Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-08-24
From the Thlrtiath Regiment

From the Thlrtieth Regiment.
Ia. Oepa7 txrs Of tie h.d:az ESpeditor. frgs
Fart R.dgs1y-Fhot !: consisted of-T<
4UdrcI-General Apgoorence IF tie Country
--LDeidsnts BY dis Way, ete., etc.
Correspondence of the state Journal.
GARRISON FOR FoaT WADswoRTE, D. T,i
Camp ON Kettle Lake, Aug. I'd, 1854
In compliance with previous promise en-
brace this opportunity Of acQuainting your
readers of the departure and progress of our
expedition for the wilds of the great North
wet, under command of Major John Clowney,
Of the S0th Wisconsin volunteers
Pursuant to orders, the 9th of July wit
messed our departure from Fort Ridgely. Tie
expedition comprised companies b, E, and
3, 30th Wis. Vol. Inf. company NJ, I'd Min
nesota cavalry, and three guns of Jones bat
terry Sd Minnesota Light Artillery. The &C
companying train reached q miles. Twelve
miles march brought Us to Camp Hope, on
the Lower Sioux Agency, overlooking the
Minnesota river. This agency, once the
pride of the white man, now lies complete
ruin on the summit of the overhanging banks
OF the deep waters of the beautiful st.
Peter.
July love resumed our march, aud Is
miles brought US 10 Redwood Lake, where
We went lIIo camp o4L IScNILi8 place. LOT
the night was in full view of the defence
thrown up by Captain Pope in 1862. Graves
of whites and Indians encOmpassed Us on all
sides. The remains of the whites had been
exhumed, and funeral rites gone through with
by relatives, friends and acquaintance. Thus
has the unfortunate been cared for who fell
by the savage hand of the red man in their
furious onset August 18th, 1862; while on
the other hand the ravens of the air have
men till nothing remains to mark their rest
ing place but hollow graves and Wondering
bones
July 1I.-At 5:15 p. IN. we left Redwood
Lake, and after marching till fifteen minutes
of 9, camped on the open prairie, three miles
from water, but within ragne of timber, and
went to bed supperIess. This day We march
ed miles
July l2.-At 9 a. N. we left and marched
FIVE miles, and coming to water halted for
the day. Our camping ground was in full
view of the former residence of the notorious
Joe Brown, the husband of so many Indian
women, the father of multitude of half
breeds, and the pOssessor of an estate
of 5000 acres. Joe was captured by the In
dams in 1862 and his scalp saved from the
scalping knife through the intercession of
his better-halves." At present Joe is the
leading scout of Gen. Sully and is said to be
one of the best in the Northwest.
July 13.-At about $50 A NJ, we broke
camp, passing on the Wood Lake route,
where desperate battle between whites and
Indians was fought. In the engagement the
Indians are said to have numbered 5000 and
the whites l 800. The loss sustained by the
whites was IL killed, that of the Indians I'M
known. The works thrown up are still exist
ing. At 10 4. NJ. crossed the Yellow
Medicine at the Upper Sioux Agency. This
place retains every Indication of once fur
ishing place. Natural advantages for manu-
featuring are abundant. Climbing TO the
summit of the hills on the western side of
Yellow Medicine, a sad and desOlating spec
tacle greets the eye. Stretching for miles
lies fertile plain, once subservient to the
hand of the husbandman, now assuming
harsh and primitive state. Once beautiful
buildings of brick now stand bereft of roofs,
sections of walls, etc. Household furniture
lies rotting, while miles of fences are torn
down, burned and strewed around. Years of
hard toll have been ruthlessly destroyed by
savage fiends, men and women butchered,
and children tortured to death. We marched
twelve miles this day, camped on an eleva-
ton of ground, close by good water. with
abundance of pasturage.
Before proceeding further, l will say that
the Upper Sioux Agency, on the Yellow Med
lClne, Is Tie last place hlicIt SIEuS OF GlNlilZd
ton will greet US. Henceforth we are TO en-
counter the wilds of Minnesota and Dakotak.
A more beautiful section of country than the
Upper Sioux Agency is very seldom met with.
Wood and water are abundant. Materials
for building purposes are convenient. Brick
of the first class be manufactured, in
proof of which stands kiln already burned,
awaiting use. | understand the Sioux reser-
walton lands are TO be appraised by three
commissioners {airpadv apn,iDtadA nd sold
for the benefit of the United States. The
lands comprise 10000 acres, living on the
south and west banks of the Minnesota river,
In a strip from nine to twelve miles long,
running from Fort Ridgely to Big Stone Lake.
| have been credtably informed that the day
is not far distant when this country will have
the advantage of being penetrated by two
railroads-one extending from Winona, the
other from Minneapolis, running due west to
the foot of Big Stone Lake. l hold that the
security of this country from all Indian dep
relations is complete, and emigrants seeking
a home in the far West can here repose in
safety.
July I4-At 81 o'clock A. NJ, broke camp
and marched till O'clock 7. NJ, making 30
miles. The day was exceedingly warm men
and animals suffered much from dust and the
lack of water; several oxen fell by the way.
Sloughs the most filthy were explored for wa
ter, and finally an article unfit for man or
beast was found, and devoured as if the best.
This day IS march was over continuous plain,
no tree or shrub TO relieve the eve from mo-
notony- Our route led US past Camp Relief,
where, in 1862, the Indians TO the number Of
1900, comprising women, children and $50
warriors, peaceably delivered themselves up
to the safe keeping Of Brig. Gen. Sibley. We
camped on an eminence overlooking the
peaceful waters of the Minnesota. At this
point of the stream wild fruits are plentiful.
July l3.-At precisely the hour of the day
previous We packed tents, but owing to the
fatigue of the 18th we made but eight miles
march Coming IN full view of Lac qui Parle
river, which is bounded on both sides by
broken hills, the Tavines thickly wooded by
ordinarily sized trees and dense growth of
underbrush Company being in front, the
LIST platoon was 6 deployed in line" and Skin
mished the passage for the " redskins" the
I'd platoon following after, and each alternate
company doing likewise; but "redskiIs
were scarce in this vicinity and many of the
BOYS evinced their confidence by taking to
picking wild gooseberries, and did lot make
good their appearance till the western hills
of the Lac qui Parle had been reached by the
entire expedition The utility of having the
resr cOrupanv skirmish the passage after the