The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-02
LOCATING OLD n. D.
BATTLE GROUNDS
VETERAN LEADERS OF EARLY IN.
DIAN WARS TELLS OF FAM
Gus BATTLES FOUGHT.

Dickinson, N. d., May 2.-Latent
memories of bye-gone days when
dangers of the sky and land threaten
ed the trespassers in the unknown land
or the Missouri slope were revived this
week with the appearance in the city
of Col L. c. Ives, of Marshalltown. s.
D., and Capt. S. s. Campbell, of SEN
ttnel Butte. These two veterans of In
dian campaigns gathered about them
a group of pioneers who had seen
service in the battles coincidenr with
turning raw country into a land Of
| homes, churches and schools.
These two warriors marched with
General Sully in the year 1S46, from
| Sioux. Falls, S, D., clear through to the
end OF his famous Indian campaign.
They went through the battle at the
Killdeer mountains, the battle at Flat
Top Butte, and the long running fight
westward to the Yellowstone. Their
mission Is now one of memory and an
probation of the men who lost their
lives in that memorable campaign.
At the last meeting of the G. A. r.,
Of the state Of South Dakota, Colonel
Ives was commissioned to take up
again the old trail and mark to the
best Of his memory the battle grounds
on which lives were lost. When this is
accomplished, the South Dakota state
encampment will ask the government
to mark, with appropriate monuments,
the battle grounds Of the Sullv cam
paign.
Colonel Ives summoned to his aid
Captain Campbell a comrade of the
march, and the two veterans left the
city Wednesday in wagon TO go over
again the scenes of their youth and to
try and select the exact location OF the
battles.
Captain Campbell, fortunately. kept
dairy of every day of the march and
this valuable document is now being
used in following the campaign. Forty
six years is a considerable lapse of
time, but the binding of the dairy holds
together. and bears marks OF much
rough usage.
The battle at, the Killdeer mountains
contains much of local interest as two
battalions commanded by General Sui
ly made camp on the Heart river
east Of Dickinson and at that point re-
ceived word from the scouts that the
Indians were camped about seventy
five miles northwest. The battalions.
composed of 1000 men and q battery
of eight cannon, began the march at
once and met and battled with the
horde OF Indians around the base of
the mountains.
The battle began at daybreak and
lasted throughout the day although
the backbone of the Indian army was
broken with the capture of it's camp.
When asked as to the number of In
Campbell said, "Well, we didn't know
exactly, but from what could see with
spy glass / judge there was enough
OF them to eat us if we had been fried"
AS matter of fact the Indian army
did include all the Sioux and general
representation from all the tribes then
living in the northwest. A great many
of the Indians were present at the
Custer massacre and the tactics adopt
ed In that bloody work were attempt
ed in the Killdeer fight but without
avail, as General Sully kept his menaon
the move and charge after charge re-
suited In breaking up the circular for
nation of the redskins. The date of
the battle was July %, 1864.
When night fell the Indians were
scattered and their camp destroyed
and one Of the most merciless OF In
dian campaigns begun. On August
5. a detachment Of General Sullys
forces met and gave battle to a band
of warriors at Flat Top Butte, and in
engagement Colonel Ives received an
arrow through his thigh. He still car
ries the arrow, but in his pocket. The
head is of beaten steel and was fasten- I
ed TO the arrow BY means OF thin strips
of bark.
The brigade crossed the Little Mis-
souri, near Medora, and continued west
to q point near Glendive where two 1
supply boats awaited 1t and the
were given treatment
The veterans expect to be out of
town several days looking over the
battle grounds and will then make their
recommendation to the State Encamp-
ment Of South Dakota.
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Dakctan Found Dead in Bed.