The star. (Aberdeen, S.D.) 1891-1898, 1894-01-18

of the command that took up the line of march con-
sisted of the 9th Regiment Minnesota Infantry un.
der the command Of Colo~el Crooks; 279 mon of the
3rd Minnesota, under Major Welch; five companies
OF the Minnesota 7th, under Lieutenant Colonel VIM
r. Marshall and two companies of Mounted Rang
ers, under Colonel McHal with battery Of mount
ed howitzers commanded by Captain Hendricks
The command crossed to the south side Of the Mime
sofa river the fort ferry aud moved up the
valley in the direction of Yellow Medicine "Other-
Day." noted friendly Indian Chief had reached Fort
Ridgely few days before. He had conducted in
safety twenty white settlers and taken along
with the expedition us scout and guide.
On the 21st the ruins ofthe Redwood Agency was
passed and the bodies Of six murdered settlers were
andfound buried.
Crossing the Redwood river the command en-
camped for the night near the banks of the Mime
sofa. Indians having been seen during day, tho
scouts were sent out reconnoiter the surrounding
country. While moving up the valley, they dis
covered deserted building near the edge of a
point of timber. Tying their horses to trees they
entered the farm house and behed a CHASTITY ecene
On the rough floor If they had crawled together
to die, we're the partly decomposed and mutilated
remains of two men, woman and little boy
But the most sickening and heartrendng sight of
all that presented to their view in the semi-dark:
ness of the declining day. that Of an infant that
had been murdered and impaled on wooden peg,
driven in the wall of the log house. The grass sur
| rounding the building tramped down and spat-
tered with blood, showing that more than one Of
the savages had been killed before the inmates of
the cabin had been overpowered and slain. More
thar hundred bullets had been shot into the door
and the walls Of the house gave sad evidence of
long contested fight and showed the sangunar; char
| acter of the unequal contest. The exclamation of
surprise and indignation that came from the lips of
the scouts when they entered the building and behed
he 8 ickening scene caused their remaining com
rade who had been left with the horses, to comeup
and enter the desolate building with Them On
hearing commotion among their borses the scouts
ran out in time to see two Indians Other Days
avorite horse racing across the valley beyond rife
shot. Several shots fred at them without
effect they galloped away with their prize The
friendly chief at first looked somewhat crest-faen
mind, will make that up the first chance get . and
he did at the battle of Wood Lake. as the sequel will
show. W.
The scouts mounted their horses and rode back
to camp giving notice of the discovery Of the murder
ed settlers, and soon after detail from the Bird
Minnesota was sent to the desoae cabin where they
gave III grassy Cnolr last 0Athy
home, to the remains Of the unfortunate settlers.
That night the lurid glare from burning build
ngs, seen in the distance gave notice that the war
rors of Little Grow not far in their advance and
that conflict was near at hand. II
On the following day, September %, the com.
mand travelled fifteen miles, the slow progress be.
ing caused by bridges being burned across two i'm
passable ravnes, compelling them to pass around
them. No Indians were seen during the dav. and as
the command could not reach Yellow Medicine river
before dark COL Sibley encamped on the south side
of stream that flowed from Wood Lake. which was
near their encampment on Minnesota river.
Meanwhile Little Grow had joined his com
bned forces with those of Standing Buffalo and the
Red river Indians, and lay in wait in deep narrow
wooded valley on the banks of the Yellow Medicine
river. They had selected one of the best places
imaginable for ambush and If the hot headed
young warriors had listened to his advice and re-
manned there until the soldiers had marched down
into the valley anG then had made sudden and
furious attack on them the probabilities are that the
little command under Sibley would have been defest.
ed and driven back. But unknown to the great