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


NoRrlIwEsrERN INDIAN ExPfDlr.oN,
CAMr No. "a FORr RICE,
July 4, 1864.
To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
The Fourth Of July is great, glorious day,
o day long to be remembered as the beginning
or advent of one of the mightiest natl ons;
day msde doubly dear to every loyal hearted
American, because on 1t our armies have been
crowned with their most brilliant victories.
And why should 1t not be a propitious point
from which to start letter, and, like the rear
guard to our train, bring up all the struggling
information about the great Northwestern In
dian Expedition (as it has been lately namely
to the present date.
Let me say then to our dear friends at home,
that during the day of the I" Fourth" while
they were enjoying orations reading declara-
tions, going to picnics, and having the social
ovations incident to it in land of civilization,
we of the Indian hunters we're marching with
a proud step over the almost barren plains,
filled with kind of undefinable pride at the
thought that we were permitted to forego the
pleasures of Fourth" and instead have the
honor of marching in pursuit of the savage
foe that not long since spread desolation and
horror in the midst of peace and appa.
rent security. Our minds wandered out
into the distant future and side by side
with the heroes of Gettysburg Vicksburg and
other places, we saw our names inscribed as
the obliterators of the last vcstage of the Souix
race. However, days journey and the labor
incident to camping brought us down peg
or two, and at shutdown we didn't think we
were doing such great things after all. Yet in
the evening we did have little real Fourth
Of July" speechifying, hurrahing and disturb
Ing the camp generally, which some up in this
part Of the world call q display of patriotism.
The Expedition was five days in making the
march from Camp No 10, on the outlet of
Swan Lake, to Camp No. 20, on tho banks of
the Missouri, near Long Lake, where We ar
rived on the 9Th, and have been three days
crossing the river; and the Idaho and part of
the C. 8. + 9. N. trains are not over yet The
boats which brought up our supplies have
been used a. ferry boats, and three running at
time. still it is slow work crossing such large
number Of wagons, animals, men and all the
other luggage connected with such an Expedi-
ton.
The river here is near half mile wide. The
current is actually fearful. and if we were 60
ing to describe 1t we should call it an immense
torrent composed of huge amount of mud
and some water. You will perceive our let
ter is headed fort Rice" This, at
present, u only . fort in name, writ
ten on . board and nailed to an oak tree
near where the fertilization is to be. General
Sully camped upon the It'll met, selected the
site and named it Rice, in honor of Maj. Gen.
Rice. killed at Spottsylvania: it is located on
the west side Of the Missouri, about two thou
sand miles from its mouth and about forty
miles below where the Indians crossed when
pursued by Gen. Sibley last year. Hardly had
the grounds been selected till that spot which
Is always near the abode of any number Of the
human family received its FIRST occupant. Al
most the frat labor performed at the rev made
post was that required for the burial of the
dead. On the morning of the 9TH Capt. Chas.
Clark died ON board one of the boats. He had
been spending the pas: six months in Mime
spolis for the benefit of his health and came
out with the expedition for the same purpose.
On arriving at Swan Lake he felt that the trip
had been rather severe on him and concluded
to come up on Il boat to this place and then
return home; but consumption Is q treach.
erous disease and 1t took him off unexpectedly
to himself, IL NOT to his friends. The
burial solemnities were performed by the Free
MAGMA no ~ uuh 1o
was memocg. there was also young Indian
buried the same day, somewhere near, which
belonged to some Of those connected with the
scouts.
Speaking of suppiiee,on The banks Of .le RI
yer here you can see such a pile of Commissa-
ry, Quartermaster and Medical stores, as would
astonish any man rot used to seeing what it
taxes to keep up an army. There is a great
quantity of this marked Devils Lake, but we
hardly expect it will get there this year.
WELL say you, ''whst ia going to be done
and do you expect to meet any 1ndians?" Be
| low we give synopsis Of an order issued by
! General Sully. last evening and after you have
| read it you will know as much about the ftl-
ture of this command as :...y one l can find
here General Orders, No 81, say we are to
with hopes of meeting hostile Indian. about
one hundred aud fifty miles from here. We
are to take from thirty to forty days rations,
! and the baggage is to be cut down to the
smallest possible amount; no trunks or boxes,
! officers allowed only a small vaise or sack,
and reasonable amount OF bedding and mess
furniture.
A st're house so BY 80, is building here to
put sup plies and baggage in till the return OF
the expedition. Every mule wagon. iu add
ton to its regular load will carry pack
saddle for each mule in the team
Several boats leave here Tomorrow morning
for the mouth of the Yellowstone loaded with
supplies and We rather suspect a fort is to DO
buil' there. but know nothing definitely. FOlt
kice Is to be built by the Both Wisconsin, four
companies OF which remain here ut present and
PERHAPS will "a rison the post during the COM
ing winter. The heath of the VINO COM
maud. ~ far "a we can learn is excellent and
tue I'd, or Minnesota Brigade, have not Lost y
man yet oy disease Day before yesterday
n Al