Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-13
SHAFT MARKS INDIAN FIGHT
Monument Unveiled Today at White.
stone Hill. N. b.
NEBRASKA TROOPS IN ACTION
These, with Mel From Iowa, RE-
venEed Massacre of whites ny
siOux in NIinnesOta-Many
killed.

CAKES, N. u, oct. i9.-(special) -An
event OF more than passing interest to the
people and to the history OF North Dakota
and the northwest will take place six miles
west Of Merricourt. this state, tomorrow.
when the monument to commemorate the
famous battle of whitestone Hin will be
unveiled and dedicated. The battle was
fought by Iowa and Nebraska troops in
1868 under the leadership OF prominent pio-
neers against the Sioux under the leader
ship of Chief Little Grow. who had com
mitted depredations In Minnesota, among
them the massacre at New Ulm.
The monument Is OF gray granite, Ia
twenty-five feet high from base to top and
cost in the neighborhood Of 1900. 1t is
the work of a celebrated sculptor I'm Quincy,
Mass. and a true work Of art is the figure
at the top OF a uniformed cavalryman with
a bugle to his lips.
Governor John Burke OF North Dakota
will accept the monument on behalf OF the
state, and 1t will be unveiled by Mrs. Ger
trude Ryan. a daughter OF Colonel Wilson
Of Dubuque, Ia. who commanded the Sixth
Iowa cavalry during the Whitestone battle.
Ex-Congressman Thomas F. Marshall will
deliver the address Of welcome and j. H.
~ ~ @tA4NA Va IA AM0AA III DakoAa kAA
cultural college, will deliver the main ad-
dress of the day. ]. w. Foley, the WELL
known North Dakota author, will read a
poem which he has written for the event,
Many leading speakers from the state OF
Nebraska and Iowa will be present, all Of
whom will deliver short addresses. Sur
vivors of the battle will be here from eli
over the west.
Marks Spot where Men Felt.
Tie Whitestone battlefield is six miles
west Of Merricourt, on the 500 railway, and
contains about seventy acres, and the mon
unent has been erected at the spot where
the main part Of the battle took place and
where most Of the soldiers killed in the
battle fell.
This battle occurred on September 5 1868.
The troops engaged in the battle were the
Sixth Iowa cavalry, the Second Nebraska
cavalry and a company hat was raised
near Sioux City, la. The Sixth Iowa was
led by Lieutenant Colonel Pollock, who had
Indian blood in his veins. Colonel Furnas
commanded the Second Nebraska and Gen
eral Suily was in supreme command. There
was also a battery Of four 12-pound guns
commanded by Lieutenant Krunic of Iowa
The Sioux Indians we're the same tina,
butchered the inhabitants of New Ulm,
Mimi, in the same year, and were led b.
that blood-thirsty warrior, Chief Little
Grow.
The expedition left Sioux City, and jour
neyed' up the Missouri river to the mouth
of Grow creek, where It stayed several
weeks. From there the troops moved tC
the mouth of Cheyenne river and there
went across land toward Devils lake. A,
DEVILS AXE instructions were sent to move
on to Fort Pierre, S. D., where 1t was ssid
the ndlan were in force. Upon arriving
at Fort Pierre, the services of a guide
named Frank Frinnbolse were secured
but the man who proved to be the rea
guide was a full-blooded Sioux Indian
/ called Fool Dog. The companies ther
moved on in light marching order. did mo-
carry much but rations and ammunition
and one blanket for each man and tents
During the march the weather at times
was bitter cold and one fierce hailstorm
swept over the cavalry. When the jim
river was reached the buffalo country wat
entered and there the first Indian signs
were seen. II seemed hat here were
millions OF buffalo, so the survivors say
and all along at this point were seer
carcasses of buffalo, which had been killed
and stripped by the Indians.
Reward Offered Scouts.
In the meantime a reward had been Of
fered to the scout first sighting the In
dians in force. Camp had been pitched a
noon on the Sd, when a scout galloped in
rushed to headquarters. and in an instan
the bugle sounded, boots and saddle anC
in just eighteen minutes the troops wer,
in line, excepting one battalion which wa.
lee 18Th 9ha frafas EaRaraI EulIy Wna,
down the line. 1t was a saying among hi
men. when the iron grey comes out lool
for trouble" He said: Boys you did /
well. Fours to the right"
The troops were soon on a run and tn,
distance of twelve miles TO the Indian CAM
was made in an hour. The engagement
Immediately began and lasted for over al
hour. The Indians far ~outnumbered tn
whites, and at one time it seemed as I
the battle would be far in their favor, bu
the troops rallied and fought like demons
amid q perfect rain Of arrows and fiercr
hand TO and fight with Indian
carrying t~omahawks. The battery dh
fierce execution. which finally caused tn
Indians to break and run, followed by tn
fire Of the soldiers and the battery, whlel
killed many Indians and horses. Tn
troops IOllONeO the freeing WhIflOrb, Wni
scattered in all directions, but were unabl
TO do much as darkness had fallen. Whil
the troops were in pursuit some of tn
redskins returned and carried off some o
the dead and wounded soldiers, as we'll a
many of their own numbers.
In the neighboThood of thirty soldier
were Killed and twice that numbe
wounded. About 200 Indians were kllle,
and ound and about that number o
warriors, papooses and children taken pris
oners.
TIE first thing General Sully did afte
the ba tie was to take care OF the squaw
and children, many Of whom were wounds
ana killed. Next he ordered all the tepees
buffalo meat and robes and other India
property burned. There was so much mea
that when It was. burned a solid strear
OF tallow ran from 1t.
Guerilla Warfare Follows.
The soldiers remained on the field 70
several days after the battle and scoutin
parties were constantly on the alert 10
Indians. After more soldiers had bee
killed than Indians this method was aban
doned and the troops prepared for tn