The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07
The INDIAN EXPEDITION.
Gen. Sully has Another Fierce
Battle
Sully Returns to Fort Rice.

cOnfine my letter to what has taken
place since we left Heart River, the point
where Gen. Sully carrolled the train.
Gen. Sully was ordered to cross the
country from Fort Rice to some point on
the Yellow Stone. In making tho raid
upon Unkpapa Camp he lost nine days
time and used up an equal number of
days rations. He had neither the time
nor rations to follow the route he had laid
down, which touched the Yellow Stone at
the mouth of Big Horn River. His guides,
all Indians belonging to tribes in the
Northwest, were called together by the
General, and each requested to give his
opinion as to the route to be taken. One
Indian, Blackfoot Sioux, said he could
take the Expedition to Yellow Stone in
ten days; that We would have to dig roads
and chop timber, but that we could get
through. All the other guides said the
General must go around the headwaters
of the Little Missouri, and that it would
take two weeks to make the trip. Gen.
Sully was therefore obliged to take the
advice of the Blackfoot Sioux, or abandon
the opening of route. to the Yellow
Stone. -. ...
W. Oil, DIS ! Sdlu3 vi tuc cV0 vi Uuc OH We
reached the Valley of the Little Missouri.
At the edge of this valley We camped !;
and early August 9th we set out to test
the loyalty Of Blackfoot. After great la
Dor and many delays we camped on the
east side of the river. The next day was
spent in finding crossing and grazing our
jaded horses. During the afternoon q
small party of Indians made dash upon
grazing party and captured a few horses.
The firing of tue pickets alarmed the camp
and all was made ready for action. Gen.
Sully ordered the two brigades to break
camp and cross the river We marched
up the bed of the stream four miles and
camped at the mouth of ravine, up which
we were to travel on the morrow. Just at
dusk the pickets directly opposite our
Minnesota brigade commenced firing and
fell back to camp. Aparty of Indians i'm
mediately took possession of the overlook
ing hill, examined our position, and refused
to leave until Lieut.. Whipple had given
them the benefit of his six-pounders. The
pickets kept up continual fire during the
night, doubtless at imaginary warriors.
Dawn found the entire command ready for
an attack. The general impression was
that the day would give US a fight with the
same Indians We had met and defeated be-
fore. This rough country gave the Indians
every advantage. Our train had but a
single track. The Indians knew the coun-
try, and it seemed as though they had Sc
lected this pass as the ground where they
would avenge their former loss and defeat.
Gen. Sully gave our brigade the advance,
and disposed our force as follows: Two
companies Cd cavalry q and @ and two
companies Sth infantry, under Major Rose,
as advance guard the balance of the I'd
cavalry and Sth infantry guarded the train
on the right and left; LIST brigade to fol-
low the I'd with a strong flank force and
heavy rear guard. The advance had pro-
ceeded about two miles when three or four
hundred Indians dashed over knoll, drove
back the scouts, and made an effort to
stampede the horses. Major Rose was
too quick for them. He Immediately dis
mounted, deployed his men and drove
them from their chosen ground. AS
soon as the first gun was fired, the hills
on every side were covered with Indians.
The train now corralled between two high
bluffs, and was advanced a mile at time
until we got out of the broken country.
We marched ten miles and corralled for
the night beside small lake. The In
dams seeing the Idaho train in the rear,
began to pass around from the front.
General Sully ordered Col. McLaren, with
Cos D and G of the I'd cavalry, and
Go. Z of the Sth Minnesota infantry
TO take possession of high range of hills
on the left, and Colonel Rodgers of the
Ssh to occupy high ridge on the right.
Both ridges were taken and the Indians
driven Off In returning to camp, one
of McLarens Companies, Go. G, Captain
Mix, got too far away from his supports
and was attacked by large force. He
Immediately occupied cove in the side
hill which was protected on three sides.
Col. McLaren seeing the perilous position
in which the company was placed, order
ed to the relief Go. H, I'd Cavalry, and
about twenty scouts with them and one
gun of Captain Jones' Sd Minnesota Bat
terry. Captain Mix was saved from utter
rout. Lieut.. Colonel Rogers commanding
the Sth Minnesota Infantry, drove the In
dams on the right. The 1st brigade had
lively time in the rear protecting the
Idaho train of immigrants Next morn.
s,g the Indians could be seen on every
side, and seemed to be preparing for a
second fight. General Sully ordered the
train forward, the Sd Minnesota Battery in
the advance. After the train had about
left camp, the Indians in great force made
dash upon the rear. Colonel Thomas
was ready and met them with two howit-
zers and six companies, and sharp Skin
mish ensued. The Indians seeing that
we we're ready at every point, gave up
the fight and left. At about II O'Clock
we came up to where their camp had been
and which had only been vacated few
hours. The camp was very extensive,
and from all I could see should estimate
the number of warriors engaged at foul
or tive thousand. As soon as we came upon
the trail Gen. Sully closed bis train Gas
We were now out of the rough country,
and ordered Colonel. McIaren and Major
Bracket to bring their regiment to the
front, and prepare to charge, should be
come up with the Indian train. We fol
lowed the train until dark, and campei
beside two Maud holes, which barely fur.