The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-02
TIE INDIAN CAMPAIGN,
REPORT OF GENERAL SHELLEY.
PUBLISHED BY PERMISSION.

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NorE-The following report is published
by permission of the chief military authori-
ties. 1t is but just to state, that it was sub
mitted to the commanding officers of the 9th,
9Th and 10th regiments Minnesota Volunteers.
the regiment of Mounted Rangers, and the
Battery, before transmission. and was pro.
nounced by them to be an accurate statement
of facts so far as their knowledge extended.
REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS, District OF MINNESOTA.
DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST,
CAMP CARTER August z. 1868.
In the Field-Bank of James River)j
Maj. j. +. Meline, A. Asst .dit. &c u, H'dgrs
Dept ~ W., Mitwaukee, Wis:
MAJoR-My last dispatch was dated 21st ul-
timo from Camp Olin, in which l had the
honor to inform Maj -Gen1 Pope that had
left one third of my force in an entrenched pc.
sition at Camp AtchesOn, and was then one day
march in advance with 14OO infantry and 500
cavalry in the direction where the main body
of the Indians were supposed to be. During
the three following days, pursued q
course somewhat west of south, making fifty
miles, having crossed the James River and the
Great Coteau of the Missouri. On the 24tn,
about z. NJ, being considerably in advance
of the main column. with some of the officers
of my staff, engaged in looking out for a suit
able camping ground, the command having
marched steadily from a. NJ, some OF my
scouts came to me at full speed, and reported
that large camp of Indians had just before
passed, and great numbers of warriors could
be seen upon the prairie two or three miles
distant. I Immediately corralied my train up
on the shore of salt lake near by, and estab.
liShed my camp, which was rapidly entrenchcd
HNlA nl.s RI yUt,n ,trYrcf tod
that duty. for the security of the transportation
in case of attack precartion 1 had taken
whenever we encamped for many days pre-
vious. While the earthworks were being
pushed forward, parties of Indians more or
less numerous appeared upon the hills around
of Red Plume"-a Sisseton chief hitherto
opposed to the war-approached sufficiently
near to converse with him. ''Red Plume
told him to warn me that the plan was formed
to invite me to council, with some of my SUI
periOr officers, to shoot us without ceremony,
and then to attack my command in great force,
trusting to destroy the whole of it. The In
dams ventured near the spot where a portion
of my scouts had taken position three to tour
hundred yards from our camp and cOnversed
with them in an apparently friendly manner,
some of them protesting desire tOi peace
Surgeon WeiSer. of LIST Regt. MINI. Mounted
Rangers. incautiously joined the group of
scouts. when young savage, doubtless sup
posing from his uniform and horse equipments
that he was an officer of rank, pre-
tended great friendship and delight at
seeing him, but when within a few feet.
treacherously shot him through the heart. The
scouts discharged their pieces ut the murderer,
but he escaped, leaving his horse behind. The
body of DR.. Weiser was Immediately brought
into camp, unmutilated, save by the ball which
killed him. DR.. Weiser was universally es-
teemed, being skillful in his profession, and a
kind and courteous gentleman. This outrage
precipitated an immediate engagement Tie
savages in great numbers, concealed by the
ridges. had encircled those portions of the
camp not f1anked by the lake referred to- and
commenced an attack. Col. McPhail with
two companies, subsequently reinforced by
Others, as they could be spared from other
points, was directed to drive the enemy from
the vicinity of the hill where DR. Weser was
shot, while those companies of the 9TH Regi-
ment, under Lieut.. Col. Marshall and Major
| Bradley. and one company of the 10th Regi-
ment under Captain Edgerton were dispatched
to support them. Taking with me six poun-
der under the command of Lieut.. Whpple
assembled hill towards the big Mound" on
the opposite side of the ravine, and opened fire
with spherical case shot upon the Indians, who
had obtained possession of the upper part of
the large ravine, and of the smaller one tribu.
tary TO it, under the protection of which, they
would annoy the infantry and cavalry without
fire OF artillery drove them from these hiding
placesinto the broken prairie, when they were
successfully dislodged from the ridges, being ut
terly unable to resist the steady advance OF the
9Th Regiment and the Rangers, but fled before
them in confusion.
right, the left of the camp was also threatened
by formidable body of warriors. Col. Crooks,
whose Regiment (the 6th) was posted on that
side, was ordered to deploy part of his COM
mand as skirmishers, and to dislodge the enc
my, This was CALAMITY done, the Colonel di-
rectng In person the movements of one part
OF bis detached force, and Lieut.. Col Averill
OF the other. Maj. McLaren remaining in
command OF that portion of the regiment re-
quired as part of the camp guard. The sava-
ges were steadily driven from one strong posi-
ton after another under a severe fire, until
feeling their utter inability to contend longer
with our soldiers in the open field they Joined
their brethren in one common fight. Upon
moving forward with my Staff to O command
ing point which overlooked the field, discov-
cred the whole body of Indians, numbering
from one thousand to fifteen hundred, retiring
In confusion from the combat. while dark
line OF moving objects on the distant hills in
dicated the locality of their families. 1 imme-
diately dispatched orders to Colonel Nc
Phalll, who had now received an accession
of force from the other companies of his
Mounted Regiment to press on with all ex-
pCultlOu, duu AdAA upuu tue rear OI the enemy,
but not to continue the pursuit after night fall
and Lieut.. Col. Marshal was directed to follow
and support him with the companies of the 9TH
and Capt. Edgertons of the 10th, accompanied
by one six-pounder and one section of noun
tain. howitzers under Capt. Jones At the same
time all the companies of the 9Th and 10th reg
iments, except two from each which were left
for camp guard, were ordered to rendezvous
and proceed in the same direction; but they
had so far to march f:Om their respective posts
before arriving at the point occupied by my
self and Staff that felt convinced of the use
lessness of their proceeding further, the other
portions of the pursuing force being some
miles 10 advance, and accordingly directed their
return to camp. The cavalry CALAMITY followed
the Indians, and kept up running fight until
nearly dark, killing and wOunding many of
.aeir warriors, the infantry under Lieut.. Col.
MARSHALL III, being kept at double quick in their
rear. The order to Col McPhail was i'm
properly delivered. as requiring him to return
W camp, instead of leaving it discretionary
Win nim TO bivouac on the prairie, conse-
quentiy ne retraced his way with his weary
men ana horses followed by the still more
wearied Infantry, and arrived at the camp early
the next morning, as was about to move for
ward win the main column. Thus ended the
battle OF the . Big Mound"
The severity of the labors of the entire com.
mand may be appreciated when it is consid-
cred that the engagement only o,.~..o-.