During its
heyday as a cattle town, Miles City called itself the “Cow Capital of the
World.” Later, after adjacent Fort Keogh was converted to an army remount
depot, Miles City proudly shared its identity: “This is Uncle Sam’s horse
ranch. The employees are all civilians, and the wranglers are cowpunchers and
expert riders.” Later still, a wild method of gathering and selling horses off
the range produced the most recognized nickname of all: “The World-Famous Miles
City Bucking Horse Sale.”
In 1884
the Montana Stockgrowers Association was organized in Miles City, which hosted
the event for thirty-four years. Stock thieves plagued open range ranchers, and
young Theodore Roosevelt impulsively called for “a war against rustlers.” But
pioneer Montana cattleman Granville Stuart already was quietly organizing
deadly retaliation, and soon his fourteen “Stuart’s Stranglers” killed nineteen
rustlers in the countryside.
Fort Keogh
at its height boasted a garrison and civilian employees totaling nearly 1,000
men. Every night the troopers caroused at the saloons and parlor houses of
Miles City. There were frequent brawls involving fists and boots, but deadly
encounters were rare. There was one fatal shooting, one throat-cutting, and one
lynching. Otherwise, troopers and civilians enjoyed hard-drinking fun. Fort
Keogh became known as a party post, complete with balls and parties for
officers and ladies - including a memorable evening with John Philip Sousa and
his US Marine Band. Meanwhile, Miles City became famous as a good time town,
with street dances and frequent parades.
