Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-07-09
The Northern Pacific Railroad Mill
tary and Surveying Expedition.
FT. RICE, Dakota. June Goth

aration has been completed for the
departure of the large military and
surveying expedition which has been
assembling and organizing in this
vicinity for the past two weeks. This
expedition was conceived by our most
able military men, Generals Sherman
and Terry, and will be executed by
the most dashing and efficient officers
of the service, Generals Stanley, Custer
and others.
A definite, permanent and final sur
vey of the route for the Norther n
Pacific Railroad will be made as far as
the Yellowstone river. and it is hoped
far beyond-at any rate preliminary
lines will be run to the Mussel She II
river. The competent surveyors and
engineers are employed to accomplish
the work. The whole corps, includ
ing chain-me and rod-men, will be
comprised Of twenty-five individuals.
Division Engineer Rosser, next in
authority to Chief Engineer W. Minor
Roberts, will have charge of the corps
as far as the Yellowstone. where he
will leave it in charge of Mr. Ekelston
an accomplished engineer, and return
by boat to continue his duties along
the constructed portion Of the North
ern Pacific. General Rosser and Mr..
Elk kelston are the two gentlemen who
killed the only Indian during the
course Of last years expedition. That
incident showed them to be very cour-
ageous men, and exactly fitted to lead
an expedition of this kind.
Orders from Washington authorized
the expedition to leave Fort Rice June
l5, but delay 10 arrival of teams and
some other minor disavrangements pre-
vented this from being done. The
surveyors have been in readiness to
depart for some time, awaiting the
escort Of the troops. On the 18th they
crossed over from Bismarck to Lincoln,
and camped near the fort. The follow
ing morning they were taken up to the
mouth Of the Heat river on the steamer
Peninah, and commenced the work OF
the summers survey Three compan
les Of the Sth infantry were sent uI
from Fort Iice, and also twenty-five OF
Clusters csvalrymen. to accompany
them for the short distance they will
accomplish before they are joined by
the main military forces
The military escort which accom-
panied the expedition of 1872 was
thought inadequate for the full pro-
lection of the surveyors. The party
was corraled several times-three men
were killed, two scalped, and the Sioux
harrassed them continually. When
the North Pacific Company asked fo1
an escort to protect this years expedi-
ton, the War Department responded
most elegantly. Forty companies from
all branches Of the service were to com
pose the escort !; seventy Indian scouts
and two Rodman rifed guns were also
to be provided. The actual outfit on
the ground here, although falling some
what short of what was at first contem
templated, is yet most ample for all
practical purposes, and presents fine
spectacle, camped on the rolling prair,
les of Dakota. 1t occupies nearly two
square furlongs Of territory, and has q
neat and scientific arrangement. There
are ust 20 companies, infantry ano
cavalry. and 25 Indians, $50 6 mule
teams, 900 head of beef cattle, ano
2 Rodman rifed guns-in all sufficient
to thrash" every Indian in America
if opposed to them in an open prairie
fight. There are ample forage and
commissaries provided to last the ex-
peditlon as far as the Yellowstone
where further provisions will be taken
from boats ordered up the Missouri and
Yellowstone with supplies.
There are two important object to be
accomplished by the expedition which
are mutually reciprocal, one to the
other first, by the soldier, who is to
protect the survey and at same time
impress the savage with fear and respect
for the power of the Government, thus
rendering future work along the line
comparatively safe second, by the
civilian, who, in forwarding the COM
pletion ofthe great railroad line through
a hostile Indian country Of future
military expeditions, and establish
civilization in the midst of barbarism.
Cor, of Chicago Journal