The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-17
FROM COL. THOMAS, INDIAN En-
PEDITION.
CANT OF INDIAN EXPEDITION,
Fort Ridgley, May 80, 1864. ]

Fort Ridgley, May &c. 1S64.J
DEAR PIONEER Accounts of marches
and campaigns are as common as house.
hold words nowadays; yet everybody
wants to know about the great Indian Ex-
pedition, and we shall venture to take
your readers back with us and in imagin-
alton make the march over here, just as
we have done. Of course, my friends,
YOU must consider yourselves soldiers, and
we notify you, that on the morning of the
25th instant, Reveille will be sounded at
4 A. NJ, and you must appear at roll call
or be reported absent at headquarters by
one of your officers. Roll call over, feed
your horse, roll up your blankets, get
breakfast, strike tents, fall in, and
be ready to march out of camp
at six; and remember that this is to be
the order of the day regularly, and that
can attend to and be up to time. But the
forward 4" has sounded and now we
move out of camp, ford Grow River, pass
the Stockade at Paynesville, on lit
tie further, leave Crow River Valley, and
wind round the bluff till we find ourselves
on high rolling prairie. In the mean
time Col. Thomas rides to point where
he can have full view of his whole COM
mand, and seems to feel proud satisfac
ton that his regiment is together, and in
connection with the I'd Cavalry and Sd
Battery will have the privilege of helping
punish the wretches, who so short time
ago spread desO!ation and horror over our
whole frontier. On our march We halt
every four or five miles, generally near
some lake, to let our ponies Craze and
wait for the train to come up.
We are now in that part of the country
where the Indians first began their atroci-
ties and as we pass along, the few houses
to be seen are vacant the fields grown up
wild again; and every now and then we
see by the roadside chair, table, stove,
or some other article of household furni-
ture, bearing indications of having been
hastily abandoned by flying fugitives from
the scalping-knife of the savage Indian.
But our days work is done-we are in
camp on the shores of Green Lake, and as
one Gays march is only a counterpart of
another, we shall leave you to go over the
rest of the road alone, merely stating that
on the 26th, we camped on Kandiyohi
Lakes near the town of Whiteield, the
place where few years since some specu-
lating gentleman proposed to move St..
Paul, or rather the Capitol of Minnesota,
because it was in the centre of the State.
This may be true taken geographically,
but numerically, that is according to the
inhabitants, we feel very sure in stating
that it would be just like jug handle, all
on one side. From what l say, don't let
any body get the idea there is really a
town here, for there is nothing but name
and splendid chance to build a city, as
far as room is concerned.
On the 9th our camp was named But
Ter. My journal says it is two miles from
timber, in a slough, near large mud
hole filled with musk rat houses. 1t was
certainly a disagree able place, and one OF
our boys said he did not like to stay there
because it must be near his fathers house,
for it smelled of sulphur and birthstone.
Here we had to dig wells to get water,
and of very poor quality at that. 1t
seemed to be impregnated with some kind
of mineral, and the only definition I can
give of its taste is that it was sweet and
slick. In digging the wells we found the
ground frozen solid about foot below the
surface. 1t looked strange to see grass
growing over frozen ground, and we take
it as evidence of the severity of the winter
as well as richness of the soil.
On the 2Sth our camp was named
Armsby, probably in honor of our much
esteemed Chaplain. Although more
pleasantly located, We were not much
better off than a. Butler, having to dis
wells for water and use small willows fol
fuel.
Yesterday we reached our pleasan
camp at noon, all safe and sound excep
few sore eyes and lips, caused by th'
wind and dust.
CAMP TIGER CREEK, June 6.
Since writing the above, like the mai
who intended to make fortune wlthou
work, we have been waiting for something
to turn up, and this morning it turned VI
IN reality, and we are on our way to J0ll
Sully, Notwithstanding the fact that durinl
the past week rumor has sent us to Dixie
broken up the whole expedition, ordere'
us to Fort Smelling, starved us on tn
plains because it did not rain, and cut ul
many other shines which she is apt to d.
when let loose in camp of soldiers.
During our stay at Fort Ridgley tn,
outht OF the expedition was completed
and yesterday there was general inspec
ton OF the troops, and in the eyennin.
came an order to march at six this morn
ing, which was cheerfully complied with
The forces under command of Colone
Thomas are as follows: