The National tribune., 1911-01-05
LIGHTING THE SIOUX.

dilion TO the Dakota Bad Lands
9Th Iowa Cav. and the Rescue
aptive.
National Tribune: In August,
9Th Iowa Cav, TO which l be-
were campaigning in the Bad
of Dakota against the Sioux
plenty of attacks and repulses
A ye came to the Bad Lands, and
when we came to them we were filed
with awe and wonder. We could see
for miles ahead and to our right and
left the strange hills, buttes and MOUNDS
of all conceivable shapes-all lying far
below the ground upon which we stood.
We sat in the saddle scanning thiS the
greatest wonder of Our-day for some
time in silence. The accepted theory
among US non-geologist Indian hunters
was that perhaps coal had burned be-
meath the ground, allowing the land to
sink. and leave this astonishing sight
Our commaudant, Gen. a. Sully, waved
his hand and passed his sentence on the
Bad Lands, saying: There Is hell WITH
the fire OUT
soon afterwards we entered into the
TakahIakuta battle. During the first
day of solid weeks fighting our
Rlackfoot, and only, guide was shot
and badly wounded. We searched out
our own pass through this land Of ter
ror to the Yellowstone River. It was
a continuous fight for all these days
and nights and water was scarce. Hun
dreds OF team animals and great num-
bers of our beloved cavalry horses were
shot down to save them from slow
death The soldiers would walk from
such sights with tears in their eyes.
After using all5al water for days we
e.und q pure mineral spring. This was
adly accepted by man and beast as a
'ecious boon from Providence. We
ialIy fought these 1000 hard-fghting
arriors TO and across the Yellowstone.
the river we discovered among the
occasined tracks of the Indians the
,arly-delined print Of a white wom-
e shoes in the sands. After crossing
Yellowstone River We gave up the
fnbat.
After recuperating there a few days
started homeward down the Yellow
one, and while on that river We filled
shrinking frames with, an abun-
nce Of deer and elk meat. and final
we reached the old Missouri River at
TT Union. crossed over, and started
18th for Winter quarters. But these
opy thoughts were of brief duration.
iile at Fort Rice we were ordered to
into line for the purpose of getting
unteers to go 10 the relief OF an inn
rant wagon train which had been
eyed by the Indians 200 miles west
u.s. About 1000 volunteered ard
ned to the rescue of this train and
hundreds Of men, women and chill
hey were Minnesotans and on their
TO Montana to escape war drafts,
were hoping to overtake US for
.ecticn. Capt Fisk, a citizen, was
harge Of the train. He slipped two
out by night to bring the news of
condition to our command, which,
snately for them, reached US in
511- Of nc VIA Er-G-1 70
III
arrived in time and found the
igrauts coTraled and surrounded by
rye number Of Indians Soon after
arrival we saw a young buck come
and place a stick in the ground,
I paper in the split end Of stick in
IN view. This Fisk sent for, and
nd it was note written by q white
tive, Mrs. Kelly, by order of the
ef, negotiating a trade for her for
eral wagon loads of food and 40
head Of cattle. Several propositions
were made by exchanging notes in the
same manner. The chief dictated To-
her what to write, but she wrote that
and much more.
Fisk offered the Indians two wagon
loads Of food. with teams in addition
while one Of bisk's men offered all that
he mad $S0e in cash. This offer was
agreed to by the chief with stiDuIa-
1ion thss ali should be sent in advance. |
These conditions were not agreed TO, /
and no deal was made. We were soon
on our way back to the river, where
VIC escorted the party in safety
On Dec. 9, 1864, while at Fort Sully,
a lone Indian brought in a letter from
Mrs. Kelly, stating that on the coming
day she would be at the fort. She eau |
toned us Of their threat to take the
fort. We saw them coming, and all
was in readiness for their reception |
The gates were all closed but the front
one She rode in, and the-gate closed
tn on the redskins. But no fight took
place.
Mrs. Kelly had been captured carly !
in the Spring of 1864. Mr. Kelly's
wagon was robbed and burned in thei
night, while corraled on Platte River, /
NeD., and a number were killed Mr.. (
Kelly escaped, and Mrs. Kelly and the
little girl were taken away. While be- /
ing taken away Mrs. Kelly whispered
TO little Mary 10 slide of the pony theyt
were on, and go back to the big WAGON, /
where she would be found by travellers
Mary obeyed, but had been gone but a
short time when she was missed by the
sayages and was looked for They never
brought her in, and It was believed she
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