Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-22
MEMORY OF AN INDIAN WAR
South Dakota Grand Army Marks
Some Battlefields.
sULLY EXPEDITION AGAINST SIOUX
One of the Most Important of the
Campaigns that Broke the Power
of the Great Indian Federa-
tion of Northwest.

SIOUX FALLS S. D., May 2.-(Special.)
The state encampment In June of the
Grand Army OF the Republic. Department
of South Dakota, will inaugurate a move
ment having for Its purpose the making of
the necessary appropriation by congress for
the erection of monuments marking the
principal battle grounds of the expedition of
General sully against the Sioux Indians in
1864. This expedition had much to do with
bringing peace to what now are the states
of Montana, North Dakota and South Da-
kota and transforming a wild Indian coun-
try into a land of homes. churches and
schools.
At the last encampment of the South Da-
gotta Grand Army of the Republic Colonel
l.. c. Ives of Morristown was appointed
committee of one to travel over the route
followed by General Sully and his expedi-
ton and locate the several battle grounds
of the campaign. Colonel Ives, a few days
ago, completed the journey and now Is pre-
pairing his report, and upon this will be
based a memorial 10 congress asking that
money be appropriated for the erection OF
monuments at points which have become
historical by reason OF the conflicts waged
there between the warlike Sioux and the
soldiers of Uncle Sam, who were engaged
In paving the way for civilization TO be
carried to this part of the northwest.
Veterans of sulIy's Army.
Colonel Ives was accompanied on the
journey by Captain s. 8, Campbell OF SEN
4 tnel Butte. These two men marched with
General Sully on his memorable campaign,
accompanying the expedition from Sioux
Falls 10 the close OF the campaign. AS
members Of the expedition they were par
Elephants in the battle of Kildeer noun
talns, the battle of Flat Top Butte and in
the long running fight between the soldiers
and the Indians westward TO the Yellow
stone river The South Dakota Grand
Army of the Republic desires to have the
government erect the monuments as a tes-
tlmonial of appreciation OF the men who
lost their lives In that memorable cam
paign.
The two veterans who went over the
route of the Sully expedition Travelled In a
wagon. Fortunately, Captain Campbell had
Kept a diary OF every day OF the march
OF the Sully expedition. and this valuable
record was utilized in following the route
of the Sully expedition, which extended
from Sioux Falls in northwesterly direc-
ton through the northwestern part OF
South Dakota. southwestern portion OF
North Dakota and westward into Montana
The Kildeer mountains, situated in north
western North Dakota. are in the region
in which Theodore Roosevelt afterward en-
gagged In ranching and acquired his life
long love for the west
While General Sully and his command
Was encamped on the Heart river, near
the present town OF Dickinson, he received
word from his scouts that the hostile In
dams were eamped about seventy-five miles
to the northwest. The command consisting
OF 1000 men and battery OF eight guns
began the march at once and met and
1uoatued with the large force OF Sioux al
We base OF the Kildeer mountains
The battle began at daybreak aud con
ipued throughout the day, although the
&sckoone OF The Indian resistance was
broken when the troops captured the In
dian camp. When asked as TO the number
Of Indians participating in the battle, Cap
tain Campbell replied:
well, We didn't know exactly, but from
what | could see with a spyglass. L Judge
there were enough OF them to eat us IL we
had been fried"
sioux In Full strength.
AS a matter OF fact. the Indian army
included the greater part OF all the sioux
warriors in the country and a general rep
Hsentation from all the other Indian
bss, then living in the northwest. A
Ereatlkpany OF the Sioux engaged in the
TbattIe Of kideer mountains twelve year.