The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-10-19
From Sullcy's Com m and.

The letter referred to in the following
was written for the Pioneer, West Union
but before dispatched the writer got infor
nation of the temporary suspension of tina
paper and forwarded it to the TIMES 70
publication. AS the Pioneer had resumed
publication before it reached us, we con
sidered it belonged Of right to that paper
and accordingly enclosed the manuscript t,
its editor. 1t contained spirited accoun
of an engagement by Gen. Sulley's force.
with a body of Sioux, variously estimated
lat from 800 to 5000, a short distance from
Heart River, showing with what agility
the req man would dart from bluff to bluff
in daring attitude, ard finally escape un
hurt. The Sioux loss in that engagement,
was estimated al Fl om rs to $50 killed nc
prisoners Our loss was Q killed and IL
wounded
Fort RICE, D. r., Sept 90, 1864.
Dear Eds:-My last unpardonably long let
ter, which don't believe was ever read, and l
doubt 1t it was ever published, and which am
sorry ever sent, left us at our camp near where
the battle terminated, and desire to give you
the finale of that days battle and also our pro.
gress through to the Yellowstone, where the ex.
petition terminated. but in order to keep you
and your readers in good humor, it shall be
condensed. '... r- 81. -"1.- r-.."
The next morning, long before the grey
mar a -. Al
saddle and in pursuit of our nimble for, but
| were soon compelled to turn back, for their
trail led us into the worst tumbled up country
immsginable ; one of continuous bluffs, gorges
pinnacles. jungles and gulches, where nothing
but the agile Indian and his nimble pony could
ever venture to climb. It must be confessed
that we turned back with regret. for we had
left our route and travelled IS miles, almost
without sleep, only IN the saddle, and on very
slim ratiens, for the purpose Of Furnishing these
unruly devils, and we had found them, fought
them AMI let them slip from our grasp without
inaicting punishment sufficient to make them
afraid to meet US or any other squad of pale.
faces who might venture into their country. J'
After reaching their camp on our return, it
was discovered that instead of carving their
property with them in their fight, as we sup.
posed, they had hid it in the thickets and noun
tain gorges. Now commenced the work of
destruction. Details were made to hunt and
drag from their cunning hiding places, lodges,
lodge poles, trarois, skins, furs, pemican, buf
falo robes, camp utensils, trinkets and medicine
bags, and pie them up and apply the torch to
the Ito the Indian) precious heap. Some
asserted that even dead Indians were placed on
the funeral pile, but do not credit it, Several
hundred lodges were thus disposed of. some of
immense size and of the whitest SKINS Hun
dreds of pounds of dried buffalo meat ard
several hundred robes were also committed to
the hames. Several dead Indians were found.
killed by the explosion of our shells, and
among the number was a young squaw, perhaps
IA years of age, and two ,papooses OF 3 or
years. The work of destruction completed
the column moved on u nd camped several miles
from the late battle field ....sa -.
About dusk a party of Indians crept upon
three OF our men who were asleep outside our
picket line guarding horses that were grazing,
killing two, the third making his escape, the
Indians being TOO intent on getting the horses
to follow him the three horses they succeeded
in running off. The men were found the next
morning stuck full of arrows, stripped of their
clothing and one of them scalped. They be-
longed to the ID Brigade, and were fiom Min
nesota Soon after, the Sergeant Of the picket
guard was killed by one Of the pickets who
nistook him for an Indian. He belonged TO
Company E, 9th Iowa Cavalry. No little
anxiety was felt for the safety OF the Correll,
on Heart River. and the column was pushed
forward at rapid pace, and on the 3lst we
reachedi 1t and found it safe. although Indians
had been seen lurking about, but two Jew in
plumber to make an attack. Thus in six DAYS
we travelled $50 miles, over an unknown coun.
try, fought half day and destroyed an Indian
camp, with but slight loss on our part, showing
with what celebrity General Sulley can move
troops and plan battles when occasion re.
qures. r.....a
On the Sd of August we took up our line of
march, continuing in north westerly direction,
and on the 9th. near night, came suddenly in
sight Of the Bad Lands of The Little Mis-.
souri,. or. what is more scientifically known as
the Mnuuoiv 2e,res. We had been raising
gradually, after leaving Heart River. and
everything appeared natural until we came
upon the very verge of, what General Sulley
facetiously called shell with the fires OUT
No pen can do it half justice-it must be seen
as we saw it, in order to form any idea Of this
ancient t0phet Old Nature must have been
trying to overdo herself--in fact got on spree,
which terminated in Deiirium 7rcmens. She
had "snakes in her boots" to a moral certainty,
for they were the only living thing to be seen,
except Lizards, scorpions and horned tOad.-
Pinnacles from several hundred feet in height
to those oil the size of a horse, were everywhere
10 be seen. figures Of human beings in every
MI fudA nd ne <nc
description, on the tops, sides and at the base
Of these pyramidial contortions of nature -
Some ran up to point, while others had their
tops shaved off as with o cleaver. Some of
there immense mounds Of scorched earth were
nearly halt mile III length, their steep sides
covered with scrubby brush and cedars, while
the tops we're as sharp as the cone OF a house.
These miniature mountains were composed of
clay, near the base, but near the tops it had
more the appearance of brick, It was nothing
more nor less than burnt earth and molten
rocks. Bouiders Of immense size, melted to.
gether, and lava in any quantity crckling under
your feet at every step. But the greatest
curiosity Of all was the FOSSIL remains Of stumps,
trees, reptiles and even fish in the purest state
OF petrifcatiOn. Stumps measuring 6 and Z
feet in diameter, us perfect if in their natural
state, now as hard as the hardest flint. Pine
was the most prominent, but T. noticed cedar,
oak and hickory in large quantities. Bones Of
animals in state Of pctrifcation, were to be
seen at almost every step, while whole trees
were frequently met with. found many OF
these specimens OF antiquity 100 miles below
this place. but in small pieces and Of not very
frequent occurrence, but as we advanced they
became more numerous until at last stumps
could be found in clusters where once groves
of timber, iar back into antideluvian. had
,yovnd tl,or In Mt foliage the !dipR nf the
treea having either foated away by water. or
burned in the bowels Of the earth. This region