| Reverse - Text |
Left section:
GRIND
YOUR COFFEE AT HOME
Right section: |
| MONTANA. |
| THE discoverer of the
Rocky Mountains was the Chevalier
de la Vérendrye, a young
Canadian officer, who, in
1742-43, with his brother and two
French-Canadians, marched from
Fort la Reine, on the
Assinniboine, up Mouse River and
across to the Mandan villages,
whence they ascended the Missouri
River to the gate of the
mountains, in company with a
great Sioux war party, and
established a monument bearing
the arms of France, in whose name
they claimed these lonely
deserts. Over sixty years later
the exploring party of Lewis and
Clark traversed Montana,
ascending the Missouri, examining
the Great Falls, and then
crossing the Lolo Pass into
Idaho. The Missouri Fur Company
was founded in 1808, and the
Rocky Mountain Fur Company in
1822 (which in 1834 united with
the American Fur Company) and
traded throughout this region.
The gold discoveries of 1861 drew
to the Territory thousands of
adventurers from all parts of the
Union. The Indian wars in Montana
were fiercely fought, and large
national forces, led by the best
officers of the army, have faced
a powerful and wily foe. The most
direful tragedy occurred on the
Rosebud River, in June, 1876,
when General Custer advanced
against the great Sioux village.
Taking five troops of cavalry to
attack on one side, he sent seven
under Reno and Benton to charge
up the valley. The latter force
was repelled and besieged on the
bluffs, and Custer's detachment
was annihilated to the last man.
A national cemetery now occupies
a part of the battle ground. |
| ILLUSTRATIONS. |
Custer
Massacre, Rosebud River, 1876;
Custer's Monument; Fur
Trading, 1808; Gold Mining, 1861;
Discovery of the Rocky
Mountains by the Chevalier de la
Vérendrye, 1742-1743. |
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