"I war trapping on the Rocky Fork of the Yellowstone. I had been out from camp five
days; and war solitary and alone, when I war discovered by a war party of Crows. They
had the prairie, and I war forced to run for the Creek bottom; but the beaver had
thronged the water out and made dams, so that my mule mired down. While I war
struggling in the marsh, the Indians came after me, with tremendous yells; firing a
random shot now and then, as they closed in on me.
"When they war within about two rods of me, I brought old Sally, that is my gun, to my
face, ready to fire, and then die; for I knew it war death this time, unless Providence
interfered to save me: and I didn't think Providence would do it. But the head chief,
when he saw the warlike looks of Sally, called out to me to put down my gun, and I
should live.
"Well, I liked to live,--being then in the prime of life; and though it hurt me powerful, I
resolved to part with Sally. I laid her down. As I did so, the chief picked her up, and one
of the braves sprang at me with a spear, and would have run me through, but the chief
knocked him down with the butt of my gun. Then they led me forth to the high plain on
the south side of the stream. There they called a halt, and I was given in charge of
three women, while the warriors formed a ring to smoke and consult. This gave me an
opportunity to count them: they numbered one hundred and eighty-seven men, nine
boys, and three women.
"After a smoke of three long hours, the chief, who war named 'The Bold,' called me in
the ring, and said:
" 'I have known the whites for a long time, and I know them to be great liars, deserving
death; but if you will tell the truth, you shall live.'
"Then I thought to myself, they will fetch the truth out of me, if thar is any in me. But his
highness continued:
" 'Tell me whar are the whites you belong to; and what is your captain's name.'
"I said 'Bridger is my captain's name; or, in the Crow tongue, Casapy,' the 'Blanket
chief.' At this answer the chief seemed lost in thought. At last he asked me--
" 'How many men has he ?'
"I thought about telling the truth and living; but I said 'forty,' which war a tremendous lie;
for thar war two hundred and forty. At this answer The Bold laughed:
"'We will make them poor,' said he; 'and you shall live, but they shall die.'
"I thought to myself, 'hardly ;' but I said nothing. He then asked me whar I war to meet
the camp, and I told him:--and then how many days before the camp would be thar;
which I answered truly, for I wanted them to find the camp.
"It war now late in the afternoon, and thar war a great bustle, getting ready for the
march to meet Bridger. Two big Indians mounted my mule, but the women made me
pack moccasins. The spies started first, and after awhile the main party. Seventy
warriors traveled ahead of me: I war placed with the women and boys; and after us the
balance of the braves. As we traveled along, the women would prod me with sticks, and
laugh, and say 'Masta Sheela,' (which means white man,) 'Masta sheela very poor
now.' The fair sex war very much amused.
"We traveled that way till midnight, the two big bucks riding my mule, and I packing
moccasins. Then we camped; the Indians in a ring, with me in the centre, to keep me
safe. I didn't sleep very well that night. I'd a heap rather been in some other place.
"The next morning we started on in the same order as before: and the squaws making
fun of me all day; but I kept mighty quiet. When we stopped to cook that evening, I war
set to work, and war head cook, and head waiter too. The third and the fourth day it war
the same. I felt pretty bad when we struck camp on the last day: for I knew we must be
coming near to Bridger, and that if any thing should go wrong, my life would pay the
forfeit.
"On the afternoon of the fourth day, the spies, who war in advance, looking out from a
high hill, made a sign to the main party. In a moment all sat down. Directly they got
another sign, and then they got up and moved on. I war as well up in Indian signs as
they war; and I knew they had discovered white men. What war worse, I knew they
would soon discover that I had been lying to them. All I had to do then war to trust to
luck. Soon we came to the top of the hill, which overlooked the Yellowstone, from which
I could see the plains below extending as far as the eye could reach, and about three
miles off, the camp of my friends. My heart beat double quick about that time; and I
once in a while put my hand to my head, to feel if my scalp war thar.
"While I war watching our camp, I discovered that the horse guard had seen us, for I
knew the sign he would make if he discovered Indians. I thought the camp a splendid
sight that evening. It made a powerful show to me, who did not expect ever to see it
after that day. And it war a fine sight any how, from the hill whar I stood. About two
hundred and fifty men, and women and children in great numbers, and about a
thousand horses and mules. Then the beautiful plain, and the sinking sun; and the
herds of buffalo that could not be numbered; and the cedar hills, covered with elk,--I
never saw so fine a sight as all that looked to me then!
"When I turned my eyes on that savage Crow band, and saw the chief standing with his
hand on his mouth, lost in amazement; and beheld the warriors' tomahawks and spears
glittering in the sun, my heart war very little. Directly the chief turned to me with a
horrible scowl. Said he:
"'I promised that you should live if you told the truth; but you have told me a great lie.'
"Then the warriors gathered around, with their tomahawks in their hands; but I war
showing off very brave, and kept my eyes fixed on the horse-guard who war
approaching the hill to drive in the horses. This drew the attention of the chief, and the
warriors too. Seeing that the guard war within about two hundred yards of us, the chief
turned to me and ordered me to tell him to come up. I pretended to do what he said; but
instead of that I howled out to him to stay off, or he would be killed; and to tell Bridger
to try to treat with them, and get me away.
"As quick as he could he ran to camp, and in a few minutes Bridger appeared, on his
large white horse. He came up to within three hundred yards of us, and called out to
me, asking who the Indians war. I answered 'Crows.' He then told me to say to the chief
he wished him to send one of his sub-chiefs to smoke with him.
"All this time my heart beat terribly hard. I don't know now why they didn't kill me at
once; but the head chief seemed overcome with surprise. When I repeated to him what
Bridger said, he reflected a moment, and then ordered the second chief, called Little-Gun, to go
and smoke with Bridger. But they kept on preparing for war; getting on their
paint and feathers, arranging their scalp locks, selecting their arrows, and getting their
ammunition ready.
"While this war going on, Little-Gun had approached to within about a hundred yards of
Bridger; when, according to the Crow laws of war, each war forced to strip himself, and
proceed the remaining distance in a state of nudity, and kiss and embrace. While this
interesting ceremony war being performed, five of Bridger's men had followed him,
keeping in a ravine until they got within shooting distance, when they showed
themselves, and cut off the return of Little-Gun, thus making a prisoner of him.
"If you think my heart did not jump up when I saw that, you think wrong. I knew it war kill
or cure, now. Every Indian snatched a weapon, and fierce threats war howled against
me. But all at once about a hundred of our trappers appeared on the scene. At the
same time Bridger called to me, to tell me to propose to the chief to exchange me for
Little-Gun. I explained to The Bold what Bridger wanted to do, and he sullenly
consented: for, he said, he could not afford to give a chief for one white dog's scalp. I
war then allowed to go towards my camp, and Little-Gun towards his; and the rescue I
hardly hoped for war accomplished.
"In the evening the chief, with forty of his braves, visited Bridger and made a treaty of
three months. They said they war formerly at war with the whites; but that they desired
to be friendly with them now, so that together they might fight the Blackfeet, who war
everybody's enemies. As for me, they returned me my mule, gun, and beaver packs,
and said my name should be Shiam Shaspusia, for I could out-lie the Crows."
In December, Bridger's command went into winter quarters in the bend of the
Yellowstone. Buffalo, elk and bear were in great abundance, all that fall and winter
Before they went to camp, Meek, Kit Carson, Hawkins; and Doughty were trapping
together on the Yellowstone, about sixty miles below. They had made their temporary
camp in the ruins of an old fort, the walls of which were about six feet high. One
evening, after coming in from setting their traps, they discovered three large grizzly
bears in the river bottom, not more than half a mile off and Hawkins went out to shoot
one. He was successful in killing one at the first shot, when the other two, taking fright,
ran towards the fort. As they came near enough to show that they were likely to invade
camp, Meek and Carson, not caring to have a bear fight, clambered up a cotton-wood
tree close by, at the same time advising Doughty to do the same. But Doughty was
tired, and lazy besides, and concluded to take his chances where he was; so he rolled
himself in his blanket and laid quite still. The bears, on making the fort, reared up on
their hind legs and looked in as if meditating taking it for a defence.
The sight of Doughty lying rolled in his blanket, and the monster grizzlys inspecting the
fort, caused the two trappers who were safely perched in the cotton-wood to make
merry at Doughty's expense; saying all the mirth provoking things they could, and then
advising him not to laugh, for fear the bears should seize him. Poor Doughty, agonizing
between suppressed laughter and growing fear, contrived to lie still however, while the
bears gazed upward at the speakers in wonder, and alternately at the suspicious
looking bundle inside the fort. Not being able to make out the meaning of either, they
gave at last a grunt of dissatisfaction, and ran off into a thicket to consult over these
strange appearances; leaving the trappers to enjoy the incident as a very good joke.
For a long time after, Doughty was reminded how close to the ground he laid, when the
grizzlys paid their compliments to him. Such were the every-day incidents which the
mountain-men contrived to derive their rude jests, and laughter-provoking
reminiscences.
A few days after this incident, while the same party were trapping a few miles farther
down the river, on their way to camp, they fell in with some Delaware Indians, who said
they had discovered signs of Blackfeet, and wanted to borrow some horses to decoy
them. To this the trappers very willingly agreed, and they were furnished with two
horses. The Delawares then went to the spot where signs had been discovered, and
tying the horses, laid flat down on the ground near them, concealed by the grass or
willows. They had not long to wait before a Blackfoot was seen stealthily advancing
through the thicket, confident in the belief that he should gain a couple of horses while
their supposed owners were busy with their traps.
But just as he laid his hand on the bridle of the first one, crack went the rifles of the
Delawares, and there was one less Blackfoot thief on the scent after trappers. As soon
as they could, after this, the party mounted and rode to camp, not stopping by the way,
lest the main body of Blackfeet should discover the deed and seek for vengeance.
Truly indeed, was the Blackfoot the Ishmael of the wilderness, whose hand was against
every man, and every man's hand against him.
The Rocky Mountain Company passed the first part of the winter in peace and plenty in
the Yellowstone camp, unannoyed either by enemies or rivals. Hunting buffalo, feeding
their horses, playing games, and telling stories, occupied the entire leisure of these
months of repose. Not only did the mountain-men recount their own adventures, but
when these were exhausted, those whose memories served them rehearsed the tales
they had read in their youth. Robinson Crusoe and the Arabian Nights Entertainment,
were read over again by the light of memory; and even Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
was made to recite like a sensation novel, and was quite as well enjoyed.
1836. In January, however, this repose was broken in upon by a visit from the
Blackfeet. As their visitations were never of a friendly character, so then they were not
bent upon pacific rites and ceremonies, such as all the rest of the world find pleasure
in, but came in full battle array to try their fortunes in war against the big camp of the
whites. They had evidently made great preparation. Their warriors numbered eleven
hundred, got up in the top of the Blackfoot fashions, and armed with all manner of
savage and some civilized weapons. But Bridger was prepared for them, although their
numbers were so overwhelming. He built a fort, had the animals corraled, and put
himself on the defensive in a prompt and thorough manner. This made the Blackfeet
cautious; they too built forts of cotton-wood in the shape of lodges, ten men to each
fort, and carried on a skirmishing fight for two days, when finding there was nothing to
be gained, they departed, neither side having sustained much loss; the whites losing
only two men by this grand Blackfoot army.
Soon after this attack Bridger broke camp, and traveled up the Yellowstone, through
the Crow country. It was while on this march that Umentucken was struck by a Crow,
and Meek put the whole camp in peril, by shooting him. They passed on to the Big Horn
and Little Horn rivers, down through the Wind River valley and through the South Pass
to Green River.
While in that country, there occurred the fight with the Bannacks in which Umentucken
was killed. A small party of Nez Perces had lost their horses by the thieving of the
Bannacks. They came into camp and complained to the whites, who promised them
their protection, should they be able to recover their horses. Accordingly the Nez
Perces started after the thieves, and by dogging their camp, succeeded in re-capturing
their horses and getting back to Bridger's camp with them. In order to divert the
vengeance of the Bannacks from themselves, they presented their horses to the whites,
and a very fine one to Bridger.
All went well for a time. The Bannacks went on their way to hunt buffalo; but they
treasured up their wrath against the supposed white thieves who had stolen the horses
which they had come by so honestly. On their return from the hunt, having learned by
spies that the horses were in the camp of the whites, they prepared for war. Early one
morning they made their appearance mounted and armed, and making a dash at the
camp, rode through it with the usual yells and frantic gestures. The attack was entirely
unexpected. Bridger stood in front of his lodge, holding his horse by a lasso, and the
head chief rode over it, jerking it out of his hand. At this unprecedented insult to his
master, a negro named Jim, cook to the Booshways, seized a rifle and shot the chief
dead. At the same time, an arrow shot at random struck Umentucken in the breast, and
the joys and sorrows of the Mountain Lamb were over forevermore.
The killing of a head chief always throws an Indian war party into confusion, and negro
Jim was greatly elated at this signal feat of his. The trappers, who were as much
surprised at the suddenness of the assault as it is in the mountain-man's nature to be,
quickly recovered themselves. In a few moments the men were mounted and in motion,
and the disordered Bannacks were obliged to fly towards their village, Bridger's
company pursuing them.
All the rest of that day the trappers fought the Bannacks, driving them out of their
village and plundering it, and forcing them to take refuge on an island in the river. Even
there they were not safe, the guns of the mountain-men picking them off, from their
stations on the river banks. Umentucken was well avenged that day.
All night the Indians remained on the island, where sounds of wailing were heard
continually; and when morning came one of their old women appeared bearing the pipe
of peace. "You have killed all our warriors," she said; "do you now want to kill the
women? If you wish to smoke with women, I have the pipe."
Not caring either to fight or to smoke with so feeble a representative of the Bannacks,
the trappers withdrew. But it was the last war party that nation ever sent against the
mountain-men; though in later times they have by their atrocities avenged the losses of
that day.
While awaiting, in the Green River valley, the arrival of the St. Louis Company, the Rocky Mountain and North American companies united; after which Captain Sublette and his brother returned no more to the mountains. The new firm was known only as the American Fur Company, the other having dropped its title altogether. The object
of their consolidation was by combining their capital and experience to strengthen their
hands against the Hudson's Bay Company, which now had an establishment at Fort
Hall, on the Snake River. By this new arrangement, Bridger and Fontenelle
commanded; and Dripps was to be the traveling partner who was to go to St. Louis for
goods.
After the conclusion of this agreement, Dripps, with the restlessness of the true
mountain-man, decided to set out, with a small party of equally restless trappers,
always eager to volunteer for any undertaking promising either danger or diversion, to
look for the St. Louis Company which was presumed to be somewhere between the
Black Hills and Green River. According to this determination Dripps, Meek, Carson,
Newell, a Flathead chief named Victor, and one or two others, set out on the search for
the expected company.
It happened, however, that a war party of a hundred Crows were out on the trail before
them, looking perhaps for the same party, and the trappers had not made more than
one or two camps before they discovered signs which satisfied them of the
neighborhood of an enemy. At their next camp on the Sandy, Meek and Carson, with
the caution and vigilance peculiar to them, kept their saddles on their horses, and the
horses tied to themselves by a long rope, so that on the least unusual motion of the
animals they should be readily informed of the disturbance. Their precaution was not
lost. Just after midnight had given place to the first faint kindling of dawn, their ears
were stunned by the simultaneous discharge of a hundred guns, and the usual furious
din of the war-whoop and yell. A stampede immediately took place of all the horses
excepting those of Meek and Carson. " Every man for himself and God for us all," is the
motto of the mountain-man in case of an Indian attack; nor did our trappers forget it on
this occasion. Quickly mounting, they put their horses to their speed, which was not
checked until they had left the Sandy far behind them. Continuing on in the direction of
the proposed meeting with the St. Louis Company, they made their first camp on the
Sweetwater, where they fell in with Victor, the Flathead chief, who had made his way on
foot to this place. One or two others came into camp that night, and the following day
this portion of the party traveled on in company until within about five miles of
Independence Rock, when they were once more charged on by the Indians, who
surrounded them in such a manner that they were obliged to turn back to escape.
Again Meek and Carson made off, leaving their dismounted comrades to their own best devices. Finding that with so many Indians on the trail, and only two horses, there was little hope of being able to accomplish their journey, these two lucky ones made all haste back to camp. On Horse Creek, a few hours travel from rendezvous, they came up with Newell, who after losing his horse had fled in the direction of the main camp, but becoming bewildered had been roaming about until he was quite tired out, and on the point of giving up. But as if the Creek where he was found meant to justify itself for having so inharmonious a name, one of their own horses, which had escaped from the Crows was found quietly grazing on its banks, and the worn out fugitive at once remounted. Strange as it may appear, not one of the party was killed, the others returning to camp two days later than Meek and Carson, the worse for their expedition only by the loss of their horses, and rather an unusually fatigued and forlorn aspect.