The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-10-20
GEN. slBLEY,s INDIAN ExPE-
DITION. g,



left Fort Pierre, and on the slst--with limit.
cd supplies, barely sufficient to enable it to
reach a point (where it was believed tho hos
tile Indians would be found), but by moving
with the utmost celerity--left camp on the
Missouri. at the mouth Of the Little Ohey.
eDpe.
On Sept. 8, the ffesh trails and other GER
tain and easily discrenible indications Of the
late presence of large force were discov-
ercd--and it was evident that they had pre-.
cedod us but two or three days at the farh-
est.
About o'clock we encamped on ANAL
lake aad within an hour an Indian scout
Brought in the Welcome intelligence Of the cx-
stence Of large encampment on small lake,
some eight miles to the southwark.
A battalion of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry.
Major House comma ding, that had been on
scouting duty during the day, had discovered
the Indians, but deening it imprudent 10 at
tack force so obviously his superior in num-
bers, and feeling reluctant to begin the attack
o. make show Of hostile demonstrations to-
ward Indians, who on their arrival had man.
ifested friendly spirit-treacherou and
With purpose as afterwards became apparent,
and had the bodness to attempt to disguise
their true character by hosting the national
colors---it had withheld an attack-and, hav.
ing partially surrounded the encampment, was
holding parley with thom during the brief
interval of less than one hour occupied by the
scout in conveying intelligence to camp-and
the moving up Of the command They had
evinced no signs Of alarm or fear, but the rap.
| IA 81 h.
der Of the con- mand, evidently with the intent
ion Of beginning the attack at once so alarmed
them, thai, hastily collecting and packing
what few articles the brief time allowed them
admitted, they broke through the lines of the
battalion Of The Sixth Iowa, and retreated at
their greatest speed oyer the hills TO the so tn
ward. At this CRITICAL moment, when the
danger of escaping Of the whole body was
greatest, the remainder Of the CONN and came
up and formed on their deserted camping
ground.
Gen. Sully i'm mediatelv dispatched the Sec
ond Nebraska Cavalry in pursuit. The Indians
had, 10 tho meantime, however, been closely
followed up by the battalion Of The Sixth,
which had come upon them within mile OF
their camp and completely surrounded them,
and thus cutting of all chances Of escape bpt
by cutting their way through. The fighting
then began by the Indians firing voley d
lead and arrows into the ranks OF the Sixth.
The first voley fired, AMI the bloody work
began. The Indians had taken their stand in
q ravine IA favorite position Of theirs, and
when well choaep, as in this case, admirably
adapted TO their mode Of warfare, and greatly
increasing their chances OF successfully repul
sing an enemy that was hanked on either side
by lines Of gently ascending hills, and here
were collected not only the main portion Of
the warriors but large proportion Of their
squaws apd papooses, who had been unable in
in the surprise and subsequent panic to effect
their escape. The muskctry fire from the
and as well directed as the already approach
iug darkness would permit, and the havock
made among them was terrible. Those who
had the good fortune pot LEGS the hoaor--iQ
participate 10 the fight, and who were enable
from their positions to judge correctly Of the
effect OF our fire, say the destruction was aw
ful, As the darkness came on, hundreds fled in
every direction, seeking to escape, and as they
scattered were picked of by dozens and ncores
The ghastly forms Of squaws and papooses,
as we'll as Of brave and Scared warriors-the
victors and heroes, perhaps, Of hundred
bloody fghts-dotted the field everywhere.
4 The battle continued long after darkness
had set in, end during the night our boys
were busy picking off those who, feeling a
sense of security in the Stiffness of the night,
had emerged from their lurking places; but il
was not till the light of the pext morning
illuminated the scene Of the last nights coa-
Dict that the horrible apd barbarous method
ofwarfare pratioed by these misorean.s who's,
hands had been imSrued iu the Innocent blood
OF women and children, was made manifest.
Those of our men who were so pnfortuna,e in
the excitement OF the battle as to venture too
far among them were cut off, aud their bodies
subjected to the most horrible ihutiations.
fortunately, however, their number was very
few.
During the two succeeding days that the
command lay on the field, those who had not
in the darkness Of the night succeeded n es-
Gaping were hunted out in their hiding places
and shot without the trouble Of making ,hen
prisoners. .sbjmg 9tR u
The number Of warriors actually engaged
is estimated at 1900, embracing warriors Of
four different tribes Of the Sioux, viz: The
Sauutees, Blackfeet, Catheads, and the Yauk-
tonais, led on by the noted chief and warrior,
Ink pa du.tah. Their killed Is esim,ted at
goo $50. Those who witnessed the destruc-
iiseness Of our vol eys estimated il at not less
than the former figure. Their wounded of
course is not known, as all their wounded
were immediately or subsequently, carried off
the field. We took $50 prisoners lthirty Of
whom were wairiors). who arc now under
guard en- route for some point below, TO under.
90 an examination. Over 200 ponies were
captured and and 800 tcpos burned, or other
wise destroyed or orrsndered useless to the In
dians, and the property destroyed, Including
buffalo skos and robes. furs, buffalo meat, etc.,
cannot fall short Of 100000. The loss TO
the Indians Is heavy one, and one not easi.
y repairc hes'sl ~ poF aH i
Gen. IIOoker's New Command.
The Washington correspondent Of the Bos-
ton Travellsr says Of General ,Hookels com
mand: nnii io rnl ,ian fodrfe no4 H.
oSHe is to be, under Rosecrans, and istn com,
mand part Of the reinforcements sent 10
Chattanooga. 1t is pretty generally known
that the Governments is sxertiog itself to the
utmost 10 Give Rroeeefana fraone enouob u,xt