The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-11-10
TT. Rec, Sept. Ieth. 1854

Dear Wife,
now sit myself down
TO fn|fill my pr"mis" Of Sept 18Th.
wiz NOT enter INTO the fnipu'ia of Zach
days March; 20 describe one h,y'-
march IL as good ~ III. whole ~ .n',,
mar"h. The mnuo,ony of this c"n.'ry
j. .',ik,ng. Tie expedition l,fi Sien.
City IN the 4h IT June, Travelled 4o2
mics mp the Missouri, laid out and
commenced Fl. H',.r, and left 'hsre a,
tn 10Th Of Jn'v. On the 2.th reached
a roint or The Hear, River nr.rl,
Yves, and ll2 miles distant from r,
Rice. Here a fortified camp was f,iin
Cd Of the surpns y Il ~ OF the com.
mnnd, and the em,yrant train "f 2G
wagons were c"rr"lied The large,
part of the command started on m.
26.h, with dava cooked ra,ions r
thaversacks ana 4 in lich' wagons O.
the 2sth in lat ~ so lon. los =.
came in ayht Of the main camp a,
abou, 10 A. NJ !lere the Tnaians II I'd
collected all Of their available warrior.
numbering from 900 To 500 lodges
in the full confidence Of Whipriar the
whites. Their position WAS ch"."s
With ,rea' skill md judgement on the
sides Of lofty ridge, lined vi'h pinn..
cles ravines and almns, impcnetrable
thickets. In ,rOnt Of the grouni VAS
broken rolling prairie. In the rear
Of the ridge (as We found the next iayl
vas part Of the Manvais Terres Of the
Little Missouri, G.os rrnt,es, las they
are called by the French men, ~ uccp~.
sion of'he Vinnac'e-, rasines, butts and
mounds OF almos, every concei.e,hl
sizes aud shape, where no living b.
ing nnacq aia,cl with The paths c,l'a
follow one who wis.
Our forcea were mcs,l, di>moun,cl
and ;hrown forward ,leployed ~ Ss;..
mish.rs, one fourth of pach diSm ,aa,-
cd company holding the horses n 's
tear Of inr ~ mounted reserves t'.,>
reserve consisted "f conasn.rs &. r.
nd !, commanded hv rrr,an c.
GO 3. In the rear % ,t,,s " v
Rracke,,'s Eata!lion monu'e.': 'is !.
s'i'n ID he lc''' wing supported b, 6
n,eces Of l2 nd 6 nne.l !rns. l. IL.
rear &c Al ,his clos " i,l'9ve} the
train in ',nr y battle II, - reserves
/ Cavalry we're hel ~ eiife flank
ana 3 ,ioces OF ars;l,s anrner'.' l.,
3 ..amnan;es marchei in he c,nter. u
situation gave mo no e.' a,.e - see q
right wing o, flank Thesn Indians.
who are wild and ua'sn'e,l. sva,m 4
on Il! eias~ on their N4e' ,'';!. pn.ios
IN their Candy ornaments ana "a },
X. |. shell! en,' lance Il Mr.. tanrih',
wesrnns. t'nsh.d wildly together ,,r
dispersed ii si-n.i- from th,,r chiefs.
But saa s',j>tl of,na long ran.ei r,
A. s,.i ,,e- fat II many az here nun
Der ianynt them hat the white III o.
hal weapon far superior 10 ANY lie
had VI rnlf hem.
TIME anl time again vas he eagle
plnmea baton Of the chief waved ~ y
signal f.r concentration then dash
wonld be made that was followed by
An equally rapid retres' in which they
would BE- severely punished. having in
fsicted but iitt'e it any injury. On"
large party passed around under cover
Of hiyh ground I" the rear and made \
dash on TIE ain in the rear A piece
Of artillery under command of Lieut..
Whipple ard . COMPANY et Cavalry
vas ins, antantlv ordered in motion, aud
the FIRST shell fred killed men ard
ponies, 8 Ot whom were literally torn
in pieces. The left flank being threat.
eneh by large body of Indians, Maj.
Bracket, xaa ordered tn charge with
his Battalion, which he did in good
style pursuing them with drawn sshr.
1 miles and dispensing them with the
loss al 2 men killed I wounded aud
Is horses ehe,, leaving q Indians dead
on the gronnn II Of whom were killed
with the sabre alone.
Time vii. net permit me 20 mention
the no,rvorth, Incidents. | will mem
iion one.
Ore halt of our company was ordered
out with 4 amOulances IL pick up the
wounded on the ground where Bra K
cit made his charge. There met a
young fellow, | dill not learn his name
nor company but he was - blood, ~ !
butcher. asked hi n how he got So
bloody: hc then proceeded I" relate
that tie Iudisns had khos Lisshrgsc aud