Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1913-04-17
THE OLD SIBLEY TRAIL

THE OLD S|bLEY TRAIL
EFFORT 10 BE MADE TO LOCATE
LINE OF MARCH-THE SIBLEY
CAMPAIGN AGAINST INDIANS
Curator Fish of the State Histor-
ical Society, has had some corre-
spondence with Capt Dana Wright
in regard to the exact trail followed
by General Sibley when he made
his famous campaign against the
Indians in what is now North Dako-
ia, in 1868. Captain Wright is in
terested in such matters and has
personally been over q portion of
the old Sibley trail, and visited the
Big Mound battle field north of Tap
pen in Kidder county. which is now
marked by several head boards and
monuments showing the spot where
one of the most noted Indian fights
in the history of the state occurred.
He secured relics from the battle
field consisting of scalping knife,
bullets, and several other articles,
from boys who live in the vicinity.
o. G. Wall of Washington has writ
ten a very interesting account of
the Sibley campaign, the book being
published in 1909. He was a men,
ber of the expedition. This infor-
nation, together with the official re-
port of the campaign made to the
war department., and much other
data gathered by Col. Lounsberry
and by the State Historical Society
is Of interest to the residents of the
state.
The central and eastern parts of
North Dakota have not a very ex-
tended history of battlefields, the
records being mostly of the settlers
peaceful subjugation of the soil af-
ter the Indians and buffaloes disap-
peared, and after the railroads came
as the pioneer advance agents. But
along the Missouri river there are
many interesting spots where white
and Indian tragedies occurred, and
west of the Missouri river there
were severai sharp Indian engage
ments. Along that historical stream
the life Of the trapper. woodchopper,
fur trader and the pioneer soldier
was the most active, and there is
where the early history of the state
is of the greatest moment.
The Sibley Campaign.
The campaign of General Sibley
started from New Ulm, Mimi, and
its object was to punish the Sioux
and other tribes for their atrocious
massacre of white settlers in Min
nesota. The Indians paid dearly
afterwards for their temporary vic
tories and slaughter of defenseless
women and children in Minnesota.
General Sibley, on his campaign
into North Dakota to punish the In,
dians for their murders, entered the
territory of Dakota at Big Stone
lake, and was at old Ft. Abercrom-
bic, from which place he started
northwest striking the Sheyenne at
Lisbon, southeast of Valley City,
and continuing up that stream he
made a permanent camp near what
is now Lake Jesse, in Griggs ceun-
ty. At that place he left small
force and camp equipage, and start
ed after the Indians with 2,056 men,
comprising 1896 infantry, 500 cav
airy and some artillery. The route
from Lake Jesse was southwest
through what is now Stutsman coun-
ty, and the battle of Big Mound was
fought in Kidder county July "a,
1868. The old fortifications show
p1AlUly lu0 C6Mp AA0V0 W SAA0 1AOASS
soldiers. which was near what was
then an alkali lake. The Indians
were defeated in pitched battle
which came about unexpectedly. 1t
was evident that the Indians desired
to make peace with Sibley. lay down
their arms and 60 upon q govern
ment reservation. A conference
was being held between few In
dian chiefs and the federal officers
at point midway between the ranks
of the Indians and the camp of the
soldiers. Among those attending
the conference was Surgeon Wetser.
without warning and against the
intention Of the Indians. q young
savage crept up behind Weiser and
shot him in the back. killing him IN
stantly. This unexpected Interrupt
!. n0OnfX0ttnnA