The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-09-16
Publishes a Long Letter in the
Lincoln (Neb.) News
Detailing the Fight.

ClLaIlOn IL, Ol TedcIllNS CNlS arClcle
referred to me, to say nothing, as COM
parisons of valor are not in good taste;
but on reflection, when know that no
regiment that went out in the civil
war had fairer and better reputation
than the Second Nebraska, represent
ing my own state, most of them now
dead. it would seem to be duty on US
all, to at least give the approved facts
when their memory is attacked by i'm
plication.
The facts are that Colonel R. w.
Furnas was in command at the battle
of Whitestone Hill, General Sully be-
ing at camp IS. The article goes on to
state that in the battle Colonel Will
sons horse was shot from under him.
There must be mistake about this,
for if he had been there at all, he, by
by reason of being colonel of the Sixth
Iowa cavalry, would have been in COM
mand. instead Of Major House, but
enough, let facts be su. mitted to a
candid world.
Here is the official report of the bat
tie Of Whitestone Hill as made by
Colonel Furnas:
Headquarters Second Neb.
Cav, Camp No. IS.
Dakota Territory, Sept. 6, 1868.
Sir: On the 22d of August, 1863,
left the mouth of Little Cheyenne
river, Dakota Territory, under COM
mand of Brig. Gen. Sully, in company
with the remainder of the troops of
the generals expedition, arriving at
the foot of Long Lake, Dakota Ter
ritory, on the 28th day of the same
month, where it was hoped, we might
encounter the hostile Indians. Scout
ing parties sent out in various direc-
tions returned and reported no Indians
to be found; but the trail of Gen. Sib-
ley's command, on Apple creek; was
discovered; and an old Indian, captured
some days before, reported that Gen.
sibley had been through that country
a short time previous, and had two
fights; and that many Indians had
crossed the Missouri river after the
fight; but had recrossedi iE the direction
of Elm river, Dakota Territory. On
the march from this camp, additional
scouting parties were sent out by the
general, but without success, and our
rations beginning to run short, the ex-
pedition took a circuitous route for
Fort Pierre, by way of James river.
1t was with feelings of dependency,
at what appeared to be the inevitable
ill-success of the expedition under Gen.
Sully, from causes that could not be
avoided by any human power, that
realized that it must probably return
without accomplishing that for which
it was designed.
On Thursday, September 8, 1868,
about o'clock p. M, and soon after
going into camp, the scouts of the ex.
pedition reported six hundred Indian
lodges ten miles distant, and in com.
pliance with Gen. Sully's orders, l i'm.
mediately proceeded with the eight
companies namely, E, F, G, H, l, K,
L and ny, of the Second Nebraska
cavalry, numbering in all present,
three hundred and fifty in rank and file
under my command, from camp No
IS, to assist Major House, commanding
the Third battalion of the Sixth lowe
cavalry, in surrounding the hostile In
dians.
On approaching the Indian encamp
ment, found Houses battalion drawn
up in order Of battle on the north side
and on reconnoitering the enemy's po
sition, perceived that the Indians were
leaving as fast as possible. l i'm
med;ately ordered Major House to pur
sue on the left flank of the enemy
while l with the Second Nebraska
moved on their right flank. Arriving
opposite that position, l perceived thu
Indians halt, form in line of battle, ap
parently awaiting our attack. l i'm
mediately formed my men in line o,
battle. AS the enemy was thus sit