The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-21
Gen. Sibley's Campaign.
"A ABSTRACT FROM OFFICIAL RE-
PORTS.

commanders, received at Col. MMLER's
headquarters, are cleaned the following
clear narrative of the most important
events attending the expedition. Partic-
.ulars already given by our correspondents
'have been omitted:
General sibley left Camp Atcheson, on the
morning ofJuly goth, with force consisting
OF 14OO Infantry and 800 Cavalry. On the oath
at one o'clock p. NJ, having crossed the Great
Cotcau OF the Missouri, and while the General
with several officers was some distance in adj
vance OF the main column, scouts came up re-
porting large force of Indian Warriors. two
or three miles distant. The train was immedi
ately corraied upOu the shore of q salt lake
and an cntrenched camp rapidly formed under
the directions of Col. Crooks. Meanwhile the
Indians were rapidly gathcr.-g on three sides
and covering the hill8 d. One Of the
scouts succeeded in getting within speaking
distance Of Red Plume" Il relative and Sissc-
ton Chief, who told him to warn General Siblev
that the plan of the Indians was to invite a coun
Gil with the superior officers, shoot them down
and then make a rush upon the camp in great
force. Other Indians approached near where
the scouts were stationed, and commenced
conversing with them, pretending to be desir-
Gus OF making peace, Surgeon Weiser rode
up and joined the scouts, when young brave
probably mistaking him from his uniform for
Il commanding officer, manifested great delight
at seeing him, and gradually approaching in
this way, suddenly shot him through the
heart. A general engagement followed, the
Indians commencing the attack under shelter
of the surrounding ridges. Col. McPhail
with detachment of Rangers was ordered to
dslodge the enemy from the hill where DR..
Weiser was shot, supported by the Seventh
Regiment and Capt. Edgerton's company of
the Tenth. Gen. Sibley, with a 6-pounder I'M
der charge Of Lieutenant Whippe, took pos
session of Big Mound" across ravine,
which the Indians had taken possession of,
and poured into this ravine a rakiny~tir6 with
spherical case, soon driving them from their
cover into the broken prairie. The &tensers,
supported by the Seventh, steadily ii hfSeu
driving the Indians from ridge TO ridge until
finally they fled in confusion. This was upon
the right Of the camp. Upon the left Colonel
Crooks and Colonel Averill displayed portions
OF the Sixth regiment us sSirmshers and drove
the savages before them, routing them from
point after point, until at length they also took
to flight. General Sibley from overlooking
height saw the whole body of the enemy in
confused retreat, while their families were
deserted crossing the distant hills towards the
d..
ment was ordered to fall upon the rear of the
retrcatng foe, supported by Lieutenant Colonel
Marshall, with the Seventh, Captain Edgerton's
company and one FOUNDER and section of
hOwitzers, under Captain Jones. The pursuit
was continued until dark, the infantry follow
the mounted men at q dOuble-quick. An order
from Gen. Sibley to Col. McPha to bivouac
at nightfal was by mistake given as an order
to return, so that these wearied men, after
marching from five in the morning till one p. NJ.
then fighting and pursuing the enemy for
twelve miles, were Obliged to spend the whole
long night in picking ther way through the
darkness back to the main column, which they
reached Just as it was about to move 1t con-
sequently became imperatiyely necessary to
rest day in camp. On the 26th, the little
army was again in motion. Arriving at the
place where the Indians had been encamped,
there and for miles beyond, large stores Of dried
meat, talow, cooking utensils, buffalo robes,
&c, were found and burned This loss will be
severely felt by the Indians. march oftwelve
miles brought the column to Dead Buffalo
Lake. and.there being neither wood nor water
for long distance ahead, it was deemed adj
ysable to give the men and animals rest here.
Indians soon began to menace the camp. Capt.
Chase with his pioneers. Company \, Ninth
Regiment) and Capt. Jones, with q section Of
his 6-pound battery. were thrown forward
about six hundred yards to an excellent eeva-
ton, and were joined by Colonel Crooks
with two companies of the Sixth A and b.
The enemy at that point far outnumberUi
this force but maintained a safe distance, and
were soon scattered by sperical case. They
then crossed for an attack upon the left of the
camp, when Capt. Taylor, with Co A Of the
Rangers, was sent to oppose them. He held
largely superior force in check until reinforced
by Lieut.. Col. Averill with two companies of
the Sixth. The Indians still concentrating on
the lett, and threatening flank movement,
Maj. McLaren moved six companies of the
Sixth on an extended line so as to cover that
direction effectually, while Captains Wilson
and Davy with their companies OF Rangers,
made rapid dash which repulsed the enemy
with considerable loss. A precipitate fight
followed, the Indians leaving their dead upon
the field. Thus ended the second lesson.
The third battle was on the 2Sth, the march
on the 9th being only eighteen miles, on ac-
count of the utter exhaustion of the animals
The ball was opened by the Tenth Regiment,
whose turn it was to be in advance. The col
umn was moving out Of camp, when the scouts
came shouting, "They are coming" closely
followed by about 1000 Indians. AS the en-.
envy came over the brow of the hills in front.
and got view of " the situation, "-the Tenth
regiment rapidly deploying to meet them, and
two sections of the battery in position for
work,-one Indian was heard to cry: "We are
too late, they are ready for us" and another to
answer: 'But remember our children and
families; we must not let them get them'
They Immediately spread out right and left,
outfanking the Tenth on both extremes. The
firing in front was very spirited and disastrous