The National tribune., 1899-10-05

Then We made up a party of about 20,
saddled and stole out our horses and rode
down town, surrounded the place, looted it,
then burned it to the ground. There was
no more drugging and robbing done there.
In the fracaS several shots were fired by
both sides. None of us got hurt, but a
woman was shot in the body. Next day
the owner of the place, Wheeler Dy narno,
came to the fort, recognized four of the boys,
who were arrested and placed in the guard
house by order OF Col. r. N. McLaren, of
the I'd MINI. Cav. He is commander of
this post.
The garrison here, besides our battalion,
new recruits, and veteran soldiers whose
furloughs have expired, consists of part
of regiment of ex-rebel prisoners who went
back on the Southern cause and enlisted in
the United States army. They are doing
provost-guard duty. They are not liked
by our men, and there is constant friction.
When we learned of the arrest of our men
nearly our whole battalion turned out, went
to tie guard-houSe and forcibly liberated
our boys. Wien their cases came up for
final hearing before the Commandant every
one p.oytd an abb, was released, and the
case was dropped. 1t is refreshing TO see
how the boys stick together through thick
and thin, right or wrong. Weather con-
tinueS warmer, water drying up.
April 22.-We have received marching
orders and will leave in few days. We
are ordered to Sioux City, Iowa, to join the
expedition against the hostile Sioux on the
upper Missouri in Dakota Territory. The
expedition is commanded by Gen. Alf.
Sully.
Nav I've are off. Left Fort Smelling
this morning in light marching order, most
of the men walking and leading their
horses. They are yet too weak and thin to
carry their full loads The roads are good
and the weather is warm. We marched
nine miles and camped near Bloomington
Ferry. We have been paid off again.
PASSING THE OLD HOME.
Luner, May 4.-This is my goth birth
day, and the third one in the service for me.
My battalion marched past our house this
eve and camped in outskirts of town. This
was the first time my father, mother,
brothers and sisters had seen any of my
comrades in service, and felt very proud
when they passed. They were a good,
| hardy-looking lot of soldiers, but the horses
look rather shabby yet.
WinnebagO City, May 1O.-We have been
marching by easy stages. Weather fire,
| but roads poor. We have plenty of feed for
man and horse. All feel first rate and
horses are gaining. We have passed
through st. Peter, Mankato, Garden City,
Vernon and Shelbyville, and so far are just
| having picnic soldering. We have about
half a dozen fiddles and four fiddlers in our
command, and wherever we camp i'll or near
/ a town some of our comrades live there and
are acquainted; then. after getting fixed in
camp and horses taken care OF, we eat a
hasty bite, shine and slick up bit, and
! then il does not take any time TO gather a
lot of pretty girls together and have a
dance and a good time until way along
into the night.
The good-hearted, loyal citizens, as well
as the relatives of some of our comrades. are
/ IlSt a N C "a 40 wi
route, and some of our boys are strung
along the road long ways back visiting
and having good time; discipline is moi
very strictly enforced, especially with the
veterans, for We are in our home country
but going out TO punish the murderous
Sioux for their depredations of two years
ago.
! We have had some affecting scenes alSt
in saying good-by's once more TO Ou
mothers, sisters and best girls. We have
passed some farm houses along the road:
where some of our boys lived and where il
our absence South fighting for our countr,
there had been some members of thei
families slain by the bloodthirsty Sioux.
INDIAN MAsSACgES.
=. 1 passed the homestead of a family b,
name of Bloom near New Ulm. | was vel
acquainted with these folks; they came from
Cincinnati with us in 1856 This family
consisted of IL people, and all We're mur
dered with but one exception during tn
attack on New Ulm in August, 1862; tn
, youngest a babe of about six months, tn
fiends had roasted alive on cook stove ant
left it there.
AS we stood around the group of mound
; that marked their graves we all promise,
one another TO ayenge their deaths and no
take prisoner. we kept our pledge, 70
our battalion made good Indians of all W
got hold OF in our campaigning that fol
; lowed in 1854, 1866, and until mustered ou
J in 1869
May 18.-Camped at Spirit Lake, Iowa
on the farm belonging to the Gardne
family, and near the spot where nine mem
bers of this family were bruiaily murdere,
by the Sioux in March, 1856, under th
leadership of sub-chief, Inpaducah. l