Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1861-09-14
Somrnsl Of "A Days Ride Through
Nine q the North. Western Coan.
ties Of Iowa.

On August llth, 1861, Capt. TRlpr left
Sioux City, in Woodbury. county, with a
command Of twenty five men and horses,
accompanied BY a baggage wagon, for .
scout after Indians in part, but more par
ticularly to discover their camping points,
and their usual trails while coming in and
going out upon marauding expeditions,
and as that part of the duty has been fully
reported to the proper department, it will
make but small space in this journal. The
day Of our departure was wet and disa-
greeable one, which made our first night
in camp anything but pleasant. However,
the men we're fresh and pitched their tents
with will upon the bank Of Perry creek,
at Foote'S farm, and were no worse for it,
as the wagon was loaded and we were in
the saddle at 6 o'clock upon the morning
of the 18th, and rode to Westfeld in Ply
mouth county, and camped upon the Big
Sioux, at the farm Of our friend Mills,
which place we left at o'clock, A. NJ, on
the 18th, and reached the residence of
Judge Frame, in Sioux county, in season
to make camp before dark.
August l4,h-Took up our line Of march
at o'clock this morning, crossing Rock
river near its mouth, and during the day
the Big Sioux into Dakota Territory, and
pitched our tents upon the bank of the last
named stream, directly in front Of what is
known as the Big Grove--a fine body of
timber-which was thoroughly explored
without finding any recent signs Of Red
Skins.
On the 18th we crossed the Sioux again
into Iowa directly at our last nights camp
ing ground, to save bend in the river,
aud at noon rscrossed it into Dakota, and
made camp upon its bank at poiu. about
three miles from Sioux Falls.
August l6th-Crossed Big Sioux again,
and rode into the settlement at Sioux
Falls, and we're in camp by clock, A.
NJ, where We remained until o'clock Of
the morning Of the 18th, resting ourselves
and horses, and running over and about
this beautiful and, for this country, un.
common work Of Nature, which to be fully
appreciated must be seen. AT this point
we found any quantity Of the finest fish,
which was o pleasant change from camp
rstions.
August lSth-At o'clock, A. NJ, we
mounted our horses, crossed the Big Sioux
and rode three miles, when we re-c-ossed
it, and after ride of eighteen miles, camp.
ed at the "forked tree" upon the south
east quarter Of section IL, township 80,
range AZ, in Buncombe county.
l9th-At 5 o'clock, A. NJ, Capt. Trip
took part Of the men aud left to reach Rock
river near where we crossed it upon the
l4,h, for the purpose of examining towards
its source-the rest Of the company stri
king tents at 6 o clock, A. NJ, and moving
forward to hit the Rock river at some
place where the first party could join us,
which they did at o'clock, p. NJ, we
having, on account of rain, made camp at
2 clock.
goth Command again divided into 3
parties, one going directly east, and the
others taking each bank Of the Rock river,
until we came to Q branch which put into
the Rock, where We eamped about mile
from its mouth, and the same from de-
serted trappers' camp that had stove in
it, which we afterwards learned was known
as Hoods Camp, where two men were
drowned by the high water of last spring.
2lst-Last night was rainy one, and
as 1t continued wet we KEEP. camp all day.
22d-In saddle at 81 o'clock this morn.
ing, and after few hours ride came upon
a camp where Indians had evidently been
within twenty four hours, as quite a guam.
tity Of elk meat was spread upon sticks
for drying over where fire had lately
burned, and more was laying upon the
ground almost fresh, showing conclusively
that the Indians must have seen our party
or camp fires, and left in haste. Upon
this evidence, Capt. Trip ordered por.
ton Of the men to put up rations for four
days, and be ready to mount at once for
pursuit. While this was being done, by
some accident a shot gun went of, wound
ing our comrade Currier severely IN the
left leg, which delayed the starting Of the
trailing party until one o'clock, P. M,
when they we're off in . brisk trot. AT
the same moment the baggage wagon,
which had been converted into litter for
the comfort of our wounded friend, started
with guard for Spirit Lake, being the
nearest point that = surgeon could be
reached, where it arrived at o'clock, p.
NJ, on Friday the Odd, having been out
all night and most Of two days
The soldiers, with Capt. Trip, followed
the Indian trail far into Minnesota, but
night coming on, and they finding them.
selves upon high and dry prairie that
left no mark of the trail, were forced
n tupn hock .nI roe okal IA -. -. =