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

soon broke, and as reached and recrossed tho
ridge, they were flying precipitateiy and 'i in
great numbers from the rayines which noru
covered tnem down toward the great plain at
the southern termination of the RANGE Of hills
Sol. Normal, who with part of the cayasrv
i ii1u crossed to the east side of he range. and
hept In line in my rear ready to CHARGE unon
she Indians when they should be dislodgcd
from the broken ground, now passed NV line
anu pursued the enemy out on the open plain.
=, Alicr recrossed the Spnge l met Major
nraoiey, and united the seven companies. lie
~ conjunction with Captains Taylors and An
"0isoh companies of the cavalry -disrnounted
---dht performed much the same service on the
w oiopc OF the range of hills that had
uohc on the east and summit. -driyinr the
o or rom nil to hill southwark, distance
y, iou. vi hVe miles from camp to the tsrmina-
tion OF the range.
haPpiiy no casualties happened in NV COM
iih'nu. Indeed the Indians from the first en-
counter gave way, seeming to realize tbe sr-
peIlor range OF our guns--yieldinr ridoc after
rloSc and ravne after rtyine. As 2,n ooczn;eJ
succe'SNG rloTes from which our fire reached
tsein The hat Of one soldier. the ,oustet
stCck OF another, gave proof Of shots received.
other IKE evidences, and their balls occosion'
any hichihg inc dirt up about us, and more
rarely Whlstilng past Us, We're the most srnsi-
bic evidences OF our being under fire.
Inc Indians were in far greater num-
DCrS IMAM l. lad seen them before certainly
three times the number encountered NJ th1
relei OF Birch CoOlic afterward ascertainpd tn
be 800, and more than double the number seen
at wood Lake. | judge there were from 900
70 l,ooO. Their numbers were more apparent
when We had cOmbed them out of the hills
lnlo the plain below
After uniting the battalion at the southern
termination OF the great hill, | received orders
10 follow on III support of the cavalry and ar
tlliefy The men were suffering greatly for
water, and marched them to q lake off to the
right, which proved to be salty. / then fol-
lowed ON after the cavalry. We passed one or
more lakes that were alkaline. 1t was the ex-
! pcrience OF the ancient mariner
Water, water everywhere
But not drop to drink"
| We continued the march until nine o'clock at
night, reaching point twelve or fifteen miles
from camp The men had been on their feet
| since Tour O'Clock i'll the morning-had double
| qulcked lsflve miles during the engagement
| mao been without food since morning and
without water since noon. They were COM
! pletely exhausted and ordered bivouac.
| The trail was strewed with buffalo skins
| dried meat, and other effects abandoned BY the
Indians in their wild flight The men gath
| cred the meat and eat it Tor supper. and the
| skins Tor beds and covering. At this point
| Capt Edgerton'S company OF the Tenth Rcpi
| ships. We had posted guard and lain an hour
| when Col. McPhail returned from pursuing
| the Indians He urged that | should return
| with him to camp. The men We're somewhat
| rested and their thirst stimulated them to the
effort. Welcomed him and returned to camp.
| About midnight we got q little dirty water
| from the marshy lake where the Indians had
been cncampcd. We reached camp at day
light, having marched nearly thirty four hours,
| and over Il distance estimated at from forty TO
| forty-iiyc miles.
Ny thanks are due to Major Bradley and the
line officers Tor steady cOoincss and the faith,
ful discharge Of every duty, and to every man
Of the rank and file for good conduct through
ont. The patient endurance OF the long prva-
| ton Of water. and the fatigue OF the weary
nights march in returning 10 camp after such
day, abundantly prove them to be such stuff
| Us true soldiers are made OF.
| Very respectfully. your oh; se-ys.-,,
WILLIAM T. MARSHALL
Lieut.. d. Comm ..-,...-- - - ~.