The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-08-12

now laid before our readers, it has not
been our good fortune to meet it.
THE INDIAN WAR.
PEKILs OF SCOUTING ON THE
FRONTIER.
HEADQUARTERS SuLLY's FxPEDlrloN,l
July 6, 1864. .. !
To the Editor ofthe Pioneer:
In the absence OF other news of importance
send you extracts from the official report OF
Msjor JOSEPH r. Brown, relating to a little
brush he had with the Indians on his way out
as they show some of the perils of scouting
in the Indian country, Us well as the Major 3
knowledge of Indian character. The report
furnishes the following incidents OF the dis.
covery of the Indian camp, &C., &C.:
Upon entering very rough and broken
section of the Missouri cOteau. the buffalo and
other animals indicated by their restless and
frightened movements that hunters had dis
turbed their security, and in connection with
a fresh pony track discovered on the line of
our march, satisfied me that we were in the
neighborhood of camp of Indians (or prob
ably Red River haifbreeds) on a hunting ex
cnrsion. Every precauliOn was used to pre-
vent the surprise of our little party, and to
resist an attack should it be made. At about
10 o'clock A. NJ. Paul WazakutemOn, who
marched in advance of the party. came in with
the report that he could see seven Indian lodges
near a lake about three miles east of US He
was satisfied it was an Indian camp, and from
the vast mum Der of horses he could see graz
ing that the camp was large one and that
owing to an intervening ridge Of land the
gre ter portion of the lodges were hidden
from view.
Although satisfied that no very large camp
of Indians except those employed by General
Sully could be in the neighbcrhOod, the small
ness of our purity made caution necessary.
was satisfied we had not been discovered by
the Indians. and the want of wafer ard uEfa-
Vorable formation of the country where we
were suggested q march as secret as possible
to level country, and where water could be
obtained. / therefore moved south down q
ravne or pass in which We were sheltered
from the view of the Indians at the camp. and
after prOceed ding about four miles, reached a
large lake of good water the northeast end OF
which was shaped like horseshoe affOrding
location for camp slightly elevated and
commanding a view of the prairie, which
was level and covered with short growth
of grass to the lake, distance of about
four hundred yards in every direction ex-
cept where the two arms of the lake
approached each other. Here there was rank
growth of grass, and along the points of the
lake growth of rushes high enough to shell
ter a hOrseman from our view. The distance
from our camp to the edge of the high grass
and PUSHES was over 500 yards. Beyond this
growth Of grass there was gradual ascent to
the top of the hill, about half mile distant
The lake behind US and on our TANKS was
about quarter of a mile wide and free from
any rank vegetation on the shore
Earlhworks were Immediately commenced
by as many men as could be furnished with
tools; two hunters were sent across the lake to
endeavor to obtain q further supply of meat
frnr a r6 nf I'm fol tho
hills south of US. and the remainder were EN-
ployed in cutting and carrying grass for the
stock.
At 6o'clock p. N. the earthworks in connec
ton with the wagon, cart and buggy that
formed my train, We're amply sufficient for the
protection of the men and animals against any
attack from any number of prairie Indians
armed and supplied as those Indians usually
are; the meat of fine cow had been brought
into camp; supply of water sufficient for
two days. and supply Of fuel had been Sc
cured; grass sufficient for the stock for three
or four days had been obtained, and SO disposed
as to materially aid in resisting an attack bnt
no Indians had been seen. although q close
watch with glasses had been unremitt-d.
Now that we were thoroughly prepared to
meet either friendly or hostile Indians. we re-
garded their delay in making their appearance
as an offence against the dignity of the govern
ment we were representing, and determined
when they did come to administer such a cut
ting rebuke to them as would cause them in
all after Il se TO be specially prompt in paving
their respects to all repres natives OF their
Great Father on the vast plains of Dacotah
that nj sht come within the range of their Wis
ion.
Our party consisted of fourteen mep. inside
OF good detences. armed with Blu, nsides car
bines. having supply of fifteen hundred car
tridges. an abundance of provisions, water oh.
tainable from the lake at little risk, or could
be procured by digging in the camp ut the ex-
pense OF Ait work so we were prepared to
take good Indians by the hand or fight it out
at once or etand siege of fifteen or twenty
DAYS with bad Indians. regardless of numbers.
Each man had been assigned the position he
was expected TO occupy in case of u fight his
cartridges and caps SO dispose as to afford the
greatest facility Tor loading, and at 9 o'clock r.
NJ. the usual night guard was set. and III. re-
nander of the men directed TO lay upon their
arms i'm the trenches. ..-
At that time believed the camp to consist
of Indians sent up the Missouri COieau by Gen
Suliy. as the ascrrtained lot ality Ofall the hos
tile Indians pretludtd all probability OF any
great number of hem being in this portion of
the Coteau and attributed the nOn-app. ar.
ance of the Indians 10 the fact that We had not
been seen by tile Indians and our trail had not
been iscOvered until 1t was TOO late for Wit
to our camp in day light did not, however,
rely impiiciuy upon this idea 0f affairs. and
clOse watch and great caution was urged upon
the ~ lrd r-..t
The moon was at it's full and the right clear
80 that with the aid of a field glass, the guard
could dett ct the movement Ct any object with
10 me raLge IF 400 yards around the camp,
and until two o'clock ON Wednesday morning
July ~ nothing unusual could be detected in
any direction. About that lime however. three
norseinen were discovered passing 2stcallhly
along the loot Of the hill about one third OF
side of the lake. 'i.-- :, -, : ~
This approach of the indiana in the night
dppe:led all doubt as TO their character They
must certainly be hostile, as NO friendly In
dams would attempt to approach the camp 10
such q manner por at such q lime The inen
were immediately aroused and en- the alert