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Arnmy wrder &ffiffEenernced by ROBERT L. DISSLY Soon after Peter Koch turned Fort Sherman over to T. I. Dawes in March, 1874, an event occured at Fort Shaw, M.T. that was to further the continuity of this new community on the banks of Big Spring Creek and, in fact, give it its name, Lewistown. Fort Shaw, M.T. was the headquarters of the 7th Infan-try. It was there that Special Order No. 73, dated April 7, 1874 was issued ordering Captain Constant Williams, ?th U. S. Infantry, to proceed with his company (Company F), to Story's trqding post (Fort Sher-man) and there to build a summer encampment. The or-der read that the post would be maintained until the first of October. (The post was aban-doned on Nov. 1 instead of Oct. 1.) Each man was to take 200 rounds of ammunition. The company also took rations untii June 30, almost seven weeks. As usual, a journal was kept. Guarding the Carroll Trail, Camp Lewis - lB74 - 1875 bY Capt. Michael J. Koury and edited by Glen C. Morton con-tains this iournal. After a foot march af 248 miles, Capt. Williams and his company "F" set up camp on Big Spring Fork of the Judith River about 1% miles above the crossing of the road from Helena to Carroil, M.T. It was the first of over 50 companY-sized units of the U.S. MilitarY to be associated with the com-munity of Lewistown during the next 100 years (1873-1973). The troops of Camp Lewis did a great deal of escort dutY. Often they manned small out-posts such as Box Elder, a waY station and road repair. Although there are no known pictures or drawings of CamP Lewis, a description of it was written in the Helena WeeklY Herald written by Van H. Fisk who came to CamP Lewis to bring goods and establish a Sutler's post on CamP Lewis. (See artist's sketch) "Camp Lewis is beautifullY located in the extrerne north-eastern part of Judith Basin. on Big Spring Creek. lteai ihe Muscelshell road. The name of this temporary military post was given in honor of former major of the 7th Infantry, W. H. Lewis, now lieut. colonel of the 19th Infantry, officered by Cap-tain Constant Williams, Lieu-tenants Levi F. Burnett and W. A. English. The company now here expect to remain until the close of the freighting season, when they will return and winter at Fort Shaw, unless further military operations should intervene. The camp is laid out with precision and everything made safe against Indians that prudence would dictate, while the tents have been made more barracklike by elevating each one on three tier of hewed logs. A good log cook house, company bake oven, corral, a 60 foot flagstaff - from which the Stars and Stripes float proudly everyday - and a nice garden of string beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, and other frontier luxuries, afe among the things noted. (Thirty-seven stars were on that flag flown over Camp Lewis, M.T. in 1874 and 1875. Nebraska, the 37th state enter-ed the Union on March 1, 1867 and Colorado, the 38th state did not come in until August 1, 1876) In Vol. 8,, No. 34 of the HELENA WEEKLY HERALD dated July 16, 1874 an article was printed, written by Lieut. W. H. Nelson, adjutant of the 7th Inf. about his visit to'Camp Lewis on or about June 25, 1874. Lt. Nelson was quite a fun loving officer who spent three days "resting" at Camp Lewis. One of these three days was spent hunting grizzly bears up East Fork of the Big Spring Creek. He promptly named this small, muddy, and mirey trib-utary "sinovial Magoosalem" after a former assistant sur-geon on duty with the 7th Infantry. Thank goodness the name didn't stick. They weren't successful with their bear hunt that day either but did manage to get a coupie of white tail deer. Lt. Nelson described a day's sojourn by the members of the Fat Brigade (desk soldiers of the adjutant), Captain Williams and himself to the source of Big Spring Creek: "ail hands .r;ere delighted with the result of their piscator-ial efforts and observations of things around; about 25 pounds of getruine mountain trout hav-ing been caught - from 11.,to 15 inches in length - sni scenery b'ring of real interert. Big Spring Creek is so named'from the fact that its sources C'ome from four large springs, all within a radius of B0 rods, about six miles above Camp Lewii, a thousand or more inchesl of .water bubbling from each spring. The Creek is only about 26 miles in length, yet it is onerof the main feeders of the Judith River. Its waters are cold and clear except for a mile or so below where comes in the muddy waters of Sinovial Ma: goosalem. "Near Camp Lewis Storey's' Fort, a trading post run by the Daws (sic) Brothers. The River Crows do considerable trading here, seldom going up to the regular agency even for annu-ities. Mitch Boyer (sic), an intelligent half breed, is now here awaiting the arrival of a train of annuities dispatched hither by Agent Wright, which annuities Mitch is to distribute to the River Crows. Captain Williams, commanding Camp Lewis, then whom no more upright gentlemen can be found, will personaily see that these goods are distributed as per intention of Uncle Sam. Camp Lewis is almost on the very site selected for the pro-posed new agency for the Crow Indians; but the belief prevails that the change will not as it certainly should not - be made, and that a special agency shouid and will be provided for the River Crows at some con-venient point in the Judith Basin, than which in my opinion no better }ocation could be selected than at or near CamP Lewis. "On Thursday evening, June 25th, from headquarters at Camp Lewis, we discovered encamped at the crossing of the Muscleshell road of Big Spring Creek, a couple miles below, a coinpany of cavalry, and rightly surmising that it was Company F, of the second cavalry, under command of Captain George L. Tyler. we paid them a flying vi.sil., and'spent'a verl social hour with'Captain Tyler, I.ieu-tenant Charles Roe, and Dr. Whitefoot. This comPany was returning from Carroll to Ellis, having been down escorting a drove of beeves for Buford. Captain Tyler's ComPanY are mounted on as large and fine and fat a lot of horses as I ever , saw, their appearance belYing in every particular Nast's late derisive caricature of the U.S. Calvary in Harpers WeeklY. Captain Tyler is known as the most efficient militarY man, and certainly makes a very good impression upon one on brief acquaintance. Lieutenant Roe, it will be remembered is engaged to and is to lead to the altar at no distant day one of the accomplished Miss Bogerts, of Bozeman, and his absent mind-edness upon his occasion is pardonable, though perceptible. Dr. Whitefoot preserves to the last his equanimity of spirits and geniality of disposition, and his home like greeting is ever a welcome. Lt. Nelson was last seen headed for Camp Baker, M. T. with his silver Tounge and , golden pen to file his report on July l, 1874. . On November L 1874 with no river traffic and therefore no more freight over the Carroll ' Trail, Company F, 7th US Inf. , went back to Fort Shaw for the winter. Camp Lewis was again gar-risoned in June of 1875 bY Company G and Company K, 7th Inf. Captain Browning com-rnanded Co. G. 7th Inf. with lst Lti G. H. Wright, his junior officer. Co. K, 7th Inf . was commanded by Lt. Charles A. Woodruff who signed the last official correspondence from Camp Lewis Oct. 19, 1875. It was probably then that Lt. Woodruff took Company K with him and left the post. 1876 saw the 7th Infantry under Colonel Gibbon joining General TerrY and Lt. Col. Custer in a major clash with the Sioux. There was no further mention of trooPs at Camp Lewis at anY rate' 1875 at Camp Lewis while shorter in duration as far as time the Post was manned saw more action for the trooPs. There were three soldiers killed;3t CamP Leyl.: b), thq Siou,x.. T!1ey,rye19 ,p.ecr.u1l George Laraux unassigned 7th Eaelv c&mnTiEnnity' s start
Object Description
Rating | |
Title | Army order influenced new communities start. |
Description | A newspaper article about Captain Constant Williams and his men who were sent to Central Montana to set up Camp Lewis in 1874. Lewistown News-Argus Newspaper Dec. 17, 1972 |
Creator | Dissly, Robert L. |
Genre | newspapers |
Type | Text |
Language | eng |
Date Original | 1972 |
Subject (keyword) | Camp Lewis; Fort Sherman; |
Rights Management | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
Contributing Institution | Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, Montana |
Publisher (Original) | Lewistown News-Argus |
Geographic Coverage | Central Montana. |
Digital collection | Central Montana Historical Documents |
Physical collection | Special Collections |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Physical format | |
Digitization Specifications | Canon MX310 300dpi |
Full text of this item | ARMY ORDER INFLUENCED NEW COMMUNITY’S START By Robert L. Dissly News-Argus Dec. 17, 1972 Soon after Peter Koch turned Fort Sherman over to T. I. Dawes in March, 1874, an event occurred at Fort Shaw, M.T. that was to further the continuity of this new community on the banks of Big Spring Creek and in fact, give it its name, Lewistown. For Shaw, M.T. was the headquarters of the 7th Infantry. It was there that Special Order No. 73, dated April 7, 1874 was issued ordering Captain Constant Williams, 7th U. S. Infantry, to proceed with his company (Company F) to Story’s trading post (Fort Sherman) and there to build a summer encampment. The order read that the post would be maintained until the first of October. (The post was abandoned on Nov. 1 instead of Oct. 1.). Each man was to take 200 rounds of ammunition. The company also took rations until June 30, almost seven weeks. As usual, a journal was kept. Guarding the Carroll Trail, Camp Lewis – 1874 – 1875 by Capt. Michael J. Koury and edited by Glen C. Morton contains this journal. After a foot march of 248 miles, Capt. Williams and his company “F” set up camp on Big Spring Fork of the Judith River abut 1 ½ miles above the crossing of the road from Helena to Carroll, M. T. It was the first of over 50 company sized units of the U. S. Military to be as associated with the community of Lewistown during the next 100 years (1873-1973). The troops of Camp Lewis did a great deal of escort duty. Often they manned small outposts such as Box Elder, a way station and road repair. Although there are no known pictures or drawings of Camp Lewis, a description of it was written in the Helena Weekly Herald written by Van H. Fisk who came to Camp Lewis to bring goods and establish a sutler’s post on Camp Lewis. (See artist’s sketch) “Camp Lewis is beautifully located in the extreme northeastern part of Judith basin, on Big Spring creek, near the Muscelshell road. The name of this temporary military post was given in honor of former major of the 7th Infantry. W. H. Lewis, now Lieut. Colonel of the 19th Infantry, officered by Captain Constant Williams, Lieutenants’ Levi F. Burnett and W. A. English. The company now here expect to remain until the close of the freighting season, when they will return and winter at Fort Shaw, unless further military operations should intervene. The camp is laid out with precision and everything made safe against Indians that prudence would dictate, while the tents have been made more barrack-like by elevating each one on three tier of hewed logs. A good log cook house, company bake oven, corral, a 60 foot flagstaff from which the Stars and Stripes float proudly everyday – and a nice garden of string beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, and other frontier luxuries, are among the tings noted. (Thirty-seven stars were on that flag flown over Camp Lewis, M. T. in 1874 and 1875. Nebraska, the 37th state entered the Union on March 1, 1876). In Vol. 8, No. 34 of the Helena Weekly Herald dated July 16, 1874 an article was printed, written by Lieut. W. H. Nelson, adjutant of the 7th Inf. about his visit to Camp Lewis on or about June 25, 1874. 2 Lt. Nelson was quite a fun loving officer who spent three days “resting” at Camp Lewis. One of these three days was spent hunting grizzly bears up East Fork of the Big Spring Creek. He promptly named this small, muddy, and mired tributary “Sinovial Magoosalem” after a former assistant surgeon on Duty with the 7th Infantry. Thank goodness the name didn’t stick. They weren’t successful with their bear hunt that day either but did manage to get a couple of white tail deer. Lt. Nelson described a day’s sojourn by the members of the Fat Brigade (desk soldiers of the adjutant), Captain Williams and himself to the source of Big Spring Creek: “All hands were delighted with the result of their piscatorial efforts and observations of things around: about 25 pounds of genuine mountain trout having been caught – from 11 to 15 inches in length – and scenery being of real interest. Big Spring Creek is so named from the fact that its sources come from four large springs, all within a radius of 80 rods, about six miles above Camp Lewis, a thousand or more inches of water bubbling from each spring. The Creek is only about 26 miles in length, yet it is one of the main feeders of the Judith River. Its waters are cold and clear except for a mile or so below where comes in the muddy waters of Sinovial Magoosalem. “Near Camp Lewis Storey’s Fort, a trading post run by the Daws (sic) Brothers. The river Crows do considerable trading here, seldom going up to the regular agency even for annuities. Mitch Boyer (sic), an intelligent half breed, is now here awaiting the arrival of a train of annuities dispatched hither by Agent Wright, which annuities Mitch is to distribute to the River Crows. Captain Williams, commanding Camp Lewis, then whom no more upright gentlemen can be found, will personally see that these goods are distributed as per intention of Uncle Sam. Camp Lewis is almost on the very site selected for the proposed new agency for the Crow Indians; but the belief prevails that the change will not as it certainly should not – be made, and that a special agency should and will be provided for the River Crows at some convenient point in the Judith Basin, than which in my opinion no better location could be selected than at or near Camp Lewis. “On Thursday evening, June 25th, from headquarters at Camp Lewis, we discovered encamped at the crossing of the Muscleshell road of Big Spring Creek, a couple miles below, a company of cavalry, and rightly surmising that it was Company F, of the second cavalry, under command of Captain George L. Tyler, we paid them a flying visit, and spent a very social hour with Captain Tyler, Lieutenant Charles Roe, and Dr. Whitefoot. This company was retuning from Carroll to Ellis, having been down escorting a drove of beeves for Buford. Captain Tyler���s Company are mounted on as large and fine and fat a lot of horses as I ever saw, their appearance belying in every particular Nast‘s late derisive caricature of the U.S. Calvary in Harpers Weekly. Captain Tyler is known as the most efficient military man, and certainly makes a very good impression upon one on brief acquaintance. Lieutenant Roe, it will be remembered is engaged to and is to lead to the altar at no distant day one of the accomplished Miss Bogerts, of Bozeman, and his absent mindedness upon his occasion is pardonable, though perceptible. Dr. Whitefoot preserves to the last his equanimity of spirits and geniality of disposition, and his home like greeting is ever a welcome. 3 Lt. Nelson was last seen headed for Camp Baker, M.T. with his silver Tongue and golden pen to file his report on July1, 1874. On November 1, 1874 with no river traffic and therefore no more freight over the Carroll Trail, Company F, 7th US Inf. went back to Fort Shaw for the winter. Camp Lewis was again garrisoned in June of 1875 by Company G and Company K, 7th Inf. Captain Browning commanded Co. G. 7th Inf. with 1st Lt. G. H. Wright, his junior officer. Co. K 7th Inf. was commanded by Lt. Charles A. Woodruff who signed the last official correspondence from Camp Lewis Oct. 19, 1875. It was probably then that Lt. Woodruff took Company K with him and left the post. 1876 saw the 7th Infantry under Colonel Gibbon joining General Terry and Lt. Col. Custer in a major clash with the Sioux. There was no further mention of troops at Camp Lewis at any rate. 1875 at Camp Lewis while shorter in duration as far as time the post was manned saw more action for the troops. There were three soldiers killed at Camp Lewis by the Sioux. They were Recruit George Laraux unassigned 7th Inf.; fishing party; and recruits Steven A. Harrison and George A. Weaver, unassigned 7th Infantry who went out hunting but in a different direction from Recruit Laraux. All three were recovered and buried with due military honors. This same raiding party raided the Diamond R train at Armells Creek the following morning at daybreak. This was some 30 miles east of Camp Lewis and they stole some 33 mules. |
Local Identifier | SC 1.1 Army Order Influenced New Communities Start. |
Description
Title | SC 1.1 Army order influenced Dec 17,1972-orig 1 |
Type | Text |
Contributing Institution | Lewistown Public Library, Lewistown, Montana |
Digital Format | application/pdf |
Digitization Specifications | Canon MX310 300dpi |
Full text of this item | Arnmy wrder &ffiffEenernced by ROBERT L. DISSLY Soon after Peter Koch turned Fort Sherman over to T. I. Dawes in March, 1874, an event occured at Fort Shaw, M.T. that was to further the continuity of this new community on the banks of Big Spring Creek and, in fact, give it its name, Lewistown. Fort Shaw, M.T. was the headquarters of the 7th Infan-try. It was there that Special Order No. 73, dated April 7, 1874 was issued ordering Captain Constant Williams, ?th U. S. Infantry, to proceed with his company (Company F), to Story's trqding post (Fort Sher-man) and there to build a summer encampment. The or-der read that the post would be maintained until the first of October. (The post was aban-doned on Nov. 1 instead of Oct. 1.) Each man was to take 200 rounds of ammunition. The company also took rations untii June 30, almost seven weeks. As usual, a journal was kept. Guarding the Carroll Trail, Camp Lewis - lB74 - 1875 bY Capt. Michael J. Koury and edited by Glen C. Morton con-tains this iournal. After a foot march af 248 miles, Capt. Williams and his company "F" set up camp on Big Spring Fork of the Judith River about 1% miles above the crossing of the road from Helena to Carroil, M.T. It was the first of over 50 companY-sized units of the U.S. MilitarY to be associated with the com-munity of Lewistown during the next 100 years (1873-1973). The troops of Camp Lewis did a great deal of escort dutY. Often they manned small out-posts such as Box Elder, a waY station and road repair. Although there are no known pictures or drawings of CamP Lewis, a description of it was written in the Helena WeeklY Herald written by Van H. Fisk who came to CamP Lewis to bring goods and establish a Sutler's post on CamP Lewis. (See artist's sketch) "Camp Lewis is beautifullY located in the extrerne north-eastern part of Judith Basin. on Big Spring Creek. lteai ihe Muscelshell road. The name of this temporary military post was given in honor of former major of the 7th Infantry, W. H. Lewis, now lieut. colonel of the 19th Infantry, officered by Cap-tain Constant Williams, Lieu-tenants Levi F. Burnett and W. A. English. The company now here expect to remain until the close of the freighting season, when they will return and winter at Fort Shaw, unless further military operations should intervene. The camp is laid out with precision and everything made safe against Indians that prudence would dictate, while the tents have been made more barracklike by elevating each one on three tier of hewed logs. A good log cook house, company bake oven, corral, a 60 foot flagstaff - from which the Stars and Stripes float proudly everyday - and a nice garden of string beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, and other frontier luxuries, afe among the things noted. (Thirty-seven stars were on that flag flown over Camp Lewis, M.T. in 1874 and 1875. Nebraska, the 37th state enter-ed the Union on March 1, 1867 and Colorado, the 38th state did not come in until August 1, 1876) In Vol. 8,, No. 34 of the HELENA WEEKLY HERALD dated July 16, 1874 an article was printed, written by Lieut. W. H. Nelson, adjutant of the 7th Inf. about his visit to'Camp Lewis on or about June 25, 1874. Lt. Nelson was quite a fun loving officer who spent three days "resting" at Camp Lewis. One of these three days was spent hunting grizzly bears up East Fork of the Big Spring Creek. He promptly named this small, muddy, and mirey trib-utary "sinovial Magoosalem" after a former assistant sur-geon on duty with the 7th Infantry. Thank goodness the name didn't stick. They weren't successful with their bear hunt that day either but did manage to get a coupie of white tail deer. Lt. Nelson described a day's sojourn by the members of the Fat Brigade (desk soldiers of the adjutant), Captain Williams and himself to the source of Big Spring Creek: "ail hands .r;ere delighted with the result of their piscator-ial efforts and observations of things around; about 25 pounds of getruine mountain trout hav-ing been caught - from 11.,to 15 inches in length - sni scenery b'ring of real interert. Big Spring Creek is so named'from the fact that its sources C'ome from four large springs, all within a radius of B0 rods, about six miles above Camp Lewii, a thousand or more inchesl of .water bubbling from each spring. The Creek is only about 26 miles in length, yet it is onerof the main feeders of the Judith River. Its waters are cold and clear except for a mile or so below where comes in the muddy waters of Sinovial Ma: goosalem. "Near Camp Lewis Storey's' Fort, a trading post run by the Daws (sic) Brothers. The River Crows do considerable trading here, seldom going up to the regular agency even for annu-ities. Mitch Boyer (sic), an intelligent half breed, is now here awaiting the arrival of a train of annuities dispatched hither by Agent Wright, which annuities Mitch is to distribute to the River Crows. Captain Williams, commanding Camp Lewis, then whom no more upright gentlemen can be found, will personaily see that these goods are distributed as per intention of Uncle Sam. Camp Lewis is almost on the very site selected for the pro-posed new agency for the Crow Indians; but the belief prevails that the change will not as it certainly should not - be made, and that a special agency shouid and will be provided for the River Crows at some con-venient point in the Judith Basin, than which in my opinion no better }ocation could be selected than at or near CamP Lewis. "On Thursday evening, June 25th, from headquarters at Camp Lewis, we discovered encamped at the crossing of the Muscleshell road of Big Spring Creek, a couple miles below, a coinpany of cavalry, and rightly surmising that it was Company F, of the second cavalry, under command of Captain George L. Tyler. we paid them a flying vi.sil., and'spent'a verl social hour with'Captain Tyler, I.ieu-tenant Charles Roe, and Dr. Whitefoot. This comPany was returning from Carroll to Ellis, having been down escorting a drove of beeves for Buford. Captain Tyler's ComPanY are mounted on as large and fine and fat a lot of horses as I ever , saw, their appearance belYing in every particular Nast's late derisive caricature of the U.S. Calvary in Harpers WeeklY. Captain Tyler is known as the most efficient militarY man, and certainly makes a very good impression upon one on brief acquaintance. Lieutenant Roe, it will be remembered is engaged to and is to lead to the altar at no distant day one of the accomplished Miss Bogerts, of Bozeman, and his absent mind-edness upon his occasion is pardonable, though perceptible. Dr. Whitefoot preserves to the last his equanimity of spirits and geniality of disposition, and his home like greeting is ever a welcome. Lt. Nelson was last seen headed for Camp Baker, M. T. with his silver Tounge and , golden pen to file his report on July l, 1874. . On November L 1874 with no river traffic and therefore no more freight over the Carroll ' Trail, Company F, 7th US Inf. , went back to Fort Shaw for the winter. Camp Lewis was again gar-risoned in June of 1875 bY Company G and Company K, 7th Inf. Captain Browning com-rnanded Co. G. 7th Inf. with lst Lti G. H. Wright, his junior officer. Co. K, 7th Inf . was commanded by Lt. Charles A. Woodruff who signed the last official correspondence from Camp Lewis Oct. 19, 1875. It was probably then that Lt. Woodruff took Company K with him and left the post. 1876 saw the 7th Infantry under Colonel Gibbon joining General TerrY and Lt. Col. Custer in a major clash with the Sioux. There was no further mention of trooPs at Camp Lewis at anY rate' 1875 at Camp Lewis while shorter in duration as far as time the Post was manned saw more action for the trooPs. There were three soldiers killed;3t CamP Leyl.: b), thq Siou,x.. T!1ey,rye19 ,p.ecr.u1l George Laraux unassigned 7th Eaelv c&mnTiEnnity' s start |
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