passed looks as though it had been mowed with a scythe . “ t o o hi nn e u They leave an odor , , w ch cattle ca ot dure ; the latter will no t even water at a spring where f ” a flock o sheep has just watered .

T e f h first fl o cks . In spite o these drawbacks many people raised sheep , for there was a great deal o f i money in the bus ness . The first flocks were brought into Mo ntana by the Jesuit m issionaries who were teaching the Indians all branches o f agri culture . According to o ne record they were raising sheep as early as 1857 One o f the later settlers brought in a flock o f five hundred in the summer o f 186 7 . It was driven from the Pacific Coast t o t he 222 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

Prickly Pear Valley in Montana . No provision was made t o feed o r shelter them through the winter and

they all perished . The first failure did not discour age the stockmen but the progress for the first ten

years was slow . o f C alif o rnia fl o ck s . The original sheep the

'

C ri ht L A. H u m a opy g , . fi n SHEEP SHEAR ING

West were Mexican ; they were taken into California and there crossed with some brought from China .

As California was filled up with settlers , the flocks

were driven into neighboring states to pasture , and

f o r back again the shearing . But eventually many f “ o O ff . these were driven for good In The Flock ,

r n - ni a very eadable book o sheep raising in Califor a , M “ by ary Austin , we read that Sanger , when he ’ o M 70 drove his sheep t ontana in , went up like a

224 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

t o in 1874 from Virginia City Helena , but it was not made the permanent capital until after Montana

was made a State .

'

C ri t b L A. H u m an opy gh y . fi HAULING WOOL TO THE WAR EHOUSE

M R H M S 7 . DEVELOP ENT OF IC INE

h e T B u tt e m ine s . With the increased railroad facilities came the further growth of towns . The

o ld placer fields , with their surrounding country ,

were well prospected for quartz , and where the leads

were found the towns grew up around them , espe ll cia y where they were o n a line of the railroad . At

M so Butte , the Anaconda ines were proving rich

and extensive , that it was known that there must be many neighboring claims which would be equal t o them . In a short time all these neighboring claims were taken up , and the Anaconda Hill was turned DEVE LOPME NT OF R ICH MINES 225 into a large m ining area with shaft houses and other ’ m ining buildin gs well covering it . hfi ne rs boarding houses here and there were the only inhabited houses . The ground underneath the surface was honey combed with tunnels , and there was as much timber

l o f underground , holding up the wal s the mines , as there was in all the buildings in the town . The dis

’ A Mm E R S CABIN IN BUTTE co ve ry of so man y rich m ines gave opportunities f o r

ui o f the b lding smelters , and the twenty years fol lowing was an area o f great activity in all branches o f m i i n ng and smelting industries . It was a proud day f o r Butte when she was proclaimed the greatest m i i n ng camp in America .

i e hi m in S lv r m ine s . P lipsburg with her silver es

l o f was a lively camp until the fal in the price silver, when the m ine and m ill were closed waiting for

i a S r better conditions . Ne hart , ilver camp near G eat 226 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

, Falls which is a later discovery than Philipsburg, was no t so handicapped , partly because o f the quality

o f the ore and also because other kinds o f o re were

found in connection with the silver .

o d ne G l m i s . The gold quartz mines near Helena

a s were not fleeting as the placers . They are still

rich properties , and the little town o f Marysville

where they are situated is a thriving place .

8 . LATER GOVERNORS — Five go ve rno rs In the six years following the

o f long administration Benj . F . Potts , the Territory

o . had five g vernors These were J . Schuyler Crosby ,

. B Platt Carpenter , S . T . Hauser , Preston Leslie , and

Benj . F . White . Of these governors Preston Leslie

served the longest term , three years . Governor White ’ s term was only from spring until the end Of 1888 the year , for at that time , , the Territory was made a State and the people had a right then to

name their o w n governor .

9 . MONTANA A STATE

n n e nt n C o nstit u tio al C o v io . When the population

o f M ontana was large enough , the people began t o f think o having their o w n State Government . They

o f 1884 l held a convention in January , in He ena , and

drafted a Constitution . This Constitution was voted upon at the election that year , and the people sub m it t e d the Constitution t o Congress . It was five years before Congress allowed Montana t o become a

State .

MONTANA A STATE 227

M n ana a e 22n d o f o t st at . On the February , 1889 ni d , the President of the U te States signed the

Enabling Act , and the Constitutional Convention

‘ o n 4 h in met again July t , and were session until “ 19 August th . The Constitution then framed was

C ri t L. A. H u m an op y gh , fi REAL COWBOYS

approved by the people at a special election in Octo n 8 ber, and o the th of November was issued the proc

lam at io n i M o n e o f recogn zing ontana as the galaxy, ” ’ o f Of states . (Quotation from Davies Civics M ontana . — S t at e go ve rno rs . The governors since Montana

was made a state have been Joseph K . Toole , John 228 DEVELOPMENT OF TH E STATE

E . Rickards , Robert B . Smith , Joseph K . Toole i hi . for a second and t rd term , Edwin L Norr s , and

Samuel V . Stewart . Governor Norris was in office during the movement f r f o conservation . He used his best e forts to obtain for Montana every advantage to be gained by the new system .

230 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS who have been so warlike to change suddenly into

- peaceable , law abiding tribes . The settlers objected to these battles because they often happened in the part o f country through which the miners and freight f ers had to pass , and the settlers sometimes su fered

as much as the Indians did . This council was held in Fort Benton in Septem 1 6 5 8 . ber , The man who was most useful to General Meagher and the commissioners at that time was

. o ne William T Hamilton , of the Old trappers who had lived in that part o f the country for about

fifteen years . He went with an Indian scout , a Pie

difi e re nt gan , to look up the tribes , and ask them to

come to Fort Benton to the council . In George Bird G ’ “ ” rinnell s Beyond the Old Frontier , we find an account o f the trip these two took through the

Indian country , and it shows us how cautiously they had t o move f o r fear they might run upon a war r p a ty and be killed . It also shows how expert those mountain men were in finding o u t when there had been Indians in their vicinity , and in being able to dodge around and keep under cover so they would no f t be discovered by scouts o other parties . In the account o f the council we find the name o f

D o hi w ho w as o ne o f t h e Little g , the Piegan c ef ,

o f 1855 m i chiefs at the council . William Ha lton says that Little Dog was the bravest and noblest f chief living at that day . He was a friend o the

o f hi o f whites , and had killed four the under c efs

f o r his tribe warring against the whites . The day o f the council he again proved himself a friend ; f o r after the council some o f the Indians RESERVATIONS 231 had bought some whisky and had become quarrel some . Little Dog was afraid they might harm the

m i whites . Ha lton went around to all the Indian villages camped around the town and warned the chiefs that they must keep their young men quiet ; and Little Dog went to all his people and those others that he knew and told them that if they caused any trouble that they would have him to n fight . In the end they all calmed down and no o e

' was hurt . The treaty made was as well kept as we could expect at that time . But the tribes were more o r less belligerent up t o the time that the soldiers arrived in the territory .

S S 2 . RE ERVATION

Th e i r o w n vall e ys . By the agreement with Governor Stevens the Indians were to keep their o wn t o valleys , except when they had go elsewhere to hunt . The war parties were to be given up . The Flatheads were to be allowed to pass through the Blackfoot country into the Yellowstone without being molested . All the Indians were to have the same homes that they had been having , with the ’ exception o f the Flatheads and the Pend d Oreille s . ’ n ille Flath e a d s and P e d d O re s . These two tribes occupied the most fertile valleys in Western Mo n tana , and Governor Stevens foresaw that at least o ne of these valleys would be coveted by farmers before many years were over , and either valley had ample room f o r both tribes . The Indians them selves could not decide which valley to choose f o r

t o o w n neither wanted give up its valley , although 232 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

either tribe would gladly welcome the other . The Indians finally consented to have a survey taken o f both valleys and allow the Government to decide

which would make the better reservation .

PEND D ’ OREILLE INDIANS

— Th e su rve y p o stpo ne d . Sixteen years passed before this survey was made and in the meantime

so o f the Indians became distrustful the Government , that when the survey was at last made , and it was deemed advisable f o r the Flatheads t o move to

t o o . the Jocko Reservation , they refused g They had accepted the S ilence o f the Great Father at

234 TRANSFORMATION OF TH E INDIANS

— ’ h o t o e t o th e o c o . C arl g s J k Finally , after Arlee s death , Charlot went with the remainder of his band . He had had a great deal to do with the whites meanwhile and thus grew to have more faith in the government . n i Th e I d an s u s u ally f rie nd ly. As long as the settlers stayed in the part of the country away from the tribal homes there was no trouble . But it w as

a hardly possible to stay away altogether , especi lly f from the country o the Crows . The Yellowstone was a large valley and oftentimes it was necessary f o r the settlers to pass through the valley .

t h e Th e Cr o ws . Although Crows were friendly to the whites they had o ne bad trait which was con t inu ally showing itself even to their friends . They

o f M were the biggest thieves all the ontana Indians , and occasionally when they had stolen horses o r i other th ngs from travelers there would be trouble , which sometimes ended fatally . — H o stil e Sio u x and Ch e ye nne s At other times the Indians met with in the Yellowstone were Siou x and Cheyennes who were hostile to everybody , even the Crows . Oftentimes the Crows were blamed for crimes which were committed by these othe r Indians . The truth was that the Crows suffered at the hands o f these Indian invaders more than the white men did .

o ze m an . Killing o f J . M. B One dreadful tragedy i stirred the people at th s time , because the victim was hi a man who had been active in public works . T s M man , J . M . Bozeman , had done much for ontana in the earlier days o f her ex istence . He opened up RESERVATIONS 235

t o a wagon road from the States Montana , through l the Yellowstone country . A though the road had

o f li o f to be abandoned later , because the hosti ty

t o the Indians , it had been a great help emigrants because it had been a much shorter way . Bozeman and Thomas Coover were camping o n f 6 the Yellowstone in April o 18 7 . They were cook

fi e ing a meal when v Indians came up to their camp .

t o The men , believing them be Crows , allowed them

t o to come up close , when Coover , who had begun n suspect from their actions their bad i tentions ,

t e moved toward the river for h horses , to saddle up and be in readiness in case the Indians should prove

him unfriendly . As he moved off an Indian fired at ,

d raw m grazing his shoulder . The others , g their guns from under the buck- skin covers with which they had been concealed , shot at Bozeman , killing him instantly . Coover escaped into the brush and ’ made his way to the main camp . Bozeman s body was recovered and he had not been scalped . In 1869 his body was taken to Bozeman and buried there , where some years later a monument was

o f erected by Nelson Story , a prominent citizen that town .

e e n h e Y e ne Af S ttl rs i t ll o wst o . ter the estab lish m e nt o f m i m s l re the litary posts , the settlers , p d o f hi f with a spirit confidence , began to t nk o going ll into the Ye owstone to take up ranches , but in spite o f i the m litary protection , there were still many cases o f f o n di . o hi attacks in viduals One these , in w ch o ne o f our leading men o f the eastern part o f the state

t o o f was concerned , proved fatal some the party . 236 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

f o r t o . We are indebted the story Mr S . L . Moore ,

o f General Freight Agent the Northern Pacific , who

Mc heard it from the principal witness , Paul Co r f n f mick o Billings . He was o e o a party o f nine teen w h o went down into the Yellowstone in 1875 f hi in search o a home . W le they were building their stockade they were continually harassed by the

o ff Sioux , who carried most of their horses . One morning McCo rm ick and Edwards went o u t to locate the Indians before the party started o u t o n their ’ day s search for timber . They were about a mile

from the stockade , when they rode into a clump o f

- tall sage brush . Here they unexpectedly found the f object o their search . The Indians opened fire o n

them and Edwards was shot dead . McCo rm ick d escaped . He ro e a fine horse and but for that he

would never have reached the stockade alive . The horse leaped over the high bushes and jumped ditches

ff his with little e ort , and the rider kept seat through

. W it all hen he reached camp the horse fell dead ,

his riddled with shots , while rider was uninjured ,

his i but from that day hair was wh te as snow . When the men went to recover Edwards ’ body

the Indians had disappeared . His body was pierced

with arrows and bullets and he had been scalped .

He was carried t o the stockade and buried there . Eight others of the nineteen were eventually killed by the Indians . — P e rm ane nt re se rvatio ns Af ter the country was permanently settled , the reservations were given certain boundaries , and the tribes were each given

t o the reservation on which they were required stay ,

238 TR ANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

o r dow and peer in through the glass , would come “ to the door asking for biscuit, and how they would be terrorized if an Indian should become intoxicated and go yelling through the streets . But compared

o f with the troubles other western settlements , M these ontana pioneers had a very quiet time , for the Montana tribes , as tribes , were friendly to the whites . After the soldiers came and forts were established the people felt more secure . We have told in the chapter about the soldiers how hIaj o r Baker quieted the Blackfeet with very little bloodshed . This showed the people that o u r Indians were inclined to f be peaceable . The presence o the soldiers and forts in the Territory showed the Indians that any Vio lence would be punished and it convinced them that

it was good policy to keep peace with the whites .

4 H . FRIENDLY C IEFS

S h o sh o ne ch ie f s . The first white settlements in In Montana being in the Shoshone country , these dians became well known to the people o f Virginia

. o f hi City , Bannack , and Deer Lodge Three the c efs : a especially became well known they were Old Sn g ,

e nd o M . T y , and ajor Jim Old Snag was the head M chief of the Shoshones and ajor Jim was a Bannack . hi n The latter was a war c ef . Te d o y was always a

good friend to the whites . He was wise enough to perceive that the Indian who was friendly to the whites had fewer difficulties with which t o contend

o ne o n - than had the who was ever the war path .

Tendoy made several trips to Washington . It w as FR IENDLY CHIE FS 239 his information that supplied the material for the “ Indian Sign Language , published by the Govern ment . di in 190 hie f s . 9 Fl ath e a d c Charlot , who ed , was

a noted chief among the Flat h e ad s . His was a royal family as both his father and grandfather had been

t o m u s his him . S chiefs before , grandfather , was

hr o r also known as T ee Feathers Grizzly Bear . At the same time that St o m u s was chief o f the Flat

H allo ch s o r hi o f heads , Bright Coats was c ef the ’ ll s re i e . Pend d O These two men were great friends , for the two tribes were closely related . They went r in hunting together and often we e together battles . H allo ch s seemed to have some occult powers which

di him were quite marveled at by the In ans under .

ui his In war times before a battle , he req red each of

his l warriors to go into lodge and bite a bu let , and

o n hi s with the bullet make a cross breast . They believed this would prevent them from being wounded . In nearly every case where o ne failed to do this he

H all ch was struck by a bullet . At one time o s was

his ff leading a party of people to hunt the bu alo . They crossed the mountains at the head o f the Flat

o head Lake , and were there warned to g back , as

H allo ch s the Blackfeet were near . said that he had f nn come to hunt the bu falo , not to fight , and a ounced

his intention of going o n . Soon coming near to the

s Blackfeet camp , they saw that they mu t prepare l for battle , and each bit the bul et to be safe . Two o f n the you g men refused to take the precaution , hi f t nking it was oolishn ess . These t w o were the only

e th e a th ones kill d in battle , lthough e Blackf eet 240 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

lat h e ad s outnumbered the F ten to one . The Black feet were driven back and the Flat h e ad s went on

their way .

When the missionaries came to the Indians , they questioned H allo ch s concerning his custom o f biting

the bullet . He answered them by saying that that was his way o f praying ; he bit the bullet so that it

would not bite him . As to the sign of the cross , one authority states that the Indians o f the Columbia River used it in their devotions for many years b e fore the missionaries came to the mountains . It is possible that they learned it from the French fur f l traders in the early part o the century . H a lo ch s was given the name o f Pierre by the Hudson Bay

Company , and was afterward baptized by the Fathers with that name .

Victor was the so n of St o m u s . He was the chie f when the Flatheads were sending delegations to St . f Louis in search o missionaries . He is also spoken o f by Governor Stevens in his reports to the Govern ment describing his travels in the Rocky Mountain

Country . He was much superior to the ordinary

D e Sm e t di Indian . Father said that his gnified bearing would have graced a princely throne . ’ o f H allo ch s Alexander , the successor , was Victor s

t o m u s H allo ch s t w o friend and , like S and , these men ’ no w led the Flatheads and Pend d Ore ille s through all their adventures . — i D h e ac f o o t In o f L ttl e o g , t Bl k the council 1855 when Gove rnor Stevens held his council with the Blackfe et , Flatheads , and other tribes ; and in

1865 when General Francis Meagher, with the help

242 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

5 S D . FRANCI LEUPP AN INDIAN LEGIS LATION

n i n e f - Th e I d a pro bl m o t o d ay. Most o f the people o f the United States long ago stopped worry

ing about the Indian problem . The Indians were

o n quiet their reservations , and the people felt that any question which might arise could be settled by

Congress without bothering the public . W hen Francis

E . Leupp went into the Indian Service as Commis sio ne r o f Indian Affairs he determined to do some thing to change the Indians into something like the

fine men that their ancestors were . He took several i ways to bring th s about . One was to make the Government realize what a wrong it was to the in Indians to allow them to live idleness . Another was to induce Congress to make new laws which would give them more freedom and require them to be more independent . Another was to stir the

- Indians up to a desire to be self supporting . Lastly t o awaken the American people to the idea that the Indians were human beings like themselves , to whom they were to extend the hand o f fellowship and to assist them to be intelligent citizens and an honor t o their ancestors . — C o nditio n o f t h e Indians In his book o n The ”

. h o Indian and His Problems , Mr Leupp tells us w he worked o u t some o f his schemes and how success ful they were . He also tells of the present condition o f the Indians , which is a revelation even to many h w o think they know a good deal about the Indians . Many o f us have felt that this land o f ours was by rights the property o f the Indians and it was no FRANCIS LEUPP AND INDIAN LEGISLATION 24 3

more than just that we should pay them for it , and as we had killed o ff their game and settled along the streams where they had been accustomed t o fish and gather berries , it was right that we should give n them food in return for these . lVl a y did no t realize that while originally the Indians had the game and fish and berries yet they had to work hard to make them suitable for their use , and when we give them

n o f f i place these , meat and flour and other food stu fs

n o f n that are already prepared , we are , i stead helpi g f o . AS . the Indians , making loafers them Mr Leupp says : Nothing was demanded o f the Indians in return except that they obey their agents and keep t quiet . It is rue that salaried farmers were sent to their reservations to instruct them in agriculture and that tools and fencing were Offered them as rewards for industry ; but what was gained by being indus t rio u s if o ne could live on the fat o f the lands with ’ o u t stirring a muscle in labor ? Satan s proverbial gift f o r finding mischief f o r idle hands to d o came

l o f promptly into play , and the id e hands the Indians soon learned to reach for the whisky bottle . Hence

- came it that a people once vigorous , strong willed ,

o f hi b e untiring on the trail anyt ng they wanted ,

a ul if o f c me debauched by a comp sory l e sloth , and within a single generation acquired among the whites a reputation for laziness , incompetence and general ” degradation .

R e l di su lt s o f civiliza tio n . Civi izing the In ans f has seemed a hopeless task . Many o the younger ones who were sent away from home to be educated returned to their blankets and tepees and took up 244 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

o ld o f the life , and rather than face the ridicule the

o r older uneducated ones , tried in every way to forget all they knew about civilization . But there were many others who started new lives apart from

Old their tribes ; these , who more readily accepted

a th civilization , encour ged the Government and e

TH E RISING G ENE RATION missionaries t o keep o n trying in the hope that eventually the continuous dropping would we ar ” o away the stone . N w they begin t o see the fruits f c o their labors . It only needs patien e to at last bring all the Indians into their full citizenship .

is n Le g l atio . Congress has tried at diff erent times to better the condition o f the Indians by making good laws . These laws as time passed have had to

e . be changed , for the best plans often wer not best

24 6 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

care to farm . A good many of them do better work

in other fields of labor . The Crows have become interested in farming through their annual agricu l

tural fair , the Assiniboines make good hay and the

c - Blackfeet have been suc essful at stock raising , but at the same time these Indians have taken so well

o f i to general work other k nds , that the men in charge of Indian affairs have wondered if perhaps they have not made a mistake in trying to make f farmers o all the Indians .

6 D M . IN IAN FAR ERS — R e se nt th e ne w if . l e All the Indians at first ,

o u r and even now many of them , resented endeavors “ to teach them the ways o f civilization They wanted nothing to do with our civilization , they clung to

o f the way their ancestors , insisting that they were ” better than ours . But now they are beginning to f change . Most o them realize that they must adopt o u r ways if there is to be any peace , and many of them are beginning to see the actual advantage in f the new way o life . — Indian f arm e rs S ome o f the Indians are turn i ing their reservations into farm ng communities . The greater part o f the new farms in the Flathead

o f country are the property Indians , and the Crows h ave taken a great interest in the , to them , new

o f industry . The Crows have always been fond

o f horses , too fond them in the early days when

- horse stealing was the custom . It has been natural

- for this liking to turn to stock raising . INDIAN FARME RS 247

’ — ’ Th e ro s annu a f air. C w l The Crows Agent , a

few years ago , decided to try a plan to get them

interested in farming . He suggested that they have

r a Wild West Show for thei own amusement . The plan was carried o u t and they had a gala time for

two or three years . Then he suggested that they

hi i t o o have a few agricultural ex bits with it ; th s , they

did , and the few who had raised the crops aroused

o f the interest the others , and then there started a hi little friendly rivalry , w ch grew every year until no w the agricultural ex hibit is the attraction o f the

- . N o fair , and the horse racing is in the background nk gambling or dri ing is allowed , but all go to have an a good time d see which is the best farmer . The Indians not Only raised the exhibits but they sold

x the tickets , arranged the e hibits , attended to the grounds and buildings , collected the fees for selling privileges , and managed the refreshment stands and f f lunch counters . They also held the o fices o the

Fair ; the President , Secretary and Treasurer , Judges ,

- Policemen , and Gate keepers . Francis Leupp tells us that “ It is interesting to note that no rations have been issued to the Crows S ince the in augura tion o f these fairs not a single ration in four years . There is less wandering about and more interest in

o f home , garden and farm . A spirit rivalry and friendly competition easily takes root in every In ’ dian s natural keenn ess f o r sport and this is fostered ” by the annual fair . Th e ir o nly s af e gu ard . The Indians are follow k ing the right path in wor ing their lands , for it is the only means whereby they will always have them 248 TRANSFOR MATION OF TH E INDIANS

for their o w n . Any good agricultural land that is unworked is bound to be coveted sooner o r later by the white men . When the white men see that the Indians are really making the best use o f the land then they will give up all thought o f having

f o r it themselves .

PAR T X

NATIONAL PR OBLEMS IN MONTANA

— Th re e gre at qu e stio ns With the coming of the Twentieth Century three great questions arose to occupy the thoughts of Eastern people . These were m forestry , the irrigation of arid lands , and far ing on lands which could never be reached by water . While these questions all vitally interested Montana they were really national problems too great to be solved f by o ne state alone . The development o these ques tions has only begun . It may take years to bring them to their greatest power . When that time shall arrive there will be lumber enough to supply the needs o f future generations as well as our own ; the ranches o n the bench lands will be as productive as those in the valleys ; and there will be no part o f the state that will not be capable o f producing

o ne good crops , and earning for some a comfortable

living .

1 . IRRIGATION

- B o tt o m l and s first u s e d . Before 1890 no o ne

1rr1 a i n had thought much about g t o . It had no t

been necessary . People had come west to the states f known as the arid states in search o gold . Many o f them had had no thought o f staying t o make a home Those w h o did stay found plenty o f land IRRIGATION 251

o which was easy t irrigate , in the bottom lands along

f o r the rivers . The bench lands were used stock grazing . n — First ne e d o f irrigatio . After a few years

o f people began to see the opportunity the West , and when they came and took up lands it was m eces sary for them to go up on the bench lands . Larger

t o and more expensive ditches then had be made , and it was necessary f o r whole neighborhoods t o combine , or form some company with capital , in order t o build the larger ditches . — A h e e s e rn ro e m . T w t p bl greater problem , in f . o the course of time , confronted the settlers Some the rivers flow in deep valleys far below the level o f t o the surrounding plains , and , in order put water upon these higher plains , which contain by far the

o f t o largest area arable land , it was necessary divert

r l the streams from far up the valleys . This e qu re d an outlay o f capital beyond that o f any company willing to invest in such propositions . — P e 11. f Maj o r J . W . o w One of the engineers o the War Department , Major J . W . Powell , studied this problem o f the western people and decided

o that the Government alone was able t handle it .

e He wrote a report , showing how it would b possible f o r R the Government t o d o it . eports sometimes are

o ne very uninteresting but this was an exception . “ One writer has said that it is o ne o f those rare ” public documents which become classic literature . — Unit e d S t at e s e o o ica S u rve . G l g l y This report , “ ” o f which was entitled Lands the Arid Regions ,

’ caused Congress t o authorize him t o st u dy the sub 252 NATIONAL PROBLEMS IN MONTANA

e t so ul jc t s ill more , that he co d tell them t o what extent it was possible to reclaim the arid lands by

his irrigation . At first work was carried o n under

m i the auspices of the S thsonian Institute , and later under the Department of the Interior . His p art icu lar department was known as the “ United States

” ’ Geological Survey . Under Major Powell s direction the public lands were classified , the streams measured and mapped , reservoir sites were discovered and

‘ explored and all the physical features o f the arid region were noticed and reported upon . Complete

S maps were made which howed every detail , the

- elevations above sea level , the locations of all streams , however small , as well as the towns , roads and

o f trails , railroads , canals , boundaries states and counties .

i li m th e . W l am E . S y While the survey was going o n the movement was being pushed in another way .

o f Om aha William E . Smythe , assistant editor the

Bee t o , was deeply interested and he tried bring the matter before the public in order to get them to consider it seriously . He wrote article after article and then started a new magazine called The Irri ” at io n in i g Age , and was instrumental form ng the “ ” a National Irrigation Congress . He was encour ged in this work by men o f prom inence in the Geological

Survey . — In 1897 in Hira m M. Chitt e nd e n the people t e re st e d in irrigation were glad t o have the help o f another distinguished engineer o f the War Depart hi w h o ment . This was Major H . M . C ttenden wrote a report entitled “ Reservoirs in the Arid

254 NATIONAL PROBLEMS IN MONTANA

and whatever that amount is , is added to the per acre which the settler has to pay f o r his land

c . o ne in the first pla e No is allowed to pay water,

f o 160 o ne right r more than acres in any project . In the case o f larg e landholders like the Northern

Pacific Railway Company , who have such an extensive

o f amount land in Montana , they also could buy f water o r only 160 acres . In their case it was ne ce s sary f o r them t o divide their land up into small f tracts and sell them o r farms .

Th e R e cla m atio n S e rvic e . The department which was t o have charge o f this fund was to be known as

the Reclamation Service . This really was a con t inu at io n o f the work done by the United States

Geological Survey . Frederick H . Newell , who had succeeded Major Powell at the head of the Geologi

cal Survey , was made the head of the Reclamation “ Service Mr . Newell stepped into this place familiar with every detail o f a work in which f o r years he ” had been the leading spirit . Work was at once begun and before a year had passed examinations

and surveys had been & made and official approval

o f been given t o five projects in the West . One

these was the Milk River Project in Montana . The Work was continued still further in Montana and several projects were investigated t o find their prob

able suitability . A selection was then made of those

c o n onsidered most desirable , and work was begun

six in addition to the Milk River Proj ect . These

are the Huntley , the Lower Yellowstone , the Sun

lat River , the Fort Peck , the Blackfeet , and the F

head Projects . IRRIGATION 255

Th e Milk Rive r P ro j e ct . This is the largest project yet undertaken by the Reclamation Service in Montana . It is such an extensive proposition that four years were spent in surveying and other pre liminary work before any o f the construction was

Is begu n . It at the present time far from being co m l p e t e d . R t o The Milk iver is , next the Yellowstone , the

o f M M longest branch the issouri in ontana . It rises ’ near the St . Mary s Lakes , in Teton County . It

o f flows at first north , running for a part its course M through Canada, entering ontana again in the northwestern p art of Chouteau County and runs in a southeastern direction to the Missouri River . The Milk River at the present time does not contain su ffi

o f cient water to irrigate the full length the valley , in fact a part o f the year it contains practically no

water at all . ” ’ The plan is t o make a reservoir of the St . Mary s WLakes by building a dam at the foot o f the lower lake , which will store all the extra water that usually

o f runs away in the spring with the melting the snows . This supply of water is t o be increased by diverting into it the waters o f the Swift Current Creek and the

Red Eagle Lakes . From this reservoir a canal is t o be built which will extend f o r twenty - eight m iles in a northeast and east direction and run into the north fork o f Ml the i k River . When the river enters Montana again this extra water is to be used to irrigate the land o n both sides o f the Milk River from Chinook

o t Glasgow . 256 NATIONAL PROBLEMS IN MONTANA When the project was first considered the Govern ment anticipated that there would be some trouble

o f with Canada because the waters taken from St . ’ Mary s Lakes and f o r fear that after we had built these works o u r waters would be used in the passage through Canada .

- Tre aty wit h C anad a . After ten years o f debate and consideration o f the subject a treaty was entered into between the t w o countries in which Canada agreed to allow o u r waters safe passage through their country and we agreed to take only the flood waters (those that go to waste in the spring with the melt f ’ o f o . ing the snows) St Mary s Lakes , and any waters from streams that we could turn into the reservoir . This was an important matter to Canada t o o, because we could take all the waters from the ’ St . Mary s Lakes and divert them entirely into our n o w streams if we would , and that would take away f ’ the main supply o their St . Mary s River which ’ flows northeastward into Hudson s Bay .

n r e m — D ive rsio n a d st o ag d a s . The work o n the ’ o St . Mary s Reservoir and the canal t the Milk

o ne o f River is only part the project . After the river enters Montana again there is still a large amount o f work to be done . Dams are to be built across the river at C hinook , Dodson , and Vandalia . These are called diversion dams for they take the water from the river and divert it into ditches that carry the water t o the land to be irrigated . A storage dam is to be built fourteen miles northeast o f Malta o n

f & the south side o the river . This is t o be called the

h o r Nelson Reservoir . It collects t e flood , spring

258 NATIONAL PROBLEMS IN MONTANA

o f o n heard marvelous yields dry farms , and in order

to understand why these yields are possible , and also t o expect the same yields from all dry farms , it is advisable for us to study the science o f this system as it has been explained to us by the men in charge o f the Montana Agricultural College Experiment

Station in Bozeman . The men w h o have been most active in the s tudy o f L . infi l . e d scientific farming are F B , the Director o f & - the Station , and Alfred Atkinson , the Agronomist , o r scientific farmer . The Bulletins o f the Ex p e ri mental Station give a full description o f the system

o f as they now understand it , and reports the success o f ff o f the work in di erent parts the State .

D r y Land S yst e m D isco ve re d . There are from twelve t o fifteen million acres in the State which it will be impossible to irrigate because they lie above the highest ditches . When the farmers found that this land was not able to produce growing crops , they were satisfied t o leave it f o r the grazing o f stock until they heard that o ne man in Nebraska had discovered how t o store up in the soil all the moisture that falls throughout the year . This discovery was a great boon t o Montana f o r in many parts o f the State the annual rainfall is sufficient to grow luxuriant

o f hi crops , but a great deal t s rainfall is lost through evaporation . This Nebraska man was H . W . Camp

n n o bell . He was o t the first o e t discover the system o f e storing the rainfall , but he inv nted the implements t o farm the land under this system . His investiga Mo n tions were taken up throughout the West , and tana farmers also tried it with marvelous results . THE G REAT FALLS OF THE MISSOURI IN ITS NATURAL STAT E

THE G REAT FALLS OF THE MISSOURI ON THE COMPLETION OF THE POWER DEV ELOPMENT 260 NATIONAL PROBLEMS IN MONTANA

Th e annua rainf a . , l ll The Experiment Station has instruments which measure the amount o f rain f . o fall In keeping records rain , they can tell just h o w much has fallen every year and at what time f o the year it has come . In some o f the western

o f states the greatest amount rainfall is in the winter , in some the amount is evenly distributed throughout M the year , but in ontana the greatest amount is in

Ma the growing months , April , y , June, and July . In order t o understand why Montana has not enough moisture we must remember that a great

o f deal it is lost through evaporation . Summer evaporation may amount to three inches a week and ’ the whole year s precipitation be evaporated in o ne ” r o t w o months . The principle o f dry farming is to check this evap ration and store all the moisture where it will be

within the reach of the growing plants .

n e C o s rving th e m o ist u re . The method discovered by Campbell is to plow deep , in order to break up all hard pieces o f ground ; then pack this plowed ground down firmly so that the moisture in the ground can have a soil ladder o n which t o climb up to the plant roots ; and then harrow over the t o p o f the ground

so t o o f t o that the p the soil will be loose and rough ,

o u t o f easily dry , thereby stopping the rising moisture

hi t o from below and preventing evaporation . T s p layer is called a mulch and it does not take up the water from below f o r the same reason that a dry

sponge will no t as quickly absorb moisture as a.

o n ill damp e w . The mulch being loose , the rains by gravit atio n sink into the more closely packed

262 NATIONAL PR OBLEMS IN MONTANA the non -irrigated lands t o determine what crops and

o f what methods cultivation will give best results . Several demonstration farms o r sub - experiment sta tions were established at first and their number has grown to fourteen . These demonstrat ion farms are

s o f in widely separated part the State , and are lo cat e d o n lands typical o f large areas that have not

S been cultivated , and the results achieved how what other land in the same neighborhood , where condi

a nd tions of soil climate are similar , will produce when properly cultivated . Although the Experiment Stations have done the most extended work , they were not pioneers in dry farming in Montana . Several individual farmers had taken it up when the system was first made known . While they have proven that dry farming is a success in Montana these men all realize that the system is still in the experimental state . There are several points that they do not yet understand . There is the possibility that the system may be used in the future in localities whe re now it seems

. no w impossible Indeed , it is supposed that crops may be grown , sometime in the future , in any local ity where now t he natural vegetation can thrive .

3 S . FORE TRY

Fo re st ry. Many people have a prejudiced way o f looking upon forestry They think that the Government has taken the forest lands away from

no r us , and we can use neither the land the trees , but if w e look into the matter we will understand FORESTRY 26 3 that the forest reserves are great farms which are being profitably worked for the people by the Gov

nm e n o f e r t , the people having the advantage the f . o crops Like the irrigation projects , the raising the crops o f a forest is t o o stupendous and expensive an un dertaking for even large companies t o co n sider ; it must be done by the Government , for a crop sometimes takes a hundred years t o ripen . — Fo re stry and irrigatio n . Forestry and irrigation go hand in hand in the agricultural development of

no the West . Almost every irrigation project w under consideration depends upon the proper protection o f

o n i the forests the mounta ns above the water supply . These irrigation works are being built f o r o u r children and grandchildren as well as for ourselves and if they are t o be preserved in their best condition we must first solve the question o f how best to p ro teet the forests and increase them , for the forests lie above the reservoirs and hold the moisture like a great sponge and allow the water t o flow gradually down into the reservoirs . This is not a matter which concerns o u r o w n

State alone . We must b uild reservoirs and conserve Montana forests t o benefit the arid plains of the

f o r Dakotas and Nebraska , those states depend partly f o r the fl o w o f their rivers upon the proper treatment o f the woodlands o n the mountains in

Montana .

H ist f — n o ry o f o re stry. W e can ot perfectly under stand the history O f forestry in o u r o w n State until we study the conditions that led up to the formation o f our National Forests . When people first settled 264 NATIONAL PR OBLEMS IN MONTANA

in the United States there was an abundance o f

wood for everybody . In fact there was so much that the people were careless ; they used whatever they wanted f o r themselves with no thought f o r their

children and grandchildren . Choice woods were used for firewood and fence rails ; as a consequence we have had t o learn t o be satisfied with the inferior

f o r woods for house finishing and furniture . — P . Marsh . G . The first person to try to make the people realize the importance o f caring for their f . . o forests was G P Marsh Vermont , a man who had held diplomatic positions in Europe . He was impressed with the way the foreign countries took f 1864 h care o their forests . In he called t e attention o f the Am e rIcan people to their wasteful ways and pointed o u t t o them the good effect that the proper care o f the forests would have upon the fl o w o f

o u r o . streams , commerce , and ther national conditions This was the first suggestion that any o ne had made f toward the making o laws t o protect the forests .

Ar D b o r ay. Another movement which has had a tremendous effect was the establishment o f Arbor “ Day . It was the happy thought of a pioneer settler n f o the treeless plains o f Nebraska . By his ef ort

o n Arbor Day was adopted in his State , and the first Arbor Day more than o ne million trees were

o ne planted . Since that time more than billion

trees have been planted in Nebraska . Once it was

o almost treeless . N w it is a state with millions

o f t o young growing trees , due almost wholly the i H n . o . Arbor Day planting , started by the J Sterl ng Morton in

266 NATIONAL PR OBLEMS IN MONTANA

ern part o f the State is o ne great Open plain with

few trees . A great deal o f the forest land is privately

o f l t o owned and some it be ongs the State .

Th e c e h e f e — n ar o f t o r st . I order to have a well kept forest there must be a great number o f men in the service t o patrol t h e forest and watch for fires ; t o keep the roadways open ; t o survey the land and measure the trees large enough to have commercial

f o r value , and mark these sale ; to plant new trees and care f o r the young ones already planted ; t o study the kinds o f timbers and determine which are the best f o r certain localities ; and t o find a marke t

. t o o for those ready to be cut Then , , fences have to be built to keep the grazing stock from the young trees and trails made so that the rangers can easily f reach any part o the forest .

e Fo re st fir s . We used t o look upon forest fires as something which could not be avoided , but the foresters have taught us that fires in a forest may be controlled just as fires in town may be ; but there must be just the same amount o f fire apparatus in

t n o f the forest that there is in the ow , though it is a different kind . There must be watchmen , who are called patrols ; and telephones and roads o r trails

Y o u h o w ditfi all through the forest . can imagine cult it would be f o r men to go quickly through the woods if there were no trails through the fallen tim ber and thick underbrush . There are times during particularly dry seasons when nothing can be done t o stop a fire when it is

o f once started . At those times it is the business s the patrols t o see that no fires get started . It take FORESTRY 267

f f o r a lo t o vigilance , campers in the woods are care less , and sparks from engines are dangerous . During the summer o f 1910 the most disastrous fires in the history o f the forestry service occurred throughout the Northwest . The following description o f that dreadful time is taken from the report o f “ the State Forester . Throughout the West the winter snowfall and spring rains were unusually light , so that with the oncom ing o f summer the supply o f

r su face moisture rapidly dried away , and an ab normal and steadily increasing number o f fires fol f lowed . Through the summer the conditions o drought grew worse and worse, until in parts o f the Northwest they became the most severe within f the period o Weather Bureau records . Steady high w inds were combined with almost complete failure f hi o the light summer precipitation , w ch usually mit igates the severity o f summer droughts in the moun

o f tains . By the middle August the Forest Service

t o was straining every resource hold in check , with a force entirely inadequate to the work , the multi f hi plying fires . Out o t s situation there developed a a national disaster . From the Pacific Co st region eastward to central Montana the forests o f the n Northwest seemed suddenly to burst i to flames .

Fierce winds attained , in Northern Idaho and West ern Montana , hurricane proportions . The scattered

fires were driven together and lashed into fury , until they forced t o shelter (where shelter could be

o f hi found) the scattered bands fire fighters . Wit n a few days ’ time the National Forests suffered losses which surpassed the total inflicted by all the fires 268 NATIONAL PR OBLEMS IN MONTANA

o f former years since Government protection o f the ” “ forests began . He further says that These terrible fires (when over seventy -five men lost their lives) exerted an influence which it would be hard to over

o f estimate , for they were the means awakening public sentiment and creating a realization of the ” o f fire danger and the possibility keeping it down . — fi e s i i In 19 11 A r a s o c at o n . the State Forester was instrumental in starting an association to fight

the fire hazard . This was a combination of State ,

Federal , and private interests . Together they appro p riat e d enough to put thirty - six patrolmen in the

field . This was but a beginning as only about five f per cent o the forests in the State was covered . This is good work because it is interesting the pri vate holders in the principles of forestry , and it is hoped will lead to better legislation for o u r State

Forests . h T e nu rse ry o f th e H e l e na f o r e st . In the Helena

National Forest there is , near Boulder , a nursery for f the planting o young trees . These trees are grown from seed planted in beds with removable covers . The seed beds are kept well weeded and cultivated and at the end o f a year the trees are most of them

about an inch high . They are then transplanted into

open beds . There is an apparatus for putting them into the transplant bed which plants a long row at

o n e time . At the end o f the second year the trees

o r t o have grown another inch two , and are ready be planted in the forest . The Forest Supervisor is experimenting with many different vari eties o f pine and other species su itable

270 NATIONAL PR OBLEMS IN MONTANA

o f f o r proceeds the forest are left the forest expenses , n and it does o t half pay them . Before any outside timber sales are made o r any large grazing permits are granted , the forester must u make s re that the local demand is satisfied first , n o t only the present demand , but what is likely t o be needed in future years . No grazing permits will be granted where the forest could be injured by

o n o f it , such as steep hillsides where the trails the stock might cause deep gullies which would even

u all o f t y cause the washing away the forest covering . We can see that by all o f these means the Gov e rnm e nt is striving t o make the forests useful t o the people . CONCLUSION

— Mo nt ana a t re asu re st at e . In every period o f

It s history Montana has been a treasure state . To ’ the Indians it was a hunter s Paradise ; t o the fur

- o f traders , a store house valuable furs ; to the pros

c o rs p e t , a land with fabulous wealth of minerals ; to o f the stockmen , vast fields luxuriant grasses ; to

l o f o f the lumbermen , mil ions feet valuable timber ; and to the farmer a land o f fruit and grain which prom ises t o yield rich harvests as long as there are l workers to till the soi .

An agricu lt u ral st at e . Three things have made it possible for Montana to develop into an agricu l

tural state . These are irrigation , scientific farming , f and the building o new railroads . — Th e Milw au ke e ro ad . The greatest event in the history o f Montana since the discovery o f rich mines was the opening up o f the Judith and Mussel shell Valleys by the buildin g o f the lWilw au ke e railroad

Th e Ju dith B asin . The Judith Basin has for b ’ many years een known as the stockman s paradise . Of late it has been developing into the farmer ’ s

no t paradise . This has come as a surprise to the

Montana people . We all knew that it was only the distance from the railroad that was keeping this most

f in h e fertile valley o Montana t background . Agri 272 CONCLUSION

culture and stock- raising have not been the only

o f o f attractions this section the country . Mining

o o u r t o , has flourished , and from there famous Mon

tana sapphires have come .

Th e Mu s se l sh e ll Valle y. N o t only the Judith Basin but almost the whole o f the Musselshell Valley ‘was changed from a vast cattle range to a country f p farms and prosperous towns . The Milwaukee follows the Musselshell R iver from its utmost source

t o the point where the river turns north . The farm ers in this section used to take their products hi ll w ch were cattle and wool to Bi ings , a distance

o f sixty miles . They did not object t o the long drive for they were not worrying about the country

no t being developed . They knew as soon as the railroad came in that they would have to turn their

stock ranches over to the farmers . When this time finally came there were those w h o predicted that the country would never again be as prosperous as it

had been .

Th e Milw au k e e t o wns . Since the Milwaukee was built we begin to be fam iliar with the names o f

Roundup , Two Dot , Musselshell , and Three Forks ;

and we hear a great deal more about Lewistown , Mi Miles City , Deer Lodge , and ssoula than we did h before . Two Dot takes its name from a man w o had a stock farm in the early days where the to wn

n him Tw o D o ls no w . o e t b e is Every called Wi on , cause the brand f o r his cattle was t w o dots

o f as Roundup was the name a stage station . It w a stopping place in stock- raising days f o r all trav

ele rs bound to o r from Billings . So also was Mussel

274 CONCLUSION boundary ; and a line from Lewistown to Great Falls which makes it possible for passengers from Lewistown t o connect with Great Northern points . A line from Armistead south o f Dillon into the Salmon River country l n Idaho now saves the long stage ride and

t o heavy teaming that used be necessary .

i d s u e f u i Th e ra lro a a b r au o p bl city . The rail roads have done more than build new lines . As

o n we have shown in the chapter dry farming , they have contribute d toward the maintaining of Agri cultural Experiment Stations and they have exten l sive y advertised the country by leaflets and books . ’ They also have been running h o m e se eke rs excursions

f o r from the Eastern States several years . In this

Be publicity campaign the Great Northern leads . f o . cause his great interest in the State , James J ’ Hill s name is famous all over the United States .

He has been a friend to conservation .

S cie ntific f arm ing . The railroads were necessary f o r o f scie n the development these valleys , but the t ifi c farming had made farming possible o n the high

‘ est benches ; land which before was valuable only as pasture land no matter h o w close the railroad n might run o w is yielding grain and vegetables , and even fruit . TITLES FOR COMPOSITION AND ORIGINAL RESEAR CH

i i i i . 1. Kamas Pra r e , the meet ng place of Ind ans and fur traders

t a . 2 . S ories of the old tr ppers

i . 3 . Yankee Jim , the trapper and gu de

: 4 Angus McD o nald and his son Duncan .

1 0 What Audubon wrote about Fort Union and the people living there .

5

9 . Ignace Saxi , an Iroquois among the Flatheads

1 7 Indian remains in the Bitter Root Valley . 0 i . 0 The first loca tion of St . Ignatius M ssion 3 « Major Alexander Culbertson and his family .

10 . t o a u Journeys of Manuel Lisa Mont na , taken from the jo rnals of early

exp lorers .

i . . 11. e i The Chout au fam ly , the St Lou s fur traders hl - 2 e . i his . G n . 1 . W lliam H As ey and fur trading enterprises

3 G . 1 . The reen River rendezvous i McKe n z e . 14 . Life of Kenn eth

in . 15 . Hudson Bay Company trappers Montana i f e 16 . di i Stories of Indian ch efs of ferent trib s , giving consecut ve lists as

far as possible .

17 . Boats used by the Indians .

18 . What the bufl alo meant to the Indians .

19 . What difference did the acquisition of guns and horses make in the life of the Indians ?

20 . Of what material did the Montana Indians make their arrowheads and W here and how was it obtained?

- 21. e s a s a . L gend , t le , and folk lore of Mont na tribes

22 . ds n i f ur Metho of transportation by land and water of I d ans , traders,

o re rs .

23 . n ilr i a Freighti g before the ra oad was built, ncluding description of w gons ,

i . an mals used , and roads 2 4 . Have any prehistoric remains been found in Montana?

25 . The passes over the mountains . 2 6 . A trip up the lVIisso uri on a stea mboat .

27 . The Bozeman Road . 276 COMPOSITION AND ORIGINAL R ESEAR CH

ni 28 . U f U G y p the Missouri River rom Fort on to reat Falls b motor boat, i in not ng the spots mentioned the journals of the early travelers .

29 . a : i , i Roads and tr ils The Bozeman Tra l the Mullan Road , Br dger Trail ,

Fiske Route, Corinne Wagon Road . ’ e m e t s in 30 . Father D S route going to Fort Colville from the Bitter

Root .

3 1. n 1855 , i as The cou cil of w th the events and conditions leading up to it,

G . . described in the life of overnor I I Stevens .

a 32 . The story of the old mining c mp of Pioneer .

33 . it s i Cantonment Stevens , the purpose for which it was built , s te and

present remains .

a . 34 . History of mining in Mont na

3 il a a ? 5 . Who bu t the first qu rtz mills and for wh t mines ni 36 . How the earliest settlers commu cated with each other and with the ” folks at home .

3 n i . 7 . The establishment of cou t es

i . 38 . Earliest ranching exper ences

3 . . . 9 . The V F horse ranch

40 . : G u n O X Stories of the old cattle ranches The Bow , the , the ranch

. did on Bitter Creek , the ranch on Powder River To whom they belong and when were their most prosperous times ?

4 1. The old sheep ranches .

: r . 4 2 . Judith Basin its treasures and treasu ers

4 3 . Lieutenant Bradley and the historical work he did for Montana .

44 a 1855 a . A military history of Mont na from to d te .

i m i 45 . Everyday life of the soldiers and the r fa lies at Fort Ellis and other

early Montana forts .

4 6 . di o t a History of the sc very and developmen of the Anacond Mine . 4 7 . O History of the country pened up by the Milwaukee Railroad .

4 8 . The two capitals of Montana .

4 . 9 The three constitutional conventions . 5 0 . Amendm ents to the state constitution .

5 . 1 History of the codes of Mont ana law .

52 . O s : i i a ur governor interesting bits about them and their adm n str tions .

5 3 . History of political parties in Montana .

5 4 . Historical geography of Montana . ’

55 . Montana s part in national history . ’

5 6 . Montana s soldiers in the War of 1898 . i 5 1 Local history . What are the mportant events of your country ?

58 . The Montana Historical Society . l il . afl 5 9 . Proposed ra roads How wil they e ct the sta te ?

60 . What is the work of the forest nurseries ?

QUESTIONS ON TH E STORY OF MONTANA

PART I

EARLY EXPL ORE RS

s a 1. Who was the American state m n who saw the possibilities of the western country ? What were the early explorers searching for ? What Indians guided Lewis and Clark over the mountains ? What nationality made the best fur traders ? What Indian Village was an importa nt center for the explorers and fur traders ? Where was the Verendrye Plate found? To what countries did Monta na belong before the Louisiana Purchase ? When did Montana become United States territory ? How long did it take Lewis and Clark to make their trip to the Pacifi c? What was the name of the Indian interpreter of the Lewis and Clark expedition? Why did the wife of this interpreter become an important his torical character? At what point did Le vvis and Clark cross the Bitter Root Mountains ? Why did Lewis and Clark pass through the Bitter Root Valley instead of going down the Salm on River? What Indians guided the Lewis and Clark expedition through the mountains ? ’ What was the object of Manuel Lisa s trip to the upper Missouri? Who was the first white man to visit the Yellowstone N ational Park? What infl uence did the War of 1812 have upon Montana history? What sort of canoes did the Verendrye s us e ? What sort of canoes were used by the Upper Missouri fur traders ? What was a p erio gu e ? A bull-boat? How were the keel-boats transported up the river? What was the name given to the French boatmen ? What tribe of Indians did Le wis encoun ter on his voyage down the river? W h ere was the home of the Flatheads ? 280 QUESTIONS

What Indians lived east of the Rockies and north and west of the lWisso uri?

a i Wh t Ind ans , whose home was in the Snake River country , were often at the Three Forks of the Missouri ? Wha t Indians lived in the Big Horn Valley ? Where did Lew is and Clark have their first V iew of the Rockies ? ’ What did the finding of the eagle s nest prove to Le wis and Clark? ? Who were the Three Forks of the Missouri na med for Wh at game was most dreaded by the Indians ? ? What animals were the most useful to the Indians ? What anima ls furnished the choicest skins At wha t point on the Missouri was the first trading post built ? ’ ? Why are not the Ve re ndrye s journals useful to historians Name two present-day historians w h o have made the sources of

exploring history accessible to the general public .

PART II

INDIAN S

i 1. What Ind ans (according to our records) were the first to occupy the Missouri River Valley ? Of what were the lodges made before the fur traders brought clot h to the Indians ? How did the l\Io nt ana Indians acquire horses ? ? Which Montana Indians were t h e first to ha ve guns ? Why were t h e Flat heads and Blackf eet such bitter enem ies ? What tribe of Blackfeet were cont inually at war with the C rows What dreaded tribe from the ea st of the Misso uri hunted in the Yellowstone Valley ? Why did all the Monta na Indians go to hunt in the Yellowstone ? What tribe of Indians made S a ca j awea a captive ? What did Lewis and Clark call t h e Flatheads ? W h at comm odity could the Assiniboines off er to induce the f ur traders to build a post as far up t h e river as Fort Union ? - Which of all the tribes were considered the best robe makers ? Wha t was the Indian name for the Crows ? The skins of what animals were obtained at Fort Benton ? ? Of what tribe was Arap o o ash the chief

282 QUESTIONS

i 17 What were the four k nds of boats used by the f ur traders before the use of the steamboat? h e 18 . W en did the first st amboat go to Fort Union ?

19 . Who took the first steamboat to Fort Benton ? 2 ? 0 . Who was the most noted trapper of Montana 21 . Who was a famous guide for overland travelers t o Calif ornia and the Oregon cou ntry ? 2 2 . Which of the large fur companies operated on the Uppe r Columbia River? 2 h 3 . W y do you suppose Thompson Falls was so named ?

24 . What was the principal post on the upper Columbia ?

25 . Who was Angus MacD o nald ?

26 . What can you tell of his son Duncan ? 2 7 . What transaction between the United States and the Hudson Bay Company in 1872 was an importa nt one for Monta na ?

28 . Who has written the most important and comprehensive work on the fur trade of the Missouri River ?

PART IV

VISITOR S T O

1. Why did Prince Maximilian m outfitting post when going up the Missouri ? i 2 . In what boat did Maxim lian go up

H OW did McKe zi ? 3 . he go from Fort Union to Fort n e did u ? 4 . How he make the ret rn trip R ’ ? Q Why was Maxim ilian s visit cut short G How far up the river did Catlin go ? Q What f ur trader made the visits of Maximilian and Audubo n a pleasure? ? 8 . What part of Montana did Audubon visit a n i ? 9 . Who was the first missionary to the Mont na I d ans

10 . What is a Pembina Cart ? 1 h i 1. W ere did G overnor Stevens and his surveying party make the r head quarters while ih Montana? e s 12 . Where did G overnor Stevens take formal poss s ion as G overnor of Washin gton ? ? 13 . Did G overnor Stevens make any other visits to Montana ’ im il 14 . What Montana man possesses a copy of Max ian s original journal ? 1 l ’ ? 5 . What does Chittenden say of Maximi ian s journal QUESTIONS 283

What great criticism is there of Catlin ’ s work ? ’ How do Father D eSm e t s journals differ from those of Maximilian and Audubon ? What G overnment Report describes the work Of the railroad surveyin g — ? parties of 1853 1855 f ? Who has compiled a li e of I . I . Stevens Wh ere is the best account of the Council of 1855 to be found ?

PART V

MIS SIO NARIE S

i 1. What Ind ans told the Flatheads about the missionaries

ui 2 . How many delegates were sent to St . Lo s for missionaries ? 3 r be a . What adventu es fell the first deleg tion ? 4 Who was Ignac e Saxi 5 ? . Who was the first Black Robe to come Q Did he stay in Montana ? ? Q How many tim es did Fat her Desmet come to Monta na W Where was the first service held in Monta na ?

D h i e in ? C W ere was the first m ssion establish d Montana

0 h e did a 1 . W at wonderful s cret the early missionaries learn when they c me to live with the Indians ? ? 11. Who is the priest best remembered in the Bitter Root Valley ’

2 . ? 1 . Why was St Mary s Mission closed

13 . What was done with the buildings ? ? 14 . What became of the permanent mission west O f the mountains 15 What missionary ministered to the Blackfeet?

16 . When was missionary work begu n with the Crows ?

PART VI

TH E FIR S T SETTLER S

1. In what year was gold dis covered in Calif ornia?

2 . What route did the California gold seekers take in order to re ach the Eldorado ? 3 . W h at did the Indians call the G reat Salt Lake Trail ? 4 . Who was the first known prosp e ctor in Montana ? 284 QUESTIONS

- n G ? 5 . Who was the half breed who fou d gold in old Creek

6 . What two brothers were the first settlers to publish the discovery of gold in Montana ? ? 7 . In what valley was the first settlement made di ? 8 . When was gold scovered in Bannack 9 in G ? . When was gold discovered Alder ulch

six l 0 N . 1 . ame the men who discovered gold in Alder G u ch hi ? 11. W ch of the six was the first to make the discovery did G i 12 . How Alder ulch compare w th other placer creeks in richness and extent? s G ? 13 . What was the ettlement at Alder ulch named ? 14 . How did the earliest settlers come to Montana

a 15 . What year did steamboats first re ch Fort Benton ?

16 . What Indians made the river trip dangerous ?

a ? 17 . What currency was used by the e rly settlers l in 863 ? 18 . What peri came to the settlers the summer of 1

r a ? 19 . Why were the settlers afraid to p osecute the road gents ? 2 a 0 . Were the road agents as bad in Bann ck as in Virginia

r nf 21. Before the territo ial laws were e orced what was the method used to keep law-breakers in check ? 2 ? 2 . Who was elected sheriff to fill the place of Crawford

23 . Through what secret society were the Vigilantes able to organize ? 4 2 . Who was the leader of the road agents ?

25 . Wha t eventually happened to the road agents ?

26 . How long were the people terrorized by the road agents ? 2 7 . How long did it take the Vigilantes to bring the road agents to justice? 28 What were the questions of the day which interested the settlers after the suppression of the road agents ?

r 29 . When was Montana made a ter itory ?

30 . Where was the first territorial capital ? 3 1. Who named Montana ?

32 . Who was the first governor of the territory ?

33 . Who appointed the territorial officers ?

34 . What was done at the first legislat ive assembly? 35 . When was the Historical Society incorporated?

3 6 . What were the first counties ? What town was built at Last Chance G ulch?

38 . When was gold discovered at Last Chance ?

39 . How did Conf ederate G ulch compare in richness and extent with Alder G ulch ? 40 . What town grew up on Silver Bow Creek ?

41. Who found the first placers on Silver Bow Creek ?

286 QUESTIONS

W a s Fort B uford in Montana? W as Fort Benton a military post? With what tribes were the two great Indian ba t tles of Montana fought ? Were the Sioux Monta na Indians ? What famous mining country belonged originally to the Sioux ? Why were the troops pursuing the Sioux ? What three generals were engaged in the troubles with the Sioux ? Who was Custer ’ s general ? What office did Custer hold? How many companies were under Custer ? How many Indians did the soldiers think were in the village? H OW many were there in reality ? ’ How many of Custer s companies were with him during his last sta nd ? What became of the Indians ? Where is the Custer battle-field ? Who was the great Sioux chief ? Was he a brave warrior? Where is the Cheyenne Reservation ? ? To what s tate did the N e z Percé s belong Did all the N e z Percé s go on the war-pa th ? What were the names of the N e z Percé s chiefs who were in the Battle of the Big Hole ? Where did these Indians want to go ? Who was the general who had charge of the Montana soldiers in the Battle of the Big Hole ? What captain and lieutenant were killed in the battle ? Did the Indians escape to Canada ? What happened at the Bear Paw Mountains ? To W hom did Chief Joseph surrender ? Where can you find a reliable account of all military expeditions ? In what reports would you look for a description of the railroad surveys ? Where can you find an account of the building of the Mullan Road ? Where can you find the facts regarding the bu ilding of the early military posts ? ’ What two soldiers wives have written descriptions o f Western army lif e ? What soldier was intere ste d in e arly Montana history? QUESTIONS 7

PART VIII

DEVEL OPMENT OF TH E S TATE

N e m ini . 1. am the five placer ng towns

r a wn . 2 . N ame the fou stage st tion to s ? w as - i i “h ? 3 . W hen the first gold bear ng quartz d scovered ere ? What town became a lively silver camp Which town was the best gold camp ? ? When did Butte become a copper camp What t wo men brought the quartz mines of Butte to the notice of the ? treas ure seekers ° w as i l 9 Who the first persistent m ner on Anaconda Hi l, and what was ? his m ine Bl e ? 9 . When was Anaconda ine first develop d

10 . Who of the early settlers were the first to explore the Yellowstone National Park ? did i ? 11. When the Washburn party do the r exp loring ? 2 s 1 . Who were the fir t five governors of Montana a ? 13 . Who named Mont na i in ? 14 . What was the first ra lroad Montana

N i in co m en 15 . What lands in Montana were granted the orthern Pac fic p sation for building their road ?

16 . Where was the golden spike driven which commemorated the com ? ple t io n of the Northern Pacific ? r in l\Io n t ana 17 . What ended the navigation of the Missou i 8 in o f 1 . What town was created and what town revived by the build g the G reat Northern ? “ ’ ” i is ill ? 19 . Wh ch road Jim H s Road

r l ini . 20 . N ame five agricultu al val eys of the early m ng days i a a ? 21. What k nd of stock was first raised in Mont n 2 nk l 2 . What caused the settlers to thi of the Yel owstone Valley as a good cattle country ? a What important lesson did the cattle men learn in the winter of 1886 ? s Who had the first sheep in Montana ? a How do es Montana rank as a wool and shee p producing sta te ?

c a e ? s . When w as the territ orial apital ch ng d to Helena ? h did i i a m ini 27 . W y not Phil psburg remain an mport nt ng town n it s 28 . Which of the Montana tow s is now noted for gold m ines ?

29 . Who were the l ast five governors of the territorial days ? 288 QUESTIONS

? 30 . W hen was the constitution of Monta na made ? 3 1. How long after this did Montana become a sta te

32 . On what day was issued the proclamation recognizing Montana as one of the states ?

33 . i Name the governors s nce Montana became a sta te .

PART IX

TRAN SF OR MATI O N OF TH E INDIAN S

G 1. What great service did overnor Stevens perform for the white men and the Indians ? w w ’ an n . . 2 . In hat book ill you find accou t of W T Hamilton s part in the council of 1865 at Fort Benton ? t y did the Flatheads refuse to leave the Bitter Roo t Valley ? ? How w as J . M . Bozeman killed ? Wh at Indians w ere on the Bla ckfoot Reservation W here w ere the G ros Ventres of the Prairie and the Assiniboines ? What Shoshone chiefs w ere w ell -known characters around Virginia City ? ? Who w ere the fa ther and grandfather of Charlot

’ ’ W hat chief was a f riend of Cha rlot s grandfather ? TO w hat tribe did Little Dog belong ? ? t at office did Francis E . Leupp hold Wh at was his ambit ion for the Indians?

t his What book has Mr. Leupp writ en about plans for the Indians ? What is meant by the Burke Amendm ent to the Dawes Act? What Indians can vote ? What is meant by an allotment ? ? Was any land left for settlers after the Indian allotments were made What good condition followed the inauguration of the Crows ’ Annual Wild West Show ?

PART X

NATI O NAL PR OBLEMS

i e th e an ? 1. What three national problems nterest d people of Mont a ? 2 . When was irrigation first thought of t w 3 . What engineer of the War Department wrote a repor sho ing how the ? government could handle the irrigation problem

290 QUESTIONS

3 is i ? 7. What dry farm ng i i i 38 . To what institution should you wr te for a full descr pt on of the dry farming system as it is best practised in Montana ?

39 . How many acres in Montana can never be irrigated ? ? 4 0 . Why is it impossible to irrigate these lands 4 i 1. Who was the Nebraska man who invented the mplements for dry farm ing ?

- ? 42 . Did he discover the dry land system 4 3 ? . When is the greatest rainfall in Montana 44 . Why are these months the best times for rain for the farmer?

45 . Why then should Montana be called an arid state or rather what con dition of the atmosphere coun teracts the good rainfall ? 4 6 ? . What is the principle of dry farming 4 ’ 7 . What is Campbell s method ? ? 4 8 . When did the Montana Experiment Station first begin to dry farm

4 9 . What two railroads have helped them financially?

50 . What is the work of the demonstration farms ? 5 1 . Were the men at the Experiment Station the first to try dry farming in Montana ?

- 52 . DO the dry land farmers of the present day fully understand the system ? 53 ? . What inreality are the forest reserves 54 . In what way are the irrigation projects dependent upon the forests ? 55 ? . How can good fores try in Montana affect N ebraska and the Dakota s

5 6 . ta Who was the first man , and from what s te , to realize that it was important for the people of the United States to care for their forests ? 5 7 . When was Arbor Day first thought of ? 58 . What efl e ct has Arbor Day had upon Nebraska ? 5 9 . What was the Timber Culture Act? 6 0 ? . What is the difl erence between a forest reserve and a national forest 6 1. How were the forestry laws improved by the law of 1897?

62 . l s s Which is the most thick y wooded , the eastern or we tern part of Montana ? 63 . What is the work of the men in the forest service? 64 . How can forest fires be prevented ?

65 . In what year were forest fires most destructive ?

66 . What good grew out of these terrible fires ? ? 67 . How can the forestry association help Montana 6 8 . What work do forest nurseries do ? 6 9 . How may settlers use the forests ?

70 . How are the receipts of the national forests used? 71 DO the forests pay for themselves ?

72 . Who are the first to profit from the forests ? QUESTIONS 291

C O NCLUSIO N

? Why has Montana been named the Treasure State What three thing s have made it possible for Montana to develop into ? an agricultural state What rich valley was Opened up by the building of the Milwaukee Road? How did the Milwaukee Road change the Mu ssle sh e ll Valley ?

Name the important towns along the Mil waukee . l B Tell of the new branch railroads lately bui t in l o nt ana . In what way have the railroads helped Bl o nt ana beside s the buildin g ? Of the roads

8 . What finally h as been the greatest factor in the agricultural development of hIo ntana ? PR ONOUN CIN G G LOSSARY

' ’ h - sa - ra -ka Dl a rias m a r- - Absaraka . a e ye as ' Beau Ha rnois bo - Ar- nwa rias) ' ' Beaux Hommes bOz-o m m a h -her ’ ’ - - - e . . b Be ne t se e . net se me shell ’ ' a - m in- - - Chantier . sh n tye ne ta rees ' ' s a r - -O - - Charboneau . h bon (sing ) m e pur c e ' ' - - - r a r . n Cha lot . sh low (plu ) e pur cc ’ ’ ' - - - - e w a s O re ille s . Chippeways . chip p y Pend d p o nd o ray ’ ' - io - Pe r u e s . r Chouteau . show tow g pi o g ’ - o u a . a C e s . cows Pieg ns pee g ns ' ' - r - i De Smet . de smet Pie re pe e a r ’ ' D ro illard r w - a r ru - d e y Prudhomme , p dom , ' - - i n r la a G a r . Ft . de la R e e fo t de R in b iel ga bri e l ' ’ r - o u - - Ft . Keogh . fo t Kee Rendezvous ra n da vu

' ' ' - v a aw a - k - - - a . sa a a G ervais . zher Sac j e j wee a

' ' ' - - - - - ro t r . r . r G ros Ventres . . g von St Regis Bo gia st ee j is bo r gi a ’ ' H allo ch s h al - loc h-chs S ale es h sa -lce sh ' ’ Helena hel - e n- a Saskatchewan sas -ca tch -e -wan ' ’ ' - - - - . . o a . as Iroquois ir kwoi S xi , Ignace sacks eye , een y ' ’ - - — - Kalispells ka lis pells Shoshones . sho sho nees (sing ) ' ' Kootenais koo -te-nay sho- sho -m e ’ - l w w . Lapwai ap e ye (or lap i) plu and sing . sue ' ' i -ra- ss-t - Laram e . . la mee o mus ’ ' - - Lisa . lee sa tee ta wn ' ’ ' Malad ma- lahd viér-e n-der-e e vw a-ya-zhur

INDEX

20 21 25 29 37 s 10 14 15 21 Blackfeet Indians , , , , , , Canoe , , , ,

38 4 1 43 44 45 4 8 4 9 50 5 1 r 165 , , , , , , , , , Cantonment Jo don , 5 2 5 6 57 5 8 59 60 67 72 73 98 161 , , , , , , , , , Cantonment Stevens , , 76 77 78 79 97 114 115 117 167 , , , , , , , , Cantonment Wright , 8 159 16 1 175 176 237 238 o v G . 11 . 226 , , , , , , , Carpenter , B Platt , — 239 240 1 246 Co l. . 173 194 , , Carrington , H ,

48 9 8 Mrs n 7 117 11 . . 194 Blackfoot Cou try, , , , , Carrington , H B 229 G 94 10 1 Catlin , eorge, , 11 168 169 218—21 271 272 Blackfoot Pass , , , Cattle , , , — k t s 48 52 9 10 Blac foo Po t, Charboneau, , — f 254 257 233 4 239 . e Black oot Project, , Charlot, , Also cut pag 237 104 Blackfoot Reservation , i 21 237 C 172 173 174 177 186 Blood Ind ans , , heyennes , , , , , , — s 14 8 194 234 237 Boat , Early , , ,

167 ' Bonner, Chicago , Milwaukee and St . Paul Ca t 64 70 88 Bonneville, p , , , Railroad (see Milwaukee) 10 1 172 174 197 205 223 i 255 25 6 Bozeman , , , , , , Ch nook , , — i . M. 172 234 5 72 Bozeman , J , , Ch ppeways , hi 11 M. 13 17 32 33 Bozeman Pass , C ttenden , Hiram , , , , , 172 173 177 234—5 4 8 60 70 75 83 88 89 90 101 Bozeman Road , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 2 L . 4 5 Lt . CO G 17 Brackett , , Albert , 32 33 118 Bradbury, , Chouteau , — Lt . 174 189 90 194 148 255 Bradley, , , , Chouteau County, ,

in . 32 33 M . i 28 Breck ridge, Henry , , Chouteau Family of St Lou s , , 69 70 71 83 84 6 1—3 64 65 66 71 74 75 76 Bridger, James , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 167, 170 , 171 81, 89 , 9 , 95 ’ l 84 H . 207 Bridger s Peak , Clagett, Wil iam , f s 16 25 28 35 37 39 42 m 175 176 Bu faloe , , , , , , , Clark , Malcol , ,

125 188 218 . A. 203 204 , , Clark, W , , l - 16 67 C i 8 11 12 15 20 Bu l boats , , lark, Will am, , , , , , s 21 106 Burke Amendment to the Dawe , 245 ’ bi 85 Act, Clark s Fork of the Colum a , , i i 184 273 163 166 Burl ngton Ra lroad , , , — — ’ 152 4 197 198 200 4 214 Of theY ello w st o ne 168 Butte, , , , , , Clark s Fork , , 224—5 19 1

e o f in Clearwat r, Battle the ( Idaho) , ’ Cad o t t e s s 98 123 187 Pa s , , 174 12 13 Camp Baker, Colter, John , , 4 85 . W . 258 11 30 3 65 Campbell, H , Columbia River, , , , , , i 84—5 256 111 113 170 172 2 10 214 Canada, Treaties w th, , , , , , , i 12 4 7 48 65 240 Canad an Fur Trade, , , , , Columbia River Indians ,

67 71 73 74 85 86 87 157 f G lilEh . l 51 152 197 , , , , , , , Con ederate , , , INDEX 295

ress 8 129 147 157 159 160 r 79 Cong , , , , , , , Dawson , And ew, 165 16 7 208 210 226 242 244 79 14 8 , , , , , , , Dawson County, , 25 1 253 11 , Dearborn River ,

s 228 260 144 172 197 20 1 238 Con ervation, , Deer Lodge, , , , , , 226 227 272 Constitutional Convention , , is r 14 8 201 Contributions to H torical Society Dee Lodge County, , 5 194 195 206 o d 110 of Montana , , , , Deer L ge River and Valley , ,

e 198 204 126 127 128 214 Copper Min s , , , , , 124 133 m s 262 Corinne (Utah) , , Demonstration Far , E li 88 90 Father 5 3 54 60 C o u es D r. , l ott , , De Smet , , , , , i 53—6 0 102 109—112 114 119 121 240 Councils w th the Indians , , , , , , , 99 100 102 124 157 158 159 NIill 202 , , , , , , , Dexter (Butte) , 164 174 197 Diamond City, ,

n s a is 148 125 274 Cou ty boundarie est bl hed , Dillon , ,

23 s a a 155 Cow Creek , Dim d le , Thom s J 179 d o 256 Crazy Horse , Do s n Diversion Dam ,

5 9 72 Lu m m o n 200 Crees , , Drum Mine ,

Gen . 179 126 Crook, Drummond,

- — G0 1) . . e 226 m i 250 257 62 Crosby, J Schuyl r , Dry far ng , , n 22 29 47 110 111 3 1 Crow Cou try, , , , , , Dye , Eva Emery ,

129 , 172 di 22 29 8 3 4 4 8 3 9 . 9 7 K . 19 Crow In ans , , , , , , , Eaton , A ,

49 50 5 1 52 54 59 73 79 80 a r 129 , , , , , , , , , Edg r , Hen y , 158 172 176 177 86 234 237 1 Go v. 140 147 207 , , , , , , , Edgerton , Sidney, , , ,

24 6 , 247 229

s 118 t 148 ,Crow Missionarie , Edger on County, l Ma or 50 li Act 227 Cu bertson , j Alexander, , Enab ng , 52 75 77 78 79 80 86 96 122 Of 14 6 147 , , , , , , , , Executive ficers , First , , u Br Ma Gen ev. or . G hI t a A. a o n na C ster, j eorge , Exp eriment St tion of the — — 179 184 ul r l 25 8 26 1 2 Agric tu al Col ege, , M G rs . A. 194 Custer, eorge ,

u Ca t . 182 air 129 C ster , p Tom , F weather , Bill , s 14 8 167 ll 5 200 20 1 202 L. 1 3 Cu ter County, , Farlin , Wi iam , , , , — — as 178 180 4 194 r a 24 6 8 Custer M sacre , , , Farme s , Indi n , m in 257 274 Far g, Scientific, , — di s 176 85 a E r 212 2 13 Dakota In an , F rms , a ly, ,

D ako t ah 197 r A. 89 Lode , Fe ris , W . ,

a a 4 47 175 185 186 nla Fran o is Be ne t se e 123 126 D kot s , The , , , , , , Fi y, g ( ) , ,

263 273 r 206 , Fi e Hole River, 203 204 a L. C t . 171 Daly, Marcus , , Fisk , p James ,

a 256 at ur 1VIissio narie s D ms , Diversion and Storage, Fl head Co iers for , es 245 — Daw Act , 105 9 296 INDEX

85 86 175 254 257 Flathead House , , Fort Peck , , , 20 22 35 37 43 i 173 174 Flathead Indians , , , , , , Fort Ph l Kearny, , 44 45 48 53 56 5 9 60 85 86 49 5 1 76 77 , , , , , , , , , Fort Piegan , , , , 87 95 96 103—17 16 1 162 186 71 96 167 168 , , , , , , , Fort Pierre , , , , 190 214 23 1—4 237 239—40 167 , , , Fort Randall , 85 86 239 a 80 168 Flathead Lake , , , Fort S rpy, , 103—17 118 174 176 Flathead Missions , Fort Shaw , , , 254 257 4 6 4 7 54 56 68 72 Flathead Project , , Fort Union , , , , , , , 22 37 10 3 162 73 74 75 76 77 79 81 82 85 Flathead Valley, , , , , , , , , , , , 214 233 92—8 10 1 132 , , , , 171, 175 , 2 12 126 127 197 199 18 Flint Creek , , , , Fort Union Chantier, 216 80 Flour Mills , First , Fort Van Buren ,

E . 205 207 2 12 68 240 Folsom , David , , French Fur Traders , , , , — 250 262 70 G ar 213 Forestry , , Fruit rowing, E ly , — o rs t h 168 12 13 28 30 45 - 53 F y , Fur Traders , , , , 54 80 6 1—90 158—9 Fort Alexander, , ,

175 a 45 4 6 Fort Assiniboine, Fur Tr ders , Earliest , ,

237 r 2 12 68 240 Fort Belknap , Fur Traders , F ench , , , , 4 9 5 6 57 63 76 79 a 87—90 Fort Benton , , , , , , , Fur Tr ders , journals ,

8 1 97 98 99 100 122 123 124 a r 73 , , , , , , , , Fur Tr ppers , F ee , 132 13 15 1 16 1 163 171 172 ki , 3, , , , , , Furs , The nd preferred by Cana 175 176 197 20 1 207 212 230 i 71 , , , , , d an Companies ,

i 18 69 Fort Benton Chant er, Furs , Value of a Pack , 83 126 127 Fort Bridger , , , 175 G 4 2 145 Fort Buford , , allatin River and Valley, , ,

. . 173 169 215 216 Fort C F Smith, , , 79 G 209 211 Fort Cass , arrison , , 85 86 111 113 163 G 3 1 Fort Colville, , , , , ass , Patrick ,

r 175 184 G 5 24 25 Fort Custe , , ate of the Mountains , , , 173 174 176 194 206 G 206 Fort Ellis , , , , , eysers , — 6 G Gen . 8 . . 7 78 179 1 1 187 9 Fort F A Chardon , , ibbon , , , 74 G 255 Fort Floyd , lasgow, 175 G 123 Fort Keogh, old, First finding of , 54 55 107 167 168 G 123 126 Fort Laramie, , , , , , old Creek , , 179 G 122 133 152 196 217 old Dust , , , , ,

i 76 78 79 97 117 ‘ G 197 199 226 Fort Lew s , , , , , old Quartz , , , 28 29 G Fort Lisa , , overnment Mails , Establishment 174 Of 146 Fort Logan , ,

r McKe nzie 75 76 77 78 92 93 G 227 228 Fo t , , , , , , overnors , State, , 175 G 147 207 208 Fort Maginnis , overnors , Territorial , , , , t 175 187 226 For Missoula , , O 114 2 13 G a a 167 Fort wen , , r h m ,

298 INDEX

Lar ent eu r 75 79 80 88 t 15 1 p , Charles , , , , Meagher Coun y , — “ ” a G u 150 1 a a t 126 Last Ch nce lch , Me t Str igh , 14 6 147 87 Legislative Assembly , First , , Meek , Joseph ,

Go v. 226 Men arini Father G 110 111 Leslie , Preston , g , regory , , ,

E . 242 24 7 114 Leupp , Francis , , i un 148 2 16 233 Lew s and Clark Co ty, , Michelle , di 8—12 o l A. 9 2 C . N 1 1 19 Lewis and Clark Expe tion , , Miles , elson , , 15 16 17 19—2 1 23—5 3 1 32 223 272 , , , , , , , Miles City, , 4 1—5 6 3 93 106 173—6 193 , , , Military posts , , t 272 274 164—7 171—2 177 Lewis own , , Military Roads , , , , 13 28—30 32 33 193 Lisa , Manuel , , , , , 63—6 l 2 1 22 4 6 Milk River and Va ley, , , , t 175 180 100 175 2 12 255 256 273 Lit le Big Horn , , , , , , , t 58 230—1 24 1 i 254 255—7 Lit le Dog , , , M lk River Project , ,

223 hIilw au kee R a 271 272 273 Livingston , ailw y , , , ’ - 11 163 135 Lo Lo Trail and Canyon , , , Miners Court , A ,

187 hl inne t are e s 10 (of the Missouri) , ,

Ca t 174 190 23 4 1 42 43 47 4 8 54 Logan , p , , , , , , , , G 187 19 4 1 Looking lass , Minnetarees (of the Prairies) , , — a 8 5 3 103 19 213 240 Louisiana Purch se , Missionaries , , , ,

254 257 a t 115 116 117 Lower Yellowstone Project , Missions , Life the , , , 2 9 2 4 2 2 Bl isso u la , 145 , 17 , 1 7, 1 , 7

McCo rm ick ul 236 a 148 216 , Pa , Missoul County, , — McD o nald 86 7 hi isso u la i 200 , Angus , M ne ,

McD o nald a 86 a 166 172 , Dunc n , Missoul River and Valley, , , — McKe nzie 71 5 214 216 , Kenneth, , — 17 8 93 r Fur 63 65 67 Mackinaw boats , , Missou i Company, , , ,

a 148 216 68 M dison County , , 2 20 92 di 4 6 D . 77 Ma son River and Valley , , , Mitchell , David , , 215 168 Mizpah Creek ,

a 238 a 147 208 M jor Jim , Montana (the n me) ,

a 256 l M lta , Montana Agricu tural College 4—6 9 12 18—9 25 8 26 1 Mandan Indians , , , , , Experiment Station , , 23 30 4 1 53 62 63 68 158 159 15 1 , , , , , , , , Montana City,

a 212 227 Mari s Pass , Montana made a State, — r 15 16 21 a 14 6 7 Ma ias River and Valley, , , , Montana m de a Territory, “ ” 22 63 72 76 176 273 a a 155 156 , , , , , Mont n Post , , 5 226 D r. 19 Marysville, Moody, , — 193 137 a Lt . n 16 1 7 Masons , Mull n , Joh , , — — — l a Prince 91 4 100 1 102 l 171 2 193 Maximi i n , , , , Mu lan Road , , 6 —9 l 21 39 r Lt . 1 8 170 y , , , River and Val ey, , , Ma nadie \ Musselshell

Gen . 207 229 240 271 272 273 Meagher , Francis , , , , , INDEX 99

— N i s 263 70 i i 151—4 196 197 at onal Forest , Placer M n ng , , , 2 N A , 07 54 69 105 120 168 ational Park , Platte River, , , , , , N s i in 172 avigation of the Mis our , End g — — Of 211 r 136 4 1 14 3 4 155 , Plummer , Hen y, , , N 167 170 25 8 263 264 i Father N 97 110 111 ebraska , , , , , Po nt, icholas , , , , — — N ha 225 6 114 117 8 ei rt , , N i 256 201 elson Reservo r, Pony Exp ress ,

N 14 1 142 143 a t h e G ls 15 evada City, , , Port ge at reat Fal ,

N H . 254 85 86 ewell , Frederick , Post Creek, ,

l ll o N e w and s 2 G v. F . 2 53 . 08 226 Bi , Potts , Benj , , N a 1\Ia ils 146 i 172 177 ewsp pers in the , Powder R ver and Valley, , , N e z n ia 20 86 105 107 179 Perces I d ns , , , , ,

6 86- 92 1a o r — 17 1 11 . W . 25 1 2 254 , Powell , j J , , l r o v. w 22 2 N G in L. 8 01 o ris , Ed , Powe l County,

N a ilr 164 172 r a l 176 215 222 orthern P cific Ra oad , , , P ickly Pear V l ey, , , — — 209 11 223 254 26 1 r s r at 254 7 , , , P oject , I rig ion , — — N e 85 122 7 132 177 8 orthw stern Company, Prospectors , , , , — 198 9, 217, 271

’ ’ F ll n Ma or R 158 r 6 O a o . 7 , j , P yor s Fork of the Yellowstone ,

O a 23 8 ld Sn g , — — O r t 106 7 l s 1 97 102 123 15 9 6 2 regon Missionaries , The fi s , Rai road , , , , , — — O r 8 12 53 164 192 3 208 12 271 274 regon Territo y, The , , , , , , , , — 84 5 10 7 123 172 186 187 a -in- —f a e e 182 , , , , , R in the , — O a 54 5 84 f a 260 regon Tr il , , Rain all, Annu l ,

O IVIine 200 a a H 199 riginal , R ttlesn ke ills ,

Ow rlI a o r 114 214 a a 139 en, j , , R ttlesn ke Ranch,

li F ather 113—4 Rava l , ,

a a 5 30 a n 114 Parkm n, Fr ncis , , R valli Cou ty, — 9 . F 6 3 i 200 202 l Ca t . . 1 7 71 1 Parrot M ne, , Rayno ds , p W , ,

n 83 a t 25 3 Pathfi ders , Reclam ion Fund, 254 . S . 183 184 249 at e Paxson , E , , , Reclam ion S rvice,

5 3 a a 25 5 Peace Councils , Red E gle L ke,

i a a 98 o 109 Pemb n C rts , Red R ck Lake,

m i a 35 u Pem c n , Religio s Service, The First in ’ d Ore ill e 22 5 8 115 a a 109 Pend Indians , , , , Mont n , 186 214 233 237 240 s 69 73 , , , , Rendezvou , , — Perio u es 15 111a or 180 1 g , Reno , j , hi 197 a s 257 P lipsburg , , Reserv tion Project , — — — a n i 21 4 5 4 8 52 73 t 236 7 24 5 6 257 Pieg n I d ans , , , , , Reserva ions , , , 228 2 E . 77 30 231 237 a Gov. , , , Rick rds , John , ’ “ ” 13 70 109 . . . Pierre s Hole , , , River of the West , by Mrs F F ee 154—5 87 Pion rs , Victor, 3 00 INDEX

— a A , 133 4 6 , 155 4 39 10 7 108 133 Ro d gents Sioux Indians , , , , , , - 4 7 172 173 174 177—86 19 1 234 23 Robe makers , , , , , , , 7 168 y , Rock Fork Creek Sisters of the House of Providence , a 117 Rocky Mount in Fur Company, 68—70 80 83 88 185 , , , Sitting Bull , — a 22 24 25 - 52 3 Rocky Mount ins , , , Small pox , 80 172 179 203 225 Rosebud River, , , Smelters , , 2 2 7 G0 1) . G 207 Roundup , Smith , reen Clay ,

Go v. B. 228 Smith , Robert , 10 19 42 4 3 m 174 Sacajawea , , , , S ith River, — . 15 7 1 E . 252 St Ignatius Mission , Smythe , William ,

. 9 12 29 4 9 6 1 71 80 5 29 59 ls St Louis , , , , , , , Snake Indians , , , (see a o 89 9 1 95 105—6 109 132 172 , , , , , , Shoshones) — . 6 1 5 n 13 22 St Louis Fur Traders , S ake River and Valley, , , ’ — . 255 6 105 127 St Mary s Lakes , , ’ — ’ . 112 5 S o h o n s 163 166 St Mary s Mission , Pass , , ’ — — — . 255 6 30 4 59 60 St Mary s Reservoir, Sources of History , , , ’ — — — — . 256 87 90 100 2 119 155 6 192 5 St Mary s River , , , , , . ’

. 118 7 9 St Peter s Mission , Spanish occupancy and traders , , ,

. 163 165 36 113 St Regis Borgia Valley, , , , 166 133 146 208 Stage coaches , , , S ale esh 85 197 House, Stage Stations , — r 11 128 274 G 226 7 Salmon Rive Country, , , State overnment , — — a l 84 121 t l 63 8 1 3 92 132 3 Salt L ke Trai , , Steamboa s , , , , , — Co l. 138 40 142 a 99 100 102 Sanders , Wilbur F , , Stevens , Haz rd , , , — — 146 156 Gov. . 55 9 97 100 , Stevens , I L , , , l 269 102 123—4 160—2 229 23 1 Saw Mi ling , , , , ,

ax a 107 112 188 213 214 S i , Ign ce , Stevensville , , , ,

Pu blic 147 a Go v. V . 228 Schools , , Stew rt , Samuel , i 257—62 271 274 i i 168 Scientific Farm ng , , , St nk ng Water River , — 269 - 113 217 23 24 6 272 Sequoia , Stock raising , , , , — — 127 8 St o m u s 239 40 Settlement of Montana , First , , 221—3 23 93 Sheep Raising , Stone Walls , The , , — a 22 u G 124 9 156 Sheep e ters , St art , ranville , , 9—11 19 20 22 35 37 124—7 128 129 Shoshones , , , , , , , Stuart, James , , , 38 4 2—4 5 3 237 238 127 , , , , (see also Stuart , Tom , 6 8 Snakes) Sublette, Andrew, 152 20 1 t 68 70 Silver Bow, , Suble te , Milton, , 20 1 68 70 Silver Bow County , Sublette , William , ,

l r 152 200 21 118 174 Si ver Bow C eek , , Sun River and Valley , , , , 198 199 204 225 226 215 254 257 Silver Mines , , , , , , , 122 S un 254 257 Silverthorne , River Project , ,

302 INDEX

128 N 13 22 White , John , Yellowstone ational Park , , 187 83 84 89 170 191 204—7 White Bird , , , , , , hi 107 79 W tman , Marcus , Yellowstone Posts , i s 5 11 Wind River and Mounta n , , Yellowstone River and Valley, , 22 69 13 2 1 25 28 29 38 39 2 , 1 , , , , , , , 4 , 69 , 223 272 79 85 158 167 177 2 18 223 235 Wool , , , , , , , , , i 70 88 l 76 92 Wyom ng , , Ye lowstone Steamer, ,