Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-05-21
LIEUT.. FREEMAN'S DEATH
Recalled by Discovery of His
Hunting Knife at Devils
Lake.
Killed and SCaIped by the In
dams a Third of a
Century Ago.
His Daughter Now a Resident
of Jamestown.-SibIey's
Expedition.

In field near Devils Lake, where
1t had been uncovered by heavy
rain, was discovered last fall an old
rusted hunting knife. Upon the scab-
bard's brass ferrule we're the words:
"Lieut. Freeman, St. Cloud. 1862" The
knife ls relic of Gen. Sibley's famous
expedition against the Sioux Indians IN
1868 and was ndoubtedly carried by
Lieut.. Ambrose Freeman, the father Of
Mrs. A. T. Dearborn of this city.
TIE tale OF the tragic death of the
lieutenant, 33 years ago, murdered by
the Indians within few miles of what
is now the capital OF North Dakota, Is
recalled by the discovery of the only
relic known to be in existence of the ILL.,
fated officer. The family are now at
tempting to secure possession, having
but recently heard of it.
It was in the spring of '63 that active
military operations, suspended during
the winter, were begun against the
Indians who had participated IN the
horrible massacres of '62 and Gems. Sibley
and Sully put in the field to drive the
Indians 90 far away that they could
never hope to return. Sibley went from
Ft. Smelling, and Sully from Iowa, fol-
lowing up the course of the Missouri
river. Sibley had large train Of 400
wagons that, on the march, extended
several miles. 10 front, behind, and on
each side was a regiment Of infantry.
Extreme watchfulness was maintained
and the guard duty entrusted to the
Minnesota mounted rangers-the cavalry
in which Mr.. Freeman was lieutenant
which stretched along for consider
able distance from the rest Of the expe-
dition. The route through this territory
lay from Lake Traverse to ft. Ransom
where the 4th of July was spent. There
liberty pole was erected. The second
crossing of the Sheyenne river was made
about 20 miles north OF what is now Val
ley City and at Lake Emily" supposed
be Lake Jessie in Griggs couuty-Camp
Atchison established. He'e the sick
were left.
Having put the command in light
marching order, July 20, '63, with 25
days rations they resumed with renewed
energy the pursuit Of the Sioux. At
noon, four days later, 78 miles distant
the scouts reported the Indians. $500
warriors strong, encamped near by.
It was the morning of July Oath that
Lieut. Freeman with Geo. Bracket, the
beef ard transportation contractor, left
the closely guarded lines for an excur-
sion intending to join the expedition
later in the day Toward noon, as they
approached lake, they saw in the dis
tance horsemen and what they supposed
to be the column Of dust which lowered
over the expedition and thought 1t safe
to continue and explore the opposite
side. Their sad error was discovered
too late. The supposed soldiers proved
to be small band of Indians wearing
the blue uniforms OF the regulars. A
half dozen of Sibley's Indian soouts
overlook the two men and joined forces.
When the hostiles suddenly opened fire
on them Lieut.. Freeman fell pierced
with arrows, fatally wounded. Brackett
took refuge in the rushes at the margin
of the lake and the scouts, firing as they
retreated, finally escaped. The Indians
secured the horses of botn Freeman aud
Bracket and rode away triumphant.
During the battle that day Freeman's s
horse was recognized while ridden by
one of the chiefs, and the first general
information thus given of the lleutenant's
death. The following dav his body was
found half naked. the scalp torn from
his bloody skull and his head split open
from forehead to chin. The remains
were given military burial in one of the
rifle pits at the foot of Big Mound. In
81 they we're removed to st. Cloud. On
the battle field, torn to pieces by shell.
was afterward found the body of an
Indian. He wore leggings rudely
shaped from the buckskin trousers
which he had cut from the body OF Free
man the day before. Fastened to his
belt was Freeman's scalp.
When Brackett hid in the rushes be
was without coat and hat and nothing
on the upper part of his body but his
shirt His gun was fastened to his saddle.
Lost on the trackless plains he wander
ed for days When his feet became
biistered he made moccaslns from his
boot legs. He had no food bu. a bird
killed the first day and roasted over q