, 1863-09-25

7 hc War In Minnesota - Comments |
Upon tho Campaign Against tho |
Siuux-1kesult* of the Indian Expe-
Cbippewas-An Alliance With Them
AEainst the Sioux Little CroW's
Love.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Sept. 2t, 1868.
The var in this State exists with conssdera-
BILE ferceness. It Is b1oodless contest, aud
fs carried On chiefly BY words. It relates to
the late Indian expedition and the manage I
ment thereof, and the discussions are: "a
lively as could be expected in border State
1t Is difficult to find a person who is not
ready to offer an opinion on one side or the
other, and generally to sustain It by earnest
argument. Political affairs have q slight
bearing upon It, and thus the contest wakes
vigorous. =.
There Gun be little question that the orig
.inal plan Of the campaign, as devised by Gen.
Pope, was IN excellent one. The Iadians
were known to be in the vicinity Of DEVILS
Lake, where the columns set ont, and were
expected to remain there until threatened.
ONION, who has been on the frontier and
became acquainted With Indian character,
knows that 1t Is very difficult, 1t not impossi-
BILE, to come up with the red man In regu-
lnr pursuit. In his 0Wn country he can
march twice as fast as white man, and ts
never troubled about bases Of supply. The;
game Of the prairies is the only depot Of pro.
Visions that be desires, and he can substst, If
Feed be, or very small zations. 1t was well
understood that the Indians would be likely
to leare their position 1t DEVILS Lake, as
soon as they were aware OF the approach Of
the troops. The superstition WAS generally
entertained that they would seek safety By
into the B1itieh doninicns, where they well
knew our forces would not follow them. :
Twas arranged by Gen. Pope that one col
umn should approach them IRON the west
while another rnoae simultaneous approach
on the east. They would thus be hem med In
the columns we're well timed the chances
we're IN favor Of their being brought to bat.
tie. Each column was to carry Us own sup.
plies sufficient for the campaign, and was not
to depend upon the starting points for pro-
Visions, or trouble itself about keeping open
communication to the river. The onIY line
they we're to keep open was with each other,
20 that they could act in conjunction. The
county know. the general history Of the
atfair. Gep. 8u1.y's column moved up Mis-
souri, from Fort Randall, but VAS unable to
make the expected progress owing to the 1ow
stage Of water. Ger. sfbley moves over
land from Fort scelling, and reached DEVILS
nothing Of Gen. Sully at the point where be
had expected to meet him. It was not until
tome time later that he learned the cause Of
bis detention.
The Indians not being aware Of the ap-
proach Of Gen. sully moTed off towards the
Sibley!s approach. The latter marched from
Devils Lake In purauit, following directly on
The track Of the Indians. In order to move
az rapidly as possible he left behind him all
his foot sore and weary men and as much Of
lis train aa he could spare; Il the latter
Lake and Dead Buffalo Lake were fought, Ii
| ali Of which our loss was but five killed and
/ seven wounded. After these encounters the
| Indians were driven across the Missouri,
| abandoning their provisions and transporta-
ton. The expedition returned thence and Is
| now mainly at Fort Smelling.
The complaints among the people do not
have reference to the conduct Of the cam.
| paign, 60 far as the plan and march are con.
ce1ned. It Is generally conceded that no 9th
er plan that could have been adopted could
give as much promise Of Euccess As did this
The march through the Wild and desolate
| country where the route Of the expedition
| led, ms most admirably conducted By Gen.
| s1b1ey. The officers and men Of tho exped1-
ton are in state Of health that would be
enyied By every other army IN tho field. Sick
the alkaline water, was almost entirely un-
| known. The horses and mules that PERFORM
ed the labor OF transportation look as well OF
better than when they started on the march
Of oyer eleven hundred miles. Gen. Sibiey'a q
personal attention was devoted, at all times,
TO The welfare Of the men. His care for them
was constant and unceasing.>
! The general complaint nm0Dg the officers,
is well as the rank and file, Is that he was too
cautious. 4 soldier enters the service. to
ever he has an opportunity to make dash ut
the enemy. It Is not often that chance FOX
| fight occurs, end when 1t does It is policy
| a1waJa to iOaIct as much injury as possible
npon the enemy. On the OCCASIONS when
the Indians weIe encountered. Gen. sibleeg
one occasion the cavalry was sent out, and
Just al 1t was in aposaton to do something,
it was recalled, ns some say, by mistake II
the delivery Of an order. The Indians were
for three days In position to be severely
damaged, dan and It ~ = exceedingly n9fertunatt
and subjected to great loss:
The result Of tho expedition has been K
quiet the Sioux for the present, but not tt
subdue them completely. Tho blow the.
hare EecetEea will keep them Me4 away ffo@
through the winter there will doubtless b
short and leolated raids. Parties OF from tw,
', to ten will be formed lor raids upon the bet
Elements, and their visits will be sudden ADJ
, unexpected: A feM murders hsye, alEead
aud in one case bya solitary Indian It 1
generally thought that another expedition
will be necessary next season, to force th
: Sioux into complete subsection.
The Chippewas have been anxious to TAX
! palt in the Sionx wnr and have repeated!
| tar1f h13r fha ~
known When these two tribss we're on pei
fectly friendly terms except on very brief oe
cations. They always Stand ready to Gu
: each others throats, and the present woul
seem good time to allow them to iadulg
Ss aher 1oaa aiafs tafn sSa
them with powder and lead and with weapon
to make that powder and lead efrectuai, the
would not be ]og In taking the w
path. More than a Thousand ahle
; bodied gentlemen of the Chippew
persuasion could be procured as aids to IN
! the Sionx. With a good military man t
! plan campaign for them they would do fin
service. -Hols: :m.the.d .day, tie chief Of Il
: Chippewas, Is an orntor and diplomatist, bu
: hos never been tested as warrior, With
) him strategy he would be in7inciblc. !.
Gov, Ramsey Is hoping to make treat
with the Chippewas 50 as to bring them int
eerytce. He Is probably by this time in cor
, ference with them at the appointed rendei
yous, on Red Lake River. The ChippeWn
.. justment at this convention, and as they ~
! fa4cEably disposed, there will be but It'll
. difficulty In arriving at an understanding
: One thing Of which they complain is th
. placing Of steamers on the Red River Of th
T'9 Pos a'Sf Tie sRsitG Rea R3s1 fsd Is
i. boundary between the Sioux and Chippewa
!! and come arrangement will probably Be mad
! ! that will secure the right Of way to steaa
= boats along that stream. During the prese1
u !. season the boats have not been In operatlo,1
Z owing to the hostility Of the Sioux On Il
, west bank. It may be necessary to kee
= = them idle next year, unless the Sioux sha
9 be guieted.
q There were approximations Of general v!
u on the part Of the Northwestern Tndiansne!
= seaeon. The Sioux have been 1abor1ng
brig the Tetons into their interests, 81
q have partially succeeded. The Tetons ho
y the nest side of the Missouri and the count
!. extending thence to the Black Hills, and c:
10 muster nearly az many warriors as the Siou
J. !. The fact that the Indians have this year be!
e unusually hostile to parties along. the Mi
y souri. gives some ground for the fear abo
AZ mentioned.
=. There is much anxiety to know the local
~ of The recent encounter between Gen. Sib1
nEQ Inc al0HI. all Ele olQ Qnutera ana at
tiers say they DO not know any place
name Of the White Stone Hill The na1
was probably coined on the occasion. T.
region where Gen. sih1ey fell in with the
1ians had never been explored, md the nam
No. Of the lakes where the battles were foug
q were applied to them BY Gen Slbley himse
It's probably the same with the hill whe
Gen. Sibley Is reported to hare met the slou
Conjecture places 1t on the east side Of t
,g Missouri, on the route to Devils Lake.
in The Sioux will probably spend the co
u. seato at their Winteriug ground Of last yea
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