Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-11-07

Gus IaReS or springs kept the grass iresh
here the buffalo were plenty, and the lakes
and streams full Of FISH; aud that here
they prepared their meat for the winter,
moving to the Missouri where The fuel Was
plenty TO winter. therefore detcrmi ned
- change my course towards the East, to
move rapidly, and go as far as my ra.ions
would allow.
felt serious alarm for the safety OF
Captain La Boo, who had but SO men
with him, and who had already been
out over two days without ratons. en-.
camped here for the next day, and sent
out four companies Of the ID Nebraska
and one of the 9th Iowa. under command
of Major Pearman, I'd Nebraska, to hunt
him up, and see if there were any Indians
en- the Missouri. The next day, however,
Captain La Boos company returned, hav.
ing made a march Of one hundred and
eighty seven miles, living upon what buff.
falo aud game they could kill, securing
the country to my left, overtaking the
camp of ten lodges he was sent after, des
troyins them, but seeing no Indians
This same day (29th) | sent two compan.
les of the 9Th Iowa to the mouth Of Apple
creek. They reported on their return
that they found the fortified camp of Gen
Sibley, bis trail, and his return trail to-
wards the east that they could see no
signs Of there having been any fgh, there
nor could they see the Mackinaw boat re.
ported by the old Indian. This detach.
ment was under command Of Captain
Cram, 9th Iowa. The battalion Of Major
Pearman joined me efore starting, hav-
ing seen nothing, and, after march 0,
above ninety miles, through q country
with no wood whatever, but with good
grass and plenty Of lakes Of the most
abcminablc water On the 81 of Sep:em,
Der We reached a lake, where, on the
plains near by. were the remains Of
very large number Of butf.lo killed, some
quite recently. Here l encamped to wait
the reports of the commands | had out
during the march, who every day discov.
cred fresh signs of Indians, their lodge
trails spread over the country, but all
moving towards a point known to be a
iavurile haunt of the Indians had this
day detailed one battalion of the 9Th Iowa
Major House commanding, aud Mr.. Frank
La FrJmboiSc as guide, to keep ahead of
me fire miles. and in case ttey saw a
small baud of Indians to attack them, or
take them prisoners- II they should find
a large band, too large to successfully
cope with, to watch the camp at a distance
and send back word to me, my intention
being to leave my train under charge of
heavy guard, move up in the nigh, time
so as to surround them, and attack them
at day break. But, ,or some reason salts
s. a.. L.
my left and came upon the Indians in an
encampment Of over four hundred lod .es,
some say six hundred, in raviues, where
they felt perfectly secure, being fully PER.
suaded that was still on my way up the
Missouri. This is what the Indian pris.
oners say. They also state that war
party followed me on my Way up in hopes
of stampc hing me- but this they could
not do. | marched with great care, with
an advance guard and hankcrs; the train
in TWO lines sixty PAGES apart; the loops
on each side in front and center mysel,
with one company aud the battery all
the loose stock was kept between the lines
of wagons. In this way los, no animals
on the campaign except some few, about
a dozen. that got out Of camp at night.
Nor did the Indians. during all the trip,
ever attack me or try to stampede me.
Mai or House, according to my insruc.
tons, endeavored to surround and keep in
the Indians until word could be sen, me :;
but this was an npossibllty with lis 800
meh, as the encampraent was very large,
mastering Il, least 200 warriors. This
is what the Indians say they had; but |,
as we'll as ever, body in the command say
over 1900 These ludjcns were partly
San,ees from Minnesota, Cutheads from
the Coteau, Ianktonais and some Black
feet who belong on the other side Of the
Missouri, and, as | have since learned,
unkpapas. the same party who fought
General Sibley aud DESTROYED the Maci-
nav boat. OF this | have unmistakeable
proof from letters and papers found in the
camp and On the persons Of some of the
Indians. besides relies of the late Mime.
sofa massacre; also from the fact that
they told Mr. La FIomboise, the guide,
when he was surrounded by about 200 Of
them, that they had fought General
Sibley, and they could not see why the
whites wanted to come ana fight them,
unless they were tired of living and want.
ed to die Mr. La Fromheise succeeded
in getting away from them after some
difficulty, and ran his horse distance of
more than ten miles to give me informa-
tiou, Major llonse, with his command,
still remaining there. He reached me a
little after O'clock. Immediately turn.
ed out my command The horses at the
time were out grazing. At the sound OF
the bucle the men rushed with cheer,
aud in a very few minutes saddled up and
were in line. left iour companies und
ali the men who were poorly mounted in
the camp, with orders to strike the tents
aud corral the wagons, and starting off
with the I'd Nebraska on the right, the
9th Iowa on the left, one company Of the
7th Iowa and the battery in the center, at
a full galop, we made the distance Of
over ten miles in much less than all hour.
On reaching near the ground | found
tina. the enemy were leaving, and carrying
of what plumber they could. Many
lodges, however, were still standing. |
oraered Colonel Furnas, % Nebraska, to
push his horses to the utmost, so rs to
Il A.