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


no more trouble that night. now knew
l had come upon the Indians tough,
about week ago, and in the worst posi-
bic section Of country / could possibly
wish 10 encounter an enemy. My road
lay through succession Of m ountain gor-
ges, down deep ravioes, with perpendicu.
lar bluffs 80 narrow only one wagon could
pass at q time, intersec,ed with valleys
down which the Indians could dash on to
any point Of my train stretched ont in q
single line, We would extend from three to
four miles.
The large emigrant train had were OK
teams heavily loaded, and it was impossi-
bic to move them except at small pace ;
felt more apprehension for their safety
than for that Of my command, for they
had with them large number Of women
and children; therefore took every pre-.
caution for protection as we'll as for attack.
ing. l distributed my command along
the fanks Of the train, and strong guard
in rear with Captain Popes four kowit
zers, with orders for companies to dis.
mount and take the heights at dangerous
points, remaining there till the next com.
pany in their rear relieved them. sent
three companies of the second brigade who
had the advance ahead pi,h pioneer par,
ty, followed by jones battery Colonel
Thomas with the rest Of the second brigade
followed on the tlauks ofthe wagons while
the first brigade followed guarding the
rest of the trains. l accompanied the
advance brigade. had given orders that
at every point, when the nature of the
country would allow it, for the teams TO
double up and park as close as they could
50 as to close up the rear. After marching
about three miles we came on to the In
dians strongly posted in front and on the
tlanAs Of deep mountain pass; they
were dis'odged after some !i,,Ie trouble,
the shells from Jones battery doing good
execution, and the advance with other
troops pushed on, while the pioneer party
made the road. The Indians attacked
me on the 1anks and rear at the same
time, bat on all occasions they were repul.
sed with heavy loss by troops near b., and
thus VIC advanced fighting, hunting road
and digging it out till we reached a small
lake aud spring about ten miles from our
starting point, repulsing the Indians at
every point with great slaughter | speak
partly from what | saw, for in their hasty
retreat they had to leave in many ins,an-
ces their dead on the ground; they carried
them whenever they could. At the spring
there was for shor, time quite brisk
little skirmish, the Indians trying TO keep
US from the only water we had that day,
and the day was so bo, that the animals
were suffering very much. having had not
much to eat for Two days. Part Of Col.
McLaren's ID Minnesota had most of the
work here. Que Of his companies in ad'
vance got separated from the rest aud sur
rounded they. however. got into hollow
aud defended themselves and relieved by
other companies sent out from Colonel
Thomas command their loss however.
was slight in omparison to their danger,
The next morning we moved forward.
The Indians were in front OF Us, appear.
ing az if they intendedfo give vs. battle;
probably about ons thousand showed them
selves. Ipusned forward Major House.
9th Iowa, with two companies OF the 9th
IosA ,snd Captain Trips Dakota Cavalry.
andsent forward Maj jor Bracket with one
company Of his battalion and Psps's. fosr
howitxonkr dismoustiug the rfst 4 - 9th
Iowa - Lieptenant celonsf e,lock
on the rjAhaTnnd three companieS u The
III lesA asder Liessaean. Colonel Ps)lee
on a. "A, TO push o.: Md clear 6arl
danks, G6At moved .forvad with Josss'
battery and the trais; Co.eael ThAmas
with his Minnesota brigade tot of
the rear. We advanced wit,s ucb
trouble, ,-vi,lfa little skirmishi,s ont.
and also m attack in rear. Th47 Acmy
were repulsed on all sides; it was evideUt,
in spite Of all their boasting, all fshtiHA
was ou, Of them. A few miles brough6
US to an open country, and the last we
saw Of the Indians was cloud of dust,
some six or eight miles of. running as
fast as they could; they were better
mounted that we were. The men behaved
well there vera many acts of individual
bravery displayed. A grea. deal of inge.
nui.y in many instances was shown by the
men in trapping the Indians. who, afraid
of our long ranged rifles and artillery,
kept themselves Al a respectful distance
Parties wonld crawl out behind hills, while
small party mounted would dash on to
the Indians, fire and retreat, drawing the
Indians into ambuscade. when they would
succeed in emptying a few saddles and
capturing few ponies. 1t il impossible
for me to give anything like report Of
ahe number Of Indians killed. The fight
ing extended over 20 gres. distance, and