The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-15

I Of the society to have some of the old
| troopers help us find the place. After
| the corral was established the troopers
took nine days rations for a rapid
march into the Indian country. On
July 26 the army marched one mile
and grazed their horses till 2 o'clock.
Then scouts came in and reported that
they had a skirmish with the Indians.
| Mr.. CampbelPs battalion was put on
double quick for nineteen miles. July
| 81 the army marched twenty miles and
grazed their horses and then marched
ten miles and camped on Knife creek
AT this place there were many petri-
fed stumps and trees. The day Of the
battle, July 2S, the army marched
twelve miles before light and grazed
their horses and took breakfast. After
breakfast they went four miles and
met the main body Of the Indians.
Long Battle Line.
The army formed a line of battle
and for nine miles there was a run
ming fight. This started at nine o'clock
in the morning and all day long the
right battalion fought the Indians
hand to hand. Many of the Indians
had only war clubs and bows and ar
rows and very primitive guns, but
from behind every rock and group OF
trees the arrows showered upon the
troopers. At one time a very large
force of the Indians came in from
the rear and attempted to capture the
battery OF twelve cannon. They made
their way with all the fiendish glee
they could muster, but they did not
reckon on the gunners. They waited
until the Indians got within 200 yards
Of the battery and then let two
charges go. This made an awful
swarth in their ranks, and the Indians
turned like a pack Of frightened sheep
before the onslaught of wolves and
fed, followed by terrific saber charge
by the troopers. This stand was the
turning point in the battle. From this
time on the soldiers had the Indian
on the run for the hills and the saber
was exchanged for the revolver. They
soon had the Indians over the hills
among the brakes. That night under
on the camping grounds, and horses
were picketed over the grave to de- |
stroy all signs of the place.
Indians Hid In Hills.
The next morning, on Friday, July |
20, the soldiers tried to follow the |
Indians, but they could not do it with |
success because of the brake back of |
the hills. The army turned back and
in the dry coulee south of the In
dian camp tons of meat, both jerked
and pemmican, 1000 tents, poles, cloth
ing, blankets were burned.
That afternoon the army marched |
eight miles east to the spring at the
old Craig ranch. Just as the dusk |
was creeping over the army 600 In
dams drove fiercely through the camp |
and tried to stampede the horses. The |
two outer guards were killed, but 9TH |
er than this not a shot was fired or
person hurt. It created a great deal
of excitement for a time, but the
night brought on nothing Of import
ance. This night was vivid in the
memory of Mr. Campbell. He we'll |
remembers looking towards the battle !
grounds many times and seeing the |
constant light of the torches the long
night for the dead and wounded or
for some things which were hidden
in the fight.
During the next two days the army
made their way back 67 miles to the
corrals. In the battle at the Kill
deers or, as the Indians call it, "Ta-
ha-kouty," or the place where they
kill the deer" some 1900 soldiers
were actively engaged against 5000
or 5000 Indians. Sully reported some
$50 of the Indians killed and SOL
diers killed and etaoitaroidetaoirdleta
From this battle ground up to the
Yellowstone and back to Fort Rice the
Indians kept at their heels and the
army had to be on their guard con-
stantly.
1t is the purpose of the Historical
society to mark the route of Sully at
some future day, and it is up to every
citizen of the state to help in this
important work. The society will be
very glad to hear from as many as
possible, so that correct data may be
had for this part of the great civil
war where we so ably played our
hand.