Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-08-27
MistelIanp.
Gen. Sibley's Indian Expedition.
Arch.
ST. PAUL, Minnesota. Aug l6 1883.

Gen. Sibley's Indian Expedition.
ST. PAUL. Minnesota, Aug 16, 1858.
Col. Marshall of the 7th Regiment,
arrived last evening with important
dispatches and correspondence from
the Indian expedition. Gen. Sibley
has fought three battles with the
Sioux, in Dakotah Territory, five hun
dred miles northwest of st. Paul. The
| first battle was on the cath of July.
The Indians were posted, thousand
strong, on the summit of q high hill,
and the battle is called the Battle of
Big Mound.
Previous to its commencement. Sib-
ley and Indian scouts went up to the
hostile Indians, and DR.. Meier, of the
mounted Rangers, joined them. While
talking, an Indian shot the Doctor,
killing him instantly. The scouts re-
turned the fire and the battle then
commenced. The Indians were driv-
en- off the hill by Col. MarshaIPs regi-
ment, and the artillery and cavalry
then pursued them fifteen miles, kill
iUS Il IdIBc HullbeT.
Through mistaking an order the cav
airy returned to camp the same night.
which was the fatal mistake of the
campaign, as two days were thus lost.
The battle of Dead Buffalo Lake was
on the 26th, fifteen miles beyond Big
Mound. The Indians made dash on
our lines, but Were repulsed by the 9th
regiment of artillery and cavalry.
The battle Of Stony Lake was fought
on the 2Sth, twenty miles beyond Buf:
falo. Twenty Indians, nearly all
mounted, attacked our advance, but
were repulsed and fed precipitately
across the river.
When our forces reached the river
next morning they found that the In
dians had crossed with their families
during the night. They threw away
tons of dried meat, furs and every
thing that would impede their flight.
AS the season for hunting buffalo is
over, this loss will be likely to create
famine among them. They left over
hundred wagons on this side of the
river. Owing to the rations being
nearly exhausted, Sibley determined
not to cross the river, and the expedi-
tion is now on its way home. Our to-
tai loss in killed and wounded was
eight, but only three were killed in
battle. Gen. Sibley issued an order
Oh the 3lst, in which he said to his sol
diers:
You have routed the miscreants
who murdered our people last year,
banded as they were with the power
full Sioux to the number of nearly two
thousand warriors, in three successive
engagements, with heavy loss, and
driving them in confusion and dismay
across the Missouri River, leaving be-
hind them all their vehicles, provisions,
and skins designed for clothing, which
have been destroyed Forty-iour bod
les of warriors have been found, and
many others concealed or taken away
according to the custom Of these sava-
ges, SO that it is certain they lost in
killed and wounded not less than some
l20 to $50 men. All this has been
accomplished with the comparatively
tritling loss on our part OF three killed
and as many more wounded. You
have marched nearly six hundred
miles from St. Paul, and the powerful
bands of the Dakotas, who have hith-
erto held undisputed possession of the
great prairies, have succumbed to your
valor and discipline and sought safety
in flight The intense heat and
drought have caused much suffering,
which you have endured without a
murmur. The companies of the 9th,
7th, 9th and 10th regiments OF Mime
sofa volunteers, and of the lst regi-
ment Minnesota mounted rangers, and
the Sioux of the battery, have sustain
ed the reputation of the State by their
bravery and endurance, amidst un-
known dangers and great hardships.
1t would be qualification if these re
morseless savages could have been
pursued and literally extirpated, for
their crimes and barbarities merited
such full measure of punishment but
men and animals are alike exhausted
after SO long a march, and further
pursuit would only be futile and hope
less. The military results of the cam
paign have been completely accomp-
lished, for the savages have not only
been destroyed in great number, and
their main strength broken, but their
prospects for the future are hopeless
indeed, for they can scarcely escape
starvation and dying in the approach
ing winter"
Lieut. Bearer, one of Gen. Sibley's
aids was one of the killed. The expe-
dition will reach st. Paul in few
days. It's termination without exter-
mination leaves the field open for Maj
Hatch to follow up the partial success
of Gen. Sibley and finish up the race
root and branch.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Aug. II. 1853.
I, Mr.. Byron Smith, just from Yankton
: Decotah Territory, reports that, on the
lst of August, Gen. Sully was only
twelve miles above Fort Pierre, and
100 miles below where Gen. Sibley
, drove the Indians across the Missouri
He was detained by the difficulty o.
moving his transportation, low water
!. &c. Gen. Pope says he started from
Fort Pierre on the Goth Of July, being
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