The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1909-08-19

talon was in a trap. We numbered
about three hundred, while there must
have been fully two thousand Sioux
braves. Major House, seeing how we
were fixed, to kill time until Sully
should show up, had his interpreter
call loudly to the chiefs to surrender
and turn over their arms and save
lives as the Good Father at Washing
ton did not like to have to fight Indians
and only wanted to be at peace with
them. They hurled back words of de-
fiance and commenced the war dance
and painted themselves for the fight.
They said they would wait until near
sundown and thought they might have
more American horses-the braves
liked to possess one to chase buffaloes
with.
About the time they got fixed for the
fight General Sully's command showed
up, coming on a trot, and their war
songs changed somewhat. We took
courage and mounted our horses and
galloped over to the east end of the
lake when Sully's command took the
west side and ends and we had the
tables turned. General Sully parleyed
with them asking them to surrender
and give up their arms. They only
wanted out of this box and started fir
ing on the south side of the lake when
all at once a terrible volley of musketry
was heard in all directions and the bat
tie was on and ''going some." At
some places the Indians and troopers
were having it hand to hand. They
failed to beat through the south line
and we drove them a.most into the
lake when their chiefs cried aloud,
''Get away!' and a body of hostiles
with buffalo robes over their heads
beating Indian drums stampeded the
horses of Company ''K" of the Sixth
and through this opening they ran. 1t
was here we moved them down with
revolver and saber until it was too dark
to follow them further. Lieut.. Leavitt,
adjutant of the Sixth Cavalry. was
killed and Col. Wilson'S horse was shot
under him. It was said we killed over
three hundred of them. They came in
the darkness and carried away many of
their dead. We lost over twenty
killed and fifty wounded. Many with
arrow wounds afterward died. We
took two hundred and fifty prisoners,
squaws, papooses and old men, besides
hundreds of ponies and dogs and camp
plunder. We found many articles and
trinkets proving that some of these
same Indians were in the New Ulm and
Spirit Lake massacres. Major Houses
battalion should feel thankful to God
that Sully came in the right time. Still
we would have put up the best fight
we could. But three hundred to two
thousand the odds were too great.
I am sorry I did not know Of the
dedication sooner as I might have so
shaped my affairs that might be pre-
sent and meet some Of the Sixth Cav
airy who were in this fight. would
very much like to receive a paper CIV
ing an account of the dedication, also
like to have list OF names of sixth regi-
ment in attendance.
I contemplate writing up for my chill
dren General Sully's three campaigns
in the Dakotas, '63, "a, '65 and could
refresh somewhat on those events
could I meet some of the ''boys." It
is nearly half a century since the cam
paign and ones memory is likely to be
little t'off."
Again thanking the grand people Of
Dickey county for this tribute to my
old regiment and that God may bless
every one Of them, I am,
Very respectfully,
M. j. Feenan,
Late Sergeant Co. IN" 9Th Ia. Cav.