--were constructed along the trail to protect the emigrants on their way to the gold mines of western Montana. The Sioux Indians, who were forced out of their Black Hills country, came to this are to continue their resistance against the white invasion and forced the government to abandon these forts. Fort C.F. Smith was considered the most dangerous post of the frontier; it was abandoned by the Army less than two years after it was established.
In 1825, the Crow tribe and the United States signed a treaty of friendship. In 1851, the Fort Laramie Treaty established the boundaries of the Indian country for several Indians, including an area of 35,531,147 acres for the Crow Indians. This was followed by another Fort Laramie treaty in 1868, which reduced the Crow country to 8,000,400 acres. By 1095, that was reduced to 2.5 million acres. Although the Crows were compensated by the government for this land, they believed it was inadequate--little more than five cents per acre.
The family was the primary unit of social organization, and the clan--composed of distantly related families--was the secondary unit--with membership through the mother. The husband's position was very strong and he was allowed to have several wives. As the tribe increased in population, it divided into subtribes governed by band chiefs, who managed the affairs of the tribe in matters of hunting, warfare, ceremonials, and government.
The Crows did not wage war for conquest or property. It was for sport and honor. In the wars for the West, the Crows earned a reputation as allies of the U.S. Army. They served as scouts and fought along side the army against the Sioux and the Nex Perces. Chief Plenty Coups (1849-1932) was the leader of General George Crook's Indian Scouts during the campaigns against the Sioux. He was also responsible for bringing the Northern Pacific Railroad through Crow country. Curley, another Crow Indian scout, with G...