Clift’s Musselshell to Fort Ellis Military Road

1869 Military Road Exploration

Contributed by Steve F. Russell

In 1869, Captain E. W. Clift explored Montana Territory for the location of a wagon road from the mouth of the Mussellshell River, on the Missouri River, to Fort Ellis. He also explored an alternate of the route that went from White Sulphur Springs to Helena, by way of Duck Creek Pass. This was part of an effort by the United States military to connect remote outpost together with routes of commerce.

The plan was to have a steamboat landing at the mouth of the Musselshell River to connect with Missouri river boat traffic to St. Lewis and all points in between. Fort Ellis was connected by road with the Bozeman Trail (eastward to Wyoming), the gold mines at Virginia City, MT, Fort Shaw (MT), and Yellowstone Park.

Documents that resulted from this exploration are Clift’s Orders, a Map, and a Report.

Map Title Block

EXPLORATION for WAGON ROAD from Fort Ellis, M.T. to mouth of Muscleshell River by Capt. Emery. W. Clift. 35th Infantry. Office of Engineers, Headquarters Department of Dakota, November 1869. Reduced from Field Notes by George B. Foote, Civil Engineer, 1869 Nov 9 by S. H. King, W. H. Wood, draughtsman.

Orders

While in Montana I gave instructions to Captain E. W. Clift, Thirteenth Infantry, an adventurous and skillful officer, to explore the country between Fort Ellis, in Gallatin Valley, and the mouth of the Muscle Shell, on the Missouri River, and the country between Helena and the same point, with the view of ascertaining if a practicable wagon road, with wood, water, and grass, could be found, and to learn if the two roads surveyed could advantageously be made in common for a considerable part of the distance from the mouth of Muscle Shell, or some point near the Missouri river.1Report of Secretary of War to the Two Houses of Congress, 41st Congress, 2nd Session, Ex. Doc. 1, pt. 2.

Report

No report of Capt. Clift’s travel can be found on the internet. The map is the only document found after extensive searching. Ordered geographic landmarks along the trail are as follows:

  1. Missouri River
  2. Mouth of the Musselshell River
  3. Crooked Creek (Sacagawea River)
  4. Drag Creek
  5. Dovetail Creek
  6. Dovetail Butte
  7. Valentine Springs
  8. Valentine, MT
  9. Blood Creek
  10. Bear Creek Reservoir
  11. Bear Creek
  12. Black Butte
  13. Cone Butte
  14. Judith Mountains
  15. Armells, MT
  16. Armells Creek
  17. Hilger
  18. Warm Spring Creek
  19. Baxter
  20. West Lewistown
  21. Big Spring Creek
  22. Lewistown
  23. Cottonwood Creek
  24. Beaver Creek
  25. Little Rock Creek
  26. Big Rock Creek
  27. Trout Creek
  28. East Buffalo Creek
  29. Dry Creek
  30. Garneill, MT
  31. Judith Gap
  32. Little Belt Mountains
  33. Oka Creek
  34. Oka Stage Station
  35. Roberts Creek
  36. Mead Creek
  37. Antelope Creek
  38. Hopley Creek
  39. East Hopley Creek
  40. Hopley Hole
  41. West Fork Hopley Creek
  42. Big Coulee
  43. Haymaker Creek
  44. Willis Coulee
  45. Daisy Dean Creek
  46. Musselshell River
  47. Martinsdale Colony
  48. South Fork Musselshell River
  49. Martinsdale
  50. Groveland
  51. Cottonwood Creek
  52. Lennep
  53. Bozeman Fork
  54. Bruno
  55. Indian Creek
  56. Rimrock Divide
  57. The Rimrock
  58. Billy Creek
  59. Sixteen Mile Creek
  60. 3 Buttes
  61. Bear Mountain
  62. Scab Rock Mountain
  63. Goat Mountain
  64. Kavanaugh Creek
  65. Shields River
  66. Cole Creek
  67. Flathead Creek
  68. Wilsall, MT
  69. Antelope Creek
  70. Looking Glass Creek
  71. Brackett Creek
  72. Fox Creek
  73. Bracket Creek School
  74. Brackett, MT
  75. Noxon Creek
  76. Horse Creek
  77. Weasel Creek
  78. Middle Fork Brackett Creek
  79. Brackett Creek Campground
  80. South Fork
  81. Bracket Creek
  82. Bridger Creek
  83. Maynard Creek
  84. Bridger Bowl Ski Area
  85. Kelly Creek
  86. Kelly Canyon
  87. Gallatin River
  88. Fort Ellis (east of Bozeman, MT)

Map Information and References

Bonney and Bonny Map

EXPLORATION for WAGON ROAD from Fort Ellis, M.T. to mouth of Muscleshell River by Capt. Emery. W. Clift. 35th Infantry

Office of Engineers
Headquarters Department of Dakota
November 1869
Reduced from Field Notes by
George B. Foote, CE, 1869 Nov 9
by S. H. King
W. H. Wood, draughtsman

Referenced in
“Battle Drums & Geysers” O. H. and L. Bonney
Sage Books, Swallow Press, Chicago, 1970
F594.D627.B6

Yale Beinecke Library Map

Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Exploration for wagon road from Fort Ellis, M.T., to mouth of Muscleshell River / by Capt. E.W. Clift, 13th Infty. ; Office of Engineers, H’d. Q’rs., Dep’t of Dakota ; reduced from field notes of Geo. B. Foote, C.E., 1869 Nov 9
Call Number: WA MSS S-1964 C613 (Request the physical item to view in our reading room)
Creator: Clift, Emory W., d. 1886
Date: 1869
Subjects:
Roads–Montana
Montana.
Montana (Ter.)–Maps.
Fort Ellis (Mont.)
Musselshell River Valley (Mont.)–Maps
United States. Army. Dept. of Dakota
Genre: Maps
Abstract: Autograph manuscript map of central Montana Territory, showing topographical features, settlements, reservations, and roads. A route is indicated between Fort Ellis and Muscleshell Town, near the confluence of the Musselshell and Missouri Rivers.
Physical Description: 1 map

Notes

  • 1
    Report of Secretary of War to the Two Houses of Congress, 41st Congress, 2nd Session, Ex. Doc. 1, pt. 2.

Topics

Google Maps Lewis and Clark Trail Route Center Line Mullan Road Lolo Trail Trail Inventory Nee-Me-Poo National Historic Trail Oregon-California Trails Bird-Truax Trail Other Fur Trade Methodology Carroll Trail

Contributors

Steve F. Russell Kristopher K. Townsend US National Park Service (LCNHT) Robert H. Dunsmore Richard S. Buswell Martin Plamondon II James D. Harlan Ralph Saunders David and Sue Eakin Raymond Borchers