The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-07-03
INDIAN EXPEDITION.


TWO LETTERS FROM OCR OWN
III CORRESPONDENCE. 1} "F
CAMP BAKER-srAR77Ne Or TIE ExPE-
DITYONAWOOD LAKE BATTLE FLELD-
q DLSAGRREABLE MARCH-7SMALL POX,
de-,
CAMP BAKER" June 10, 1863.
To the Editor Of the Pioneer: , .....s. 4....,...
We are thirty miles from Camp Pope,
and about five miles from Yellow Medi-
cine; our camp is located on the same site
selected last year, and dubbed Scamp
Riggs. 1t is cold dreary dismal day,
and as 1 commence my writing it is just.
beginning to rain; the wind blowing
meanwhile a perfect hurricane. am
seated on Buffalo robe spread on the
ground in headquarters tent my over
coat buttoned up to my throat; and in
front Of me at the opening in the tent is
an old stove, which one of our orderlies
found, running around loose' on the
prairie. We have succeeded in building
a fire, but unfortunately the smoke is
driven back into our, faces in manner
anything but pleasant. Before we made
a fire, we were almost frozen, and now
we are in danger Of being smoked. This
latter process may cure US of our first
trouble; but our eyes are weak, and we
"can't see it," .-.
But this command are prepared to en-
counter the vicitudes incident to campaign
life, and will brave all the hardships of
hunger, thirst and cold, if the cause in
which they are engaged, should call for
such sacrifices. On Tuesday the 10th at
4 O'Clock A. NJ, the stirring notes of the
"reveille awoke the sleeper at Camp
Pope to the fact that they we're under Or
ders to march in an hours time. The ex-
piration of that hour found most of the
troops in line, with tents struck, and ready
to march. A company of Mounted Ran
gers led the advance, and were followed
by the Pioneer and Pontoon trains and a
section of Capt. Jones' battery. General
Sibley remained in camp, directing the
movements of the column until the whole
line was formed. His Aids in the mean
while being everywhere conspicuous, car
rying orders to the different commands,
and guiding them to their appropriate
places in the column. AS soon as all the
details for the protection of the rear Of the
column were perfected, the commanding
officer with his staff cantered gaily down
the line, and took position at the head of
the column. At an ea.ly hour in the morn
ing scouts had been sent in the direction of
Rice Greek to ascertain the amount of water
at thatpoin About the time we reached the
front; the half breeds returned with so
unfavorable report that it became nee
essary to look for some other place to
camp. Not willing to be dependent fur
Their upon his scouts, General Sibley as
sumed the lead, and tor two hours was
searching for a spot to pitch our tents,
that should secure to us the greatest facil-
tiles for obtaining wood and water 1t
was finally decided to occupy a position
on the bank of the Minnesota, abont two
miles before reaching Rice Greek. This
was dubbed "Camp Crooks, land we
spent a very pleasant afternoon and eve
ming within its precincts and early the
following morning we were on our march
again. The second day carried US over
considerably more ground than the first,
and, night closing around, the pensive
moon looked down upon us, encamped on
the field where the battle of Wood Lake
was fought last year. The old entrench-
ments are visible long distance before
you reach camp. In honor of the Colonel
of the Seventh, this was called "Camp
Miller" and thus proclaimed in General
Order from headquarters. In the course Of
the afternoon rode over the grounds and
discovered the graves of three of the brave
men who fell last year. Their remains are
undisturbed; but two holes in which four
teen Indians were inferred have been
opened by wolves, and their remains partly
devoured; the ribs and chest Of one being
visible, while the hand of another is
stretched up, and extends almost to the
top of the earth, as if he had been trying
to scratch his way back again to this mum
dane sphere. Leaving our CAM, at Wood
Lake at A. M. Thursday, we again started
on our way. From the time we COM
menced to descend from the prairie into
the ravine at Yellow Medicine, our troubles
began The roads are in terrible condi-
ton, and two of our six-mule commissary
wagons were overturned. To such an ex-
tent was our train damaged that it became
necessary for US to lay over here to-day,
to have our hard bread re-coopered, and
our wagons, many of them, repaired. 1t
would be fearful day to march, and per-
haps it is as we'll that we have an excuse
for remaining here. Our scouts have just
come in, and report large cloud of dust
in our front, moving rapidly away. They
say it is either buffalo or Indians, but they
are unable to determine which. We all
wish they were the latter, and that they
would come after us instead of running
from US.
In regard to casualties, so far there have
been none among enlisted men. One
teamster had his leg broken, and was sent
home. Quartermaster Kennedy, of the
Mounted Rangers, was seized this morning
with the premonitory symptoms of small
pox, and, in company with four members
of the same regiment (whose names are
not yet sent to headquarters), will be i'm
mediately forwarded to Fort Ridgley for
treatment. make this announcement in
order that no uneasiness may be felt by
the friends of the men in this command. in