The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-05-08

DICKINSON PreSS: Far more inter-
esting than fiction are some of the in
cidents and experiences in connection
with the early history of u state.
This early history, for the most part,
is a struggle between the Indians and
the white men, the former fighting
strenuously to maintain the possession
of their hunting grounds and hitherto
~undisputed domain. while the whites
sought to subdue them and open the
country for settlement and civiliza-
ton.
The Press has at different times
published articles relating to some in
cident of the early history of North
Dakota, for which we have been great
ly indebted to Curator Fish of the state
historical society. Mr.. Fish is working
earnestly to compile a history of the
state that will be complete and accu-
rate and it is often difficult to ecure
the necessary data for which he has to
depend, in a good many cases, on
diaries and memories of those who
participated in the early struggles or
shared the hardships Of the pioneer
days. .tie
The year. 1864 is an important one in
our history. In this year were the
memorable frontier marches of Gener-
al Sully, Captain Ffske and others and
in this ear was fought the greatest
battle in the history of the state-the
battle of the Kildeer mountains. This
took place on July 20, 1854, on what is
nov the Diamond G and Ross ranches
near the Kildeers. A. T. Crowl of
this city, c. G. Campbell of Sentinel
Butte and L. Conklin, father of Mrs.
Ross of Cakdale, took part in the fight
under General Sully and have furnish
ed Mr.. Fish with much information as
to the details.
General Sully and his men left Sioux
City, Ia, on May 81 and established
Fort Rice July 8, which was about
eighteen miles below where Mandan
now stands and ten miles north of the
mouth of the Cannon Ball. From this
place they proceeded west to the In
dian stamping grounds and on July rs
the whole army corraled the extra
horses and teams of eighty immigrant
families at a place on Heart river
south of where Antelope is now locat-
ed. On the following day they took
nine days rations for a rapid march
into the Indian country and on July 26
the scouts reported a skirmish with
the Indians. On the night Of July n
they encamepd on Knife river On
the morning of the battle the army
marched twelve miles before breakfast
and after proceeding four miles met the
Indians; they formed in line Of battle
and engaged in a nine-miIe running
fight. All day long the right battal-
ion fought hand to hand Inc in the
evening a squad of Indians attempted
to capture the battery of twelve cam
mons from the rear. When they got
within 200 yards two charges were
fired and Sully's men followed them up
with a terrific saber charge. This
marked the turning point of the battle.
That night General Sully buried those
of his men who had been killed, three
or four as near as can be remembered,
and picketed the horses over the
graves to destroy all signs. 1t has
been estimated that $50 of the Indians
were killed but those who were in the
fight say that the numbers were much
greater.
The next night a band Of 500 In
dams drove fiercely through the camp
ing place Of Sully's army and tried to
stampede both horses and men, and
succeeded in killing two of the guards.
After this the Indians travelled to the
bad lands where their women had fed
at the time Of the battle and Sully and
his men marched back to the corral at
Antelope. After a few days they
pushed on westward meeting the In
dams between the Little Missouri and