▁general ▁aff irm ation ▁of ▁their ▁purpose ▁and ▁contribution ▁to ▁law ▁and ▁order ▁in ▁a ▁growing ▁territory . ▁Mark ▁C . ▁D illon ' s ▁Mont ana ▁V ig il antes ▁ 1 8 6 3 – 1 8 7 0 ▁Gold , ▁G uns ▁and ▁Gall ows ▁( 2 0 1 3 ) ▁con cludes ▁that ▁given ▁the ▁law less ▁environment ▁and ▁criminal ▁activity ▁in ▁Ald er ▁Gul ch ▁and ▁Hel ena ▁at ▁the ▁time , ▁the ▁lack ▁of ▁any ▁function ing ▁justice ▁system ▁and ▁the ▁understanding ▁of ▁due ▁process ▁at ▁the ▁time , ▁the ▁vig il antes ▁acted ▁in ▁a ▁way ▁they ▁thought ▁was ▁best ▁for ▁their ▁communities . ▁He ▁cont ends ▁that ▁jud ging ▁the ▁vig il antes ▁by ▁today ' s ▁understanding ▁and ▁standards ▁of ▁due ▁process ▁is ▁problem atic . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁Frederick ▁Allen , ▁a ▁journalist ▁and ▁historian , ▁published ▁A ▁Dec ent ▁and ▁Order ly ▁Lyn ch ing : The ▁Mont ana ▁V ig il antes ▁review ed ▁as ▁an ▁up - to - day ▁bal anced ▁account ▁of ▁Mont ana ' s ▁vig il ante ▁history ▁( 1 8 6 4 – 1 8 7 0 ). ▁Allen ' s ▁book ▁rein for ces ▁the ▁motiv ations ▁and ▁methods ▁of ▁the ▁earliest ▁vig il antes ▁in ▁Ald er ▁Gul ch ▁while ▁comment ing ▁on ▁the ▁growing ▁dis d ain ▁for ▁vig il ant ism ▁in ▁the ▁late ▁ 1 8 6 0 s . ▁More ▁general ist ▁works ▁on