The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-01-10
BATTLE OF WHITESIDE
A Historical Sketch Of an Indian
Battle In Dakota.

| North Dakota, are arranging 10
| commemorate the historical battle
| of Whiteside hill which occurred be-
| tween United States sold icrs and the
Sioux Indians in the Campaign OF
| Gtncral Su'ly in the sixties. This
campaigE OF Gen Sully through the
northwest was written mp by Mr..
Frank Myers, OF miller. and publish
ed in the Press several years ago,
also in book form. Mr.. Myers was
! private in the 9th Iowa, which &c
companied the Sully expedition,
and gave a very graphic description
of the trip. The following is found
in tho Faulkton Republican, and re-
produced for it's historical intere st
Little has been written about the
battle because it occurred attke time
while public attention was directed
to larger affairs of the rebellion. but
las compared with the battles
OF the Spanish war it was a
terrific engagement and OF first i'm
portance to the frontier.
1t will be recalled that in the In
dian campaign OF 1868 It was plan
ned by General Pope, in command Of
the department OF the northwest to
have General Silsby cross from Big
Stone Lake to the Missouri, by the
wny of Devils lake. While General
Sully should move up the Missouri
to make n junction with Silsby in
the neighborhood of Bismark, be
lievinG that thereby the hostiles
would be caught between the two
armies and crushed, thus ending the
war in a single campaign. But the
best laid plans %miscarry, particular
ly when success depends upon NOV
ing two armies from different direc-
tons a distance OF five hundred
miles to meetin the wilderness at
On indeterminata point. Silsby
reached the Missouri before Sully
got up the river and found the Indi-
q at about the point General Pope
had anticipated and fought them Mt
Apple creek and drove them ncross
tbs Missouri. He then retired to the
Minnesota border. A few dayslater
Sully came up to. learn that the hos
tiles had recfossed to the other eide
OF the river and passed down TO the
buffalo country In the james valley .
Suily followed and bv the morning
OF Sept. 3rd had by the clear indica.
tons OF the trail. come close upon
the iugitiyes. The brigade remain
ed in camp and the third battalion,
consisting OF companies G. F. l. and
N. OF the Sixth Iowa, under com.
mand OF Major A. E. House. was sent
out on a scout, guided by d well
known frontier sman, Francis La
Fr0mboise, who kept several miles
In advance and signaled the battal-
ion from the hill tops, which were
numerous. The prairie was strewn
with tho remains Of recently slaugh-
tered buffalo. At noon when the de.
tachment was resting and grazing
their horses. LaFramboise came in
and reported twenty lodges OF the
hostiles five miles tn the southeast.
Major House Mt once ordered his de-
tachment forward. keeping inf the
low grounds ind valleys out o. sight
OF the Indians. They we're camped
ON n small lake in the hills OF what
is now western Dickey county. about
six miles north OF the Sonth Dakota
line. The hills were covered with
white stones, hence tina name which
was attached to the battlefield.
General Sully and the main forces
were twelve miles away.
SOLDIERS ESTRAPpRD.
Major House approached the camp
on n sharp gallop, and as his men
turned into the valley OF the lake
they were startled to ind that they
we're directly upon the entire hand
OF the enemy. fully 5000 savages.
The column halted sharply and the
men spring to the ground, guns I'm
hand. The Indians. though likewise