Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-11-14

taking 3 concealed in some tall grass,
whom they killed. The fight has been SO
scattered, the dead Indians have been
found in so many different places, that it
is impossible for me to give an accurate
report of the number killed of the enemy.
!, however, think am safe in reporting it
at 100. | report those that we're left on
the field and that my scouting parties
found.)
During the engagement, for some time,
the I'd Nebraska, afoot and armed with
rifles, land there are among them probably
some of the best shots in the world, were
engaged with the enemy at distance not
over sixty PAGES, pouring on them muir
derous fire in the ravine where the enemy
were posted. The slaughter, therefore,
must have been immense. My Offices and
the guides | have with me think $50 vii!
not cover their loss. The Indian reports
make it over 200. That the General may
know the exact locality of the battlefield
| would state that it was, as near as
could judge, about fifteen miles west Of
James river, and about half way between
the latitudes Of Boncbute and head waters
Of Elm river, As laid down on the Govern.
ernment map. The fight took place near
II Hill called by the Indians White Stone
Hil
In conclusion I would state that the
troops Of my command conducted them
selves WE'LL and though it was the first
fight that nearly all Of them had ever
been in, they showed that they are o. the
right material, and that in time, with dis.
cipllne, they will make worthy soldiers 1t
| is to be regretted that we lost so many
valuable lives as we did. but this could
no: be helped the Indians had formed
line Of battle with good judgment, from
which they could only be dsloged by
! a charge. | could not use my artillery
without greatly endangering the lives Of
| augh'ered them.
! send you, accompanying, the reports
, of Colonel Wilson, 9th Iowa, and Colonel
! furnas, 2l Nebraska, also official reports
of killed and wounded. aud take this occa
| sion to thank both those officers for their
! good conduct and the cheerfulness with
| which they obeyed my orders on the occa-
| sion. Both Of them had their horses sho:
| in the action. | would also reuues, rer-
mission to state that the several mem hers
! Of my staff rendered me every possible
! assistance.
On the morning Of the 9th took NJ
my liue Of march for Fort Pierre. If
! could have remained iE that section of
! country some two or three weeks | might
have accomplished more: but was salts
fled by the reports Of my scouts that the
! Indians bad scattered in all directions
| some towards the James river; some,
: probably the Biackect, to recross the ..s
sOurl, and a part OF them went NORTH
where the Indians say they have friends
among the half breeds Of the north. Nv
rations were barely sufficient with rapid
/ marches to enable me to reach F0st Pierre
.hc animals, not only the L ans have
already reported to You as worthless, hut
also the cavalry horses, showed the eff ct
! OF rapid marching and being entirely
without gram,
| brought with me all the prisoners
had, and trlc! to question them to gain
some information. The men refused to
say much except that they are all good
indians" and the other bad ones Joined
their camp without their VIII.
The squaws, however, curroborate the
report have already given you in regard
to the destruction of the people on board
! the Makinaw boat aud tho fights with
General Sibley. IN which these Indians
had part. They also state that the In
dians, after recrossing TO this side of the
! Missouri, sent party 10 follow Siblev
until he went to the James river, then re.
! turned to their camp near Long Lake to
| procure large quantity Of provisions
and other articles they had "cached"
| there, and then come to the camp where
met them.
After marching about one hundred and
thirty miles We reached the mouth of the
Little Shyenne on the ll,h, where |
| found the steamboat | had ordered to be
| there on the sth instant 1t was lucky
she was there, for without the grail. she
brought up could not have brought my
| empty wagons back, for some miles north
Of Cheyenne and Pierre the grass now is
about all gone. placed my wounded On
the boat, and as many empty wagons as
she could carry. am afraid the loss Of
horses and mules will be considered very
great, but it could not be helped. When
| fouad it impossible for the rear guard to
get an animal along, | had it killed to
prevent its falling into hands Of the enemy
Very respectfully, Major,
your obedient servant,
| ALE. SULLI,
! Brigadiar General Commanding.
P. s.-By actual count the number of
my prisoners is l56-men 80, women and
children lo4, l would also beg leave to
say that in the action I had Of my COM
mand between COO and 700 men actually
engaged. My killed number, as far as as.
cer,ained, 20; wounded, SO.
Very respectfully.
your obedient servant,
ALE. SULLY,
Brigadier General Commanding.
Mrs Ada II. Brink, wife Of Oscar +.
Brink, who resides in Scott township,
near Iowa City, committed suicide last
week by hanging herself She was about
=