Fort Keogh
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About this same time, [[Yellowstone Kelly]] (his face badly frozen from a blizzard) arrived with scouting info on Indians from the north. He likely told Miles that: 150 lodges of [[Ogalala]]s, [[Brule]]s and [[Cheyenne]] crossed the Missouri 6 mi. below the mouth of the [[Milk River]] about [[5 Jan 1878]], heading north. Smaller war parties were sighted in the same area, same direction, one with a large herd of ponies. [[Sitting Bull]] is believed to be just south of the Canadian border on [[Rock Creek]], with about 300 lodges on Rock Creek and [[Frenchman's creek]] and they are likely going to join him. There are likely 9 camps straddling both sides of the border. Rock Creek is said to also have a camp of half-breeds containing a few [[Nez Perce]]s braves. The Indians are said to be constantly moving back and forth, visiting the [[Yanktonians]] frequently. The Yanktonians and [[Assinaboins]] are constantly losing ponies, some 200 head so far. The most reliable rumors, however, put Sitting Bull on the Canadian side of the border, with some of his followers on the Montana side. | About this same time, [[Yellowstone Kelly]] (his face badly frozen from a blizzard) arrived with scouting info on Indians from the north. He likely told Miles that: 150 lodges of [[Ogalala]]s, [[Brule]]s and [[Cheyenne]] crossed the Missouri 6 mi. below the mouth of the [[Milk River]] about [[5 Jan 1878]], heading north. Smaller war parties were sighted in the same area, same direction, one with a large herd of ponies. [[Sitting Bull]] is believed to be just south of the Canadian border on [[Rock Creek]], with about 300 lodges on Rock Creek and [[Frenchman's creek]] and they are likely going to join him. There are likely 9 camps straddling both sides of the border. Rock Creek is said to also have a camp of half-breeds containing a few [[Nez Perce]]s braves. The Indians are said to be constantly moving back and forth, visiting the [[Yanktonians]] frequently. The Yanktonians and [[Assinaboins]] are constantly losing ponies, some 200 head so far. The most reliable rumors, however, put Sitting Bull on the Canadian side of the border, with some of his followers on the Montana side. | ||
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| + | (A few days later, the publisher of the [[Bismarck Tribune]] laments the small numbers of soldiers in the area and the need to kill all the Indians before they gather numbers and attack a small fort or town.) | ||
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| + | On the 25th, the paper reports that a telegraph from Miles at Fort Keogh on the 24th says that Sitting Bull is on Frenchman's Creek and has about 4000 warriors and 5000 women and children in 1000 lodges and that Fort Peck and Keogh are preparing to defend themselves. Two companies of infantry have been sent from Keogh to protect Fort Peck. Fort Keogh only has 500 men. With Sitting Bull are: [[Black Moon]], [[Four Horns]], [[Long Dog]] and [[Red Bear]]. Another count gives Sitting Bull 2300 warriors, plus 800 escaped Nez Perce and agency Indians who are well armed with Sharp's rifles and plenty of ammo, plus a large number of Government horses and mules. [[Red Bear]] had deserted the agency with 200 lodges, just after returning from [[Washington DC]]. Indians have been spotted within 10 miles of Fort Peck. [[Black Catfish]] chief of the [[Yanktons]] is in the vicinity of Peck and Wolf Points, and sent word to [[Gen. Miles]] that he will stand by him. | ||
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| + | On [[2 Feb 1879]] the Bismarck Tribune reported: "[[Gen. Miles]] is preparing to move against Sitting Bull, probably on the 10th with 8 companies of cavalry and 8-10 companies of infantry plus as many Crow as he can get. Weather is good, no snow yet. An Indian scout had arrived the day before from Fort Stevenson with dispatches from Mils for Gen. Terry and one for the commissary at [[Fort Lincoln]]. A man arrived the previous day on the stage from Fort Buford and claimed that it was common knowledge there that Sitting Bull is on the Montana side, on [[Box Elder Creek]] hunting buffalo. He said that "[[Maj. Walsh]] doesn't know what he is talking about". A dispatch from Miles dated [[25 Jan 1879]] says that the main body of his field force is en route to Fort Peck, where he will await the arrival of 150 recruits for the [[5th Infantry]] and instructions from Terry on the status of Sitting Bull and how to handle him should he be captured. The recruits haven't reached Bismarck yet and when they do, they are to take the Stanley Trail to Fort Keogh. | ||
==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
