Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-11-26
NUMBER 9.

or even treble that number ii is certain.
however, their loss was very heavy. The
same Indians fought before were en-
gagged, besides some Cheyenncs. Brules,
nnekongie., and others from Tho south :
this get from my own Indians, who, dur.
ing the fight conversed with them from,
behind the hills. They met me under ev-
cry disadvantage, in the strongest Of po-
sitons, and were entirely crushed and
routed. If | bad had anything 10 cat,
and it my animals had not been without
food SO many DAYS, ight lave over,aken
some Of them, for they fled in all direc.
tions. / would here state that on cross.
ing the Little Missouri found the coun-
try covered with myrads OF crasshope,s
who had eaten everything. My animals
were almost starved. found this state
Of things all the way to the Yellowstone,
and was obliged to abandon and shoot
number Of animals on the road. After
marching six miles this day We came to
the place where the Indians left abou.
thirty hours tefore my arrival. From the
size of their camp or rather bivouac, (tor
they bad pitched no lodges,) l should
Judge all the Indians in the country had
assembled there. The space they occupied
was over one mile long and halt a mile
wide, besides which we discovered camps
all over the country. Close by this SPOT l
found the lodge trails turned to the lett in
a southwest, direction. We still continued
our course ives, hv north, and next day
crossed heavy trail going rortheas. to-
wards the frs, point where fought them
it was evidently not all the lodges ,ha.
went that way. We st,.l continued our
way across the country to the yellow stone,
which We reached on the Eth OF August,
over IL section Of country | never wish TO
travel again, our animals half dead with
hunger, the grass entirely eaten Of. |
should judge i, never very good grass in
the best OF seasons. The water we had to
drink the worst sort Of a!kali water. This
told on the animals. Fortunately, we here
met the two boats ordered to get up the
Yellowstone if possible and the first
steamer that ever attempted TO ascend this
liver. These boats were the Chippewa
Falls aud Alone. small stern-nheel steam.
evs, the former drawing only twelve in
ches light. They each had about htry
tons Ct freight, very }'tIe OF il cru The
steamer Island City. having nearly all my
corn, struck q snag near For. Union ard
suLk.
The steamers attempted to 90 above
this point, hut a rapid sEoaI rendered it
impossible 1t was also fortunate for the
boats that we arrived when we did for the
water is falling last, and 1t will be impos.
sloIc Tor them 10 90 down the STR am ever
rapids below without the help Of our va.
gons. Having no grain 10 recupcrate nv
animals. | had to again change my plans.
intended to again strike across the coun.
try northeast, in hopes Of reaching The
Indians again; but without any grass for
severa! days Ills could not be done. l
river, Iordng 1t with wagons without
much difficulty. The building Of the pos.
on the Yellowstone this year | consider
not practicable. The loss of one Of my
boats, the inposs,h'h'y of getting boats
this late up the river, and the want OF
grass preventing me from hauling stores
several hundred miles ~ the river will
show YOU the reasons. >hal! follow down
the Yellowstone to its mouth, cross the
Missouri, and down i, to Bershuld. Iwiil
by this means have grass and good road,
though increase my distance over ole
hundred miles
| have the honn- to inc|osc YOU the re.
ports 1T commanders in regard to the part
they to * in the different shirmShes
With much respect. your obrdirnt scr>
want, ALE. SCLLl, Brig. General.
Assistant Adjutant General Department
Of the Northwest
-
FoKr UNION, D. L., Aug, IS, 1864
Sin: Ny last report, dated August 18th,
was written after we had crossed the Vel.
lowstons, i started on the l4th of August
down tho. river; grass was quite scarce
and very much scattered in consequence
] bad to scatter my command. Thus am
ipeDrmed. by those who oush, to know is
0sl the case generally, but that this season
th6fh were no SHOWS, and rain fell ton late
20 Ee pf much service. The country ap.
peared TO b cemp!e'ely burnt over Ly tho
80 as if there had been fire over the
p@Air;4 Il was reported to me the boats
could vet down the river over the diff
ftrensltT,'fds. Therefore had to unload
the wagons ard send them to unload the
boats, aud with the assistance Of the men
/ placed a. ,ard the boats succeeded in
Fe,liny them to this point on the l7,h
instsSf
| Had some difficulty in getting across
the Missouri owing to the qnicksands. (
could no, ford it with wagons they we're
all unsoaded, taken to pieces and placed
on the boats, and the animals swan across.
On the 2Osh Of Angus, succeeded in
getting everything across with the loss of
one man aud three animals drowned and
three wagons broken.
Il is now month since we started from
Fort Rice. and during tha. time we have
marched about four hundred and sixty
miles over most difficult country.
The first nigh. after I got across party
Of Crows came 10 reporting they had been
chased by n very large party of Sioux. I
sent out Major Brackett aud his battalion.
and Two pieces under Captain Pope. with
these Indians after the Sioux, but asies