Sioux County pioneer., 1915-07-30
NYSTREY EXPLAINED
STUDENTS FIND SKELETON OF
INDIAN AT LAKE kAMPEskA,
FIVE MILES FROM CITY.
HAPPENINGS OF THE STATE
What 10 Going On Here and There
That is Of Interest to the Read.
ers Throughout South Dako-
ia and Vicinity.

Western Newspaper Union News service.
Watertown.-Some time ago at
high school picnic held at Stony point,
Lake Kampeska, five miles west of
this city, the students while digging
uncovered what was undoubtedly re-
mains of Indians buried in the early
days. The skeletons were discovered
under ground that had been travelled
by pleasure seekers at the lake for
twenty-five years, near the lake shore.
Mr. Van Osdel, of Mission Hill, who
went through this country as soldier
of the regular army in the early days,
has submitted the following theory
relative to the Indians so recently un-
earthed:
after the battle of Wood Lake, in
the fall of 1862, General Sibley's COM
mand marched west in pursuit of the
hostile Indians, passing the Upper or
Yellow Medicine Agency and RED
Irons," deserted village, on the 26th
of September. and we came in sight of
the great Indian village at Camp Re-
lease; 80 named from our having taken
from the Indians there more than one
hundred white female captives, assist
ed by friendly Indians who had sur
rendered to Sibley's forces. The hos
tile Sioux uNder Little Crow retreated
to the uninfabited plains of Dakota
where they scattered and sought win
ter quarters.
"On the 18th of October, Lieut.. Col.
Marshall, of the Seventh Minnesota in
fantry, was pvt in command of a de-
tached force consisting of the COM
panies "B" of The Seventh and &c" Of
the Sixth Minnesota infantry and a
mounted detachment of the Third in
fantry, together with thirty scouts and
forty mounted rangers.
"This forces started at midnight from
Sibley's main command at Camp Re-
lease and marched until the next eve
ming, camping on the eastern verge Of
the cOteaus near the Dakota boundary
line. On the 18th Lieut.. Col. Marshall
with the mounted force and a noun
tain howitzer, left the infantry to fol.
low and we passed on along the fresh
trail Of the savages. The two infantry
companies made weary march ex-
tending into the night. hoping to reach
Lake Kampeska. but failed to reach
that point and bivouached on the wild
plains without food or water. The
next morning they reached the Big
Sioux river and Lake Kampeska.
Meanwhile our mounted force over
took the Indians at daylight near Wild
Goose lake, in the vicinity of Kampes-
ka, where they were located in two
camps, engaged in killing buffalo there.
I'VE surprised and captured them as
they were about ready to continue
their course to the "old Dirt Lodges" a
winter camp on the James river at the
present boundary line between Sphinx
and Brown counties. One Indian was
killed and two wounded who died later
at Lake Kampeska where they were
buried.
"Our four days supply was exhaust
ed, but we got some provisions from
the captured Indians, composed of
thirty-nine warriors and over 100
squaws and children who were singing
the death song in dismal way, think
ing the warriors would all be shot,
I'VE took the Indian prisoners to
Lake Kampeska, guarding them in a
bend of the lake opposite "Maiden's
Island" little rocky isle without vege-
tation appearing as IL the stones had
been placed there by some upheaval in
the distant past.
"While there the Indians buried their
dead warriors killed in the fight, and
others who died from sickness. on a
high rising bank facing the lake; cov-
ering the graves with stone to prevent
the wolves from digging down to the
dead bodies."