The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-07

FROM MISSOURI RIVER.
GEN. SULLY'S EXPEDITION.
Letter from Fort Lookout.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPOND
Emf.


HEADQUARTERS NORTHWESTERN ExpED,TIos, }
In CAMP ABOVE Crow CREEK Agency, :
July 90 1868.
TO the Editor of the Pioneer:
By some good luck, two or three num-
bers of your interesting paper got into our
camp this afternoon. 1t would have been
gratifying, had you been here, to see with
what avidity these papers were devoured
by us Minnesotians-(we number a .feoo }
After enjoying the luxury of "news from
home, it has occurred to me that you, or
at least some of your readers, might find
some pleasure in hearing from this (Gen.
ALI. Sully's) command.
After some days sojourn in Sioux City,
getting things in q shape to move-doc-
toring disabled horses, training unframed
mules, patching up contract wagons,
waiting for dlatory steamboats, at least
one month behind time, &c.--we got
started on the 22d of June for the upper
country Fully impressed that the COM
mand would not move very rapidly, at
least on tho first day out, delayed my
movements until about nine O'Clock A. M.
-(the command had been ordered to move
from Camp Cock at A. M, and it's depart
ure was superintendent by the General
commanding in person, and of course there
was no delay beyond the hour specified in
"orders ')-and I assure you that it was
with no little difficulty that /, behind a
pair of fast travellers, driven by our mutual
friend ode Witt" reached ca mp at P. ri.
distance thirty miles.
During the last two years or more /
have had abundant opportunity ofjudging
of slow and rapid marches, and can con-
fidently say that l never knew troops who,
with such apparent ease, got over such
stretch of ground in so short time, as do
the troops of this command. Our shortest
daily march up to this time has been
twelve miles. Our average march has
been twenty miles per day. This might
and would have been exceeded but for the
iudicious regard for both man and beast,
entertained by the Commanding General.
1t is surprise to US all that We are so
far ahead as we now are. To get this
column started, i. Q, in good shape, let
me assure you was no child's play, and
We are now in hopes-having our train up,
and with great reliance on our steamboats,,
Notwithstanding the river is very low
that we shall yet accomplish the great
object of the EXPEDITION.
Our present camp will be broken up to-
morrow morning. We shall push on to
Fort Pierre as rapidly as prudence shall
dictate. Our commanding General is ia
miliar with the country over which We
travel, and with the tribes of Indians who
occupy it. All that can be done, he will
assuredly do.
Gen. Sibley, with his command, as the
papers state, is encountering difficulties
similar to those that beset US. / mean
the scarcity of water and grass. If such
be the case in Minnesota, imagine, if you
can, what must be the drought and
barrenness in this section of Dacotah.
The "Oldest inhabitant" white or red, that
we have met, never knew of such sea-
son. 1t is SO dry that We are not troub-
led with flies, gnats or insects Of any kind
mosquitoes are fabulous, although we have
splendid mosquito bars
The plains are dry, barren and parched.
Scarcely pickings for hungry mule can
be had along the route. Add to this, the
hostile bands. aware of our advance, set
on fire the grass. This, though miles
ahead Of us, creates smoke almost unen-
durable. Some days we have to stretch
our march thirty miles to find a suitable
amping ground. Often VIC had to carry
wood Sufficient to boil kettle) from one
camp to another. The troops, however,
are cheerful-in the best Of spirits, and
nothing would give them greater satisfac-
ton than to be instrumental in bringing
these hostile Indians to a recognition Of
the supremacy of the laws of our Govern
ment.
We have some items of Vicksburg
fallen "-"three days fight at Gettys-
burg" How is it? Are we victorious?
We are out Of the world here and are
obliged to ask questions. Has the army
of the Potomac Ga better army the world
never saw encountered Lee with his con
scripts If so, and in Pennsylvania, we
must be victorious. You can't imagine
what patience is demanded of rs to await
intelligence from the East and South
West
A "Pioneer" mailed occasionally to
General Sullys Headquarters, would be
highly priced by us all, especially by
Yours most truly,