The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-21

throughout Friday that Indians could be
seen crossing the river at various points;
so that there was very general expecta-
ton of night attack. BY twelve o'clock
the guards could hear the skulkers answer
ing to each other in the grass and bushes
about. At half-past one party of twenty
five or thirty crawled up as near to the
camp as possible, and fired volley over
the tents of the Tenth Regiment into the
corral. The towards nearly accomplished
their purpose The entire herd of cattle
and some of the mules broke out at once,
and started for the prairie. The cavalry
were promptly on hand, fortunately, and
great calamity was thus averted. The
rascals killed two mules, however. This
was the only attack that was made, al
though the men fully expected general
fight before morning.
TURNING ABOUT.
The General not deeming it expedient
to pursue the enemy further, especially as
there was no prospect of a iuncture with
the expected expedition of Gen. Sully, an
order was therefore issued declaring the
march westward completed.
COPY OF GENERAL ORDER NO. 81.
To the officers and Soldiers Of the Erpeditiona,y
Force IN Camp:
| 1t is proper for the Brigadier General COM
manding to announce to you that the march to
| the West and North is completed and that on
tomorrow 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, General Sib-
ley expresses also his high qualification that the
campaign has been complete success. The
design of the Government in chastising the
savages, and thereby prevent for the future,
the raids upon the frontier, has been fully &C
| complished- You have routed the miscreants
who murdered our people last year, banded as
they were with the Upper Sioux to the num-
Der of nearly 1000 warriors in three successive
| engagements with heavy loss, and driven them
in confusion and dismay across the Missouri
River, leaving behind them all their provisions,
yeMcles and skins designed for clothing. which
have been destroyed. FOrty-four bodies of
warriors have been found, and many Others
concealed or taken away according to the GUS
| tom of these savages, so that it is certain that
they have lost in killed and wounded not less
than from one hundred and twenty to one
hundred and fifty men. All this has been ac-
complished with the comparatively trifing loss
on our part of three killed and as many wound
ed. You have marched nearly six hundred
miles from st. Paul, and the powerful bands of
the Dacotahs, who have heretofore held undis-
puted possession of these great prairies, have
succombed to your valor and discipline, and
sought safety in flight. The intense heat and
drouth have caused much suffering which you
| have endured without murmer The COM
Panies of the Sixth, Seventh, Ninth and Tenth
Regiments of Minnesota Volunteers First
Minnesota Mounted Rangers, and the sections
of the battery have amply sustained the repu-
tation OF the State by their bravery and endur-
| onn mi Of y,nlrv dam
ships. Each has had opportunity to distin.
guish itself against foe at least equal in num-
bers to itself.
| 1t would be qualification if these remorse-
less savages could have been pursued and ut
terly extirpated; for their crimes and barbara
ties mcrited such full measure punishment;
but men and animals are alike exhausted after
so long march, and a further pursuit would
only be futile and hopeless. The military re-
suits OF the campaign have been fully accom-
| plished for the savages have not only been
destroyed in great numbers, and their main
| strength broken, but their prospects for the
| future are hopeless indeed; for they can hardly
| escape starvation during the coming winter
1t is peculiarly gratifying to the Brigadier
| General Commanding, to know that the ire
mendous fatigues and manifold dangers of the
Expedition thus far, have entailed so small
loss of life on 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 proportional
| exposure on our part, and the consequent loss
of many more lives, bringing sorrow and
mourning to our own homes. Let us there.
fore, return thanks to 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 DacOtah Territory.
And as we proceed on our march towards
those most near and dear to us, let MS be pre-
pared to discharge other duties which may be
imposed upon us during our journey, with
cheerful and willing hearts.
To the regimental and company officers of
the command, the Brig adler General Com
handing tenders his warmest thanks for their
cooperation and aid, on every occasion, during
the passage of the column through the heart
of an unknown region inhabited by subtle
and merciless foe. To the friends and families
of our fallen comrades, we have our warmest
sympathies to offer in their bereavement.
General Sibley takes this occasion to express
his appreciation of the activity and zeal dis
played by the members of his staff, one and all
By command of
Brigadier General SIBLEY.
OUR CASUALTIES.
The entire list of our casualties up to |
this date DULY 31st is as follows:
Killed.-Dr. Weiser, of ShakOpee, Sur
geon to the Mounted Rangers
F. j. Holt Beever, aid to Gen. Sibley,
with rank of Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Freeman, of the Mounted
Rangers.
G. A. Stark, of St. Peter, of the
Rangers.
John Murphy, of Waseca, of the Rang
ers-killed by lightning.
John Platt, of F llmore county, Go. L..
Mounted Rangers.
John Miller, of the Sixth Regiment
Observation-Disclosures Moar, of Fillmore
county, of the Mounted Rangers.
The health of the brigade up to this
time, has been remarkably good, there
having been no deaths from sickness
CAMP "WILLIsroN, -" HoMEwARD BoUND,l
August 9th. {
We left the banks of the Missouri last
Saturday, and have returned to within
three days march of Camp Atcheson. To-
day we are resting over, the mules having
givenout to the number of fifty or more
yesterday. Our march thus far has been
unmolested by Indians, although our scouts
have occasionally found traces of them.
1t is likely that a small party will follow
in our trail for a%ime, with the hope of
stealing horses and mules,