The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1913-02-01
GOVT C0RRALS LOCATED
JACKSON TELLS THE PRESS
Old Ut Man Writes From Texas. Indians Fought Capt. Fisk Near
Marma hand Tried to Ransom Mrs. Kelly for Two Loads Of
Provisions Curator Fish Will Visit Historic Spot
in the Spring for Research

the Bad Lands or 1870 miles travel, ac-
cording to their records. and y miles
east of Thick Timbered river, Gan east
branch of the Little Missouri river.) At
this place they were attacked by Indi-
ans on the rear and several of their men
killed. The Indians followed for three
days attacking them at different times
and succeeding in contiscating several
of their wagons loaded with ammu-
milton.
They were nearing the Bad Lands
then and as they could plainly
see that this was natural fortitication,
where the Indians could easily dispute
the passage Of the white men, they
decided to stop and throw up an en-
trenchment and dispatch messengers
to Fort Rice for reinforcements. Lieut..
Smith and a squad of 13 men got away
in the night and Is days later Gen.
Sully. with force of /, 900 strong and
several days. rations, came to their as
sistance.
1t is said that their little fortifcation
was a strong one. The men worked
hard digging trenches and throwing up
sod walls to protect their wagons and
themselves and after three days the In
dians got discouraged and went back
a little. probably to get REINFORCE
ments or to await the advancement of
the train. At any rate. Capt. Fisk and
his train of people welcomed Sully and
were glad to return with him to Fort
Rice. 1t is mentioned here that Capt.
Fisk had discovered an open plateau
between the Bad Lands and the Black
Hills which he thought would be a
feasible route should they continue their
| journey west One of the diaries also
mentions that the fighting was done in
deep ravine with hills all around.
The hills were covered on the top with
red stone and the battle was appropri-
ateIy called the Battle of the Red
Buttcs.
At this time Gen. SuIly had just re-
turned from march down the Yellow
stone and Missouri rivers. after fighting
the battle of the Kildeers and pursuing
the Indians west into the Bad Lands.
It will also be remembered by our
readers, from an article published early
last summer, that during the summer of
1864, Mrs Kelly. a white woman, was
Na|, ht.1I hxr
the Indians. She was spared the scalp
ing knife or other barbarous means Of
death at the time of the battle of the
KiIdeers because OF her skill in dressing
the wounds of their Injured and other
wise caring for their sick and wounded.
Size was with them again when they at
tackled Capt. Fisk's train in the country
southwest and acted as their interviewer,
writing cut their messages to Capt.
Fisk. By careful ca'cI'aton she man
aged always to add a few words to their
to rescue her and warning them of their
danger Later the Indians took her to
Fort Pierre fer the promised ransom
and by her warnings the Indians plan
for taking the fort at that time was in
tercepted. Subsequently congress voted
Mrs. Kelly SIS, 600 for saving Fort Pierre.
In 1870 Mrs. Kelly wrote a book called,
my Captivity Among the Indians. -
She died in Washington city about
seven years ago. An only son resides
in Jefferson. Okla.