The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-16
SELECT STORY.
ADVENTURE IN THE DACOTAH
TERRITORY.

locating proposed crossing over the Mis- /
souri,. The party consisted of General
rand a staff of about twelve engi-
neers, with teamsters, cooks, etc, and an 1
escort under the command of General I
W, of several companies of {. S.
Infantry, some Gatlin guns, and com
pany of Indian scouts (Dacotahs or
Sioux. The country to be traversed
was unknown, and full of Sioux In
dians, professedly hostile to the propros-
ed railroad, and determined to oppose it, |
on the valid ground, that the hunting,
their sole means of sustenance would be
evidently spoiled.
Owing to a peculiar circumstance,
though only having been very short
time in the United States, I had the Of
fer of an appointment on General Rs
engineer corps; and as such an opPortun-
ity of seeing the country rarely present
ed itself, gladly availed myself of it.
1t was hardly my first experience Of
travel, as l had already visited many
parts, including Australasia; but this was
a new experience, and having in youth,
like most English boys, had an intense
desire, inculcated and fostered by the
marvellous books of Cooper, Mayne
Reid and others, to see the noble savage
in his own domain, was delighted with
the opportunity.
Three guides who professed to know
the country were engaged; but they were
of little use; indeed, as General R
observed, if we had secured the services
of one or two more, we should have been
hopelessly lost; as it was, their peculiar
avocation seemed to be to mislead us,
and malign each other, and it was found
that, by putting two under arrest, and
then ignoring the other, we facilitated
our movements considerably.
We rendezvoused at Fort Rice ON the
Missouri-as the troops were drafted IN
companies from the different frontier
forts and marched there, or came up or
down the river, as the case might be, in
fatboats-and left September 8, 1871.
The great object was to prevent surprise,
as with our forces, unless the Indians
were able to concentrate their bands, we
were tolerably safe from open assault;
SO on the line of march we had skir-
mishers constantly thrown out, and be-
yond, riding up every eminence, cor
don of scouts to give notice of the
slightest Indian signs. For several days
we saw none, but knowing the facility
with which the redskins hide, and the
secrecy of their movements, we never
could be assured there were none about.
Many of the officers, and particularly
General W, had been selected on
account of their having seen service on
the frontier, and being acquainted with
Indian wiles and stratagems; and after
the days march was over, sitting in the
mess tent after meal of antelope steaks,
that would have produced dyspepsia or
dissolution in many, and over the lnevi-
table and Invaluable pipe, many story
was told of Indian warfare, and cruel
ties of the late Minnesota massacre; till,
notwithstanding the triple line of sentries
and outposts necessary indeed, but not
always effectual to prevent surprise), the
first impulse of any one, if by any
chance he did wake up in the night,
was to carefully feel his head, and as
certain the safety of his scalp. Once or
twice Indians signs were palmer and
fresher than usual; the prints of a horses
hoof, denoting that one of their scouts
had been around, or, in one or two cases
the ashes of smouldering fire, showed
how closely we had come t. a small par
ty, but still no living redskin had beer
seen by any one. Game was plentiful
and any quantity of antelope, black anC
white tailed deer and elk, were killed by
the skirmishers and mounted scouts; bu
no one seemed much inclined to stray
from the main body, knowing the ten
dency of the enemy to pick off stragglers
One day General, with the engi
neer corps and one company of infantry
as escort, was engaged taking levels ant
observations along the dry bed of a riv
country, with boulders of granite sprink
led at intervals (relics of the ice period
looking as if some giants had been pelt
ing each other with rocks; and FEY
scattered shrubs at long distances fror
each other. Fringing the river was
very thin belt of light cottonwood, an
underground of burberry bushes cover
ed with clusters of bright red and cul
rant-like fruit.
From the high.water mark, plainl
visible by the washed-up debris of beaV
er cut logs, ect., the river had, after tn
spring rains, been one of considerabl
depth and swiftness; but now dried b
the summer sun, little was left but fe
pools at intervals, and spongy bottol
of the nature of quick-sand, not at a
calculated to facilitate the crossing
the heavy train and artillery, that col
stituted our main body. This of cour
necessitated detour for them, and
comparatively easier march across Il
plateau of prairie country beyond IL
hills, which was taken, both partl
agreeing to meet at little eminenc
visible some miles off, and there pitc
the camp. Naturally, in following Il
course Of the river, our way waS vel
devious; while the train made as straig
course as possible. After an hour
two, 1 stopped for time behind the re
to take the topography of one of t
hills, and by the time l had fnishe
saw they were too far off to follow, al
accordingly started off across the wi
country, with view of making a cour
to the probable locality where the can
would be pitched.
went along quietly, not being at ;
anxious to arrive before the tents were
the "correll" of wagons made, and t
eight or nine hundred mules, which &C
stituted our draught- power, safely
l., -