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Post by mdenney on Sept 2, 2007 13:47:11 GMT -5
speedily provided for I must fall back for lack of provisions. I would suggest that a quartermaster of your staff be at once dispatched to St. Peter with funds and with full power to use them in sending forward hard bread and other rations at once, in order to prevent such a retrograde movement. That can only be done by such prompt action as that for which you are distinguished. I think the best plan would be, after having taken measures for a few days supply to forward in stantly and at any cost, to make some arrangement with the stage company, wha have abundance of horses, to place them on the route from St. Peter to the scene of my operations in the field, and transport hard bread and other rations so rapidly and so regularly as to preclude all fear of failure for the future. We have no means of cooking flour. Send hard bread therefore instead. The command are in great need of blankets and warm clothing, except the Sixth Eegiment, which has just received its quota, and is therefore comparatively comfortable. The Seventh are without overcoats, with a few exceptions.
You need not be told, general, that to make soldiers efficient in the field, especially at this late season of the year, they must be well fed and clothed. "With 50,000 received at Fort Eidgley, after my departure to-day, I have about eighty rounds of cartridges per man, so that I have enough for the present; but more should be sent as soon as possible of caliber .58 Springfield musket size. The season for active operations in the prairie will soon be brought to a close for the lack of forage for the animals, as after the first heavy frost the grass affords little or no nutriment. Forage is not to be found at Fort Eidgley, and efforts should not be spared to have oats and hay received there in large quantities. I have barely teams enough to transport necessary current supplies, so that you can not depend on my being able to send back from the field any of them. Other means must be promptly provided, and also sufficient escort for the trains, for I cannot weaken my sufficiently small force by sending back detachments for that purpose.
236 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
I prefer to lay waste and destroy the Indian farms, with all the crops which I cannot make available for the use of my force. I am anxious for the safety of the many white women and children held captive by the Indians, but it is diffi cult to say how they can be secured. I shall do all I can for them. I will en deavor to save what I can of the government property at the Indian agency, but I know not how I can send any such to Fort Eidgley. I have given you suffi ciently in detail the situation of things here hastily and with little regard to forms. I hope you will act at once; indeed I feel assured you will do so.
Your plans, as presented in your dispatch, of sending a large force to strength- en me and to move upon the Indians from other points at the same time are admirable, and I only fear they will partially fail by reason of the lateness of the season and the difficulty of organizing expeditions on a large scale with new troops before the cold weather sets in to prevent military operations in a prairie country.
With the assurance that I will do all in my power to chastise the miserable savages who have devastated the frontier, and to bring the expedition to a suc cessful issue, I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 19, 1862. Major General POPE,
St. Paul, Minn.:
The War Department has replied to all applications that troops can be mus tered in only in conformity to law and regulations. In mustering in a regiment it is not necessary that all the companies should be together. Do not stop the Iowa infantry heretofore ordered to Missouri. It is not believed that you will re quire a very large infantry force against the Indians, as their numbers cannot be very great. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
Sept. 19, 1862. Major General POPE,
St. Paul,
DEAR SIR: I address you this note unofficially (as my dispatches of a public character are sent to the adjutant general of the state), to ask you to cast your -eye over my previous official communications to him, that you may be placed in possession of the causes which have led to the delay in the advance of my com mand, and at the same time use the information of a local nature therein contained to remedy the evils, perhaps unavoidable hitherto, but which should no longer be allowed to embarrass the command. I have no time to write more, as my com mand is to march immediately in search of Little Crow. As I have only 27 mounted men he can escape from us if he chooses to do so, but my information leads me to believe we shall find and fight him at or near Lac qui Parle, 70 miles above this.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 237
I am glad to learn that you have taken the direction of military affairs in the Northwest. This Indian war is a formidable one, and will tax the resources of the states within your military district if it is to be brought to a speedy close.
Our wants are now principally rations of hard bread and pork, forage and clothing, especially blankets. If I had 400 or 500 good mounted men I would feel more certainty in bringing this campaign to a speedy and successful issue. If the Indians decide to fight us as I hope they will we shall have a bloody and desperate battle, for it is a life-and-death struggle with them; but I have little doubt that we can whip them, although my troops are entirely undisciplined, excepting the few belonging to the Third Eegiment.
Very respectfully, yours,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
ST. PAUL, Sept. 20, 1862.
COLONEL: Your letter of the 15th inst. to Governor Eamsey has been handed to me. I shall immediately replace the thirty days 7 men at the points you indi cate by companies of a Wisconsin regiment which will reach here to-day. They, however, can remain until their term of service is out. The colonel in command of the regiment sent up for this purpose will be instructed to confer with you and relieve you from your present duties as I understand from Governor Eamsey to be your wish.
Will you please write me fully and freely everything from that region you consider it important for me to know, and also give me the benefit of any sug gestions you may think useful. I shall be indebted to you for both.
Yery respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. POPE,
Major General, Commanding. Col. C. E. FLANDRAU,
Comdg., etc., South Bend, Minn.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Sept. 22, 1862 1 p. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON:
Your dispatch of yesterday received. I am sure you know that what I under take I do with my whole heart. No considerations of any kind will affect my action in the discharge of duty. I am doing all I can, but have little to do it with. I am pushing a heavy force, such as it is, against the Sioux on the Upper Minnesota, and also expeditions from Iowa. I apprehend no further danger to the white settlements in Minnesota, but the Indians will be pursued, and, if pos sible, exterminated in Dakota and Nebraska. There is great alarm in the latter territory. There are neither troops nor arms, and the Governor calls on me for both. I must raise in Nebraska for immediate service a temporary mounted force, but in some way arms must be sent to them. Everyone is green and new.
238 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
and I have no one to command or to help me. Will you not appoint Capt. A. D. Kelson, Tenth U. S. Infantry, brigadier general, for service on the frontier; also Major Prince and Lieut. Col. T. C. H. Smith, the latter of the First Ohio Cavalry. "With these officers to command the expeditions I shall send out, I can soon end the business. Without them, or some others of same rank, little efficiency can be hoped. Will you please answer by telegraph 1 Captain Nel son is here, and his services are greatly needed to command on the frontier. With promptness and vigor this war can be soon ended; without, it will assume formidable proportions. Dr. McParlin and Colonel Beckwith, both of my staff in Virginia, are much needed here. I need not tell you that you can rely upon my entering with all my heart upon any duty assigned me.
JNO. POPE, Major General, Commanding.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 23, 1862. Major General POPE:
Your requisitions on the quartermaster s, commissary, and ordnance depart ments are beyond all our expectations, and involve an immense expenditure of money. Moreover, they cannot be filled without taking supplies from other troops now in the field. The organization of a large force for an Indian campaign is not approved by the War Department, because it is not deemed necessary. Telegraph immediately how many troops you expect to organize and where you propose to send them. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
ST. PAUL, MINN., Sept. 23, 1862. Major General HALLECK,
Washington, D. C.:
Your dispatch of this date just received. You do not seem to be aware of the extent of the Indian outbreaks. The Sioux, 2,600 warriors, are assembled at the Upper Sioux Agency, ready to give battle to Colonel Sibley, who is advancing against them with 1, 600 men and five pieces of artillery. Further west they have murdered the settlers along the frontier of Dakota and nearly depopulated that territory. In Nebraska the same.
All the frontiers of Minnesota to within a short distance of the Mississippi have been depopulated, large -towns and villages abandoned, and the property and crops of more than 50,000 people totally abandoned. Unless vigorous and powerful measures are at once taken to put a stop to these troubles and restore confidence the whole of Minnesota west of the Mississippi and the territories of Dakota and Nebraska will be entirely depopulated. The Chippewas and Winne- bagoes are on the verge of outbreak and the whole of the Indian tribes as far as the mountains are in motion.
I have in Minnesota, including one Wisconsin regiment, about 4,000 men. There are at Fort Snelling about 1,200 Minnesota troops, unarmed. All the Iowa
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 239
troops that were armed have been sent by your orders to St. Louis. I am using the Wisconsin regiment and some companies of the Minnesota regiments to estab lish temporarily a line of posts from north to south along the frontier in rear of Sibley to prevent the Indians from getting in his rear and running back upon the settlements.
You have no idea of the wide, universal, and uncontrollable panic everywhere in this country. Over 500 people have been murdered in Minnesota alone and 300 women and children now in captivity. The most horrible massacres have been committed; children nailed alive to trees and houses, women violated and then disemboweled everything that horrible ingenuity could devise. It will require a large force and much time to prevent everybody leaving the coun try, such is the condition of things. I am acting as vigorously as I can, but with out means. There is positively nothing here. It has been assumed that of course there would be no trouble, and everything has been taken away. There is not a wagon, mule, or horse belonging to the United States in this department.
I have further to inform you that the Secretary of War instructs me that he is sending me 10,000 paroled prisoners and desires me to organize a considerable force here. Under these circumstances my requisitions will appear large. If not furnished soon I shall not be able to keep out one expedition or one post. Can not the paroled men and officers of the Bine Eegiment (Third Dragoons), now in Michigan at Fort Wayne, be sent me? The troops here are perfectly raw and without discipline.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
HEADQUARTERS, HUTCHINSON, Sept. 23, 1862. Governor EAMSEY,
MY DEAR SIR: This community is now in a trying condition. They have great confidence that our legislature, our good Governor and those who may be appointed to relieve them will be liberal and prompt. I must confess that only the full realization of their hopes can save them from great suffering.
For the past two weeks between 200 and 300 citizens have been held, most of the time within our fortifications, to prevent their destruction by the Indians. Many of them have but one suit of clothes and no provisions. They have good farms, but what are farms or food in the midst of perils such as these our citizens have been exposed to ?
We had hoped that our severest hours were passed and that we could save some, perhaps sufficient, of that bountiful crop raised here to support the com munity, but to-day we have been sadly stayed in our hopefulness. We had been doing all that we could to take care of the stock and wheat and putting up hay, at the same time guarding our men with scouts and scouring the country around us, believing as we did that the Indians were in our midst. Until to day, how ever, we had no certain knowledge that they were in very large bodies.
At 3 o clock to-day Lieutenant Weinman, of Glencoe, sent me a messenger, who informed me of the massacre of Samuel White and family at Addie, twelve miles south of this place. To-night, at 11 o clock, our scouts came in from Cedar
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Post by mdenney on Sept 2, 2007 13:48:34 GMT -5
240 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
with the news of the attack at Greenleaf, in which Mr. Cross, of Captain Har rington s company, was shot, and left supposed to be dead; also, that they shot and killed one Indian, and that they saw from 12 to 20, or more than that number, of Indians. Other scouts that have been out to-day have seen quite a number of Indians in different places. They have gone into the woods, and I fear that they are too numerous among us to admit of our securing the crops and hay that will be necessary for a community, or even a military force here, and perhaps sufficiently so to overcome our present force.
Can I hope for more military force in this most needy time? It will be nec essary for this community to take refuge with their friends unless they can be protected where they now are. I have complicated myself as a man if we fail to win. Your most obedient servant,
EICHARD STROUT, Captain Company jB, Ninth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers.
p. g. "Will the Governor please place this report before General Pope, and excuse my exceeding haste?
BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE. Sept. 23, 1862,
Report of Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley, Commanding Expedition.
WOOD LAKE, NEAR YELLOW MEDICINE, MINN.,
Sept. 23, 1862.
SIR: I left the camp at Fort Eidgley on the 19th instant with my command and reached this point early in the afternoon of the 22d instant. There have been small parties of Indians each day in plain sight, evidently acting as scouts for the main body. This morning I had determined to cross the Yellow Medicine river, about three miles distant, and there await the arrival of Captain Eogers 7 company of the Seventh Eegiment, which was ordered by me from New Ulna to join me by a forced march, the presence of the company there being necessary by the arrival of another company a few days previously. About 7 o clock this morning the camp was attacked by about 300 Indians, who suddenly made their appearance and dashed down toward us whooping and yelling in their usual style and firing with great rapidity. The Eenville Guards, under Lieutenant Gorman, was sent by me to check them, and Major Welch, of the Third Eegiment, was instantly in line with his command, his skirmishers in the advance, by whom the savages were gallantly met and, after a conflict of a serious nature, repulsed. Meantime another portion of the Indian force passed down a ravine, with a view to outflank the Third Eegiment, and I ordered Lieutenant Colonel Marshall, with five companies of the Seventh Eegiment, who was ably seconded by Major Brad ley, to advance to its support with one 6-pounder, under the command of Captain Hendricks, and I also ordered two companies of the Sixth Eegiment to re-enforce him. Lieutenant Colonel Marshall advanced at a double-quick amid a shower of
BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE. 241
balls from the enemy, which fortunately did little damage to his command, and after a few volleys he led his men to a charge and cleared the ravine of the savages. Major McLaren, with Captain Wilson s company, took position on the extreme left of the camp, where he kept at bay a party of the enemy who were endeavoring to gain the rear of the camp and finally drove them back. The battle raged for about two hours, the 6-pounder and the mountain howitzer being used with great effect, when the Indians, repulsed at all points with great loss, retired with precipitation.
I regret to state that many casualties occurred on our side. The gallant Major Welch was badly wounded in the leg, and Captain Wilson, of the Sixth, was severely bruised by a nearly spent ball in the shoulder. Four of our men were killed, and between 35 and 40 were wounded, most of them, I rejoice to hear, not seriously. The loss of the enemy, according to the statement of a half-breed named Joseph Campbell, who visited the camp under a flag of truce, was 30 killed and a large number wounded. We found and buried 14 of the bodies, and, as the habit of the Indians is to carry off the bodies of their slain, it is not probable that the sum total as given by Campbell was exaggerated.
The severe chastisement inflicted upon them has so far subdued "their ardor that they sent a flag of truce into my camp to express the sentiments of the Wah- petons, a part of the attacking force, and to state that they were not strong enough to fight us; that they desired peace, with the permission to take away their dead and wounded. To this I replied that when the prisoners held by them were delivered up there would be time enough to talk of peace, and that I would not give them permission either to take their dead or wounded. I am assured by Campbell that there is serious dissension in the Indian camp, many having been opposed to the war, but driven into the field by the more violent. He further states that 800 men were assembled at the Yellow Medicine, within 2 miles of my camp, but that the greater part took no share in the fight. The intention of Little Crow was to attack us last night, but he was overruled by others, who told him if he was a brave man he ought to fight the white men by daylight. I am fully prepared against a night attack should it be attempted, although I think the lesson received by them to-day will make them very cautious in the future.
I have already adverted to the courage and skill of Lieutenant Colonel Mar shall and Majors Welch and Bradley, to which I beg leave to add those of the officers and men of their respective commands. Lieutenant Colonel Averill and Major McLaren were equally prompt in their movements in preparing the Sixth Eegiment for action, and were both under fire for some time. Captains Grant and Bromley shared the dangers of the field with Lieutenant Colonel Marshall s command, while Captain Wilson, with his company, rendered essential service. The other companies of the Sixth Eegiment were not engaged, having been held in position to defend the rear of the camp, but it was difficult to restrain their ardor, so anxious were officers and men to share with their comrades the perils of the field. To Lieutenant Colonel Fowler, I disagreeistant adjutant general, I have been greatly indebted for aid in all my movements, his military knowledge and ability being invaluable to me, and his assistance in to-day s affair particu larly so. To Major Forbes, Messrs. Patch, Greig, and McLeod of my staff, who carried my orders, I must also acknowledge myself under obligations for their activity and zeal; while to Major Brown, also of my staff, although suffering from
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242 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
illness, it would be injustice not to state that he aided nie materially. The medi cal staff of the several regiments were cool and expert in rendering their profes sional aid to the wounded. Assistant Surgeon Seigneuret, attached to my staff, is to be commended for his skill and diligence.
I am very much in want of bread rations, 6-pounder ammunition, and shells for the howitzer; and unless soon supplied I shall be obliged to fall back, which under present circumstances would be a calamity, as it would afford time for the escape of the Indians with their captives. I hope a large body of cavalry is be fore this on their way to join me. If I had been provided with 500 of this description of force to-day I venture the assertion that I could have killed the greater portion of the Indians and brought the campaign to a successful close.
Eev. Mr. Eiggs, chaplain of the expedition, so well known for his knowledge of the character and language of the Indians, has been of the greatest service to me since he joined my command.
I inclose the official report of Lieutenant Colonel Marshall. I omitted to mention Lieutenant Gorman and his corps of Eenville Eangers. They have been extremely useful to me by their courage and skill as skirmishers. Captain Hen- dricks and his artillerists won deserved praise to-day, and Captain Sterrett, with his small but gallant cavalry, only 27 in number, did good service also. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding. His Excellency, ALEXANDER EAMSEY,
St. Paul, Minn.,
[Explanatorj Note.]
ST. PAUL, MINN., Nov. 18, 1865.
The foregoing dispatch was addressed to the Governor of Minnesota, under whose authority I was acting as colonel commanding the expeditionary forces against the hostile Sioux Indians. Major General Pope had been assigned to the general command in the Department of the Northwest prior to the battle of Wood Lake, but I had not yet received the order requiring me to report to him which reached me subsequently. H. H. SIBLEY,
Brigadier General U. S. Volunteers.
Report of Lieut. Col. William J?. Marshall, Seventh Minnesota Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH EEGIMENT MINNESOTA VOLUNTEERS, CAMP AT WOOD LAKE, MINN., Sept. 23, 1862.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the Seventh Regiment ( five companies ) in the engagement with the Indians this morning. Immediately after the first alarm was given the men were formed on company grounds to await orders. These soon came, and the battalion marched to the support of the gun (6-pounder) served by Captain Hendricks on the right, on north side of camp. Captain Gilfillan, with Company H, of the Seventh, was on
BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE. 243
guard. He was ordered to place half his men in the rifle-pits ( dug for the pro tection of camp), and to advance the others as skirmishers on the extreme right. I lengthened my line to the right of the gun, and somewhat in advance, facing the ravine occupied by the Indians. Gradually advancing the line, the men keeping close to the ground and firing as they crawled forward, I gained a good position from which to charge the Indians. Here we were joined by Cap tain Grant s company, of the Sixth Regiment, and charged, successfully dislodg ing the Indians. Leaving two companies Avith the gun I pursued with the rest beyond the ravine until recalled by your order.
The following are the casualties in my command:
Private Charles Frink, Company A, killed; Sergt. C. C. Chapman, Company I>, wounded by gunshot in the wrist; Private Charles Billings, Company B, wounded by gunshot in the thigh; Private John Ober, Company G, bruised in foot by a spent ball.
Shortly after our return to camp we were ordered out to prevent the Indians recovering the bodies of their dead in the ravine. "With Captain Hendricks gun again advanced to the edge of the ravine, we gathered up 6 bodies, which, with 1 brought in before, made 7 of the enemy s dead brought in by my command. All, both officers and men, behaved admirably; commands were promptly obeyed; not a man flinched under fire. Captain Hendricks and men under my immediate notice, if not strictly under my command, behaved handsomely. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. E. MARSHALL,
Lieutenant Colonel, Comdg. Seventh Eegt. Minn. Vols. Col. H. H. SIBLEY,
Commanding Indian Expedition.
NOTE. There was in this action Companies A, B, F, G, and H, all of the regiment that was in this expedition.
Report of Assistant Surgeon Moses _R. Greeley, Third Minnesota Infantry, of Casu alties in the Battle of Wood Lake.
WOOD LAKE, MINN., Sept. 23, 1862.
I have the honor to report the following casualties of the Third Eegiment Minnesota Volunteers (270 strong), viz. :
FIELD AND STAFF Wounded : Major A. E. Welch, fracture of leg.
COMPANY A Killed : Private A. C. Collins.
Wounded: Private Edwin E. Ross, severely [died of wounds].
COMPANY B Wounded: Sergt. Ephraim Pierce, flesh wound in thigh; Corp. Joseph Eigle, in hand ; private John Oger, slightly, in leg.
COMPANY C Wounded: Private Sanford Satterlee, slightly, in thigh.
COMPANY D Privates Frederick Miller, in arm; Peter Nelson, severely, in hand; Nicholas Nelson, severely, in thigh; John P. Shellander, slightly, in arm.
COMPANY E Wounded: Privates Benjamin Densmore, slightly, in head; Alvin M. Reed, slightly, in shoulder; James Schweiger in left forearm; Stephen J. Smith, slightly, in back.
COMPANY F Wounded: Corp. Heman D. Pettibone, slightly, in head; Privates Adoni- ram Eastman, in leg; Howard Griffin, in thigh.
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Post by mdenney on Sept 2, 2007 13:49:52 GMT -5
244 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
COMPANY G Wounded: Sergt. Richard C. Custard, slightly, in thigh; Corporal James A. Canfield, in thigh, breast and left forearm; Privates Degrove Kimball, fracture of thigh [died of wounds] ; Isaac Knox, in thigh.
COMPANY H Wounded: Corporals William McLeod, slightly, in left arm; Charles Stokes, slightly, in hip; Private Felix A. Myrick, slightly, in leg.
COMPANY I Killed : Private Richard H. McElroy (of Company I, Second Minnesota). Wounded : First Sergt. William F. Morse, flesh wound, in thigh; First Corp. Joseph P. Kirby, slight wound; Privates James Buchanan, slightly, in arm; James C. Cantwell, slightly, in hand; Matthew Cantwell [died of wounds], James E. Masterson.
Eespectfully submitted,
M. E. GREELEY, Assistant Surgeon, Third Regiment Minnesota Volunteers.
To Col. H. H. SIBLEY,
Commanding Expedition.
Eeport of Surgeon Alfred Wharton, Sixth Minnesota Infantry, of Casualties in the
Battle of Wood Lake.
CAMP WOOD LAKE, Sept. 23, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report the following killed and wounded in the Battle of Wood Lake on the morning of the 23d instant:
SIXTH REGIMENT MINNESOTA VOLUNTEEES, COMPANY F Wounded : Capt. H. B. Wilson, contused wound of shoulder.
COMPANY C Wounded: Private Seymour Camen, wound of chest, serious. [This name not found in roster. Error may have occurred copying. Original report not found.]
COMPANY G Wounded: Corp. James F. Lowe, contused wound of leg.
IN RENVILLE RANGERS, LIEUTENANT GOEMAN COMMANDING Killed: Ernest Paul.
Wounded : Alexis Roach, in groin.
A. WHARTON,
Surgeon, Sixth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers. Col. H. H. SIBLEY,
Commanding Expedition.
Recollections of the Battle of Wood Lake and the part taken in*it by the Third Regi ment Minnesota Volunteer Infantry. By Brevet Capt. Ezra T. Champlm, Third Minnesota Infantry, ivho took part in said battle as a non-commissioned officer; being a paper read by him at a meeting of the survivors of said regiment at the State Agri cultural Fair Grounds, St. Paul, Sept. 2, 1886.
Sept. 23, 1862, the expedition against the Sioux Indians, under the command of General Sibley, was encamped at Wood Lake, in what is now Yellow Medicine county. The command consisted of about 2,000 men, including some 275 Third Minnesota Infantry, paroled prisoners just returned from the South. At this time nearly all the commissioned officers were held prisoners of war in the South, there being but one commissioned officer of the regiment, Lieut. B. C. Olin, accompanying us. Before starting on the expedition and w^hile at Fort Snelling, Maj. Abraham E. Welch, formerly of the First Minnesota Infantry, was placed in command of the detachment of the Third. Our camp on the eastern shore of
BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE. 245
the little lake was upon high ground overlooking the surrounding prairie. East ward a short distance was the Minnesota river, and to the north of the camp about a quarter of a mile ran the outlet of the lake, a small stream that a man could leap. Occupying a position in camp nearest this stream was our detach ment.
It was a fine morning, when about 7 or 8 o clock several company wagons of the Third, each containing a few men, left camp for the purpose of foraging, and made their way toward the government agency at Yellow Medicine, the ruins of which were some three miles distant.
I may as well state here that the Third, galled by a humiliating surrender at Murfreesborough, Tenn. , by a recreant and cowardly commander, had lost in a great measure their former high discipline and were quite unruly, anxious only to redeem in the field their wounded honor, and this foraging move was, I think, wholly unauthorized.
Company G wagon leading, they crossed the outlet of the lake and had reached the high land beyond, about one-half mile from camp, when a party of 25 war riors sprang up from the grass where they lay concealed and fired a volley into the leading wagon, which was some twenty rods in advance, mortally wounding Degrove Kimball and wounding several others. Wm. McGee immediately sprang from the wagon and returned the fire, the men in the rear wagons joined in the fray, and the battle of Wood Lake had commenced.
The attack was made in full view of the camp, and as soon as the firing was heard, our young and resolute commander, not waiting for orders from General Sibley, shouted, "All who want to fight, fall in. 7 A general rush was made for our guns, and in a minute or two about 200 of us were on the double-quick for the scene of action. Deploying one-half the little command as skirmishers, with the remainder following in reserve, we moved swiftly forward on the now rapidly increasing forces of Little Crow.
Passing to the right of where the first attack was made and toward the main body of the Indians in sight, we were joined by the foraging party, and pushing forward were soon engaged by the whole savage force, which to the number of 800 attacked us in front and on both sides.
Our thorough drill in the South showed here to good advantage; our skirmish line moved steadily forward, firing rapidly, forcing them back toward the bluffs of the Minnesota river. The scene from the reserve at this point remains vivid in my mind. The savages formed a semicircle in our front, and to right and left, moving about with great activity, howling like demons, firing and retreating, their quick movements seeming to multiply their numbers. We were whipping them in fine shape, driving them back over the undulating prairie. A retrospect brings to mind Tennyson s charge of the Light Brigade, with Indians to right of us, Indians to left of us, Indians in front of us, whooping and yelling, when sud denly an officer from General Sibley came charging in upon us hastily calling for Major Welch; approaching that officer he spoke a few words to him, then wheel ing his horse he shouted, "Get back to camp the best way you can," and sped away as though he had just escaped "out from the mouth of hell."
The command given by the horseman with a mistake in the bugle call created much confusion. The reserve about-faced, the skirmishers on the right came running in on the reserve. Sergeants McDonald and Bowler on the left kept the
246 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
line of skirmishers steady, fighting their way back to the reserve. The battle from this point, about one mile from the canip, back over the line we had just moved over, was disordered and independent, each man doing his best to keep the overwhelming savages from closing in upon us. A continuous fusilade was poured into their converging ranks. Little Crow, seizing the advantage that our retreat gave him, endeavored to cut us off from support, but our fire was too hot for them; our line of retreat lay down a descent to the creek we had crossed, with rolling hills on either side, and here was pandemonium itself; with Indians to- right of us, Indians to left of us, Indians behind us, charging and yelling. Cross ing the stream a stand was made on the plateau between it and camp, and here, joined by the company of Eenville Eangers, the fight was kept up for an hour longer, the Indians taking advantage of the low hills that bordered the narrow intervals along the creek. The Third and Eangers, covered by the tall grass and intervening knolls, with grass bound on their hats, fought them Indian fashion; their fire kept little knots of them constantly bearing away their killed and wounded beyond our reach. An attempt was made to attack our camp by pass ing around the lake, but a detachment of the Sixth Eegiment met and quickly dispersed them.
At this time, Lieutenant Olin, of the Third, with about 50 men, made a wild charge into the midst of the savages, completely routing them in our front. This charge was so sudden and unexpected by them that we came nearly to a hand-to- hand encounter; 14 or 15 were here killed and fell into our hands, they having no time to carry them away.
At this point, and simultaneous with the charge of the Third, a part of the Seventh Infantry, under Colonel Marshall, and some companies of the Sixth, un der Major McLaren, moved out to our right, and gallantly charging the savages, swept the bottom below, driving them from the tall grass and over the adjoin ing hill in great confusion. Little Crow gave up the contest and withdrew to his camp, a few miles up the Minnesota river, which, two days later, fell into our hands, together with a large number of warriors and their families.
During our retreat every man seemed possessed with the idea that he was a commander. Brave Major Welch did all that a man could do at such a time to hold the men in line. Above the din of musketry and the war-whoops of the In dians, I remember the hoarse voice of Sergt. J. M. Bowler, roaring like a mad man, l i Eemember Murfreesborough, fight, boys, remember Murfreesborough ! 7
As we crossed the stream and gained the higher land, a ball struck our gal lant commander, breaking his leg. He called out, "I m shot; take me in." I was near him at the time and springing to his side I caught him as he fell, and, with the help of a comrade, bore him into camp, a distance of about one-quarter mile. On our way two or three men ran past us; the brave officer saw them, and with his broken limb swinging from our arms, he ordered them back. I remem ber his words: "Go back and fight, you white-livered cowards; go back and fight or I ll shoot you. 77 On reaching camp I said to him, "We 7 11 leave you here behind these wagons; they afford some protection. 7 "No, 77 said he, point ing to a little eminence, "take me up on the hill where I can see the fight. 77 So we left him on the hill with his face to the foe.
Eeturning to the field I remember the appearance of one of our comrades, H. D. Pettibone, with his face covered with blood from a gunshot wound in the head. He was still fighting like a hero.
BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE. 247
This brief narrative of my recollections of this memorable engagement will not admit of a record of individual heroism,- suffice to say that it was individual bravery that brought us out of what at one time seemed annihilation.
Wood Lake must always be considered the great battle of the Sioux war; while not so severe in casualties as Birch Coolie or so terrible in its character, in results its importance must be conceded. It was the Waterloo for that bold and wily chieftain, Little Ci ow, and the closing scene in that most terrible of Indian wars; 120 white captives were released, women and children who had been sub jected to the most inhuman barbarities by their merciless captors. More than 400 warriors were made prisoners, including the 38 executed at Mankato, besides some 1,500 women and children with 150 tepees. The History of the Minnesota Yalley gives the number of warriors under Little Crow at Wood Lake at 300. This I think a great error, as the number of warriors captured then and soon after would indicate. Little Crow brought all his force to bear, as it was a vital point, his main camp being but a few miles beyond; 800 was the estimate made at the time and it is probably not far from right.
The battle was fought almost wholly by the Third Eegiment, joined by the Eenville Eangers, a fact that the hitherto published accounts have failed to reveal, and one that the casualties in killed and wounded 40 in number clearly show, and certainly one which every member of the old organization should take pains to establish beyond a doubt, that history may do justice to us and our brave com rades who have taken their last furlough.
It is but fair to suppose that Major Welch, impulsive as he was, could not re strain himself in camp while the savages were shooting down his men in plain sight, and his rash act in leading his small force into the midst of Little Crow s warriors was impelled by his bold and intrepid spirit.
In writing the above I have endeavored to state as clearly and fairly as I could what came under my personal observation, and I hope that it will meet with the approval, in the main, of my comrades of the Third and also of the commanding general.
In conclusion, I will say that much dissatisfaction existed in our detachment at the course pursued by the general commanding against the Sioux. But after twenty-four years have cooled the ardor of my youth, I, for one, am satisfied that it was well for the Third that a cooler head and a steadier hand was over and con trolling us than that of our impetuous, brave and gallant commander, Major Welch.
E. T. CHAMPLIN, Late Company G, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD MINNESOTA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS,
OAK EIDGE, NEAR BLACK EIVER, Miss., July 20, 1863. Gen. L. THOMAS,
Adjutant General, U. S. A., Washington, D. (7.,
GENERAL: I have the honor to report the names of men of my regiment, whose gallantry in battle with the Sioux Indians at Wood Lake, Minnesota, Sep tember 23d, 1862, appears to me to have been conspicuous, and who I hope may be deemed worthy to receive medals of honor:
248 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
Private Benjamin Densmore, Company E (since promoted to be quarter master sergeant ), was struck down by a bullet which passed round through the back of his neck. While being carried from the field by his comrades he recov ered consciousness anci requested them to leave him and return and fight. After a short time, although weak from loss of blood, he procured a gun, returned to the line of battle and fought until the field was won. Notwithstanding his severe wound, he continued to perform duty during the campaign.
Heman D. Pettibone, corporal Company F ( since promoted to be sergeant), was in the field from the first, and while bringing off a wounded man was him self severely wounded on the temple. After having his wound dressed he re turned a quarter of a mile to the battle-field, and continued to fight until the victory over the enemy was complete.
John Miller, private in Company D, was wounded in the right arm near the elbow, but he continued fifteen minutes to load and fire, using his left arm, till he was nearly exhausted from loss of blood. He still does service, though suffer ing occasionally from his wound. These men are in all respects exemplary soldiers.
The loss in the detachment of 250 of the regiment in that battle was 40 killed and wounded. Two of the killed were scalped. The fact that prisoners were put to torture by the Indians and the dead treated with barbarity, seems to dis tinguish the valor of the wounded who returned to the field or remained fighting.
I am not able to report anything special in relation to the gallantry of the dead and do not suppose it would be pertinent to the object of this application.
In the battle of Wood Lake the men fought comparatively alone, only one commissioned officer being present, the most of them being confined in Georgia as prisoners of war.
In the affair of Murfreesborough, July 13, 1862, the small party of our regi ment who were left in camp and the only ones who really had a chance to fight, certainly displayed very exemplary bravery. Corp. C. H. Green of Company I was in command of the camp guard and convalescents, consisting in all of about 26 men. These having deployed as skirmishers repulsed two charges of the enemy made by about 200 cavalry under General Forrest. Corporal Green, hav ing taken a captain of the enemy prisoner, continued in the fight and refused to yield as a prisoner. He continued to load and fire with coolness and effect till conspicuous to the enemy for his obstinate daring, and already severely wounded, some 20 closed around him. The officer whom he had captured rescued him from instant death. He received two shot wounds, of which one was mortal, and a saber wound of a severe nature on his head. There were a number of bullet holes in his blouse. He lived only two hours.
During that brief fight against so large numbers, Peter La Claire, private of Company B, captured one of the enemy and brought him with his horse and arms to our regiment, then in line of battle half a mile from the camp.
James Buchanan, private of Company I, of the same party, captured one of the enemy with his arms.
David F. Hooper, private of Company I, one of the convalescent sick, con tinued to load and fire till closely surrounded by the enemy, refused to yield a prisoner to him and fixed his bayonet and held his ground till he was rendered incapable of resistance by a wound in his arm.
BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE. 249
The regiment, composed of intelligent and gallant men, were deprived of a golden opportunity of whipping the enemy at Murfreesborough on the 13th of July, by reason of the criminal surrender recommended by a majority of the officers, for which they have been dismissed. No official report has ever done the men justice for their gallant conduct, either at Murfreesborough or at Wood Lake. The victory at Wood Lake was a decisive one, and was fought and won mainly by them, the battle lasting two hours and a half. Yet a late article in a popular magazine (Harper s), elaborately illustrating scenes in the campaign, barely mentions that this regiment was present.
I have embraced the first opportunity after taking command of the regiment to report on this matter.
]STo enlisted man in the regiment has ever yet been noticed for good conduct in battle in army order or official report.
I apply for medals of honor for such of these men as may be deemed to have been conspicuous for gallantry, or as having most distinguished themselves.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. C. ANDREWS, I/teutenant Colonel Third Minnesota) Commanding.
WOOD LAKE, Sept. 23, 1862.
When you bring up the prisoners and deliver them to me under the flag of truce I will be ready to talk of peace. The bodies of the Indians that have been killed will be buried like white people and the wounded will be attended to as our own; but none will be given until the prisoners are brought in. I will wait here a reasonable time for the delivery of the prisoners; if you send me word they will be given up.
A flag of truce in the daytime will always be protected in and out of my camp if one or two come with it. H. H. SIBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding.
[Sent to camp of hostile Indians.]
HEADQUARTERS WOOD LAKE CAMP, Sept. 24, 1862.
MA-ZA-KA-TAME, TOOPEE, AND WA-KE-NAN-NAN-TE,
At Red Iron s Village,
MY FRIENDS: I call you so, because I have reason to believe that you have had nothing to do with the cruel murders and massacres that have been committed upon the poor white people who had placed confidence in the friendship of the Sioux Indians. I repeat what I have already stated to you, that I have not come to make war upon those who are innocent, but upon the guilty. I have waited here one day, and intended to wait still another day to hear from the friendly half-breeds and Indians, because I feared that if I advanced my troops before you could make your arrangements the war party would murder the prisoners.
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Post by mdenney on Sept 2, 2007 13:50:48 GMT -5
250 OFFICIAL EEPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
Now that I learn from Joseph Campbell that most of the captives are in safety in your camp I shall move on to-morrow, so that you may expect to see me very soon. Have a white flag displayed so that my men may not fire upon you. Your friend, H. H. SIBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS WOOD LAKE, Sept. 24, 1862. TA-TANKA-NAZIN,
Chief of the Sisseton-wans and Tali-ton Jca-na-ken-yan,
soldiers of Wa-na-tams Band, Red Iron s Village:
If you are the friends of your Great American Father you are my friends also. I have not come up to make war upon any bands who have not been con cerned in the horrible murders upon the white people, who depended upon the good faith of the Indians. You would do well, therefore, to advise your bands not to mix yourselves together with the bands that have been guilty of these outrages, for I do not wish to injure any innocent person; but I intend to pursue the wicked murderers with fire and sword until I overtake them. Another large body of troops will meet these bad men if they attempt to escape either to the Bed river or to the Missouri. Such of the Indians as have not had anything to do with the murders of the whites will not be injured by my troops; but, on the contrary, they will be protected by me when I arrive, which will be very soon. Those who are our friends must raise a white flag when they see me approaching, that I may be able to know my friends from my enemies. Take these words to your bands, that they may know that they are in safety as long as they remain friends of your Great Father. Your friend, H. H. SIBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding Military Expedition.
HUTCHINSON, Sept. 24, 1862. Hon. ALEX. EAMSEY,
Governor of Minnesota,
DEAR, SIR: No one but yourself can so well appreciate what I shall attempt to write respecting my own condition in this community from a military point of view.
In the first place, I have urged these citizens to remain here. I have, in some of the more exciting times of danger, prevented them from leaving our fortifica tion, many of whom were burned out, leaving but the suits they had on their backs, others having had their crops burned. These facts made it necessary that I should furnish them food and some clothing.
I have also procured (not bought) a threshing machine, some scythes and forks, and have had my soldiers detailed to help the citizens take care of their grain and make hay for their stock, and have also put up for government about twenty tons of hay at this place. Have sent scythes to Forest City and Glencoe, with orders to cut hay for government.
Now, dear Governor, if I am sent away from this command, as in the notice for distributing the forces, there will be a general derangement in all the matters
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 251
pertaining to relief which I have aimed to afford these citizens, whereas, if I could have two more weeks in which to operate, I could make a good report. If this protection and assistance is not afforded these citizens they will soon leave here.
There are, in the immediate vicinity of this place, between 300 and 400 citi zens, more than there are at Forest City and Glencoe and all other places between and outside thereof. They have desired to remain here and hold their homes against the savages, and have made great sacrifices, in the hope of being pro tected and assisted. Can they be justly favored, or is it too late?
And last, may I ask your influence in this, viz. : that my company be allowed to remain at this place. These are my reasons:
We have suffered savage violence; 20 of our men are wounded, a part of them unable to leave the hospital at this place; we have no outfit for cooking or eating; we are only partly clothed, but with the utensils we can borrow here we get along far better than we could outside of the settlement. Are not our men deserving of the privilege of remaining with their wounded brothers ? Is it not just that after we have suffered and forgiven so much, we be allowed this?
Very truly, your obedient servant,
BICHARD STROUT,
Captain, etc.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Sept. 25, 1862 11:20 a. m. Hon. E. M. STANTON
Secretary of War
When will the paroled troops begin to arrive? How many are coming? Prep arations for them must be commenced at once certainly. I will send all troops here not absolutely needed. I shall have to draw one more regiment from Wis consin, making two in all, until the paroled troops arrive to replace them. I am anxious to send all the troops here to the South, as I fear the Sioux, being all mounted, have got into the rear of the expedition and are attacking the towns and settlements both north and south of the Minnesota river. I have ordered all the troops in Iowa to proceed, as hitherto ordered from Washington. The money and supplies required ought to be sent at once or we must abandon our advanced positions.
The mass of the settlers west of the Missouri are abandoning everything and precipitating themselves on the river towns. Universal panic prevails along the whole frontier. Please send me a quartermaster and commissaries. Very large and unnecessary expenses are being incurred in Wisconsin and Iowa for subsist ence, etc. , for new regiments for want of these officers.
Will Lieut. Col. T. C. H. Smith and Major Prince be appointed brigadiers? I cannot get along without such officers. Everybody is green here. The service is inefficient, and the expenses will be enormous in consequence. Have you authorized a regiment to be raised in Milwaukee for Sigel with pledge to that effect? I am so informed by Governor of Wisconsin. The regiment is ready, but claims as above. The season for navigation is drawing to a close. Nothing can be got here in the winter. You will therefore see that my inquiries and appli cations should, if possible, be immediately attended to.
JNO. POPE, Major General.
252 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 25, 1862. Major General POPE,
St. Paul, Minn.:
Yours of the 23d is received. I am informed that it will be impossible to give you all the supplies you ask for, but all that is possible will be done. Move very light and keep down the transportation. Use mountain howitzers instead of heavier field-pieces. A part of your provisions and supplies can probably be transported by contract, using the wagons and teams of the settlers who have been driven from their homes. It is hoped that the campaign will be a short one, and that temporary expedients will be resorted to for moving your supplies in stead of making large purchases of wagons and animals. The most rigid economy must be enforced in all the departments of your command. It is believed that the troops at Fort "Wayne have been exchanged. I shall know as soon as the
lists are received from Fort Monroe.
H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief.
CAMP WATONWAN, NEAR GARDEN CITY,
Sept. 25, 1862. Governor BAMSEY,
St. Paul, Minn.:
SIR: Since I last wrote you we have had stirring times among us. Captain Post has had a squad of men stationed at Madelia for some days past, and on Monday morning a messenger came in from that post, stating that the Indians were murdering and plundering in that neighborhood. Captain Post started 20 men immediately for the scene of depredations. They found 4 dead bodies, 3 wounded and report 9 of the settlers missing. On Tuesday morning a messenger .arrived stating that the Indians were prowling about on the south branch of the Watonwan, nine miles southwest from our camp. Captain Post immediately started with all his available force for this point; they found no Indians, but the settlers all leaving for places of safety. One Wells had his horses stolen by Indians; he saw them take them off. From the best information I can get, the In dians in the last three days have taken off about 30 head of stock, 1 or 2 wagons, and 8 or 10 women and children, among whom are 2 Norwegian girls named Peterson. This all occurred within from seven to fifteen miles of this post. This town is full of people, and many, if not all, are on the point of leaving, knowing as they do, that Captain Post s men are enlisted only to October 1st. I am assur ing them that new troops will be sent forward in season, and that they will be protected, but it is very hard to quiet their alarm. An adequate force must be speedily sent into the Blue Earth Valley, or the whole country is depopulated. !Now, as I write, a man brings news of Indians seen three miles west of us. This will, of course, add to the already over-excitement of the people. We are send ing men to see and report the facts. I have stood guard all night for the last three nights, to enable our boys to sleep for service during the day, and have promised to go on guard again to-night.
Steps ought, in my judgment, betaken to save the tens of thousands of bushels of grain, going to waste in this region of the country for the use of the states to
BATTLE OF FORT ABERCROMBIE. 253
subsist troops and horses upon. The farmers dare not go back to their farms to secure their crops, and they are being rapidly destroyed. A vast amount of forage might be collected in this region of country in a very short time.
I presume you are informed of the condition of things fully, but as I have no means of knowing how fully, I thought there could be no impropriety in writing as I have. I feel a deep interest in Southwestern Minnesota, as my home is in Southeastern Minnesota, and every misfortune that befalls my western neighbors affects my part of the state more or less. Eespectfully yours,
J. E. JONES.
ACTION AT FORT ABERCEOMBIE . Sept. 26, 1862.
Report of Capt. Emil A. Burger, Commanding Fort Abercrombie, Dak.
HEADQUARTERS ABERCROMBIE, DAK.,
Sept. 29, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report to you that on Friday last, Sept. 26, 1862 r a party of Indians attacked this post at about 7:30 o clock A. M., but were re pulsed by the garrison. One of the teamsters, John Winsinger of St. Cloud, was- mortally wounded in the abdomen and died next night. The Indians are sup posed to have lost from 6 to 8 of their warriors. When the savages commenced to retreat I sent Captain Freeman, with his company of cavalry and a detachment of the Third Eegiment Minnesota Volunteers, on the Dakota side of the Eed river, with orders to scour the woods on that side, cross the river about four miles above the fort, and proceed on the Minnesota side toward the fort; at the same time I had Captain Barrett s company cross the river on the ferry at the fort, with orders to skirmish through the woods on the Minnesota side toward the place where Captain Freeman s company was going to cross the river, so encircling any Indians that had not left the woods.
The expedition returned about dark the same day, reporting that the Indians had escaped before they could approach them, but that they had found their whole camp equipage, blankets, etc., and burned them. Some of the articles found in the Indian camp were recognized by people at the fort as belonging to inhabitants of Georgetown, and it is therefore supposed that that place has been plundered by the savages and the inhabitants murdered. Since Friday nothing of importance has occurred. Now and then some Indians will make their ap pearance, but they have not dared to make another attack.
I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
EMIL A. BURGER, Captain, Commanding Post. His Excellency, ALEXANDER EAMSEY,
St. Paul, Minn.
P. S. The Indians attacked us to-night, wounding 1 man, a teamster by the name of Frederick Blazer, of St. Paul. As soon as I had a few shells thrown into the woods they ran away. Camp-fires can be seen at a distance of about three to four miles toward Wild Eice river, and I expect another skirmish to-morrow morning.
Dr. Keith returns by this train. I would be glad to have him come back with the next expedition.
254 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BELEASE, OPPOSITE MOUTH OF CHIPPEWA BIVER,
Sept. 27, 1862. His Excellency, ALEXANDER BAMSEY,
St. Paul, Minn.,
SIR: I have the honor to refer you to my dispatch of this date to Major General Pope, detailing the military operations in this quarter. Providentially, the captives in the hands of the Indians have all been recovered and are in my camp, with the exception of a few young girls who have been retained as the wives of young men, and a small number of boys old enough to drive the teams of the hostile party, who have been taken along with them. From the best information I can obtain, these do not number more than 12 or 15, perhaps less. I send down the captives to-day to Fort Bidgley, with as many comforts as we can furnish them, which are poor enough, for the camp is very insufficiently supplied either with food or blankets. We shall be in a suffering condition for the lack of rations very soon, unless a provision train arrives in the meantime.
You will perceive that I have asked to be relieved from, the command, hav ing accomplished all I hoped to accomplish without the aid of cavalry, and the condition of my private affairs requiring my presence at home.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding.
CAMP BELEASE, OPPOSITE MOUTH OF CHIPPEWA BIVER,
Sept. 27, 1862. General POPE,
8t. Paul,
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch of 19th [17th?] instant. It reached me last evening by Colonel Crooks. In reply you will permit me to remark that celerity of movement cannot well take place when my troops are entirely unsupplied with sufficient rations and are necessitated to dig potatoes from the Indian fields to supply the want of breadstuff s.
To tell you the truth in few words, general, there never has been a time when this expedition has not been in actual want of indispensable articles. Either bread or bullets have in their turn been scantily dealt out, and to-day I find my self with half of the command having been two days without bread; the hard bread dealt out to them, although small in quantity, being in part mouldy and unfit for use. If a provision train does not reach me within three or four days my command will be without a ration of any kind, and must, of course, fall back. My dispatch to Governor Bamsey, giving a hasty account of the battle of the 23d instant, I desired him to submit to your examination. It contained two errors, which I wish to correct. I omitted in my enumeration of the forces en gaged on our side Captain Woodward s company of the Sixth Begiment, which behaved well under the lead of their captain; and I erred in my statement of the number of the enemy, as I find from the half-breeds who were forced to be pres ent, that the hostiles actually engaged in the fight were nearly 500 instead of 300.
Yesterday I came to this point with my command, having been met by several half-breeds with a flag of truce. I encamped within five hundred yards of a
OFFICIAL EEPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 255
large camp of about 150 lodges of friendly Indians and half-breeds, who had separated themselves from Little Crow and the miserable crew with him, and had rescued from them most of the white captives awaiting my arrival.
About 2 o clock in the afternoon I paid a formal visit to this camp, attended by the members of my staff and the commanding officers of corps, with two com panies of infantry as an escort.
Leaving the latter on the outside of the line of lodges I entered the camp, where I found that regular rifle-pits had been constructed, in anticipation of an attack by the hostile Indians. I told the interpreter to call the chiefs and head men together, for I had something to say to them. The Indians and half-breeds assembled accordingly in considerable numbers, and I proceeded to give them very briefly my views of the late proceedings; my determination that the guilty parties should be pursued and overtaken, if possible, and I made a demand that all the captives should be delivered to me instantly, that I might take them to my camp. After speeches, in which they severely condemned the war party and denied any participation in their proceedings and gave me assurance that they would not have dared to come and shake my hand if their own were stained with the blood of the whites, they assembled the captive women and children, and formally delivered them up to me to the number of 91 pure whites. When taking the names of such as had been instrumental in obtaining the release of the prisoners from the hostile Indians and telling the principal men I would hold another council with them to-day, I conducted the poor captives to my camp, where I had prepared tents for their accommodation. There were some instances of stolidity among them, but for the most part the poor creatures, relieved of the horrible suspense in which they have been left, and some of the younger women freed from the loathsome attentions to which they had been subjected by their brutal captors, were fairly overwhelmed with joy. I am doing the best I can for them, and will send them down to-day, together with a large number of half- breeds, who have been also kept in restraint here. The first mentioned are pure white women and children, 2 or 3 of the latter being very small orphans, all their relatives having been killed. A list of them will accompany this communication.
After the disastrous result to himself [Little Crow] and the bands associated with him at the battle of Wood Lake the half-breeds report that falling back to this point they hastily struck their tents and commenced retreating in great terror.
I must now await the arrival of a provision train from below, and it may not reach me for three or four days, in which case my command will be reduced to the verge of starvation.
In conclusion, general, as I have accomplished two of the objects of the ex pedition, to-wit, checking and beating the Indians and relieving the settlements, and secondly, the delivery of the prisoners held by them (with a few exceptions, for it seems the hostile party have still a few with them, supposed to be not over 12 or 15), I respectfully ask that you will relieve me of the command of the ex pedition, and place at its head some one of your officers who is qualified to fol low up the advantages already gained and conduct it to a successful issue. Hav ing borne the burden and fatigue incident to the organization of the forces in the field, and there being nothing left to do but to follow up the Indians vigorously and exterminate them, if possible, I am of the opinion that a strictly military commander would be better fitted for the task than myself. Besides, my private affairs are left in utter confusion and require my presence.
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Post by mdenney on Sept 2, 2007 13:51:43 GMT -5
256 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
I have issued an order appointing a military commission, consisting of two- field officers and the senior captain of the Sixth Eegiment, Colonel Crooks, Lieu tenant Colonel Marshall, and Captain Grant, for the examination of all the men, half-breeds as well as Indians, in the camp near us, with instructions to sift the antecedents of each, so that if there are guilty parties among them they can be arrested and properly dealt with. I have no doubt we shall find some such in the number. I will report the result in due time. I have a wounded prisoner in my camp. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY.
N". B. I append as a part of my dispatch, giving a detail of the battle of Wood Lake, the official report of Lieutenant Colonel Averill, commanding Sixth Eegiment, which you will find inclosed. l
N. B. The number of half-breeds who were retained by the hostile Indians as prisoners and now under my protection will considerably exceed 100, but the ex act number cannot now be given.
CAMP EELEASE, NEAR LAO QUI PARLE, Sept. 28, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Comdg. Military Dist. of the Northwest, St. Paul, Minn. ,
GENERAL: I have the honor to refer to my dispatch of yesterday for a detail of my military operations in this quarter. I have apprehended 16 Indians in the friendly camp adjoining who are suspected of being participators in the late outrages, and I have appointed a military commission of five officers to try them. I inclose a copy of the order directing it. If found guilty they will be immediately executed, although I am somewhat in doubt whether my authority extends quite so far. An example is, however, imperatively necessary, and I trust you will approve the act, should it happen that some real criminals have been seized and promptly disposed of.
I have information, apparently reliable, that Little Crow and his adherents are at Big Stone lake, sixty-five miles above this, where it is supposed he will be [opposed ? ] by Standing Buffalo, Sisseton band of Sioux, as I have held a cor respondence with the chief, who desires to remain on friendly terms with our government; but I am entirely powerless to move for lack of rations. If a train does not arrive within three days we shall be reduced to subsist upon what pota toes we can obtain several miles below us and the fresh beef we have left.
I requested you in my dispatch of yesterday, general, to relieve me of the command of this expedition.
If upon consultation with Governor Eamsey it is deemed indispensable that I should not be relieved, which I trust will not be the case, you must at least grant me a leave of absence for thirty days, for the state of my health and the situation of my private business equally demand it.
Please attend to this at once, and you will very much oblige, general. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding Military Expedition.
found.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 257
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST, ST. PAUL, MINN., Sept. 28, 1862.
Col. H. H. SlBLEY,
Commanding Sioux Expedition,
COLONEL: Your dispatch giving ine an account of your skirmish with the Indians was sent me "by the Governor of Minnesota. Whilst the dispatch was very satisfactory in relation to your operations, I beg to remind you that it was improperly addressed to the Governor, who no longer has any control over mili tary operations in this section. All dispatches or requisitions for any troops whatever serving in this department are to be addressed to these headquarters, and I trust that you will hereafter comply with the proper regulations on this subject.
The provisions you desire have been sent to you in charge of an officer especially detailed for the purpose several days before your dispatch was received, and have doubtless reached you by this time. You will remember that in your letter to me you stated that you had ammunition enough, and only desired that some might be provided in case of unexpected demands. I was therefore sur prised at your statement that you would have to fall back unless you received ar tillery ammunition within a time altogether too short for it to reach you. The expedition under your command must not fall back under any circumstances un less before overpowering forces, of which there is no probability. Your ammuni tion for artillery will reach you as soon as it can possibly get to you. It was sent yesterday. Many troops are on the road up, both by land and water. There has been great difficulty about getting horses, but they are beginning to come in. One hundred mounted men, armed with carbines and pistols, leave here to-morrow to join you, and others will be sent forward as fast as possible. No treaty must be made with the Sioux, even should the campaign against them be delayed until the summer. If they desire a council, let them come in, but seize Little Crow and all others engaged in the late outrages, and hold them prisoners until further or ders from these headquarters. It is idle and wicked, in view of the atrocious murders these Indians have committed, in the face of treaties and without provo cation, to make treaties or talk about keeping faith with them. The horrible massacres of women and children and the outrageous abuse of female prisoners, still alive, call for punishment beyond human power to inflict. There will be no peace in this region by virtue of treaties and Indian faith. It is my purpose ut terly to exterminate the Sioux if I have the power to do so and even if it requires a campaign lasting the whole of next year. Destroy everything belonging to them and force them out to the plains, unless, as I suggest, you can capture them. They are to be treated as maniacs or wild beasts, and by no means as people with whom treaties or compromises can be made. Urge the campaign vigorously; you shall be vigorously supported and supplied.
I send this letter by Colonel Miller, who goes to take command of his regi ment, the Seventh.
Please keep me advised frequently of your movements.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. POPE, 17 Major General, Commanding.
258 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BELEASE,
NINE MILES BELOW LAO QUI PARLE, Sept. 28th, 1862. COLONEL: I send back the 24 men of Captain Dane s company with dis patches which I will thank you to forward immediately on receipt. You have doubtless heard of the smart conflict we had with the Indians, and the severe loss they sustained. They retreated in haste, and have gone to Big Stone lake, where I have reason to believe Standing Buffalo will oppose their passage or retard them until I can overtake them. You will rejoice to learn that the prisoners have been delivered up to me through the friendly Indians and half-breeds, doubtless with the hope that if that was done, we would be less keen in pursuit. I have about 90 women and children of pure whites, and probably considerably over 100 half- breeds who were also held as captives. I do not believe that more than a dozen or fifteen, if so many, have been taken by the hostiles. I am, as usual, out of rations, many of the companies having no flour or bread.
Having accomplished two of the objects of the expedition, and not being at all well, I have applied to be relieved of the command and hope it will be accorded me. My business is going to destruction and I have stood so much wear and tear that I need some rest. I suppose Captain Dane s company of mounted men can be spared. If so, please order them to join me at once, as the only horsemen I have will leave on the 30th, when their term expires. If I had been furnished with 300 or 400 cavalry, I could have destroyed two-thirds of the hostile Indians after the battle of the 23d. Should you order Captain Dane s company to join me, they had better exchange their Austrian rifles for Harper s Ferry muskets at Fort Eidgley, if they can be furnished there, as I think they can.
I am, colonel, very respectfully yours,
H. H. SIBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding Military Expedition. Col. CHAS. E. FLANDRAU,
Commanding, etc., South Send.
N. B. I am encamped near a camp of 150 lodges of friendly Indians and half-breeds, but have had to purge it of suspected characters. I have appre hended 16 supposed to have been connected with the late outrages and have ap pointed a military commission of five officers to try them. If found guilty they will be forthwith executed, although perhaps it will be a stretch of my authority. If so, necessity must be my justification. Yours,
H. H. S.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 29, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
St. Paul, Minn.:
Col. Henry H. Sibley is made a brigadier general for his judicious fight at Yellow Medicine. He should be kept in command of that column and every assistance possible sent to him.
H. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief.
OFFICIAL KEPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 259
HEADQUARTERS CAMP RELEASE,
Sept. 30, 1862.
Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Commanding Department of the Northwest, St. Paul,
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt, per Captain Atchison, your aide-de-camp, of your dispatch of 23d instant, in which you give the assurance of protecting the rear of this column and furnishing proper supplies, both of which are not only important, but indispensable. The work of the military com mission still continues, and new developments take place daily incriminating parties in the friendly camp. Indians are arrested daily on charges duly pre ferred by me, but as the proceedings are, of course, secret, it is impossible now to state how many will be convicted. The camp would be in a starving state but for the potatoes found in the Indian fields; but I learn that a small provision train will reach me to-morrow, not sufficient, however, to justify a further ad vance into the Indian country. Little Crow and his adherents are making their escape as speedily as possible.
Intelligence just received of a reliable character states that he had already reached a point one hundred and twenty miles distant from this camp, so that a pursuit with infantry alone is out of the question. Unless a full supply of pro visions and forage, with 500 mounted men at least, can be sent on at once, the campaign may be considered as closed for this autumn. The grass is already so dry as to afford insufficient nourishment to the horses and cattle, so that grain cannot be dispensed with, and there is none except unshelled corn on this side of Fort Eidgley.
Having been suffering from ill-health for several days, I shall probably report myself in person to you at St. Paul very soon, in which case I shall devolve the command temporarily on Colonel Crooks of the Sixth Regiment. This corps is absolutely at a stand for the reasons stated, to- wit, want of necessary provisions and forage, so that my presence can well be dispensed with after the pro ceedings of the military commission have been closed, and the friendly Indians and half-breeds dispatched to gather the crops of corn and potatoes in the fields below.
The rescued captives of pure white blood, amounting in number to exactly 100, and half-breeds probably 150 more, will go down to-morrow. There is proba bly not a hostile Indian below this of the Sioux tribe, so that I apprehend no further danger to the settlements now. But even if no further pursuit of Little Crow can be made this fall, it will be necessary to station strong garrisons at points above Fort Eidgley, with a sufficient force of mounted men to pursue and destroy any band of prowlers who may be compelled by hunger to renew these depredations.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding Military Expedition.
K B. I have evidence that Little Priest and part of his band of Winne- bagoes participated in the hostilities at New Ulm and elsewhere.
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Post by mdenney on Sept 2, 2007 13:52:34 GMT -5
260 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION,
SOUTH BEND, 1st October, 1862. COLONEL,
SIR: The dispatches from Colonel Sibley were left here early this morning by Captain Dane. I send them through to St. Peter, thinking, perhaps, you may not come up to-day.
Inclosed you will find note from Captain Cox, in response to which Captain Buell started at 9 p. M. yesterday to his relief. Captain Buell had with him some 20 men, volunteers from Captain Bierbauer s company, and a few citizens of Mankato.
Lieutenant Marsh and his men left this morning. All that remains at this post is a few volunteers from Captain Bierbauer s company.
Very respectfully,
S. A. GEORGE, Commanding Post.
P. S. Preserve the letter from Captain Cox, as it may be of some service hereafter. G.
To Col. CHAS. E. FLANDRAU.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 2, 1862 5 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief,
Dispatches from Sibley just received. He reached Lac qui Parle and found about 600 Sioux, who professed to be friendly. He investigated the facts, and has arrested 16, who are now being tried by military commission. Little Crow, with his band, has retreated to Big Stone lake. Sibley will follow as soon as possible, but it is next to impossible to supply him with food; there are no means in my possession or which I can get. I will, however, push him forward at all hazards. The whole of the annuity Indians are restless, and ought to be dis armed at once. I have asked authority to do so.
Permits to trade ought to be recalled by the Indian Department, and no white men except agents permitted among the Indians. Will you have such an order procured from Interior Department? General Elliott informs me from Omaha that white men (Secessionists) are among the Indians urging them forward. He is endeavoring to arrest them. A campaign against the Indian tribes in this department will be necessary in the spring, and ought to be provided for this winter. Sibley recovered most of the white prisoners. Many of them were killed, and nearly all those recovered are young girls, who have been shockingly abused. At least 5,000 paroled troops ought to be sent here, so that the new Minnesota troops can go South. I recommend that the authority given the Gov ernor of Minnesota to raise a mounted force for three months be revoked. I am mounting the Third Minnesota paroled; it is much better.
JNO. POPE, Major General, Commanding.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 261
WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 3, 1862. Major General POPE,
St. Paul, Minn.:
That part of your telegram yesterday relating to Indian agents has been re ferred to the Secretary of the Interior. The War Department declines to revoke the authority given to the Governor of Minnesota.
H. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 3, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Commanding, etc., St. Paul:
GENERAL: The latest reliable intelligence from above represents Little Crow, with a small band of followers, is making his way toward the Yankton Sioux, on James river, while the large majority of his former adherents are slowly return ing with their families to deliver themselves up to me, with a hope, it may be supposed, that they will be leniently dealt with.
I have sent messengers to them to-day stating to their people that their only hope of mercy, even to the women and children, will be their immediate return and surrender at discretion. If the information received is correct, their arrival liere in a few days may be looked for, and there will be plenty of work for the military commission in ferreting out and punishing the guilty. That tribunal lias been engaged in the trial of between 20 and 30 of the Indians in the neighbor ing camp, who are now my prisoners, suspected of participating in the murders and outrages committed on the frontier. The proceedings have not yet been submitted to me, but will be probably to-morrow.
I am taking into custody suspected individuals every day, and the new phase which matters have assumed may prevent me from leaving to report to you in person, as I mentioned in my last dispatch, for some days.
It is probable I shall not order any execution of the guilty until I can get those understood to be coming down to surrender themselves in my power, other wise they might be deterred from returning. I shall send the Indians composing the friendly camp to the lower agency, in charge of a detachment of troops, to collect the corn and potatoes in the fields, which have remained hitherto undis turbed. This camp is composed of about 1,200 men, women, and children; mostly the latter, there being but about 250 men among them. How they are ultimately to be disposed of is a question for the determination of the proper authorities. They comprise perhaps nine-tenths of those who have not been actively engaged in the war. There are still some guilty parties among them, who will be appre hended as fast as testimony can be procured against them. I have had a list taken of the entire camp, and have informed the chiefs that I would hold them personally responsible for keeping the men from absenting themselves. I have also assured those who are said to be returning that if any more murders or dep redations are perpetrated by their young men I would fall upon their camp with my entire force, and destroy men, women, and children alike.
262 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
I have thus given you, general, the condition of things up to this time. I have 107 white captives and 162 half-breeds rescued from the Indians, making a total of 269, the most of whom I shall send down to be provided for, as they are very destitute, and I have but few means at hand to make them comfortable. There are a few persons still with the absent bands, probably not over 12 or 15, all of whom with one exception, that of a boy taken along by Little Crow, I ex pect to release from their captivity.
I shall give no opinion as to the results of the expedition thus far attained, but leave you to draw your own conclusions whether or not they are not fully com mensurate with the means placed at my command. It is unnecessary to make a further advance at present; indeed it would be folly to attempt it without more supplies of provisions than are at present to be looked for. I am now nearly 70 miles above Fort Eidgley and 120 from the base of operations at St. Peter, from whence alone we can depend for rations to be obtained.
I have just learned unofficially that a provision train is on the way from Hen derson to Fort Eidgley. I hope it is so, but regret to learn that flour is sent in stead of hard bread, as we have but little conveniences for cooking in the command.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 3, 1862.
WA-NA-TA, STANDING BUFFALO, TAH-TON-KA-NAGEE, and WA-MA-DE-ON-PE-DU-TA,
Chiefs of the Sisseton Sioux:
MY FRIENDS: I am sorry to hear that you allowed Little Crow and the bad men to escape into your country. After I had beaten them and killed many of their number you should have stopped him until I could have overtaken him and his band and destroyed them. Now he must be pursued by my troops into your country, but you will not be injured nor any of your men who have not been en gaged in the murders perpetrated by the bad Indians. I learn that you intend to- come down and see me with some of your bands. I do not wish you to do so, because I have a great many men who are very angry because so many of their white relations have been killed, and they might not be able to distinguish you from the guilty bands and fire upon you. I do not wish you to suffer from any such mistake; therefore I desire you to remain at your own villages until I can have time to go and talk to you in council. Keep your bands separate from the wicked men who have broken peace with their Great Father. There are many other troops going in search of these bad men besides those I have with me, and they will all be caught and punished.
Your friend,
H. H. SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding Military Expedition.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 263
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 3, 1862.
Those Indians of the Medawakanton and Wahpeton bands of the Sioux, who have separated themselves from Little Crow and desire to return and surrender themselves to their Great Father, must come down and encamp near me, sending in advance two of their principal men with a white flag. This must be done im mediately, for there are other bodies of troops in search of Little Crow who will attack any camp they find unless they have protection. I will see that no inno cent person is injured who comes to me without delay. Unless these people arrive very soon I will go in search of them with my troops and treat them as enemies; and if any more murders and depredations are committed upon the white settlers I will destroy every camp of the lower Indians I can find without mercy.
H. H. SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding Military Expedition.
ULM, Oct. 3, 1862. Colonel FLANDRAU,
DEAR SIR: The bearer, George G. Syms, is adjutant of the Twenty-Fifth Eegiment Wisconsin Volunteers.
He is authorized to receive any report you desire to make or any books and papers you desire to hand over to me. He will go to South Bend. You will please give him any orders or instructions you desire to send there to enable him to get anything there for me. Colonel, I should have come down myself but was at the fort yesterday and am some tired, not having been used to riding on horseback. It is reported here this morning by a man and his family who came in here in the night that 4 Indians were seen by them yesterday about four miles from here towards Fort Eidgley.
I understand that Colonel Sibley is trying some Indians, who claim to be friendly and has convicted quite a number and sentenced them to death, has taken back about 60 of the white prisoners, but is not at present advancing. Will you please write me anything new that may transpire of interest, making any suggestions you may deem of interest to this department of the service.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
M. MONTGOMERY, Colonel Twenty-fifth Eegiment Wisconsin Volunteers.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 4, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Commanding Dept. of the Northwest, St. Paul, Minn.:
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your dispatch of 23d instant by Colonel Miller. The implied censure conveyed therein for not address ing my communication officially detailing the battle of the 23d direct to your head-
264 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
quarters cannot justly rest upon me. The adjutant general of the state should have informed me of the change and instructed me to report to you, which was not done until 22d ultimo, when Governor Eamsey intimated to me that such a course would be proper, since which time all dispatches from these headquarters have taken that direction. You will find by my dispatch, referred to in your com munication, that I stated "we should have to fall back unless supplied with bread rations, 6-pounder ammunition, and shell for the howitzers." Our spherical- case shot for the two latter was much diminished in the battle, but I did not mean to intimate that I might be compelled to fall back for that reason, but for lack of ra tions. I trust the cavalry will be along soon. The Indians with Little Crow are but 5 in number, with their lodges. The rest, about 120 lodges, are said to be coming down slowly, but it may be necessary yet to attack them unless they sur render at discretion. I have sent down 90 rescued white captives, and the re maining 17, with some of the half-breeds, will go down to-morrow.
I have also to-day broken up the Indian camp in this vicinity, and ordered the men, women, and children, with some of the half-breeds, to the agencies below, to collect the corn and potatoes in the fields. They are all in charge of the In dian agent, Major Galbraith, and I have sent two companies of infantry, under Captain Whitney of the Sixth Eegiment, to guard them until further orders are received as to the final disposition of them. Should the other Indians come in, as I expect they will, I will disarm them, take the men prisoners, and march them to Fort Eidgley, to be tried by a military commission. The commission ap pointed by me have tried 29 cases, but all the proceedings have not as yet been presented to me, with the testimony. A majority have been convicted and sen tenced to be hung.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Colonel, Commanding.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 4, 1862. Major General H ALLEGE: :
Sibley reports, under date of September 13, that hostile bands of Sioux are scattered at least 120 miles north of Lac qui Parle. Cannot follow them with in fantry; no cavalry here. He states that grass is dry and will not subsist animals. I apprehend no further outbreaks from Sioux, but strong force must be kept up along frontier settlements this winter. Sibley reports he has positive proof that numbers of the Winnebagoes, under their principal chief, were engaged in the re cent outrages with the Sioux. I wish authority to disarm the Winnebagoes. The population in neighborhood of Winnebago reservation greatly alarmed and leaving farms. When may I expect paroled regiments? The regiments are ready to go South as soon as relieved. Where do you wish Wisconsin regiments to be sent? Several are ready. Can I not have Lieut. Col. T. C. H. Smith made brigadier general for distinguished services in Virginia? I need his services here much in that capacity.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 265
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION^
CAMP BELEASE, Oct. 5, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Commanding, etc., St. Paul, Minn.,
GENERAL: I sent 4 Indians up to the camp of the Indians who have aban doned Little Crow three days since with a message to them that they must come in immediately or I would go and attack them.
Last night I received a flag of truce from some of them, numbering 36 lodges, stating that they were coming in, and that a larger camp, of more than 50 lodges, were on their way down, and that they would send messengers to hasten their movements. I expect them down to-morrow. The greater part of the men are deeply implicated in the late outrages; indeed they constituted the force upon which Little Crow depended mainly to do his fighting. I have given them no assurances except that such as were innocent and the women and children should be protected, and I repeated to them what I had previously stated in my message to them, that if any more of their young men went off to war upon the whites I would fall upon their camp and cut them to pieces, without regard to age or sex. The men assured me that all the parties were in and that the war had altogether ceased on their part. When they have all arrived I will surround their camp with my forces and disarm, and take the men, except the older ones, prisoners, to be tried by a military commission, and send the rest with the women and chil dren to join the other camp below, which, as I wrote you, is guarded by two companies of infantry, under Captain Whitney. There are other small parties also coming in, and I shall put them through the same process as fast as I can reach them.
The bands of Lower Sisseton Sioux, headed by Sleepy Eyes and White Lodge, consist of perhaps 100 or more fighting men, and these have gone with their families towards the Coteau des Prairies; they will probably be found on or near the Big Sioux or James river, where they usually make their fall hunts, and they can only be overtaken and destroyed by a sufficient force of mounted men. They were the perpetrators of the bloody massacres at Lake Shetek and other points near the Iowa line. They should be dealt with speedily, or it will be too late to operate in that region. If all the Medawakanton and Wahpeton Sioux deliver themselves up to me there will remain only Little Crow and the 5 men with him, the bands of Sissetons above indicated, and some of the Sissetons and Cut-Heads of Big Stone lake, who participated in the attacks on Abercrombie and that neighborhood, to be brought to justice. The greater part of the last-mentioned bands, those of Standing Buffalo, Wanatua, and Eed Feather, have been friendly throughout the outbreak and give strong assurances of amity, and their decided refusal to receive or countenance Little Crow and his devilish crew is deserving of commendation and should insure them against injury by our troops. Still these bands require sifting and purging in order to discover the guilty individu als among them. I will make a further report when the Indians expected to morrow shall have come in. Part of them are within seven or eight miles of my camp.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H, SIBLEY, Colonel, Commanding.
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266 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
HEADQUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION, SOUTHERN FRONTIER,
SOUTH BEND, Oct. 5, 1862.
To the Soldiers and Citizens who have been, and are now, engaged in the Defense of the Southern Frontier:
On the 18th of August last your frontier was invaded by the Indians. You promptly rallied for its defense. You checked the advance of the enemy, and defeated him in two severe battles at New TJlm. You have held a line of frontier posts extending over a distance of one hundred miles. You have erected six sub stantial fortifications, and other defensive works of less magnitude. You have dispersed marauding bands of savages that have hung upon your lines. You have been uniformly brave, vigilant and obedient to orders. By your efforts the war has been confined to the border; without them it would have penetrated into the heart of the state.
Major General Pope has assumed the command of the Northwest, and will con trol future operations. He promises a vigorous prosecution of the war. Five companies of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Regiment and 500 cavalry from Iowa are ordered into the region now held by you, and will supply the places of those whose terms of enlistment shortly expire. The Department of the Southern Frontier, which I have had the honor to command, will, from the date of this order, be un der the command of Col. M. Montgomery of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin, whom I take pleasure in introducing to the troops and citizens of that department as a soldier and a man to whom they may confide their interests and the safety of their country with every assurance that they will be protected and defended.
Pressing public duties of a civil nature demand my absence temporarily from the border. The intimate and agreeable relations we have sustained toward each other, our Union in danger and adventure, cause me regret in leaving you, but hasten my return.
CHARLES E. FLANDRAU, Colonel, Commanding Southern Frontier.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 7, 1862 1:30 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief:
Little Crow, with a small fragment of his band, has fled to the Yankton Sioux on James river. He will be immediately followed by a large mounted force.
I have ordered $500 reward for him dead or alive, so as to make him an out law among the Indians. Nearly the whole of his band have deserted him and are coming in begging for mercy. It will be necessary to try and execute many of those engaged in the late horrible outrages, and also some of the Winnebagoes. I shall disarm the Sioux and bring them down near Fort Snelling, where they will be fed for the winter, paying the expense from the annuity money. They must be brought here and disarmed, as the inhabitants will not return to their homes otherwise. There are also some of the Yankton Sioux whom the mounted expedition will demand and bring in. I again ask authority to disarm the Win nebagoes and feed them in like manner. There will not long be trouble as soon
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 267
as the government renders it impossible for white men to make money out of the Indians. I think there will be no more Indian hostilities this season in this part of the country, but a campaign should be made in the spring. The Eed Lake Indians are hostile and plundered the traders of large quantities of goods. It is too late in the season to move against them.
JNO. POPE, Major General.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 7, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Commanding, etc., St. Paul,
GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatch an nouncing my appointment by the President as brigadier general, for which I have no doubt I am indebted mainly to your friendly offices in my behalf, for which please receive my thanks.
You may deem it strange that I am still in Camp Eelease instead of pushing forward; but when I state how admirably matters are working I have no doubt you will be fully satisfied. I announced to you in my communication of yester day that I had sent messages to the camps of Indians above who had abandoned the fortunes of Little Crow to come in at once and encamp at a spot I would indi cate. The messengers were directed to deliver my demand to all of the camps to be found, and at the same time to communicate with the Sissetons at Big Stone lake, and to state to them that their friendly conduct in refusing to countenance or harbor Little Crow would be appreciated; while I did not promise that the young men of their bands who participated in the attack on Fort Abercrombie should not be punished, for I intend they shall be so soon as I can get them in my power. The fruits of my policy in awaiting the movements of the Indians are de veloping themselves already.
To-day 37 lodges have arrived with a flag of truce, and I have placed them within short range of my guns, and 20 other lodges are within ten or twelve miles, and I have just dispatched a peremptory message to them to be here to morrow at latest. These lodges contain a large number of desperate scoundrels, but I dare not take them into custody until a still larger camp of upward of 50 lodges, which I expect to arrive in two or three days, shall be in my power, when I will at once disarm them and take all but the very old men prisoners. If I succeed in securing them, as I hope to do, I shall have in my hands three-fourths of those principally concerned in the outbreak, and I promise you they will re ceive but small mercy at my hands. I have 20 prisoners under sentence of death by hanging. I have not yet examined the proceedings of the military commis sion, but although they may not be exactly in form in all the details I shall proba bly approve them, and hang the villains as soon as I get hold of the others. It would not do to precipitate matters now, for fear of alarming those who are com ing forward to take their chances.
My dispatch of yesterday will have informed you of the position of the bands of the Lake Shetek murderers and others. With the mounted men, part of
268 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
whom will arrive to-morrow, I shall be enabled, I hope, to find and exterminate them, although they are a long distance from here, probably more than one hun dred miles.
I still labor under the difficulty of lacking forage and rations. I have to use my own teams, which should be kept for active operations in the field to trans port provisions from Eidgley, and they are barely able to keep the command from actual suffering. Some speedy measures should be taken to correct this, for if an advance is made we must be supplied from the rear. Luckily thus far, as I have shown, the delay has been most favorable, not only in saving the lives of the cap tives, but in greatly advancing the objects of the expedition. So soon as I have secured all those who are coming in voluntarily I will go in search of the others, and find them if that be possible. The whole nest of savages who have desolated our frontier is already broken up, and I have no doubt of the ability of my com mand, assisted by the mounted men you promise me, so far to bring the whole matter to a conclusion as to render the campaign next year easy of successful ac complishment. But to do this I must be relieved of the necessity of sending back for my rations and forage, as I have been obliged to do ever since I have been in the field.
I trust you will not be wearied of my long and frequent dispatches. I desire you to be made acquainted with all the details requisite to enable you to form a correct estimate of what may be necessary in this quarter, that you may judge of the bearing my operations may have upon the movements of your other columns as they are penetrating the country under your directions.
I omitted to state that of the so-called friendly Indians now in camp at Yellow Medicine it has been clearly proven that some of them have even risked their lives in defense of the whites; others have refused to affiliate with Little Crow in the warfare waged upon the white settlers, while there are still among them sus picious characters upon whom I can lay my grasp when they are wanted. I am, very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
ULM, Oct. 7, 1862. Col. CHAS. E. FLANDRAU,
DEAR SIR: I received your letter dated the 5th instant by the hands of Adjutant Symes yesterday, also your report and " Valedictory Order. 77 Find them all right and satisfactory. Your suggestion in regard to the quartermaster you have had and the mixing up of the United States troops with the militia. The suggestion is a good one and I will follow it.
Colonel, I have studied upon the suggestion formerly made by you in regard to establishing my headquarters at South Bend instead of New Ulm, and have come to the conclusion that under General Pope s instructions I have the power, and consequently conclude to make the change, and will remove in a few days. If you are consulted in regard to this change you will please give your opinion on the subject and the reasons for the change. I have informed the general of my determination. The reasons are the same as you stated to me, which I find to be sound. It is not necessary for me to state them, as you know what they are*
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
I find that all that you told me in regard to the extent of the depredations committed in this country is strictly true, and hardly the half has been yet told. Colonel, I feel flattered at the compliments paid me in your letter and l i Vale dictory Order" and hope I shall conduct myself in such a manner as to never give you cause to take back or be chagrined at anything you have or may here after say in my favor.
At any time, colonel, I will be happy to receive any suggestions from you in regard to my command that you may deem of interest thereto.
I shall also be pleased to see you frequently at my headquarters. With the highest esteem and respect for you as a man and a soldier,
I am, truly your friend,
M. MONTGOMERY, Colonel Twenty-fifth Regiment Wisconsin Infantry U. S. Volunteers.
HEADQUARTERS CAMP EELEASE, MILITARY EXPEDITION, Oct. 8, 1862.
GENERAL: In accordance with the request of the field officers of my com mand, I have the honor to transmit herewith a document signed by them on the 7th, and addressed to myself, for your consideration.
The messengers dispatched by me to the upper camps returned last evening. They communicated my demand to their small camps, one of which, of 20 lodges, will be here this morning. They say that they dispatched young men to the larger camp, and they state that they were informed that all of the lower Indians were moving down, but slowly, as their horses and oxen are so poor and weak that rapid marches are impossible. I have determined to disarm the men in the 36 lodges near me as soon as the other 20 lodges come in to-day, and to treat the latter in the same manner, and then send them as prisoners to Fort Eidgley to be tried, as I have no means of confining them here, at least such is the impression I now have of the proper means to be taken.
I have but two days rations of pork, sugar, salt, etc., in the camp; but my train of wagons, which left two days since for Fort Eidgley, will be back on the 10th.
I will consider it as a personal favor if you will send up a few daily papers by the bearer of dispatches. We have had no mail, and no newspapers later than the 30th ultimo.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding. To Maj. Gen. POPE.
[Inclosure.]
CAMP EELEASE, MINN., Oct. 7, 1862. Brig. Gen. H. H. SIBLEY,
SIR: The undersigned, after cordially congratulating you upon your recent well-merited promotion, beg leave to represent that they have learned with much
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270 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
regret that you have asked to be relieved from your present command. They respectfully ask that you will immediately withdraw said application and remain in command of the expedition. They further earnestly request that you will use your best exertions with Major General Pope to consolidate a brigade of the new Minnesota regiments, and that you remain in command thereof till the end of the war.
If at all consistent with public duty they would be gratified to have an oppor tunity after the close of this campaign to bring together and drill the scattered fragments and parts of the regiments for two or three months or such other length of time as the major general commanding may deem best previous to the march against the common foe.
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
WM. CROOKS, STEPHEN MILLER,
Colonel Seventh Minnesota. WM. E. MARSHALL, lieutenant Colonel Seventh Minnesota. GEORGE BRADLEY,
Major Seventh Minnesota.
E. N". MCLAREN,
Major Sixth Minnesota. E. C. OLIN,
Lieutenant Third Minnesota. M. HENDRICKS,
Captain Battery.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 9, 1862 10:45 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief:
The Sioux war may be considered at an end. We have about 1,500 prisoners men, women, and children and many are coming every day to deliver them selves up. Many are being tried by military commission for being connected in the late horrible outrages, and will be executed. I have disarmed all, and will bring them down to Fort Snelling until the Government shall decide what to do with them. I have seized and am trying a number of Winnebagoes who were en gaged with the Sioux.
The cavalry forces march immediately for the Yankton village, and will arrest the perpetrators of the murders at Spirit Lake. Posts must be kept up all along the frontier this winter to induce the settlers to go back. They are already return ing in large numbers. It will in all views be advisable in the spring to make strong military demonstrations on the plains. The Indians are greatly terrified. I have destroyed all the fields and property of the Sioux. An expedition must be made to Eed Lake as soon as possible. I am sending one into the Chippewa country.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 271
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP BELEASE, Oct. 9, 1862. Capt. J. C. WHITNEY,
Commanding Detachment, Yellow Medicine,
SIR: I have received your dispatch containing the names of some Indians who absented themselves from the camp under your orders.
Upon consultation with Chaplain Riggs, who is acquainted with them, I have come to the conclusion that they have merely come up to their own fields above the Yellow Medicine to secure their crops. Even this, however, is irregular, and I would suggest that Agent Galbraith make out a full roll of the men in the Indian camp and require them to be in the camp night and morning, under penalty of arrest and confinement. I have a number of other lodges, nearly 50, which I shall purge of suspicious characters to-day, and send those supposed to be innocent, with the women and children, to join the camp, and report to your self and the agent.
I hear that Captain Kennedy was met but a few miles on this side of Fort Eidgley on his way thither. I await your report in his case before taking further proceedings.
October 10.
Since writing the foregoing I have your dispatch of yesterday. It would be well to secure the cattle you mention if it can be done. I am glad to learn that everything is working well with you. If I can obtain the necessary tools for the repairs of the buildings I will have them sent you. Meantime you will please make what advance you can with what you have on hand. When you send the explanation of Captain Kennedy in writing I will take such action as in my judgment the case may demand. Please say to Major Gal braith that I wish him to send up to me Gabriel Eenville and Kawankee, to act as messengers for me in my intercourse with the upper camps.
There are about 60 lodges of Indians now near me, which I shall purge to-day or to-morrow, when the rest will be sent to join you.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, Oct. 9, 1862. Adjt. Gen. OSCAR MALMROS,
St. Paul, Minn.,
SIR: The Secretary of War instructs me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th of August, asking for a supply of arms and military stores, to be used in suppressing Indian incursions, and to inform you that your application was referred to the general-in-chief, who is of the opinion that in consideration of the great scarcity of arms needed for the suppression of the rebellion it is desira ble to await the report of General Pope relative to the condition of affairs with the Indians. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War.
272 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 10, 1862 3 p. m. Major General H ALLEGE: :
The Sioux war is at an end. All the bands engaged in the late outrages, ex cept 5 men, have been captured. It will be necessary to execute many of them. The settlers can all return. I have not yet heard from the expedition to the Yankton villages, but with the return of that there will not be a hostile Indian east of the Missouri. The example of hanging many of the perpetrators of the late outrages is necessary and will have a crushing effect. I shall to-morrow issue an address requesting all the frontier settlers to return to their homes.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 10, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
St. Paul, Minn.,
GENERAL: I have the honor to report that more Indians have joined the camp near me, so that I have nearly 40 lodges, comprising 90 men, in my powerj but I have not yet arrested the latter, as I expect another camp in to-day or to morrow, the men of which might be frightened off were I to move prematurely. There are many desperate villains in both of these camps. I had a council with those who had come in yesterday. They had one captive, a small male child, who has been given up to me, and will be sent down to its mother, one of the released captives who were dispatched below a few days since.
A provision train which I sent down to Fort Eidgley four days ago will arrive to-morrow, when I shall move with a greater part of my force in search of those camps which are yet behind, as those who will deliver themselves up will proba bly all be in by that time. In accordance with your orders, I will visit Big Stone lake, but I am reliably informed that I shall find none of the Sisseton bands- there, as they left more than a fortnight since for the buffalo region, at or near the Bear s lodge, some 60 or 70 miles beyond. I have received no dispatch from you since that of the 2d instant.
I am, general, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP RELEASE, Oct. 10, 1862. Adjt. Gen. A. MALMROS,
St. Paul, Minn.,
SIR: Lieut. James Gorman of the Eenville Eangers received from you some days since a letter requiring him to report to you. He has 40 rank and file in his company, and I learn from Lieutenant Merrill, commanding at Henderson, that he has men enough enlisted to form with the above an entire company, and asking to be ordered to join the Eangers, that the company maybe properly mus-
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 273
tered in. I trust the commander-in-chief will take measures to do justice to the gallant corps commanded by Lieutenant Gorman. They fought manfully in de fense of Fort Kidgley when attacked and have been with me through the entire expedition, rendering signal service. In the battle of Wood Lake their conduct was above all praise. I beg leave to commend them to the special consideration of the commander-in-chief.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 11, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Commanding Military District of the Northwest,
GENERAL: Henry Belland has just arrived with your dispatch of 7th instant. Those of the 6th, referred to, have not yet been received. Your orders rela tive to the disposition of the Indians will be obeyed as promptly as possible. They will interfere somewhat with my forward movement, as I designed to leave on the 12th with a portion, or rather the larger part, of my command in pursuit of the refugee Indians. As the order is imperative to send all below, I shall sus pend the execution of the sentenced Indians, about 20 in number, and dispatch, them with others whom I shall arrest in the neighboring camp this afternoon, to Fort Snelling, to be subject to your direction. The number to be sent down, in cluding the 300 men, women, and children, supposed to be contained in the camp near my own, will be nearly or quite 1,500; and I trust you have given orders to have them supplied with provisions along the route, or there will be great suffer ing among them. They must necessarily travel slowly, and they will therefore be many days in reaching Fort Snelling. I shall endeavor to have them en route within two or three days. As I must weaken my force by dispatching at least three companies of infantry to guard the prisoners, I hope you will give orders to Colonel Montgomery to receive the latter at St. Peter and escort them below with his command or part of it, so as to permit the companies of my corps to return and rejoin me from that place.
From the tenor of your dispatch I judge that you do not intend that the in fantry shall be employed in the expedition to the Yanktons, but that Colonel Crooks will be dispatched thither with the 600 cavalry you propose to send up. Understanding this to be your intention, I shall, after having disembarrassed my self of the prisoners, sweep the country between this point and Big Stone lake, with a view to catch the refugee Indians if they are scattered into small parties, or fight them if they assemble in force, which I do not believe they will, unless assisted by the Sissetons and Yanktons; that is not probable, but it is still possi ble. I shall do all I can to find Little Crow and the few lodges, but the Indians believe him to be fleeing toward the Eed river, to take refuge under the British flag. I shall offer a reward for his apprehension, as you direct.
There are many pretty good houses on the Indian reservation near the lower agency which add value to the land, and can be of no future service to the Indians
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274 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
under the plan of operations adopted by you. These I shall not destroy, unless ordered to do so by you. The corn and potatoes there might be gathered and prove useful in military operations in this quarter.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 13, 1862. 10:40 a. m. Major General HALLECK,
General-in- Chief:
Five regiments can be sent from this state by November 1. Please instruct me in time where to send them. The river closes about November 25. Three infantry regiments and such of the regiments of cavalry authorized by "War Department as can be raised will remain. It is necessary to keep up the line of posts along the frontier during the winter to induce settlers to return. The troops retained will be sufficient for this purpose and to make the suggested demonstrations on the plains in the spring. The arrangements made in Dakota and Nebraska will insure security there. Letters to that effect received from the governors. Have not yet heard from expedition to Yankton villages and Chip- pewa country. There is strong testimony that white men led the Indians in late outrages. Do I need further authority to execute Indians condemned by military commission f
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 13, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Comdg. Department of the Northwest, St. Paul, Minn.,
GENERAL: According to your orders I have disarmed and secured the Indian men near my camp, and have further given directions to Captain Whitney, in charge of the lower camp of Indians, to do the same, which was no doubt accom plished this morning. I have now 101 Indian men in custody, including the 21 under sentence, all of whom will be sent down as soon as possible, with those from the camp below.
I shall to-day dispatch an expedition of three companies of infantry and 50 mounted men to secure any straggling lodges which may be found about Lac qui Parle, or between there and Coteau des Prairies, about 30 miles distant.
I find that the process of removing 1,500 men, women, and children to Fort Snelling is likely to tax not only my means of transportation, but my numerical force, so severely as to preclude the hope that anything more than detachment service to points not very far distant can be accomplished by my command until disembarrassed from this important but exceedingly perplexing charge. I have not received your dispatch of the 6th, nor any later than the 7th instant. If you deem proper I will take charge of the removal of the Indians below in person, as
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 275
I should be very much gratified to have a leave of absence for thirty days. I think a personal conference with you would be of advantage to the public service in the present condition of things; and I think, further, that I can be better spared now from this region than I could perhaps be at a later period.
Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding.
N. B. Will you please inform me whether, under the sixty-fifth article of war, I have the right, as a general officer commanding an army in the field, to convene a general court-martial. There are men in arrest for desertion and other crimes who should be tried. Eespectfully, yours,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP RELEASE, Oct. 13, 1862. Lieut. Col. WILLIAM E. MARSHALL,
SIR: I have placed you in command of an expedition principally to secure any Indians, with their families, who may be straggling about Lac qui Parle or between that point and the Coteau des Prairies. It may be necessary to visit the coteau, about 30 miles distant, and, if there is good reason to believe any Indian camp near, to go toward its southwestern limit, about 15 miles farther; but as it is not the intention to make a distant expedition, you will use a wise discretion, upon consultation with Major Brown, who accompanies you, and not penetrate too far into the country from this camp. You can assure the Indians that it is not the purpose of the government to punish innocent persons, but they must surrender at discretion and come in under guard. You will of course pre vent the men under your command from using any undue or unnecessary violence toward the Indians, should you take any of the latter, and especially do not per mit any insult to the females.
I have directed the detachment to be furnished with six days rations, although I do not expect you to be absent for so long a time. Eeposing entire confidence in your judgment, I need hardly exhort you to exercise great vigilance and caution against surprise or ambush. Yery respectfully, yours,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 14, 1862 11 a. m. Major General H ALLEGE: :
Have not heard from expedition to Yankton villages. Indians preparing for battle; from all appearances there will be a decisive fight about 500 lodges of them.
Sibley has plenty of men and artillery. No fear of results.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
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276 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., Oct. 14, 1862 2:15 p. m.
Major General POPE,
Commanding, St. Paul, Minn.:
Your communication addressed to this department in relation to disarming the Indians and changing the policy of the government in regard to them, and your telegram to General Halleck on the same subject, have been submitted to the President, and are now under consideration by him. He instructs me to say that he desires you to employ your force in such manner as shall maintain the peace and secure the white inhabitants from Indian aggressions, and that upon the questions of policy presented by you his instructions will be given as soon as he shall obtain information from the Indian Department which he desires.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 14, 1862.
Capt. J. C. WHITNEY,
Commanding Detachment at Yellow Medicine,
SIR: I have received your dispatch of to-day with accompanying papers. Your proceeding, as I expected, in carrying out my orders was well taken and judicious, and I feel gratified that your success was so complete. In order to en able you to guard your prisoners perfectly for the few days required for prepara tion for their removal, I have ordered Captain Wilson s company, under the command of Lieutenant Parker, to proceed to-night to re-enforce you. He will report to you for orders, and I desire that you will keep a strong guard over the prisoners, so as to avoid any danger of the escape of any of them. They will have to be secured with irons around the leg two together, as I have done here; I have now 101 men fixed in that way, whom I shall send down shortly under a . guard to join those you have in confinement, and then dispatch the whole to Fort Snelling. It is probable there are some innocent men among the prisoners in both camps, especially among your own; but it is impossible to winnow them out now, and they must all be taken down together.
The Indians, men, women, and children, must be principally fed on corn and potatoes, although I do not object to their receiving fresh beef twice a week when it can be obtained. Our own supplies are too scant to enable us to be very liberal on that score. You and Major Galbraith will please collect what trace- chains and suitable iron rods can be found, with a view to the extra security of the prisoners against escape. I have addressed an official communication to Major Galbraith of this date. You will forbid the men released from custody from straying away from the canip.
I am, captain, very respectfully,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 277
STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE OFFICE,
ST. PAUL, Oct. 15, 1862. Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War,
SIR: On the 25th day of August I received a telegram authorizing the raising of a regiment of mounted infantry for three months. The regiment is progressing. Some companies have already been mustered in. The Indian war has assumed much larger proportions than at first anticipated. It was deemed advisable by General Pope and myself to change the term to twelve months, which has been done, and the men are being mustered in for that time. I trust this will meet your approbation.
Very respectfully, etc.,
ALEXANDER EAMSEY.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP KELEASE, Oct. 15, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Comdg. Department of the Northwest, St. Paul, Minn.,
GENERAL: I have the prisoners in my camp, 101 in number, chained two and two together, preparatory to their removal to Fort Snelling. I have 236 in the camp below, who are more or less obnoxious to suspicion, who, in accordance with my orders to Captain Whitney, have been disarmed and confined and will be secured in the same manner. Apart from these there will be some 50 or 60 who have been friendly to the whites throughout the whole affair sent down with the women and children without being subjected to the same treatment. They will simply be placed under guard. There are doubtless some innocent men in the number I have secured in fetters, but there is no time to examine so large a number, and I have therefore thought it proper to place them beyond the hope of escape until their guilt or innocence is established by the tribunal to be appointed by you for their trial.
The proceedings of the military commission who tried and sentenced the 20 already reported will, after having been acted upon by me, be dispatched to your headquarters for your consideration. These men, as I before wrote you, will be sent below with the others, as I construe your order of the 7th instant to be peremptory to send all.
Can a member of my staff now occupying temporarily the position of acting assistant adjutant general under state authority serve as a member or as judge advocate of a court-martial if you decide I have the power to appoint one ?
There is nothing later than a report yesterday morning from the detachment sent out in pursuit of the Indians, when officers and men were in good spirits and traveling rapidly. The report, which is the latest received from the ex treme upper Indians, received from a young Wahpeton Indian I myself found about two miles from camp yesterday and brought in as prisoner, is that the Yanktons, 600 lodges in number, are encamped 30 miles above the end of the coteau, or about 120 miles from here, and the Sissetons, some of whom are im plicated in the attack on Abercrombie, still farther northwest. With the Yank-
278 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
tons, or rather the Eastern Yanktonnais, we have had thus far no recent causes for quarrel, as it is extremely doubtful whether they have harbored or even seen Little Crow and his small band of refugees.
The young Sioux referred to reports that a principal man among the Sissetons, who had a son killed in the battle of Wood Lake, has assembled his friends and relatives to the number of 20 lodges, and gone in pursuit of Little Crow with the avowed intention of killing him, as he holds him responsible as the cause of his son s death. This may or may not be true, but is probable and in accordance with the Indian notions. I have as yet no dispatch from you later than the 7th. I yesterday received notice of my appointment as brigadier general from the Sec-
retary of War.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP RELEASE, Oct. 15, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Commanding Department of the Northwest, St. Paul, Minn.,
GENERAL: After my dispatch of to-day had been sent I had the honor to re ceive your two communications of 10th instant, which countermand in part your previous orders relative to the disposition of the prisoners who may be proved guilty before the military commission, which I will set to work as soon as possible.
So soon as the cavalry arrive with the spare horses you mention I will organ ize the expedition against the Yanktons with all speed, and after it is dispatched I will remove my camp to the lower agency to carry out your instructions, and after having executed those found guilty I will send the remainder under guard to Fort Snelling.
Permit me to express the opinion that the plan adopted by you will work much better as an example than if the prisoners were taken to Fort Snelling to be tried, for the lack of evidence there might have enabled many of the guilty to escape punishment, which will not be the case here.
I should be glad to conduct the proposed expedition against the upper Indians in person, but a severe attack of rheumatism, or something else like it, in the back, prevents me from, taking the active exercise I am accustomed to, and apart from that I deem my presence here in closing up the operations connected with the prisoners as absolutely necessary. I shall therefore withdraw my ap plication for leave of absence until I deem the time to have arrived when I can better be spared. You need not fear that any guilty Indian will escape punish ment.
I beg leave to remind you, lest it escape your recollection in the hurry of busi ness, that it is quite necessary I should be informed whether I have the legal authority to order a general court-martial, as there are cases in the camp in which at least one officer and several privates are charged with grave offenses, which should be disposed of without delay.
OFFICIAL KEPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 279
In case you bring the Winnebagoes up to witness the punishment of the guilty Sioux, I would suggest that several of Little Priest s band, with the chief himself, are obnoxious to the same charges. I believe I have the names produced in the evidence of seven of that band who are implicated.
I do not know how the expedition proposed can be carried out successfully without forage unless you have given orders for a prompt supply; nevertheless, when the horsemen and horses come, it will be pushed ahead, forage or no forage.
I am, general, etc.,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION, CAMP EELEASE, Oct. 17, 1862.
Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Comdg. Department of the Northwest, St. Paul, Minn. ,
GENERAL: Since my last, acknowledging receipt of your dispatches of the 10th instant, I have received no dispatches from your headquarters.
On the afternoon of the 15th instant Eev. Mr. Eiggs, chaplain of the expe dition, learned from a friendly Indian among my scouts that a party of Sioux were encamped on the other side of Lac qui Parle, about 15 miles distant, and communicated the fact to me, suggesting the possibility of their capture. I immediately organized an expedition, under the command of Captain Merriman, of B Company, of the Sixth Infantry, consisting of his own company, 25 mounted men, under Sergeant Fox, of the Third Infantry, and 10 mounted scouts attached to these headquarters, under Lieut. G. A. McLeod, and ordered a movement to be made at 10 o clock in the evening. The instructions given by me to Captain Merriman were strictly executed, and resulted in the capture, without even a show of resistance, of 22 men, 22 women, and 23 children, most of the former being known as deeply implicated in the late outrages. These were conducted under escort to these headquarters and properly secured, while the women and children were ordered to join the general camp at Yellow Medicine, whither they have gone under guard this morning. I beg leave to add that the whole affair was a complete success, and that I issued an order yesterday, which was read at dress parade, expressing my appreciation of the good conduct of all the officers and men employed in the expedition.
Nothing further has been heard from the detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Marshall, which left here at midnight of the 13th instant. I shall expect him to return within three days. The second detachment of cavalry dispatched by you has not yet arrived.
The military commission is engaged in trial of the prisoners, having been con vened yesterday. The cases of some 20 men have been disposed of, but not yet submitted to these headquarters.
I have now 123 Indian men prisoners, including the 20 first sentenced, and 236 men are confined at Yellow Medicine, 20 miles below this point.
280 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
As the Indians reported their force at Yellow Medicine to be about 750 (ex clusive of half-breeds, who were forced to be present), about one-third of whom did not participate in the conflict there, or rather at Wood Lake, my estimate is as follows, based on the best information I can obtain, to- wit:
Entire force of the Medawakanton, Sioux, and Wahpetons 750
Prisoners in Camp Release 123
Friendly Indians (scouts) in same camp 5
Prisoners at Yellow Medicine, strictly confined 236
Friendly Indians there, under surveillance 63
Killed in engagement at Wood Lake (known at least) 30
Wounded (supposed) 40
497
Say 500 warriors accounted for, leaving 250, besides the 100 in "White Lodge and Sleepy Eyes bands of Sioux Sissetons, who committed the Lake Shetek mas sacres, yet to be found and dealt with. I believe the above to be nearly correct. If there is any error, it will be found to be in overrating the men still at large. The estimate embraces all the bands below Big Stone lake. I am convinced I am not far wrong when I state the Sioux Indians above as follows:
Sissetons of Standing Buffalo, Wanatua, and Red Feather, with other smaller bands at Big
Stone lake and Lake Traverse 450
Eastern Yanktonnais, including Cut-Heads and Oukpatiens [Uncapapa ?] 800
1,250
The latter may be somewhat underestimated, but they do not in any case ex ceed in number 1,000 warriors. To these may be added about 400 Missouri Yanktons, with whom the Eastern Yanktonnais are intimately connected, and by whom they could readily be re-enforced.
You have, therefore, general, within your department limits or immediately adjacent:
Refugee Medawakanton and Wahpetons 250
Lower Sissetons 100
Upper Sissetonsand Eastern Yanktonnais 1,450
Missouri Yanktons 400
2,200
Making an aggregate force of 2, 200 Sioux warriors, provided they are not strengthened by the Teton bands across the Missouri. The fractional brigade under my command, if aided by a few hundred mounted men to overtake and bring to bay these prairie savages, is able to whip the whole of them even if combined; but as they are well provided for, the most part with good horses, they could easily elude the pursuit of footmen alone.
I think it may be safely calculated that one-half of the first 350 above set down will be captured and destroyed before spring, as they must come in from the prairie before winter.
I have made the foregoing enumeration, general, to furnish you with such in formation as may be useful to you in forming your plans for the future.
With regard to the proposed expedition against the Yanktons, rather Eastern Yanktonnais, while I shall follow your orders in dispatching the force of mounted
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 281
men when they arrive with the rest of the 650 led horses, I am frank to say that unless provided with abundant forage the horses will fail in less than ten days. The prairie grass is now dry and worthless, and not to be depended upon for campaign purposes at this late season of the year.
6 P. M. Since writing the foregoing Adjutant Blakely has arrived with his detachment, with 50 men and 100 horses, but without forage. We have nearly exhausted all the corn to be found within 20 miles, and the mounted men can effect but little without it.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION,
CAMP RELEASE, Oct. 21, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE,
Comdg. Dept. of the Northwest, St. Paul, Minn.,
GENERAL: Your dispatch of 17th instant reached me to-day through Lieu tenant Shelley. I shall of course change my plans so as to accord with your orders. The commission is proceeding with the trials of prisoners as rapidly as possible. More than 120 cases have been disposed of, the greater part of whom have been found guilty of murder and other atrocious crimes, and there remain still nearly 300 to be tried. I shall report to you the names of all when the com mission has ended its labors and I have had time to review its proceedings, and I shall suspend the executions until the pleasure of the President is known. To morrow or the following day I shall move my camp to the lower agency, where I will organize the cavalry expedition and then proceed with the prisoners to South Bend or Mankato and await orders, as you direct. It is very desirable that 50 or 60 mule teams be sent me to Fort Eidgley, laden with forage, so as to pre vent the delay incident to procuring corn, etc., at the lower agency, for the pur poses of the expedition against the western bands of Sioux. Forage in abundance must be furnished or the experiment will be a total failure at this late season of the year, and involve a great expenditure in horses, if not in men, without any result. I pray you to have this attended to, and have the mule teams, complete with their loads, pushed forward from Fort Snelling with the least practicable delay.
Warm clothing and a good supply of blankets for the men are also indispen sable. The horse teams I have with me are nearly worn-out by incessant labor, and the greater part are utterly unfit for a long expedition like the one contem plated.
I cannot but regret that you propose to deprive me of the Sixth and Seventh regiments, for they have become somewhat accustomed to Indian fighting and cannot readily be replaced by others. I would respectfully request that these regiments be retained on this frontier, if consistent with the public advantage, and the other and later regiments be sent South in their stead.
I have made no mention of your expressed intentions to any one, nor shall I do so until I have further instructions from you. I have ordered the mounted
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282 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
force to concentrate at the lower agency, where forage can be had for the horses. They will act as escort and guard in the transfer of the prisoners to that point.
Lieutenant Colonel Marshall has just arrived with his detachment and 39 men and about 100 women and children prisoners. Among the former are known to be several murderers and rascals, who will of course be made to pay the penalty of their crimes. I have now about 400 Indian men in irons and between 60 and 70 under surveillance here and at Yellow Medicine.
Lieutenant Colonel Marshall proceeded to within 35 miles of the James river and he passed within 26 miles of Big Stone lake. He took captive all the In dians to be found in the district of country visited by him, and the prisoners re port the Sissetons and Eastern Yanktonnais to be several days march farther west. When his report is received it will be transmitted to your headquarters. He was ably assisted by Major Brown, of my staff, who accompanied him, as well as by Captain Valentine of the Sixth and Curtis of the Seventh regiments, and Lieutenant Swan, [of the Third Eegiment] in immediate command of the mounted men, whose companies, with a mounted howitzer, under the charge of Sergeant O Shea, composed his force.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
The Winnebagoes referred to by you will be tried by the military commission when it convenes at South Bend or Mankato. Some of the Sioux prisoners will serve as evidence against those of them who are implicated in the late massacres.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ST. PAUL, Oct. 22, 1862. To His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States,
DEAR SIR: As I have before informed you on the 17th of August last the Sioux commenced a war, which for inhuman barbarity is almost unexampled. I at once took most rigorous measures to protect our defenseless people and punish the savages. Fortunately about 2,500 volunteers had assembled at Fort Snelling in response to your call; these with portions of the state militia were sent to the frontier as fast as they could be armed and equipped; and shortly after a part of the Third Minnesota came to our aid, making in all about 4,000 men. We had but few guns and no ammunition, no transportation or commissary stores.
I bought all the guns and ammunition to be had here and borrowed from neighboring states what they could spare.
Transportation and subsistence I ordered to be impressed, being my only means of procuring it, and in two weeks thereafter the forces were in the exposed frontier, many of them much sooner. Meanwhile the Indians struck at distant points. They burned New Ulm, Hutchinson, and many other thriving settlements and invested Forts Eidgley and Abercrombie. They were driven back by our forces, taking with them, however, much plunder and some 300 or 400 captives, women and children. The arrival of General Pope on the 15th of September re-
OFFICIAL EEPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 283
lieved me from the responsibility of providing for the troops and their further disposition, and I am now happy to inform you that General Sibley, to whom I gave command of the main expedition, has been able to rescue nearly all the cap tives, and now holds some 1,500 men, women, and children of the Indians prison ers, and unless there is a greater combination of hostile savages further west than I think probable, the war is virtually closed. The question now arises, how shall the expense thus incurred be paid? The United States military officers now here very justly say they cannot pay them without special instructions, as they were incurred by state authority. Our young state is feeble and poor. We are with out ready means, and have very many refugees and destitute (made so by this war) to provide for. Our people, whose supplies equipped the troops and whose teams I was forced to impress, took them from their harvest fields (many of which are yet detained in the service), need their pay to prepare for a Northern winter.
In this dilemma I have thought it best to send to you the bearer, Col. Eichard Chute, who is the acting quartermaster of this state, to lay this whole matter be fore you, in order that you may fully understand all that has been done and the position we are placed in as to these accounts. I trust you may give his state ments a candid hearing and make such orders in the premises as the exigency demands. In all things I have endeavored to be economical. I suppose $150,000 will pay all expenses prior to General Pope s arrival, and I think it will be judicious and wise if the United States will at once assume the payment of all indebtedness incurred by the state authorities in this emergency, and either direct the several departments to pay the same or furnish us the means and we will set tle the accounts and file the vouchers at Washington City.
The state furnished the transportation now used by General Sibley. For the teams so used the state may possibly be called upon to pay. This is manifestly unjust. Some of them can be returned to their owners and some will have to be paid for.
All stores and supplies that I purchased are either consumed or in the hands of the military officers of the general government. The chief item of expendi ture will be for guns, ammunition, transportation, camp equipage, subsistence, pay of our regular volunteers for from thirty to sixty days, and a little clothing. A commission is now in session here, selected by our state legislature, to determine the amount and justice of these claims, and I would suggest that as it is composed of three good men, acting under oath, that their awards be made the basis of pay ment. I do not know any fairer way to determine the value of the articles taken, or what is justly due. Very respectfully,
ALEXANDER EAMSEY.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Oct. 27, 1862 10 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK:
The river is very low, and from appearances will close by November 15. I am hurrying off the troops for Helena as fast as possible. The regiments to go from this state are marching down the Minnesota river and will strike the Mis sissippi at foot of Lake Pepin. From Wisconsin the Twenty-eighth goes to-day, and all regiments from that state and Iowa, as well as this state, will be off by
284 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
November 5. If consistent with public interest, please inform me if I am to re main here this winter. If so, I wish to make preparations for winter before river closes. After that time it will be impossible to get away before last of April without abandoning horses and #11 other property I have. I only ask because of the thousand rumors which reach me every day. If I can be certain about it I shall be spared some anxiety and uneasiness.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 1862.
Major General POPE,
St. Paul, Minn.:
I can no more divine than you can yourself how long you will remain in your present command. It is proper, however, for me to say to you that there has been urged upon the President a proposition to remove you and appoint a civilian (a member of Congress) in your place. I need not add that I have and will oppose it.
H. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief.
ST. PETER, Oct. SI, 1862. His Excellency, Governor ALEX. RAMSEY,
St. Paul
MY DEAR SIR: I have been for the past few days visiting several points in this vicinity, and on the Blue Earth, and find that the people receive the news of the withdrawal of troops from the state with feelings of consternation. I knew nothing certainly of this matter until this evening, when in conversation with Colonel Averill of the Sixth, I was informed by him that several of the regiments were to be ordered off. I assure you that the idea of peace being restored to the frontier, as enunciated in the order issued by General Pope, is a fatally mistaken one. ISTo one here on the border believes it, but on the contrary, every man, even the merchants in the towns, declare that if the present force is not retained they will feel it their duty to themselves and their families to leave the state. This is the general opinion, and I fully concur in it. We cannot expect the citizens in these exposed points to quietly remain until Little Crow returns from the west with re-enforcements sufficient to re-enact all the horrors of the past summer, and we feel confident, from what we know of him and the Sioux, together with their sympathizers on and west of the Missouri, that there is great danger of future aggressions from the Indians. These fears are entertained very gener ally by all classes of people. They may be regarded by General Pope and your self as foolish, and they may be so, yet we think some consideration is due to the unanimous voice of the state, and I have yet to find the man who disagrees with the general sentiment.
OFFICIAL EEPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 285
If five regiments are withdrawn St. Paul will be a frontier town before the close of navigation. I don t mean to desert, neither do some others that I could name, yet our families are fugitive, and if the government, by its policy, renders our state so insecure that we cannot bring them back, it may lose its attractions for us; and for one, I can say without hesitation, that mine shall never again be subjected to even the apprehension of being scalped.
It seems to me that you must be fully conscious of the truth of what I say con cerning the condition of things in this region, and that you must also have a common feeling with us; if so, why not protest against this mistaken, suicidal policy, of leaving us crippled and unprotected. If the protest is made by you it will have its force and will succeed.
There is no peace. The whole country outside of the lines of the troops is in the possession of the Indians. You, nor General Pope, dare not go 20 miles from St. Cloud without an escort of at least a company, and the man is yet to be found in this part of the country who will venture 20 miles from New Ulm without a similar escort. If this is peace, we have the genuine article, and it will be nearer and nearer to us as the outposts are drawn in.
My dear Governor, if you have any regard for the interests of this state, and the good- will of its citizens, take my advice and exert yourself to the utmost to prevent the troops from leaving, and to correct the idea that peace is restored. You can do it.
There is not a man too many for vigorous operations in the spring, and rest assured that if we once lose them we will never get them back. I think Colonel Averill will agree with all I say, and say the same himself. For God s sake, don tallow this thing to be done.
I must beg your pardon for intruding my views upon you, as I have done in this letter, and also for the familiar manner in which I have taken the liberty to express them. My apology is that I feel deeply in the matter, and that this is for your private eye alone. Truly, your friend,
CHARLES E. FLANDRAU.
QUARTERMASTER GENERAL S OFFICE,
WASHINGTON CITY, Oct. 31, 1862. Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War, Washington, D. (?.,
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from the Hon. Alexander Eamsey, Governor of Minnesota, in reference to the expenses incurred in that state on account of the recent outbreak of the Sioux Indians, re ferred by you for a report on the following points: 1st. "Whether there is any appropriation out of which the claim can be paid. 2d. If there be such appro priation, what sum should be paid?
First The appropriations for the Quartermaster s Department are based upon estimates made in accordance with existing acts of Congress, and the regulations of the War Department authorized by those acts. These do not provide for the expenses of the state troops not called into the service of the United States. There is no appropriation under the control of the Quartermaster s Department from which the expenses incurred for such state troops can be paid. Expenses
286 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
incurred foi* the movement and operation of volunteers or drafted militia mus tered into the service of the United States under existing laws and used in the war against the Sioux can be paid from the existing appropriations. Therefore, when the government of the state or territory has incurred expenses in defending the people of said state or territory from the attacks of Indians, Congress has pro vided after the events, by special acts and appropriation for the settlement of the claim. See Acts of Feb. 14, 1851 (Vol. 9, page 566): "To settle and adjust the expenses of the people of Oregon in defending themselves from the attacks and hostilities of Cayuse Indians," and Feb. 27, 1851 (Vol. 9, page 573): "For re imbursing the State of Florida for money advanced and paid, and for expenses incurred, and obligations contracted by said state for subsistence, supplies and services of local troops called into service."
Second It cannot be determined what sum should be paid in this case until a full and detailed statement of the actual and necessary expenses incurred has been presented; which statement should be accompanied by proper vouchers and satisfactory proof of the correctness thereof, authenticated in conformity with the usages of the department.
The communication of Governor Eamsey is herewith respectfully returned. I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster General.
WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., Nov. 5, 1862. To His Excellency, ALEX. EAMSEY,
DEAR SIR: After mature deliberation and a thorough search for a law that would permit the payment of the Sioux war expenses by the War Department at once, it has been determined that there is no authority for so doing. And the President and Secretary of War say they see no other course for our state to pur sue than at once to learn the exact amount required to discharge these liabilities and report to the War Department; whereupon Mr. Stanton says he will ask Congress to make an immediate appropriation to pay them. The President, heads of departments and of bureaus, after giving this matter prompt and thorough attention, and appreciating fully our position, the order for payment would be made instanter, if the laws permitted. As bearing on this, I hand you herewith a copy of Quartermaster Gen. M. C. Meigs report to the Secretary of War, which was mainly drafted by Colonel Sibley (brother to our Gen. H. H. Sibley), who was very anxious that our state should be relieved from her liability.
The Treasury Department also takes the view contained in this report. I have telegraphed you as follows:
i Our Sioux war expenses can only be paid by special future congressional appropriations."
The state military accounts in the hands of the third auditor require certain certificates from the state authorities. Mr. D. T. Smith has promised to send them out with full explanations. I inclose you a copy of the treasury rules.
I learn from a reliable source that our First Eegiment has only 320 men fit for duty, and that these are quite disheartened; for the honor of our state and the encouragement of these gallant soldiers, the ranks should be promptly filled. I
OFFICIAL EEPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 287
would visit their camp but they are on the advance after the rebels in Virginia, arid I might be a week in reaching them. The President referred your communi cation relative to appropriating the Sioux annuities towards the payment of dep redation claims to the Secretary of the Interior, who assures me he will ask Congress to do this, and also to appoint a commission to ascertain the amount.
Very truly yours,
EICHARD CHUTE.
ST. PAUL, Nov. 5, 1862. Hon. C. E. FLANDRAU,
MY DEAR JUDGE: Before the receipt of your letter I had interview with General Pope and urged upon him the policy of retaining all our men within the state, except the Third, that are extremely anxious to have an opportunity of redeeming the laurels lost at Murfreesborough, and three companies of the Fifth, yet at the posts of Abercrombie, Eidgley and Eipley.
He urges that he is only sending out the Sixth and Seventh, and will retain the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Third, and mounted regiment, which will give us near 5,000 men; further, says he cannot retain the Sixth and Seventh without express orders from Washington. I will continue my efforts to retain them.
Yours truly,
ALEX. RAMSEY.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
ST. PAUL, MINN., Nov. 6, 1862. Governor A. RAMSEY,
St. Paul, Minn.,
MY DEAR SIR: Your letter of this date is received, and in accordance with your wishes, and with those of many of the respectable citizens of your state, I have countermanded the order for the Sixth and Seventh Minnesota regiments to go South, and shall send the Third Eegiment instead. It is perhaps true, as you state, that the departure of these regiments would alarm the frontier settlers, and perhaps prevent many of them from returning to their abandoned homes; but I think that much of this alarm would result from a misapprehension of my pur poses. I never, for a moment, thought of abandoning any posts heretofore occu pied, during this winter at least. Fort Eidgley, and points on the river below, would have been and will be occupied, as also the line of frontier posts from Sauk Center as far south as the Iowa line, with advanced posts at Madelia, Chain Lakes, and in Jackson county. The force I had designed to keep in this state consisted of the Eighth, Ninth and Tenth regiments ( infantry ), the Third Eegi ment (mounted) and the cavalry regiment authorized to be raised in this state, six companies of which are already prepared for service. This would have given an effective force of 4, 760 men. In Iowa I am keeping one infantry and one cavalry regiment, numbering 2,200 men. With this force of 7,000 men, of whom nearly one-half would be mounted, I proposed to make a vigorous campaign in the spring, which should cover the whole region between the Missouri river and the eastern boundary of Minnesota.
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288 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
I am induced to retain the Sixth and Seventh regiments here, as you request, not because of actual danger to the settlements, but, as you suggest, and as I have myself thought necessary, to restore confidence to a people panic-stricken at the awful outrages but recently perpetrated by the Sioux. I can well understand how people should be timid after such an experience, and how impossible to induce the inhabitants to remain on their farms and in their villages without a sense of ample security. It is hoped that the assurance given by the military force will not long be needed, as the government needs troops in the South very much, and I am very anxious to meet its wants as far as possible.
As the hearty concurrence and co-operation of the people of the state in the measures which I propose and which the government now has under considera tion, is essential to success, and as my purposes seem to have been greatly mis understood, I think it proper again to state to you the policy and the plans which, will govern my operations here.
I have proposed to the government to disarm and remove entirely from the state all the annuity Indians, and all other Indians now within its boundaries, and to place them where they can no longer impede the progress of the settle ments nor endanger the settlers. During the campaign of the next summer to seize and dispose of all the Indians upon whom we can lay our hands, in like manner, so that the lines of travel and emigration shall be secure to the smallest parties, To treat all Indians (as the late outrages and many previous outrages have dem onstrated to be the only safe and humane method), as irresponsible persons, to occupy nearly the same relation to the government as lunatics do to the state authorities. The government to feed and clothe them cheaply, and for that pur pose to use the annuities now paid, and the proceeds of the sale of their reservations; to pay no more annuities and to give the Indian no more arms or weapons by which he can be dangerous. By this mode of treatment a great barrier, which has been constantly accumulating by the removal periodically of Indian tribes, and their location along our western borders, will be at once removed, and the whole region to the Eocky Mountains will, in a very short time, be opened to emigration, travel and settlement. By this policy, also, the Indian, being de prived of his arms, and of the power of indulging his habits of wandering rest lessness, and removed from the evil association of gamblers, whisky sellers and unprincipled white men and half-breeds, will be brought to a condition where Christianity and education can be brought to bear upon him, and where some hope of success will be offered to the missionary and instructor in their humane labors. "Whatever the effect might be on the present generation of Indians, there is great reason to hope that the succeeding generation would be so far brought under the influence of education and civilization that the Indians could safely be trusted among the whites. In a humane view, both to whites and Indians, and in view of the continued progress and prosperity of the state, this policy seems to me to be wise and conclusive of the whole question, and I shall spare no means to have it adopted by the government and carried out.
The Sioux prisoners engaged in the late outbreak will be executed unless the President forbids it, which, from the tenor of his dispatches, I am sure he will not do. Very respectfully, Governor, your obedient servant,
JOHN POPE, Major General, Commanding.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 289
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 1862. Major General POPE,
St. Paul, Minn.:
Your dispatch giving the names of 300 Indians condemned to death is received. Please forward as soon as possible the fall and complete record of their convic tions; and if the record does not fully indicate the more guilty and influential of the culprits, please have a careful statement made on these points and forwarded to me. Send all by mail. A. LINCOLN.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Nov. 10, 1862. His Excellency, ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States :
I hope the execution of every Sioux Indian condemned by the military court will be at once ordered. It would be wrong upon principle and policy to refuse this. Private revenge would on all this border take the place of official judgment on these Indians. ALEX. EAMSEY.
[Indorsement.]
Eespectfully referred to Secretary of War.
A. LINCOLN. November 11, 1862.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Nov. 11, 1862. His Excellency, ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States :
Your dispatch of yesterday received. Will comply with your wishes immedi ately. I desire to represent to you that the only distinction between the culprits is as to which of them murdered most people or violated most young girls. All of them are guilty of these things in more or less degree. The people of this state, most of whom had relations or connections thus barbarously murdered and bru tally outraged are exasperated to the last degree, and if the guilty are not all exe cuted I think it nearly impossible to prevent the indscriminate massacre of all the Indians old men, women, and children. The soldiers guarding them are from this state and equally connected and equally incensed with the citizens. It is to be noted that these horrible outrages were not committed by wild Indians, whose excuse might be found in ignorance and barbarism, but by Indians who have for years been paid annuities by government, and who committed those horrible crimes upon people among whom they had lived for years in constant and inti mate intercourse, at whose houses they had slept, and at whose tables they had been fed. There are 1, 500 women and children and innocent old men prisoners, besides those condemned, and I fear that so soon as it is known that the criminals are not at once to be executed that there will bean indiscriminate massacre of the whole. The troops are entirely new and raw, and are in full sympathy with the people on this subject. I will do the best I can, but fear a terrible result. The poor women and young girls are distributed about among the towns bearing the
19
290 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
marks of the terrible outrages committed upon them, while daily there are funerals of those massacred men, women, and children whose bodies are being daily found. These things influence the public mind to a fearful degree, and your action has been awaited with repressed impatience. I do not suggest any proced ure to you, but it is certain that the criminals condemned ought in every view to be at once executed without exception. The effect of letting them off from punishment will be exceedingly bad upon all other Indians upon the frontier, as they will attribute it to fear and not to mercy. I should be glad if you would advise me by telegraph of your decision, as the weather is growing very cold and immediate steps must be taken to put all in quarters.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Nov. 24, 1862 12:20 p. m. His Excellency, ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
President of the United States :
Official information has reached me from the officer in charge of the con demned Indians that organizations of inhabitants are being rapidly made with the purpose of massacring these Indians. He has been obliged in consequence to concentrate a considerable force for their protection, and during the cold weather it is impracticable to protect so large a body of troops and Indians from the weather. I trust that your decision and orders in the case will be trans mitted as soon as practicable, as humanity to both the troops and Indians re quires an immediate disposition of the case. I apprehend serious trouble with the people of this state, who are much exasperated against the criminal Indians.
JNO. POPE,
Major General.
GENERAL HEADQUARTERS STATE OF MINNESOTA,
ADJUTANT GENERAL S OFFICE,
ST. PAUL, MINN., Nov. 24, 1862. ol. CHAS. E. FLANDRAU,
SIR: You are respectfully requested to transmit to this office at your earliest convenience a report of the actions and movements, etc., of the troops and de tachment under your command during the Sioux Indian expedition. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
OSCAR MALMROS, Adjutant General.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA,
ST. PAUL, MINN., Dec. 6, 1862. Brigadier General ELLIOTT,
Commanding Department :
About 11 o clock on the night of the 4th instant, the guard around the Indian prisoners at Camp Lincoln were assaulted by nearly 200 men, who attempted to reach the prisoners, with the avowed intention of murdering the condemned
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OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 291
prisoners. Colonel Miller, commanding, warned previously of the design, sur rounded the assailants and took them prisoners, but subsequently released them. Colonel Miller informs me that large numbers of citizens are assembling, and he fears a serious collision. I have authorized him to declare martial law, if neces sary, and call to his assistance all the troops within his reach. He thinks it will require 1, 000 true men to protect the prisoners against all organized popular out break. He will have nearly or quite that number, but it is doubtful if they can be relied on in the last resort.
Please telegraph the facts to the President, and ask instructions. Any hour may witness a sad conflict, if it has not already occurred.
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Dec. 8, 1862. Brigadier General ELLIOTT,
Commanding Department :
Dispatches and private letters just received indicate a fearful collision between the United States forces and the citizens. Combinations, embracing thousands of men in all parts of the state, are said to be forming, and in a few days our troops, with the Indian prisoners, will be literally besieged. I shall concentrate all the men I can at Mankato. But should the President pardon the condemned Indians, there will be a determined effort to get them in possession, which will be resented, and may cost the lives of thousands of our citizens. Ask the President to keep secret his decision, whatever it may be, until I have prepared myself as best I can. God knows how much the excitement is increasing and extending. Tele graph without delay to headquarters. H. H. SIBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. 9, 1862. Hon. ALEX. EAMSEY,
Governor of Minnesota,
SIR: I have presented your telegram to the Secretary of "War, and have urged the payment of the balance of the Third Regiment. It is not yet decided. I am in hopes of success, although the Secretary of War told me that General Halleck was in favor of having them paid at their place of destination. But finally the Secretary said he would refer the matter, and if it could be done he would see it was done. I will still pursue the matter.
I have done all in my power to induce our President to have the law executed in regard to your condemned Indians. We have made some impression upon him, and he has at last consented to order the execution of 39, but he will not permit the others to be discharged, but will order them held for the present. I hope our people will not destroy these miscreants by violence. If the people will be patient we will be able, I think, to dispose of those condemned, and will also succeed in removing the Sioux and Winnebago Indians from the state.
Respectfully, your obedient servant, M. S. WILKINSON.
292 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 1862. Brig. Gen. H. H. SIBLEY,
St. Paul, Minn.:
As you suggest, let the execution fixed for Friday, the 19th instant, be post poned to, and be done on, Friday, the 26th instant. A. LINCOLN.
OPERATOR. Please send this very carefully and accurately.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Dec. 27, 1862. The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:
I have the honor to inform you that the 38 Indians and half-breeds ordered by you for execution were hung yesterday at Mankato, at 10 A. M. Everything went off quietly, and the other prisoners are well secured.
Eespectfully,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Dec. 27, 1862. Brigadier General SIBLEY,
St. Paul, Minn.:
Funds for the Pay Department left here the 24th. The Secretary of War authorizes the quartermaster to loan funds to the Pay Department, to be repaid on their arrival. All forces you can spare should be sent down the Mississippi river, to report first at Cairo or Columbus for further orders.
H. W. HALLECK, General-in- Chief.
ST. PAUL, MINN., Dec. 27, 1862 8 p. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
General-in- Chief:
The Twenty-fifth Eegiment Wisconsin Volunteers has already been dispatched. The Third Eegiment Minnesota Volunteers will move to Cairo on the 10th proximo. I cannot spare another man. The Indians of the plains are gathering for a general onslaught as soon as weather permits. Eespectfully,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ST. PAUL, Feb. 13, 1863. Brig. Gen. H. H. SIBLEY,
St. Paul, Minn.,
GENERAL: The prevailing rumors that the Sioux under Little Crow are pre paring for a resumption of hostilities in the spring, are, I am informed, exciting a deep anxiety throughout the frontier settlements.
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 293
From the well-known suddenness and secrecy of Indian movements and the great extent of the exposed frontier, a feverish apprehension exists that you may be unable with the force at your command to protect our border settlements from the stealthy encroachments of the wily foe, and that with the opening of spring, life and property everywhere on the frontier will be menaced with a repetition of the dangers and horrors from which it was fortunately rescued last fall. The preva lence of this feeling of insecurity is likely to lead to disastrous results unless checked by the assurances that the means at your disposal are, or will be, ample to protect our people.
A single successful blow struck by these Indian assassins at any unexpected quarter on the frontier would create a panic as widespread and frenzied as that of last autumn, and probably drive nearly the whole population of our western counties back to the Mississippi towns.
I do not doubt that with five regiments of infantry and one of mounted rangers at your disposal, you will be well able to proceed across the plains and chastise the Sioux allies of Little Crow and at the same time guard our extended settlements from any reasonable probability of an inroad from Sioux or other Indians.
It is at least highly important that our people should know beforehand to what extent they can rely on your disposition of forces for their protection and how and in what manner their own co-operation may be necessary to insure their security.
It occurs to me that if it were known that numerous parties of scouts would upon the earliest opening of spring be thrown out in advance of our settlers, and in advance of your main force, so as to give timely notice of the purpose of the Indians, or of their approach, if they determine upon that course, a knowledge of the fact that these precautions were taken would have a tendency to allay the apprehensions now felt of a stealthy attack.
Trusting that you will feel at liberty to give me for the use of the public the information sought, I have the honor to be,
With great respect, your obedient servant,
ALEX. EAMSEY.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA, DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
ST. PAUL, MINN., Feb. 14, 1868.
His Excellency, ALEX. EAMSEY,
Governor of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn.,
SIR: I have the honor to state that your communication of yesterday reached me this morning.
In reply to the inquiries therein contained, relating to the disposition of troops stationed in this military district, and the precautions taken against apprehend ed stealthy attacks of the hostile Sioux upon the frontier settlements in the spring, I proceed to give you briefly such information as can properly be made public at the present time.
294 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
I have not failed to inform myself, from the most reliable sources, of the con dition of affairs among the several Indian tribes in this district, and to communi cate it officially from time to time to the headquarters of the department.
"With regard to the expedition you refer to, I ean only state that I have the as surance that my requisitions will receive proper attention, and the military stores and other supplies required, duly furnished. The plan proposed by me has not yet been acted upon by the higher authorities, and I can therefore give no assur ances with reference to the campaign until the decision is made.
I am endeavoring to dispose of all my available force so as to afford the most protection to the more exposed points.
An order has already been issued to the commanding officers at the several stations along the line where no defensive works have been erected, to employ the men of their respective commands in constructing stockades within which the settlers may find refuge in case of threatened attack. There will be scouts em ployed also, to give notice if the Indians make their appearance at any point of approach to the settlements, and I am about dispatching a party of reliable half- breeds up the Minnesota river, to remain there during the spring, who will advise me in case the savages show themselves in that quarter. If the requisitions for arms and ammunition are filled, I will be enabled to arm all the infantry regi ments with Springfield muskets, and in such case I shall apply for authority to turn over the arms now in the hands of most of the companies for distribution by the state to the people of the localities most exposed, for their defense. I would respectfully suggest that companies of home guards be formed under the authority of the state, so that in case of necessity there may be a concert of action on the part of the settlers. Such an organization would do much to prevent a panic and tend to appease the apprehensions of the people generally.
Having adverted in brief terms to the precautionary measures adopted for the security of the border against a renewal of the scenes of last summer, I close by assuring you that so far as I have the means, they shall be employed to the best advantage to protect our citizens and appease the fears of the settlers. My own belief is that the hostile Indians will make no descent upon the border until they find they are not themselves to be attacked in their prairie haunts; still it is. well to make preparation at all points to repel them should onslaughts be at tempted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ST. PAUL, May 8, 1868.
GENERAL: Allow me to recur to the matter of our conversation a few days since in reference to protection for the trade from St. Paul, by the way of the Red river, to the Hudson s Bay possessions.
This trade, as you are aware, has already reached fair proportions. And with the development of the gold regions of the Saskatchewan and other portions of British America, is likely to advance rapidly in growth. The Hudson s Bay
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 295
Company for a few years past have been shipping to a great extent their annual supplies by this route, and the gentlemen connected with this trade enter and leave that country mainly by way of St. Paul and the Bed river route. You will recollect that the present Governor, General Dallas, passed over this route, when about entering upon the duties of his office, during the spring of 1862.
The importance of the northwestern route to the Pacific through Minnesota, the profitable trade which it will furnish our people, and our national pride, all seem to exact of us the duties of preserving transit uninterruptedly upon it.
I would therefore again respectfully suggest that if you have in your command sufficient force for that purpose in addition to what is reserved for the proper chastisement of the Sioux Indians, you can at once give the most ample protec tion to business and trade upon the route from St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie, and thence along the Bed river to the international boundary.
Very respectfully,
ALEX. EAMSEY. Brig. Gen. H. H. SIBLEY,
Commanding District of Minnesota,
Department of the Northwest, St. Paul.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA, DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
ST. PAUL, May 10, 1863. His Excellency, ALEX. BAMSEY,
Governor of Minnesota, St. Paul,
SIR: I have had the honor to receive your official communication of the 8th instant, in which you urge the importance of keeping open the route from St. Cloud to Fort Abercrombie, and thence to Pembina and the British possessions, by means of a competent military force. In reply, I have to state that your views correspond very readily with my own so far as regards the desirableness of pro tecting that line of communication. I ordered the commanding officer at Fort Abercrombie some time since to dispatch a force to aid in bringing the steamer which was left during the winter at Georgetown, and that object has been accom plished, the boat being now under the guns of the fort named.
I have been applied to by the gentlemen who have control of the transporta tion on the Bed river to furnish an escort for the steamer, but reliable information has been obtained that the low stage of water in the Bed river renders useless any attempt at navigation. I cannot spare force enough from the regiments in this district to escort safely land trains of wagons or carts for as long a distance with out seriously impairing the means necessary to conduct the proposed expedition against the Indians to a successful issue, which main object is of vital importance to the state and to the public service generally, and should not be jeoparded by withdrawing any part of the material necessary for its accomplishment.
While, therefore, I should consider it my duty to provide for the security of the steamer, if it were possible for the Bed river to be navigated, it is not within my power for the present to station troops along the line beyond Fort Abercrom bie. I have already a larger force at the various posts on the route from St. Cloud to, and including, Abercrombie, than can well be spared for that purpose.
296 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
The attainment of the so much desired object by both of us can best be effected by the success of the expedition to Devil s lake and the boundary line in sup pressing or exterminating the predatory bands of Sioux who have so long inter rupted and embarrassed the transit of supplies to and from the British settle ments.
It is my intention to make a demonstration in force along the Bed river and return by the way of Fort Abercrombie, unless other and more important objects require me to pursue a different course. I can therefore only give the assurance, generally, of doing all in my power to open the communication referred to by you as speedily as I have the means of doing so, and of making the route entirely safe for the future by striking at the fountain of the mischief.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding.
STATE or MINNESOTA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
ST. PAUL, May 23, 1863.
GENERAL: Allow me to call your attention to the sad intelligence communi cated by the sheriff of Brown county a copy of his letter you will find inclosed.
H. Basche was killed within two miles of New Ulm, where a company of mounted rangers, I am informed, have for some time been stationed. This mur der, with those at Madelia and those on Abercrombie trail, naturally cause alarm among the frontier settlers and requires some prompt action upon the part of the military authorities or the confidence of the people in their protection will be destroyed, and the pursuits of agriculture entirely interrupted.
If something cannot be speedily done to protect the people I shall be com pelled to order the militia on the western frontier, and unprovided as we are with transportation, etc., I fear delay, confusion, and much expense and annoyance will be incurred in the necessary employment of all that is required, etc.
With some 5,000 troops in the state destined for this special purpose, I can but hope that this necessity may be saved us. I should be pleased to hear from you as to what may be expected to be done, that I may communicate it to citizens on the frontier who have addressed me on the subject.
I am, general, very respectfully yours, etc.,
ALEXANDER EAMSEY. Gen. H. H. SIBLEY.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA,
ST. PAUL, May 23, 1863. His Excellency, ALEX. EAMSEY,
St. Paul,
SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, with copy of dispatch addressed to you by the sheriff of Brown county, announcing the sad intelligence of the death of Henry Basche, a citizen of Brown
OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE. 297
county, at the hands of a small party of Indians. The fact had already been an nounced to me by Lieutenant Colonel Averill, commanding at camp Pope, who has taken the most active measures to intercept the retreat of murderers, and I trust they will prove successful.
While I deeply deplore these occasional raids, and have taken every precau tion against them, it must be evident to you that along the line of frontier to be guarded it is physically impossible to protect every man on his farm by an armed force, or to prevent entirely the passage of two or three Indians at points where they may do mischief. The frontier should be guarded not only by such soldiers of the United States as can be spared for that purpose, but every man living at exposed points should be armed, so as to be able to repel the attacks of these small parties of lurking savages, until measures now in progress shall be suc cessful in sweeping the country of these merciless redskins, and restoring the border to peace and quiet. We are in a state of war with the Sioux nation. And the very few visitations of war parties during the spring affords ample evidence that the savages are awe-stricken to a great extent by their defeats of last year, and that comparatively few dare to return to the scene of their former nefarious deeds.
There are scouts and mounted men on the outside of the settlements engaged in scouring the country continually, and I am of the opinion that after the de parture of the expedition a few days hence that even these small raids will be al most entirely discontinued. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brigadier General, Commanding.
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SIOTTX INDIANS.-June 16-Sept. 13, 1863.
Reports of Brig. Gen. Henry H. Sibley, Commanding Expedition.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA, CAMP CARTER, BANK OF JAMES EIVER, Aug. 7, 1863.
MAJOR: My last dispatch was dated 21st ultimo, from Camp Olin, in which I had the honor to inform Major General Pope that I had left one- third of my force in an intrenched position at Camp Atchison, and was then one day s march in advance, with 1,400 infantry and 500 cavalry, in the direction where the main body of the Indians were supposed to be.
During the three following days I pursued a course somewhat west of south, making 50 miles, having crossed the James river and the Great Coteau of the Missouri. On the 24th, about IP. M., being considerably in advance of the main column, with some of the officers of my staff, engaged in looking out for a suitable camping ground, the command having marched steadily from 5 A. M., some
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of my scouts came to me at full speed, and reported that a large camp of Indians had just before passed, and great numbers of warriors could be seen upon the prairie, two or three miles distant. I immediately corralled my train upon the shore of a salt lake near by, and established my camp, which was rapidly intrenched by
298 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
Colonel Crooks, to whom was intrusted that duty, for the security of the trans portation in case of attack, a precaution I had taken whenever we encamped for many days previously. "While the earthworks were being pushed forward, parties of Indians, more or less numerous, appeared upon the hills around us, and one of my half-breed scouts, a relative of Eed Plume, a Sisseton chief, hitherto opposed to the war, approached sufficiently near to converse with him. Eed Plume told him to warn me that the plan was formed to invite me to a council, with some of my superior officers, to shoot us without ceremony, and then attack my command in great force, trusting to destroy the whole of it. The Indians ventured near the spot where a portion of my scouts had taken position, 300 or 400 yards from our camp, and conversed with them in an apparently friendly manner, some of them professing a desire for peace. Surg. Josiah S. Weiser, of the First Eegiment Minnesota Mounted Eangers, incautiously joined the group of scouts, when a young savage, doubtless supposing from his uniform and horse equipments that he was an officer of rank, pretended great friendship and delight at seeing him, but when within a few feet treacherously shot him through the heart. The scouts discharged their pieces at the murderer, but he escaped, leaving his horse behind. The body of Dr. Weiser was immediately brought into camp, unmutilated, save by the ball that killed him. He was universally esteemed, being skillful in his profession and a courteous gentleman. This outrage precipitated an immediate engagement. The savages, in great numbers, concealed by the ridges, had encir cled those portions of the camp not flanked by the lake referred to, and com menced an attack. Colonel [Samuel] McPhail, with two companies, subsequently re-enforced by others, as they could be spared from other points, was directed to drive the enemy from the vicinity of the hill where Dr. Weiser was shot, while those companies of the Seventh Eegiment, under Lieutenant Colonel [W. E.] Marshall and Major [George] Bradley, and one company of the Tenth Eegiment, under Captain [Alonzo J.] Edgerton, were dispatched to support them. Taking with me a 6-pounder, under the command of Lieutenant [John C.] Whipple, I ascended a hill toward the Big Mound, on the opposite side of the ravine, and opened fire with spherical-case shot upon the Indians, who had obtained possession of the upper part of the large ravine, and of smaller ones tributary to it, under the protection of which they could annoy the infantry and cavalry without expos ure on their part. This flank and raking fire of artillery drove them from their hiding places into the broken prairie, where they were successively dislodged from the ridges, being utterly unable to resist the steady advance of the Seventh Eegiment and the Eangers, but fled before them in confusion. While these events were occurring on the right, the left of the camp was also threatened by a formidable body of warriors. Colonel [William] Crooks, whose regiment (the Sixth) was posted on that side, was ordered to deploy part of his command as skirmishers, and to dislodge the enemy. This was gallantly done, the colonel directing in person the movements of one part of his detached force, and Lieuten ant Colonel [John T.] Averill of the other, Major [Eobert N.] McLaren remaining in command of that portion of the regiment required as part of the camp ground. The savages were steadily driven from one strong position after another, under a severe fire, until, feeling their utter inability to contend longer with our soldiers in the open field, they joined their brethren in one common flight. Upon moving forward with my staff to a commanding point which overlooked the field, I dis-
BATTLE OF BIG MOUND. 299
covered the whole body of Indians, numbering from 1,000 to 1,500, retiring in confusion from the combat, while a dark line of moving objects on the distant hills indicated the locality of their families. I immediately dispatched orders to Colonel McPhail, who had now received an accession of force from the other companies of his mounted regiment, to press on with all expedition and fall upon the rear of the enemy, but not to continue the pursuit after nightfall, and Lieutenant Colonel Marshall was directed to follow and support him with the company of the Seventh, and Captain Edgerton s company of the Tenth, accom panied by one 6-pounder and one section of mountain howitzers, under Captain Jones. At the same time all of the companies of the Sixth and Tenth regiments, except two from each, which were left as a camp guard, were ordered to rendez vous and to proceed in the same direction, but they had so far to march from their respective points before arriving at the spot occupied by myself and staff, that I felt convinced of the uselessness of their proceeding farther, the other por tions of the pursuing force being some miles in the advance, and I accordingly ordered their return to camp. The cavalry gallantly followed the Indians, and kept up a running fight until nearly dark, killing and wounding many of their warriors, the infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel Marshall, being kept at a double- quick in the rear. The order to Colonel McPhail was improperly delivered, as requiring him to return to camp, instead of bivouacking on the prairie. Conse quently he retraced his way with his weary men and horses, followed by the still more wearied infantry, and arrived at camp early the next morning, as I was. about to move forward with the main column. Thus ended the battle of the "Big Mound." The severity of the labors of the entire command may be appre ciated when it is considered that the engagement only commenced after the day s- march was nearly completed, and that the Indians were chased at least 12 miles, making altogether full 40 miles performed without rest.
The march of the cavalry of the Seventh Eegiment and of Company B, of the Tenth Eegiment, in returning to camp after the tremendous efforts of the day, is almost unparalleled, and it told so fearfully upon men and animals that a forward movement could not take place until the 26th, when I marched at an early hour. Colonel [J. H.] Baker had been left in command of the camp (named by the officers Camp Sibley) during the engagement of the previous day, and all the arrangements for its security were actively and judiciously made, aided as he was by that excellent officer, Lieutenant Colonel [Samuel P.] Jennison, of the same regiment. Upon arriving at the camp from which the Indians had been driven in such hot haste, vast quantities of dried meat, tallow, and buffalo robes, cook ing utensils, and other indispensable articles were found concealed in the long- reeds around the lake, all of which were by my directions collected and burned. For miles along the route the prairie was strewn with like evidences of a hasty flight. Colonel McPhail had previously informed me that beyond Dead Buffalo lake, as far as his pursuit of the Indians had continued, I would find neither wood nor water. I consequently established my camp on the border of that lake, and very soon afterward parties of Indians made their appearance, threatening* an attack. I directed Captain [John] Jones to repair with his section of 6-pound- ers, supported by Captain [Jonathan] Chase, with his company of pioneers, to a commanding point about 600 yards in advance, and I proceeded in person to the same point. I there found Colonel Crooks, who had taken position with two
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300 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
companies of his regiment, commanded by Captain [Grant] and Lieutenant Grant, to check the advance of the Indians in that quarter. An engagement ensued at long range, the Indians being too wary to attempt to close, although greatly superior in numbers. The spherical- case from the 6-pounders soon caused a hasty retreat from that locality, but, perceiving it to be their intention to make a flank movement on the left of the camp in force, Captain [Oscar] Taylor, with his company of mounted rangers, was dispatched to retard their progress in that quarter. He was attacked by the enemy in large numbers, but manfully held his ground until recalled and ordered to support Lieutenant Colonel Averill, who, with two companies of the Sixth Eegiment, deployed as skirmishers, had been ordered to hold the savages in check. The whole affair was ably conducted by these officers, but the increasing numbers of the Indians, who were well mounted, enabled them by a circuitous route to dash toward the extreme left of the camp, evidently with a view to stampede the mules herded on the shore of the lake. This daring attempt was frustrated by the rapid motions of the companies of Mounted Eangers, commanded by Captains [Eugene M.] Wilson and [Peter B.] Davy, who met the enemy and repulsed them with loss, while Major McLaren, with equal promptitude, threw out, along an extended line, the six companies of the Sixth Eegiment under his immediate command, thus entirely securing that flank of the camp from further attacks. The savages, again foiled in their de sign, fled with precipitation, leaving a number of their dead upon the prairie, and the battle of "Dead Buffalo Lake" was ended.
On the 27th, I resumed the march, following the trail of the retreating In dians, until I reached Stony lake, where the exhaustion of the animals required me to encamp, although grass was very scarce.
The next day, the 28th, there took place the greatest conflict between our troops and the Indians, so far as the numbers were concerned, which I have named the battle of "Stony Lake." Eegularly alternating each day, the Tenth Eegiment, under Colonel Baker, was in the advance and leading the column, as the train toiled up the long hill. As I passed Colonel Baker, I directed him to deploy two companies of the Tenth as skirmishers. Part of the wagons were still in the camp, under the guard of the Seventh Eegiment, when I perceived a large force of mounted Indians moving rapidly upon us. I immediately sent orders to the several commands promptly to assume their positions, in accordance with the programme of the line of march; but this w r as done, and the whole long train completely guarded at every point by the vigilant and able commanders of regi ments and corps, before the orders reached them. The Tenth gallantly checked the advance of the enemy in front; the Sixth and cavalry on the right, and the Seventh and cavalry on the left, while the 6-pounders and two sections of moun tain howitzers, under the efficient direction of their respective chiefs, poured a rapid and destructive fire from as many different points. The vast number of the Indians enabled them to form two-thirds of a circle, five or six miles in extent, along the whole line of which they were seeking for some weak point upon which to precipitate themselves. The firing was incessant and rapid from each side; but as soon as I had completed the details of the designated order of march, and closed up the train, the column issued in line of battle upon the prairie, in the face of the immense force opposed to it, and I resumed my march without any delay. This proof of confidence in our own strength completely destroyed the
BATTLE OF STONY LAKE. 301
hopes of the savages, and completed their discomfiture. "With yells of disap pointment and rage, they fired a few parting volleys, and then retreated with all expedition. It was not possible, with cur jaded horses, to overtake their fleet and comparatively fresh ponies.
This engagement was the last desperate effort of the combined Dakota bands to prevent a farther advance on our part toward their families. It would be difficult to estimate the number of warriors, but no cool and dispassionate ob server would probably have placed it at a less figure than from 2,200 to 2,500. No such concentration of force has, so far as my information extends, ever been made by the savages of the American continent. It is rendered certain, from in formation received from various sources, including that obtained from the sav ages themselves, in their conversations with our half-breed scouts, that the remnant of the bands who escaped with Little Crow had successively joined the Sissetons, the Cut-heads, and finally the Yank-ton-ais, the most powerful single band of the Dakotas, and, together with all these, had formed an enormous camp of nearly, or quite, 10, 000 souls.
To assert that the courage and discipline displayed by officers and men in the successive engagements with this formidable and hitherto untried enemy were signally displayed would but ill express the admiration I feel for their perfect steadiness, and the alacrity with which they courted an encounter with the savage foe. No one for a moment seemed to doubt the result, however great the prepon derance against us in numerical force. These wild warriors of the plains had never been met in battle by American troops, and they have ever boasted that no hostile army, however numerous, would dare to set foot upon the soil of which they claimed to be the undisputed masters. Now that they have been thus met, and their utmost force defied, resisted, and utterly broken and routed, the lesson will be a valuable one, not only in its effect upon these particular bands, but upon all the tribes of the Northwest.
When we went into camp on the banks of Apple river a few mounted Indians could alone be seen. Early the next morning I dispatched Colonel McPhail, with the companies of the Mounted Eangers and the two 6-pounders, to harass and retard the retreat of the Indians across the Missouri river, and followed with the main column as rapidly as possible. We reached the woods on the border of that stream shortly after noon on the 29th, but the Indians had crossed their families during the preceding night, and it took but a short time for the men to follow them on their ponies. The hills on the opposite side were covered by the men, and they had probably formed the determination to oppose our passage of the river, both sides of which were here covered with a dense growth of under brush and timber for a space of more than a mile. I dispatched Colonel Crooks with his regiment, which was in the advance, to clear the woods to the river of Indians, which he successfully accomplished without loss, although fired upon fiercely from the opposite side. He reported to me that a large quantity of trans portation, including carts, wagons, and other vehicles, had been left behind in the woods. I transmitted, through Mr. Beaver, a volunteer aide on my staff, an order to Colonel Crooks to return to the main column with his regiment, the object I had in view in detaching him being fully attained. The order was re ceived, and Mr. Beaver was intrusted with a message in return, containing infor mation desired by me, when, on his way to headquarters, he unfortunately took the wrong trail, and was the next day found where he had been set upon and
302 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
tilled by an outlying party of the enemy. His death occasioned much regret to the command, for he was esteemed by all for his devotion to duty and for his modest and gentlemanly deportment. A private of the Sixth Begiment, who had taken the same trail, was also shot to death with arrows, probably by the same party.
There being no water to be found on the prairie, I proceeded down the Missouri to the nearest point on Apple river, opposite Burnt Boat Island, and made my camp. The following day Colonel Crooks, with a strong detachment of eleven companies of infantry and dismounted cavalry, and three guns, under the com mand of Captain Jones, was dispatched to destroy the property left in the woods, which was thoroughly performed, with the aid of Lieutenant Jones and a portion of the pioneer corps. Prom 120 to 150 wagons and carts were thus disposed of. During this time the savages lay concealed in the grass on the opposite side of the river, exchanging occasional volleys with our men. Some execution was done upon them by the long-range arms of the infantry and cavalry, without injury to any one of my command.
I waited two days in camp, hoping to open communication with General Sully, who, with his comparatively fresh mounted force, could easily have followed up and destroyed the enemy we had so persistently hunted. The long and rapid marches had very much debilitated the infantry, and as for the horses of the cav alry and the mules employed in the transportation, they were utterly exhausted. Under all the circumstances, I felt that this column had done everything possible within the limits of human and animal endurance, and that a farther pursuit would not only be useless, as the Indians could cross and recross the river in much less time than could my command, and thus evade me, but would neces sarily be attended with the loss of many valuable lives. For three successive evenings I caused the cannon to be fired and signal rockets sent up, but all these elicited no reply from General Sully, and I am apprehensive he has been detained by insurmountable obstacles. The point struck by me on the Missouri is about 40 miles by land below Fort Clarke, in latitude 46 42 , longitude 100 35 .
The military results of the expedition have been highly satisfactory. A march of nearly 600 miles from St. Paul has been made, in a season of fierce heats and unprecedented drought, when even the most experienced voyagers pre dicted the impossibility of such a movement. A vigilant and powerful, as well as confident, enemy was found, successively routed in three different engagements, with a loss of at least 150 killed and wounded of his best and bravest warriors, and his beaten forces driven in confusion and dismay, with the sacrifice of vast quantities of subsistence, clothing, and means of transportation, across the Mis souri river, many, perhaps most of them, to perish miserably in their utter desti tution during the coming fall and winter. These fierce warriors of the prairie have been taught by dear-bought experience that the long arm of the government can reach them in their most distant haunts, and punish them for their misdeeds; that they are utterly powerless to resist the attacks of a disciplined force, and that but for the interposition of a mighty stream between us and them, the utter destruction of a great camp containing all their strength was certain.
It would have been gratifying to us all if the murdering remnant of the Min- day-wa-kan-ton, and "Wakpaton bands could have been extirpated, root and branch; but as it is, the bodies of many of the most guilty have been left unburied on the prairies, to be devoured by wolves and foxes.
BATTLE OF STONY LAKE. 303
I am gratified to be able to state that the loss sustained by my column in actual combat was very small. Three men of the cavalry were killed and 4 wounded, one, I fear, fatally. One private of the same regiment was killed by lightning during the first engagement, and Lieutenant [Ambrose] Freeman of Company D, also of the Mounted Bangers, a valuable officer, was pierced to death with arrows on the same day by a party of hostile Indians, while, without my knowledge, he was engaged in hunting at a distance from the main column. The bodies of the dead were interred with funeral honors, and the graves secured from desecration by making them in the semblance of ordinary rifle-pits.
It would give me pleasure to designate by name all those of the splendid regiments and corps of my command who have signalized themselves by their gallant conduct, but as that would really embrace officers and men, I must con tent myself by bringing to the notice of the major general commanding such as came immediately under my own observation.
I cannot speak too highly of Colonels Crooks and Baker and Lieutenant Col onel Marshall, commanding, respectively, the Sixth, Tenth, and Seventh regi ments of Minnesota Volunteers, and Lieutenant Colonels Averill and Jennison and Majors McLaren and Bradley, and of the line officers and men of these regiments. They have deserved well of their country and of their state. They were ever on hand to assist me in my labors, and active, zealous, and brave in the performance of duty. Of Colonel McPhail, commanding the Mounted Eangers, and of Majors [John H.] Parker and [Orrin T.] Hayes, and the company officers and men generally, I have the honor to state that, as the cavalry was necessarily more exposed and nearer the enemy than the other portions of the command, so they alike distinguished themselves by unwavering courage and splendid fighting qualities. The great destruction dealt out to the Indians is mostly attributable to this branch of the service, although many were killed and disabled by the ar tillery and infantry. Captain Jones and his officers and men of the battery were ever at their posts, and their pieces were served with much skill and effect. To Captain [Jonathan] Chase, of the pioneers, and his invaluable company, the expedition has been greatly indebted for service in the peculiar line for which they are detailed.
Captain [William E.] Baxter s company (H)of the Ninth Eegiment, having been attached to the Tenth Eegiment, as a part of its organization, temporarily, upheld its high reputation for efficiency, being the equal in that regard of any other company.
The surgical department of the expedition was placed by me in the charge of Surgeon [Alfred] Wharton, as medical director, who has devoted himself zealously and efficiently to his duties. In his official report to these headquarters he ac cords due credit to the surgeons and assistants of the several regiments present with him.
Of the members of my own staff, I can affirm that they have been equal to the discharge of the arduous duties imposed on them. Captain [Eollin C.] Olin, my assistant adjutant general, has afforded me great assistance; and for their equal gallantry and zeal may be mentioned Captains Pope and Atchison, Lieutenants Pratt and Hawthorne, and Captain Cox, temporarily attached to my staff, his company having been left at Camp Atchison.
The quartermaster of the expedition, Captain Corning, and Captain Kimball, assistant quartermaster, in charge of the pioneer train, have discharged their
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Post by mdenney on Sept 2, 2007 14:01:29 GMT -5
304 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
laborious duties faithfully and satisfactorily; and for Captain Forbes, commissary of subsistence, I can bear witness that but for his activity, attention, and business capacity, the interests of the government would have suffered much more than they did, by the miserable state in which many of the packages containing sub sistence stores were found.
Chief guides, Maj. J. E. Brown and Pierre Bottineau, have been of the great est service, by their experience and knowledge of the country; and the interpre ter, Eev. Mr. Eiggs, has also rendered much assistance in the management of the Indian scouts. The scouts, generally, including the chiefs, McLeod and Duley, have made themselves very useful to the expedition, and have proved themselves faithful, intrepid, and intelligent.
I have the honor to transmit herewith the reports of Colonels Crooks, Baker, and Lieutenant Colonel Marshall, commanding, respectively, the Sixth, Tenth, and Seventh regiments of Minnesota Volunteers, and of Colonel McPhail, com manding First Eegiment Mounted Eangers.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding. Maj. J. F. MELINE,
Assistant Adjutant General, Department of the Northwest.
HDQRS. DIST. OF MINNESOTA, DEPT. OF THE NORTHWEST,
IN THE FIELD, 60 MILES WEST OF FORT ABERCROMBIE,
CAMP STEVENS, Aug. 16, 1863.
MAJOR: My last dispatch of the 7th instant from Camp Carter contained a report of my operations against the hostile Sioux, and of their complete discom fiture in three separate engagements, and their hurried flight across the Missouri river, with the loss of large quantities of provisions, clothing, and other indis pensable articles. So severely were they punished also by the fall in battle of many of their bravest and most distinguished warriors, that they made none of their customary attempts to revenge their losses by night attacks, excepting in one case, when encamped on the banks of the Missouri. A volley was fired into my camp about an hour after midnight, without any injury being the result, ex cepting the killing of 1 mule and wounding of 2 others. The fire was promptly re turned by the men on guard, and no further demonstration was made by the savages.
From Camp Carter I proceeded to the intrenched portion of Camp Atchison, and, breaking up the encampment, I took up the line of march with the column toward Fort Abercrombie, and am thus far advanced on the route.
I dispatched Colonel McPhail, with four companies of Mounted Eangers and a section of mountain howitzers, from Camp Atchison, with the directions to pro ceed to the mouth of Snake river, a tributary of the James river, where a small but mischievous band of E. Yanktonnais Sioux are supposed to have planted corn, to make prisoners of the adult males, or destroy them, if resistance was made; thence to sweep the country to the head of the Eedwood river, and down that stream to the Minnesota river, and proceed to Fort Eidgley and await further orders.
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SIOUX INDIANS. 305
The region traversed by my column between the first crossing of Cheyenne river and the Coteau of the Missouri is for the most part uninhabitable. If the devil were permitted to select a residence upon the earth, he would probably choose this particular district for an abode, with the redskins murdering and plundering bands as his ready ministers, to verify by their ruthless deeds his dia bolical hate to all who belong to a Christian race. Through this vast desert lakes fair to the eye abound, but generally their waters are strongly alkaline or in tensely bitter and brackish. The valleys between them frequently reek with sul phurous and other disagreeble vapors. The heat was so intolerable that the earth was like a heated furnace, and the breezes that swept along its surface were as scorch ing and suffocating as the famed sirocco. Yet through all these difficulties men and animals toiled on until the objects of the expedition were accomplished.
I could not learn from the Eed river half-breeds that any of the Bed Lake Chippewas were on the Eed river; consequently, in the debilitated condition of the men and the suffering state of the animals, I deemed it improper to make any movement in that direction. I shall, however, on my return, make a demonstra tion offeree toward Otter Tail lake, and other localities where the Chippewa Indians are usually found, and then post the troops under my command so as to protect the frontier at all points from the few roving Indians who are said to infest it.
Should General Sully take up the pursuit of the Indians at the point on the Missouri river where I was obliged to abandon it, as I trust he will, and inflict farther chastisement upon them, it might be consistent with the security of the Minnesota frontier to diminish the force in this military district; otherwise I have the honor to submit that there may and probably will be a further necessity for the use of the whole of it in further operations against these powerful bands should they attempt, in large numbers, to molest the settlements in retaliation for the losses they have sustained during the late engagements.
So soon as I shall reach Fort Abercrombie in five or six days from this time I will probably obtain such additional information of the state of things along the border as will enable me to act understandingly in the disposition of my forces, and will again address you on the subject.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding. J. P. MELINE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Milwaukee.
HDQRS. DIST. OF MINNESOTA, DEPT. OF THE NORTHWEST, IN THE FIELD, CAMP HACKETT,
FORT ABERCROMBIE, Aug. 23, 1863.
MAJOR: In my last dispatch to headquarters of the department, I inadvert ently omitted to state that, after having left Camp Atchison in pursuit of the hostile Indians, I fell in with some of the half-breed hunters from Eed river, who informed me that while the main body of the savages had gone toward the Mis souri, a small camp of fifteen or twenty lodges had taken the direction of Devil s
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306 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
lake, and would be found on its shores. I immediately dispatched orders to Major Cook, dated 22d July, to send Captain Burt, of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteers, with two companies of infantry and one of cavalry, to scour the country in that quarter.
That efficient officer took up the line of march on the 24th of July, and during eight days absence from camp he examined thoroughly the region to the west of Devil s lake, without discovering any Indians or fresh traces of them, excepting one young man, a son of Little Crow, who was found in a state of exhaustion on the prairie, and was taken prisoner without resistance, and brought into Camp Atchison. He states positively that his father, Little Crow, was killed at some point in the Big Woods on the Minnesota frontier, by shots from white men, while his father and himself were engaged in picking berries; that his father had taken with him this son and 16 other men and 1 woman, and gone from the camp, then at Devil s lake, several weeks previously, to the settlements in Minnesota, to steal horses, Little Crow stating to his son that the Indians were too weak to fight against the whites, and that it was his intention to secure horses, and then to return and take his family to a distant part of the country, where they would not be in danger from the whites.
He has repeated the statement to me without any material variation, and, as his account corroborates the newspaper reports of the mode in which 2 Indians, who were engaged in picking berries, were approached by a Mr. Lampson and his son, and one of them killed, and the body accurately described, there is no longer any doubt that the originator of the horrible massacres of 1862 has met his death.
I have brought Wo-wi-na-pa, Little Crow s son, with three other Sioux In dians, taken prisoners by my scouts, to Fort Abercrombie, where they are at present confined. I have ordered a military commission to convene to-day for their trial, the proceedings of which will be sent you when completed. The scouts took prisoners 7 women and 3 or 4 children, who were in the camp with the 3 men, but I released them on my departure from James river, where they were found. Two of the women were fugitives from the reservation on the Mis souri below, being recognized by the half-breed scouts as having passed the win ter at Fort Snelling. They stated that they had left the reservation in company with 3 men, who had gone to the main camp on the Missouri.
The result of the expedition under Captain Burt has proved conclusively that there are very few, if any, Sioux Indians between Devil s lake and the Missouri river, and that all the bands whose haunts are in the immense prairie region be tween the latter stream and the British possessions, were concentrated in the great camp driven by my forces across the Missouri.
I have organized an expedition, composed of three companies of cavalry, to proceed to Otter Tail lake, and thence to Fort Eipley, with written instructions to the commanding officer, Major Parker. I shall probably dispatch the Tenth Regiment Minnesota Volunteers to scour the country from Sauk Center to Fort Ridgley, more with a view to reassure the settlers along the Big Woods than be cause I have a belief that any but a few lurking savages are to be found now on the immediate frontier. I shall march from this post on the 25th with the re mainder of my column, and take the route by Alexandria and Sauk Center, taking such measures for the security of the border as I may deem necessary.
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SIOUX INDIANS. 307
The cavalry expedition under Major Parker will pass through the region fre quented by the Pillager and other strong bands of Chippewa Indians, and will have a decided moral effect.
I will report my movements as opportunities present themselves.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SlBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding. J. F. MELIXE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Milwaukee.
HDQRS. DIST. or MINNESOTA, DEPT. OF THE NORTHWEST,
IN THE FIELD, CAMP EUBLES, SAUK CENTER, Sept. 2, 1863.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report my arrival with the column at this post. A requisition has been made upon me by Senator Eamsey, commissioner on the part of the government to negotiate a treaty with the Pembina and Eed Lake bands of Chippewas, for an escort of two companies of cavalry and one of in fantry, or a section of artillery, which I shall, of course, furnish. I shall detach the Tenth Eegiment from the column there, with orders to scour the country along the line of posts to Fort Eidgley, and like orders to Colonel McPhail will be sent him to-morrow, who, with five companies of cavalry detached to sweep the region from James river to Fort Eidgley, has doubtless reached that post, to visit the lines of posts south to the Iowa line.
I have no reason to believe that the Indians will make any immediate raid along the border, but the people fear it, and the steps proposed will at least tend to reassure them.
I have as yet received no dispatch from General Pope or yourself informing me of the receipt of my communications detailing the movements of my immedi ate command since the engagements with the hostile Indians. I trust to receive one very soon.
Major Camp, commanding Fort Abercrombie, has sent a special messenger to overtake me with information received from Captain Donaldson, who left Pem bina on the 27th instant. Standing Buffalo, a Sisseton chief, who has uniformly been opposed to the war, had visited St. Joseph with a few of his men. He re ports that the Indians had recrossed the Missouri, and were now on the Missouri Coteau, near the scene of our first battle; that they intend to winter at Devil s lake; that they are in a state of utter destitution, and 7 of the chiefs are de sirous to make peace, and deliver up the murderers as the price for obtaining it. He represents the Indians to be very much frightened at the results of operations against them. They have, however, murdered 24 miners and 1 woman, who were on their way down the Missouri in a flat-boat. They acknowledge a loss of 30 men in the affair. A child was spared, and retained as prisoner. Standing Buffalo further states that the Indians lost many drowned in crossing the Missouri when we were in chase of them, but they deny that they lost more than 13 in battle. The remarkable dislike to acknowledge how many are killed in action is charac-
308 OFFICIAL REPORTS AND CORRESPONDENCE.
teristic of the race. Forty-six dead bodies were found by my command, and doubtless many more were concealed or carried off, and a large number were wounded, who were also transported from the field by their comrades.
No blow ever received by them has created such consternation, and I trust and believe that if General Sully takes their fresh trail inland, and delivers an other stroke upon them, they will be for peace at any price.
I would respectfully suggest that Major Hatch s battalion be ordered to garri son a post at St. Joseph or Pembina. They may do good service there. I shall probably leave the column in three or four days and proceed to St. Paul, where I will again address you.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding. J. F. MELINE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Milwaukee.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA, DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
ST. PAUL, MINN., Sept. 12, 1863.
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that the portion of the expeditionary force remaining undetached encamped a few miles above Fort Snelling last night, and will reach the immediate vicinity of that post to-day, and will go into camp until further orders. It consists of the Sixth and Seventh regiments of Minnesota Volunteers, and one section each of 6-pounders and mountain howitzers.
I would respectfully suggest for the consideration of Major General Pope, that at least one-third instead of one-fourth of the officers and men who have par ticipated in the long and tiresome campaign just closed be permitted to visit their homes at the same time, so that opportunity be given to all of them to do so before marching orders. In fact, if one-half were granted immediate leave of .absence for a limited period, the whole matter would be much simplified, espe cially as the residence of many of the officers and men is remote from this point.
I have carefully perused General Pope s dispatch of 29th ultimo, relative to the disposition of the forces to remain in the state during the approaching winter.
I would respectfully recommend that at least two regiments of infantry in addition to the mounted men of Hatch s battalion and those contemplated to be re-enlisted from the Mounted Eangers be retained for the protection of the border.
The Upper Sioux are desirous to have re-established their former amicable re lations with the government, and I think may be made to deliver up, as the price of peace, those of the lower bands who were actors in the tragedies of 1862. But they are in constant intercourse with the Bed river half-breeds, and would promptly be informed of the reduction of the force in this district through them, and, if impressed with an idea that the diminution was so great as to prevent the government from further chastising them in case it became necessary, they might be emboldened to continue the war, and thereby necessitate another expedition for their complete subjugation.
As a measure of economy, therefore, I do not think it would be prudent attne present crisis to weaken too much the military force in this district.
EXPEDITION AGAINST THE SIOUX INDIANS. 309
So soon as the requisite information can be obtained, I will dispatch to you a fall statement of the arrangements proposed to be made for the defense of the fron tier, for the consideration of the major general commanding.
I beg leave to state that Fort Abercrombie is already inclosed with a stockade sufficient for defensive purposes, and that earthworks have been erected at Fort Eidgley for the security of that post. The defenses at Fort Eipley are also in good condition, a stockade having been built on all sides, excepting on the river front, where Colonel Thomas does not deem one necessary.
I would respectfully request that none of the regiments to be ordered south re ceive marching orders before the 15th of October, by which time all will have had opportunity to visit their homes, and the season for apprehending Indian raids will have passed. As instructed by General Pope, I will indicate in a very few days the regiment or regiments to be posted in this state.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY,
Brigadier General, Commanding. J. F. MELINE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Milwaukee.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA,
DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
ST. PAUL, MINN., Sept. 16, 1863.
GENERAL: I have the honor to report for your information certain facts which liave lately transpired, that may, and probably will, have a most important bear ing upon the future relations between the government and the upper bands of Sioux inhabiting the country on the north and east of the Missouri river.
My previous dispatches have fully advised you of the great concentration of Indian warriors, to oppose the column under my command in penetrating the im mense prairies between the Ked Eiver of the North and the Missouri river, and their utter rout and retreat across the latter stream, with the loss of their sub sistence, clothing, and means of transportation, which fell into my hands and were destroyed.
The state of destitution in which they found themselves and their utter in ability to contend with our disciplined troops in the open field have so terrified the large majority of these savages that they have expressed a fervent desire to re-establish peace with the government at any price.
Standing Buffalo, a leading chief of the Sisseton Sioux, and who has been consistent in his opposition to the hostilities initiated by the Mi-day- wa-kon-ton, and Wahpeton band s in 1862, lately visited St. Joseph, near the British line, ac companied by several deputies from the other upper bands, and held a conference with Father Andre, a Catholic priest, who is held in high estimation alike by the half-breed hunters and by the Sioux Indians. So far as I can ascertain, these deputies represented all those powerful bands not immediately implicated in the murders and outrages perpetrated on the Minnesota frontier during the past year, but who participated with the refugees from Wood Lake in the engagements with
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