Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-09-03
THE LATE INDIAN EXPEDITION.

While there is every where disposition to concede to
Gen Sbley full credit for gaanry and endurance in his
pursuit of the Sioux Indians there not the agree
ment to the results of the expedition fitted at such
great expense and formidable scale Gen Sbley had
about two thousand men, comprising fSe hundred cavalry,
and charged with the duty Of chastsing the Sioux
and Dacotah tribes of Indians which had ravaged parts
Minnesota and the adjacent Territories The route taken
may be described as follows:
I" The general direction that Of the proposed north
ern route the Pacific railway tiongy urged upon
the Government by the late Governor Stevens 1t dverged
norhward fro that line however following the windngs
of the Chey river to Lake Mini Wakan and thence
turned ward, ntersectDg the Stevens line near the
Of the Cheyenne crossing the great Plateau du
Coteau ard striking the Missouri about forty miles below
Fort Clark in latitude 46 deg AZ min The distance thus
traversed from Fort Smelling to the Missouri 10 round
numbers six hundred miles"
After severe suffering from the prevalence Of drought
and consequent difficulty in providing the army with
transportation the Indians oyersken the plains
of Dacotah aud driven the Missouri into Nebrask
beyond the limits Of civilization. letter dated head
quarters Of the SbIey expedition August 5th says, in
describing the retreat Of the savages
"0n Wednesday reached the Missouri river at a
point where the banks hid with wide belt of timber
We just too late to bag our prey. The bowling
mps had managed to get the river though with
their effects which in their haste they left concealed ia
the bushes As approached the river the bluffs opposite
were black with the fleeing saVrges. we anticipated
ambush in the timber and quenty it entered with
As it two killed and sadly maDgled
One was Lieut.. L j. H. Holt Bearer, an EDglishman
Of wealth who had been serving volunteer aid to the
General.
"Our train too heavy 10 the river aud
here ended pursuit Of the frightened and
fleeing Sioux Their defeat thorough could have
been xpected by the most saDgune although many would
have desired TO killed 1t probable that nearly
hundred aud fifty we're killed aud wounded which
with Indians Is very seTere furnishing They made
IA, upon camp the third night spent upon the
Missouri, but no harm of any account was done.
1t may he that OF the people upon the frontier of
Minnesota will not be- relieved from danger aud fear for
time to struggling Indians will prowl about
the Big Woods and perhaps the Of last years
massacres. But the Sioux savugrs body effecu
ally frightened and whipped and is not likely that they
will ever return to their homes Dacotah Had Gen
Sullys expedition, which to have UP the Mis-
from Iowa mads junction with that of Gen
paDy of four thousand Ht might have been
As s the people Of Minnesota have Cause for gratitude
that much has been accOnpshed towards freeing their
borders from piuch anxiety aud terror"
Embarrassments spoken Of which made it imprsct
BILE to the Missouri, following up the advantages al
ready gained; but Of Western porares
think there want of foresight n not providing the
requisite supply Of provisions cay Fort Clark only forty
miles above the point tbs Missouri eached by the ex
pedtoD, thereby obvatDg the necessity for moving heavy
trains the line Of march Then the punishment Inflicted
perpetual remembrance. Now there appears to be no
substantial REASON why they should pot renew their incur
sons, aud the war be continued indefinitely.