Old West Group

The town of Twin Forks, established in the mid-1870s, lies nestled in the rolling plains of Montana, amidst grazing lands rich with cattle, sprawling ranches, and open skies. Its history is as wild and unpredictable as the land it sits upon, with a blend of prosperity, hardship, and conflict that has shaped the people who call it home.

Early Years (1870s) ::

The Cattle Boom (Late 1870s - Early 1880s) ::
The 1880s and Beyond ::

❖ -- Main Street: The heart of Twin Forks, lined with wooden boardwalks, shops, saloons, and general stores. This is where most of the town's activity and social life take place.

❖ -- Residential Area: Wooden houses, modest and functional, are scattered around the outskirts or clustered near the main street. Homes vary from small cabins to larger, more established houses for prominent citizens.

❖ -- Railroad Station: A fairly new, and crucial, element of the town with the railway connection. This facilitates trade, transportation of goods, the shipment of cattle East, and influx of new settlers or visitors.

❖ -- Cattle Ranches: Surrounding the town, you will find sprawling ranches where cattle are bred and raised. This includes vast open plains for grazing, stables, and cattle pens.

❖ -- Sheriff's Office and Jail: Essential for maintaining law and order in Twin Forks. The office is a sturdy building close to the main street, while the jail is a bit more secure structure, connected by an enclosed walkway just behind the office.

❖ -- Church: a church building serving as a spiritual center for the community.

❖ -- Schoolhouse: Families have settled in the area, and as expected, a one-room schoolhouse where not just children, but illiterate adults receive basic education.

❖ -- Doctor’s Office: An office of Twin Forks, sole doctor, equipped to handle basic to mid-level medical needs and emergencies.

❖ -- Cattle Industry: The first industry and backbone of the local economy, with cattle drives, branding, and trading activities central to the town's prosperity.

❖ -- Mining: Sitting near mineral-rich hilly areas Twin Forks have mining operations… and the populace can be menacing and troublesome, but also contributes significantly to the economy.

❖ -- Two General Stores: One focuses on ranching and farming, the other focuses on mining. Both supply goods ranging for daily essentials.

❖ -- Saloons and Gambling: These are social hubs where locals gather, drink, gamble, and exchange news. Twin Forks has fourteen smaller saloons with gambling and whores, with only one big establishment with gambling, finer prostitutes, and even hosting entertainment like live music and dancing.

❖ -- Community Events: Rodeos, barn dances, and town meetings provide opportunities for social interaction and celebration.

❖ -- Conflict and Tensions: Struggles over land, water rights, and political power can lead to disputes among ranchers, settlers, and Indian tribes.

❖ -- Lawlessness: The frontier attracts outlaws, bandits, and vigilantes, adding a layer of danger and intrigue to daily life.

❖ -- Expansion and Settlement: Manifest Destiny, as settlers push westward in search of land and opportunity.

❖ -- Indian Relations: Reflect on the complexities of interactions between settlers and indigenous peoples, including treaties, conflicts, and cultural exchange.

❖ -- Technology and Progress: The arrival of the railroad and other modern innovations could symbolize progress and change in the town.

Twin Forks is located in the northern-central region of Montana, nestled in the high plains of the Musselshell River Valley, a few hundred miles from the larger urban centers and forty miles from Hayfield, the rail junction of the Northern Pacific RR. The town is bordered to the south by the Little Belt Mountains, their jagged peaks visible from almost anywhere in the valley, and to the north by the Bear Paw Mountains that rise more gently into the sky.

Detailed Description of Twin Forks's Location:

❖ -- Geography and Terrain:
❖ -- Mountains and Waterways:
❖ -- Climate:
❖ -- Access to Major Routes:
❖ -- Twin Forks's Relationship with Nature:
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Key Features of Twin Forks's Location:

❖ -- Proximity to the Little Belt and Bear Paw Mountains:
❖ -- Musselshell River:
❖ -- Cattle Ranges:
❖ -- Strategic Location on the Cattleman's Road:
❖ -- Mining Potential:
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Town Expansion and Growth Potential

Given Twin Forks’s advantageous location near water, the cattle trail, and the expanding railroad network, the town has great potential for future growth. It stands at a crossroads where agriculture, cattle, and mining can intersect, offering opportunities for new settlers, business ventures, and local enterprises.

However, its location also comes with challenges. The harsh winters, the risk of drought in summer, and the ongoing tensions with Indian tribes all pose ongoing risks. Still, as the railroad continues to expand, Twin Forks is set to become a key trading hub in the region, bringing in both opportunity and, potentially, conflict.

With its mix of fertile land, rugged terrain, and strategic placement along trade routes, Twin Forks stands on the cusp of becoming a truly pivotal town in Montana cattle country, with all the promise and peril that comes with it.

Fort Benton:


Fort Assiniboine:


Fort Custer:


Fort Shaw:

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Cavalry Patrols Around Twin Forks:
The presence of cavalry patrols in the region surrounding Twin Forks would likely focus on maintaining order and responding to the pressures of expanding settlements and conflicts between settlers and Indian tribes. Here are some key roles these patrols would play:

❖ -- Protection of Settlers and Trade Routes:
❖ -- Dealing with Indian Conflicts:
❖ -- Preventing Cattle Rustling:
❖ -- Surveillance and Reconnaissance:
❖ -- Indian Relocation or Detention:

Seth Montgomery (Founder of Twin Forks):
The Johnson Family (Red Rock Ranch):
Sheriff Virgil Calloway:
The Garrison Family (Prospectors):
Riley Whittaker (Whittaker Ranch):
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The Battle of Black Creek in 1879 is a critical event in the history of the frontier, serving as both a violent culmination of the mounting tensions between settlers and Native American tribes, as well as a moment that would have lasting consequences on the relationships between the two groups in the Montana region.


Background and Tensions Leading to the Battle:

By the late 1870s, the Assiniboine and Apsáalooke tribes... both part of the broader Sioux Nations... were feeling the full force of settler encroachment on their traditional lands. In the years following the Gold Rush and the arrival of railroads, the region was being rapidly developed by settlers seeking new opportunities for farming, ranching, and mining. This influx of non-native people created fierce competition for hunting grounds, natural resources, and waterways that were essential to the livelihood of the indigenous tribes.


The Assiniboine and Crow Tribes:

• Assiniboine Tribe: The Assiniboine, also known as the "Stone Sioux" due to their association with the Sioux people, had historically inhabited the northern plains of Montana and parts of Canada. Their way of life revolved around hunting buffalo and trading furs. As settlers encroached on their territory, the Assiniboine faced increasingly harsh conditions, and many became more militant in defending their land.

• Apsáalooke Tribe: The Apsáalooke, or Crow, people were another prominent tribe in the region, known for their strength as warriors and their historical relationship with the U.S. military. Like the Assiniboine, the Crow's traditional lands were being threatened by settlers, and their hunting grounds were being overrun by ranchers and miners.
The Blackfeet, Cheyenne, and Sioux tribes were also in conflict with settlers during this period, but the Assiniboine and Crow were particularly affected by the agricultural and cattle-ranching spread in Montana.


Escalating Conflict:

In the years leading up to the battle, tensions were high. The arrival of settlers meant fewer buffalo, fewer places for the tribes to hunt, and increasing hostilities as white settlers and Native Americans fought for control over vital resources. Despite efforts to broker peace or establish boundaries, the U.S. government’s failure to live up to promises in treaties only deepened the tribes' sense of betrayal.

In 1879, the Assiniboine tribe, who had been particularly affected by the loss of hunting grounds, began to raid settler farms, stealing cattle and disrupting agricultural operations. This prompted local militia groups, often composed of settlers and former soldiers, to retaliate and defend their farms.


The Prelude:

The skirmishes between settlers and Indian tribes had already been frequent in the area surrounding Twin Forks, but the Battle of Black Creek marked a decisive escalation. Early that year, a band of Assiniboine warriors led by a war chief... rumored to have been a respected leader named Red Hawk... raided a settler camp near Black Creek, about 30 miles outside of Twin Forks. They had reportedly stolen cattle, which were vital for the settlers’ survival in the harsh plains.

Word quickly spread through the nearby communities, and a group of settlers, supported by a detachment of U.S. Army cavalry stationed at Fort Benton, set out to recover the stolen livestock and protect their farms. The settlers were well-armed with rifles, revolvers, and a handful of cavalry, ready to confront the Assiniboine for what they saw as a direct threat to their homes.


The Clash:

The battle occurred near Black Creek, a natural waterway used by both the Assiniboine and the settlers, and one that was crucial to the survival of both groups. The Assiniboine, led by Red Hawk, ambushed the settlers as they attempted to follow the trail of stolen cattle. The Assiniboine warriors had taken advantage of the rough terrain and had superior knowledge of the land, allowing them to launch a surprise attack on the settlers and soldiers.

The settlers, however, were determined to protect their livelihood, and the U.S. Army cavalry engaged in fierce combat with the Assiniboine warriors. The cavalrymen, though experienced in battle, were outnumbered by the highly skilled Native fighters, who used guerrilla tactics, including ambushes and swift attacks, to harass the soldiers and settlers.


The Outcome:

The battle was intense and bloody, with both sides suffering casualties. Several settlers and soldiers were killed in the confrontation, but the Assiniboine warriors, unable to sustain their position and seeing reinforcements from other tribes gathering on the horizon, were forced to retreat into the mountains.

While the settlers and cavalry were able to recover some of the stolen cattle, the victory was bittersweet. The battle had left several dead, including prominent local figures who were key in settling the area. In the aftermath, the Assiniboine warriors had succeeded in asserting their power over the land for the time being, but they had also made a lasting enemy of the settlers.


Aftermath and Consequences:

The Battle of Black Creek marked a pivotal moment in the growing conflict between settlers and Native American tribes in the region. Though the settlers were able to re-establish control of their farms, the battle hardened both sides, and the Assiniboine's resistance would only escalate.


Increased Military Presence:

In response to the Assiniboine raids and the battle, the U.S. Army increased its presence in the region, sending more cavalry patrols and establishing stronger garrisons at Fort Benton and Fort Assiniboine. The military’s growing involvement further strained relations with the Indian tribes, who viewed the expansion of U.S. military operations as a threat to their way of life.


Continued Conflict:

The aftermath of the battle did little to diminish the animosity between the settlers and the Native American tribes. While some settlers took this opportunity to call for peace and negotiations, others pushed for more aggressive military action to drive the tribes out of the area. In either case, tensions remained high, and sporadic skirmishes and raids continued for years.

The battle also had a ripple effect on the Crow (Apsáalooke) tribe. As their neighbors, the Assiniboine, engaged in more direct conflict with settlers, the Crow were forced to decide where their loyalties lay.... especially as some of their own people had already sided with the U.S. military as scouts and allies during previous conflicts.


Long-Term Effects on Twin Forks:

For Twin Forks, the Battle of Black Creek became a symbol of the difficult and often violent struggles that settlers faced in the region. The town, while still in its early stages of development, became a focal point for both U.S. military patrols and Native American resistance.
Over the next few years, the growing population of settlers and military presence would overshadow the peaceful existence of the town. Twin Forks, like many frontier towns, would become a site of ongoing tensions and conflict, where lawmen, outlaws, settlers, and tribes interacted in a volatile environment that would define the character of the American West.