The herald., 1898-11-02
OF OPERATIONS AGAINST THE
cHIPPEwAs
THE INDIANS BADLY WHIPPED
And All Danger of Another Uprising
Removed for Long Time
to Come
Associated Press Special Wire

| Nho SOuiHldHutQ tut y ulttQ ptdtCc loiNSs
at the recent battle at Leech Lake, Mime
sofa, has sent a detailed report OF the action
to Adjutant General Corbin. The interest
| ing part of the report is that in regard TO
the battle, of which Gen. Bacon writes:
AT 8 a. m. We reached Sugar Point, twen-
ty-five miles east of Walker, located on a
neck of land or peninsula extending about
five miles into the lake and averaging about
two miles in width and almost two miles
north of Bear island. At this point Oh land
ing, difficult because of the high seas and
natural distractions, was effected, and two
Indians, for whom warrants were issued,
were arrested by the marshals.
After searching the vicinity OF the point,
left Lieut.. Ross and thirty men to guard
the landing and boats, and proceeded with
Capt. Wilkinson, the remainder of the de-
tachment and the civilians and searched
the country back for three miles. Occa-
sionally we saw at a distance few bucks,
who disappeared with our approach. The
women and children seemed nervous and
gradually concealed themselves. At 1880
the entire party has assembled at the land
ing, at which Lieut.. Ross had thrown out
pickets.
| had concluded to remain at Sugar Point
all night and had given orders to send back
one boat for rations and tentage, both boats
being too heavily laden with men to load
rations on coming up. The detachment had
received orders to stack arms, when one OF
our rifles was accidentally discharged. In
stantly the Indians fired volley into the
ranks Of the detachment from the surround
ing woods and underbrush and charged to
the edge of the same, keeping up rapid and
continuous fire. My detachment was COM
posed of forty-eight absolutely raw recruits
and nineteen old soldiers. When the at
tack was made the men were in line near
log hut They were for a moment confused
by the Indian volley and demoniac yelling.
They broke ranks and attempted to conceal
themselves behind the hut. But they recov-
cred almost instantly, and under the per-
sonal direction of the three officers present
formed a steady skirmish line and in turn
charged and drove the Indians back through
the thick brush as far as it was penetrable.
| then formed my deployed line on two sides
of a square, each side skirting the timber
when the attack came and protecting the log
house, wherein were placed the wounded.
The Indians continued their tactics Of
crawling up, concealed by the underbrush,
and attacking until dark, the attacks grow
ing less and less vigorous. They were armed
with Winchester repeating rifles and ap-
peared we'll supplied with ammunition,
judging from the prodigal Use which they
made Of it. During the night they disap-
peared from the peninsula, as far as could
be ascertained, supposedly departing in
their canoes to neighboring islands. They
seemed to have had quite enough OF fight
ing and were not heard from except an oc-
casonal distant shot, one of which killed a
soldier digging potatoes in an adjoining
field on the morning of the 9th.
Captain and Brevet Major NJ. G. Wilkin-
son. Third infantry. was killed very soon
after the repulse of the attack, while steady
10 l,- 1aoAipo ! ba of tho
line assigned to him. | had observed his
GOODNESS and courage up to the moment of
his falling and feel sure that had he survived
his actions would have merited the highest
consideration from the war department.
| cannot too strongly express my admira-
ton for the intrepidity, absolute GOODNESS
and good judgment displayed by. Second
Lieutenant Tenny Roos. Third infantry,
commanding the left half of the line. He eX-
posed pose himself both in leading his platoon
and in the care of the wounded. He was
commissioned only last July, but appeared
in this fight I'd be veteran. From the cour-
age shown by him in this engagement, his
we'll known ability and good habits, feel
safe in predicting for him brilliant mill
tary career and beg to recommend that he
be brevetted for conspicuous bravery in this
action.
l also take great pleasure in calling atten-
professional services rendered by Acting
Assistant Surgeon Herbert H. Harris,
United States army.
This officer at the time of the attack was
on board one of the steamboats,, anchored
some distance from the landing, but returned
to shore in small boat under the Indian S
fire and joined us.
Upon the death of Captain Wilkinson,
First Sergeant Thomas Kelly Company Z,
Third infantry, was assigned to command
the skirmishers on the right of the line. He
performed his duty so gallantly by his ex-
ample in leading and directing his men that
| most earnestly recommend that he be
awarded! medal of honor.
| would fail in my duty should neglect
to relate the part taken by Private Oscar
Burkard, which elected during the six
hours fighting the applause and admiration
of our entire line. Scarcely man fell who
was not Instantly attended to and received
intelligent aid from Private Burkard. He
exposed himself throughout the entire en-
gagemeni and is most deserving of the medal
OF honor, for which he is heartily recon-
mended.
At the beginning of the attack, the two
boats containing tho United States marshal,
some OF his deputies and the Indian in
| spector and Indian agent, with most of the
citizens, left the scene. 1T was the only
| sensible course they could have pursued,
! for; had they remained they must have been
| under the fire of the Indians concealed in
| the underbrush along shore. ! am greatly
| indebted to Marshal O'Connor for his sub
sequent prompt and intelligent action in
| sending supplies and ammunition The civ
| ilians unable to reach the boat took shelter
| along the lake shore Immediately in the rear
of my line whence they joined me after dark
at my bivouac. Among the latter were the
| following newspaper correspondents: Mr..
| X. C.. Beaton Minneapolis Tribune; Mr.. w.
| \. Brill, Pioneer Press and Harry T. KNAPP
| pen, Minneapolis Times. who made them
selves most welcome guests by their atten-
| ton to the wounded and cheerful deport-
ment.
| regret to report that during the night
two Indian policemen, who had failed to
| get of on the steamboat and whose presence
near my camp was unknown, attempted Ia
| cross the lake in canoe and while passing
near my picket guard were mistaken for hos
| tiles and fired upon, one being killed in.
stantly and the other slightly wounded and
captured
General Bacon then reviews the subse.
quent events, ending with the surrender OF
all save two Of the Indians wanted and
closes as follows:
From all obtainabe information, these
Chippewa Indians have long entertained
complaints of the disposition of timber on
theia reservation; they also claimed to have
experienced much suffering by reason oi
promiscuous arrests among them by United
States deputy marshals. 1t is believed that
they have been for more than year prepar
ing to resist the United States authorities
accommodating ammunition, dancing and get
ting ready after their owr fashion for war
and when my detachment of seventy