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hibited under such extreme trial. These Indians are now at their mercy ; but our people have not risen up to slaughter them, because they believed that their President would deal with them justly.
"We are told, Mr. President, that a committee from Pennsylvania, whose families are living happily in their pleasant homes in that State, have called upon you and petitioned you to pardon the Indians. We have a high respect for the religious sentiment of your petitioners ; but we submit that is a bad taste, indeed, that it is entirely unbecoming them to interfere in matters with which they are so little acquainted, and which relate entirely to the security of our own people.
"We protest against the pardon of these Indians, be cause, if it is done, the Indians will become more in solent and cruel than they ever were before, believing, as they certainly will believe, that their great father at Washington either justifies their acts or is afraid to punish them for their crimes.
" We protest against it, because if the President does not permit these executions to take place under the forms of law," the outraged people of Minnesota will dispose of these wretches without law. These two people cannot live together.
"We do not wish to see mob law inaugurated in Minnesota, as it certainly will be, if you force the peo ple to it. We tremble at the approach of such a con dition of things in our STATE.
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"You can give us peace, or you can give us lawless violence. We pray you, sir, in view of all that we have suffered, and of the danger that still awaits us, let the law be excuted let justice be done our people."
CHAPTER ML
CAUSE OF THE DAKOTA UPKISING.
Hitherto we have scarcely hinted at the cause of the strange and sudden uprising of this powerful tribe; but such effects have had their birth in design. Mr. Spencer said to the writer, that had he been less a suf ferer while a wounded captive in their hands, had not his life been daily threatened so that he had little hope of living to transmit the truth to the world ; in short, had he foreseen what he now sees, he might have probed the whole matter, and the moving impulse would have been made known to him. He heard nothing from them to confirm the view we here present, or by which he would feel justified in declaring it to be an offshoot of the rebellion. This is, however, a synopsis from reliable sources, to which he had no ac cess at the time, and we shall leave the reader to de duce his own conclusions.
However deep and long they slumber beneath the rubbish of sloth or fear, the fires of discontent, of envy and hate, are ever burning in the savage heart. Sooner or later they will burst forth in wild volcanic throes, when peace treaties are forgotten, the buried tomahawk exhumed, and woe to the defenseless victim over whose head the scalping-knife is flourished. In every normal savage heart exists a principle of reck less hate towards the whites, which, stimulated by real
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or imaginary wrongs, needs no avalanche of argument to start the missiles of death. Like a spark of fire in a magazine of powder, the ignition is as sudden, the re sults as terrible. That the great Sioux raid of '62 was somewhere premeditated, plans intelligently matured and admirably arranged for secrecy, is beyond a doubt Strategy is the art of savage warfare, secrecy the guar anty of success.
We have seen squads of daring, determined war riors, all over the counties of the north, west, and south-west, striking a simultaneous blow on the settle ments, desolating an area of four hundred miles in extremes, filling the woods and marshes with starved, panic-stricken women and children, bestrewing the fair prairies with corpses of men, and desolating the fields of ripened plenty. No magic pen could portray, no master pencil paint the horrid, sublimely tragical events of the horror-stricken plains. The reaper lying dead in his swath, with his sickle in his hand ; cattle roaming at large, and bellowing in inquiry of the mid night that has suddenly fallen upon their noon ; while the huge, swollen bodies of others, were mingling their nauseous affluvia with the headless bodies of men ; hogs were rooting in the long ringlets, or feeding on the fair cheek of beauty, and dogs going mad from the same, in short the tide of desolation was sweep ing over all.
Some hidden leaven has been at work from fur- clad Pembina to blood-dyed Secessia had the lump been leavened, till it became a risen mass of duplicate rebellion. Investigation shows conclusively that Se-
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cessia had sent her emissaries not only to the Dakotas, but all other tribes of the north-west fostering a spirit of unrest, magnifying mole-hill grievances into mountain realities, inciting the barbarous war-spirit dormant in their hearts, and infusing a death-dealing fury wherever the war-king should stride. The hope of a savage menace to the frontier, involved the one that the north-western troops, everywhere noted for their valor, would be retained and recalled from the national field to subdue a savage foe. Hence they prated of wrongs, and encouraged a hope of a re-pos session of garden Minnesota, glittering in wealth and happy in the quiet of well-earned homes. That the task was no difficult one, the double subtlety of rebel lion taught, for it assured them that all the fighting powers were engaged with a southern foe. Thus the whole gear was in complete running order, before the war horse was bid to move.
It has been conclusively proven, that runners, ever after the great rebellion began, were going back and forth among the various tribes, and .particularly to effect their object with the Minominees, who utterly re fused complicity. God was on the throne of heaven, and thwarted much of the base design.
In one of their grand councils, convened in Wiscon sin, for the purpose of discussing the war theme, it was emphatically stated, on the authority of a head chief, that all the western tribes were going to join the South, and that there would be a general uprising among the Indians, in the summer, 1862.
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There is no doubt but the Chippewas did seriously contemplate an alliance with the Sioux, at one time, but being discountenanced, by the prudent foresight of some of their own number, it was timely nipped in the bud, by the wise policy of Gov. Eamsey.
A Lieut. Colonel, in Ashby's rebel cavalry, wrote from Virginia, under date of Aug. 20, 1862, to his brother-in-law, of Columbus, Wisconsin, advising him, and denning ways and means for so doing, to haste to the Confederate lines for safety. But if he failed in this, to seek an asylum in Illinois, giving, as a reason for the warning, "a general uprising of all the Indian tribes in the north-west, about the first of September." Even then it had commenced, but the Divine hand had held in check all but the wrathful Sioux, and Little Crow had dared to attempt what some of the nations of Europe dare not risk
What fearful guilt rests upon the murder plotters the proxy desolaters of the fair land and domestic peace, for that secession is the root and base of the wide-spread ruin, we think the evidence admits scarce a doubt, but so secretly, so adroitly manceuvered, that scarcely can the horns of the beast be seen, pushing this way and that, like the one of which the prophet speaks, and like it, destined to a final overthrow. The enormity and magnitude of the desolation, can be some what comprehended, by the figures on which we rely for data.
It will be recollected that 30,000 persons were actual sufferers, in flight, loss of property, and loss of life.
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Two thousand, nine hundred and forty persons claimed redress from Government, for the loss of their earthly all. The total amount of claims for losses sustained by the above, is $2,600,000. For the disbursement of these claims, the annuities, which are forever forfeited, are appropriated, an arrangement, than which none could be more just or equitable.
May God yet make the wrath of these Sioux to praise him, and so overrule all these trying events, as to result in both individual and national good, tempo rally, spiritually and eternally.
CHAPTER Lin.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE CON- -.- / DEMNED INDIANS.
As soon as the President's order, postponing the day of execution, from the 19th to the 26th Dec., was re ceived, the military authorities at Mankato commenced preparations for the execution. The gallows, twenty- four feet square, so arranged as to afford room for the hanging of ten, on each side, was erected on the levee, opposite the "winter quarters" of the condemned. The people felt that justice was being defrauded of its dues, and that the gallows might have been of more extend ed capacity, had the President been less squeamish.
On Monday, the 22d of December, the condemned prisoners, were separated from the "suspended" ones, and removed to a strong stone building, where every precaution was taken to secure their safe keeping from the hands of violence, which was feared from excited, misguided, but injured men,
On the afternoon of the same day, Col. Miller, the officer in command, through his interpreter, Rev. Mr. Riggs, announced to the prisoners,- the decision of their "Great Father" at Washington, in these words :
"Tell these thirty-nine* condemned men, that the*
*The death sentence of one of this number was afterward suspended.
GQVEKN"0]rj OF MLAiNK
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commanding officer of this place has called to speak to them upon a very serious subject, this afternoon.
"Their Great Father at Washington, aftfcr carefully reading what the witnesses testified in their several trials, has come to the conclusion, that they have each been guilty of wantonly and wickedly murdering his white children. And for this reason, he has directed that each be hanged by the neck until they are dead, on next Friday. That order will be carried into effect on that day, at ten o'clock in the forenoon.
"That good ministers are here, both Catholic and Protestant, from amongst whom each one can select a spiritual adviser, who will be permitted to commune with them constantly, during the four days that they are to live.
"That I will now cause to be read the letter from their Great Father at Washington, first in English, and then in their own language." (The President's order was now read.)
"Say to them now, that they have so sinned against their fellow men, that there is no hope for clemency, except in the mercy of God, through the merits of the blessed Redeemer ; and that I earnestly exhort them to apply to that as their only remaining source of comfort and consolation."
The prisoners received their sentence very coolly, some smoking their pipes, composedly, during the ad dress ; and one, apparently more hardened than his fel lows, when the time for execution was designated, qui etly knocked the ashes from his pipe, and re-filled it;
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while another slowly rubbed a handful of kinnekinnick, preparatory to a good smoke.
The preference of clergymen being signified, the Col onel and spectators withdrew, leaving them in consult ation with those selected.
During the four days which intervened, before the sentence was to be executed, nearly all had made con fession of their guilt, to their spiritual advisers, but felt it "a shame" for them to suffer the penalty of their crimes, while others, equally as guilty, went unhung. Their confessions, made to and written out by Rev. Mr. Riggs, were generally done in a cool, truthful manner, though with some exceptions, and these were checked by the others, and told that they were all dead men, and that there was no reason why they should depart from the truth. They dictated letters to their families or friends, expressing the hope that they would join them in the world of the Good Spirit
On Tuesday evening, they extemporized a dance, with a wild Indian song. It was feared this was a pre lude to something else which they might attempt, so their chains were thereafter fastened to the floor. Mr. Riggs says it was probably their death song which they sang. Those who had friends in the main prison we're allowed to receive a visit from them, and then they parted, to meet no more till in the spirit world. These partings, with the messages conveyed to absent wives and children, were sad and affecting, and many tears, were shed. Good counsel was invariably sent to their children, and in many cases they were exhorted to a
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life of Christianity, and good feeling toward the whites.
Several of the prisoners were completely overcome during this leave-taking, so that they were obliged to suspend conversation. Others laughed and joked, un moved and unconcerned as if they had been sitting around a camp fire smoking their pipes. One said he was old, and even though uncondemned, he could not hav 3 hoped to live long, and that he was dying inno cent of white man's blood, and he hoped thereby his chances would be better to be saved that he had every hope of going "direct to the abode of the Great Spirit, where he would be always happy."
As the last remark reached the ears of another, who was also speaking with his friends, he said, "Yes, tell our friends that we are being removed from this world over the same path they must shortly travel. We go first, but many of our friends will follow us in a very short time. I expect to go direct to the abode of the Great Spirit, and to be happy when I get there ; but we are told that the road is long and the distance great, therefore, as I am slow in all my movements, it will probably take me a long time to reach the end of my journey, and I should not be surprised if some of the young active men we will leave behind us, will pass me on the road before I reach my destination."
In shaking hands with Eed Iron and another Indian, this same man said, "Friends, last summer you were opposed to us. You were living in continual appre hension of an attack from those who were determined M
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to exterminate the whites. You and your families were subject to many insults, taunts and threats. Still you stood firm in your friendship for the whites, and continually counselled the Indians to abandon their raid against them. Your course was condemned at the time, but now we see your wisdom. You were right when you said the whites could not be extermi nated, and the attempt indicated folly. You and your families were prisoners, and the lives of all in dan ger. To-day you are at liberty, assisting in feeding and guarding us, and we shall die in two days because we did not follow your advice."
The night before the execution, Col. Miller received an order from the President, postponing the execution of Ta-ti-mi-ma, the Sioux name for David Faribault, a half-breed, and a former pupil of the writer. He was convicted for murder, and the capture of women and children ; but there were strong doubts among those best acquainted with the subject, of his guilt of mur der, and this belief was daily strengthened by new evidence. Hence the respite.*
The last night allotted them on earth, they smoked and chatted, or slept as unconcerned as usual, and seemed scarcely to reflect on the certain doom awaiting them. "As we gazed on them," says one who visited the prison at a late hour that night, "the recollections of how short a time since they had been engaged in the diabolical work of murdering indiscriminately both old and young, sparing neither sex nor condition, sent'
*He has since been unconditionally pardoned .
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a thrill of horror through our veins. Now they are perfectly harmless and look as innocent as children. They smile at your entrance and hold out their hands to be shaken, which appear to be yet gory with the blood of babes. Oh ! treachery, thy name is Dakota !" The Catholic priest spent the entire night with them, endeavoring to impress upon them a serious view of their condition, and before morning dawned, his efforts were rewarded by the privilege of baptising several, who also partook of the communion of that church, before leaving the world. They wished their friends to know how cheerfully and happily they met their fate, devoid of all fear or dread.
CHAPTER LIV.
THE EXECUTION.
The spiritual advisers of the condemned Indians were all with them, early on the morning of the 26th December, and were now listened to with marked at tention. They had gaily painted their faces, as if for grand display in the begging dance, and, frequently, their small pocket mirror was brought before the face, to see if they still retained the proper modicum of paint. They shook hands with the officers, bidding each a cheerful good bye, as if going on an ordinary journey. Then they- chanted their monotonous, but very exci ting death song.
The irons being knocked off, one by one, their arms were pinioned with small cords, and the wrists fastened in front, leaving the hands free. Songs and conversa tion gave a cheerful appearance to the scene, while they moved around, shaking hands with each other, the soldiers and reporters bidding the frequent "good bye." This over, they arranged themselves in a row, and again sang the death song, after which they sat down for a last general smoke.
Father Eavoux, the Catholic priest, now addressed them, and then knelt in prayer, some of them respond- ^ ing, while they were even affected to tears. The long white caps, made from cloth, which had formed part of
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the spoils taken from murdered traders, were placed upon their heads, leaving their painted faces still visi ble. Their repugnance to this was very evident Shame covered their faces, and they were humiliated by it, as chains and cords could not do. The singing ceased, and there was little smoking or talking now. The three half-breeds seemed most affected, and their sad countenances were pitiable to behold.
Crouched on the floor, they all awaited their doom, till precisely ten o'clock, when they were marched in procession, through a file of soldiers to the scaffold, crowding and jostling each other to get ahead, as a lot of hungry boarders rush to the dinner table in a hotel. At the scaffold they were delivered to the officer of the day, Capt. Burt.
As they commenced their ascent to the gallows, the air was made hideous by the repetition of their death song. It was a moment of most intense suspense every breath in that immense throng seemed suspended, when one of the baser sort improvised an exhibition of his contempt of death, and the lookers on, in the most vile and indecent manner, accompanied by foul impromptu song, insulting to the spectators, and such only as the vilest could conceive or execute a mock ery to the triumph of that justice whose sword was suspended by a hair over his guilty head. One young fellow smoked a cigar after the cap was drawn over his face, he managing to keep his mouth uncovered. Another smoked a pipe till the noose was adjusted over his neck.
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The general aspect of the scene was intensely solemn, though there were many little incidents which, under other circumstances, would have been ludicrous in the extreme. Thirty-eight men awaiting the moment when one blow would launch them into eternity ! Did civilized world ever look upon the like before ? All who looked, approved the sentence, and would, had it been ten times as large.
The silence was awfully intense then came three, slow, measured and distinct beats on the drum, by the signal officer, Major J. R Brown, when each of the condemned clasped hands with his next neighbor, which remained in firm grasp till taken down, and then the rope was cut by Mr. Dooley, who, with his family, were among the Lake Shetak sufferers.
One loud and prolonged cheer went up as the plat form fell, and then all relapsed into silent gaze at the thirty -seven bodies which hung dangling in the air. One rope had broken, and the body it held was upon the ground. This incident created a nervous horror in . the vast assemblage and complete satisfaction to the morbid curiosity which led them to be eye witnesses to such a spectacle. Though there was no sign of life remaining, the body was again suspended. There seemed to be but little suffering the necks of nearly all were dislocated by the fall, and in just twenty minutes, life was declared extinct
The bodies were placed in four army wagons, and r with Company K, under Lieutenant Colonel Marshall, of the Seventh, for a burial party, were deposited in
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the one grave, prepared for them, on the sand bar, nearly in front of the town.
The other condemned Indians were chained in their quarters, that they might not witness the execution, and when the death song of their associates in crime fell upon their ears, they crouched themselves down, with their blankets over their heads, and kept per fect silence, seeming to feel all the horrors of their situation, and that a like retribution to them was not long to be delayed. All day they were much dejected.
The disposition of the military force, amounting to 1,419 men, as also the entire arrangements for the execution, were most perfect and complete. Great credit is due Col. Miller for devising and carrying out so successfully his well directed plans, and for pre serving the quiet, order and discipline which distin guished the day.
CHAPTER LV.
THE CONDEMNED.
During the winter, those whose death sentence had been postponed, continued to receive spiritual advice, as before the execution.
Those who, from daily intercourse with them, were best prepared to judge, felt that the Spirit of God came into that jail of guilty ones, for whom Christ died, with mighty and convincing power, that darkened understandings were opened to receive the truth, and hearts, all stained and blackened by crime, were re generated by His blood. Others hardened themselves against the truth, and would none of "the reproofs of the Spirit."
As a fruit of the change, one hundred and fifty be came earnest scholars, and soon learned to read the Bible and Hymn Book, in which they took great de light, and often held religious service among them selves. Whether, indeed, these were true converts to the Christian faith, we leave it for a religious world to judge, and the day of final account to decide. But this we do know, that they were never in so favorable circumstances for thought and for the mind to receive lasting impressions. Their roving, unsettled life has been the greatest drawback with which the Missionary has to contend. They would not stop to think. Now
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they had no other employ, and the time for instructing them was well improved by those who had long sought their souls' good. If "Christ died for the chief of sinners" surely he died for them, and great sinners, with enlightened consciences, have been pardoned.
During the winter, several deaths occurred in the jail, so that when those whose sentence was suspended, were removed to Davenport, Iowa, they numbered but two hundred and sixty-three men, with whom went sixteen women for cooks and laundresses. The quarters there provided for them was an immense prison pen of boards, inclosing four large shanties clustered in the center.
A decided improvement is noticed by those who visited them there, and before they left the State. Instead of dozing and idling away their time, as was their wont, they were often seen reading, writing or solving the first lessons on the slate. Habits of indus try, too, were formed ; it may be because compelled to do so, but cheerfully they set about cleaning camp, digging wells, or whatever work assigned them. Thus are we led to conclude that a transforming power has been at work, and though those who, when they visited them, and looked, for the first time, upon an Indian, went away disgusted, it argued not that a decided change for the better had not taken place.
' -v Mt
CHAPTER LVI.
THE WINNEBAGOES DECLAKE WAR WITH THE SIOUX.
An Indian, a savage, untamed, unchristianized In dian, be he Sioux, Chippewa or Winnebago, is an In dian, wherever you find him. They delight in cruel deeds, and are ready to join any tribe with whom they are at peace, in war against a weaker party.
At the commencement of the outbreak, the Winne- bagoes, not as a tribe or band, but many individuals distinguished themselves with their allies for" bravery and daring, entering as vigorously into the battles as the aggressors themselves. But the tables are turned. The Sioux are driven away, and now war is declared upon them by the Winnebagoes, and more to curry favor with the victorious whites, than for any other cause, probably hoping the removal of their families deferred, while the men take the "war-path" against their ene mies. Certain it is, that some other motive than pre tense of friendship for the whites, has instigated so small a tribe as the Winnebagoes to take up arms against so powerful a nation as their Sioux neighbors, with whom they have heretofore been on friendly terms.
The scouting Sioux, left behind, are hunted out, and no opportunity for a good shot is allowed to pass un-
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improved. Instances occurred, where as brutal, bar barous treatment was given the Sioux, by these ene mies, as they were ever guilty of towards the whites. The bodies of their victims would be mutilated, hearts would be torn out, large knives run through their cen tre, and then hung upon poles.
A scalp dance was even improvised in the streets of Mankato, in which all the warriors, squaws and chil dren, joined. One young Winnebago brave paraded the main street, with the tongue of a Sioux warrior, recently murdered, apparently torn from his mouth, and swollen very thick, stopping, as occasion occurred, to gratify the morbid curiosity of passers-by.
The Indian, whose tongue had given such mortal offense, had a wife of their own tribe, with whom he had lived, during the winter, among her own people. Hearing of the murder of two of his own people, by them, his Sioux blood was aroused, and he declared his intention of imparting the information to the tribe ; only his wife knew of his design, when he left, but he was overtaken and murdered before he left the reserva tion, hence the exhibition we have seen.
But not serious or of long continuance were the fron tier troubles with these two tribes. One fled beyond the reach of harm for the winter, and it was only with skulking parties that they could deal, while they re mained. . The return of spring brought a change. The Winnebagoes no longer held their Eeservation in the very Eden of the Minnesota Valley. Far up the Mis souri river, their home is now where they could "worry
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and devour each other," with less molestation than be fore, was it not for the vigilant care of the Agents and the watchful eye of Government
CHAPTER LVH.
AN ALAKM.
During the winter of 1862-3, comparative quiet was upon the borders and throughout the State. Military forces were stationed all along the frontier, to protect the most exposed portions, and prevent further incur sions. Marauding parties of savages lurked in the Big "Woods, and, as often as opportunity offered, murdered those in the most depopulated districts, stole the horses, and committed various depredations, in the more dis tant settlements.
As winter advanced into spring, they became still more daring, and horse thieving more general. Little Crow had sent thieving parties all over the State, and things again assumed an alarming aspect, though by no means so formidable as before.
Col. Miller, still at Mankato, was early awakened, one morning, to read and act upon the following alarm ing dispatch :
MEDALIA, April 17, 1863. COL. STEPHEN MILLER :
DEAR SIR : This morning, at two o'clock, two men from a de tached post, on the south bend of the "Watonwan, reported here, with the information that the settlement was attacked yesterday morning, by a large party of Indians, estimated by the Lieutenant in com mand, at not less than fifty. We have but one man killed and three wounded, and one boy, ten years of age, was killed. The Indians
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have taken all the horses they could get hold of one belonging to Government. Lieutenant Hardy writes, that he thinks the Indians will renew the attack this morning. I shall start re-enforcements at four o'clock, and send for the wounded. We will need a surgeon to attend to the wounded, also a force of cavalry, with which to pursue the Indians. Your ob't servant,
T. G. HALL, Capt Co. E, 7th Reg't Volunteers.
The settlement attacked, after this long quiet, was distant, to the south-west of Medalia, about twenty miles, and from Mankato forty-eight miles. A detach ment of twenty-one men, from Company E, of the Seventh Kegiment, under Lieut Hardy, was engaged in building a stockade, which was unfinished when the attack was made. This was at dawn, on the morn of the 16th of April.
As soon as the alarm was given, messengers were sent to collect the settlers in the stockade, and the force was deployed so as to cover their flight as well as possible. One woman, Mrs. Targerson, was wounded in the thigh, before she left her house, where one man was killed, and another severely wounded with arrows. The wounded man grappled with the foremost Indian, broke two arrows, grasped his gun, and fired at them, when they fled. Mrs. T.'s wounds' retarded her running, so that the Indians soon overtook her, when they beat her over the head, in a most cruel manner, with the butts ,of their guns. This act was seen by some soldiers, who started for her relief, when the Indians fled, and she reached the stockade, without further molestation.
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The Indians appeared to be well armed, but had no horses, except what they stole in that neighborhood. They also drove off cattle belonging to the settlement.
As soon as orders could be given, one company of cavalry and two of infantry, under command of Lieut. Col. Marshall, were on the way to the theatre of dan ger, and reached Medalia, the same night, from whence, the following morning, they proceeded, meeting the wounded party, in charge of Lieut. Hardy, for whom he was seeking a place of more safety and comfort.
Upon the receipt of the same intelligence at Fort Eidgley, Lieut. Col. Pfender, commanding there, start ed a cavalry company, of fifty well armed men, to unite with Col. Marshall's command. This swelled the cavalry to one hundred, which, with several teams, with forage and ammunition, started, on Sunday morn ing, the 19th of April, in pursuit of the Indians. The infantry companies were left at Medalia and the stock ade, deeming a strong force essential to guard against another attack.
The companies in charge of Col. Marshall, scoured the country as far as Lake Shetak, and, though often finding traces of where they had camped, but a day or two previous, they were always a little in advance, and the men returned to head-quarters, without having seen an Indian.
CHAPTER LVIH.
OF THE "GOOD
Daring the session of Congress, in the winter of 1863, a new reservation was appropriated in the vicinity of Fort Randall, in Dakota Territory, instead of Boston Common, for the occupancy of the guiltless ones, taken in charge at Camp Release, in September, 1862.
All winter, we had seen their uninviting camp, the curling smoke from the top of their tepees, and their filthy or gaily painted faces peeping from 'neath the folds of their blankets, on the flat, at Fort Snelling, where the waters of the Minnesota and Mississippi meet
Just before their departure, a cargo of several hun dred contrabands was landed and encamped near the same spot. It was a novel sight, and quite amusing to the beholder, to see them open their eyes in wild amazement, as each party gazed at the other, in mutual seeming wonder. The blacks had thought that no mortals were as degraded as themselves, but had found- themselves outdone. The Indians had thought them selves the blackest of the human race, but now looked upon those of a deeper dye. And so they looked, and gazed, and talked, the few days they were privileged to remain as neighbors.
But the steamer has "rounded too," to convey away
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from our sight, those government pets. Lodges are struck and packed with all their worldly goods, and with a strap passing round the forehead, slung over the backs of the squaws, as they move into their, for the present, moving quarters.
In military order, the bands were marched on board, the celebrated chief, Wabashaw, taking the lead, and counted and tallied to see that none were missing. They were followed by the bands of Good Eoad, Wa- couta, Passing Hail, and Ked Legs. The greater por tion of these were women and children. Many of the trust- worthy Indians remained for scouts in Gen. Sib- ley's expedition, their families encamped on the prairie, in rear of the fort, and very properly provided for at public expense, and guarded, day and night, by armed men. In this company of some fifteen or twenty tepees, were some quite intelligent and cultivated wo men. Though most of them retained their native cos tume, some 'wore dresses and crinoline, like white wo men. One was pointed out to us as a teacher, acting in that capacity to the juveniles of the encampment Industry in the domestic department prevailed, and we were struck with the evidences of improvement in per sonal cleanliness. But we digress.
To their shame be it said, that when the boat having the "good Indians" on board, landed at St Paul, a crowd of soldiers, led on by one who had been wound ed at Birch Coolie, commenced throwing stones and other missiles into the crowd of Indians on the boat, which it was impossible for them to avoid, as they were
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so closely packed on the boiler deck. Several squaws were hit upon the head, and quite severely injured A threat by the commanding officer, who had their re moval in charge, to charge bayonets on the offending crowd, soon dispersed them, and no further disturbance occurred. Such a gross outrage was strongly condemn ed by all good citizens, though they might have no fond partiality for the Indians. These were not the actual murderers, and hence no apology for such an act, than which nothing could have been more wanton.
While the boat "lay to," many of the Indians were engaged in prayer and singing, in which last ex ercise they took great delight, but whether with devout hearts, it is not ours to say.
From Hannibal, Missouri, these Indians were taken, by cars, to St. Joseph, and again embarked on the Mis souri, for their new Reservation.
The new Winnebago Reservation is contiguous to the above, divided only by a small creek. Here, under the supervision of Col. Thompson, the Agent, they soon began to thrive, even in a desolated region, with scarcely a sign of cultivation.
"The Colonel's improvements," says one who writes from there so early as July 15, "are certainly a striking and cheering sight In the foreground was a small camp of soldiers ; to the right, a steam saw-mill, in full operation ; to the left, a large, two story frame house, in course of erection ; while temporary buildings and tents, were scattered around, occupied by the workmen ; and prominent in the centre, a temporary breastwork, con-
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structed of supplies, brought for the workmen and for the Indians, in the centre of which stood a temporary building, used as an office and kitchen, the latter de partment presided over by "Bill," a darkey from St. Louis.
"The Colonel was pushing on the work, superin tending everything himself. Buildings are rising as if by magic, and by autumn, if nothing untoward transpires, a model Agency will be nearly completed. It is laid out four hundred feet square, to be enclosed by a stockade fifteen feet high, inside of which all the buildings, of both Agencies, will be located. It will be more impregnable to Indian attacks than any I have ever seen.
"He is also making preparations for the erection of fifty houses for the Indians, to be finished before win ter. For the short time the work has been in pro gress (only about six weeks,) it is astonishing that so much could be accomplished, and no one but a western man would believe it, if told the amount of work that has been done. Several of the buildings are finished and occupied. The saw mill is turning out lumber and shingles daily. The Indians are killing both deer and buffalo only a few miles away."
A company of captive Sioux from White Lodge's band were sometime confined at Fort Eandall ; with them was a man sent there by Col. Thompson for cut ting and abusing his wife, who afterward hung herself in retaliation of the abuse. He made his way to the Agency, and was informed on by an Indian, and again
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sent back to prison. Two weeks later he was given over to the Indians, as the offense was against one of their own people, when a council was called and re sulted in a decision for death. The uncle of his in- injured wife was appointed his executioner. The prisoner, unaware of his fate, went forth to the execu tion, of which he was informed on the way. He was cool and collected, and evinced no alarm. His hands were left unbound, and in the brief interim between the arrival at the ground and the fatal shot he bounded upon his executioner and stabbed him thrice before he could be interfered with. Throwing away his knife, he expressed a readiness to die, and calmly waited till the son of the man he had stabbed was sent for to shoot him, according to the custom that the nearest kin must avenge the death. The boy came, but had not the courage to do the deed, when an Indian from the crowd volunteered to do it for him.
CHAPTER LIX.
HORSE STEALING.
As the season advanced, horse stealing became the order of the day, or rather the business of the night. Imaginary Indians were often seen, real ones occasion ally, and then perhaps, as they were just mounting the favorite horse of the owner, and leading another, would gallop off so rapidly that if a shot were fired, it would be without effect.
On the night of the 7th of June, a span of horses was stolen from a stable near Silver Creek, in Wright county^ The following morning a party started to track the thieves, and if white or red men, regain their property. The trail led through many difficult wind ings in marsh and timber, giving the assurance that Indians were really the thieves. All day they wan dered thus, when at night fall they saw the objects of their pursuit, not forty rods in front Where was their courage now ? where their determination to re gain their stolen property ? In less time than I am writing it, their horses' heads were wheeled, not so soon, however, but they heard the sharp crack of a cap and saw the emitted light. Indians and horses were left in the rear at a quick pace. Such was the dread which everywhere prevailed at the sight of one. His name even, had become a terror, and frightened
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men into leaving, sooner than by it the rollicksome pranks of boyhood were frightened into quiet. After investigation proved that the pursued had skedaddled with quite as much haste as the pursuers, leaving two packs of useful and indispensable articles on the ground, and many other things were scattered around, which nothing but fright and a desire for flight would have prevented their taking.
Emboldened by success and the probable knowledge of the fear their presence created, this increased gang of stealing, murdering desperadoes were encroaching further and still further into the settlements, threaten ing to overrun every part of the State.
A young man was found murdered in Pine county, under circumstances to incite suspicion against another, with whom he was in company. Nothing being known of the whereabouts of the latter, it was supposed he had made for parts unknown : and as the former was robbed of all valuables about his person, that he had appropriated it to his own personal use.
The body of the murdered man bore unmistakable evidence of severe treatment, with both club and knife. After evidence developed the fact that Indians were his murderers, and that the suspected one escaped only to share a like fate. What a theatre for tragic events had the State become ! Everywhere the blood of human beings drenched the soil everywhere de cayed bodies were found everywhere these nightly, depredations were going on.
On the 14th of May, a man was killed near New
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Ulm, and four liorses with which he was plowing, made off with, and this, where one or two companies of troops were stationed. So sly and so hasty are their movements that they come, do whatever they list, and are gone, ere any are aware of their presence. An order embodying a bounty of twenty -five dollars, which was afterward increased to two hundred, was issued by the Adjutant General for every Sioux scalp, and otherwise high inducements offered volunteers, to scour the Big Woods, search out the lion in his lair and lay the trophy of their achievements at the feet of the Historical Society a relic of the unparalleled tragedies to which our State has been subjected.
CHAPTER LX.
MUKDEB OF THE DUSTIN FAMILY.
Hennepin county, west of the Mississippi, and north of the Minnesota rivers, and lying on both, is one of the best populated in the State. Nearly every quarter section is occupied and improved by industrious and thriving farmers.
Minneapolis, the county seat of this county, is loca ted on the west side of the Falls of St. Anthony, hav ing a population of five or six thousand. Within six miles of this place the Indians came, bold in the exe cution of evil designs, yet cat-like in the manner. "Pis ever so ; they are always where least expected. When their presence excited no alarm, when a score of Indians was seen to every white man, many a time has the writer been startled from a reverie by a slight rustle at her side, or a heavy breathing, to find herself in the presence of a great stalwart Indian. Once, in coming down Third street, in St Paul, though grass-grown then, never dreaming of human presence, a sound somewhat like a high pressure steam engine on a Mississippi sand bar in low water, came to my ear, distant therefrom only the thickness of my bon net, and half turning my head, I encountered a mon- , ster Indian, with gaily painted face, evidently de lighted with my embarrassment, or his suggestive wit,
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thus to exhibit himself for approval, though "never a word he spoke," but with the usual grunt passed on.
This quality, be it what it may, is wonderfully ad vantageous to them in carrying out their present evil devices; and though to those far away, and unac quainted with their character and habits, it may seem strange that they should come and go and none be aware of their presence till the "fruit of their doings" is seen. "Were it not so, an Indian would have lost his native character ; in short, would cease to be an Indian, save in name.
Eight miles from Minneapolis, a farmer with his son was at work in the field, when a party of seven In dians came suddenly in view. As soon as they saw they were discovered, they fled to the bushes. The farmer hastened to collect his neighbors, of whom twelve or fifteen returned to the spot, found their trail which led them round Madison Lake, two miles nearer town, when they lost the trail and abandoned the search.
On Monday, the 29th of June, the day before this skulking party was seen, as above, in a more sparsely populated region, a few miles away, Mr. Amos Dustin, and his family of five persons, was passing over the prairie in an open lumber box wagon. When found on Wednesday following, Mr. Dustin was in the front of the wagon dead. An arrow was sticking in his body, and a deep tomahawk wound was in his breast. His left hand had been cut off and carried away by the Indians. N
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Beneath his seat crouched a little girl of six years ; her hair matted, her garments saturated, her face cov ered, and her shoes literally filled with the blood which, had trickled from the mangled body of her father. She was the only uninjured member of the family, and in her fears thought, as she said, that "the Indians looked very sharply at her, and supposed they would kill her too," but not a hand was laid upon her.
The mother, and another child twelve years old, were alive when found, but mortally wounded. For two days and nights they had lain thus beside the dead bodies of their loved ones, unable to procure sus tenance or assistance.
The mother of Mr. Dustin lay with her head hang ing over the wagon, her long silvery hair matted with blood waving in the wind. An arrow in her body had done the work of death. Was there ever a pic ture more horrid ? The horses, of course, were gone far away, conveying the perpetrators from the scene which they had enacted.
More vigorous measures for home defense were at once taken. Seventy stand of arms were issued to Hennepin county. No means were spared by State and military authorities to prevent future outrages.
CHAPTER LXI.
LITTLE CKOW'S WHEREABOUTS.
Where now was the Commander-in-Chief of the mighty Sioux forces, whose scouting parties were do ing so much evil in the land ? Five hundred miles to the northwest, on the bleak shores of Devil's lake, had been their winter quarters. But he had not idled away the winter in camp life luxury. Wherever he might find .a British subject, with the hope of aid from him, hither he went, setting forth his grievances in a mock pathetic manner, and begging his alliance in driving off the Americans. At Fort Garry, in British Ameri ca, whither he went with sixty warriors, he made strong efforts to form a peace treaty. After impressing them with the glory of the scalp dance, Little Crow made a speech, in which he spoke of the efforts the "Big Knives" were making to catch him, in very desponding tones, though he boastfully asserted the power of his warriors, on whom he relied, and said, though "he considered himself as good as a dead man, they should fight awhile yet" He spoke of all the Government proceedings against himself and the condemned Sioux. He did "not complain that they were refused a tract of land on which to settle, which would place them under British protection," but he would "be glad of a little ammunition to kill Americans with." This, Governor
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Dallas decidedly and promptly refused ; to which he boastfully replied, "it made no difference, he had plen ty." The people becoming tired of his insolence, beg ging and daring, Gov. Dallas politely ordered him and his followers to leave, and to trouble them no more with their presence.
Again, they are back to their "winter quarters," dis sensions arising among themselves. Many are sick of the war some never having been engaged in it, but having gone off with them because they were Indians, and supposed all Indians were death-doomed, if caught. Standing Buffalo had never favored the war, neither had Sweet Corn ; they wanted to make peace, and were de termined, any way, to deliver themselves up as soon as assured by the President that no harm should come to them.
The return of thieving parties elated Little Crow, for they had been very successful ; and, failing to put a quietus to the dissatisfaction in camp, he resolved to redeem his fallen influence and fortunes in personal efforts in that direction. Ten months before, and a mighty nation bowed to his nod, he was rich in booty, and his soul feasting on the blood of the slain. Now, taking his little son, he descends to petty horse steal ing, accompanied by less than twenty followers. We know naught of his wanderings, of his fastings and weariness, of his heart despondency and his howlings over his sad prospects, as his fleet foot passes over the, intervening distance to the seat of his former raid ! But the veritable Little Crow, who, one year before,
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was boasting of Ms prowess and might, is really and actually almost alone, a coward wanderer, avoiding the presence of those whose life he so lately sought ; with retribution upon his track.
CHAPTER LXII.
THE RANSOMED.
More than two months of weary, death-inviting marches of sleepless nights and terrible anxiety from being constantly watched by their weasel-eyed captors, of savage abuse from which their women hearts recoiled with shuddering horror of hunger and cold, and the wan and worn captives of Shetak memory reached the banks of the Missouri river, far to the southwest. The little girls had been allowed, some times, to ride on the two poles dragged behind the horse, but otherwise had received the most brutal and inhuman treatment. Little Tilla Everett, only eight years old, was one time struck on the head by a squaw with a heavy stake, from the effects of which she was for a long time insensible, and none expected or scarcely hoped her to recover, for they had then little hope of improved fortunes, or that she would ever find her father, if he still lived.
All the hellish ingenuity of their savage nature seemed taxed to invent some new phase of torture, the details of which would make the blood curdle with horror. Both the women were enciente when taken captives, and now were obliguvl to submit to the vile- embraces, one of five and the other of three of these brutal monsters, till abortion followed ; and even then
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there was scarce a suspension of suffering in this re gard. Mrs. Dooley was four times sold once for a horse, again for a blanket, and once for a bag of shot Her little girl, six years old, was once sold for a gold watch, and again for two yards of cloth.
The most menial service was exacted, and severe abuse meted to the mothers, who endeavored to keep their helpless ones constantly beside them, and receive the blows instead of them. But there came a time when even this was forbidden. Mrs. Wright was or dered to go for water. The child of two years cried for its mother, when it was beaten by a squaw, till near ly dead, and then turned over to a male brute, who went out behind the tent and killed it, before the moth er's return.
One Indian often boasted of going to a house where a woman was making bread the mother of a small child, which lay in the cradle that he split the wo man's head open with a tomahawk, and then placed the babe in the hot oven, keeping it there till it was baked to death, when, not satisfied, he beat its brains out against the wall. This is corroborated by whites, who have been at the house where it happened, and from the appearance of the bodies, had no doubt but the "boast" was literally true.
When we reflect that these women and children fell into the hands of such monsters, we wonder at their final escape, or at their enduring powers, under such vile treatment. Thank heaven for the rescue !
On the last day of October, 1862, when love of life
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had fled their worn and emaciated bodies scarcely covered by the mere shreds of clothing left them their first real joy since their captivity was in seeing a party of white men floating down the river. The Indians, finding they could not inveigle them on shore, commenced hostile demonstrations, when the hopes of the women sank as rapidly as they had risen. At the risk of life, however, they made themselves seen and heard enough to make known their condition. Upon this was based their final release. Major Galpin, for it was he with a small party of men, returning to his trading post, from this day devoted all the energies of his noble soul to this object, and directed, on his own responsibility, that no effort or expense should be spared for their ransom. The persons whose hearts were thus filled with gratitude to him who had secured them shelter and protection at Fort Eandall, were Mrs. Wright and daughter, Mrs. Dooley and daughter, Misses Eosanna and Ellen Ireland, and Tilla Everett, the only living member of her family spared to her wounded, sorrow-stricken father. Of this, Mr. Everett remained for months in ignorance, himself suffering from wounds in the hospital at Mankato. When the public press announced the ransom of his child, lie forgot the pain of his healing wounds, and started, to find his lost one. At last they met She rushed to his wide open arms, and was, in tearless silence, folded to his great throbbing heart. They who saw it wept, but the scene was too sacred for words. Like a tiny skiff and mighty ship in tempest swayed these two'
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bodies with strong emotion, and when seemingly the heart chords must snap with the severe tension, the angel of relief came. The flood gates of the soul were opened, unsealing the surging, pent-up waters of the heart, and in the moment of almost delirious joy they half forgot what heart and flesh had suffered in the anxious past But the billows of sorrow again swept over the soul, as the only antidote for the vacu um the lost and slain had made. May the world deal gently by all these sufferers, and as much as may be, smooth life's rugged pathway for their thorn-piereed feet and lacerated hearts.
HI
CHAPTER LXIII.
THE INDIAN EXPEDITION.
Camp Pope, where the troops to compose the ex pedition under command of Brig. Gen. Sibley, were ordered to report, was at the mouth of Red Wood river, so late the theatre of the terrible massacres which inaugurated the war in Minnesota.
For weeks, activity and bustle prevailed here, in an ticipation of a three months' campaign and this was no small undertaking. The Brigade Commissary, Capt. Wm. H. Forbes, who had suffered the loss of some forty thousand dollars in the great raid, evinced his usual energy, ability and good sense in the man agement of this department ; and that no want of cal culation in him would bring failure to the expedition. Two hundred and twenty-five wagons were at last loaded with well packed provisions, and in due time, all was ready.
On the ninth day of June, the monotony of camp life was interrupted by the arrival of Gen. Sibley in a grand military reception. All were anxious to be on the move, and this argued favorably for a start. Every domestic circle in the State was more or less personally interested in the success of the expedition. Its officers, from the Lieutenants to the General commanding, were from our own hearth stones. The troops were our own,
CAPT. WM. H. FORBES.
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fathers, brothers and sons of Minnesota, and were walled in by a cordon of prayer from "loved ones at home," which must secure the blessings of God upon the enterprise, whatever of danger or defeat lay in their path, and whatever doubts might arise with envious evil-thinkers and evil-speakers.
Gen. Sibley, with the great energy of purpose which had characterized his life and insured its success, now bent all these powers to this one purpose to forever free the beautiful northwest from the assassins against whom this expedition was planned.
Scarcely had the excitement attendant on the oc casion of his arrival, subsided, when the strong man "bows himself and weeps," as only a bereaved father can. The first tidings from home brings the sad mes sage of a beloved daughter's death, smitten down by sudden disease. O, how vain seemed all earthly glory then, how brittle the cords that bind us to our dearest earthly loves I But there was no time for communion with grief All things in camp reminded him of the responsibility of his position, and he must needs gird him for the duty.
On the 16th of June, 1863, all things being in readiness, the forward order was given, and the expe dition took up the line of march for the almost unex plored region of Dakota territory. The entire force numbered about four thousand men, distributed as fol lows : Sixth Kegiment, CoL Crooks, eight hundred and sixty men; Seventh Kegiment, Col. Marshall, seven hundred and forty men ; Tenth Regiment, Col. Baker,
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five hundred and seventy-eight men, (three companies had been detailed for special duty) ; Cavalry, Col. Me- Phail, eight hundred and six men ; and Capt. Jones' Battery, one hundred and forty men and eight guns.
Gen. Sibley's Staff was organized as follows ;
Capt. R. C. Olin, Acting Adjutant General.
Capt C. B. Atchinson, Assistant Commissary of musters, and Acting Ordnance officer.
Captain Douglas Pope, Aid-de-Camp.
Captain Edward Corning, Quartermaster.
Captain Wm. H. Forbes, Commissary. ^
George H. Spencer, Chief Clerk of Commissary Department
Captain Wm. H. Kimball, Quartermaster's Assist ant, assigned to special duty as pioneer in charge of pontoon trains.
Lieutenant Joseph R. Putnam, Aid-de-Camp.
F. J. Holt Beever, A. St. Clair Flandrau, and Ar chibald Hawthorne, Aid-de-Camps, with rank of Sec ond Lieutenant
Seventy scouts, half of whom were volunteer In dians, and a majority of the balance half-breeds, were numbered with the expedition. These were in com mand of Major J. R Brown, J. McCleod, and Wm. J. Dooley, who were to act as chief of scouts, each half to serve on alternate days, and precede the expedition in all its movements. The position of Rev. S. R. Riggs was changed from chaplain to interpreter, and yet he acted in the first with quite as much acceptance as before, and with all the temptations around him
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which, tended to so demoralize the army, he proved his trust in that Being who alone can deliver from the evils of vice, and that his soul was safe in that fortress.
For transportation of commissary stores, there were two hundred and twenty -five wagons; for ordnance, twenty ; pontoons, eleven ; and battery, two ; for camp equipage of thirty-eight companies, nineteen; quartermaster's department and medical supplies, seven teen ; regimental head-quarters, eight ; head-quarters of the expedition, two. Surgeon Wharton received the appointment of medical director.
The sale of intoxicating liquors was prohibited by general order, to remain in force during the expedi tion ; notwithstanding, those who so desired, by the working of some magic wand, always found their can teens re-filled whenever they had been emptied. Strange and mysterious are the genii of this prince of evil, and the working out of his secret plottings none but his leagued hosts can fathom !
Thus the efficient and well organized force was on the move, making a train of five miles in length, for midable enough in appearance alone to awe the whole Sioux nation, and of courage and daring equal to any danger or effort.
The setting out of such an expedition was most un- propitious. Such a season of drouth was never known in all the West. The prairies were literally parched with heat, and all the sloughs and little streams dry. The fierce prairie winds were like the hot siroccos of
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the desert, withering every green thing. Clouds of dust, raised by this immense column, would blind the eyes, choke the throat and blacken the faces of the men, so that they looked more like colliers than sol diers. In time, serious effects began to tell upon the wagons and provision boxes, some of which fell in pieces, and much time was spent in making secure those uninjured. Both men and animals suffered for water, but the health of the men was not seriously af fected, and, therefore, the spirits did not yield to cir cumstances. On the 19th, Mr. Biggs, writing from Camp Baker, one mile above the ruins of Hazlewood Mission Station, says :
"We have travelled three days, and have made about thirty miles from Camp Pope. The teams are all very heavily loaded, so heavy, indeed, that although we all wish for rain to make the earth rejoice, yet if that rain should come, it might very seriously affect the progress of this command at present. But the green grass is so dried up that fires run on the prairie wherever it was not burned last fall. And the streams of water too, are falling, so that we shall be obliged to keep near to the larger rivers or lakes, to obtain a supply of water for these 4,000 men, and as many animals."
"Our soldiers have marched, carrying their knap sacks, their blankets and their guns, an average of ten miles a day, which, with the immense train we have, in its present state, is thought as much as can reason ably be calculated upon. Yesterday morning, while the train was crossing the Yellow Medicine, I obtained
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from the General a squad of scouts and orderlies and came on to gather currants in the deserted gardens of the Missions. We found, and brought away with us a quantity of the pie-plant. These are the last rem nants of civilization to be found in this direction. I gathered a few pinks and other flowers from my own garden at Hazlewood. Some of the men brought in lettuce, which they found in the gardens of the Agency.
"It is to me quite saddening to look on the desola tion which the outbreak has made in the land. Seeing them again, has more deeply impressed me with the exceeding folly as well as sin of the Dakotas. By that one wicked act they have forever deprived them selves of homes in this beautiful land. But there is a Providence that shapes the destinies of people as well as individuals, brings good out of evil, and makes the ' wrath of man to praise HIM."
On the holy Sabbath day the standard rested from its march. This arrangement was, on the first Sab bath, made known to the campaign by the Command ing General, unless in cases of extreme and urgent necessity. Here again we endorse the sentiment of Mr. Riggs, that on the low ground of temporal economy they would find it profitable. "We shall march fur ther," he says, "week after week, by resting on God's day, than we should by marching through the seven. But there is a higher view of this subject : If God be with us in this campaign, we shall make it a success ; if God be not with us, we shall fail of accomplishing
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the desired objects. And one way to secure the pres ence and assistance of God, is to ' remember the Sab bath day, to keep it holy.' "
CHAPTER LXIV.
DEATH OF GENERAL LITTLE GROW.
On the third of July, 1863, when all the boys in the land, and many of the men were preluding the morrow with fire crackers, and preparations for big sounds and grand display of fire works, a boy and his father, "way out in Minnesota," were ignorantly performing a far more important service to their country a service which will immortalize the name of Lampson, and render the two famous on historic page. They lived for an important end and have not lived in vain.
Mr Lampson lived at Hutchinson, a town which suffered much, you will remember, early in the troubles of 1862, since which siege everybody had been on watch ful lookout for "a shot" in retaliation, and seldom went unarmed any distance from town. Mr. L. and his son Chauncey, were six miles in the country on this event ful day, when they discovered two Indians picking berries in an "opening" in the woods. Bushes and scattering poplars were interspersed, so that the Indians did not discover the two pair of eyes and the sure aim upon them. With commendable forethought, Mr. L. determined to make sure of his game before announc ing his presence, so he crept cautiously forward among the vines and rested his gun against the tree which they climed. He fired, his shot taking effect, but not
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a deadly one, as evinced by the loud yell and sudden movement backward. His victim, however, fell to the ground, severely wounded. With the prudence and caution which characterized his first movement, not knowing the number of Indians, Mr. L. thought best to retreat a little, where he could obtain the shelter of some bushes.
The wounded Indian was not to be foiled in a shot at his antagonist, and so crept after him, and thus each were brought into distinct view of the other, when the two Indians they had first seen, and Chauncey Lampson who was concealed from their view, fired simulta neously. Chauncey 's ball killed the wounded Indian, and the other one instantly sprang to his horse and rode away. A ball from the Indian's rifle whistled close to his cheek, while one from the other's gun struck his father on the left shoulder blade, making only a slight flesh wound.
Mr. Lampson dropped when the shot struck him, and his son, supposing him killed, and fearing a large force of Indians were near, having no more ammunition, and not daring to approach his father, who was some distance away, to obtain more, lest he should share the same fate, beat a hasty retreat for town.
He arrived home at ten o'clock in the evening, when the exciting news flew like wild fire on the prairie in a windy day. An army squad from the company sta tioned there, with a number of the citizens, were soon marching rapidly to the scene of conflict, while others started in other directions to warn the citizens, and
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others still, went to Lake Preston for a squad of cav alry, who, acting with promptness, were guided to the spot before daylight, and relieved "Mr. Injun" of his scalp, and mark this, reader, this zvas the first scalp for which the twenty-Jive dollars reward was claimed, the first Sioux scalp taken by white man in 1863.
When found by the company who had been first guided to the spot by young Lampson, the body of the Indian had been straightened, new moccasins put upon his feet, and his blanket carefully adjusted, as no dead "Injun" could do it. This led to the conviction that these were not alone in their evil designs and purposes.
But we will not leave the reader to suppose that the elder Lampson "laid him down to die," from the slight though unpleasant wound he had received. With the determined courage which characterized his first move ment, he crawled into the bush'es, reloaded his gun, drew his revolver, and waited for the re-appearance of the foe. Thus he waited, and none coming, he profited by the cover of night to come forth from his concealment. Divesting himself of his white garments, that they might not prove a fatal mark for prowling Indians, and taking a circuitous route, he reached home about two o'clock on the morning of the
"FOURTH."
On the return of the military squad with the citizen's coat, moccasins, and a number of trinkets found on the person of the dead Indian, the programme of the daj> was changed, by sending out a detachment for the body which was brought in about three o'clock in the after
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noon. For two or three hours it was the common cen tre of attraction, and all professed to have known him well in life. The coat he wore was identified as the one taken from the man murdered some distance from there, of which mention has been heretofore made. All who beheld, declared a striking resemblance between this Indian and Little Crow, only this one a shade lighter, the age about fifty. Both arms were wither ed and deformed by breaking and permanent displace ment of the bones, ths palpable result of rough hand ling in past tima A strange coincidence they thought, as this was the case with Little Crow, and so, as the body was becoming offensive, they "dumped" him into a hole and left him -there, no tears of regret having fallen upon his unhonored grave ; and the Lampsons little dreaming the service they had rendered the State in ridding it of one for whom a government train five miles long was in pursuit
The press published the facts as here in substance related. In two weeks it reached the camp of General Sibley, then far on his route to catch the wily chief. The striking coincidence, the minute description of the body, its resemblance to Little Crow, attracted the at tention of the Commanding General, who had known him well for years, and he declared it to be none other than the arch-enemy himself In this opinion Major Brown and Capt Forbes, who knew him equally well, concurred. Calling to the aid of their memories the' Indian scouts and half-breeds, not one was known in the whole tribe who bore this resemblance in all the
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minutiae to Little Crow. It was considered, too, a strongly corroborative circumstance, that the citizens of Hutchinson, who knew him, should detect this re semblance. This opinion was returned to the press, when investigation commenced, and every evidence adduced confirmed the fact that the scalp of the terror- inspiring LITTLE CROW was a trophy at the historical rooms in the State Capital.
A more marked instance of Providential retribution, history probably does not record. The leader of the bloody insurrection and the first Indian war which has scourged our State, in which, for the first time, white men felt the scalping-knife of the savage, now his own head, in turn, paying the forfeit, furnishing the first scalp which white man has ever taken !
The grave of Little Crow, which was only a hole dug for the receptacle of the offals of slaughtered cattle, being lightly covered, his head was soon exposed to view, and with a stick was sloughed from the body, where for several days it remained, the brains oozing out in the hot sun, till evidences of its identity began to accumulate, when a more critical investigation was made. The teeth were found to be double set around the mouth, which was known to be the case with Little Crow ; and now the offensive, worthless thing, sud denly magnified into importance, was carefully pre pared in a strong solution of lime. The putrid, decay ing body, almost devoid of flesh, was exhumed, placed in a box, and sunk in the river, a cleansing preparation before passing into the anatomist's hands.
CHAPTER LXV.
CAPTURE OF WO-WI-NAP-A, SON OF LITTLE CROW.
Five hundred miles to the north-west, at Camp Atch- inson, not forty miles from the shores of Devil's lake, the expedition train was divided, a portion remaining in camp, with orders to explore and root out the In dians, if any remained in that region. The other di vision, with General Sibley at its head, had moved in a south-western direction, for the Missouri river, where the main body of the hostile foe had fled.
Three companies, in command of Capt Burt, went out from Camp Atchinson, on the 28th of June, to scour the region for a trail, which the scouts had re ported as having seen the day before. Nearing the shores of Devil's lake, they crossed the trail, which was lost in a dried-up slough. In their search to regain the trail, the head of an Indian was discovered instead, protruding from a clump of bushes.
One of the scouts approached him and demanded his surrender. He threw down his gun, glad, in his half starved condition, of the prospect of getting something to eat on any terms. The remains of a lean wolf were beside him, which he had before killed with his last charge of ammunition, and cooked for his last rations. He very soon recognized and spoke to William Quinn,'- the half-breed interpreter, by whom, and several oth-
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ers, lie was at once recognized as the son of Little Crow. He was very much emaciated by his fastings and wanderings, and was moreover in great straits, not knowing whither to go or what to do. He had expect ed to find his own people still there, but instead, not an Indian had he seen, and he would, doubtless, soon have starved to death. His head was full of ver min, and was at once shaven, and he was taken into camp to await the order of the Commanding Gen eral. We subjoin his own statement, rather than our own version of his story, that the reader may compare it with the afore given circumstances at Hutchinson, which this statement fully corroborates :
"I am the son of Little Crow ; my name is Wo-wi- nap-a; I am sixteen years old; my father had two wives before he took my mother ; the first one had one son, the second one a son and daughter. The third wife was my mother. After taking my mother, he put away the first two. He had seven children by my mother, six of whom are dead, I am the only one liv ing now. The fourth wife had five children born ; do not know whether they died or not ; two were boys and three were girls. The fifth wife had five children, three of whom are dead, two are living. The sixth wife had three children, all of them are dead, the old est was a boy, the other two were girls. The last four wives were sisters.
"Father went to St. Joseph last spring. When we were coming back, he said he could not fight the white men, but would go below and steal horses from them
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and give them to his children, so that they could be comfortable, and then he would go away off.
"Father also told me that he was getting old, and wanted me to go with him to carry his bundles. He left his wives and other children behind. There were sixteen men and one squaw in the party that went be low with us. We had no horses, but walked all the way down to the settlement. Father and I were pick ing redberries near Scattered lake, at the time he was shot. It was near night. He was hit the first time in the side, just above the hip. His gun and mine were lying on the ground. He took up my gun and fired it first and then fired his own. He was shot the sec ond time while firing his own gun. The ball struck the stock of his gun and then hit him in the side, near the shoulders. This was the shot that killed him. He told me that he was killed, and asked me for water, which I gave him. He died immediately after. When I heard the first shot fired I laid down, and the man did not see me before father was killed.
"A short time before father was killed, an Indian named Hi-a-ka, who married the daughter of my father's second wife, came to him. He had a horse with him, also a gray colored coat, that he had taken from a man whom he had killed, to the north of where father was killed. He gave the coat to father, telling him he would need it when it rained, as he had no coat with him. Hi-a-ka said he had a horse now, and was going back to the Indian country.
"The Indians who went down with us, separated.
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Eight of them and the squaw went north ; the other eight went further down. I have not seen any of them since. After father was killed, I took both guns and the ammunition, and started for Devil's lake, where I expected to find some of my friends. When I got to Beaver Creek, I saw the tracks of two Indians, and at Standing Buffalo's village saw where the eight Indians who had gone first had crossed.
"I carried both guns as far as Shayenne river, where I saw two men. I was scared, and threw my gun and ammunition down. After that, I travelled only in the night, and as I had no ammunition to kill anything to eat, I had not strength enough to travel fast. I went on until I arrived near Devil's lake, when I stayed in one place three days, being so weak and hungry that I could go no farther. I had picked up a cartridge near Big Stone lake, which I still had with me, and loaded father's gun with it, cutting the ball into slugs. With this charge, I shot a wolf, ate some of it, which gave me strength to travel, and I went on up the lake, until the day I was captured, which was twenty-six days from the day my father was killed."
Sixteen years before the capture of Wo-wi-nap-a, the writer had been, for many days, a guest at the house of Doctor Williamson, then, as in latter years, the Sioux missionary at Little Crow's village, before its re moval up the Minnesota Valley. When the novelty of a white woman's landing from a "fire canoe" had a little subsided, this, then baby Chief, with others, was held up, that my unsophisticated admiration might be
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sealed with a kiss, an accorded honor with which I feared not to comply the same pappoose which I sometimes saw affectionately caressed by his father, but a weakness on his part, which he would prefer should have passed unnoticed. Like Joseph, he was the fa vorite son of his father, because his mother was loved more than all his wives. Wo-wi-nap-a returned with the expedition, and has since been in the guard house, awaiting military disposal.
CHAPTER LXVI.
TWO CAPTIVE BOYS.
In the month of June, 1863, considerable sympathy was elicited in St. Paul, by the arrival of two little ran somed boys, who had been, since the outbreak, in sav ages' hands. Their ages were six and nine years, and to the good Catholic priest of St. Joe, they owed their release from captivity. He had parted with all his worldly goods to effect this, and then even rob bed himself of his own needful apparel, to clothe them decently and comfortably for their jour ney.
George Ingalls, the eldest of these boys, was, when the trouble commenced, living near Yellow Medicine. Like others, the family fled for the fort, but before reaching there, were seized upon by Indians, who sprang from a hole in the earth. Mr. Ingalls was kill ed, and the rest of his family made prisoners. His three daughters, sisters of young George, were carried off to the plains, suffering incredible hardships, till finally ransomed at the Agency, on the Missouri river.
George was sometimes at Big Stone lake, and in the same camp with a boy who forms the subject of anoth er chapter. Finally, they moved on to the north-west,
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towards Devil's lake, where the main Indian forces were to concentrate for the winter.
My reader will recollect the little Jimmy Scott v of Old Crossing, who submitted to go with his captors, as his grandmother bade him, whom we now again intro duce as the veritable boy, but having passed through such suffering and hardship as to remember little else, and having even forgotten the name of his grandmother. The poor child would cry most piteously, when ques tioned relative to his adventures. Both physical and mental powers seemed seriously affected by the terrible ordeal through which he had passed, for a child of such tender years.
The boys say they never suffered for food in quan tity, but the quality, with little variation, was not the most desirable, much of the time having only buffalo meat. They suffered much from intense cold during the long tedious winter, in the bleak winds from the lake which visited them very roughly, and there was much of human misery in the severe drudgery put upon boys so young. What mother's heart but bleeds at their woes and rejoices in their release ! The Indian women who had played mother to them, were sad to part with them, and seemed unwilling to do so, until plead with most earnestly in the eloquence of tears by the boys themselves. Little Jimmy cried bitterly on the neck of his Indian mother, when he "kissed her good-bye."
May friends be so kind, the healing balm be so' gently applied to childhood's bitter memories, that this
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eventful experience be no serious drawback on their future lives, whose history will be marked with intense interest by those who have sympathized with them in these dark hours.
CHAPTER LXYII.
THRILLING ADVENTURES OF MR BRACKETT AND
DEATH OP 'LIEUTENANT FREEMAN.
The monotony of Camp Atchinson was interrupted on the evening of August 2d, by the appearance on the outskirts, of an emaciated human figure, who at once fell to the ground, in sheer weakness and exhaus tion. He was picked up and carried into a tent, and was at once recognized as George E. Brackett, of Min neapolis, beef contractor of the expedition, who had gone with the main body, and was now nearly dead from hunger and fatigue.
He had, in company with Lieutenant Freeman, of St. Cloud, when about sixty miles out, left the main column and flanked off to the left for a day's adven ture, with little thought of its sad ending. Five miles away, having met nothing worthy of note, they over looked the country from the summit of a range of hills, when they saw several of the scouts not very far away. Passing a fairy -like lake, three graceful ante lopes tempted a shot, one only was wounded, which Lieut. Freeman followed, giving his horse in charge of Mr. Brackett. This drew them from their course, though the train was in sight several miles distant. Seeing the scouts on the other side of the lake, curi-
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osity led them on, through fresh evidences of Indians near.
These dangers passed, they shaped their course towards the train, or to strike its trail. On the look out for the enemy, they discovered three objects be tween themselves and the train, who they soon decide to be real Indians, following up the train. Each made preparations to meet the other, and with all the cau tion at command, crept forward around the bluff. A mutual surprise ensues, when they recognize in each other friends of the same party. One of these scouts was Chaska, who is already well known.
Just at this time a large squad of men were noticed on the bluff, nearly three miles away, at the same time a squad of cavalry, as they supposed, started toward them. The scouts turned off to the lake to water their horses, and the cavalry and themselves in motion, perceptibly lessened the distance between them, and no doubt existed but that Gen. Sibley's full command was on the other side of the hill, and so sure, that while they almost counted the horses, they gave no heed to the men. But suddenly they disappeared, they could not have sunk into the earth, and, there fore, must have turned back. So said these men as they rode carelessly along.
Judge of the surprise when, instead of their own cavalry, fifteen Indians, deceptively bearing a flag of truce, suddenly charged upon them. They yelled to the scouts and rode toward them, but before they reached them, Lieut Freeman was shot, with an arrow, Ot
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through the back, and at the same time, another In dian fired at Mr. Brackett, who escaped the ball by clinging to the neck of his horse, and at the same time Chaska, from the top of a knoll, let fly at the In dians. Lieut. Freeman sat on his horse till they had passed in the rear of the scouts, when he remarked, "I am gone," and fell. He asked for the string to be cut from his neck, to which was attached a piece of the slain antelope, for water which was given, then slightly changed his position, and was gone.
The Indians were now all around them, but were held in check by an invisible power, and fell back as the daring scouts rode rapidly toward them, ready to fire. This brief respite gave Mr. Brackett a chance to get the Lieutenant's rifle and revolver before he fol lowed the scouts, and to overtake them while his pur suers waited to catch the horse from which his com rade had just fallen. This done, with loud and trium phant yells, they start on again, and after a race of four miles, the fleeing party are completely surrounded. All jumped from their horses, and the faithful Chaska, more intent on the safety of his friend than his own, first saw him safely hid in the bushes, and then went forward to meet his red brethren. This was the last Mr. Brackett saw of the scouts, but lay in his conceal ment with his rifle thingyed, while the Indians quar reled which should have his horse. But for this they would doubtless have searched out his hiding place.
The afternoon was now far spent, and in a half r hour after the Indians had left in a circuitous course
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round a marsh, probably to avoid pursuit by Gen. Sibley's forces. Mr. Brackett crawled out from the rushes, and with the sun to his back, travelled for two hours, and thus he did for two days, and when the sun had set, hid in a marsh, where he slept at night. After the third day he began diligent search for the trail, which he struck on the afternoon of the fifth day, about twelve miles from where they en camped the night before he left the train, and about seventy miles from Camp Atchinson. So little ad vance had been made, that a man of ordinary caliber would have yielded to despondency, and there have died. Not so with the hero of this adventure. Though subsisting on frogs, birds and cherries, and these in limited quantities, for five days, his feet worn and blistered with constant travel, his forehead blis tered by the scorching sun, and sleeping every night with only the upper region of his nether garment for a covering, his indomitable energy enabled him to go on, though when he reached the camp, he could not have held out another day. The remainder of this perilous adventure we give in Mr. Brackett's own words :
"About ten miles before reaching Camp A, I sat down to rest, and had such difficulty in getting under weigh again, that I determined to stop no more, feel ing sure that once again down, I should never be able to regain my feet unaided. I entered the camp near the camp fire of a detachment of the "Pioneers," (Capt. Chase's Company of the Ninth Minnesota In-
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fantry,) and fell to the ground, unable to raise again. But, thank God! around that fire were sitting some St. Anthony friends, among whom were Messrs. Mc- Mullen and Whittier, attached to that company, who kindly picked me up, and carried me to my tent.
"I lost my coat, hat and knife in the fight on the first day. I took Lieut F.'s knife, and with it made moccasins of my boot-legs, my boots so chafing my feet in walking that I could not wear them. These moccasins were constantly getting out of repair, and my knife was as much needed to keep them in order for use, as to make them in the first place. But just before reaching the trail of the expedition on the fifth day, I lost Lieut F.'s knife. This loss I felt at the time decided my fate, if I had much farther to go, but kind Providence was in my favor, for almost the first object that greeted my eyes upon reaching the trail, was a knife, old and worn to be sure, but priceless to me. This incident some may deem a mere accident, but let such an one be placed in my situation at that time, and he would feel with me, that it was a boon granted by the Great Giver of good. On the third day, about ten miles from the river spoken of, I left Lieut F.'s rifle on the prairie, becoming too weak to carry it longer, besides it had already been so damaged by rain that I could not use it I wrote upon it that Lieut. F. had been killed, and named the course I was then pursuing. I brought the pistol into Camp At- chinson.
" While wandering, I lived on cherries, roots, birds
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eggs, young birds and frogs, caught by hand, all my ammunition but one cartridge having been spoiled by the rain on the first day. That cartridge was one for Smith's breech loading carbine, and had a gutta percha case. I had also some waterproof percussion caps in my portmonaie. I took one-half the powder in the cartridge, and a percussion cap, and with the pistol and some dry grass, started a nice fire, at which I cooked a young bird, something like a loon, and about the size. This was on the second night. On the fourth, I used the remainder of the cartridge in the same way, and for a like purpose. The rest of the time I ate my food uncooked, except some hard bread (found at the fourth camp mentioned above,) which had been fried and then thrown into the ashes. I have forgotten one sweet morsel, (and all were sweet and very palatable to me,) viz : some sinews spared by the wolves from a buffalo carcass. As near as I am able to judge, I travelled in seven days at least two hundred miles. I had ample means for a like journey in civilized localities, but for thp first time in my life, found gold and silver coin a useless thing. My boot leg moccasins saved me ; for a walk of ten miles upon such a prairie, barefooted, would stop all further pro gress of any person accustomed to wear covering upon the feet The exposure at night, caused, more partic ularly, by lying in low and wet places in order to hide myself, was more prostrating to me than scarcity of food. The loneliness of the prairies, would have been terrible in itself, without the drove of wolves that,
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after the first day, hovered, in the day-time, at a re spectable distance, and in the night time howled close ly around me, seemingly sure that my failing strength would soon render me an easy prey. But a merciful Providence has spared my life, by what seems now, even to myself, almost a miracle."
Mr. Brackett speaks in the highest terms of Chaska, his courage and devotion to the cause in which he was enlisted being unsurpassed in Indian life. He feels that he owes his life to him, by his firing in the first encounter, and rushing toward him in the second, which enabled him to hide as he suggested.
Lieutenant Ambrose Freeman, who fell as above re lated, was a native of Virginia, and for seven years a a resident of St. Cloud, Minnesota, where his wife and five children waited his return, when he should recount to them the adventures and perils of the way. He bore an unblemished character, and was best loved and respected where best and longest known. His char acter in civil, accompanied him in military life, and no man in the expedition could have been more gen erally regretted He enlisted for frontier defense of our Minnesota homes. His body was promptly re covered and buried with honors due, at Camp Sib- ly, near the Big Mound, where a great battle with the Indians was fought soon after his fall.
The scouts came safely into camp, minus horses.
CHAPTER LXVIH.
THE CAPTIVE JOHN JULIEN.
The subject of this chapter was one of the three boys who were ransomed by the kind-hearted Catholic priest at St. Joe. His captivity was of ten months' du ration, but there is less of real bitter misery in it than of the other boys. John Julien was cook for the gov ernment laborers at Big Stone lake at the time of the savage onset there. He escaped and hid in the woods until he supposed the danger passed, and then thought he would return to the tent and find out if possible the fate of his employers, when he was made prisoner by an Indian who lived near, with the humane intent of protecting till he could set him at liberty. His name, which deserves historic record, is Bu-kosh-nu, meaning the "man with short hair." He took no part in the massacres, and taking the boy across the lake, with some valuable suggestions to guide him, sent him off alone. No sooner had he turned back, than he found the enemy were on his track, and running after, brought him back, and for several days kept him concealed at his own lodge.
Then he allowed him to go with his own son to the lake, but no sooner was he seen, than a vicious Indian, one who had deeply drank of the extermination spirit, and vowed that no white blood should be left unspilled,
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took aim at his heart, and then ran off, not waiting to know the result, but supposing his pistol had per formed its intent.
His little Indian companion ran and told his father of the cruel act, who came at once, took him kindly in his arms, carried him to his house, washed and dressed his wounds, and made him as comfortable as he could in his comfortless tepee. Then he took down his gun, his eye flashing vengeance, declaring he would shoot Hut-te-ste-mi, who had shot the white boy. This, John, in his forgiving spirit, overruled ; so he put up his gun and went forth, hatchet in hand, to avenge the deed by a demand of the pistol, which he smashed upon a stone, thus inciting the anger of the would-be boy murderer, and endangering his own life.
Eu-kosh-nu dare not be found at his own house, and to protect his captive, whose life was now more than before in danger, had him taken to his cousin's, about half a mile distant. Good care was given to his wound during the five days he remained there, and the ball extracted from his side.
One month later, thirty lodges of the vicinity were struck, and the occupants fell in with Little Crow's party, who having beeji ousted in battles, had started for Devil's lake, in the north of Dakota Territory, where it was their intent to mass their forces, after re ceiving all the pledges of assistance from other tribes they could get.
The wounded, suffering captive must go with them on this long, wearisome journey. He walked the first
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day, as Ms captor had no way for him. to ride, who seeing he could not hold out thus another day, gave him to his relative, who protected him at Big Stone lake. He rode in the wagon of his new owner the rest of the way, and was with him during the remain der of his captivity.
Instead of remaining at Devil's lake, a portion of this party passed on to the Missouri river, among whom was John Julien. The cold had now become intense, and the snow was deep; still these savage wanderers continue to move on, following up the wind ings of the river, till, after an abundance of sameness in experience, an encampment of Yanktons, five hun dred lodges strong, falls in their way. Here they rested and feasted on buffalo meat for five days, when they were joined by Little Crow with sixty lodges, with whom they remained .during the rest of the winter.
None of these were stationary. The Yanktons broke camp and went in one direction, Little Crow's camp in another. The latter was very desirous to make peace with the Arickarees, (commonly known as the Rees,) and obtain their assistance in his anticipa ted campaign against the whites in the spring. Little Crow compelled the captive boy to go in front, when his delegation went forward to meet the delegation of Rees, that if trouble ensued he might be first to suffer. The object of the embassy being known, there follow ed an assent, a shaking of hands, and the smoking of pipes. But scarcely had the Rees reached the protec-
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tion of their own people, when they commenced firing. There was among them a peace and an anti-peace party, the latter the strongest, and of course over ruling the former. Our little hero was again wounded in the fleshy part of his leg. Eight Sioux were killed and one squaw, during the battle, which lasted from noon till sundown. Little Crow was completely routed, and retreated for the camp where he had wintered, forty miles distant. This was the last of April.
The wounded boy tried hard to keep up with the retreating party, and after running five miles, his leg became too painful to proceed, and he hid himself to avoid the enemy in pursuit. At dark, however, he followed in their trail, and after travelling all night and the following day, reached the Sioux camp, where they were safe from their pursuers.
Little Crow again bends his steps towards Devil's lake, and for the first five days they are entirely desti tute of food. Fifty miles above Devil's lake,
the trader from St Joseph, met them with a parley for their furs, for which they received provisions and blankets. We mention this because it is an impor tant link in the chain of circumstances which led to the boy's release. This trader carried the tidings of this boy's captivity, as also, the two others then at other points, to St. Joe, when the kind hearted priest arranged for him to buy them.
The owner of the boy was reluctant to sell him, he preferred rather to take him to the settlement and de- liver him up, in proof of his friendship for the whites,
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combined with the testimony of the treatment he had received while in his care. He ^ad exacted nothing unreasonable, had not required him to work, and when he sold a pony for a cap, coat, vest, pants, three shirts, a pair of stockings aud a blanket, he clothed his cap tive with them instead of himself. The other Indians would not accede to his wish to go to the settlement, and thinking that Gren. Sibley, to whom he had hoped to deliver him, would not come into the neighborhood, he finally consented to sell him ; and on the 13th of June he reached St. Joseph, where he was received by the priest and kindly cared for while he remained, and was sent to St. Paul, where he arrived the 17th of Sep tember, glad to be once more in civilized life, with the hope of a speedy reunion with the remnant of his father's family.
CHAPTER LXIX.
PROGRESS OF THE EXPEDITION.
Slowly, but surely, plodded on the gigantic train, with all the drawbacks which beset its course. Little or no rain had visited them, and there fell scarcely a drop of dew to relieve the aridity of the earth, while the heat was much of the time one hundred degrees or more, and the hot sirocco air, when filled with dust, was almost unendurable. The true man may die, but he never fails. Whatever the discouragements, he is true to his purpose, and if he dies, it is with the harness on, and his mantle falls on another, as true as himself. Clouds may be around him, but, eagle-like, he soars above them, and heeds not the muttering thunders, or the tongue of calumny. The same rear fire which follow ed the expedition now, was kept up all through the campaign of the previous fall. It is an easy matter to find fault, while reclining at ease in one's office or home ; but not so easy to perform, successfully, a great and important work, and meet, at the same time, the impatient demand of the public.
The objects of the expedition were kept constantly in view, from the first The release of the prisoners was successfully accomplished. The punishment of guilty parties followed, so far as the action of the Gen-, eral commanding was concerned, and over three hun-
COL. WM. R. MARSHALL.
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died guilty warriors and murderers were condemned to death. That they were not executed, was no fault of his. The supreme law of the army forbids the execution of any sentence of court martial, without the sanction of the President of the United States. Where, then, rests the blame ?
Still, unmoved by the clamor of fault-finders, the expedition was pushing on to the desired end, though never an Indian had they seen. At last they come upon their trail tent poles and camp fire remains, where game had been cooked, and other signs evince their nearness as they advance toward the Missouri.
Days weeks had passed, and no tidings came from the main column to the anxious outer world ; and nothing was known of them at Camp Atchinson. But they were far from being idlers or laggards in the field, and were far in the heart of the enemy's country, away from civilization and refinement, amid scenery though beautiful to the eye, devoid of all other at tractions the country poor, in the extreme fully determined to mete to the foe the justice they merited. JSTor was it a boy's play to bring about this grand re sult Every man felt the responsibility of his position, and worked as if success depended alone on him. Time was flying fast and events were hastening to their final issue.
At last it is known, for CoL Marshall brings the tid ings that three several engagements have taken place, in which the enemy, more than two thousand strong, the largest Indian force ever giving battle, had been
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completely routed, with heavy loss, and driven in ter ror and confusion across the Missouri river.
Col. Marshall left the expedition after one day on the return march, and performed the hazardous trip of nearly four hundred miles in seven days, and much of the way without an escort and only two scouts. The main features of the battles we leave the reader to get from the official report of the commanding offi cer. Some items, however, not therein mentioned, may not be uninteresting.
The great Sioux camp, when discovered by our for ces, were in consultation for proposing terms of peace, instigated to this by Standing Buffalo, who had long since declared his intention to deliver himself up, whenever opportunity offered to do so. To this prop osition all but eight daring, reckless young braves con sented, who mounted their horses and rode swiftly away. A party followed to bring them in, and had just come up with them on the hill overlooking the camp of white men. The scouts went up to parley, and several messages were returned from them to in dividuals, among which was a special request from Standing Buffalo to George Spencer, to "come over and see him." George lacked no confidence in the friendly chief, but something whispered him, "go not up," and fortunately he obeyed the monitory voice. Several of the men followed the scouts, and even shook hands with several Indian acquaintances. Among these was Doct. Weiser, from Shakopee, Sur-. geon of the Mounted Rangers ; but scarcely had he spoken to one, when one of the determined eight came
STANDING BUFFALO. (The Friendly Chief.)
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behind and shot him through the heart. He fell from his horse and never spoke again. The scouts returned the fire, when the Indians fell back behind the ridge, firing as they went One of them was slightly wounded by a spent ball, which had passed through a rubber blanket rolled up on his saddle. All peace overtures were now at an end. Those who had encouraged a surrender "fell in" to save themselves from their own people. Standing Buffalo, still persistent in his peace principles, ran away to the north, where he remained many weeks afterwards.
The fighting propensities of the savages were roused to their full tension, and their awful war-whoop rang through all the prairie air. It was three o'clock in the afternoon of July 24th, 1863, when Gen. Sibley ordered his troops forward to meet the foe. Then arose a terrible thunder storm, which shook the earth, and sent a bolt of lightning into their midst, killing one man and his horse instantly. For three full hours the contest raged, when the savages fled in wild confu sion. The mounted regiment of Col. McPhail pressed on in pursuit, while the main body of the infantry, having marched from early morn till three o'clock be fore engaging the enemy, went into camp.
An unhappy mistake, (for such will occur in mili tary circles as well as in well regulated families,) oc curring at this time, has furnished food for the the ca pacious, craving stomach of calumny. But we think it due to the General commanding, to set the facts be fore the world in their true light, and as we obtained them from one who heard the order, and received and
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executed an auxiliary whose statements are above suspicion of cavil, we vouch for their correctness.
Why was not the advantage gained at the first bat tle followed up, and the Indians more severely pun ished ? is the query of dissatisfaction. We reply, such was the design. We have seen Col. McPhail's cavalry, supported by the Seventh of infantry, under Lieut Col. Marshall, in pursuit of the fleeing foe, to be fol lowed by the main column. But no man or body of men can accomplish impossibilities. It will be recol lected that they had marched that day forty miles, be fore engaging the enemy. The advance scouts had just reported at head-quarters, the finding of the ene my's trail, when Captain Forbes, of the Commissary Department, rode to the front to say that the teams were giving out, and they were near the only water reported for several miles. Accordingly they went into camp.
"You ride to Col. McPhail tell him not to pursue the enemy after dark, but to act discretionary as to a bivouac on the prairie," was the verbal and definite order given by Gen. Sibley to Lieut. Beever, who vol unteered to deliver it. This was followed by another to the Chief Clerk of the Commissary Department "to start three days' rations to reach the advancing force early in the morning. Promptly the last order was executed, and five loaded teams were on the way by eleven o'clock that night, but when one mile out stragglers were met, and finally the entire pursuing force. The order had been strangely misunderstood, and its most important phraseology delivered in a positive "re-
COL. WM-. CROOKS.
'
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turn to camp." The regret of its bearer was too poign ant for censure when he awoke to this serious blunder. But his was too noble a nature not to acquit the inno cent of all blame, even though his own name would be branded on historic page, and he frankly admitted the mistake to his comrades, and awaited his opportunity to do so before the world. He sleeps in the shadow of the woods in which he met his untimely fate, and his living testimony cannot exonerate the man on whom an envious world throws the blame, and who nobly suffers the tongue of calumny to declare his un- fitness for the command, rather than cast it on a worthy, defenseless dead man. And thus it rests.
At last they have repulsed the enemy in three suc cessive battles, killing a large number, and driving him, in large force, across the Missouri river, between which and the expedition's encampment, was a mile of dense forest, interspersed with a heavy growth of prickly ash, the most impenetrable of all northern undergrowth. Imperfect Indian trails ran through them to the river, but, forbidding as were the circumstances, CoL Crooks, as valorous a man as ever led a regiment, called for volunteers to follow him there. After thoroughly shelling the woods, and scouring the "bottom," they drew rein at its shore, and drank themselves and their horses fi-om the sweet though turbid stream, which was truly refreshing, after having drank naught, for many days, but brackish water. While here, they were fired on from the opposite shore, but the balls fell harmless ly into the river, a warning, however, for them to make quick time in return to camp.
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Again it is inquired, why this last engagement was not the finale of the Indian war, and why they were not followed across the river ?
We have shown the nature of the ground between them and the river. In the language of another, "white men cannot fight naked, and draw their subsis tence from the lakes, woods and prairies, as the Indians can." They must have their baggage wagon and pro vision train, otherwise they cannot carry on an offen sive war. Men and animals were well nigh exhausted when they reached the Missouri : besides the commis sary stores were scarcely sufficient for return rations. They would have had great difficulty in getting the teams through the dense forest, and then three days' time would have been consumed in crossing, which would have given the enemy three days' start, else they would have been all this time exposed to their fire.
"White people," says Mr. Riggs, "are superior to an Indian in a thousand things, but fighting is not one of them. Our big guns, and our long range muskets and our better drills, give us an advantage over them. But in fleeing and fighting, fighting and fleeing, they are our superiors. Moreover; they cover a retreat most beautifully. If any one supposes it is an easy matter to annihilate these Arabs of the desert, let him try it. Perhaps he will come back a wise man." Some ask, he says, "why Gen. Sibley did not kill more Indians ? We reply, "they would not stay to be kill- ecL" He might have disgraced his humanity and
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killed the Teton boy lie might have killed an old woman brought in by the scouts, and in one or two other instances he might have performed like humane acts, had he been a brute, but manhood triumphed, and aside from these, not an Indian escaped that could be reached by hand or bullet.
Every man, whether he has been in a campaign or not, claims the privilege of deciding how a campaign should be conducted, and the qualification of its Gen eral. A free country guarantees to them this right, however great the injustice of that decision.
If we look to historic facts, we find no more success ful campaigns against the Indians, than have been those of Gen. Sibley ; and all in it, with whom we have con versed, agree that all was done which human wisdom and human energy could do. Let us not forget the vast army power, and the forty millions of money ex pended in unsuccessful attempts to drive the Seminoles from their swamp retreats, in Florida, A fish, thrown from its native element, will flounce about for a little while, and die of itself. So with the envious tongue. As sure as water finds its level, time and an overruling Providence will work all right. The name of Henry H. Sibley will live on history's unsullied page. Pos terity will laud him, when those of his calumniators will be lost in the great whirlpool of oblivion.
We ignore any claim, in the military line, from po litical preference. The right man in the right place, is our motto. Gen. Sibley is a Democrat a loyal, con scientious one, we have no doubt ; while the writer is Pt
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a wool-dyed Kepublican, (if expression on this point is admissible,) and when WOMAN'S RIGHTS (?) prevail, shall vote that ticket, strong, but, then, as now, will ac cord to every man his due.
CHAPTER LXX.
THE CAPTURE OF A TETON.
On the morning of the 28th of July, just as Gen. Sibley's command was breaking camp at Stony lake, they were attacked by Indians, in full force, and after three hours of sharp fighting, repulsed the foe, who fled toward the Missouri, and moved on in pursuit. Mr. Spencer, under the escort of scouts, fall of the spirit of adventure, left the main column in the dim distance, and discovered a solitary pony, quietly gra zing, about a mile to the left. Putting spurs to their horses, they started for its capture. As they approach ed it, a dark, motionless object was seen lying upon the ground. Coming nearer, some one cried out, "It's an old buffalo robe ;" but as one stooped to pick it up, it sprang from the earth, and bounded off like a deer, being extended to full size, and flying swiftly, in a zig zag manner. It was a broad mark for the carbines, but where in it was the motive power ? It was impossible to tell. Some thirty shots were fired, all hitting the robe, but still he kept on with the same zigzag course, and a constant motion, from side to side, of the robe, so that it seemed impossible to hit him.
At last, Bottineau, the chief guide, reined up to him, put a revolver to his head, and fired, but he dodged the ball. He now stopped, dropped the robe, and
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threw up both hands, in token of surrender. The robe was literally riddled with balls, but not a scratch was on his person, and he had enlisted the sympathy and admiration of his captors, for his brave and gallant bearing. He was unarmed, save with a knife, stuck in his belt, which he silently threw away, on being order ed to do so. He was placed behind one of the scouts, and brought before General Sibley, to whom he ex tended his hand in friendly salute, which was not ta ken ; but with stern eye upon him, the General ques tioned him closely, till well satisfied with the truth of his statement, when they shook hands, and were friends. He belonged to the Teton band, one of the largest di visions of the Dakota nation, living west of the Mis souri river, taking no part in the war. His father was one of the head chiefs, and the son had come out on a visit to the Yanktonians, and learning they were soon to have a fight with the "Long Knives," curiosity led him on to see it. He retired with the repulsed Indians, but coming to a little valley of good grass, stopped to let his pony graze, and, wrapping himself in his robe, laid down to rest, and was fast asleep, before he knew it, and thus the scouts had come upon him.
For the five days that he remained prisoner, General Sibley caused him to be treated according to the dig nity of his rank, as heir-apparent to the chieftainship. He became strongly attache^ to Mr. Riggs, and seldom left his side. Mr. Spencer says, "he was not more than twenty years old, and his was as fine a specimen of the human form, as he ever beheld,"
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When the return order was given, General Sibley wrote a letter to his father, commending the wisdom of his course, in refusing to take up the tomahawk against the whites, saying he wished them to know that the whites were a merciful people, and though his son had been captured among the hostile Indians, he had spared his life, and permitted him to return to his own people. This was, no doubt, a stroke of good policy, as the death of this young Teton would have exasper ated his tribe, and rendered the Indian war much more formidable than otherwise.
A few days after the dismissal of the young Teton, a party of miners, rich in gold dust, washed from the deposits of Idaho, were descending the Missouri, at the very spot where our men went down to drink. Indians were all around, ready to spring from the weeds and bushes, and the young Teuton, desiring peace, rushed toward them, holding the letter to his father, over his head. But they understood not the signal, and shot him dead, when they were at once surrounded, and, though fighting desperately, and killing more than twice their number, every man of them was killed, and all the rich avails of toil fell into the spoiler's hands.
CHAPTER LXXI.
DEATH OF LIEUT. BEEVEE.
While Col. Crooks and his regiment were at the river, General Sibley, becoming aware of the proximity of Indians, and the dangers which surrounded them, exe cuted an order for their return to camp, which the bold and daring Lieutenant Beever volunteered to deliver. He was unmolested by the way, and though desired by Col. Crooks to remain until the men should be formed, and return under their protection, he was too true a soldier to disregard the discretio'nary order of a supe rior officer. Midway in the forest, the trail forked in several directions unfortunately, he took the wrong one, though it would just as soon have brought him into camp.
Col. Crooks returned, and though Lieut. Beever messed with him, his tent was at Gen. Sibley's head quarters, and for several hours his absence was not no ticed, each party supposing him with the other. Night shadows had fallen upon the encampment before in quiry arose in relation to him, and no little alarm was created when it was known that he had not been seen since receiving the message from Col. Crooks.
The sudden disappearance of one in universal favor, cast a gloom over the camp. Thursday, July 30th, Gen. Sibley sent out a command of eleven companies*' under Col. Crooks, to make thorough reconnoissance of
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the woods, and if possible, find his body, and that of private Miller, who was missed the same day. The latter had said, before going out, that u he wanted a shot" He received a shot, but whether he gave one or not, is unknown. He was found scalped, not far from Lieut. Beever, but whether the same rencounter terminated both lives, of course will ever be unknown, unless the facts be imparted by some friendly Indian.
But a short distance from where Lieut. Beever lay, were two pools of blood, proving pretty conclusively that he had not yielded his life without a recompense. His horse had been shot through the head, and three arrows were in his back, and a ball had passed through his body, but the finale had been the blow from a tom ahawk. He was a "good shot" had with him two re volvers, carrying eleven balls, which had doubtless, found sure lodgment, the dead or wounded Indians having been carried off by their comrades.
The remains were duly prepared and deposited in as good a coffin as could be obtained, and with his body servant (between whom and himself there was a mutual attachment,) as chief mourner, followed by al most the entire command, was placed in his prairie grave, near that of Docter Weiser, there to rest till the "graves give up their dead."
This event was one of the saddest connected with the campaign. Frederick J. Holt Beever was an En glish gentleman of means and education, travelling for his health and improvement. His love of romance and adventure led him to embrace the opportunity of fered by the expedition, for seeing the western prairies,
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and he was attached to General Sibley's staff, as vol unteer Aid-de-camp. He was a jovial, social man, brave, energetic and reliable, and after "life's fitful fever," in his lone and lowly bed he rests well.
CHAPTER LXXH.
TERMINUS OF THE CAMPAIGN.
In obedience to the order given below, the campaign was ended, and on Saturday morning, Aug. 1st, com menced retracing their steps towards civilization and friends : 11 To the Officers and Soldiers of the Expeditionary forces in camp :
"It is proper for the Brigadier-General commanding to announce to you that the march to the west and south is completed, and that on to-morrow the column will move homewards, to discharge such other duties connected with the objects of the expedition, on the way, as may from time to time present themselves.
"In making this announcement, Gen. Sibley express es also his high gratification that the campaign has been a complete success. The design of the Government in chastising the savages, and thereby preventing, for the future, the raids upon the frontier, has been accomplish ed. You have routed the miscreants who murdered our people last year, banded, as they were, with the pow erful Upper Sioux, to the number of nearly 2,000 war riors, in three successful engagements, with heavy loss, and driven them, in confusion and dismay, across the Missouri river, leaving behind them all their vehicles, provisions and skins designed for clothing, which have been destroyed. Forty-four bodies of warriors have
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been found, and many others concealed or taken away, according to the custom of these savages, so that it is certain they lost in killed and wounded, not less than from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty men. All this has been accomplished with the comparatively trifling loss on our part of three killed and as many wounded. You have marched nearly six hundred miles from St. Paul, and the powerful bands of the Dakotas, who have hitherto held undisputed possession of the great prairies, have suc cumbed to your valor and discipline, and sought safe ty in flight. The intense heat and drought have caused much suffering, which you have endured with out a murmur. The companies of the 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th regiments of Minnesota Volunteers, and of the 1st regiment Minnesota Mounted Rangers, and the scouts of the battery, have amply sustained the repu tation of the State by their bravery and endurance, amidst unknown dangers and great hardships. Each has had the opportunity to distinguish itself against a foe at least equal in numbers to itself.
"It would be a gratification if these remorseless savages could have been pursued and literally extirpa ted, for their crimes and barbarities merited such a full measure of punishment; but men and animals are alike exhausted after so long a march, and a further pursuit would only be futile and hopeless. The mil itary results of the campaign have been completely accomplished, for the savages have not only been des-. troyed in great numbers, and their main strength
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broken, but their prospects for the future are hopeless indeed, for they can scarcely escape starvation during the approaching winter.
"It is peculiarly gratifying to the Brigadier-General commanding, to know that the tremendous fatigues and manifold dangers of the expedition thus far, have entailed so small a loss of life in his command. A less careful policy than that adopted, might have effected the destruction of more of the enemy,. but that could only have been done by a proportional exposure on our part and the consequent loss of many more lives, bring ing sorrow and mourning to our homes. Let us, there fore, return thanks to a merciful God for his manifest interposition in our favor, and for the success attendant upon our efforts to secure peace to the borders of our own State, and of our neighbors and friends in Dakota Territory, and as we proceed on our march toward those most near and dear to us, let us be prepared to discharge other duties which may be imposed upon us during our journey, with cheerful and willing hearts.
"To the Kegimental and company officers of his command, the Brigadier-General commanding tenders his warmest thanks for their co-operation and aid on every occasion during the progress of the column through the heart of an unknown region, inhabited by a subtle and merciless foe.
"For the friends and families of our fallen comrades we have our warmest sympathies to offer in their be reavement.
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"General Sibley takes this occasion to express his appreciation of the activity and zeal displayed by the members of his staff, one and all
"By command of
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL SIBLEY."
The night previous to leaving, several shots were fired into camp by prowling Indians, who on the fol lowing morning made their appearance to the number of thirty or forty, determined to annoy where they could do nothing more.
CHAPTER LXXIII.
OFFICIAL EEPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL HENRY H. SIBLEY TO MAJ. GEN. POPE.
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 Atchinson, 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. Dur ing the three following days, I pursued a course some what west of south, making fifty miles, having crossed the James river and the great coteau of the Missouri. On the 24th, about 1 P. M., being considerably in ad vance 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 stead ily from 5 A. M., some 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 dis tant I immediately corralled my train upon the shore of a salt lake near by, and established my camp, which was rapidly intrenched by Col. Crooks, to whom was entrusted that duty, for the security of the trans portation in case of attack, a precaution I had taken
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whenever we encamped for many days previous. While the earthworks were being pushed forward, par ties of Indians, more or less numerous, appeared upon the hills around us, and one of my half-breed scouts, a relative of "Ked Plume," a Sissiton chief, hitherto opposed to the war, approached sufficiently near to converse with him. "Ked 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, three or four hundred yards from our camp, and conversed with them in an apparently friendly manner, some of them professing a desire for peace. Surgeon Joseph Weiser, of the First Minnesota Mounted Hangers, 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. Dr. Weiser was univer sally esteemed, being skillful in his profession, and a kind and courteous gentleman.
This outrage precipitated an immediate engagement. The savages in great numbers, concealed by the ridges,
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had encircled those portions of the camp not flanked by the lake referred to, and commenced an attack.
Col. 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 vi cinity of the hill where Dr. Weiser was shot, while those companies of the 7th Regiment under Lieut. Col. Marshall and Major Bradley, and one company of the 10th Kegiment, under Capt. Edgerton, was dispatched to support them. Taking with me a six-pounder under the command of Lieut. Whipple, I ascended the hill towards "Big Mound," on the opposite side of the ra vine, and opened fire with spherical case shot upon the Indians who had obtained possession of the upper part of the large ravine, and of the smaller ones tributary to it, under the protection of which they could annoy the infantry and cavalry without exposure on their part.
This flank and raking fire of artillery drove them from these hiding places into the broken prairie, where they were successively dislodged from the ridges, being utterly unable to resist the steady advance of the 7th Kegiment 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. Col. Crooks, whose reg iment (the 6th,) was posted on that side, was ordered to deploy part of his command as skirmishers and to dislodge the enemy. This was gaflantly done, the Col. directing in person the movements of one part of his
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detached force, and Lieut Col. Averill of the other, Major McLaren remaining in command of that portion of the regiment required as part of the camp guard.
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 com mon flight Upon moving forward with my staff, to a commanding point which overlooked the field, I dis covered the whole body of Indians, numbering from one thousand to fifteen hundred, retiring in confusion from the combat, while a dark line of moving objects on the distant hills indicated the locality of their fam ilies. I immediately dispatched orders to Col. Mc- Phail, who had now received an accession of force from 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 night fall, and Lieut. Col. Marshall was directed to follow and support him with the companies of the 7th, and Captain Edgerton's company of the 10th, accompanied by one six-pounder, and one section of Minnesota how itzers under Captain Jones.
At the same time, all the companies of the 6th and 10th regiments, except two from each which were left as a camp guard, were ordered to rendezvous, and to proceed in the same direction, but they had so far to march from their respective posts, before arriving at the point occupied "by myself and staff, that I felt con vinced of the uselessness of their proceeding farther/
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the other portions of the pursuing force being some miles in the advance, and I accordingly directed 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 Lieut CoL Marshall being kept at a double quick in their rear. The order to CoL McPhail was improperly delivered, as requiring him to return to camp, instead of 'leaving it discretionary with him to bivouac in the prairie. Consequently he retraced his way with his weary men and horses, followed by the still more wearied infantry, and arrived at the camp early the next morning, as I was about to move for ward with the main column. Thus ended the battle of the Big Mound.
The severity of the labor of the entire command may be appreciated, when it is considered that the en gagement only commenced after the day's march was nearly completed, and that the Indians were chased at least twelve miles, making altogether full forty miles performed without rest.
The march of the cavalry, of the 7th regiment, and of "B" company of the 10th regiment, 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 Baker had been left in command of the camp (named by the officers Camp Sibley,) during the en-
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gagement of the previous day, and all the arrange ments for its security were actively and judiciously made, aided as he was by that excellent officer, Lieut. Colonel 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, cooking utensils, and other indispensable articles were found concealed in the long reeds around the lake, all of which were, by my direction, collected and destroyed. For miles along the route, the prairie was strewn with like evi dences of a hasty flight Col. McPhail had previous ly advised me that beyond Dead Buffalo lake, as far as the pursuit of the Indians had continued, I would find neither wood nor water. I consequently establish ed my camp on the border of that lake, and very soon afterwards parties of Indians made their appearance, threatening an attack. I directed Capt. Jones to re pair with his section of six-pounders, supported by Capt. Chase, with his company of pioneers, to a com manding point, about six hundred yards in advance, and I proceeded there in person. I found that Col. Crooks had taken position with two companies of his regiment, commanded by Captain and Lieut. 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 six-pounders soon caused a hasty retreat from that lo- pality, but perceiving it to be their intention to make'
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a flank movement on the left of the camp, in force, Capt. 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 Lieut. Colonel Averill, who, with two. com panies of the 6th regiment, deployed as skirmishers, had been ordered to hold the savages in check.
The whole affair was ably conducted by these offi cers, but the increasing numbers of the Indians, who were well mounted, enabled them, by a circuitous route, to dash towards 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 mo tions of the companies of Mounted Rangers, command ed by Captains Wilson and Davy, who met the enemy and repulsed them with loss, while Maj. McLaren, with equal promptitude, threw out along an extended line, the six companies of the 6th regiment, under his immediate command, thus entirely securing that flank of the camp from further attacks. The savages, again foiled in their designs, 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 Indians 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, took place the greatest con-
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flict between our troops and the Indians, so far as num bers were concerned, which I have named the battle of "Stony Lake." Kegularly alternating each day, the 10th regiment, under Col. Baker, was in the advance and leading the column, as the train toiled up the long hill. As I passed Col. Baker, I directed him to deploy two companies of the 10th as skirmishers. Part of the wagons were still in the camp under the guard of the 7th regiment, when, as I reached the top of the ridge in advance of the 10th regiment, I perceived a large force of mounted Indians moving rapidly upon us. I immediately sent orders to the several com mands promptly to assume their positions, in accordance with the programme of the line of march ; but this was done, and the whole long train, completely guard ed at every point, by the vigilant and able command ers of the regiments, and of corps, before the order reached them. The 10th gallantly checked the ad vance of the enemy in front, the 6th and cavalry on the right, and the 7th and cavalry on the left, while the six-pounders and two sections of mountain howitz ers, under the efficient direction of their respective chiefs, poured as rapid and destructive fire from as many different points. The vast number of 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 so soon as I had completed the details of the designated order of march, and
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closed up the train, the column issued in line of battle upon the prairie, in the face of the immense force op posed to it, and I resumed my march without any delay. This proof of confidence in our own strength completely destroyed the hopes of the savages and com pleted their discomfiture. With yells of disappoint ment and rage, they fired a few parting volleys, and then retreated with all expedition. It was not possi ble, with our jaded horses, to overtake their fleet and comparatively fresh ponies.
This was the last desperate effort of the combined Dakota bands, to prevent a farther advance, on our part, towards their families. It would be difficult to esti mate the number of warriors, but no cool and dispas sionate observer would probably have placed it at a less figure than from 2,200 to 2,500. No such concen tration of force has, so far as my information extends, ever been made by the savages of the American Con tinent.
It is rendered certain, from information 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 es caped with Little Crow, had successively joined the Sissitons, the Cut Heads, and finally the "Yank-ton- ais," the most powerful single band of the Dakotas, and together with all these, had formed one enormous camp, of nearly, or quite, ten thousand souls.
To assert that the courage and discipline displayed by officers and men, in the successive engagements with
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this formidable and hitherto untried enemy, were sig nally displayed, would but ill express the admiration I feel for the 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 preponderance against us in numer ical force. These wild warriors of the plain 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 claim 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 par ticular bands, but upon all the tribes of the North west
When we went into camp, on the banks of Apple river, a few mounted Indians could alone be seen. Early next morning, I dispatched Col. McPhail with the companies of the Mounted Hangers, and the two six-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 28th ; 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 with the men, and they had probably formed the determination to oppose our passage of the river, both sides of which
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were here covered with a dense growth of underbrush and timber, for a space of more than a mila
I dispatched Col. Crooks, with his regiment, which was, in turn, in the advance, to clear the river of In dians, which he successfully accomplished, without loss, although fired upon, fiercely, from the opposite side. He reported to me that a large quantity of transporta tion, including carts, wagons, and other vehicles, had been left behind in the woods.
I transmitted, through Mr. Beever, a volunteer Aid on my Staff, an order to Col. Crooks, to return to the main column, with his regiment, the object I had in view, in detaching him, being fully attained. The or der was received, and Mr. Beever was entrusted with a message, in return, containing information 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 killed by an outlaying party of the enemy. His death occasioned much re gret to the command, for he was esteemed by all for his devotion to duty, and for his modest and gentle manly deportment
A private of the 6th regiment, 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, Col. Crooks, with a strong detachment of eleven companies of infantry and
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dismounted cavalry, and three guns, under the com mand of Capt Jones, was dispatched to destroy the property left in the woods, which was thoroughly per formed, with the aid of Lieut. Jones, and a portion of the Pioneer Corps. From one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty wagons arid carts were thus dis posed of During this time, the savages lay concealed in the grass, on the opposite side of the river, ex changing occasional volleys with our men. Some ex ecution 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 T hoping to open commu nication with General Sully, who, with his compara tively 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 debili tated the infantry, and as for the horses of the cavalry, and the mules employed in the transportation, they were utterly exhausted.
Under the circumstances, I felt that this column had done everything possible, within the limits of human and animal endurance, and that a further pursuit would not only be useless, as the Indians could cross and re- cross the river in much less time than could my com mand, and thus evade me, but would necessarily be at tended 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
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elicited no reply from General Sully, and I am appre hensive he has been detained by insurmountable obsta cles.* The point struck by me on the Missouri, is about forty miles, by land, below Fort Clark, in lati tude forty-six degrees forty-two minutes longitude, one hundred degrees thirty-five minutes.
The military results of the expedition have been highly satisfactory. A march of nearly six hundred miles from St. Paul has been made, in a season of fierce heats and unprecedented drouth, when even the most experienced voyageurs predicted the impossibil ity 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 one hundred and fifty 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 trans portation, across the Missouri 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 disci-
**While Gen. Sibley was pushing his forces to the South-west, General Sully was moving up the Missouri, in the opposite direction, to cut off the retreat of the fleeing foe ; and on the 4th of September, surprised four hundred of their lodges, fought and dispersed them with a loss of fifty men, and killing more than twice that number of the enemy, capturing provisions, furs, horses, and ammunition, and regaining a large amount of property, taken in the raid of the previous year.
Qt
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plined force, and that but for the interposition of a mighty stream between us and them, the utter destruc tion of the great camp containing all their strength was certain. It would have been gratifying to us all, if the murdering remnant of the Meda-wakanton and Wak-paton bands could have been extirpated, root and branch, but as it is, the bodies of many of the most guilty have been left on the prairie, to be de voured by wolves and foxes.
I am gratified to be able to state that the loss sus tained by my column in actual combat was very small. Four men of the cavalry were killed, and four wounded, one, I fear, fatally. One private of the same regiment was killed by lightning, during the first engagement, and Lieut Freeman of company "D" also of the Mounted Kangers, a valuable officer, was pierced to death by arrows, on the same day, by a party of hos tile Indians, while, without my knowledge, he was en gaged 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 com mand who have signalized themselves by their gallant conduct, but as that would really embrace officers and men, I must content myself by bringing to the notice of the Major General commanding, such as came im mediately under my observation.
I cannot speak too highly of Colonels Crooks and Baker, and Lieut Colonel Marshall, commanding re-
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spectively the 6th, 10th and 7th regiments, Minnesota Volunteers, and of Lieut. Colonels Averill and Jenni- son, and Majors McLaren and Bradley, and of the line officers and men of these regiments. They have de served 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 GoL McPhail, commanding the Mounted Ean- gers, and of Majors Parker and Hayes, and the com pany 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, al though many were killed or disabled by the Artillery and Infantry also.
Captain Jones and his officers and men were ever at their posts, and their pieces were served with much skill and effect
To Captain Chase of the Pioneers and his invalua ble company, the expedition has been greatly indebted for service in the peculiar line for which they were de tailed.
Captain Baxter's company H, of the 9th regiment, having been attached to the 10th regiment, as a part of its organization temporarily, upheld its high repu tation for efficiency, being the equal in that regard of any other company.
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The Surgical Department of the expedition was placed by me in charge of Surgeon Wharton, as Med ical Director, who has devoted himself zealously and efficiently to his duties.
In his official report to these head-quarters, he ac cords due credit to the Surgeons and Assistants of the several regiments present with them. Of the mem bers of my own staff I can affirm that they have been equal to the discharge of the arduous duties imposed upon them.
Captain Olin r I disagreeistant Adjutant General, has afforded me great assistance, and for their equal gal lantry and zeal may be mentioned Captains Pope and Atchinson, Lieutenants Pratt and Hawthorn, and Cap tain Fox, temporarily attached to my staff, his com pany having been left at Camp Atchinson.
The Quartermaster of the expedition, Captain Corn ing, and Captain Kimball, Assistant Quartermaster, in charge of the pontoon train, have discharged their la borious duties faithfully and satisfactorily; and for Captain Forbes, Commissary of Subsistence, I can bear witness that but for his activity, attention, and busi ness capacity, the interests of the Government would have suffered much more than they did, by the mise rable state in which many of the packages containing subsistence stores, were found.
Chief Guides, Major J. R Brown and Pierre Bot- tineau, have been of the greatest service by their ex perience and knowledge of the country ; and the In terpreter, Eev. Mr. Eiggs, has also rendered much as sistance in the management of the scouts. The scouts
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generally, including the Chiefs McLeod and Duly, have made themselves very useful to the expedition, and have proved themselves faithful, intrepid and intelli gent
I have the honor to transmit herewith the reports of Colonels Crooks, Baker, and Lieut. Colonel Marshall, commanding respectively the 6th, 10th and 7th regi ments of Minnesota Volunteers, and of Colonel Mc- Phail, commanding 1st regiment Minnesota Mounted Rangers.
I am, Major, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
H. H. SIBLEY, Brig. General Commanding.
CHAPTER LXXIV.
OFFICIAL REPORTOF BRIGADIER GENE RAL ALFRED SULLY.
HEAD-QUARTERS INDIAN EXPEDITION, CAMP AT 1 MOUTH OF LITTLE SHEYENNE RIVER,
Sept. llth, 1863. )
MAJOR : The last report I had the honor to send you was from the mouth of the Little Sheyenne river, bearing date August 16, 1863 ; since which time my movements have been too rapid and the danger of sending any communication such that it has been impossible for me to do so. I therefore have the honor to report my movements from last report up to date.
On the morning of the 19th, the steamer I was wait ing for with supplies finally arrived. She was imme diately unloaded, and all the baggage of the officers and men of the command was sent down by her to the depot at Ft. Pierre, together with every man who was in the least sick or not well mounted. By this I reduced my force considerably, and was enabled to transport, with the wretched mule that had been furnished me, about three days' rations and forage enough to keep these transportation animals alive, depending on grass I might find, to feed the cavalry and artillery horses. Luckily for me, I found the grazing north much better than I had dared to hope for.
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On the 20th, were visited by one of the most terrific rain and hail storms I have seen. This stampeded some of my animals and a few were lost they swam across the Missouri and it also destroyed a quantity of my rations in the wagons, thereby causing me some delay in the march ; but I succeeded in getting off the afternoon of the 21st, and marched up the Little Sheyenne about eleven miles, the road being very heavy. The next day we marched only seven miles, camping on a slough on the prairie without wood. The next day we marched in a north-westerly direction to the outlet of Swan lake. On the 24th, we march ed due north, eighteen miles, and encamped on a small creek, called Bois Cache. Here we came into the buffalo country, and I formed a hunting party for the command, which I had soon to disband, as they disabled more horses than buffalo. We con tinued our march north about twenty-two miles and reached a small stream called Bird Archie creek. This day the hunters succeeded in killing many buffalo, and reported that they saw Indians near the Missouri.
Early on the morning of the 28th, I sent out a small scouting party, who captured two squaws and some children and brought them into me. These In dians reported that Gen. Sibley had had a fight near the head of Long lake, and that they were on their way to the Agency at Crow creek, but were lost, and were alone ; but the scouts found tracks of lodges going up the Missouri. I therefore immediately de tailed companaies F and K of the 2d Nebraska caval ry, under command of Captain La Boo, ordering them
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to go to the Missouri, and follow up the trail, with orders to capture some Indians if possible and bring them in, so that I might get information ; if they could not do that, to kill them and destroy the camps. I continued the- march with the rest of the command that day, passing through large herds of buffalo, and was obliged to make a march of thirty -five miles before I could reach water. The weather was very hot, and it was night before we reached camp on the Beaver river.
On the 27th, I started late, having had some diffi culty in crossing the river, making a march of five miles still in a northerly direction, and encamped on another branch of the same river. Company K of the 2d Nebraska joined me this day, having been separated from the other company. The next day we had to make some deviations to the west, on account of hills and sloughs, and made the outlet of Long lake, a march of about twenty miles. On the way we saw numerous signs of Indians in large numbers having been recently there, and found an old lame Indian concealed in the bushes, who was well known by many of the men of the command as having for some years resided near Sioux city. He had the reputation of being what is called a "good Indian." He stated that "his horse had been taken away from him and that he had been left there." He looked almost starved to death. He gave me the following details, which have since mostly turned out to be correct : he stated "Gen. Sibley had fought the Indians at the head of Long
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lake, fifty miles north-east from me, some weeks ago ; that he followed them down to the mouth of Apple creek ; that the Indians attacked him on the way, and that there was some skirmishing.
"At Apple creek, Sibley had another fight, and that in all the fights, about fifty-eight Indians were killed ; that Gen. Sibley fortified his camp at Apple creek, and after a while returned to James river ; that a few days after Gen. Sibley left, the Indians, who had their scouts out watching, recrossed the Missouri, and while doing so, discovered a Mackinaw boat on its way down. They attacked the boat, fought the entire day until sundown, sunk her, and killed all on board twenty- one men, three women and some children ; that before she was sunk, the fire from the boat killed ninety-one Indians, and wounded many more ; that a small war party followed Sibley some days, returned with the report that he had crossed the James river ; then some of the Indians went north ; the larger portion, however, went towards the head of Long lake ; and that he thought a portion of them were encamped on the Mis souri river west of me."
The report was so much in keeping with the Indian mode of warfare, that though it came from an Indian, I was led to give it some consideration, particularly the part that stated the Indians, after watching Sibley's return, recrossed, when all danger was over, and went back to their old hunting grounds. Besides, the guides who were acquainted with the country, stated that "a large body of Indians could not live on the
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other side long, without going a great distance west ; that always at this season of the year the Indians camped on the Octeau, near the tributaries of the James, where the numerous lakes or springs kept the grass fresh ; here the buffalo were plenty, and the lakes and streams full of fish ; and that here they prepared their meat for the winter, moving to the Missouri where the fuel was plenty to winter." I therefore de termined to change my course towards the east, to move rapidly, and go as far as my rations would allow.
I felt serious alarm for the safety of Capt. LaBoo, who had but fifty men with him, and who had already been out over two days without rations. I encamped here for the next day, and sent out four companies of the 2d Nebraska and of the 6th Iowa, under command of Major Pearman, 2d Nebraska, to hunt him up, and see if there were any Indians on the Missouri The next day, however, Capt. LaBoo's company re turned, having made a march of one hundred and eighty-seven miles, living upon what buffalo and game they could kill, scouring the country to my left, over taking the camp of ten lodges he was sent after, des troying them, but seeing no Indians.
This same day, (29th,) I sent two companies of the 6th Iowa to the mouth of Apple creek. They report-' ed, on their return, that they found the fortified camp of Gen. Sibley, his trail, and his return trail towards the east ; that they could see no signs of there having been any fight there, nor could they see the Mackinaw boat reported by the old Indian. This detachment was
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under command of Captain Cram, 6th Iowa. The bat talion of Major Pearman joined me before starting, having seen nothing, and, after a march of above nine ty miles, through a country with no wood whatever, but with good grass and plenty of lakes, of the most abominable water. On the 3d of September, we reach ed a lake, where, on the plains near by, were the re mains of a very large number of buffalo killed, some quite recently. Here I encamped, to wait the reports of the commands I had out, during the march, who, every day, discovered fresh signs of Indians, their lodge trails spread over the country, but all moving towards a point known to be a favorite haunt of the Indians. I had this day detailed one battalion of the 6th Iowa, Maj. House commanding, and Mr. F. La Framboise, as guide, to keep ahead of me five miles, and, in case they saw a small band of Indians, to attack them, or take them prisoners. If they should find a large band, too large to successfully cope with, to watch the camp at a distance, and send back word to me, my intention being to leave my train under charge of a heavy guard, move up in the night time, so as to sur round them, and attack them at daybreak. But, for some reason, satisfactory to the guide, he bore off much to my left, and came upon the Indians, in an encamp ment of over four hundred lodges, some say six hun dred, in ravines, where they felt perfectly secure, being fully persuaded that I was still on my way up the Mis souri. This is what the Indian prisoners say. They also state that a war party followed me on my way up, in hopes of stampeding me ; but this they could not
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do. I marched with great care, with an advance guard and flankers; the train in two lines, sixty paces apart ; the troops 011 each side ; in front and centre, myself, with one company and the battery ; all the loose stock was kept between the lines of wagons. In this way, I lost no animals on the campaign, except some few, about a dozen, that got out of camp at night. Nor did the Indians, during all the trip, ever attack me, or try to stampede me.
Major House, according to my instructions, endeav ored to surround and keep in the Indians until word could be sent me ; but this was an impossibility with his 300 men, as the encampment was very large, mus tering at least 1,200 warriors. This is what the Indians say they had ; but I, as well as everybody in the com mand, say over 1,500. These Indians were partly San- tees from Minnesota, Cut-heads from the Coteau, Yank- tonais and Blackfeet, who belong on the other side of the Missouri; and, as I have since learned, Unkapa- pas, the same party who fought General Sibley, and destroyed the Mackinaw boat. Of this I have unmis takable proof, from letters and papers found in camp, and on the persons of some of the Indians, besides rel ics of the Minnesota massacre ; also from the fact that they told Mr. La Framboise, the guide, when he was surrounded by about 200 of them, that "they had fought Gen. Sibley, and they did not see why the whites wanted to come and fight them, unless they were tired of living, and wanted to die." Mr. La Framboise suc ceeded in getting away from them, after some difficulty,
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and ran his horse a distance of more than ten miles, to give me information, Major House, with his command, still remaining there. He reached me a little after four o'clock. I immediately turned out m y command. The horses, at the time, were out grazing. At the sound of the bugle, the men rushed, with a cheer, and in a very few minutes, saddled up and were in line. I left four companies, and all the men who were poorly mounted, in the camp, with orders to strike the tents and corral the wagons, and starting off with the 2d Nebraska on the right, the 6th Iowa on the left, one company of the 7th Iowa, and the battery in the cen tre, at a full gallop, we made the distance of over ten miles in much less than an hour.
On reaching near the ground, I found that the enemy were leaving and carrying off what plunder they could. Many lodges, however, were still standing. I ordered Col. Furnas, 2d Nebraska, to push his horses to the utmost, so as to reach the camp, and assist Major House in keeping the Indians corraled. This order was obey ed with great alacrity, the regiment going over the plains at a full run. I was close upon the rear of the regiment with the 6th Iowa. The 2d Nebraska took the right of the camp, and was soon lost in a cloud of dust, over the hills. I ordered Col. Wilson, 6th Iowa, to take the left, while I, with the battery, one. company of the 7th Iowa, Capt. Millard, and two companies of the 6th Iowa, Major Ten Broeck commanding, charged through the centre of the encampment. I here found an Indian chief, by the name of Little Soldier, with some few of his people. This Indian has always had
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the reputation of being a "good Indian," and friendly. I placed them under guard, and moved on. Shortly after, I met with the notorious chief, Big Head, and some of his men. They were dressed for a fight, but my men cut them off. These Indians, together with some of their warriors, mustering about thirty, together with squaws, children, ponies and dogs, gave them selves up, numbering over 120 human beings. About the same time, firing began, about a half a mile from me, ahead, and was kept up, becoming more and more brisk, until it was quite a respectable engagement. A report was brought to me, (which proved to be false,) that the Indians were driving back some of my com mand. I immediately took possession of the hillocks near by, forming line, and placing the battery in the centre, on a high knoll. At this time, night had about set in, but still the engagement was briskly kept up, and in the melee it was hard to distinguish my line from that of the enemy. The Indians made a very desperate resistance, but finally broke and fled, pursued in every direction by bodies of my troops. I would here state, that the troops, though mounted, were arm ed with rifles, and, according to my orders, most of them dismounted and fought afoot, until the enemy broke, when they re-mounted and went in pursuit. It is to be regretted that I could not have had an hour or two more of daylight, for I feel sure, if I had, I could have annihilated the enemy. As it was, I believe I can safely say, I gave them one of the most severe pun ishments that the Indians have ever received. After night set in, the engagement was of such a promiscu-
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ous nature, that it was hard to tell what results would happen ; I therefore ordered all the buglers to sound the "rally," and building large fires, remained under arms, during night, collecting together my troops.
The next morning, early, (the 4th,) I established my camp on the battle field, the wagon train, under charge of Major Pearman, 2d Nebraska, having, in the night, been ordered to join me, and sent out strong scouting parties, in different directions, to scour the country, to overtake what Indians they could ; but in this they were not very successful, though some of them had some little skirmishes. They found the dead and wounded in all directions, some of them miles from the battle field ; also immense quantities of provisions, baggage, &c., where they had apparently cut loose their ponies from "travailles," and got off on them ; also numbers of ponies and dogs, harnessed to "travailles," running all over the prairie. One party that I sent out, went near to the James river, and found there, eleven dead Indians. The deserted camp of the In dians, together with the country all around, was cover ed with their plunder. I devoted this day, together with the following, (the 5th,) to destroying all this property, still scouring the country. I do not think I exaggerate in the least, when I say that I burned up over four or five hundred thousand pounds of dried buffalo meat, as one item, besides three hundred lodges and a very large quantity of property, of great value to the Indians. A very large number of ponies were found dead and wounded on the field ; besides a large number were captured. The prisoners (some 130) I
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take with me below, and shall report to you more spec ially in regard to them.
The surgeon of the 2d Nebraska- regiment, Dr. Bowen, who has shown a great energy and desire to attend to his duties during the campaign, started out during the night of the engagement with a party of fifteen men, to go back to the old camp to procure am bulances. But as they did not return on the morning of the second day, I knew he was either lost or cap tured. (He returned about noon of the second day.) I therefore sent out small scouting parties in every direction to hunt them up. One of these fell into an ambuscade, by which four of the party were killed and the rest driven in. I immediately sent out five companies of the 2d Nebraska regiment, Colonel Fur- nas in command, who, after a long march, found the Indians had fled. They succeeded, however, in over taking three concealed in some tall grass, whom they killed. The fight has been so scattered, the dead In dians have been found in so many different places, that it is impossible for me to give an accurate report of the number killed of the enemy. I, however, think I am safe in reporting it at 100. (I report those that were left on the field and that my scouting parties found.)
During the engagement, for some time, the 2d Ne braska, afoot and armed with rifles, and there are among them probably some of the best shots in the world, were engaged with the enemy at a distance not over sixty paces, pouring on them a murderous fire in
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a ravine where the enemy were posted. The slaugh ter, therefore, was immense. My officers and the guides I have with me think one hundred and fifty will not cover their loss. The Indian reports make it two hundred. That the General may know the exact locality of the battle-field, I would state that it was, as near as I could judge, fifteen miles west of James river, and about half way between the latitudes of Bonebut and headwaters of Elm river, as laid down on the government map. The fight took place near a hill called by the Indians White Stone Hill.
In conclusion, I would state that the troops of my command conducted themselves well ; and though it was the first that nearly all of them had ever been in, they showed that they are of the right material, and that in time, with discipline, they will make worthy soldiers. It is to be regretted that we lost so many valuable lives as we did, but this could not be helped ; the Indians had formed a line of battle with good judgment, from which they could only be dislodged by a charge. I could not use my artillery without greatly endangering the lives of my own men ; if I could, I could have slaughtered them.
I send you, accompanying, the reports of Colonel Wilson, 6th Iowa," and Colonel Furnas, 2d Nebraska, also official reports of killed and wounded, and take this occasion to thank both those officers for their good conduct and the cheerfulness with which they obeyed my orders on the occasion. Both of them had their horses shot in the action. I would also request per- R
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mission to state that the several members of my staff rendered me every possible assistance.
On the morning of the 6th, I took up my line of march for Fort Pierre. If I could have remained in that section of country some two or three weeks, I might have accomplished more ; but I was satisfied by the reports of my scouts that the Indians had scat tered in all directions ; some toward the James river ; some, probably the Blackfeet, to recross the Missouri, and a part of them went north, where they say they have friends among the half-breeds of the north. My rations were barely sufficient with rapid marches to enable me to reach Fort Pierre. The animals, not only the teams I have already reported to you as worthless, but also the cavalry horses, showed the effect of rapid marching and being entirely without grain.
I brought with me all the prisoners I had, and tried to question them to gain some information. The men re fused to say much, except that they are all "good In dians," and the other bad ones joined their camp with out their will.
Their squaws, however, corroborate the report I have already given you in regard to the destruction of the people on board the Mackinaw boat and the fights with General Sibley, in which these Indians had a part. They also state that the Indians, after recross- ing to this side of the Missouri, sent a party to follow Sibley until he went to the James river, then returned to their camp on Long lake to procure a large quan tity of provisions and other articles they had "cached"
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there, and then came to the camp where I met them.
After marching about one hundred and thirty miles we reached the mouth of the Little Sheyenne on the llth, where I found the steamboat I had ordered to be there on the 8th instant. It was lucky she was there, for without the grain she brought up I could not have brought my empty wagons back. For some miles north of Sheyenne and Pierre, the grass is about all gone. I placed my wounded on the boat, and as many empty wagons as she could carry. I am afraid the loss of horses and mules will be considered very great, but it could not be helped. When I found it impos sible for the rear guard to get an animal along, I had it killed, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy.
Yery respectfully, your ob't serv't,
ALR SULLY, Brigadier General Commanding.
P. S. By actual count, the number of my prison ers is one hundred and fifty-six men thirty -twp, women and children one hundred and twenty-four. I would also beg leave to say that in the action, I had of my command between six hundred and seven hun dred men actually engaged. My killed number, as far as ascertained, twenty ; wounded, thirty-eight. Yery respectfully, your ob't serv't,
ALR SULLY, Brigadier General Commanding.
CHAPTER LXXV.
THE TIE OF COMRADESHIP THE DEATH OF CHASKA.
"Among most of the Indian tribes of the North- west there exists a tie or degree of relationship, when enter ed into by two or more persons in good faith, which is more binding than any other known to the savage race. It is considered by them far more sacred than the mat rimonial tie. It is the tie of comradeship 1 A man may, on any pretext whatever, throw away his wife and take another, if he chooses, but to his comrade he is firmly bound until death separates them. Nothing is considered more base or cowardly than to desert one's comrade in the hour of danger.
"Most white persons residing in the Indian country endeavor to select some Indian who is possessed of cour age, intelligence and a good hunter, and who also can ex ert some influence over the band to which he belongs, for a comrade ; knowing that in whatever situation he may be placed, it is in the power of his Indian friend to materially assist him.
"All Indian traders have comrades upon whom they rely to exert their influence to prevent the other In dians from trading their furs and skins with any one else, and to come up and pay their debts, which, as a general thing, they are not very prompt in doing. The Indian who stands in this relation to a trader, ex-
DAKOTA WAB WHOOP. 421
pects some valuable present from his 'ko-da' or friend, for his valuable service, and not unfrequently does he give in return the best he can aiford such as a horse, or his money when he receives his annuities, &c. But the circumstances of the two being taken into con sideration, the Indian generally has the best of the bargain, for he is poor, and though he returns present for present, his offerings of friendship are of so little value, generally, that at the end of the year he is greatly your debtor. This tie involves the most im plicit confidence in each other, and the idea of deceiv ing one's friend in any respect whatever, is held most dishonorable."
A compact like the foregoing had long existed between Wa-kin-yan-ta-wa, (which means in English His Thunder,) or Chaska, as more familiarly known to the whites, and George H. Spencer ; and very val uable has the reader seen the practical workings of this tie to have been. The compact was formed in 1851 at Little Crow's Tillage, then located six miles below St. Paul, soon after their acquaintance commenced. Though an uncultivated Indian, he possessed much general intelligence, and was a young man of pleasing manners and address, rather good looking, with great energy and activity of mind. In 1857 he accompanied Little Crow and several of the Chiefs to Washington, to see their Great Father, relative to making a treaty for a portion of their Reservation. He was distinguish ed for bravery on the war path against the hereditary enemies of his tribe, and had taken the scalps of seven Chippewas, and also killed one of his own tribe, in re-
422 DAKOTA WAR WHOOP.
venge for the death of a brother. For several years previous to the late outbreak, he had held the dignified position of "Head Soldier" to Little Crow. But when he refused to act in that capacity, or to join in the war against the whites, then the ire of his chief was raised against him. The tie of comradeship was stronger than the tie of chieftainship. He could break the tie of the latter but not of the former.
When in 1860 his comrade built his trading house on the shores of Big Stone lake, Chaska, true to the existing relation, insisted on going with him, for, said he, "though you may risk yourself there, I will not risk you alone with those wild, strange Indians." So with wife and children he went, and remained till he deemed it safe to leave him. From such rare speci mens of manhood have the noble attributes ascribed to the Indian character been drawn. But such are isolated exceptions. The general rule the standard of estimate, appears in bloody boldness all through these pages. We love to present a contrast. Like a bright star in the rift of tempest-driven clouds, seems such an one amid the dark, evil plottings and evil workings of his own people. Though their lightnings should smite him, he was alike unmindful of persua sion or threats, when, in 1862, the horrid massacres commenced. We will not say that there was no leav ening influence, which produced this pacific state, nor will we say it was wholly unmixed with selfishness but we aver it was not the predominating idea.
When his comrade was shot, we have seen how Chas ka, at the risk of his own life, true to the existing rela-
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Post by mdenney on Oct 9, 2007 2:06:22 GMT -5
DAKOTA WAR WHOOP. . 423 tion, saved him, taking him to his own lodge, washing and dressing his wounds, and caring for him, with all the watchful love of a tender brother. We have seen him active in forming the friendly camp, and getting the prisoners into it We have seen him surrendering himself to General Sibley, for the crime of being an Indian, with a desire of being acquitted, before the world, of any complicity in the horrid massacres and war which followed. We have seen him avowing a readiness to comply with any terms which should ele vate him to the dignity of the white man's standard of man. "I am not pleased to see you in your blanket," said Gen. Sibley. "Then I will wear it no more." was the prompt re ply, pkkcrdft Libtifff From that day, save in name and skin, Chaska was, to all intents and purposes, a white man. In the ex pedition he was very valuable as a scout, and was a universal favorite. We have seen him, just before the first battle with the Sioux, saving the life of Mr. Brack- ett, and in the fight conducting himself with great brave ry. At the Missouri river, we hear him trying to per suade his friend to return to camp, urging, as a reason, I "do not like the way things look here, " a prophetic suggestion, for while they were yet speaking, came a shower of bullets from the woods and bushes of the opposite shore. Even then, Lieut Beever had received the fatal arrow shot, and the woods must have been full of the foa The journey westward was completed. The order 424 DAKOTA WAR WHOOP. for return had been read, and on the first of August, faces were turned homeward. Mr. Spencer says of it, "on the second, we rode along, talking pleasantly of the future, he telling me how he would like to be situated on a small piece of land near me, and congratulating himself that his trouble was over, and that he would soon be restored to the bosom of his family. Alas, for my friend ! he now sleeps tranquilly near the turbid waters of the Missouri, under the shadows of our in- trenchments. Savage though he was, he was a noble man !" On the evening of the second day after camp was formed, he went round to his friend's tent, where he knew he was always welcome, and supped with him. He spoke of having captured a pack of furs from the enemy, which he desired to have taken home in a wagon of the Commissary Department ; and for this purpose returned to the tent about nine o'clock in the evening, and then, in apparent health, went to his own quarters for the night. Immediately after he was ta ken ill, and sent for his comrade, who hastened to his bedside, to find him senseless dying. He talked wildly, and predicted a thunder storm, such as should shake the earth, and blind the people with its light, the day he should be put into the ground, and it was as he predicted. He never once recognized the friend whose life he had saved, and who, with weeping heart, stood by him till the last, and closed his eyes at 11 o'clock the same evening, at the age of thirty-two. There were strong suspicions that poison, administered DAKOTA WAR WHOOP. 425 by some secret foe, was the cause of his death, but there was no time for investigation, and the following morning, August 3d, Mr. Spencer says, "we laid his body in a rifle pit, concealing it, as best we could, to prevent the enemy from finding it, and opening the grave. He leaves a wife and two interesting children, to mourn his untimely end," whom his friends and his country will not forget, for he was faithful among the faithless. Rt CHAPTER LXXVI. HOME AGAIN. Joy, such as only home lovers know, animated the hearts and enlivened the steps of the men. Their long, weary out-marches were ended, and all had left loved ones at home, whose hearts beat in unison with theirs to the return music. Every man in that long column had acted well his part, without which its history would be incomplete. Henceforth, more emphatically than ever, they are the sons of the State. A cautious and wise policy had been pursued, when a daring, dashing, reckless leadership would have brought irre trievable disaster to the expedition. Comparatively few casualties had occurred. God had evidently been with them, and nearly all were returning healthier, stronger, and wiser men than when they left. From nearly all hearts, devout thanksgiving arose, as the distance lessened between them and all held most dear. They had left their homes when June's fresh roses shed fragrance on their way, through summer's intensest heat had wandered through dry and parched regions, had met and driven the enemy, and now on the first flush of autumn's golden tints, return ; mak ing it, if not a complete, a great success. A halo of glory enshrouds these weary veterans of the prairies. The loud booming cannon announces their approach, DAKOTA WAR WHOOP. 427 and glad hearts bound with joy as they go forth to meet and welcome their return. A larger column of mothers, wives and children wait with open arms and hearts to receive them. .Only a few look in vain for those who had gone forth, in the full flush of man hood, so full of life, of courage, and hope I* Hearts big with sympathy bid them be comforted with the hope of reunion in immortal life. A halo of glory encircles the brow of the General commanding the expedition. High in the confidence of the nation, and better fitted for the work assigned him than any other man, erect in manhood's glory, he stands. Human greatness has been thrust upon Nature's nobleman, and fittingly he has worn it all. When a few hundred citizens around the region of St Anthony's Falls desired to be recognized as the Territory of Minnesota, no so fitting a person was found to represent their interests in Congress as Henry H. Sibley. When this vast territory emerged from its minority and took upon itself the privilege of State rights, its first elected Governor was Henry H. Sibley. Ketiring to private life, as a true citizen, he always served its interests; and when called by executive power to this most important military post, he accept ed the honor and girded on the armor. Promotion followed till he ranked among the higher military powers of the nation. Surrounded by all this halo of earthly glory, he draws near the spot where, in absence, memory has delighted to linger. But he is a man, *The entire column was decreased but seven. 428 DAKOTA WAR WHOOP. with the heart of a man, which has been sorely afflict ed since his presence was missed from the home circle. How freshly, now he nears that spot, now that the responsibilities and excitement of the campaign are over, come up the forms of those there left. And how, like a surging billow, sweeps over the soul the reminder of the fact that two of those forms will not bound to meet him ; two of those faces he will see no more there ! The tramp of the "pale horse" has been heard in his dwelling, and has carried away his angel Mary and his only son Frank of eleven years, to a land where brighter and perpetual sunshine falls, and where shadows will not come. And here, at his own do mestic hearth-stone, here, grateful for its remaining blessings ; here, listening to the love notes of those left to breathe them here, while he plans in more pub lic capacity, for the finale of the war till the last echo of the Dakotas' war-whoop shall have died on the ear, here, with the heart-mellowing influences of home loves, we leave him; with the prayer that he may receive the full fruition of the promise that "all things shall work together for good." CONCLUSION. Worth and merit form the only true basis for pref erment in political, military or civic life. It is a pleasure to record the names of those whose laurels worn, were won, as of one and another conspicuous in this book. DAKOTA WAR WHOOP. 429 When the war-clouds rose on our national horizon, the first tender of troops was made by Governor Ram- Bey, and as by a stamp of the foot arose the MINNESO TA FIRST, led on to a world-wide renown by Colonel Gorman* and Stephen Miller, second in command. With tear-full hearts we pause to lay the wreath we have wrought on the honored graves of the immortal slain, and crave a benison on its remnant of veteran heroes. In response to the 300,000 call, Lieut. Col. Stephen Miller was placed in command of the SEVENTH, and in the home field, as on the Potomac, was deservedly popular. In October, 1863, Col. Stephen Miller was promoted to BRIGADIER GENERAL of volunteers, and the following month Brigadier General Stephen Mil ler was, by an overwhelming majority, elected GOV ERNOR OF MINNESOTA. * Since Brigadier General. D. D. MERRILL, Wholesale and Eetail Dealer in THIRD STREET, - - ST. PAUL, f. <*, NORTHWESTERN EXPRESS AND MINNESOTA STAGE COMPANY. MERCHANTS' HOTEL, CORNER THIRD AND JACKSON STS., ST, PAUL, MINNESOTA, J. J. SHAW, Proprietor. JOHN F. HA YENS, $0tttrf0v at CANTON, ST, LAWEEFOE 00,, N. T, AMERICAN HOUSE, Corner of Third and Fulton Sts., TROY, NEW-YORK. LUCIUS WRIGHT, ....... Proprietor. ^ ,_ y , ia331333.us.archive.org/3/items/dakotwarwhoopori00bishrich/dakotwarwhoopori00bishrich_djvu.txt
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