Excerpt from:  

  Journal of a Trapper --- by Osborne Russell

               [Osborne Russell, a trapper who kept a journal from 1834-1843 traveled with the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, which was                    led by Jim Bridger and included Joe Meek and Kit Carson, and trapped in the Red Lodge area.]

 

September 7, 1836:

"We overtook the camp on a stream called Rocky fork [Rock Creek] a branch of Clarks fork of the Yellow Stone. When we arrived at camp we were told the sad news of the death of a french Trapper named Bodah, who had been waylaid and killed by a party of Blackfeet while setting his traps and one of the Delawares had been shot thro the hip by the rifle of one of his comrades going off accidentally and several war parties of Blackfeet had been seen scouting about the country. We had been in camp but a few minutes when two trappers rode up whom we called 'Major Meek' and 'Dave Crow'."

[The brigade of 60 men included at least 10 Delaware Indians from the East, hired as scouts, trackers and trappers. Russell describes a battle 3 miles above their winter encampment at the mouth of the Clark's Fork on the Yellowstone, at the mouth of Rocky Fork (Rock Creek):]

"The next day [September 8, 1836] we moved down the stream to its junction with Clark's fork within about 13 Mls of the Yellowstone On the following morning two men went to set traps down on the river and as they were hunting along the brushy banks for places to set a party of sixty Blackfeet surrounded them drove them into the river and shot after them as they were swimming accross on their horses One by the name of Howell was shot by two fusee balls thro. the chest the other escaped unhurt. Howell rode within half a mile of camp fell and was brought in on a litter he lived about 20 hours and expired in the greatest agony imaginable--about an hour after he was brought in about 20 Whites and Delawares went to scour the brush along the river and fight the Blackfeet Having found them they drove them on to an Island and fought them till dark. The loss on our side during the battle was a Nez percey Indian killed and one White slightly wounded in the shoulder. The Blackfeet who were fortified on the Island drew off in the night secreting their dead and carrying off their wounded The next day we interred the remains of poor Howell at the foot of a large Cottonwood tree and called the place 'Howell's Encampment' as a compliment to his memory"

November 11, 1836:

"The weather [commenced] cold the streams froze over again and we started for Camp which we found on Clarks fork about a mile above "Howells encampment" The Camp stopped at this place until Christmas then moved down about 4 Mls onto the Yellowstone."

January 28, 1837:

"On the 28th Jany myself and six more trappers concluded to take a cruise of 5 or 6 days after the Buffaloe The snow was about 4 inches deep and the weather clear and cold we took seven loose animals to pack meat and travelled up Clarks fork about 12 Mls killed a cow and encamped The next morning we started across towards Rock fork and had gone about 3 Mls over the smooth plain gradually ascending to a range of hills which divided Carks fork from Rock We were riding carelessly along with our rifles lying carelessly before us on our saddles when we came to a deep narrow gulch made by the water running from the hills in the Spring Season when behold! the earth seemed teaming with naked Savages a quick volley of fusees a shower of balls and a cloud of smoke clearly bespoke their nation tribe manners and customs and mode of warfare: A ball broke the right arm of one man and he dropped his rifle which a savage immediately caught up and shot after us as we wheeled and scampered away out of the reach of their guns. There was about 80 Indians who had secreted themselves until we rode within 15 feet of them They got a rifle clear gain and we had one man wounded and lost a Rifle so they had so much the advantage and we were obliged to go to Camp and study out some plan to get even as by the two or three last skirmishes we had fell in this rebt. A few days afterwards a party of 20 were discovered crossing the plain to the river about 6 Mls below us 20 men immediately mounted and set off and arrived at the place just as they had entered the timber-- they ran into some old rotten Indian forts formed of small poles in a conical shape The whites immediately surrounded and opened fire upon them which was kept up until darkness and the severity of the weather compelled them to retire We had one man wounded slightly thro. the hip and one Delaware was shot by a poisoned ball in the leg which lodged under the knee cap he lived four days and expired. On examining the battle ground the next day we found that three or four at least had been killed and put under the Ice in the river seven or 8 had been badly wounded which they dragged away on trains to their village. We found that the old forts were not bullet proof in any place our rifle balls had whistled thro. them nearly every shot and blood and brains lay scattered about inside on the shattered fragments of rotten wood."

July 30, 1837, [while writing at Jackson's big hole after the Green River rendezvous:]

"I left the Camp in company with two trappers and one Camp Keeper we received instructions from Mr. Fontanele to meet the Camp at the mouth of Clarks fork of the Yellow Stone on the 15th of the ensuing Octr where they expected to pass the winter quarters he would cause a tree to be marked at Howells grave and bury a letter in the ground at the foot of it containing directions for finding the camp"

October 20, 1837:

"We shaped our Course NE and travelled about 25 Mls accross the Spurs of the mountain fell onto the Nth. fork of the 'Rosebud' [Stillwater] where we staid the next day as it rained"

October 22, 1837:

"We travelled South along the foot of the Mountain 20 Mls keeping among the low Spurs which project into the plain in order to prevent being discovered by any straggling parties of Blackfeet which might chance to be lurking about the country, the plains below us were crowded with Buffaloe which we were careful not to disturb for fear of being discovered We stopped and Set our traps on the small branches of the 'Rosebud' until the 11th of Octr. then travelled to Rocky fork and went up it into the Mountain and encamped. On the 13th Myself and Allen started to hunt Mr. Fontanells party leaving our Comrades in the Mountain to await our return We travelled down Rocky fork all day amid crowds of Buffaloe and encamped after dark near the mouth. The next morning we went to 'Howells encampment' but found no tree marked neither had the earth been disturbed since we had closed it upon the remains of the unfortunate Howell We now sat down and consulted upon the best course As Winter was approaching we could not think of stopping in this country where parties of Blackfeet were ranging at all seasons of the year. After a few moments of deliberation we came to the conclusion and I wrote a note enclosed it in a Buffaloe horn buried it at the foot of the tree and then marked the tree with my hatchet This being done we mounted our Mules and started back to the mountain Travelled about 6 Mls stopped and killed a cow. As we were lying within about 60 paces of the band which contained about 300 cows Allen made an observation which I shall never forget Said he I have been watching these cows some time and I can see but one that is poor enough to Kill' for said he it is a shame to kill one of those fat Cows merely for two mens suppers' So saying he leveled his rifle on the poorest and brot. her down. She was a heifer about 3 years old but an inch of fat on the back. After cooking and eating we proceeded on our journey until sometime after dark when we found ourselves on a sudden in the midst of an immense band of Buffaloe who getting the scent of us ran helter skelter around us in every direction rushing to and fro like the waves of the ocean, approaching sometimes within 10 ft. of us We stood still for we dare not retreat or advance until this storm of brutes took a general course and rolled away with a noise like distant thunder and then we hurried on thro. egyptian darkness a few 100 paces when we found a bunch of willows where we concluded to stop for the night rather than risk our lives any further among such whirlwinds of beef."

October 15, 1837:

"We reached the Camp about 10 oclk AM. We staid on Rocky fork and its branches trapping until the 27th of Octr. when we concluded to go to a small fork running into Wind river on the east side above the upper Big horn mountain and there pass the winter, unless we should hear from the main party"

**********************************************************************************************************************

Excerpt from:

      Four Years in the Rockies, or, The Adventures of Isaac P. Rose of Shenango           Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania ----by James B. Marsh

       Rose, Isaac P., 1815-1899 

date of publication: 1884 

CHAPTER XVI. IN WHICH HOWELL IS KILLED BY THE INDIANS. FIGHT WITH THE BLACKFEET.

Bridger was very much annoyed to find so large a band of hostile Indians in such close proximity to his camp. He was aware his men would be in constant danger; that, in fact, it would not be safe for any of them to go off trapping by themselves, as the savages were constantly on the alert.

A circumstance had occurred the day before Rose had joined his company, that determined Bridger to attack, and, if possible, drive the Blackfeet from the neighborhood.

Two trappers, Howell and Green, whose unfortunate love affairs, our readers will remember, had induced them to join the fur company, were trapping a few miles from camp, on the Yellowstone. As they were riding up the bank of the stream they saw six or eight Indians coming toward them. Wheeling their horses, with the intention of making for the camp, they saw another company of Indians below them; that, it fact, they were surrounded, and their only chance of escape was by the river. Forcing their horses down the steep bank, they plunged into the river and made for the opposite shore. Green slipped from the saddle and swam along beside his horse, while Howell kept his seat. The Indians commenced firing at them before they reached the opposite bank, and Howell received three shots in his back. With a groan he leaned forward on his horse, and his rifle fell from his hand into the river.

"Are you badly hurt?" inquired Green.

"I'm a dead man," exclaimed Howell, "and you had better leave me and do the best you can to save yourself."

But Green declared he would not leave him so long as there was any hope of saving him, and taking the wounded man's horse by the bridle, he forced the animals up the bank; then mounting his horse, and telling Howell to hold on with all his might, they started at full speed down the stream.

They were, however, on the wrong side of the river, and the Indians were between them and the camp, and were running down the stream with the intention of heading them off, but as their horses were good, Green and his companon were soon far enough ahead of the Indians to recross the river; but poor Howell was sinking fast, and passing through a miry place about a mile from camp, he fell off, and as Green could do him no good by staying with him, he hurried to camp in seach of assistance.

Some of the trappers returned with him at once, and Howell was brought into camp. His wounds proved mortal, and he died that night, thus terminating his unfortunate career.

Preparations were at once made to start for the Blackfeet camp in the morning, for their trapper blood was up, and they were determined to avenge the death of their companion.

There were about twenty Indian free trappers, who had attached themselves to Bridger's company, belonging to the Delaware and Shawnee tribes, and as they considered the Blackfeet their deadly foe, they were most anxious to join in the coming fray.

Two hours before the time appointed to start, the Indians were busy daubing themselves with war paint, which made them have a most hideous and ferocious appearance. They then went through with what they called the war dance, and declared themselves ready for the march, and Bridger, with about fifty of his men, started for the Yellowstone, the friendly Indians leading the way.

On arriving within sight of the Blackfeet camp, it was found they had ensconced themselves in a thick growth of cottonwood and willows, on the bank of the river, from which it seemed dangerous to attempt to move them; but the Dela wares and Shawnees were not to be so easily balked of their prey. With rifle in one hand, and tomahawk in the other, they rushed into the thicket, yelling like demons, and the Blackfeet thinking, no doubt, the whole company of trappers had charged on them, rushed down the bank into the river and swam to an island in the middle of the stream, holding their guns out of the water with one hand to keep them dry. Here they fortified themselves behind a lot of drift timber, piling the logs around them so as to form a sort of fort. The trappers and friendly Indians took their position among the clumps of bushes along the banks of the stream.

It may appear strange to our readers, yet it is nevertheless true, that the feeling experienced by the trappers, when about to make a raid on a band of hostile Indians, resembles those of our country friends when going to visit a circus. It is relaxation from their usual employment, and a good time for fun, frolic and adventure is expected. Every trapper had selected a tree or clump of bushes, within fair rifle range of their enemies and whenever a Blackfoot exposed any part of his person, a ball from one of the trapper's rifle would send the unfortunate Indian to the happy hunting grounds. These fights may be considered a regular target practice. One of the Indians would hoist a breech-cloth above the logs, and in one minute it ,would be cut down by a bullet from one of the white men's rifles, followed by shouts and yells from the trapper who witnessed the shot; and, again, a trapper would place his wolfskin cap on his ramrod, and raise it above his place of concealment, and it would soon be perforated by an Indian bullet. In this way the fight went on for several hours, with but little advantage to either party.

Mark Head, who had taken his station behind a Cottonwood stump, had, while loading his gun, stepped a little too much to one side, and received a slight wound in the fleshy part of his arm, and immediately called out, with his usual nasal drawl, "Boys, I'm shot!"

"What does he say?" inquired Lewis, who was lying behind a clump of bushes.

"He says he has shot one of the Indians," replied a trapper.

"No, I didn't, neither!" exclaimed Mark. "I said I was shot, myself." This was received with roars of laughter by his companions, who knew by his tone he was not seriously hurt.

One of the Delaware Indians swam his horse across the river to the foot of the island, and, dismounting, he crept up to within fifty yards of the fort, and climbing a large cottonwood tree, which overlooked their place of concealment, he fired three shots right in among them, killing an Indian at each shot, but the balls from the Blackfeet rifles were tearing the bark from the limb behind which he had concealed himself, and he was compelled to descend and beat a hasty retreat.

The fight continued till night, when the trappers returned to camp. The next morning they again visited the battle ground, but the Indians had departed, and Bridger was in hopes that, for a time at least, they had rid themselves of their troublesome neighbors.