The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-19
THE INDIAN EXPEDITION.
From our Oun Correspondent.
CAMP PORE, June II, 1868.

On Saturday, the 10th inst, your cor
respondent in company with Gen. Sibley
and staff left St. Paul en- route for this
place. We passed the first night at Belle
Plaine, and the second at st. Peter; from
which place we started early Monday NOR
ming under cavalry escort, consisting of
company A, Mounted Rangers, and ar
rived at Fort Ridgley by 6 p. NJ. Colonel
Pfaender received us in good style, and
gave us the benefit of Brigadier Generals
salute of eleven guns. Having inspected
the post and made some additional arrange
ments with Col. Pfaender for the prOtec-
ton of the frontier, the General recon-
menced his march.
TIE DEVASTATED FRONTIER.
From R;dgely to this camp is historic
ground. The fierce raid of the Sioux last
summer upon the frontier settlers in this
vicinity is marked by many remains of
the red devils vandalism All along the
road at intervals we came upon the ruins
of dwellings and storehouses, which had
been destroyed by the hands Of these
ruthless savages. If anything were
needed to impress. us with the righteous
ness of our expedition against the Da-
cotahs, we found here ample justification
for taking the severest measures with
view to their total determination. Some
rough heaps of stone mark the resting
place of many of the victims of the late
massacre; while in the low land as we
descend the ravine to or IS the Redwood
at the Lower Agency, the ground where
Captain Marsh's command met with such
an untimely fate, a few rough stakes de-
note the fact that where they fell there
were they buried The walls of the Old
Agency warehouse are still standing, and
will undoubtedly long remain a monu-
ment of the british and destructive in
stincts OF the ''noble red man Of the
forest "(?)
CAMP POPE.
This camp is most eligibly and de-
lishtful)y situated on the south bank of
the Minnesota, about mile an half
above the mouth Of the Redwood river,
and covering an extent Of abo~t Il hun
and sixty acres OF ground.
When within about q mile and halt
Of camp we were met by Col. Crooks and
staff, and escorted into the grounds amid
the roar of artillery and the shouts and
welcomes of the soldiers. The 9th, 7th,
and 10th, regiments with three compan-
les of the Mounted Rangers were drawn
up in line for review and presented Il
very fine appearance; as the General
rode along the line uncovered every
man came to q "present" and remained
in position until the left of the co unn had
been gained by the reviewing party, when
one long and loud cheer extended the
whole length Of the line. Judging from
the enthusiasm Of the troops, the General
is held in high esteem by lis command,
and there is no doubt but his conduct of
the coming campaign will fully justify
their most sanguine expectations IN re-
gard to his executive ability. Everything
here is now tending toward the sudden
completion OF our arrangements prior to !.
departure on Monday next tie 18th inst.
MAGNITUDE OF THE EXPEDITION.
Properly to appreciate the magnitude Of
the Indian Expedition, one must witness
for themselves the extent OF the requisite
preparations for our column. 1t may give
your readers some idea of our force, when
say we shall have three full regiments of
infantry, a battery Of SIX pieces, and a
regiment Of Mounted Rangers, while it
will require $50 wagons, and eighteen
hundred mules for our transportation, ald
600 head Of cattle will be driven, to be
used III addition 20 The large quantity Of
sailed meats in the wagons Oar whole
train will be five miles in length, and yet
this comprises only one half the strength
to be used against our insidious foe Three
thousand cavalry and a proportionate
amount OF In .antry will join lis on TIE
march, ut Il given rendezvous.
WHAT Is TO BE-: DONE.
With dis force at his command, there
is no room to doubt that Gen. Sibley will
he able TO cope successfully with any OPP
posing body against which he may have
to contend. Let no one imagine that we
shall meet with no resistance, nor allow
themselves to give way to the expression
which of late has been SO often repeated,
"the expedition WON'T see an Indian. ~
They are around us all the time, and our
every movement is closely watched. The
only retreat offered them is by the way of
the British Possessions, and their welcome
in that region will be scarcely less hospit-
able than that they might expect from US.
Our latest reports indicate the exact
whereabouts of Little Grow, and point to
a desperate resistance by that chief to our
advance.
Let not our friends we have left behind
US, anticipate too much from us, but at
the same time they may be prepared to
hear the news of Little Crows sudden exit
from the "vale of tears" or else watch
closely for our return, that they may ex-
anime his live carcass in person.
We have with as quite a camp OF In
dians, who go out as scouts, and their
bronzed and dirty teepees serve forclbly
to remind US of what we are in search.
GEN. sIBLEY sERENADED.