Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-05-09


Emerson and Mr.. Jack Fowler pleased all. The
company intend to visit Alcester quite often
during the summer.
A STORY OF THE PRAlRIES.
A Succinct Account OF the Expert
ences and Life OF John Ciementson
OF BruIe.
Through the kindness of A. =. Ash
jeld, the following account Of the life
of John Clementson was translated into
English for THE COURIER from an ar
ticle printed in the scandinavian Ian
guage in the Sgd Dakota Ekko Of Sioux
Falls. 1t is well worth reading:
John Clemetson lklaeve) from Ga,ibrandsia-
len, arrived IN this county In 1862 and settled III
GoodliIe county. Minnesota. The civil war was
during this very trying period In the history Of
our nation, while the government had other and
more important ana pressing duties to attend to
the Sioux indians rebelied under the pretense
not provide for their support rs set forth In the
treaty between them and the government.
The sioux Indians did not stop to ask for the
reason of such negligence on the part Of the
government and cared nothing about possible
excuses. The war AK was dug out. and like wild
hordes they overtiowe! IN the month Of August,
whole country from the lake Of Otter Tail to the
boundary Of Iowa, was swArmed by the Indians
in thirst for the blood III the white man,
About seven hundred people were killed In
few days; some were soldiers, hut the most Of
them We're settlers. The majority Of the killed
were foreigners, mostly NorweglsIs., The poor
helpless victims to revengefulnesS and cruelty or
the Indians were acerate.l in a most horrible
manner; women were violated and children
were snatchtd away from their mothers bosom
to he put on the spit Of the savages The lnii-
ritSl1..d eastward far Forest (Ntv nh
Glencoe, and people were killed rs near Minnie
;.polis rs within 80 miles from the city, The SET
fire and murder tried to defend themselves: 9th
ers fled rs far rs to Wisconsin. Voluntary mil
itary was organized and. FASTENED to the rescue
q the places; Th hs New YIN and
conqn. red ut Cooley, amt Wood Lake, where
much blood on both sides. General Sibley took
command Of the troops. and through his bravery
and cleverneSs lots Of captives were freed from
the clutches Ut the Indians. About five hundred
Indians were captured; but the most and the
worst Of them retired to Dakota. Thirty nine
go, Indians were executed In one day in MAN.
katO.
Ihe authorities soon found that cavalry were
necessary In order to sulnime the wild Sioux In.
dans; the infantry were good only for defense,
and could not guard the boundary: they held
themselves therefore mainly In the forts. Per-
mission was therefore obtained from Washing
tom IT, enlist u regiment Of cavalry Of twelve
companies with the necessary fieltl-gun Many
OF the cavalry had lost wife and children during
the DlUt.shed, others their dearly beloved and
similar IT latives which were bOunu to them with
the most tender and sacred ties, and their hearts
burned Win anger 70 WFeak most cruei ven
ge;.iice upon the murterers Of their beloved de-
parted
In the spring Of 1863 Siblcy's mounted expetli-
ton marched out from Fort Smelling t. operate
upon the Indians, and IN this campaign John
uiemetsoil took part. ne WAS enfoiieu on
the He'd River valley WAS fanced to he farther
oil than the Rocky ino,!ntains at present. There
wore no raiiitls Ill minnesota, anu the articles
AWIu dro.th ~ lS'1 anu ~ iSsS, n;ld sliised OH
sie grass on tne piAlrlcs when caused great sur
.ell,.g among me horses ne y ,rgient Oh nor.
ashes. anu the taiiy hlafches were LOT long
time confined u the morning hours: the water
WAS lNor IN many places, anu most frequently
the soldiers had TO dig wells where they pitched
camp
Inc indians were NOT Oveftaken before the
Stth on Juy, iSh'' near big Mouha' AZ the source
M jim RIVER, III north bakoEs. oiOOuy EN-
counter LOOK pace; tue ihuiails VINO nad tnelr
aiiilles IN the vicinity wished 70 delay the tight
anaL thelt sluaWs anu el''dteh might escape
across The missouri river. violent thunder
storm rag.s, during the encounter, and one Of
TIE caVairyiaeh was Killed. ny iigntnins. FL
Many ae an,ai.S la ~ y'e,H ana Ely numerous
W. We're SO enraseu Dy anger tlat tit.y even look
we st1'il,s 81 their enemies after having klil..
Them. me Indians consider TINS disgrace unto
and thus enter upon their hunting grounds In
the otiier Woriu ~ alsiOhOr
. Oh the aNh 81 July announcer pattle eIslied, TINS
uMe AZ the lDestd ItllllAio Lake. Among the In
ul;ths u chlcI ny the name III Gray Eagle dis
tingulsheu nlilsei1 one day ne was naked hut
lnaltiliceitiy pephlhtea anu handsomely Trim
med WIN sils!enllis piutles on the mead. lie
made splendid iisure ANA fought IKE . lion,
n.t was Killed carry III the encounter Also this
thMe the soldiers were victorious. lhe cannon
ana ga1iop's attacK ny the cavalry were irresls-
tlble
On the Gtn OF jury the INDIANS stopped at
story Lake anu prepared themselves Tor AN at
uek, tiicy Delhs then anou! 2hO III number.
ms showed the extent u tneir strength. they
were al rs Iiakesl ~ Auth ~ faiitsiise, AHA
they displayed collsiderablc military art. Not
UNDERSTANDING inns tney We're AGAIN driven back
anu were cOhla'iied 70 escape ACROSS the Mis-
souri, river INT" the BAD issints. The troops
reacheti tIle river ~ tue mouth 81 Apple Creek,
SIX mlies west 81 BISMARCK. OTislnaiIy the plan
III war was tilat WITH General Suily with 500
men should advance horthWard VIA Sioux city,
anu atCtck tiic AnuisIis III tho rear iNIOTe tHty
could cross the Missouri river. Sully's .prOvis-
IONS We're u De transported hp the river by
stessHsDott pht On account ~ Row wafer THIS
Tailed, anu thereby the plan ~ operations came
" ii;iusnt ~ Tue meantime the INDIANS were
driven nom the hai iismis, ana minnesota has
never since Deti annoyed or molested by them.
Murh 81 the stolen s.his was recilNllred The
eNpeuition tetuTied 10 the IOfts III minnesota,
some VIA Dcviis LAKE, among Them WAS John
CienetsoIl. offers wa fnrt ADefcr"nibia.
Inc heNt spring Jonn Cieh,eitsm enrolled IN
aer Gen Suiiy III Bracketes battalion, riding
corps, which was bolId LOT tnc west from Fort