The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-11-10
THE LEECH LAKE FIGHT
General Bacon's Official Re.
port Of the Affair.
HOW MAJOR WILKINSON DIED

Indians Taught = Lesson That Will
Last Them During the Rest Of
Their Existence.
Washington, Nov. 3-General Ba-
con. who commanded the United States
forces at the recent battle at Leech
lake. Minnesota, has sent detailed re-
port of the action to Adjutant- General
Corbin. The interesting portion of the
report is that in regaYd-to the battle,
of which General Bacon writes:
AT O'Clock A. M, we reached
Sugar point, 25 miles east Of Walker,
and located on neck of land or penin-
sula 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 hpding,
difficult by reason of high seas and nat
ural distractions, was effectd. and two
Indians, for whom warrants were is
sued, were arrested by the marshals.
After searching the vicinity Of the
point, left Lieutenant Ross and &C
men to guard the landing and boats,
and proceeded, with Major Wilkinson,
the remainder of the detachment and
the civilians, and searched the country
back for three miles. Occasionally we
saw at distance few bucks, who dis.
appeared with our approach. The
women and children seemed nervous
and gradually concealed themselves.
AT 1880 the entire party had reas-
sembled at the landing, about which
Lieutenant Ross had thrown out
pickets. had concluded to remain at
Sugar point all night and had given Or
ders 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 dis
charged. Instantly the. Indians fired a
volley into the ranks Of the detach-
ment from the surrounding woods and
underbrush and charged-to the edge OF
the same, keeping up rapid. continu-
GUS fire. NJ detachment was COM
posed OF 81 absolutely raw recruits and
10 old soldiers.
"When the attack was made, the
men were In line near a log hut. They
were for a moment confused by the In
dian volley and demoniac yelling.
They broke ranks and attempted to con-
ceal themselves behind the hut. But
they recovered almost instantly, and,
under the personal directions of the
officers present, formed skirmish line
and in turn charged and drove the In
dams back into the underbrush as far
as it was practicable. then formed
my deploy line on two sides Of q
square, each side skiiting the timber
whence 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 growing 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 disappeared from the peninsula so
far as could be ascertained, supposedly
departing in their canoes to neighbor-
ing land or islands. They seemed to
have had quite enough Of fighting, and
were not heard from, except an occa-
sional distant shot. one of which killed
a soldier digging potatoes In an adjoin-
ing field on the morning of the eth.
"Major Wilkinson, Third infantry,
was killed very soon after the repulse
of the attack, while steadying and gal
lantlv leading the portion Of the line
assigned to him. / had observed bis
GOODNESS and courage up to the moment
Of his falling, and felt sure that, had
he survived, his actions would have
merited the highest consideration from
the war department.
II cannot too strongly express my
admiration for the intrepidity, absolute
GOODNESS and good Judgment displayed
by Second Lieutenant Tenny Ross. Third
infantry, commanding the left half of
the line. He exposed himself both In
leading his platoon and In care Of the
wounded. He was commissioned only
last July. but appeared in this fight to
be veteran. From the courage shown
BY him in this engagement, his we'll
known ability and good habits, ! feel
safe In predicting for him asbrilliant
military career, and beg to recommend
that he be brevetted for conspicuous
bravery in this action.