| Summary: | And Its Pioneers 19 This expedition was one of five and the most northerly one sent out by the U. S. War Department in that year to locate a route for a rail road to the Pacific coast. Lieut. Cuvier Grover's campsites thru Wells county were July 12, on the banks of the Pipestem, on Sec. 30, Speedwell township, and July 13, on the west side of Sec. 29, in Pony Gulch township. It is said that more members of the Stevens Expedition reached fame and distinction during the Civil War, than has any other expedition ever sent out by the United States. The Buffalo Hunters The large band of half-breed buffalo hunters, which Gov. Stevens met in Ileimdal township July 15, 1853, consisted of 824 carts, 1200 animals and 104 lodges with some 1,390 people, including men, women and children. They were a virtuous and pious people. Gov. Stevens said of them, "They are a simple mannered, honest and industrious people. They are of the Roman Catholic faith, and are attended by their priests and make it a practice to rest on the Sabbath. Their attention to their religious duties on these plains, is one of the most striking characteristics of this primitive people. Gov. Wilkie, who was in command of this party, was some sixty years of age, tall, of fine appearance and pleasant manner, and well informed. Their municipal government is of parochial character, being divided into live parishes, each one being presided over by an officer, called the Captain of the parish. These Captains of the parish retained their authority while in the settlement. On departing for the hunt, they selected a man from the whole number who was styled governor of the hunt. He took charge of the party, regulated its movements, acted as referee in all cases where any differences arose or other matters appeared and took command in case of difficulty with the Indians." Gov. Stevens says of their dress: "The men dress usually in woolens of various colors. The coat generally worn is the Hudson Bay coat with a capot attached. The belts are finely knit of different colored wool or worsted yarns and are worn after the manner of sashes, Their powder horns and shot bags North Dakota Stat* Librarf Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.
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