The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-07-22
indian WARFARE
FINDING OF SKELETONS BRINGS
OUT STORY or INDIAN
BATTLES.


Watertown. July 22.-Some time
ago at a high school picnic held at
Stony point, Lake Kampeska. five
miles west of this city. the students
while digging uncovered what was
undoubtedly remains of Indians
buried i'm the early days. The skele-
tons 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 a sol
der of the regular army in the early
days, has submitted the following
theory relative to the Indians SO re-
Gently unearthed:
After the battle of Wood lake in
the fan of 1862. Gen. Sibley's com
mand marched west i'm pursuit of the
hostile Indians. passing the Upper or
Yellow Medicine Agency and Rcd
Irons" a deserted village. on the
26th of September. and We came in
sight of the great Indian village al
Camp Release. so named from
having taken from the Indians there
more than leo white female captives,
assisted by friendly Indians who had
surrendered TO Sibley's forces. The
hostile Sioux under Little Grow re-
treated to the uninhabited plains OF
Dakota where they scattered M
sought winter quarters.
ION the 18th of October. Lieut.
Col. Marhsall of the Seventh Mime
sofa infantry. was put in command
e as-nNa1 &c. n.rrscffnu pF fIa
companies h of the Seventh and G. of
the Sixth Minnesota infantry and 2
mounted detachment of the Third i'm
fantry. together with thirty scouts
and forty mounted rangers.
This force started at midnight
from Sibley's main command at Camp
Release and marched until the neNt
evening. camping or the eastern
verge of the coteaus near the Dakota
boundary line. On the 10th Lieut..
Col. Marshall. with the mounted
force and a mountain howitzer, left
the infantry to follow and We passed
on along the fresh trail of the saw
ages. The two infantry companies
made a weary march extending into
the night. hoping to reach Lake Kam-
q DRSk1. out 1diAFA ~ ARAAh AAN h~t|
and bivouaced on the wild plains
without wood or water The next
morning they reached the Big Sioux
river and Lake Kampeska.
Meanwhile our mounted force
overlook the Indians at daylight near
Wild Goose lake. in the vicinity OF
Kampeska. where they were located
in two camps. engaged in killing
buffalo.
1--WE 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
Spink and Brown counties. One In
liar was killed and two wounded,
who died later at Lake kampeska,
where they were buried.
"Our four days supply was eN-
hausted, but We got some provisions
from the captured Indians, composed
of thirtv-nine warriors and over 100
sauaws and children who We're sing
ing the death song in a dismal way,
thinking the warriors would all pc
shot.
1--WE took the Indian prisoners to
Lake Kampeska. guarding them in a
bend of the lake opposite Maidens
island, a little rocky isle without veg
etaticn. appearing as if the stones
had been placed there by some up
heaval in the distant past.
while there the Indians buried
their dead warriors killed in the tght
and others who died from sickness,
on a high rising bank facing the lahe'
covering the graves with stone -
prevent the wolves from ulsslns
down to the dead bodies