History of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming, 1540-1888
Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918 | Victor, Frances Fuller, Mrs., 1826-1902
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SC J^:e5.£sZ^r sc^ Cwflz F CJTZ Se ZZi-^ZLck. c'caizier zr iss F<'w'.I=r zzr-er rxzie-risacizz cFiez x ic mvmez. zz. zz.'r izirrain. r^: *zii Inezizr ns^ssscz^i Hr soc£ & 'ivil rlfciTg zissr i p^::iX ie aerHr 716 INDIAN WARS. eighty -five miles north of Julesburg, with a force of 2,500. Collins had one twenty-four-pound brass gun, with which, and with constant fighting, he held them off for twenty-two hours, losing but three men killed and eiorht wounded. “ O In April they again attacked 125 troops, under Collins, stationed at Mud springs, to the number of 1,500 Sioux and Cheyennes. The troops defended themselves for twenty-four hours, when, reenforce¬ ments arriving with artillery, the Indians retreated. They lost a considerable number, and the troops eleven wounded and two killed. The hostilities of 1864 were repeated in 1865. In four weeks of July and August the Sioux and Chey¬ ennes killed and captured forty-five white persons bet\veen Sage creek and Virginia Dale.^* An expedi- There was some very brave fighting in this engagement. Acting-lieut Robert F. Patton, with 7 men from his co. B., 11th Ohio cav., and 8 vol from the other companies made a charge to drive a detachment of 50 Indians which had stolen up to within 350 yards of camp. The squad was armed only with revolvers, and charged through all right, but were cut off by 300 Indians. The men in charge of the gun were afraid of using it on the enemy lest they should hit their comrades; but by firing to the right and left, made a diversion which enabled Patton to charge back. The last shot, by George W. Hoover, saved Patton’s life. With empty revolvers the little command returned, minus two of their number, who were killed. The inci¬ dents of this battle and some others are related in a dictation of Hermann Haas, who participated. Haas was bom in Prussia in 1840, emigrating to America in 1849. He served in the union army nearly 4 years as a member of the 1st Ohio, co. B. He arrived at Laramie in 1862, and was discharged at Omaha in 1865. The service was guarding the road and telegraph line from South pass to Julesburg, carrying the weekly mail for the government, and scouting in the Powder river country. He took the brass ^n and 40 men from Laramie to Mud Springs station to reenforce Collins previous to the attack above referred to. In July 1862, while going with a command to Devilgate to remove the stages to a more southern route, via Bridger pass, at Seminole gap, two soldiers were found to be drunk, whereupon the officer in command ordered all the whiskey poured out on the ground, from which incident the pass of these mountains took its name of Whiskey gap. After being mustered out of service Haas located himself at Fort Laramie in charge of the government wagon and blacksmith shops, removing afterwards to Cheyenne and engaging in the same business for himself. He has taken an active part in the history of that city; was elected to the first territorial legislature, and reelected in 1873, 1875, and 1877. John H. Finfrock, born in Ohio in 1836, was educated in Richland co., afterwards studied medicine at the university of Mich., Ohio Medical col¬ lege, and Long Island hospital. He entered the union army as hospital steward, and was afterward captain of Ohio volunteers; also serving as asst surgeon from 1863 to 1865. He was sent to Fort Halleck in the latter capac¬ ity ia 1863, being one of those who rescued one of the Collett family. He WYOMING. 717 tion was organized under General P. E. Conner, to go against these Indians in their own country on Pow¬ der river. It was hoped that Conner, who had a great reputation amongst the Indians as a fighting general, would be able to clear the road to Montana, via Powder and Bighorn rivers. He had with him parts of the 6th and 7th Michigan cavalry, and 200 Pawnee and Omaha scouts, the ordinance being under Colonel Cole of the 2d Missouri artillery. Proceed¬ ing to the head of Tongue river with Bridger and other mountain men for guides, the officers seemed to have forgotten their errand, and to have imagined themselves upon a summer hunt on the plains. Con¬ gress had appropriated $20,000 for the purpose of holding peace negotiations with the Sioux and their allies, and General Sully was marching across the northern part of Dakota, anxious to gain the consent of Indians to a treaty looking to the relinquishment of the valley of the Platte, and of all that country where contact with the white people seemed inevita¬ ble. But Pope was averse to peace, advocating slaughter. In October General Wheaton decided to send mes- seagers to the Sioux, to inform them that other tribes were making peace, and should they desire to do so the opportunity would be offered them. Having made this decision he left Laramie for Omaha, “ leav¬ ing Colonel Henry E. Maynadier to carry out his designs. No white man could be found who would undertake to deliver the message, the proposition being finally conveyed to them by friendly Indians, who after three months returned, bringing with them Swift Bear’s band. This chief professed pleasure in being able to make peace and to come to the fort for had a son, William Edwin Finfrock, born at Fort Halleck, Oct. 16, 1865, whom he thinks is the first white person born in Wyoming. He settled at Laramie City in 1868. He was coroner, probate judge, and county physician. He was member of the city council in 1872-3, county supt of public schools in 1880, and was appointed in 1880 one of the board of penitentiary commis¬ sioners, of which board he was president for two years. Hint. Colorado, 420, this series. 718 INDIAN WARS. provisions and clothing for their families, and reported that Red Cloud, chief of the Ogalallas, was also on his way to Laramie. On the 1st of June the com¬ missioners appointed assembled at Fort Laramie, namely E. B. Taylor superintendent, Henry E. May- nadier commandant at Fort Laramie, R. N. McLaren of Minnesota, Thomas Wistar of Philadelphia, and two secretaries, Charles E. Bowles and Frank Leh- mer. After the hesitancy and delay always affected by Indians on similar occasions, the Brule and Ogalalla Sioux collected a majority of their people, although Red Cloud declined to be present, and agreed to,tlie terms of a treaty. One of the most important of the conditions im¬ posed upon the Sioux was that the route commonly known as the Bozeman road, leading from Platte bridije to Bozeman in Montana, should be secure from hostilities. Into this arrangement the northern Chey¬ enne and the Arapahoes expressed their willingness to enter. But a loop-hole of escape from responsibil¬ ity was left open by the defection of Red Cloud, who had a numerous following, and who was still at liberty to commit depredations, while the greater number were clothed and fed as wards of the gov¬ ernment. While the council was in progress the migration to Montana was at its height. Red Cloud had made this a cause of disaffection. Why had they, the com¬ missioners, asked for what they had already taken ? Before the commission closed came a military expedi¬ tion of magnitude — 700 troops with over 200 mule- teams, besides ambulances for officers and their fami¬ lies, a band, and everything necessary to a complete establishment in a new country, under Colonel H. B. Carrington, 18th infantry, commander of a new dis¬ trict. This is said to have been the drop too much to Red Cloud, who with 300 warriors sallied forth on the heels of the expedition to prevent the treaty having effect. WYOMING. 719 TIfForts had been made in the early part of the sea¬ son by the military authorities to keep prospecting parties out of the Bighorn country, and with toler¬ able success.^* But immigrant and freight trains could not be turned back, and must be guarded. As Car¬ rington advanced into the Powder Biver country he began to learn what he had to encounter. At Fort Beno, which was garrisoned by two companies of the 5th United States volunteers only, were found three immigrant trains waiting instructions as to their fur¬ ther advance under the escort of the military expe¬ dition. Notwithstanding this large number of people, civil and military, all the horses and mules belonging to the fort settlers were run off in open daylight, and although the troops pursued as quickly as possible for thirty-five miles, not a hoof was recovered. The only reward of their exertion was the capture of an Ind¬ ian pony so heavily laden with presents received at the late treaty council that it could not keep up with the herd. Believing the companies at Fort Beno, where Cap¬ tain Proctor remained with one company to guard the stores until they could be removed, Carrington pro¬ ceeded north to select the site of a post in the Big¬ horn country, which was to be district headquarters, finding on the second day’s march, at Bock creek, notices left by trains which had been attacked at this place, within the previous week, losing considerable stock. Arriving at Piney fork the position was taken on that stream and the dimensions of Fort Philip Kearny staked off July 15th. While on the road Bed Cloud’s adherents had sent A company of 116 men was raised in Colorado and 'Wyoming to pros¬ pect the Bighorn mountains for gold, but they were met near Gray Bull creek by troops from Reno who forbade then further progress, when the majority of the company turned back. W. L. Kuykendall, however, who was the leader of the expedition, evaded the troops and with about 20 men pushed on and reached Bozeman. He was the means of rescuing a party which had been robbed of its stock and had two men killed. Uniting their forces they finished their journey without any further serious losses. Her¬ man G. Nickerson, since probate judge of Fremont county, was one of the rescued travellers. I shall have more to say of him by and by. 720 INDIAN WARS. Carrington a command to leave the country, saying that Fort Reno in that case should not be disturbed, but that no other post should be established in the country. Carrington responded by inviting them to meet him, which the Cheyennes did on the 16th, but no Sioux were present, Red Cloud having already turned back to intercept travel. The Cheyennes accepted some presents of food and clothing and promised to remain at peace, which for a time they appeared to do. However, on the next morning the herds belonging to Major Hammond’s command, which was destined for the upper Yellowstone, in the vicinity of Boze¬ man, were stampeded, and in the effort to rescue them two soldiers were killed and three wounded. On the return of the detachment they came upon six muti¬ lated bodies of a trading party killed within a few miles of the post, though the wife of a principal trader was a Sioux. The abandonment of Fort Reno had been contem¬ plated in the establishment of Fort Philip Kearny, as Fort Casper had been erected on the Sweetwater, and a fort was to be built both on the Bighorn and Yellow¬ stone rivers. But the condition of the country was such that Reno must not only not be abandoned, but must be strengthened, and the Yellowstone post was given up, while a company was sent to reenforce Cap¬ tain Proctor instead. Early in August Lieutenant- colonel N. C. Kinney and Captain Burrows left Fort Philip Kearny with two companies to establish the Bighorn post. Fort C. F. Smith, which reduced the force at Carrington’s post to five companies, two-thirds of which was composed of raw recruits. The labor of erecting a strong fort, with sufficient quarters for eight companies, which was expected would be fur¬ nished, the material all to be obtained in the forest ; These traders, long known at Fort Laramie, were Louis Gazzons and Henry Arrison. The other four were probably herders. The Sioux wife and half-breed family were allowed to escape. WYOMING. 721 and of cutting wood and hay in preparation for a long severe winter, was added to the duty of guarding trains, carrying mail, and escorting detachments of soldiers, or parties of citizens, while engaged in unmili¬ tary labor. Carrington had represented to the commander of the department. General P. St George Cooke, that the status of the Indians in his district was that of war, and had made his situation known to the adjutant- general of the army ; but it was December before he was reenforced, and then only by a handful of poorly armed raw recruits. Ammunition was at length wanting for the practice of the recruits, or even for defence, in case of an attack, while at Laramie, where no trouble was apprehended, twelve companies were stationed. In the midst of several thousand hostile Indians was a small garrison of untried men, without the means of making war if forced to it.^® The con¬ dition of the three posts on the Bozeman road was really that of a state of seige from July to January requiring the greatest caution to prevent capture. The history of Fort Philip Kearny during the autumn and winter was one of a careful defence. The attacks on the timber trains, hay-cutters, woodmen, and escorts were unintermitting. Serious as was the loss in cattle and horses to a community so isolated, the frequent loss of life was yet more painful. By the 10th of October there were not forty horses left with which to mount mail carriers, escorts, and pickets. On the last of the month the garrison flag floated for the first time from the flag-staff of Fort Philip Kearny. The skirmishing on the wood road, of so frequent occurrence that it was no longer in the nature of a surprise, had resulted in no loss of life for some time, when, on December 6th, in defending a Cochran, in his Fort Laramie, MS., says: As many as 12 com¬ panies of cavalry and infantry were stationed at Fort Laramie. The cavalry came late in autumn. One troop, under Lieut Bingham, was ordered on escort duty with a train to Fort C. F. Smith. Bingham was killed while at Fort Philip Kearny. His regt was the 2d cavalry, under Palmer Hist. Nev. 46 722 INDIAN WARS. wood train Lieutenant Bingham, of the cavalry, and Sergeant Bowers were killed, and the road had become so dangerous toward Fort C. F. Smith that it had been determined not to attempt sending mails in that direction. Thus the toils tightened around a devoted garrison. On the forenoon of the 21st of December an alarm was signalled by the pickets on the wood road, and that the train had corralled for safety, waiting for relief. A detail was quickly organized consisting of seventy-eight officers and men, the command being given by his own request to Lieutenant-colonel Fet- terman. There was a general disposition to volun¬ teer, both among officers and citizens employed at the post, and a general feeling of exasperation in all minds, which led to the catastrophe which followed. Before the command started a few Indian pickets appeared on Lodge Trail ridge, and a few at the crossing of the Bozeman road below the fort, who were scattered by case shot dropped among them. But the main force was entirely concealed, and a few shot, more or less, would not interfere with the execution of a well- considered plan. A surgeon sent to join the com¬ mand hastily returned with the report that the train had been relieved and gone on to the woods, but that Fetterman was on the ridge to the north out of view, and surrounded by a large force of Indians. Soon the sound of rapid firing came from the valley of Peno creek beyond the ridge, and then it became evi¬ dent that Fetterman had been drawn into an unex¬ pected engagement by Indian cunning, aided by the desire to avenge the death of Lieutenant Bingham, or had been in some inconceivable manner entrapped into disobeying orders. A relief party was dispatched with additional officers, surgeons, ambulances, and even the prisoners in the guardhouse were placed on duty to give all the available force for action should further aid be required to repulse the Indians. The wood train was ordered in, and when all was done WYOMING. 723 there were but 119 men besides those with Fetterman. Meantime the relief party reached a point of obser¬ vation just as an ominous silence followed the crack¬ ling noise, increasing in intensity for half an hour, of rifle discharges. They beheld the valleys below them filled with 2,000 Indians, yelling and inviting them to descend, but not a soldier was to be seen. Not an officer or man of Fetterman’s command remained alive.” Tired of their bloody work, with their own dead and wounded, the Indians withdrew at nightfall, and about half the dead soldiers were brought into the fort after dark. On the following day the remainder were found, and a pit fifty feet in length received all of the eighty-one victims, but a few whose families claimed them for burial elsewhere.^® On the night of the 21st a miner named Philips car¬ ried dispatches to Fort Reno,” whence the news was dispatched to Fort Laramie, where it arrived in the midst of the festivities of Christmas eve.'^° Early in January Carrington received orders to remove district headquarters to Fort Casper,” and at Tram. Wyom. Acad. Sciences, etc., 1882, 87; Wyom. Territorial Affairs, MS., 15-16; Wyom. Indians and Settlers, MS., 49-50; Montana Post, Feb. 9, 1867; U. S. Sen. Jour., 575-6, 585; 39th cong.,2d sess. ; S. F. Alta Cal., Feb. 15, and 28, 1867. ^®The officers killed in this battle were Col Fetterman, Capt. Brown of Ohio, and Lieut Grummond, making with Bingham and Daniels, five com¬ missioned officers killed while Fort Philip Kearny was building, and over 90 men. William Daly, now a resident of Rawlins, was employed with the quartermaster in erecting Fort Philip Kearney, and was the first carpenter in that section. He was employed by the government at Fort McPherson, Neb., in 1867-8. From there he came to Cheyenne, where he took contracts for putting up railroad buildings in 1869, and was afterward supt of con¬ struction of the N. P. R. R., between Cheyenne and Ogden until 1873, when he went into lumber and contracting at Rawlins. It is the opinion of Daly that the Indians might have taken the fort on the 21st of Dec. That they did not pursue their victory further was in consonance with their customary intermittent violence. Phillips was one of the Standifer party which I have before mentioned as wintering at Fort Phil. Kearny. Two others, Wheatley and Fisher, were with Fetterman’s command, and were killed. It required a stout heart to carry dispatches through the Indian country at that time. Cochran, Hist. Fort Laramie, MS. The 1 8th infantry regiment built Fort Casper soon after the close of the war. It had been a detached service station to protect the mail. They built, rebuilt, or repaired forts Halleck, Laramie, Sedgwick, Reno, Philip Kearny, Fetterman, and Bridger, several of them mail stations previously, all within the limits of what is now Wyoming, besides Fort C. F. Smith in Montana, 724 INDIAN WARS. the same time Brigadier-general H. W. Wessels, arrived with two companies of cavalry, and took com¬ mand at F ort Philip Kearny. The cold was so severe that in the three days’ journey to Beno all were in danger of perishing, women, children, officers and men, some of the teamsters suffering amputation of the hands and feet on reaching the fort. After getting to Fort Casper, the orders were to go to Fort Mc¬ Pherson, and again headquarters journeyed through winter weather to within ninety-seven miles of Fort Kearny. The spring of 1867 opened with a renewal of hos¬ tilities. The military authorities near the eastern end of the infested line of road, endeavored to prevent the killing of small parties by ordering all such detained at Fort McPherson, which was near the junction of the North and South Platte, until they were organ¬ ized into companies of not less than thirty men, and by furnishing escorts if danger seemed to threaten. A large number of troops had been sent into the department, with the design at first of sending an expedition against the Sioux who were in force between Fort Philip Kearny and Fort C. F. Smith, but being chiefly infantry they were unable to pursue aad McPherson in Nebraska. There was also a sub-post of Fort Laramie at Scott Bluffs, called Fort Mitchell. Ahardka, 70, 270; Sturgis, Cymmon Sense View of the Sioux War, 22-3. The commander of the department of the Platte in 1867 was Gen. C. C. Augru. Early in the year Gov. I. N. Palmer commanded at Fort Laramie, but later Maj. G. W. Howland. After a number of changes the distribution of troops was as follows: POSTS. COMMANDERS com’d OFFICERS SUBAL¬ TERNS. ENLISTED MEN. Ft Laramie. Major G. W. Howland. .. 19 7 386 Ft D. H. Russell. Brig. -gen. J. D. Stevenson 17 9 310 Ft Sanders. Maj. -gen. John Gibbons.. 10 4 168 Ft Reno. Maj. James Van Voast. .. 7 3 251 Ft Phil. Kearny .... Maj. -gen. J. E. Smith. . .. 12 4 269 FbC. F. Smith (Mont) Brig. -gen. L. P. Bradley. 10 7 347 Ft Bridger. Col H. R. Mizner. 4 2 106 Ft Sedgwick. Brig. -gen. J. H. Potter .. 15 1 246 Ft Morgan, (Colo).. .. Maj. W. H. Powell. 4 .... 98 The troops employed in the department were the 2d cavalry, the 4th, 10th, WYOMING. 725 well mounted Indian forces, which appeared in the most unexpected places, and were off as soon as their mischief was perpetrated. The damage done to prop¬ erty this year was greater than since 1863-4 when Colorado suffered so severely, and the country was again cut off from communication with the east by telegraph, while overland wagon trains, and even railroad trains were interrupted. In May the stage lines refused to carry passengers, their horses which were not stolen being withdrawn from the road, sev¬ eral of their stations burned, and some of their drivers killed and v/ounded. The public survey was interrupted, and the whole region in a state of arrested growth. The Montana route, over which the Sioux pretended to be so much excited, was untravelled, no citizen trains venturing upon it. General Augur, commanding the department of the Platte, reported that it was a daily struggle still to keep open the route from forts Laramie to C. F. Smith, for the passage of government trains, without having to guard citizen trains. Thirty wagons owned by J. R. Porter of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, carrying government supplies to Fort Philip Keam}^ escorted by Major Powell, Lieutenant Guiness, and forty men, was attacked near that post b}^ a large force of Indians, with whom they fought for three hours, until relief reached them from the fort, in the shape of two full companies and a howitzer. The train was saved, but all the mules and horses captured, and Lieutenant Guiness killed. Thirty thousand dollars worth of government prop¬ erty was destroyed en route for Fort C. F. Smith; three months having been spent in attempts to get it 13th, 18th," 22d, 27th, 30th, 3l8t, and 36th infantry. Fort Fetterman was erected this year by the 4th and 18th infantry under Major and brevet Col W. McE. Dye, at the mouth of Sage creek, where the road to Montana left the Platte. It had a garrison of 472 men, and 10 com. officers. Two com¬ panies also were encamped near Laramie, under Maj. C. H. Carleton, during summer, which went into garrison late in the autumn. R<>^ Sec. b ar, i. 438, 440; 40th cong., 2dsess.; Cochrans Hist. Fort Laramie, MS., 65; Mont. Post, July 20, 1869. ■■^^Communication of Gen. Sherman to the asst adjt-gen. of the army, in Rept. Sec, War, i, 65-8, 726 INDIAN WARS. to its destination from Julesburg/^ No attempts were for some time afterward made to reach this post with supplies, and its abandonment was suggested as a means of restoring peace. Early in 1867 congress resorted to the customary commission to settle the Indian question, and General John B. Sanborn, General W. T. Sherman, General W. S. Harney, General C. C. Augur, N. J. Taylor, John B. Henderson and S. F. Tappan were appointed. To subsist friendly Indians $300,000 were appropri- 'ated, and half that amonnt for other expenses. After a month spent in endeavors to have a general council, a treaty promising much, and requiring some submis¬ sion to government, was drawn up, signed by a few of the so-called friendly Indians, April 29th, and given in charge of the military authorities at Laramie, who were to use every means to induce the chiefs of the Sioux, Arapahoes, and Cheyennes to sign it. That they were in no haste the above narrative proves. General Augur reported against abandoning the line of posts erected to guard travel on the Bozeman road, urging the importance to the people, and the loss to the government of the money expended in erecting and maintaining them, to say nothing of the moral effect on the Indians. No understanding: was arrived at, while the summer passed in war, and the winter was spent in holding one of the northern posts on the Missouri in a state of siege and annoying others. In the spring of 1868, two years having been spent in a warfare exhausting to the means of the Indians, their courage began to fail them. Now was the time for the peace commissioners to score a triumph. The treaty left at Fort Laramie with instructions to the interpreter to make the meaning clear to every Indian of any consequence who came about the fort, began to get his signatures. In the first place, in May, a band of Ogalallas arrived with two chiefs, who signed U. S. Mess, and Doc. Ahridg't, 390, 40th cong., 2d sess. WYOMING, 727 the treaty. The commanding officer then Issued to them an ample supply of provisions, and the Indian agent blankets, cloth, cooking utensils, knives, guns, and ammunition. In a few days they departed, and others came of the Sioux bands, then many Arapa- hoes. All signed the treaty, and received arms and ammunition in addition to food and clothing. But Bed Cloud and Spotted Tail held aloof, waiting to have their will, saying that when the posts on the Bozeman road were abandoned they would sign the treaty. In August the posts were abandoned, the troops from C. F. Smith, Philip Kearny, and Beno being assigned to other stations. Though they may have been glad to leave the wilderness behind them, there were few if any who were not reluctant to quit the country with the Fetterman defeat unavenged. Still Bed Cloud did not sign until November, and Spotted Tail not at all. After being fed, clothed, and supplied with arms, the Sioux and their allies cast about for a provocation to further hostilities, and this they found in the condi¬ tions of the treaty. The country set apart for their exclusive use by its terms extended from the east bank of the Missouri river where the 46th parallel crosses it down to the Nebraska line; thence west across the Missouri and along the Nebraska line to the 104th meridian ; thence north to the 46th parallel and east to the place of beginning, “together with all existing reservations.” Upon this territory none but officers and agents of the government should intrude. It was also stipulated that the country north of the Platte and east of the Bighorn mountains should be held as unceded Indian territory, which no white per¬ son should be permitted to occupy without the con¬ sent of the Indians. On their part they promised to remain at peace, to relinquish all claim to the lands north of the Platte which was outside of their reser- Post, May 2d, and July 31, 1868; compiled Laioa of Wyom., 1876, Ixxii. 728 INDIAN WARS. vation, except to hunt: not to oppose railroad con¬ struction, except on the reserved lands, not to attack any persons travelling or at home, not to steal cattle or horses, not to capture white women or children, and not to kill or scalp white men. Should the gov¬ ernment build a road, it would pay for the land taken ; and benefits were to be bestowed such as the govern¬ ment bestows upon all treaty tribes.^® The offence given was in an order of the president of the peace commission, Genera] Sanborn, that after the signatures of all the chiefs had been obtained, the Sioux and their allies should no longer be permitted to come to Fort Laramie, as it was not within the boundaries of their reservation. But the distance to Fort Bandall, where they were directed to go for sup¬ plies, was considerable, and the dissatisfaction great in proportion. They were unwilling to submit to the inconvenience so rigorously imposed upon the people of Montana. Depredations continued to be com¬ mitted upon travellers, and upon the few settlers near the forts, and along the line of the Union Pacific railroad, which was now approaching completion, and for the safety of which Fort Frederick Steele w^as erected this year, near the present site of Bawlins. Meanwhile Bed Cloud and Man-afraid-of-his-horses retired to Powder river from which they could follow the , chase, invade the Crow country as they should feel inclined, while the Cheyennes were warring against their own race on the plains. And there, for a space, I will leave them, to turn to the progress of affairs connected with the existence of Wyoming. ^ Deer Lodge, Northwest, Sept. 5, 1874; Helena, Mont, Post, May 29, 1868. ^ In the autumn of 1868, 35 Kaw Indians, being on a buffalo hunt 60 miles southwest from Fort Larned on the Arkansas, they were attacked by 60 Cheyennes, the battle continuing for two honrs. The Cheyennes lost heavily, the Kaws being warlike and brave. Returning to the Kaw agency with 45 captured horses, they were again attacked by the Cheyennes, who had been reenforced to 100, who beseiged the agency for 48 hours, killing 9 of the Kaws and capturing all the horses and stock. I have this account from George W. Hunkers, of Buffalo, Wyoming, who was present in both battles. Hunkers was bom in Ho., in 1852, and brought up in Kansas. At the early age of 10 years he was employed as interpreter on the Kaw reser- WYOMING. 729 vation, and was sent to Fort Sill, and other posts, to negotiate for the restor¬ ation of white captives, in which he was successful. He afterward travelled with a party of Indians to exhibit their war-dances, under tlie management of P. J. Barnum. In 1873 he went to Col., engaging in mining and treight- ing in the San Juan country. Subsequently he constructed i.1 miles of tlie Denver and New Orleans railroad, and 7 miles of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy railroad. His next enterprise was in town-lmilding, haviner acted as manager in the affairs of Robert Foote, in starting the growth ot Buffalo in the Powder river country. His wife is a daughter of J. P. Mather, a pioneer, who erected the first grist-mill in Johnson co. He was elected town trustee in 1883, and was always an influential member of the commonwealth. CHAPTER V. POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS. 1867-1888. Gold Discovery — South Pass City Organized — Organization of Counties— Founding of Cheyenne — Advance in Town Lots — Bad Element — V igilance Committees — Newspapers Established — A Magic City — The Name Wyoming — Territorial Organization — Female Suffrage — Judicial Districts — County Seats and County Officers— Elections — Law Making — Military Posts — Administra¬ tion OF Governor Campbell — Thayer, Hoyt, and Hale — Massacre OF Chinese — Legislation. Hitherto the territory which was the scene of so many adventures, and so much activity of an itinerant character, had no permanent population, no political organization, and no name. It was spoken of as the North Platte, with the sub-titles of the Sweet¬ water, the Wind River Valley, the Bighorn Country, or the Black Hills. Really it was a part of Da¬ kota,^ but had never been districted, and possessed no local machinery of government. Originally it was a part of the Louisiana purchase,^ confirmed by the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1846. I have referred in a previous chapter to the fruitless attempts to discover the precious metals, which from time to time were put forth in this region, while Col¬ orado and Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Nevada were pouring their millions of treasure into the lap of a luxurious civilization. Notwithstanding the repeated failures, it was no surprise when in the summer of 1867, upon the sources of the Sweetwater, gold was found in paying quantities by prospectors, among ^Zabi-islcie, Land Laws, 848, 777; Slaughter, ^jife in Coh and Wyomn., MS., '^UB. H. Misc. Doc., 45, pt 4, vol. 2. 105, 47th cong., 2d sess. (730) 6. WYOMING. 731 whom were Henry Ridell, Frank Marshall, Harry Hubbell, Richard Grace, and Noyes Baldwin, who dis¬ covered the Cariso lode and made the first locations at South pass. When the news reached Salt Lake, a company of about thirty men repaired to South pass prepared to winter there while they prospected. Their camp was surprised by a band of hostile Arapahoes, looking for plunder. In the first onset they killed Lawrence, the captain of the party, and drove the prospectors to the Sweetwater, where, after killing another man, they abandoned the pursuit, it was sup¬ posed because they feared to meet the Shoshones in whose country they were. The miners being on foot, could not overtake them if they would; nevertheless there were soon 700 persons on Willow Creek, con¬ stituting the municipality of South Pass City, which was laid out in October. From the Cariso $15,000 was taken out by crushing in hand mortars before winter set in. The Atlantic ledge, six miles north¬ east of Cariso, was considered a very important mine. Miners’ Delight, two miles northeast of the Atlantic, was even more promising, while the Summit, King Solomon, Northern Light, Scott and Eddy, Lone Star State, Hoosier Boy, Copperopolis, Mahomet, Cali¬ fornia, Elmira, Colonel Mann, and Jim Crow were regarded as valuable discoveries. Late in the autumn placer mines were also found, which yielded flatter¬ ingly. They were in gulches running into Willow Creek, which was a branch of the Sweetwater head¬ ing in Wind River mountains, and flowing south. The Dakota was the first gulch discovered, after which followed half a dozen others. A ditch five miles in length was partly constructed, before cold weather set in, which was to carry water to Dakota gulch. A sawmill was also in operation before the winter. Be¬ sides the population at South Pass City, there were several mining districts each with its hundred or more inhabitants. Such is the magic progress which gold inspires. 732 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS. In January the county of Carter was organized,' with Hubbel] as recorder, and John Murphy as sheriff. By the middle of February, although the snow was deep and drifted, parties from Salt Lake struggled through in order to be on the ground with the opening of spring.* In April another town of 300 miners had sprung up four miles northeast of South Pass City, in the midst of a quartz district situated on Bock Creek; and soon a third town called Hamilton was started four miles north of that. Game of many kinds was plenty, and water power convenient, but the first set¬ tlers pronounced against the prospect of raising farm products in that section. Business was good if the merchants could get their goods upon the ground, which was difficult.^ The Indians continued to infest the roads, making travel dangerous; and notwithstanding detachments of troops were stationed at intervals, who patrolled the highway or pursued depredating parties, a number of persons were killed in the summer of 1868, and again in 1869. A newspaper called the Sweetwater Miner was started at Fort Briger in Feburary 1868, by Warren andHastings, which was active in promoting immigra¬ tion to this region. The existence of a mother lode was ^ Named after W. A. Carter of Fort Bridger. ^J. F. Staples, John Able, John M. Neil, William F. Berry, John Hol¬ brook, James Leffingwell, Frank McGovern, John Eaves, Peter Brade, Louis Brade, Alexander and bro., H. A, Thompson, Jefif. Standifer, Kit Castle, George Hirst, W. Matheney, Chris. Weaver, and Moses Sturman passed Fort Bridger in February, and Col Morrow, in command, was forced to pub¬ lish a special order, warning citizens not to expect to obtain supplies from that post. Wyoming Scraps, 13. * Worden Noble was the first merchant in these parts. He was born at Sackett’s Harbor in 1847, and came to Fort Laramie in 1866, taking a situa¬ tion as book-keeper for E. Coffee & Caney. He went to South pass in the spring of 1868, when he was attacked by Indians. He remained here mer¬ chandizing one year, when he commenced contracting for Camp Stambaugh, afterward a permanent post, and continued in this business for 7 years, after which he engaged in stock-raising near Lander, being a pioneer in this busi¬ ness. In 1880, he removed to the Shoshone agency. In 1880, he erected a quartz-mill at Atlantic City, doing custom work as well as reducing his own ores. He organized the Nevada Clover Valley Land and Cattle co. at Gol- conda, Nev., with a capital of $500,000, and 60,000 acres of land, of which he became president, and also engaged in sheep raising in 1882. In 1877 he was elected to the upper house of the Wyoming legislature from Sweetwater CO., and was county commissioner from 1871 to 1877i WYOMING. 733 questioned, and various opinions exist among the best informed miners regarding the value of the quartz in the Sweetwater country. The country rock is slate, and the gold where found is free milling; but the rock is what miners designate as spotted, or pockety, and consequently not altogether profitable® to work, although considerable metal has been taken out of this region. Contemporaneously with the first mining on the summit of the Rocky mountains in Dakota, the pro¬ gress of railroad construction had brought to the North Platte country a working and a vagabond pop- Railroad Builders’ Fort. ulation, one to prey upon the other, and together they formed several communities on the line of the road, the most important of which was Cheyenne, situated at the base of the Laramie range, in the vicinity of several military posts, at the point nearest Denver and its banking facilities, and where the railroad com¬ pany placed its shops, which alone gave it a valuable business from the start.’ At this point in July 1867 the land agent of the Union Pacific railroad erected a rude structure, which had for company several canvas houses. Lots sold ®The Bullion mine, discovered at Lewiston, on the Sweetwater, by H. O. Nickerson, in 1868, was considered a good mine. The Buckeye, discovered in 1869, on the north Sweetwater, yielded in 1871, S-o,0()0in a 10-stamp mill. Louis P. Vidal located the Buckeye Extension. John D. Woodruflf located a claim in 1870, which he abandoned, out of which another locator took $27,000. ^ Re^t Sec. Int., in U. S. Mesa, cfc Doc. Abridijt, 655, 1867-8; Byers' Cenfru- nial State, MS., 36-7, 734 POLITICAL, SOCIAL, AND MATERIAL AFFAIRS. at a good figure at this early period,® and the popular tion rapidly increased. A city government was formed in the autumn of 1867, with a good police system and a determination on the part of the permanent inhabi¬ tants to prevent, if possible, the disorders which had attended the early development of cities in the sur¬ rounding mining territories. That it was found im¬ possible without resorting to the vigilant system was not the fault of the founders. Cheyenne received many settlers from Colorado. ° The first actual settler at Cheyenne was J. R. Whitehead, followed the same day by Thomas E. McLeland, Robert M. Beers, and three others, with their families. The railroad company sold lots for $150, one third cash, and the same lots sold one month later for $1,000, increasing in price at the rate of $1,000 per month during the summer. In August the city government was formed, H. M. Hook being chosen ®One of the first permanent settlers in Cheyenne was Morton E. Post, who located himself in the Platte valley, 75 miles below Denver, removing to Cheyenne in 1867. Purchasing two lots of the land agent, he was return¬ ing to Denver to make arrangements for building, when he fell in with a man at Willow springs, who had made a coal discovery, and was afraid to return to it on account of Indians in the vicinity, but being very anxious about it, persuaded Post to return with him. He found the coal mine 16 miles from Cheyenne, and staked off claims. In August he erected a store at the corner of 17th and Ferguson streets, selling the fractional parts of his two lots, which cost him $600, for $5,600. In 1877, lie purchased a gold mine in Deadwood, and erected the first quartz-mill in that section, making the first shipment of gold bullion from the Black hills. In 1878, he opened a banking- house, under the style of Stebbins, Post & Co., in the Deadwood country. He was elected a commissioner for Laramie county in 1872, together with T. Dyer and J. H. Nichols. The county was at this time $40,000 in debt, its warrants worth 40 ceu ts on the dollar, and it owned no property except a worthless old safe. At the expiration of their second term the old county debt was paid, and a jail and court-house costing $40,000 erected; the county warrants were at par, with a bonded indebtedness of $30,000. Substantial school buildings had also been built, and a surplus remained in the treasury. In 1878 Post was elected to the territorial council, doing good sen^ice, and securing, against strong opposition, the repeal of the law licensing lotteries. In 1880 he was elected delegate to congress, reelected in 1882, and nominated again in 1884, when he declined. Poore’s Cong. Direct y, 48th cong., 1st sess., p. 79; House Jour., 1884^5, 923. ^Nathaniel Robertson, born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1841, migrated with his parents to the U. S. in 1846, and to Colo in 1865, locating himself at Denver, and opening the first carriage -making establishment in that place. ^Vhen Cheyenne was laid off he removed his business to that point, and merged it into a company called the Cheyenne Carriage company, with F. E. Warren prest, Thomas Swan vice-prest, Morton E. Post treas., J. K. Jeffrey sec y, and Robertson general manager and supt. WYOMING. 735 mayor; R. E. Tapley, W. H. Harlow, S, M. Pres- haw, J. G. Willis, and G. B. Thompson, councilmen ; J. R. Whitehead, city attorney; H. N. Meldruni, treasurer; Thomas E. McLeland, clerk; and E. 