The Bicycle Corps in Yellowstone Park

Introduction - "this was the very poetry of cycling"

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Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes -
used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

The story of the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps is, in my mind, a quintessential American story. It seems there is something or another which resonates with every person who hears about the soldiers and their trips. It all ties together so many interests--and, therein perhaps, lies a clue as to why so many find it compelling--it can be enjoyed from so many different angles. It's about bicycles, road trips, black history and the West. There is the military, the rugged, beautiful and wide open landscapes of the West and late-1800's America on the verge of a mechanized society. It is full of paradoxes and incongruities such as a young, white, southern graduate fresh out of West Point, leading veteran black men. Soldiers riding bicycles, not horses?! It is also about struggle and hope; dignity and possibility; trudging on and reaching for more. Whether you stumbled into this site or found it on purpose, I wonder, what about this story resonates with you?

The blogpage you are on right now contains information about the first two long trips the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps made. Both were completed in the summer of 1896. The first was a quick, four-dayer from their post, in Missoula, to Lake MacDonald (which, I've discovered, has multiple spellings) in the Mission Mountains of northern Montana. This Lake MacDonald is not the same pristine lake that is part of Glacier National Park. Later that summer, Lt. Moss and the same eight soldiers made a longer trip from Fort Missoula to Yellowstone Park and back. This expedition started August 15 and was completed September 8, taking a total of twenty-three days.

The accounts I've compiled for the Yellowstone section of this blog come almost completely from a pamplet Moss wrote, titled Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains. The pamplet was payback, I think, for the Spalding Bicycle Company, which not only published the book as part of their "Athletic Library" but provided the bicycles the men rode. Moss gives a ringing endorsement/testimonial of the "practicability" of the "fine machines" at the conclusion of the book. For all of the trips Moss made, the Army gave it's blessing--so long as Moss covered the major expenses, like procuring bicycles. Moss did write letters which provide more details about the Yellowstone trip. Snippets of his letters can be found in Linda Bailey's short book, Fort Missoula's Military Cyclists: The Story of the 25th U.S. Infantry Bicycle Corps, published by The Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. Some of Moss's letters are at the National Archives. I will add them, in their entirety when I get copies of them.

One of my favorite entries is Day 11 of the Yellowstone trip. Moss, no doubt, intoxicated by the riding and the beauty of the Park, explains, "With its immense perpendicular walls of solid rock, rising from the very road on one side to three hundred feet or more above our heads and with its picturesque ravine far below on the other side, the Golden Gate is a sight that will ever cling to our memories...." He goes on, "Again and again would we stop along the road to look at paint pots, pools, springs, geysers, etc. Riding through the Gibbon Meadows we then turned off into Gibbon Canyon, deep, sinuous and picturesque. For miles we fared along the windings of the road, with the ever beautiful waters of Gibbon River at our side, now admiring this, then admiring that. Indeed, this was the very poetry of cycling" [emphasis mine].

Perhaps most valuable are the glimpses Moss gives us into the delightful personalities of the men, including himself. Moss, for instance: "A view into the throat of this monstrous geyser does indeed remind one of that nether region whose popular name begins with "h" and rhymes with "well".

A week after Moss's high of Day 11, the corps encounters head winds, rain, and mud on their way back to the fort. They are forced to walk their bicycles and fall far short of that days destination. Moss dejectedly concludes, "all the poetry of military cycling had vanished".

About the troops: "although the clouds obstructed all sunshine the sunny nature of these colored soldiers found an outlet in such expressions as... "A mule! A mule! My kingdom for a mule." At the end of the trip Lt. Moss tells us that, "the soldiers were delighted with the trip and seemed to be in the best spirits the whole time."

Before the Rides

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"In that heyday of the bicycle, the year 1897, there was organized at Fort Missoula, Montana, the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps. In command of the cycle corps was Lieutenant (now colonel) James A. Moss, widely known as the author of Moss's Manual and other military text books. His talent made him a fit chronicler of the activities of his command--activities which were to resolve themselves in a veritable peace-time anabasis, a series of hikes through the Rocky Mountains.
Now this Bicycle Corps of the 25th Infantry, was not the sizable organization it sounds. With customary army conservatism, the strength of this new department was restricted to one lieutenant, one sergeant, one corporal, one musician and five privates, one of them a good mechanic. They all presumably qualified as being able to ride wheels. Before very long, they could do a good deal more than that. They could drill, scale fences, ford streams and hike--or bike--forty miles a day in heavy marching order.
The Corps would clear a nine foot fence in twenty seconds. The command was, "Jump fence," and they did it--of course "By the numbers." A front-rank man would rest his wheel against the fence and pull himself over. Thereupon his file would pass over both wheels and follow himself. On the other side, the Corps would smartly assume the position of "Stand to bicycle." To ford a stream not deep and swift, they dismounted and rolled their wheels through, but if it was a more formidable proposition, two men slung a wheel on a stick resting on their shoulders, and carried it over. Their packs consisted of a knap-sack with blanket roll and shelter half strapped to the handlebars. A haversack was carried forward underneath the horizontal bar. Under the seat was a cup, in a cloth sack to keep off the dust. The rifle was strapped horizontally on the left side of the wheel. Slung on the rider himself was the canteen and thirty rounds of ammunition, it having been found that it was prudent to burden the soldier's person with little, in case of a fall."

- Buffalo Soldier Regiment, John Nankivell pg. 62

Identifying the Men in Photos

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I believe this photo was taken by E. Burton Holmes

My guess, Yellowstone Riders from L to R:
1) Corp. John Wiliams
2) Sgt. Dalbert Green
3) Pvt. William Haynes
4) Pvt. Elwood Forman
5) Pvt. William Proctor
6) Pvt. Frank L. Johnson or Lt. Moss
7) Pvt. John Findley
8) Musician William Brown

Trying to identify the enlisted (i.e. black) riders has been an enjoyable challenge. As far as I know, nobody has attempted to do this. Moss, of course, is very easily identified in all the photos. Enough clues exist for the riders who made the Yellowstone trip that they can either be identified outright or be deduced by process of elimination. Below is my reasoning.

Evidence:
1) Corp. Williams identified in this photo in the book Black Regulars, pg. 109. In the Minerva terrace photograph his moustache can be seen. Although his hat brim is different in the two photos, zooming in on the photo reveals a stripe on his pant leg - which rules out Haynes, the only other rider with a moustache.
2) Sgt. Green -compare with Minerva Terrace photo and Philippines photo (Black Regulars, pg. 279). Note the slight beard, light complexion and heavy set
3) Pvt. Haynes - compare with Minerva Terrace photo. Note the mustache. (see comments on Williams
4) Pvt. Forman - compare with baseball photo in Nankivell's Buffalo Soldiers, pg. 165. Compare the round face and darker complexion. Forman's hat seems to have a much short brim, which he wears upturned, giving the impression, almost, of a Tyrolian hat. This is helpful in identifying him in other Yellowstone photographs.
5) Pvt. Proctor - compare with Minerva Terrace photo. Compare the crease in the crown of the hat (which is unusual in that it is perpendicular to typical fashion)
6) Pvt. Johnson OR Lt. Moss -this is mostly process of elimination. Compare with Minerva Terrace photo. Note the similarity in the way the hat brim is shaped and the way his equipment is packed on his handlebars. Could this rider be Lt. Moss? The shape of the hat looks a lot more like his than Johnson's (see Minerva Terrace photo). The shape of the face in the Holmes photo looks like Moss, too.
7) Pvt. Findley - note the tool box attached to handlebars, his height and complexion (light) in comparison with Minerva Terrace photo
8) Musician Brown -identified in Minerva photo by musicians stripes on his pants. Note the way his hat brim is folded back in both photos.

As I look at the different photos I am struck by the individuality of the hats. I think they aid greatly in identifying the men. Also, I've not seen a photo in which all of the riders appear. This is true for the Missoula-St. Louis riders. Is there some explanation for this?

Men on at Mammoth Hot Springs

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Outing magazine, November 1896

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MORE TESTS OF THE ARMY CYCLE

To the bicycle corps of the Twenty-fifth Infantry, U.S.A., stationed at Fort Missoula, Mont., belongs the unique distinction of being the first armed body to cross the Rocky Mountains awheel. Under the command of Lieutenant J.A. Moss, whose enthusiasm in the cause of military cycling Major-General Miles commends, the company made the trip from Fort Missoula to Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, a distance of 323 miles, over the poor roads of almost virgin territory, in fifty-three hours of actual wheeling. They toiled up hills, walked over sandy trails, and forded rivers, while carrying an equipment weighing (with the machine itself) from sixty-four to eighty-seven pounds, the average being seventy-seven and a half. Under these circumstances, the pace was over six miles per hour, equivalent to a day's march of some sixty miles over bad roads. Stonewall Jackson's famous marches, which earned for his troops the name of "The Foot Cavalry," seldom exceeded thirty miles per day with good weather and over fairly good roads. Cycling troops that can move across country at the rate of sixty miles a day would be a new and interesting feature of modern warfare.

- Outing for November, November 1896 pg. 197

Pvt. Elwood Forman

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Pvt. Forman was not in the Minerva Terrace photo

Elwood Forman is shown (left) in his baseball uniform (from Nankivell, Buffalo Soldier Regiment, pg. 165).
He played on the regimental team for the 25th in the early 1890s.

Foreman rode on both the Yellowstone ('96) ride and the St.Louis ('97) run.

"The soldiers who compose the Corps were selected from among 40 volunteers, and are bubbling over with enthusiasm. They are all colored men and about as fine a looking and well-disciplined lot as could be found anywhere in the United States Army. They take pride in the uniform, are respectful, obedient, and have implicit in their white officers. This last fact is well illustrated by an incident that happened last summer while we were going through Yellowstone Park on our bicycles. A member of the Corps upon whose face the map of Africa is most unquestionably stamped; was lazily sitting against a tree smoking his pipe and with one eye closed and the other half opened was amusing himself making smoke rings. A tourist who came strolling along asked him, "Where do you expect to go today?" To which he answered, "De Lawd only knows-- we're following de Lieutenant!"

- James A. Moss 2nd Lieutenant, 25th U.S. Infantry

Daily Missoulian Military Purposes, June 19, 1897

Register of Enlistments
Elwood Forman was born in Montgomery County, Maryland in January, 1867. He enlisted at Washington D.C. on June 13, 1889. He was a "laborer" with black eyes, black hair and brown complexion (black in 1899 R of E). He was 5' 8" tall. He was discharged June 1894 at Fort Missoula, Montana was a character rating of "very good".

The 1894 Register of Enlistments tells us he enlisted at Fort Missoula on June 14 for five years. He was discharged June 13, 1899 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona with the rank of corporal. His character rating was "excellent."

Forman was injured (i.e. "punctured") in the left forearm July 2, 1898 while fighting in Cuba in the Spanish-American War.

The 1899 Register of Enlistments tells us Forman enlisted on June 14, 1899 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. He was 32 years old, and a soldier. This record confirms that Forman died April 22, 1901 in Manila, Philippines of acute pulmonary tuberculosis. He was a corporal.

Census of 1900
Forman was at the U.S. Army General Hospital in Presidio, San Francisco, California. The birthplaces of his parents are not given. He is listed as being single.

Forman died April 22, 1901 of tuberculosis while serving in the Philippines.

Musician William Brown

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cropped from Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes - used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

Musician William W. Brown, Co. B (148 lbs.)
The following from On the Trail of the Buffalo Soldier II (Frank Schubert):
Brown, William W .; 25th Inf. Musician, B/25th Infantry, rode in 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps, Ft. Missoula, MT. Summer 1896. SOURCE: Sorenson, List of Soldiers...
Alice A. Brown, age 49, 1126 E. 53rd Street, Los Angeles, widow of William W. Brown, veteran of Spanish-American War, who served in A Company and Band/24th Infantry and 25th Infantry, is pensioned, File C 1243461; married to first husband, William H. Oliver, Band/9th Cavalry...
SOURCE: VA File C 1392575. George W. Proleau

In the Minerva Terrace picture, William Brown's trouser legs clearly have two solid strips, the insignia of a musician http://www.ushist.com/uniforms_indian-wars_us.htm

I've searched register of enlistments and am striking out. There are a lot of William Browns.

Pvt. William Haynes

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cropped from Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes - used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

According to the 1870 Census, William Haynes was born in Micanopy, Florida in May 1866. His parents were named Arthur and Clarasy. In 1870, Arthur was a 35 year old black man working on a farm. He was born in South Carolina and could not read or write. His wife was 26, kept house, was born in South Carolina and could not read or write. Haynes had two sisters, Laura (9) and Margaret (7) and two brothers, Adam (4) and Samuel (1). William was 5.

The 1880 Census lists a "William Hane". The following information is given:
Residence: Precinct 12, Alachua Florida Birth place: Florida, United States
Father: Arthur Hane Father birth place: South Carolina
Mother: Clarissa Mother birth place: Georgia
Race: black Age: 14 Occupation Working home

1910 Census:
Single in Luzon, Philippines; residence in U.S. - Archer, Alachua Co. Florida

A different 1910 Census record:
Washington State, Spokane Carr Precinct 29th April, 1910
William Haynes, age 41 (b. 1869) married to Zad, age 25 (b. 1885). William born a U.S. soldier born in Florida. Zad born in Tennessee. They are listed as being married 7 years. They have two children, William Jr. (age 6) and Henry (age 4), both born in Oklahoma. BUT, both William and Zad are listed as WHITE! This must be Haynes as everything but race matches.

Company F
Enlistment Records:
Born: May 1866 in Micanopy, FL
First occupation: Laborer
Eyes: Brown 1 Hair: black Complexion: dark brown Height: 5' 8"

Enlisted on 30 October in 1889 at August, GA; 1894 at Ft. Missoula; 1897 at Fort Missoula;
1900 at Ida, Philippine Islands; 1903 at Ft. Riley, KS; 1906 at Ft. Bliss, TX and 1909 at Ft.George Wright, WA.

Discharged on 29 October in 1894 "very good"; 1897 Private "good"; 1900 1st Sergeant "excellent"; 1903 1st Sergeant "excellent"; 1906 Sergeant "excellent"; 1909 "excellent"; 1912 Sergent "excellent"

"Haynes ranked highly as a rifle marksman and was described as an extremely capable noncommissioned officer.

- www.moaa.org/magazine/February2004/f_steeds.asp

The 1920 Census for Kay County, Ponca Ward 1, Cross township, Oklahoma lists a "Will J. Haynes" living on 717 South 1st Street. He is a black 53 year old male. He is listed as being married but there is no indication of a wife in the census. His parents birthplaces are listed as South Carolina and his birthplace is listed as Florida. His occupation is listed as city laborer.

A register for U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938, lists William J. Haynes (Reg. Estb.) S.A.W.
His enlistments are summarized:

Oct 30, 1889 Augusta, GA Rank: Sergt. Co. J 25th U.S. Inf.
Oct. 30, 1894 Ft. Missoula Rank: P. Co. J 25th U.S. Inf.
Oct 30, 1897 Ft. Missoula, MT Rank: 1st Sergt. Co. J 25 U.S. Inf.
Oct 30, 1900 Batalom Z.A.M. P.I. Rank: 1st Sergt.
Oct. 30, 1903 Ft. Riley, Kansas Rank: 1st Sergt.
Oct. 30, 1906 Ft. Bliss, Texas Rank: Sgt. Maj.
Oct. 30, 1909 Ft. Geo. Wright, Wash. Rank Sergt. Co. G U.S. Inf.

Disabilities When Admitted to the Home: Mitral Insufficiency Chr. Bronchitis, Anal Fistulo, Chr. Parenchymatous Nephritis

Where born: Florida Age: 54/ Height: 5'8"/ Complexion: Black Negro/ Color of Eyes: Black/ Color of Hair: Black/ Read and Write: Yes/ Religion: Prot. / Occupation: Laborer/ Residence Subsequent to Discharge: Ponca City, Okla/ Married Name and Address of Nearest Relative: Zadia Haynes, 21 S. Compton Ave., St. Louis, Mo.

Rate of Pension: ---/ Date of Admission, Re-Admission and Transfer: Ad Des. 21, 1920 W. Br./
Date of Death: March 5, 1921/ Cause of Death: Hypertrophic Cardiac Dilatatis

According to her death certificate [Missouri],wife, Zadia, died January 3, 1929 in St. Louis. She had lived at 3215 [Lirea?- I can't read this] St.

Pvt. John Findley

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John Findley was the Corps mechanic. He had worked for the Imperial Bicycle works in Chicago and was invaluable. When somebody had a breakdown he would fix it. Sometimes he staid up all night making repairs. Accounts describe Findley switching bicycles with the rider of the bicycle needing repair. The Corps would ride on and Findley would catch up. Findley rode both summers.

"One member of the corps was a good cyclist mechanic, whose technical knowledge proved of great value to us on many occassions."
- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains

"Pvt. John Findley in Company F, was already an expert bicycle mechanic. Findley had worked four years in the repair shop of the Imperial Bicycle works of Chicago and could instruct other soldiers in repair techniques."- Sorenson, Iron Riders [from letter Moss wrote to Adjutant April 13, 1896]

“The cyclist mechanic, Pvt. Findley, who is a fine rider, rode a wheel ten or fifteen pounds heavier than any other in the command, and had only one breakage the whole trip, which was repaired in four or five minutes. Several of the heaviest wheels (which were ridden by careful riders) stood the trip with only two or three minor accidents.”

– Moss report

When a bicycle would break down, Findley would switch bicycles with the man whose bike had broken. He would stay behind with the necessary tools to fix the bicycle and then catch up to the Corps.

-The Bicycle Corps: America's Black Army on Wheels, PBS documentary

"The cycling mechanic [Pvt. John Findley] was evidently bent on making a night of it, and of his own free will and accord staid up until reveille, tiring a buckled wheel.”

- Lt. Moss, Los Angeles Times The Army A-Wheel, Nov. 7, 1897

[It seems to me that pedaling a bicycle with all the weight attached to the handlebars, as Findley's bicycle was, would have been very difficult.]

1895 Register of Enlistments

March 10, 1895, Findley enlisted at Fort Omaha, Nebraska for three years service. He was born in Carlton, Missouri around October 1873 (his age is listed as 21 years, six months). His occupation is recorded as "mechanic". It describes him as having brown eyes, black hair and a mulatto complexion. He was 5' 10 3/4. He was discharged April 9, 1898 at Ft. Missoula. His character was rated "Good".

1898 Register of Enlistments
Findley reenlisted April 10, 1898 at Fort Missoula and was discharged on July 17, 1899 at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. His birthplace is listed as Carlton, MO., and his age is listed as 24 years and sixth months. His occupation is "soldier" and he is described as being 5' 11/12" with brown eyes, black hair and "b.mullato" complexion. His character was rated "Excellent"

1903 Register of Enlistments
Findley enlisted on May 15, at Los Angeles, California. His occupation is listed as "fireman". [A "fireman" tended a boiler or furnace]. He was discharged on March 23, 1905 at Fort Niobarra, Nebraska for disability. His character was rated "Very Good".

[At this point, the possibilities become interesting....]

1900 Census
John Findly, born August 1865 was a 34-year old white male. This census was taken in Carrollton, Missouri. I don't think this was Findley. This Findley is too old if birthdates on all the records are correct.

1910 Census
John "Findly" and wife Della, married five years are living in Cooper, Webster County, Iowa. Findly, 37-years old, is black and his wife is 30 and wife. Findly and his parents are all from Missouri. His occupation is listed as laborer at a stucco mill. Boarding with the Findly's are John and Jean Lewis, a mixed race couple. John is 29 and black while Jean is 31 and white. Could this be a record for Findley? Keep reading, it gets more interesting...

[Cooper township is a part of Fort Dodge....]

1915 Iowa Census Webster County Fort Dodge
John Findley is 40 years old living in Fort Dodge, Iowa. His occupation is "fireman" and he was six months unemployed. His birthplace is "Mexico" and the record indicates he was NOT naturalized. It further states he has been in the United States and Iowa three years. However, there are check marks and possibly numbers in blanks that indicate military service. In the Spanish [American] war blank there is a 1; the in infantry blank a six; the cavalry blank a five and in the navy (!) blank a five. "Not any" is listed in the "Church Affiliation" blank. His color is "W".

Surely, the Findley of the 1910 Federal Census and 1915 Iowa Census are one and the same, however, the 1915 record raises several questions. How could he have served in the military and not be a naturalized citizen? Why in the 1910 Census is Findley listed as "black" and he and his parents listed as being from Missouri?

His wife is listed as "Mrs. Estella Findley". Her birthplace is listed as Ohio

World War I Draft Registration Card

This card was signed September 12, 1918. John Findley of 102 Ave. G Fort Dodge Webster Iowa born September 25, 1874 whose race is listed as "Mexican". He is a "Fireman" with the Ft. Dodge Gas and Electric Company working at the gas plant. His wife is Agnes E. Findley. He is described as "tall" and having a slender build with light brown eyes and black hair. On the card the "Naturalized" box is checked for U.S. citizen. I think this is the same Findley as above but is this our Findley?

1920 Census - Fort Dodge, Webster County Iowa
John Findley and wife Agnes are listed at 114 Avenue H in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Findley is a 46 year old "Mex" who immigrated in 1880 and was naturalized in 1887. They have a five year old son named John E. John Findley's birthplace is listed as Mexico, along with his parents. Findley's occupation is listed as "Engineer" and industry is "Stationary". A "stationary engineer" is an operator of pumps, boilers, etc. Agnes' birthplace is listed as West Virginia. Olive Bingaman, mother-in-law, and Maria and Orlando, siblings of Agnes, are living at the house.

[What kind of name is John Findley for a man born in Mexico? Could it be that this IS Findley and the "Mexican" race was a cover so that he could be married in peace to a white woman? The fact that the Fort Dodge man was an "engineer" and "fireman" fits the theory that this could be our Findley. On the WWI registration card, he is described as tall and slender which fits our Findley's build. If the 1910 Census Findley is the same Findley as the 1920--which seems highly likely-- how to explain the change of race and birthplace? In the records the wife's name changes: 1910-Della; 1915- Estella; 1918- Agnes; 1920-Agnes. Are they different women?]

1930 Census - Lewistown borough, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania
John E. Findly, step-son, with mother named Estella A. (aged 36 - born 1894 in ) Maryland. John E. is a single, white 16-year-old, born in Pennsylvania. Probably not the same John E.

Pvt. Frank L. Johnson

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cropped from Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes - used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

Private Frank L. Johnson, Co. B (152 lbs.)
Register of Enlistment 1895:
Height: 5' 7 1/2
Eyes: Brown Hair: Black Complexion: Brown

1895 Register of Enlistments
Frank L. Johnson enlisted on January 15, 1895 in new Haven, Connecticut. He was born in New Haven about 1873. His occupation is recorded as "Hostter". He is described as having brown eyes, black hair, a brown complexion and standing 5' 7 1/2". He was assigned to the 25th Infantry, Company G. He was discharged February 1898 at Fort Missoula. His character was rated "good".

[A "hostler" is a hired hand on a farm or ranch. Could the record which lists "hostter" be a typo? Here's another person with the same situation]

Johnson rode both summers.

Lt. James A. Moss

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cropped from Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes - used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

Pvt. William Proctor

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cropped from Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes - used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

Proctor rode both summers.

1894 Register of Enlistments:
On November 7, 1894, William Proctor enlisted at Washington, D.C. He was born in Anacostia, Washington D.C., June 1876. His occupation was listed as "driver". He was discharged November 11, 1897 from Fort Missoula as a private. His character was rated "good".

1897 Register of Enlistments:
William Proctor enlisted November 16, 1897 in Washington, D.C. He is described as having brown eyes, black hair and having a light colored complexion. His occupation is listed as "soldier", he stood 5' 8 1/2" tall and he was assigned to the Ninth Cavalry. He was discharged November 15, 1900 at Camalig, Philippines as a corporal. His character was listed as "excellent".

Age at Enlistment: 21/5
Occupation: soldier
Eyes: "1

Hair: blk
Complextion: cd light
Height: 5 8 1/2
Regiment: 9 Cav
Co: G
2 B 25 Inf 11/6/97 Discharged Nov. 15, 1900 Camaliq Enfer of Service Corpl. "Excellent"

In his baseball memoirs, Dalbert Green states that "October 1909, found the regiment in the United States again; Headquarters, Staff and Band Companies A, B, C and D, at Fort Lawton, Washington. Companies E, F, G, H,I, K, L and M, at Fort George H. Wright, Washington".
The regimental baseball team at Fort Lawton, Washington "was very successful in games around Seattle... and adjoining towns". Green reports that he was assisted by Sergeant B. Proctor, who was also a "regimental star".

- Buffalo Soldier Regiment, John H. Nankivell pg. 169

[Could this be William Proctor and the "B" stand for Bill? In 1900 he was a corporal and with Company B in the 25th Infantry. I need to try to find an enlistment record to confirm or refute this]

Corp. John C. Williams

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cropped from Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes - used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

The fold of the hat on the bottom two pictures doesn't appear to match the straight brim on the top photo. The top photo isn't Williams?

According to Mosses records, Williams weighed 155 pounds. A sergeant John Williams is mentioned as playing on the regimental baseball team. He was from Company F.

1889 Register of Enlistments:
John Williams enlisted on August 5, 1889 in Memphis for a five year period. He was born in Columbus, Missississippi in October 1867. He was 22 and his occupation was listed as machinist. His eyes were brown, hair black and complexion yellow [!] He stood 5' 5 1/2" tall and served with the 24th Infantry Hospital Corps Co. G until 3/23/93 He was discharged Sept. 4, 1894 at Fort Bayard, N.M. with the rank of private. He was rated "Very Good"

[On FamilySearch, there are 22 matches for "John Williams" born in Mississippi in 1867. The 1880 Census locates John Coles Williams in Oktibbeha, Mississippi (24 miles from Columbus) and a Johny Williams in Caledonia (17.3 miles from Columbus). Both are listed as white but living in areas with many black families.]

1894 Register of Enlistments:
John Williams enlisted on December 4, 1894 in St. Louis, Missouri for a three year period. The record describes him as having brown eyes, black hair and a mulatto complexion. He was 5' 5 3/4" tall. He served with Company F and was discharged in March 1897 at Fort Missoula with the rank of sergeant and rating "very good"

1897 Register of Enlistments:
Williams enlisted December 4, 1897 at Fort Missoula and he was 30 years and 3 months old. His complexion is described as light mulatto and his height was measured at 5' 5 3/4". He served with Co. F in the 25th Infantry. In the remarks section of the register we get the shocking news: "Died May 19, 1900. Homicide at Manila P.I. 1st Sgt."

This is confirmed here.

"When Private Samuel Lundy eloped from Fort Missoula, Montana, with Etta, the sixteen-year-old daughter of 25th Infantry Quartermaster Sergeant John Williams, the sergeant's course seemed clear: 'Private Johnson of the Band woke me up and said that Private Lundy had deserted and taken his horse and buggy and my daughter with him," Williams testified at Lundy's general court-martial." Johnson caught Lundy who was sentenced to "three months' hard labor, which he served at Fort Missoula, close to his wife and friends."

- The Black Regulars, William Dobak pg. 142

[It doesn't seem possible that the John Williams of the Bicycle Corps could have been old enough to have a sixteen-year-old daughter. If it is the same Williams, there are more interesting facts in this book. Mrs. Williams bore her eighth child at Fort Sisseton, Dakota Territory in 1887. She was white. Etta eloped in 1890]

Sgt. Dalbert P. Green

2009-04-05T16:13:00.001-07:00

cropped from Bicyclists on Minerva Terrace; photo by F. Jay Haynes - used by permission of Montana Historical Society-unauthorized use prohibited

Sergeant Dalbert P. "Mickey" Green , Co. B(162 lbs.)
photo of Green in the Phillipines 1899

According to the Register of Enlistments 1902, Green was born in Washington D.C. in May 1865. He is described as being 5' 7 3/4" tall and having brown eyes, dark brown hair and a light brown complexion. This enlistment was made at Fort Niobarra, Nebraska. He was discharged August 26, 1905 with the rank of sergeant and character rated "excellent"

Green played baseball for the regimental team and wrote a history of it that covered the years 1894 to 1914. Green wrote, "As Captain of the team, I spent the happiest days of my life, and was proud of the honor of being a member of one of the scrappiest teams in the U.S. Army.... During my connection with the team it has played against players in different parts of the United States and foreign possessions, and who have become famous in both the National and American leagues, not mentioning the Minor Leagues at all.... Before the assignment of Colonel Andrew S. Burt...to the regiment it never had a regimental team."

- Buffalo Soldier Regiment, John H. Nankivell pg. 163

"An athlete, to be considered [for the regimental team], had to show soldierly qualities of the very highest type."

- Sgt. Dalbert P. Green

- from Green's Regimental baseball history in Buffalo Soldier Regiment, John H. Nankivell pg. 163

"In 1901 the 25th went to Manila. The city, said Green, was alive with regimental teams, and the 25th challenged all comers to games for 'money, marbles, or chalk, money preferred.' In a game for the championship of the islands..the 25th won..."

- Baseball, Harold Seymour pg. 589

"In 1901, when the 25th was sent to Manila for a month, the team issued a challenge in the Manila Times to play anyone--'For money, marbles, or chalk, money being preferred.' This braggadocio nearly came to a ruinous conclusion. The team entered a five-game competition with $500 at stake to win at least three--and lost their first two games. But, as Green informs us, they came back and won the last three."

- Black Baseball Out of Season, William McNeil pg. 53

click here for more

"Adjutant 25th Infantry
Iba, Zambales, P.I. [Philippine Islands]

Sir:
I have the honor to inform you that Regimental Commisary Sergeant Dalbert P. Green was recommended by me to receive a certificate of merit for meritorious services rendered near Bamban, Luzon, P.I., on Novembe 26, 1899, when he being alone with the driver of an escort wagon, and having no other arms than a revolver did compel the said driver to wait for two Americans and two Spaniards who were without arms, and who were being pursued by about thirty insurgents, and did by the use of said revolver stand off the insurgents while the above mentioned four men climbed into the wagon, upon which the driver was allowed to drive ahead and the party escaped.
The insurgents at the last moments being only about 30 yards away. Although not an eye witness to this occurrence, I immediately examined the available parties concerned and there can be no doubt that it took place as I have stated. The above recommendation having gone forward by wire, I request that a second recommendation be made in writing that this soldier may more surely receive the certificate which is certainly due him.

Respectfully,

R.J. Burt
1st Lieutenant, 25th Infantry

Former R'g'mtl. Com'sy 25th Infantry

-------------------------------

Headquarters 25th Infantry
Iba, Zambales, P.I.,
July 10, 1901

Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant General, 3rd District, Department of Northern Luzon.

Approved and earnestly recommended. I investigated this matter at the time of its occurrence was convinced then and recall now. One of the four persons rescued was wounded.
In view of the fact that Sergeant Green by his great gallantry saved several lives I recommend that he receive a Medal of Honor.

A.S. Burt
Colonel, 25th Infantry
Commanding

"Green joined the infantry during the 1890s and served through 1916"

- www.moaa.org/magazine/February2004/f_steeds.asp

Lots of information from Schubert's book On the Trail of the Buffalo Soldier II

http://books.google.com/books?id=rEYLD-Bx6WEC&pg=PA393&dq=Dalbert+P.+Green&ei=Z808S4_-N4KmkATBssCsAQ&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Dalbert%20P.%20Green&f=false

GREEN, DALBERT P., Master Sgt,
25th U.S. Infantry, (Died September 28, 1941)(Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington Co., VA)

Day 4 Arlee, MT back to Ft. Missoula

2009-03-28T16:31:00.000-07:00

The next morning at 7 o'clock we left for home. The roads were still pretty muddy and we were compelled to take the railroad track several times to avoid mud and difficult grades. Fort Missoula was reached at 1:30 P.M. During this last day we had a little rain and rode a good part of the time against head winds.
The corps attracted a great deal of attention as we rode through these rural, mountain districts. Horses and cows ran from us, dogs after us and the inhabitants would stop their work and gaze at us in astonishment. The entire distance covered was 126 miles in about twenty-four hours of actual traveling under most adverse circumstances.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 19

Day 3 - Lake Macdonald to Arlee, MT

2009-03-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

At about 1 o'clock A.M a strong wind came up and the rain soon began to fall, continuing almost incessantly until ____ when the weather began gradually to clear away. We broke camp , however, at 8:30 A.M., leaving in the heavy rain, and on account of mud, rocks and the grade were compelled to roll our wheels the first two miles. We then reached a down grade road and for several miles made good time in spite of the mud.
At the foot of the grade we struck a section of hammock earth and in less time than it takes to tell it our wheels were clogged with this gummy mud. We were delayed fully thirty minutes on the side of a ditch cleaning our bicycles in a drizzling rain. Over hilly, muddy roads, with the rain and wind in our faces we again started for Ravilli. By this time we were drenched to the skin, our wheels were covered with mud and our shoes filled with water. Whenever we came to a down grade we would ride, but on account of the wet and muddy condition of our shoes, the pedals and the grades, the riding was difficult and exciting.
Once in a while the doleful monotony of the march was broken by our reaching an Indian cabin, when the dogs would announce our arrival with their bark.
At 11 o'clock, A.M., we reached Mission Creek, twelve miles from the lake, and forded the stream in three feet of swift water. After crossing, we found twelve tires were loose, the cement having been washed out. of course, it was now out of the question to ride the wheels, and we were forced to roll them every foot of the way to Ravalli, six miles. Here they were cleaned, oiled, and the loose tires cemented.
At 6 o'clock P.M., we left Ravalli, and rode a little over a mile on the wagon road, when we took the railroad track to avoid mud and water. new ties had just been laid, and the spaces between them had not yet been filled. In some instances old ties had been taken up and had not been replaced by new ones. It was impossible to ride, except in a very few places, and rolling our machines along such a track was tiresome work. We finally left the track and walked and rode almost two miles in a hay field, when we were again compelled to take the track on account of mud and water. Drenched, hungry and tired with our blankets and shelter tents wet, we reached Arlee at 8:45 and slept in an old cabin that night, traveling a distance during the day of 31 miles.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 18-19

Day 2 - Mission, MT to Lake McDonald, MT

2009-03-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

At 11 o'clock the next morning we left for Lake McDonald. With good roads and few grades we made fine time until we took a short cut through a rough, hilly and grassy field. Nearly all this distance we were compelled to walk. After leaving the field we followed a stony and little traveled road almost 2 miles, through thick woods, when all at once we beheld an opening before us and there stood at our feet Lake McDonald, a body of water about one mile long and one-half mile wide.
Among the many beautiful lakes in this region Lake McDonald stands without a peer. It is a little gem. Hemmed in by colossal mountains whose tops tower into cloud-land, its sleepy waters abound with delicious trout and two or three of the soldiers who brought lines along caught them as nearly as fast as they could pull them out. Although in the heart of the mountains, 63 miles from the post, and carrying our rations on bicycles, we lived much better than soldiers do on ordinary practice marches, when the provisions are carried in wagons. Our supper consisted of biscuits, bacon, corn, coffee, condensed mil, trout and prunes.
- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 16-17

[McDonald Lake photo from Die Offiziel Website von Kris Schock: The Mission Mountains - thanks Kris!]

[Moss called McDonald Lake, Lake McDonald. This can cause confusion in modern times since Lake McDonald is the lake in Glacier Park - not the lake the Corps rode to]

[McDonald Peak photo from Picasa Web Albums McDonald Creek and Lake album- thanks to "Mike"]

Day 1 - Ft. Missoula to Mission, MT

2009-03-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

near St. Ignatius, Montana
"On the morning of August 6th, an hour or more before the reveille gun had awakened the soldiers of Fort Missoula from their slumbers, many were the signs of life and activity about the bicycle shop. The tops of the surrounding mountains were lost in dark clouds and the roads were somewhat muddy from a rain during the previous night. However as all preparations
had been made and the soldiers were bent on going, we left the post at 6:20 A.M. As we rapidly glided away the old flagstaff soon disappeared in the distance, and Missoula, four miles away, was reached at 6:45. In passing through town we were compelled to roll our wheels on the sidewalks on account of the muddy conditions of the streets. Five miles beyond Missoula we struck a section of clay and after crossing it were delayed thirty minutes removing the mud from our wheels. About two miles beyond this point we crossed our first mountain. On the other side of the mountain we had good roads for six miles when we struck twelve miles of hilly, rocky and muddy roads, and in going over about five miles of this road we dismounted fully twenty times to avoid mud puddles and fallen trees.
At 12:30 P.M Finley Creek, 33 miles from the fort, was reached. That ever-important personage, the cook, and his assistant at once began getting out the flour, bacon, coffee, etc., while other men of the corps were getting wood and water. Within an hour and a half we were sitting on the side of the creek eating our first meal in the mountains, and after resting an hour resumed our journey.
Immediately upon starting we rode across Finley Creek on our wheels, two men falling off into the stream. The creek was about nine inches deep and twenty-five feet wide. We then took a high-water trail over a mountain to avoid fording the Jocko River. The ascent was quite steep and rolling our heavily loaded wheels up the grade was hard work. Just beyond this mountain we traveled a long distance along a narrow path in a densely timbered forest. After crossing a small stream on a log, pushing our wheels up several small hills and dismounting a number of times on account of the mud, Ravalli station, 44 miles from the fort, was reached. Between Ravalli and St. Ignatius Mission, a distance of 7 miles, we crossed three small mountains. The distance from the foot to the summit of the largest mountains was two miles and it took us thirty-five minutes to travel this distance. We went from the summit to the foot, 1 3/4 miles, in five minutes. At 7:30 P.M. a point on Mission Creek, about one-half mile about the Mission was reached, where we pitched our camp for the night, a distance from Fort Missoula of 51 miles. The soldiers did not seem to be very tired, as they were up until 11 o'clock, talking and getting off jokes around the camp fire."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 14-15

"The corps made its first real hike to Lake Macdonald. Starting at 6:20, they had clicked off thirty-three miles by 12:30 without much untoward happening, except for two men falling in a stream. By 7:30 that night they had put fifty-one miles behind them."

- Buffalo Soldier Regiment, John Nankivell pg. 62

Day 25 - Near Sunset back to Fort Missoula

1996-09-08T17:37:00.000-07:00

"The next morning, at 7 o'clock, we started out on our hardest day's travel. Rain, mud, snow and slushy roads in abundance! Again and again we would lose our footholds, receiving all sorts of falls. About 10 o'clock it began snowing and continued for two hours or more. Two hours later we struck a lane of gumbo mud 4 miles long, in which we stuck like so many flies on paper. Traveling along the road was like pulling so many teeth, and so we ascended the mountain side and rolled our wheels along slippery benches. The rocks soon became so thick and slippery that we could hardly keep our footing and crossing the lane we jumped over the fence and began plodding along in high, wet weeds, through a slushy, rain-soaked field. Finally, at 1:30 P.M., we struck the Big Blackfoot again and followed it as far as Bonner, which was reached at 4:30. Not having had anything to eat since 5 o'clock that morning and being tired, hungry, wet and cold, we here secured a good, warm meal at the Marguerite Hotel. The remaining 11 miles were rapidly covered and when, at 8 o'clock, Fort Missoula was reached, we were a happy set of mortals."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 42

"Sept. 8th: Rainned [sic] a good deal during the night. Left at 7 A.M. in a drizzle for Missoula. Roads very muddy. Slippery grades to go up--hard work. Lots of rain. Snowed for about 1 1/2 hrs. About 9: 30 stopped 15 mins. to wait for men who were straggling behind. Gumbo mud and water in abundance. Struck a lane of gumbo five miles long. Had to roll our wheels along mountain benches and through slushy fields to avoid the mud. Reached Big Black Foot 1:15 P.M. Stoppe 30 mins. at bridge and got a few biscuits from a lady. Road along the river very muddy. Riding down slippery grades very exciting. Mud, mud, mud. Reached Bonner 4:30. Stopped here 1 1/4 hours. Had a good, hot meal prepared for the soldiers. Delayed 25 mins. about 1 mile from Missoula fixing Corpl. Williams chain. Reached Missoula 7 P.M. Stopped 20 mins. at the Yankee Bicycle Shop. Reached Fort Missoula at 7:45 P.M. . Distance travelled 40 miles; time of actual travelling 10 hours. Very hard day--by far the hardest on whole trip.

Day 24 -North of Avon to near Sunset, MT

1996-09-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

"...after a good nights rest [we] entered Washington Gulch early the next morning. We made good headway until 9 o'clock, when a violent headwind came on and continued the rest of the day. However, in spite of this wind and a large number of small hills, up which we were compelled to roll our wheels, by 7:30 that evening we had covered a distance of 70 miles. That night we slept in an old shack, whose friendly shelter served us a good turn, for about 12 o'clock a heavy rainstorm came up and continued until daylight...."

-Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, Lt. J.A. Moss

"Sept. 7th: Left ranch 6 A.M.. Good deal of up grade work for first few miles. Reached Washington Gulch 8 A.M. Stopped 15 mins. to oil wheels. Roads fine. Put in excellent time until about 10 o'clock, when a strong head wind came up. Reached Helmville 10:45. Stopped 15 mins. Blowing a gale--almost impossible to ride. Reached Big Black Foot at 12:10 P.M. Stopped here until 1:30 for lunch. Reached Ovando 4 P.M. Stopped 15 mins. Reached Cotton Wood 5:10. Stopped 30 mins. to shoot at ducks in pond near by. Crossed the Clear Water River 6:30 P.M. Stopped 25 mins. at hotel near bridge to get flour, sugar and crackers. At 7:30 P.M. reached a ranch where we stopped for the night. Distance travelled, 70 miles; time of actual travelling 10 1/2 hours.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Day 23 - Ft. Harrison to north of Avon, MT

1996-09-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

"On the morning of September 6 we left for home, with dust, wind and grades to contend against, recrossing the Main Divide of the Rockies by way of the old Mullan Stage Road, a road much traveled in the early days, but now little more than a mere trail, full of stones and gullies. About 12 o'clock we came to the junction of two equally well defined roads. Which were we to take, the one leading to the right or the one leading to the left? Of course we took the one to the right, and after pushing our heavy wheels about a mile and a half up grade, over stones and ruts, the road disappeared amid grass and timber. Resting awhile we then retraced our footsteps and at 1:30 were on the summit, ready to begin the descent on the Western slope. The wind was blowing such a gale that we could hardly keep our hats on. At Elliston we stopped two hours for lunch, after which the march was resumed. Avon, a small station on the Northern Pacific, was reached at 6 o'clock and, being advised we would find better roads and fewer grades by going the way of the Big Blackfoot River, we struck out over the mountains north of Avon, and after a good night's rest entered Washington Gulch early the next morning."

- Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, J.A. Moss

Sept. 6th: Left Fort Harrison [after a day and a half layover] 8 A.M. Up grade, dust and wind to content against. Instead of returning the way we came --i.e. following the N.P. as nearly as possible, we took the old stage line over the Main Divide. Road exceedingly rough, steep and stony. Took wrong road--after rolling our wheels about two miles up grade, over stones and ruts, the road disappeared amid grass and timber, and we realized our mistake. Stopped and rested about 30 mins. Retraced our footsteps and reached the summit 1:30 P.M. Lots of wind and rocks. Reached Elliston 2:30 P.M., and stopped here until 4:30 for dinner. Left with strong headwind against us. 6:20 reached Avon, where we stopped 45 mins. Instead of continuing west, we turned off to the north for the Big Black Foot country. At 7 P.M. reached a ranch where we stopped for the night. God fresh eggs for supper. Cooked supper and breakfast in kitchen of ranchman in whose yard we camped. Distance travelled 35 miles; time of actual travelling, 7: 3/4 hours.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Day 22 - rest Fort Harrison

1996-09-05T17:19:00.000-07:00

[I have not found any primary source documents with details about what the Corps did this day, besides, presumably, rest.]

"SOLDIERS TEST BICYCLES.
----------------
Twenty-fifth Infantry Men Make a
Satisfactory Tour in the Rockies.

Helena, Mon., Sept. 10 - The Twenty-fifth Infantry Bicycle Corps, commanded by Lieut. Moss, has reached Helena from Fort Yellowstone. The distance between the two posts, 191 miles, was covered in 27 hours. Lieut. Moss and his men left Fort Missoula twenty-two days ago, and have covered 1,100 miles [sic - I don't think they covered that much] of mountain climbing, across the main Rockies, through the National Park.
The object of the trip was to test the bicycle in mountainous country. It is the first practical test of the wheel for military purposes ever made. On that account the trip has much significance, and has been watched with interest by men in the army. The trip has proved the entire practicability of the bicycle for military purposes over such roads as are usually found in a mountainous country.
Lieut. Moss said yesterday: "This is the first real test ever made with the bicycle as a machine for military purposes. On several occasions one officer and one or two privates have made runs to see how fast they could go. Those were tests of rapidity. Ours is a test of durability. The party was not made up of expert bicyclists, but of eight ordinary riders, selected from the soldiers at Fort Missoula. We have made and broken camp in the rain, ridden through mud, sand, dust, and water, over rocks, ruts, and stones; crossed mountain ranges, forded streams, stopped for nothing, carried rations, cooking utensils, rifles, ammunition, thirty pounds to every man--blankets, tents, underwear, extra tires, and parts; in fact, all the baggage needed."

- New York Times, September 11, 1896

Day 21 - north of Townsend, MT to Ft. Harrison

1996-09-04T17:16:00.000-07:00

At 6:15 A.M., September 4, we left camp against such a strong wind, that we were compelled to walk almost every foot of the first nine miles. At 10 o'clock, however, the wind subsided and we began making excellent time, reaching Fort Harrison at 1 P.M.

- Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, Lt. J.A. Moss

"At 6:10 A.M. left for Helena against such a strong headwind that we had to roll our wheels nearly every foot of the first nine miles. Road so stony had to leave it and roll our wheels over unbroken ground. Reached Winston 8:30, Stopped 20 mins. About 10 o'clock wind subsided, and the roads being good, we put in good time. About two miles from East Helena stopped 30 mins. at a ranch. Reached Helena 11:50. Stopped at Currah's bicycle shop until 12:30, when we left for Fort Harrison, reaching the Post at 1 P.M.. Distance travelled 38 miles; time of actual travelling 5: 1/3 hours."

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Day 20 - east of Bozeman to north of Townsend, MT

1996-09-03T17:04:00.000-07:00

We took the road again at 7 o'clock. The traveling was very good, except in places, until we got a few miles beyond Threek Forks, where we had a long and tedious ride over mountains. For fully three hours we pushed and rode our wheels in the hot sun, over alkali soil, without a sign of tree or water. During the day we crossed several long hills and by 7 o'clock that evening had traveled 72 miles in eight and three-quarter hours. After supper I asked the soldiers if they were very tired. Every one of them answered they were feeling tired, but not half as much as they had often felt after an ordinary 25-mile forced march. It is true we had by this time become pretty well hardened, but such would be the normal condition of soldiers in time of actual warfare. I do not hesitate to make the statement that we could have kept up this rate five days longer, the weather and condition of the roads permitting.

- Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, Moss

Sept. 3: Left for Helena 7 A.M.. Reached Manhattan 9:05. Stopped 15 mins. to get meat. Reached Logan 10 o'clock. Stopped 10 mins. to send telegram. Reache Three Forks 11 A.M.. Stopped 10 mins. At 12:05 P.M. delayed 25 mins. on account of Proctor's tire bursting. Replaced it with an M & W. At 12:40 delayed again 10 mins. on account of Proctor's tire. At 1 P.M. delayed 15 mins. fixing Proctor's tire. At 1:30 delayed 10 mins. for Proctor. Hard work crossing mountains after passing Three Forks--alkali country without a sign of grass or water--sun very hot--all very thirsty. At 2:45 reached a small ranch, where we stopped until 4:05 for dinner. Rachman and wife very hospitable--gave us lots of milk and bread--insisted upon our eating in their dining room. Reached Toston 4:40. Stopped 15 mins. Reached Townsend 6:20. Stopped 5 mins. at telegraph office. At 7:10 stopped for the night, cooking supper and sleeping in a vacant school house. Roads during day good as a whole--in some places, however, bad--dried mud, ruts, etc. Distance travelled 72 miles; time of actual travelling 8: 3/4 hours.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Day 19 - Outside Livingston to east of Bozeman, MT

1996-09-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

"The next morning the mud was thoroughly washed from the bicycles, which were then taken apart, and the balls, bearings, chains, etc., cleaned and oiled. Getting all packed by 2:30 o'clock that afternoon we started out again and within thirty minutes the summit of the Gallatin range was reached. Although the roads were very much better on this side we had to dismount very often on account of ruts and mud puddles.
At 5 o'clock we entered the streets of Bozeman and an hour later made camp for the night, having traveled 24 miles in three hours. Just before reaching the end of the day's journey a collison occurred which resulted in the rim of a front wheel being smashed to splinters. The soldier who rode the wheel carried it the rest of the way to camp, and while we were busily engaged trying to improvise a tandem there appeared on the scene a bicycle tramp. He told us how he had ridden through Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada and other States, going from place to place in search of work. In addition to is other accomplishments he was also a cyclist mechanic of no mean ability, and for the sum of $3 offered to ride to Bozeman, 6 miles away, get a new rim and have the wheel fixed before 6 o'clock the next morning. The proposition was accepted and, strapping the broken wheel on his back our "Wandering Willie" soon disappeared in the darkness. Upon reaching Bozeman, however he found the only bicycle shop in town closed, the proprietor being at a political meeting. Going to the meeting, he found him in the crowd and succeeded in getting the rim by 9 o'clock that night, then hiring a room, he worked until 4 o'clock the next morning, fixing the wheel and had it at our camp by the appointed time."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 39-41

"Sept. 2 - After breakfast wheels taken to a ditch near by and mud washed off. Chains and balls removed, soaked in kerosene oil and oiled. At 2:30 P.M. left for Bozeman. Roads very muddy. Weather threatening all morning--sun during afternoon. Had to walk first 2 miles on account of mud and grade. Reached summit of Gallatin Range 3 P.M. . Comparatively good roads going down on other side of range, but had to dismount again and again on account of mud puddles and ruts. Reached Bozeman 5 P.M. Stopped 20 mins. to get meat and bread. At 5:50 P.M. Proctor's front wheel broke down completely--rim broken into splinters. Stopped for the night and slept in a barn. Gave a kind of "Wandering Willie", a bicycle tramp, $3.50 to get and fix a rim for me. Distance travelled during day 24 miles; time of actual travelling, 3 hours."

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Day 18 - Ft. Yellowstone to outside Livingston, MT

1996-09-01T12:08:00.000-07:00

On the morning of September 1 we started out, hoping to reach Bozeman, some 75 miles away, that evening. At 11:50 A.M., a point 37 1/2 miles from the fort was reached and we stopped until 1:15 for lunch. From this time on we had more or less of a head wind during the entire afternoon. About 2 o'clock a very novel race occurred. For several miles a shower was following us right at our heels, while we were "pumping" away to keep ahead of it. At times a part of the shower would catch us, but we managed to stay ahead of the main body in spite of our heavy loads. At 3 o'clock we left the Yellowstone Valley and began wheeling up the Gallatin Mountains. About forty-five minutes later we had covered 54 miles when another heavy shower caught us in a section of hammock earth. For four miles we rolled our wheels through this gummy, sticky, substance, stopping every few minutes to scrape the mud off the tires with our meat knives. At times the roads were so bad that we were compelled to walk along benches on the side of the mountain or plod along on the roadside in wet weeds up to our waists. Wet and cold, with heads bowed, we were silently pushing our wheels along in mud and water up to our ankles, in the cold, drizzling rain. All the poetry of military cycling had vanished. Although the clouds obstructed all sunshine the sunny nature of these colored soldiers found an outlet in such expressions as: "Dere was no bicycles one hundred years ago; Oh, how I wish I lived one hundred years ago." "A mule! A mule! My kingdom for a mule."
At 7 P.M., hungry, tired, cold, wet and muddy, we stopped at a ranch 58 miles from Fort Yellowstone and gladly accepted the ranchman's offer to sleep in an old shack, occupied by a laborer, the walls of which literally reeked with filth. Even in such a place, however, there was much comfort in listening to the pattering rain outside."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 38-39

"Sept. 1. Left Fort Yellowstone 5:30 A.M. Road soon after leaving Post too steep and dusty to ride down--had to roll our wheels. Rest of road as far as Yankee Jim's was good. Stopped 15 mins. at Yankee Jim's place. At 7:25 took R.R. track to avoid steep grades in canyon. Kept track 40 mins. Track too rough--spaces between ties--took wagon road again 8:10. Road very dusty. Grades so steep, compelled to take track again. At 11:50 stopped 1 1/2 miles from Fridley for lunch. Started again 1:15 P.M. Soon after passing Fridley a pretty strong headwind came up, and lasted about two hours. Delayed from 1:45 to 2:15 fixing Corpl. Williams pedal. Had a race with a shower. Began rainning [sic] and blowing 3:45. Gumbo earth in abundance--had to take off chains. About 5:15 stopped 45 minutes to clean wheels--everything covered with gumbo mud.
About 6:30 P.M. stopped 15 mins. at ranch. Had to walk on slippery benches on mountain sides above road--also in wet weeds up to our waists, so bad was the gumbo mud. At times would carry our wheels a few steps and then stop for second wind--very hard work. Used meat knives very freely to scrape mud off our wheels. Drenched to skin--covered with mud--wind and rain in our faces. At 7 P.M. reached a ranch where we stopped for the night. Got fresh milk and eggs from ranchman. Slept in an old shack whose walls reaked [sic] with filth--everything outside wet and muddy--still raining. Everyone pretty well tired out. Distance travelled during day 56 miles; time of actual travelling 10: 1/3 hours."

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Day 17 - Rest at Ft. Yellowstone

1996-08-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Day 16 - Rest at Ft. Yellowstone

1996-08-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

[I have yet to locate any detailed primary source documents that describe what the Corps did this day, besides the fact that they were at Fort Yellowstone.]

Day 15- Upper Falls to Ft. Yellowstone

1996-08-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

The next morning, after breakfast, we rode around the Grand Canyon, taking in the Lower Falls, Lookout Point, Inspiration Point, Grand View and other objects of interest. One can stand an hour or more watching the Lower Falls, so great is the fascination. While leaning over the railing, listening to its loud, continuous roar and watching that tremendous mass of water wildly plunging over the precipice and striking the bottom of a chasm some 300 feet below, there will come to most natures a wild desire to jump into its foaming waters.
The Grand Canyon, surveyed in its ensemble, is grand beyond description. Standing on Inspiration Point, the Yellowstone River, 1,500 feet below looks like a mere streamlet. The Lower Falls in the distance appear in all their grandeur, the eagle's nests far below look only one-half their real size -- the blending of the myriad-colored rocks and sands make a picture whose brilliancy is matchless, a view that touches the soul of the beholder, and appeals to his higher, his nobler instincts.
At 10:40 A.M. we left for Norris Basin. Immediately upon starting we struck a long, steep and dusty grade. Beyond this, however, the road was fairly good. The Basin was reached at 12:50 P.M. We stopped for lunch, and at 2:30 left for Fort Yellowstone, reaching the post at 4:30.
Our poorest time in the Park was made between Upper Basin and the Thumb, 19 miles, in almost four hours of actual traveling. We made our best time between Norris Basin and the fort, 20 miles in two hours, riding the first ten in fifty-five minutes. Although the grade was in our favor the roads were very dusty and we were compelled to roll our wheels up several small hills. We received many falls from our wheels turning in deep dust and when Fort Yellowstone was reached we were a sight to behold--we were literally covered with dust from the crowns of our hats to the soles of our shoes.
The entire trip through the Park, 132 miles, was made in nineteen hours of actual traveling, averaging about 7 miles per hour. The soldiers were delighted with the trip and seemed to be in the best of spirits the whole time. I think the moral effect of the seething water, the roaring of the geysers and the sulphuric fumes was more conducive to good order and military discipline than a dozen general courts.
It was my intention to take a good rest after our trip through the Park and then make the trip from Fort Yellowstone to Fort Harrison, 191 miles, in three days.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 37 -38

Day 14 - West Thumb to Upper Falls, Yellowstone

1996-08-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

"At 8:30 o'clock the morning following our arrival we left for the Grand Canyon. The road, with the exception of a few sandy places here and there was very good. The wheeling along the lakeside was especially enjoyable, as we rapidly skimmed along, inhaling the fresh, invigorating breeze wafted [sic] from the water.
Between the Thumb and the Lake Hotel we saw four deer standing in the wagon road. One of the soldiers and myself got within thirty feet of two of them.
At 11:50 A.M., the Lake Hotel was reached. We stopped over one hour during which I took a number of kodak views, including a bear on a bicycle and two bear "inspecting" the corps.
We resumed our journey about 1 P.M., passing Mud Volcano, through Hayden Valley, then the Crater Hills and other points of more or less interest. The soldiers' station near Upper Yellowstone Falls was reached at 3 P.M. Stacking our wheels we at once began to get ready for dinner. While washing my hands and face I accidently knocked over a board on which was resting my West Point class ring. The same soldier who made the smoke rings at the Thumb chanced to be standing near by. Immediately picking up the ring and handing it to me, he said: "Lieutenant, you aught er let me weah dat ring, anyhow." To which I replied, "Why, Forman, if people saw you wearing this ring they would think you were a West Point graduate," whereupon grinning from ear to ear, he answered, "Oh, Lawd, how dey'd be mistakin!"
After dinner we visited the Upper Falls. An enormous body of foaming water madly leaps over a precipice of 100 feet, then strikes the rocks below and rebounds thirty feet or more, forming a series of mist-clouds that gracefully float to the top of the surrounding walls. This picture, seen under any conditions, is, indeed, beautiful.
Its beauty, however, is much enhanced if the sun is shining on the falls, when there appears in the white mist-clouds a rainbow whose iridescence is a vision."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 35-37

Day 13 - Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone to West Thumb, Yellowstone

1996-08-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

"The next morning several tourists came to camp to take pictures of the bicycle corps. After breakfast rode around the Grand Canyon taking in the Lower Falls, Look Out View, Inspiration Point and other points of interest. At 10:40 left for Norris Basin, 11 miles away, reaching the Government shack there at 12:50. Had lunch and left for Fort Yellowstone 2:30 P.M. Reached Post 4:30; distance 20 miles. Impossible to determine exactly the rate of travel through the Park, on account of our stopping continually to see the sights. A fair estimate, however, I think, would be 7 miles per hour. Our poorest time was made between the Upper Basin and the Thumb, where we crossed the Continental Divide twice the same afternoon, most of the time in sand almost ankle deep. Our best time was made between Norris Basin and the Fort: 20 miles in 2 hours, making the first ten miles in 55 mins. Although we had the grade in our fave, the roads were very dusty. Again and again would men fall on account of their wheels turning in deep dust. Soldiers delighted with the trip--treated royally everywhere--thought the sights grand. I think the sulphuric fumes and roaring from some of the geysers had a good moral effect on them."

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

"At 8:45 A.M., August 27th, we left for the Upper Basin, nine miles away. The roads were very dusty and the wheeling anything but enjoyable. In less than thirty minutes we reached the Excelsior Geyser, the largest geyser in the world. It plays once in about eight years.
Within a few yards of the Excelsior lies Prismatic Lake, a pool of surpassing loveliness. The beautiful, delicate red of the surrounding formation, the white vapor rising from the surface, the bluish color of the water, "the red, white and blue" blending into one homogenous whole, produce a picture as rare as it is beautiful.
The soldiers shack at the Upper Basin was reached about 10 o'clock. Here we had lunch and spent several hours seeing Beauty Pool, Morning Glory Spring, Emerald Pool and other objects of interest. The waters of these pools are of the most exquisite colors imaginable.
Soon after our arrival, we were very fortunate in seeing the Giantees, the Castle and Old Faithful all playing at the same time.
This is the region of geysers, and a wonderful region it is. Within a space of one mile by one-half mile, there are almost three dozen geysers that throw their boiling contents to heights varying from ten to two hundred and fifty feet.
At several points along Firehole River, trout caught in the stream can be carried over on the line and cooked in boiling pools at the water's edge. At 3:30 P.M., bidding the noisy geysers good-by, we soon found ourselves in the quiet of densly timbered mountains, en route to the Thumb. This part of our trip was very hard, the grades were numerous, steep and sandy. We were frequently compelled to roll our wheels up grades in sand ankle deep.
Along the entire road through the park there are white mileposts with black numbers and letters, indicating to the tourist the next station and the distance therefrom. Thus, M. 5 to M., means Mammoth Springs, ten miles. As a rule I had never told the soldiers the next point we were going to. This time, however, I told them before leaving the Upper Basin, we were going to a place called The Thumb. Although always referred to by tourists and employees in the park as "The Thumb," it is called West Thumb on the map and so indicated on the mile-posts. As we rode along, the "W" of the abbreviation "W.T." seemed to worry some of the soldiers considerably.
I was riding almost ten yards ahead and could hear such remarks as, "Now, I've ofen herd ob different kines ob tumbs, crooked tumbs, sore tumbs and broken tumbs, but I never heard of a "w" tumb -- I wundah what kine ob a tumb is a "w" tumb, anyhow?" About 5:30 P.M., a sign indicated we were about to cross a Continental Divide. It seemed to amuse the soldiers very much to be able to stand with one foot on the Atlantic slope and ther other on the Pacific slope. We stopped about ten minutes for a rest, and as soon as I gave the command "Fall out!" one-half of the imaginary line between the two slopes and the other half on the other side, while they were all leaning over and shaking hands and crying out, "Well, ole man, how's eberyting wid you way down dah on de Pacific slope?" "Oh, eberyting is fine wid us!" "How's tings getting along wid you fellers way down dah on de Atlantic slope?"
The Divide is shaped like a horeshoe, and we crossed it again about 7:30 o'clock. It was now getting pretty dark and riding in deep dust was very difficult as well as decidedly uncertain. Someone was continually falling off on account of the wheels turning in the dust. These numerous falls were evidently a source of much amusement to the soldiers and for several miles, continuous peals of hearty laughter reverberated through this dark, dusty canyon. Indeed, one might have thought on hearing us, that a minstrel show "on wheels" was giving an open air performance in those wild mountains.
At 8:30 P.M., the Thumb was reached. We stopped with the cavalry soldiers, cooking our meals in their little log kitchen, on the very edge of Yellowstone Lake. This lake, surrounded by rugged, snow-capped mountains, towering 10,000 feet or more above the placid waters below, presents a view beautiful, indeed.
The faith colored soldiers have in their officers was well illustrated by an incident that happened about half an hour before we left for the Grand Canyon. A member of the corps upon whose face the map of Africa is most unquestionably stamped, was lazily sitting against a tree, smoking his pipe and with one eye closed and the other half opened, was amusing himself making smoke rings. A tourist who came strolling along asked him, "Where do you expect to go today?" To which he answered, "De Lawd only knows, we're follering de lutenant!"

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 33-35

Day 12 - Sight-seeing in Lower Geyser Basin

1996-08-26T09:55:00.000-07:00

"We remained here a little over a day, visiting the geysers, paint pots, pools, etc. of the Lower Basin, as this region is called. One of the most interesting sights seen was Firehole Lake. From the very depths of one end of the lake are always ascending large bubbles of hot air of a bluish sulphur color, appearing like beautiful flames.
Another leading feature in this basin is the Great Fountain Geyser. This geyser in action is a sublime spectacle, indeed a furious boiling, a rumbling, awe-inspiring noise and then an enormous volume of seething water and steam shoots up a hundred feet or more into the air! The eruptions, like so many mighty convulsions, follow one another for an hour and a half, at first in rapid succession and then more slowly.
A view into the throat of this monstrous geyser does indeed remind one of that nether region whose popular name begins with "h" and rhymes with "well."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 31

"Left the next morning at 8:30 for the Grand Canyong. Reached Lake View Hotel 11:50. Stopped here 1 hour. Took picture of a bear on a bicycle. Reached Government shack 1 mile this side Grand Canyon Hotel, at 3 P.M.. "

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Day 11 - Fort Yellowstone to Captain Scott's camp [Lower Geyser Basin]

1996-08-25T08:19:00.000-07:00

Places Visited: Fort Yellowstone [departed 10 A.M], Liberty Cap, Golden Gate, Obsidian Cliff, Roaring Mountain, Twin Lakes, Norris Basin [lunch break 1:30 P.M- 4 P.M], Gibbon Meadows, Gibbon Canyon, Gibbon River, Captain Scott's camp [7 P.M]

Trip through the Park.

"AUG. 25: Left the Post 10 A.M.. Reached the Golden Gate 10:55. Difference of elevation of 1000 feet between the Fort and the Golden Gate, a distance of about 4 miles. In some places the grade was very steep and dusty--hard work rolling wheels. Reached Norris Basin 1:30 P.M., 20 miles from the Mammoth Hot Springs. Cooked our lunch at the soldiers' shack. Sgt. John Larson, 6th Cav. in charge of station. Left Norris Basin 4 P.M. Reached Capt. Scott's Camp 7:15 P.M. Remained here until 8:45 o'clock Thursday morning; Aug. 27, when we left for the Upper Basin, which we reached about 10 o'clock. Remained here for lunch and took in the geyser formations. Very fortunate in seeing the Giantess, the Castle and Old Faithful all playing at the same time. At 3:30 P.M. left for the Thumb. Road very sandy. Crossed Continental Divide second time about 7:25 . Reached soldiers' shack at the Thumb 8:30. Soldiers slept in an old barn near by. I slept in station tent, one of the soldiers having given up his bunk to me."

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

"After resting a day and a half at Fort Yellowstone and drawing a fresh supply of rations, we started out about 10 A.M., August 25th, on a trip through the Yellowstone Park, this land of wonders--this region of beauty and grandeur!
Within a stone's cast of the barracks we passed Liberty Cap, standing like a silent sentinel at the foot of Minerva Terrace, and soon began rolling our wheels up hill. The road all the way from the fort to the Golden Gate is nearly a continuous up grade and in summer very dusty. The difference of elevation between these two points, a distance of only four miles, is a little over one thousand feet. We did a deal of puffing while rolling our bicycles up these dusty grades, and when at last the highest point was reached, there went up from the corps one grateful sigh of relief.
With its immense perpendicular walls of solid rock, rising from the very road on one side to three hundred feet or more above our heads and with its picturesque ravine far below on the other side, the Golden Gate is a sight that will ever cling in our memories.
Soon after leaving the Golden Gate we struck a good level stretch of country and for several miles made excellent time. As we rapidly rode along, the Obsidian Cliff, the Roaring Mountain, the Twin Lakes, and other points of interest were passed. At 1:30 P.M. we reached the soldiers' station at Norris Basin, twenty miles from the fort. Cooking our dinner in the Government shack and resting until 4 P.M., we then left for Captain Scott's camp.
Again and again would we stop along the road to look at paint pots, pools, springs, geysers, etc. Riding through the Gibbon Meadows we then turned off into Gibbon Canyon, deep, sinuous and picturesque. For miles we fared along the windings of the road, with the ever beautiful waters of Gibbon River at our side, now admiring this, then admiring that. Indeed, this was the very poetry of cycling. About 7 o'clock we beheld on a plateau in the distance a city of tents -- Captain Scott's camp. Although we had ridden forty miles since 10 o'clock that morning, carrying our rations, tents, blankets, arms and ammunition, none of us were very tired, as was shown by the full presence of the corps, as spectators, until 1 o'clock A.M., at a ball given by the soldiers of the camp."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg.30-31

[Captain Scott had a camp in the Lower Basin according to a report to the Secretary of the Interior, written by the Superintendant Yellowstone Park, published 1887 (pg. 3). An annual report to the War Department (1895) pg. 133 states, "Troop D, Sixth Cavalry under command of Captain Scott, left Fort Yellowstone, Wyo., on May 31, 1895, en route to Lower Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, to go into camp there during the summer-tourist season, marching a distance of 38 miles.]

Day 10 - REST DAY at Fort Yellowstone

1996-08-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

[The Corps spent the day resting at Fort Yellowstone which is located at modern day Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone Park. Moss wrote letters, see below, which give some details of this day. I need to get copies of these letters--which are in the National Archives. When I do I will transcribe and post them in their entirety]

"The corps spent the rest of the day and all of the next at Fort Yellowstone. The new tires Moss had telegraphed for arrived from Helena and were installed immediately."

- Linda C. Bailey, Fort Missoula's Military Cyclists:
The Story of the 25th U.S. Infantry Bicycle Corps, pg. 11

Yellowstone Day 9 - Yankee Jim's, MT to Fort Yellowstone [Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone Park]

1996-08-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 18 1/2 miles
Winds: None
Grades: Nearly all up
Weather: Fair
Condition of roads: Good
Actual travel time: 3 hours
Rate per hour: 6.2- mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

Our first stop after leaving Yankee Jim's in the morning was at Cinnabar, after which we started for the fort, and had upgrade work the whole way, the last hill being the worst of all.
- Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, Moss
[This is all Moss tell's us about this day's ride. The Corps reached Fort Yellowstone, which is located in present day Mammoth Hot Springs. In 1897, Yellowstone Park was supervised by the Army not the Park Service]

Aug. 23. Left for Park 8:30 A.M. Noticed fresh bicycle tracks on road. Thought some energetic "cit" bicyclist had been along very early that morning. Foreman and Corpl. Williams dropped behind on account of defective tires and instructed to join us at Park. Reached Cinnabar 10 A.M. Lo and behold! The first persons to greet us were Haynes and Proctor: they had walked nearly all the night before, and had reached Cinnabar two or three hours before we did. They passed our camping placed during the night and stopped and spoke to some of the people at Yankee Jim's, and asked them not to tell us anything about their passing us during the night. And thus it came to pass that the table had been turned on those who hoped to see them at Fort Missoula, if they did'nt [sic] see them at Fort Yellowstone. Left at 11:10 o'clock for the Fort. At noon stopped 45 mins. for lunch. Crossed State line between Montana and Wyoming 12:47. Reached Ft. Yellowstone 1:25 P.M. Soon after leaving Cinnabar struck a long hill. From here to Fort all hard, up grade work. Last hill just before reaching the Fort, steep and dusty--sun very hot--hard work rolling wheels. Distance travelled 18 1/2 miles: time of actual travelling, 3 hours. Remained at the Post a day and a-half [sic], getting rations, having work done by the Q.M.D., attending to business matters, etc.. Received eight pr. new tires I had telegraphed for from Helena. Had them put on at once.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

"Moss and the other soldiers camped that night at Yankee Jim's...meanwhile, Haynes and Proctor walked their bikes in the moonlight (see preceeding day for more). They passed Yankee Jim's and continued on, with a plan to surprise Moss and the Bicycle Corps in the morning. An hour and a half after the corps left Yankee Jim's the next morning, the soldiers were quite surprised when they were greeted by Haynes and Proctor. 'And thus it came to pass that the table had been turned on those who hoped to see them at Fort Missoula, if they didn't see them at Fort Yellowstone," wrote Moss. Haynes and Proctor continued on with the rest of the corps as they pushed their bicycles uphill to the fort.

- Linda C. Bailey, Fort Missoula's Military Cyclists:
The Story of the 25th U.S. Infantry Bicycle Corps, pg. 11

postcard picture of north entrance to Yellowstone

Yellowstone Day 8 - Summit near Livingston to Yankee Jim's, MT

1996-08-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 41 1/5 miles
Winds: slightly with us
Grades: Up and down
Weather: fair
Condition of roads: Good
Actual travel time: 6 hours
Rate per hour: 6.9- mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

We were now about two miles from the summit, which was reached the next morning at 7:30 o'clock. We, then had a down shoot for nearly eight miles, when the valley of the Yellowstone was reached.
This valley with its large fields, fine ranches, low log houses, rocky cliffs and grap palisades, is a picture beautiful to behold.
Riding along the blue waters of the Yellowstone, we stopped for lunch about half past twelve at a place thirty-seven miles from Fort Yellowstone. Yankee Jim's Canyon was reached early in the evening, and shortly thereafter the moon rose.
One side of the canyon was in the shadow of immense cliffs that seemed to overhang the road, while on our left, a hundred or more feet below, ran the Yellowstone River. Traveling in the dark over such a road, which was rough; withal we were compelled to roll our wheels most of the time. At 8:30 Yankee Jim's place was reached and, cooking supper in his kitchen, we spent the night in an old barn on his premises, provided with a limited amount of straw.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains

"On the day before the soldiers arrived at Fort Yellowstone, Moss reported that the fiber in all of the tires was rotting, and that seven hours were spent repairing tires and six hours traveling. About thirty miles from Fort Yellowstone, two of the bicycles had tires that were disintegrated beyond repair and made riding impossible. Rather than everyone walk the rest of the way to the park, Moss left Private Haynes and Proctor behind with their disabled bicycles, food, and a dollar. He instructed them to walk the rest of the way, while he and the other soldiers rode their bicycles. Moss did not expect to see Haynes and Proctor until they arrived at Fort Yellowstone late the next afternoon. Some of the enlisted men were less optimistic than their lieutenant, who reported they called back, "You had better look out: de coyotes are going ter eat you up ter night. If we don't see you at Fort Yellowstone, we hope ter see you when we gets back to Fort Missoula."

- Linda C. Bailey, Fort Missoula's Military Cyclists:
The Story of the 25th U.S. Infantry Bicycle Corps, pg. 10

Aug. 22nd. Left for Park 7:30 A.. Reached summit of Gallatin Range 7:50. Delayed 10 mins. at 8 o'clock to pump tire. At 8:40 delayed 20 mins. fixing Corpl. William's tire and seat: also Findley's seat. At 9:40 delayed 20 mins. fixing tire, and at 10:15, 1 hr. repairing bursted tire. Reached Fridley 12 M.. [sic] Stopped here 20 mins. to get can goods, inquire about roads, etc.. At 12:35 reached a point 1 1/2 miles from Fridley, where we got fresh milk and butter, and stopped until 3:00 for dinner. At 3:45 P.M. delayed 1 hr. and 45 mins. fixing bursted tires. About 5:30 Haynes and Proctor's tires were in such a defective condition that we could not repair them. I had already delayed about two hours during the day fixing their tires, and now concluded there was but one thing to be done, viz: Have them walk and roll their wheels the rest of the way to Fort Yellowstone. We were then about 30 miles from the Fort, and giving them a can of corned beef, some bread and $1, I instructed them to walk about 10 or 15 miles that evening and the rest of the distance the next day, meeting us at Fort Yellowstone some time the following afternoon. As we mounted our wheels and swiftly glided away, Haynes and Proctor, stood gazing at each other amid the loneliness of the surrounding mountains. The rest of the soldiers "jollied" them with such expressions as, "You had better look out: de coyotes are going to eat you up ter night;" "If we dont see you at Fort Yellowstone we hope ter see you when we gets back to Ft. Missoula." Within a few minutes mountains were between us, and thus the two unfortunate cyclists had disappeared from view. At 6:10 delayed 15 mins. fixing puncture. Delayed 10 mins. at 6:35 fixing tires. At 7:15 delayed 5 mins. to fix puncture. At 7:45 delayed 10 mins. pumping tires. At 7:30 reached Yankee Jim's Canyon. Moon rose 7:50 P.M.. Had to walk nearly whole way through Canyon. Were on side of Canyon in shadow and got no benefit of moonlight. Road very rough, hilly, and sandy. Had an awfully hard time rolling our wheels down steep grades through deep sand and large ruts. On our right the mountains went straight up from the road itself, like immense walls, while on our left, a hundred or more feet below were the river and rail road. From our shady side the river and mountains in the moonlight on opposite side looked grand. At 8:30 reached Yankee Jim's place. Pretty well tired out. Slept in barn on limited amount of straw. Swapped flour for bread and biscuits. Distance travelled 41: 1/5 miles: time of actual travelling 6 hours. Delayed 7 hours during day repairing defective tires--fibre all rotten--easily bursted.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Yellowstone Day 7 - Three Forks, MT to close to Livingston, MT

1996-08-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 51 miles
Winds: Slightly with us
Grades: Nearly all up
Weather: Fair
Condition of roads: Good
Actual travel time: 7h
Rate per hour: 7.3- mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

The next morning at 7:30 we were on the road again and at 1:30 P.M. reached Bozeman, the metropolis of the Gallatin Valley, a wide, level stretch of country, with immense fields of oats and barley.
The corps attracted a great deal of attention as we rapidly glided through the streets of this Western town. The sight of a squad of soldiers on wheels, carring [sic] their rations, guns, tents, etc., was indeed novel, and people rushed to the doors and windows to see us. During our stop of three hours on the outskirts of the town many people visited our camp.
Soon after leaving Bozeman we passed old Fort Ellis, now an abandoned relic of those by-gone days, when the spirit of civilization began its onward march through the grand forests, the fertile valleys, and the great mountains and the beautiful rivers of this glorious West.
At 5:45 P.M. we reached Rocky Canyon, a narrow, deep gulch with tremendous rocky cliffs on either side. Traveling about five miles through this Canyon we then turned to the right and began making directly for the summit of the Gallatin Range. About 7:30 we reached a ranch fifty-one miles from our last camp. The night was getting cool and chilly and we gladly availed ourselves of the ranchman's kind offer to sleep in his hay shed. We were now about two miles from the summit.

- Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, J.A. Moss

Aug. 21. Left Three Forks 7:30 A.M.. At 8:55 delayed 20 mins. replacing broken seat spring and wrapping weak place on a tire. Reached Manhattan 9:20: stopped 20 mins. to get crackers and meat. Reached Central Park 10:15 A.M. Delayed 10 mins. pumping tires. Reached Belgrade 11:30. At 12:05 P.M. delayed 10 mins. to pump tire and fix puncture. About 12:30 delayed 30 Mins. [sic] to fix puncture. Roads very dusty in places. Reached Bozeman 1:30 P.M. Stopped here until 4:40 for dinner. After leaving Bozeman, it was decidedly up grade work. Reached Rocky Canyon 5:45. Very rough and hilly--appropriately named. About 6:25 delayed 15 mins. fixing puncture. At 7:30 reached a point 15 1/2 miles from Bozeman, where we stopped for the night. Slept in hay shed. Very cool and chilly night. Got fresh milk. Corpl. Williams and Findley, late reaching camp. Left Three Forks with a side wind, but greater part of day wind to our backs for the first time, except Thursday evening, when we couldnt ride on account of stones. Distance travelled during day 51 miles; time of actual travelling 7 hours.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Yellowstone Day 6 - Townsend, MT to Three Forks, MT

1996-08-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 39 miles
Winds: Against us
Grades: Nearly all up
Weather: Little rain
Condition of roads: Poor
Actual travel time: 7h 30m
Rate per hour: 5.2 mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

About 6:30 the next morning it began sprinkling and continued until 8 o'clock. We left Townsend at 9:10 A.M., and about one mile from town struck dusty and sandy roads, with a head wind to fight against.
At Toston, a small town on the Missouri Rier, we stopped two and one-half hours for dinner. The road beyond this point was up-grade and the wheeling difficult. About 3 o'clock dark clouds began gathering above, a strong wind came up and the thunder ahead of us could be plainly heard. Wherever we looked we saw naught but bleak mountains, not a sign of civilization. To add to the dreariness of the occasion a member of the corps was taken sick, and for a while it seemed as if he would be unable to go any further. A few minutes later we gladly and deliberately rode into a shower to get out of deep dust. About 4 o'clock, we missed the main road and had to push and ride our wheels along narrow cattle paths with the greatest care, to avoid prickly pears on either side. For several miles we rolled our wheels over this desolate, alkali country with a strong wind against us. About 7:30 the wind subsided, and as the grade was nearly all down, we were able to make amends by some good riding.
While bounding along at a ten-mile rate, we ran upon a covey of chickens near the road. Halting and dismountain we formed as skirmishers and advanced on the chickens until the command was given: "Squad halt; aim; fire!" The command was executed with precision, but we had government bacon for supper, nevertheless. About 8 o'clock the moon came up and the last fifty minutes of the day's journey was by moonlight. Our hard day's work done and pretty well tired out, we encamped at Three Forks. Distance traveled, thirty-nine miles. Time of actual travelling, seven and one-half hours.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 27

Aug. 20. It began rainning [sic] about 6:30 A.M. and continued until 8. Went to a blacksmith shop and had two seat springs made. Fine example of one man's taking advantage of another man's misfortune. The blacksmith knew I had to go on and consequently had to have a spring for Forman's seat. He wanted to charge me $2 for them, but I finally jewed him down to $1.50. The springs consisted of two flat door hinges forged to about seven inches long, one inch wide and 1/6 in. thick. They were worth about 25¢ apiece. Left Townsend 9:10 A.M. 9:20 A.M. delayed 30 mins. fixing puncture. Reached Toston 11:40. Road from Townsend very dusty and sandy. Had a head wind to contend against nearly whole way. Stopped at Toston until 2 P.M. for dinner. About 3 P.M. delayed 30 mins. to pump wheel and fix puncture. Began to rain all around us. We deliberately and gladly rode into a shower to get out of deep dust. About 3:30 P.M. missed main road and had to ride along cattle paths with the greatest care to avoid prickly pears on either side. Sgt. Green taken sick with pain in chest and fever. Very strong wind whole afternoon--very hard work. Hard luck whole day--sand, wind and dust in abundance. At 5 P.M. delayed 30 mins. to fix bursted tire. 7 P.M. delayed 20 mins. fixing pedal crank. About this time wind subsided. At 7:30 good down grade and made fine time until we reached Three Forks at 8:50, where we camped for the night. About 8 o'clock the moon came and the last 50 minutes of our trip was by moon-light. We walked nearly the whole day. Roads very sandy and hilly. A few miles on other side of Three Forks formed the soldiers as skirmishers and had them fire at a covey of chickens. As far as we know the chickens are all still living. Distance travelled 39 miles: time of actual travelling 7 1/2 hours.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Yellowstone Day 5 - Fort Harrison to Townsend, MT

1996-08-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 41 3/4 miles
Winds: None
Grades: Nearly all up
Weather: Fair
Condition of roads: Good
Actual travel time: 6h
Rate per hour: 7- mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

At 11 o'clock we left Helena and started up Prickly Pear Valley. An hour and a quarter later we stopped until 4:15 for dinner.
The roads as far as Winston, thirty miles from Fort Harrison were fairly good, but for about five miles beyond this point, however, were exceedingly stony and dusty, and we were compelled to walk at least four miles of the five. Although it was 7 o'clock when Winston was reached, we were determined on making Townsend, 12 miles away, that night. The moon rose about 8 o'clock, but the clouds made it pretty dark traveling. We rode about seven miles feeling our way, as it were, and getting all sorts of bumps and falls. The Missouri River was crossed at 9:35 and at 9:50 we were making camp near the railroad depot in Townsend, having traveled forty-two miles since leaving Fort Harrison.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 26-27

Left Ft. Harrison at 6:20 A.M. . Reached bicycle shop in Helena at 6:50. The fibre of nearly all our tires was rotten and we were delayed about 4 hours having them wrapped with tape and otherwise repaired. Left Helena at 11. At 12:15 stopped until 4:15 for dinner. Roads quite dusty. Puncture 4:45 P.M., delayed 30 mins. At 5:50 delayed 25 mins. fixing puncture. Tire bursted at 6:30; delayed 25 mins. Stopped 10 mins. at Winston to fix seat and pump tires. Road for about five miles, beginning a couple of miles East of Winston, exceedingly stony and dusty. Had to walk about four miles of it. About 8 o'clock it became pretty dark, and although the moon was up the clouds prevented our seeing to travel. Only at times could we see to avoid rocks, rts and deep dust. We rode about 7 miles in the dark, feeling our way, as it were, and getting bumps and falls. About 9 o'clock Forman's seat spring broke and he had to walk to camp. Crossed the Missouri River at 9:35. Reached Townsend 9:45 P.M. . Distance travelled 41: 3/4 miles. Time of actual travelling 6 hours.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Yellowstone Day 4 - Rest at Fort Harrison

1996-08-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

We stopped over a day [at Fort Harrison] to rest and draw rations.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 26

Yellowstone Day 3- ? to Fort Harrison

1996-08-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 44 miles
Winds: Against us nearly all forenoon
Grades: Nearly all up except from Summit to Fort Harrison
Weather: Fair
Condition of roads: Poor, except from Summit to Fort Harrison
Actual travel time: 7h
Rate per hour: 6.3- mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

The next morning bright and early we were on the road again. The roads were very bad and we were delayed considerably by punctures. At 11:30 A.M., we made a stop of one hour and a half at Elliston for lunch.
That afternoon we encountered such bad roads and the sun was so hot that we were compelled to stop several times in the shade. At 3 P.M. Blossburg was reached and with the summit of the Main Divide of the Rocky Mountains plainly in view, we rested one hour, concentrating our energies and admiring this summit we were soon to climb and to whose charms we all thought, distance would lend enchantment.
About 4 o'clock we began rolling our wheels up the mountain side, reaching the summit at 4:20 and for the first time in history, a body of armed cyclists had crossed the Main Divide of the Rockies.
Going down the grade was so steep that we were compelled to roll our wheels the whole way, struggling hard to prevent them from getting away, we pulled back and used our brakes until our fingers were benumbed. Resting fifteen minutes at the foot of the mountain we then started for Helena on a good down grade road. At 7 o'clock we beheld the red brick buildings of Fort Harrison in the distance, and at half past seven I was reporting our arrival to the commanding officer.
After seven hours of actual traveling the cyclometer registered forty-four miles more than it did when we started that morning. We stopped over a day to rest and draw rations

note: Moss mentions being close to the Mullan Tunnel when going over in this ad.

- L.A.W. Bulletin and Good Roads, pg. 121, January 22, 1897

Aug. 17th Left camp 6:18 A.M., Struck a mountain 3/4 mi. from camp. Grade quite steep. At 7 o'clock delayed 30 mins. fixing Sgt Green's gun and knapsack. Reached Avon 9 A.M. At 10 A.M delayed 5 mins. fixing puncture. 10:10 Forman broke his seat spring. Delayed 10 mins. 10:55 A.M., delayed 25 mins. fixing puncture. Reached Elliston 11:30 A.M. Stopped here until 1 o'clock, when we left for Helena. Sun very hot. Had to stop in the shade several times. Delayed about 45 mins. by these stops. Road very stony and nearly all up grade. Reached Blossburg 3 P.M. Left for Helena 4 P.M. Reached summit of Main Divide of the Rocky Mountains at 4:20, Reached foot of summit 4:45. Stopped here about 15 mins. The grade was so steep that we could not ride down -- had to roll our wheels the whole way down-- had to use brakes until we had cramps in our fingers, to prevent wheels from getting away from us--was, without doubt, hardest work so far on the trip. At 5:15 stopped 10 mins to fix puncture. A few minutes later, delayed from 6:30 to 7 P.M. fixing three punctures. Reached Ft. Harrison, 7:30 P.M. . Distanced travelled, 44 miles. Time of actual travelling, 7 hours. From camp to Avon roads were very bad: from Avon to Elliston, a little better; from Elliston to Blossburg, very bad. After crossing the Main Divide, had a good down grade road to Fort Harrison. During the entire day had to dismount again and again on account of stones, grades, mud, water, etc. . Had to ride against a wind the greater part of the day. Remained at Fort Harrison a day, getting rations, having some work done by the Q.M.D., and attending to business in Helena.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [National Archives, R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Yellowstone Day 2 - near Bearmouth to 47 miles from last camp

1996-08-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 47 miles
Winds: Against us during afternoon
Grades: Nearly all up
Weather: Fair
Condition of roads: Fair
Actual travel time: 7h 40m
Rate per hour: 6.1+ mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

Places & times mentioned: camp, near Bearmouth [8:20 A.M.]; Flint Creek Hills; New Chicago [12:30 P.M - lunch]; Drummond; Gold Creek [4:45 P.M.]; Garrison; valley of the Little Bigfoot; 47 miles from morning camp [7:50 P.M. - stopped for the evening]

We broke camp at 8:20 A.M. and about 10 0'clock reached the Flint Creek Hills, ten miles. Pushing our wheels over these alkali hills, the summit of the last one was reached almost noon, whereupon a soldier who was feeling pretty good made a motion that we hold a jollification meeting. For want of time, however, the meeting did not occur and we continued our journey, reaching New Chicago, a settlement of about fifty inhabitants, at 12:30 P.M., where we stopped for lunch.
Just before reaching the Hills, a member of the corps was taken ill with cramps from eating wild fruit and drinking water. His gun and knapsack were given to other men to carry until we reached New Chicago, where I intended to get a doctor to proscribe for him. Upon inquiry, however, I was told by an "old timer" there was no doctor in the village, although he really thought there was a fine opening for one. It was now a "condition, not a theory, which confronted me," and I arose to the condition, by first giving the patient a dose of ginger and then a dose of Epsom salts, and then going through the usual formality of looking at his tongue and feeling his pulse. This treatment failing to alleviate his cramps, and as time was precious, he was given some money and directed to take the train at Drummond, three miles away, and join us at Fort Harrison the next day, which he did.
The roads for several miles after leaving New Chicago were quite good, and we made fine time. At 4:45 we reached Gold Creek and forded the stream, which is about twenty-five yards wide, in three feet of swift water. About one mile from Garrison we turned off to the left, and rolling our wheels over a small mountain, struck the valley of the Little Bigfoot. The road along this river, like the roads of the greater part of the day, was rough and dusty. At 7:50 P.M. we reached a point forty-seven miles from our last camp and pitched our shelter tents for the night. We had had a hard day's work, riding over mountains, rough roads and against the wind, and were all very tired.
I got some fresh milk and eggs and also some hay to sleep on from the ranchman near whose house we camped.

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 23-25

[I'm not sure where the Flint Creek Hills that Moss refers to are. Today Flint Creek Hill is a large road cut between Georgetown Lake and the Philipsburg Valley (N 46.22096 W 113.28793) but this would be quite a ways from the line the corps was traveling. Somewhere past Bearmouth would make sense -- go to 1897 Montana map link for a look]

August 16: Cooks were up at 4:15 preparing breakfast. A careful examination of the wheels revealed 5 punctures and two old ones leaking. Left camp at 8:20. Before leaving camp, had to remove broken balls from Corpl. William's pedal. At 10:10 we reached the Flint Rock Hills, 10 miles from camp. By 12:10 we had crossed the last hill, distance over hills, 7 miles. When we reached the Hills, Musician Brown was taken ill with cramps, caused from eating wild fruit and drinking water. Delayed about 1 hr. on his account. Gave his knapsack and gun to other men to carry until we reached New Chicago. Reached New Chicago 12: 40 P.M., where we stopped until 2:15 for lunch. Gave Brown a dose of ginger and afterward some Epsom salts. As he still suffered with violent cramps in his stomach, I gave him $6, with instructions to take the train at Drummond, about 3 miles from New Chicago, and meet us at Fort Harrison, Monday evening. If he were feeling worse at train time he was to return to Fort Missoula.
Proctor's rim became loose where cemented. At 2:45 stopped 15 mins to fix puncture. At 3 stopped 5 mins. to pump tire. At 3:13 stopped 10 mins. to fix puncture. At 4:45 we reached Gold Creek and forded the stream, which is about 25 yds. wide, in 2 1/2 feet of swift water. Time to cross stream 35 mins. About 6:15 P.M. the board on which tin case rests broke. Delayed 10 mins. At 7:25 P.M. broke my cyclometer. Findley's rear tire gave out completely--fibre all rotten--had to stop every ten or fifteen minutes to pump it up. Roads for several miles east of New Chicago very good--made fine time. Struck pretty bad roads later on. Crossed a small mountain about one mile before reaching Garrison. Road along the Little Black Foot very rough. Had more or less of a wind to ride against the entire afternoon. At 7:50 P.M. reached a point 47 miles from last camp. Here we pitched our shelter tents and stopped for the night. All very tired--had a hard day's work, riding over mountains, rough roads and against the wind. Got fresh milk, hay and eggs from the ranchman near whose house we camped. Also swapped flour for baked bread. Time of actual travelling 7: 2/3 hrs.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Yellowstone Day 1 - Ft. Missoula to near Bearmouth, MT

1996-08-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

Distance travelled: 41 3/4 miles
Winds: Against us nearly all day
Grades: Nearly all up
Weather: Fair
Condition of roads: Good
Actual travel time: 7h 50m
Rate per hour: 5.3+ mph

- Lt. J.A. Moss Report to the Adjutant Synopsis of the Trip

Places & times mentioned: Fort Missoula [6:05 A.M.]; Hell Gate Canyon; 25 miles from Post [1 o'clock-4 o'clock - lunch]; 42 miles from Fort Missoula (near Bearthmouth,MT?) [8:30 P.M. camped]

"We left the post at 6:05 A.M., August 15th, for Fort Harrison, Montana, where we were to draw a fresh supply of rations. Stopping over two hours in the town of Missoula, we then started up the Hell Gate Canyon against an exceedingly strong wind. After rolling our wheels along the wagon road for nearly three miles, we then took the railroad track to avoid paying toll on the one hand, and a steep grade on the other. At 1 o'clock a point twenty-five miles from Post was reached and a stop until 4 o'clock was made for dinner. The wind by this time had subsided considerably and at 8:30, with 42 miles to our credit, we pitched camp for the night."

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 23

August 15: Left Fort Missoula 6:05 A.M. against a very strong wind. Reached Missoula 6:45. Stopped in town until 8:50, having tires changed on my wheel and saddle fixed. Left Missoula with such a strong wind against us that it was almost impossible to ride. Took the R.R. near Bandmann's ranch to avoid Marshall Grade. Stopped 30 mins. at R.R. depot at Bonner to weigh wheels. Reached the Three Mile Grade at 11:10 A.M., and followed the R.R. track for 2 1/4 miles to avoid the grade. Took us 50 minutes to walk this distance. At 1 o'clock, reached a point 25 miles from the Post, where we stopped until 4 o'clock for dinner. Although the wind had by this time subsided considerably, it would, at times, during the entire afternoon, come up again. During the day we took the R.R. track three times to avoid grades and twice to avoid paying toll. Delayed about 1 hour during day fixing punctures. At 8:30 P.M. reached a point 41: 3/4 miles from Fort Missoula, where we camped for the night. Time of actual travelling, 7: 5/6 hrs.

- Report from Lt. Moss to Adjutant General, Oct. 10, 1896 [R.G. 94 Box 346 46363-46575]

Preparing for Trip to Yellowstone

1996-08-14T17:02:00.000-07:00

Immediately upon our return from Lake McDonald we began making preparations for a trip to Yellowstone Park.
The following is a list of the rations, cooking utensils, etc., with which we started out:
RATIONS -- 5 lbs. prunes, 25 lbs. flour, 14 lbs. sugar, 4 lbs. ground coffee, 16 lbs. bacon, one and a half cans syrup, weight 18 lbs., four cans baking powder, one box pepper, three cans milk, 5 lbs. rice, two cans jelly, three cans deviled ham, 10 lbs, bologna sausage, one jar extract of beef, two cakes of chocolate, four cans corn, six cans beans, 5 lbs. salt.
MEDICINE -- One bottle Jamaica ginger, one box C.C. pills, one box quinine pills, one box camphor pills, one bottle Squib's mixture.
TOOLS, REPAIRING MATERIAL, ETC. -- Three hatchets, one piece of leather, fifty feet quarter-inch rope, one ball twine, one roll tape, seventy-five rubber plugs, one cold chisel, one rivet hammer, one spool copper wire, five Spalding repair kits, one box elastics, chain lubricant, bicycle oil, tire and rim cement, one spoke grip, one screw-driver, one file, one foot pump, one large monkey wrench.
TENTS, BLANKETS, UNDERWEAR, ETC. -- Twelve shelter tent halves with poles, fie rubber blankets, candles, matches, tobacco, dish rags, soap, wiping cloths, thirteen blankets. Every soldier has supplied with the following articles: Two pair summer socks, one pair winter socks, one pair summer drawers, one pair winter drawers, one toothbrush and powder, two handkerchiefs, one cake soap, one towel, one meat can, one knife, one fork, one spoon, one tin cup, one knapsack, one haversack. Every other soldier carried one comb and brush.
COOKING UTENSILS -- Three dripping pans with covers, oen patented baker, one large coffee pot, one large tin boiler.
ARMS AND AMMUNITION -- Every other man carried a rifle, belt and thirty rounds of ammunition. Those not so armed carried a revolver, belt and thirty cartridges.
THE UNIFORM -- We all wore ordinary skin gloves, campaign hats, leggins, ordinary blouse, trousers and shoes, and dark blue flannel shirts.
EXTRA PARTS, TIRES, ETC. -- Ten spokes, ten nipples, two cyclometers, one pair tires, two pedal cranks, one Christy saddle, three seat springs, one rear axle, one front axle, one rear cone, one front cone, one crank shoulder, two pedals, one chain, thirty steel balls, ten chain links and bolts.
PERSONAL EFFECTS -- One sweater, one 4 x 5 kodak, one note book, seven extra rolls film, writing paper, stamps and envelopes, one razor, shaving brush and hand mirror.
The corps presented the following weights:

NAME Weight of Wheel Personal Weight Total
Parked
Lieutenant Moss 67 135 202
Sergeant Green 84 162 246
Corporal Williams 84 155 239
Musician Brown 70 148 218
Private Findley 86 186 272
Private Johnson 83 152 235
Private Proctor 85 152 237
Private Haynes 82 162 244
Private Forman 76 165 241

Average 79.7 157.4 237.1

- Lt. James A. Moss, Military Cycling in the Rocky Mountains, pg. 21-23

West Point Ring

1994-07-01T10:48:00.000-07:00