The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1914-09-10
WHlTESTONE BATTLE Is
COMMEMORATED SUNDAY


The fifty-Rrst anniversary Il the
battle Of whitestone Hill was observed
last Sunday, Sept. 9Th. The annlvss
sary date occurs on the 3rd, but owing
to the fact that the governor could
not attend on that date, It was post
poned until the 9Th.
Almost beautiful day It was, and tie
roads were everything that could Be
desired. From early morning until
three o'clock in the afternoon crowds
Of people kept moving that way.
mostly in automobiles but many IN
buggies and wagons.
Shortly after the noon hour II looked
Is II about 1900 people had gathered
on this now celebrated hill. The ~
tos and rigs were scattered at the base
in every direction. What . beautiful
outlook there is from that hill! Il b
the highest Of the surrounding knons.
You can look far in every direction.
The Indians had used this for their
lookout. To the west is, or was, . little
lake. Around this the Indians had en-
camped. Their tepees surrounded the
lake, rs here they were engaged In
laying in their winters supply Of buff
falo meat and hides, when they were
discovered by our soldiers. The pic
lures Of that memorable fight have
been in these columns time and again,
by survivors of the battle.
At this anniversary there were on
the battlefield two Indians who were
but boys at the time of the battle. The
elder one, Take-the-Shield, was .
young man Of eighteen and made his
escape north during the progress Of
the battle. The younger one was seven
1T that time. There are some points
Of difference between the stories Of the
surviving Indians and those Of the
soldiery who had taken part. At the
time Of the dedication in 1909, vet
Grams Of the Iowa cavalry were pres
ent and they explained that the battle
took place north Of wnere the monu-
ment now stands, while the Indians
contend that it took place on the side
hill! to the east. DR.. A. Nc Beede, who
came with four Indians from the Fort
Yates reservation, visited the cd bat-
tlefeld last Saturday, and there ~
battle was described Is It had been
drawn on paper by the red men prior
to their going to the scene:
Governor Hanna and Curator Fish
Of the Historical Society came to Mcr-
ricourt from Bismarck on SATURDAYS
train and remained there until
taken to the battlefield Sunday in the
big car Of Geo. T. Webb. Rev. A. Nc
Beede, who brought four Indians from
the Fort Yates reservation with him,
arrived at Glendale and was taken to
the grounds the day before rs well as
on Sunday by A. h. McMaster Of Ell
lendale.
The Times man just arrived at
Whitestone Hill in time to hear the
last Of the three Indians who spoke.
The Indian told how they were driven
of their lands by the white men, their
lands stolen from them, that they were
. peaceful nation, and al they wanted
was to be let alone. Instead of this
they were driven OFF .nat the white
men might have the LANDS for them
selves. He was glad to be here and
meet so many white people.
After all had eaten Of their basket
luncheon. Attorney ]. NJ. Austin Of
Ellenda!e, who had charge Of the cer-
emonies, introduced Rev. A. Nc Beed,,
who has been . missionary among the
Indians for the past forty years.
Rev. Nc Beede showed himself to be
. friend Of the Indian. This race Of
Santee Sioux that General Sully found
on Whitestone Hill was not warlike,
but IN agricultural race. They were
rather unfortunate in 1863 with their
corn crop on account Of hailstorms and
were engaged in getting their buffalo
beef and hides to keep them through
the winter. They knew General Sully
was on the Missouri moving towards
them, but even when the troops ar
rived the Indians had no idea Of any
battle. The soldiers were goaded to
the slaughter for revenge Of the In
dian massacres 1t New Ulm and Spirit
Lake in Minnesota and Iowa. DR.. Nc
Beede enumerated the Indian trophies
taken by our soldiers in that battle
and it footed up 1t "curio-relic" prices
to $2.s25,S2s. That Is the amount. he
said, We took from these farming In-
dians. Dr.. Nc Beede was rather biased
in his remarks. OF course he had to
say something to please the Indians
and did it very nicely.