The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-04

notable engagements in the Mexican
war, at Palo Alto, Resaca de la
Palma, storming of Monterey, the siege
Of Vera Cruz, at Cerro Gordo and all
the battles around the City Of Mexico.
Transferred to the Texas rangers and
becoming a quartermaster, the colonel
lad opportunities in Indian warfare in
the Southwest which were destined to
make him notable in the Sioux coun-
try as an intrepid cavalry commander.
Retiring from the army in 1851, he To-
Gated at Caledonia, in Houston county,
Minnesota, to which point he removed
with his family in 1852
May 4. 1861, at Jefferson barracks,
Missouri, he was enlisted as a private.
and was soon placed in charge of u
section of Battery B, United States
artillery, under Gen. Lyon; thence as
signed to camp of instruction a.
Cairo, whence he traversed the rebel
lines into Kentucky, and as FAR as the
city of Memphis, personally meeting
Gen. Pillow and Gen. Haskell. rebel
commanders. Remaining on special
duty until August, 1852, he was COM
missioned colonel in command Of
mounted troops in Minnesota, for the
relief of Fort Ridgely, and was soon
afterward, in the same year, commits
stoned as colonel Of the Minnesota
Mounted rangers, a regiment of caval-
ry, enlisted expressly for the Sioux
war. When the Sibley expedition of
1863 was organized to march against
the Indian bands which had escaped
from the Minnesota valley to or near
Devils Lake, Col. McPhail's regiment
under his immediate command, consti-
tuted the cavalry portion of that expe-
dltlon. Too late was it learned that
an Infantry command, unmounted. was
ineffective in Indian warfare on thu
Western plains. When the brigade I'M
der Gen. Sibley established a reserve
camp, entrenched, about twelve miles
northwest of what is now The site of
Cooperstown, N. D., at which was left
all men and horses unfit for active
service, the march was resumed to the
seuthwestward in the direction of the
horde of Sioux murderers known to be
hunting in the Missouri valley. west
of the James river. On the oath day
of July, 1863. the command came no
with the Sioux in force, at a point in
the hills situated in town 141, range 10,
now in Kidder county, North Dakota.
The most elevated point in the hills
was called the Big mound, In fact. moi
mound, but a sharp hill deposited by
the Ice sheet during the last glacial
epoch in the Pleistocene era The Sioux
gathered in force at and near the Big
mound, so-called, and Sibley's COM
mand went into compact rendezvous
on the easterly end of small salt lake
hastily entrenching around a coral
of-wagons, inside of which the teams
used Tor transportation were herded
Thls action assumed the proportions OF
a defensive, rather than an offensive
warfare, and the Sioux were the ag-
gressors. first by shooting Surgeon J
s. Weiser. Of the cavalry, in plain
sight of the command, and then b,
charging down the hills In forcy
against the entrenched army. History
gives a part Of what followed-not ali
for Col. McPhail personally requested
the general in command to permit him
TO take his cavalry and, passing arounf
the flank Of the horde of Indians. thei1
retreat could be cut off and decisiy,
results would follow. But the mode
OF warfare adopted was to meet thu
Indians face to face in a pitched bat.
tie which they themselves precipitated
They were repulsed and soon driver
into camp, but q short distance owe,
the hills, when Col. McPhail with his
cavalry command pressed forward anf
took up the line of battle. By thj.
means the conflict became a desperat I,
struggle by. mounted men on either
side. the Sioux retreating. the cavalry
pursuing.
When the camp Of the enemy wa.
reached. they abandoned their teepee
and Were summary put to flight b,
sne charging cavalry. Then commenced