Yellowstone County - Out in the Boonies [Road to Musselshell]

[1] Note, that time of publication, NPR had kept their intended route along the east bank of the Yellowstone River a secret, and continued to show their track routed on the west side. This was part of a carefully managed marketing ploy.

[2] Map accompanied a report from Captain Raynolds to the Bureau of Engineers, for the year 1867.

[3] As part of the ongoing effort, the ferry location should be evident by locating one or more support rings on the banks of the river at the passage location. The military map has an accuracy of about one second of arc, which equates to a little over one mile in an east-west directional error. The map shows that the passage took place between the river islands, and not across them.

Military Road to the Musselshell Wednesday, January 12, 2005

This is a trek describing the Military Supply Road between Fort CF Smith, to the Musselshell River crossing, and on to Fort Benton. This road, created by General Hazen, crossed the Yellowstone River north of Worden. The road constructed between the two forts (trail ?) was started in August 1866. The route was identified and plotted on the 1881 Rand, McNally Map shown on the left [1] .

A telegram bearing date August 11^th 1866 from General Cooke in person, being confirmed by a copy in writing attested by H.G. Litchfield Asst. Adjt. General, read as follows. "Two companies of 2^nd Cavalry have been ordered to assist in the protection of the road. You are hereby authorized to enlist not to exceed fifty Indian scouts. Pay and allowances of cavalry soldiers. Let them use the ponies if you cant [sic] do better". "Be very cautious! Don't undertake unnecessary risky detachments". Meanwhile I had already advanced its designated garrison to establish the post on Big Horn River, the command leaving early on the morning of August 3^rd 1866. My action was judicious, and although afterwards General Cooke authorized the withdrawal of the garrison, the follow letter of Inspector General Hazen supported me. In fact with three hundred tons of hay secured at that post, and a years supply of provisions, the abandonment of that post would have required destruction of most of the property. And here I remark that General Hazen, as he passed, took one Officer and twenty six mounted men as escort, and they were gone with him two months. Fort Reno August 20^th 1866. Col. H.B. Carrington Comd'g. Mount. District

After General Hazen (Brevet General W. B. Hazen) returned to Fort Phil Kearney, this route became a military supply and transport road between the two forts. After Fort Custer was established on the Big Horn River, a short cutoff from that fort to this road was created and connected with Billings. [Not researched to establish construction date for the cutoff.] This road connects with the Tongue River Road, and the various branches that lead from the Billings’ area to Fort Custer. The route was also plotted on the Yellowstone & Missouri Map, prepared by the War Department issued in 1867 [2] . The road crossed the Yellowstone near where Worden is now located [ferry presumed to have been added later [3] ], just west of Arrow Creek. As this effort wasn’t part of an official expedition or survey, the Corps of Engineers didn’t record their travel activity; but merely published the route. The record of how the route details were transmitted to the Corps of Engineers for inclusion into their map releases is unknown. The route plotted shows they traveled on the east side of the creek until reaching the bend in Arrow Creek. At that juncture they crossed the Yellowstone and ascended the low bluffs and headed for the fork of Pompey’s Pillar Creek. It appears to have passed through where Clermont Station (old Worden) was later located. Enlarged copy to show the details of the route.

This historic trail, repotted on the topo map, shows the crossing area. This trail crosses the river in section 17, goes NW to the section line, and follows it northward, until it veers to cross Pompey’s Creek’s south fork near the junction where it splits into two forks.


[1] Note, that time of publication, NPR had kept their intended route along the east bank of the Yellowstone River a secret, and continued to show their track routed on the west side. This was part of a carefully managed marketing ploy. [2] Map accompanied a report from Captain Raynolds to the Bureau of Engineers, for the year 1867. [3] As part of the ongoing effort, the ferry location should be evident by locating one or more support rings on the banks of the river at the passage location. The military map has an accuracy of about one second of arc, which equates to a little over one mile in an east-west directional error. The map shows that the passage took place between the river islands, and not across them.

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