Post by carlo on Mar 10, 2021 6:55:26 GMT -5
Calling on the help of our military experts here...
In the early 1890's (mostly 1891-92) several newspapers ran a story about an incident that supposedly happened in August 1875. The texts were all identical, as follows:
"Capt. H. J. King of Chamberlain, S.D., is one of the best known Missouri river steamboat captains in the west, having been running on the upper river constantly for the last twenty-eight years. The captain is a good story teller, says the Detroit Free Press, and while speaking of the early Indian troubles on the upper river told how the valor of a body of Indian boys turned the tide of battle. In August 1875 the steamer Katie P. Kountz and other steamers were unable to proceed to Fort Bcnton, their destination, on account of the extreme low water, and were compelled to discharge their cargoes at Cow island,120 miles below Benton. The cargoes consisted mostly of government supplies for the military posts in the upper country. A company of infantry was sent from Fort Shaw to guard the supplies, and while in camp some 800 Sioux came in and attacked the guard camp, which had been reinforced by some Crow Indians. The Crows at once sallied out and engaged the Sioux in combat, but were soon defeated and driven back into camp. [...]
A week after the tight Capt. King arrived there on the steamer Gen. Meade. loaded with private cargo, and owing to the same cause that stopped other boats from going farther up the river found it necessary to remain there, and the captain and party went to Benton by pony to make arrangements to have the freight brought by the steamer transported over land to that point."
I have been unable to find any mention of this August 1875 skirmish, involving 7th Infantry men from Fort Shaw. That same month a company of the 7th Inf. relocated to Fort Benton, but otherwise there is no indication of any fight. (It may have been this company that was sent to guard the supplies, as Fort Shaw was twice as far away from Cow Island as Fort Benton.)
Does anyone have any details, or can point me in the right direction to look?
In the early 1890's (mostly 1891-92) several newspapers ran a story about an incident that supposedly happened in August 1875. The texts were all identical, as follows:
"Capt. H. J. King of Chamberlain, S.D., is one of the best known Missouri river steamboat captains in the west, having been running on the upper river constantly for the last twenty-eight years. The captain is a good story teller, says the Detroit Free Press, and while speaking of the early Indian troubles on the upper river told how the valor of a body of Indian boys turned the tide of battle. In August 1875 the steamer Katie P. Kountz and other steamers were unable to proceed to Fort Bcnton, their destination, on account of the extreme low water, and were compelled to discharge their cargoes at Cow island,120 miles below Benton. The cargoes consisted mostly of government supplies for the military posts in the upper country. A company of infantry was sent from Fort Shaw to guard the supplies, and while in camp some 800 Sioux came in and attacked the guard camp, which had been reinforced by some Crow Indians. The Crows at once sallied out and engaged the Sioux in combat, but were soon defeated and driven back into camp. [...]
A week after the tight Capt. King arrived there on the steamer Gen. Meade. loaded with private cargo, and owing to the same cause that stopped other boats from going farther up the river found it necessary to remain there, and the captain and party went to Benton by pony to make arrangements to have the freight brought by the steamer transported over land to that point."
I have been unable to find any mention of this August 1875 skirmish, involving 7th Infantry men from Fort Shaw. That same month a company of the 7th Inf. relocated to Fort Benton, but otherwise there is no indication of any fight. (It may have been this company that was sent to guard the supplies, as Fort Shaw was twice as far away from Cow Island as Fort Benton.)
Does anyone have any details, or can point me in the right direction to look?
