The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-02


camp-after the tremendous efforts of the day,
is almost unparalleled, and 1t told SO fearfully
upon men and animals that forward move.
ment could not take place until the 26th, when
I marched at an early hour. Col. Baker had
been left in command of the camp (named by
the officers camp Sibley.) during the engage
ment of the previous day, and ali the arringc.
ments for its security were actively and ju-
dici0usly made, aided as tie was by that excel
lent officer, Lieut.. Col Jennison, of the same
regiment.
Upon arriving at the camp from which the
Indians had been driven in such hot haste, vast
quantities OF dried meat, tallow and Buffalo
robes, cooking utensils and other indispensable
articles were found concealed in the long reeds
around the lake, all of which were, by my di-
Iections, collected and destroyed. For miles
along the route the prairie was strewn with
like evidences of hasty flight. Col McPhail
had previously advised me that beyond
Dead Buffalo Lake, as far rs his pursuit,
of the Indians had continued, would find
neither wood nor water. consequently eS-
tablished ny camp on the border of that lake,
and very soon afterwards parties of Indians
made their appearance threatening an attack.
directed Capt. Jones to repair with his section
of six Founders, supported by Capt. Chase,
with his company OF pioneers, to command
ing point about six hundred yards in advance,
and proceeded there in person. found that
Col Crooks had taken possession with two COM
panies of his regiment, commanded by Capt.
and Lieut. Grant, to check the advance of the
Indians in that quarter. An engagement en-
sued ut long range the Indians being too wary
to attempt to close, although greatly superior
in numbers. The spherical case from the six
Founders soon caused hasty retreat from that
locality, but perceiving it TO be their intention
to make flank movement on the left of the
camp in force, Capt. Taylor, with his COM
pany of Mounted Rangers. was dispatched to
retard their progress in that quarter. He was
attacked by the enemy in large numbers. but
manfully held his ground until recalled and Or
dered to support Lieut.. Col. Averill who with
two companies OF the 9th regiment deployed
as skirmishers. had been ordered to hold the
savages in check. The whole affair was ably
conducted by these officers but the increasing
numbers of the Indians, who were we'll
mounted, enabled them by circuitous route,
| to dash towards the extreme left of the camp,
evidently with the view to stampede the mules
herded on the shore of the lake. This daring
attempt was frustrated by the rapid motions
of the companies of Mounted Rangers COM
manded by Capts. Wilson and Davy, who met
the enemy and repulsed them with loss, while
Major McLaren with equal promptitude, threw
out along an extended line the six companies
of the 9th regiment, under his immediate COM
mand, thus entirely securing that flank of the
camp from further attacks. The savages. again
fOiled iii their designs, fled with precipitation,
| leaving q number of their dead upon the
prairie, and the battle of Dead Buffalo Lake
was ended.
On the 9th resumed the march, following
the trail of the retreating Indians until reached
Stony Lake, where the exhaustion of the ami
mails required me to encamp, although grass
was very scarce. The next day, the 28th, took
place the greatest conflict between our troops
and the Indians. SO far as numbers are con-
cerned, which l have named the battle of
stony Lake" Regularly alternating each
dow hn In HS~l Da1
in the advance, leading the column. as the
train tolled up the long hill AS l passed
Col. Baker l directed him to deploy two
companies of the 10th as skirmisherS Part of
the wagons were still in the camp under the
guard of the 9TH regiment. When as reached
the top of the ridge In advance of the 10th
regiment perceived large force of mounted
Indians moving rapidly upon us. Iimmedi-
ately sent orders to the several Commands
promptly to assume their positions in accor-
dance with the line of march, but this was
done and the whole long train completely
guarded at every point by the vigilant and
able commanders of regiments and of corps,
before the orders reached them The 10th
gallantly checked the advance of the enemy in
'front.' the 9th and cavalry en- the right, and
j the 9TH and cavalry on the left, while the six
| Founders and two sections of mountain how
itzers under the efficient directions of their re-.
spective chiefs, poured rapid and destructive
number of Indians enabled them to form two
thirds OF circle, five or six miles in extent
along the whole line of which they were seek
ing some weak point upon which to precpitate
themselves. The firing was incessant and rapid
from each side, but so soon as had completed
the details OF the designated order of march,
and closed up the train, the column issued in
line OF battle upon the prairie. in the face of
the Immense force opposed to it, and resumed
my march without any delay. This proof of
confidence in our own strength completely
destroyed the hopes of the savages ana COM
pleted their discontinue. With yells of dis
appointment and rage they fired a few parting
volleys and then retreated with all expedition
1t was not possible with our faded horses to
overtake their fleet and comparatively fresh
pones
This was the last desperate effort of the com.
blned Dakota bands to prevent further adj
vance on our part towards their families 1t
would be difficult to estimate the number of
warriors, but no cool and dispassionate OBJ
server would probably have placed it at 9 less
figure than from 1920 to $500. No such con-
centratiOa of force has, SO far as my informa-
ton extends, ever been made by the savages
| of the American continent. 1t is rendered GER
tain from information received from yarions
sources, including that obtained from the saw
ages themselves in their conversation with our
half-breed scouts that the remnant of the bands
who escaped with Little Crow had successfully
joined the SlSsetOns, the Cut-Heads, and finally
the 'EhanktOnais," the most powerful single
band OF the DakOtas and together with all
these had former an enormous camp of nearly
or quite ten thousand souls.
10 assers that the courage and discipline dis
played by officers and men in the successive en-
gagements with this formidable and hitherto
untried enemy, were signally displayed would
but i'll express the admiration feel for their per-
feet steadiness, and the alacrity with which rley
| courted an encounter with the savage foe No
one for moment seemed to doubt the result.
however great the preponderance agaidst us in
numerical force. These wild warriors of the
plains had never been met in battle by Ameri-
can troops, and they have ever boosted that no
hostile army, however numerous, would dare
to set foot upon the soil of which they claimed
to be the undisputed masters. Now that they
have been thus met, and their utmost force
defied resisted and utterly broken and routed,
the lesson will be a valuable one, not only in
| its effects upon these particular bands, but upon
| all the tribes of the northwest
| When we went into camp on the bank of the
| Apple River, few mounted Indians could
alone be SEEM. Early next morning 1 des-
| patched Col. McPhaill with the companies of
| the Mounted Rangers and the two sx-pound-
ers, to harasS and retard the retreat of the In
dams across the Missouri River and followed
with the main column as rapidly as possible.
| We reached the roads on the border of that
stream shortly after noon on the 28th, but the
indiana had crOcsad their families dnripr fho