Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-11-19
Captain C,my Prairie Euucly
Captain Juua ii. pLLL, 4. \ q.


HEAne RS Sd DATT'LH It'll Iowa CAV,
CAMP 30, n W INDIAN EAr'D.,
-Anpt<t ID, 1864
CAPTAIN | have the honor to report
that on the 2Slh OF July, I>tl, the com
mand broke camp on a braucn Of knife
river at an carly huur, and marc he'd ia "a
northwestern direction. Ny battalion was
marching in rear Ut the left column of the
first bri .ade. at about 10 o'clock a. m.
information was brought in by the snides
that a large body o; Indians had been dis
covered IL t.w miles directly in our .r1n,.
| was ordered t. move ms men to lh~ head
OF the leit column. Alter marcEln. a
distance the Indians appeared in large
numbers In front, and | was Ordered t.
dlsmount my men and drpIoy them in
front as sklrmishers Ny formation was
IN the cvnter, the bib Iowa cavalry being
on my right aud the &:h NiEn, sofa Oh the
left. As soon as the formation was com.
pleted the whole line commenced "d,An.
cinr, and after marching tro!u one ari y
hAli to two miles a still! larger number Q.
Indians couli be seen maueuveriuE on tii,.
base OF large and abrnrt ran 70 of w0..l
ed hills few miles in trout They soon
advanced to meet our line which CONT.
nued steadily 10 ADVANCE and scattering
tire was commenced, the first yoi!vv hriut
hred at an Indian who appeared IN front
trandlshing war club ana apt artnt'y
directing the movements ot the others.
this being the opening tire OF the fight
he fire then became general an! contiu
ued with interval, along our whole line
Although my men had never before been
under fire. they continued to advance
steadily and deliberately and met and re,
PEELED the charges made by the Indians
from time 10 time with great hrmnes, aud
compoSure.
The advance continuedin this way about
ore hour when the sth Minnesota being
severely pressed, fell back leaving my left
entirely unsupported aud a large break III
the line, This | attempted to obyiate for
some time by extending my intervals and
allowing my lett TO bend slightly to the
rear un''l battery ami It's supporters tax
ing up their position on our lett. | REFORM
ed my line anl continued TO advance. At
this time a battery with lis support took
up its position on our left aud force Of
cavaty on the right, and advancing in
j - tb''' VI ch1 iihC HlbNC tht Iii'tit|l> bIt ol
our reach. when We ceased tirin. aud fol.
lowed in rear Of the cavalry to the foot Of
the bluffs.
The whole fight lasted about six hours,
during which time the Indians were driven
IA distance of about ten miles.
Ii is to be regretted that because of the
nature of the ground and the Indian way
of fighting much Of cnr fire was wasted
The ground over which we advanced was
very uneaven. and the Indians would
gather behind luolls and in ravinrs on our
| front and fire upon Us and scatter away
OF their swift footed ponies.
loo much praise cannot be given to
! officers and men Of my command for the
calm bearing and good Judgment eyincei
| upon all occaSons and under all crcum,
! stances.
Nv troops took no part in any action on
! the 18th. AS to causaIiies am happv to
state that lost TO II en- either in hilIe! o,
wounded am, very respectfully, your
otedient servant,
| JOHN PATIEE,
L,eut Col 1th Io,ca Cuo. Iols.
! Captain JOHN II. prLL, 4. 4 G..
| HEADouARTERs, 9th Iowa Vol CAVALRY
CAMr No'34 July %. lS64