Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-04-21
CHAPTER ~.

Forces Of Expedition Leaving Big
\ Stone Lake-The Red River Valley
Celebrating the Fourth Of July on
the Big Sheyenne River-old Indian
& BattIefield-a Tragic Combat.
Fastening northward from the Trap
per's Well, our detached reconnoiter-
ing force passed Lake Wambag and
established our northern outpost at
Kettle Lake, where Fort Wadsworth
was subsequently built.
From there we continued our course
to sBear Den Hills" on the Sheyenne,
to where old Fort Ransom was
located.
& Meanwhile the main forces of the
sibley expedition moved out from Big
Stone Lake, on the 26th of June, and
marched along the western shore of
Lake Traverse in the direction of
Devils Lake; learning that Little
Grow and his bands of hostile Sioux
were located there.
North of Lake Traverse, the coun-
try spreads out into a low level
prairie-a remarkable fiat from
whose western verge the eye seeks
in vain for any relieving ,undulation.
This level plain, called the plateau of
the Bots de Sioux, connects with the
famous Red river valley; through
which the Bots de Sioux, the Maple
and Wild Rice rivers make their way
to the Red river, through narrow
canal-like channels while from the
northeast the Ottertal gyrates:-But
why digress? "'.
The great valley of the Red River Of
the North is too well known to require
much notice here. 1t has long since
received the polished touch from
eminent and favorite living writers.
It will be sufficient to observe that be-
tween the plateaus of the Bots de
Sioux and the Sheyenne river, the
lands become higher and undulating,
while the country lying near the latter
stream assumes a bold character, and
the swelling surfaces take the form of
terraces and ridges. The Sheyenne
river, moderately fringed with timber,
flows through deep channel en-
closed by high bluffs, conspicuous as
land marks and associated with thrill
ing "reminiscences of Indian legendary
lore. We struck the river, at our first
crossing, near the Great Bend, on the
third of July, "a time to celebrate our
great National holiday.
On the following day, a reconnoiter-
ing detachment of twenty-five men
from our regiment was ordered to
ride out on the old Red river trail and
look for reinforeements and supplies
that were to come in from Fort
sAEbercronbie and join our forces
there. Having performed our mis-
sion, and not meeting the expected
Red river supply train; we moved
down to the banks of the Sheyenne
ancient battlefield and Indian FORTH
cation that was located there. We
soon reached the old eaTth-works,
which were situated on the edge of a
terrace, a short distance from the
river and flanked on one side by a
deep gully. It consisted of two con-
centric ridges of earth about eighteen
inches in height that enclosed an area
of a little less than one acre. Distinct
traces of the boundaries of the old
fertilization were easily located and
showed that the selection of the place
was well suited for defence in Indian
warfare. ssl 81. 81, III: >ssss:t =
On the inside of the old embark
ment were too small mounds and
several cellar shaped cavities; while
outside the earthwork and near the
edge of the terrace, were other holes
exea rated, but almost obliterated by
& the rayages of time; and overgrown
with snail trees and bushes. 9
On lie upper end of the terrace, a
short distance from the old fortified,
tfon; a large cone shaped mound had
/ been raised. The summit was en-,
@circled with old decayed Buffalo skulls
outward-and the apex top.
ped out with a small pile of stones;
that had held in place an upright pole
J or post long since decayed and fallen
down. Judging from what was found
we concluded that at sometime in the
distant past the Sheyennes and AS.
sinaboine Sioux had fought a bloody
and decisive battle there; and the
bones that lay buried beneath the
mound were the remains of the van.
pushed that were slain during the
siege at the old Indian fort In sup.
port of that theory, the writer takes
the liberty OF presenting the follow.
ing brief mention of the Sheyenne
Indiana, as given by Washington Irv-
ing; In his history of Captain Bonne-
5l Il -. .