The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-03-31
L0CALD. A. R,
CHAPTER TO
MARK SITES
Map Of Historic Spots and
Trails in Burleigh County
Prepared by Dana Wright
NOTES TELL HISTORY
Sibley and Sully Expeditions
of 1863 1865 Traced on
Map and Described

Pursuant with the nationwide plane
of the Daughters of the American
Revolution to mark the. historic spots
in each state Of the union, the MIN
ishoshe Chapter here has recently
lad prepared by Dana Wright OF
jamestown, chairman of the historic
rarks ,oumIttee Of the State HIS
torical Society, map OF BurlelSh
County's historical sites and trails.
Inc map, when IS the only one Oh
It's kind which has ever been pre-
pared for this county, together win
the explanatory notes accompanying
it. are in the nature OF preliminary
survey preparatory to deciding on
spots to be marked with bronze tab
lets at some future date by the local
d. A. r. chapter
Famous in North Dakota history,
the Sibley and Sully expeditions OF
1863 to 1865 left Blu rlelgh County
a heritage of historic trails and
camp sites which Mr.. Wright has
carefully traced and retraced before
recording finally on his map.
Sibley Enters in 1863
Siblev's expedition, he tells US in
his notes, entered Burleigh County
II, 1868. That night they camped on
the east side of Stony Cottonwood
Lake about two miles northwest of
Driscoll. On the morning of the
18th they passed around to the south
of the lake and continued up long
nil toward the west when they were
attacked by the Indians at several
points. After a lively skirmish the
warriors retired toward the Miss
ouri River and soldiers followed to
Stees, which is on the Apple Creek
a few mile northwest of Menoken
On the morning Of the 18th the
Sibley expedition followed the In
dams to the bench about to where
the Gussner farm is now located, a
short distance south of Bismarck
while a detachment went down on the
flat to the Missouri River channel
In the afternoon of the same day
General Sibley moved his main body
south to the Falconer farm, west OF
the Apple Creek bridge, and made
camp. He sent Lieutenant Beaver
and an orderly to call in the detach-
mert from the river and direct then
to the camp.
Lit. Beaver Killed
Lieutenant Beaver delivered the
order and tried to cut across iron
the Missouri to the camp, but he wa:
ambushed by 4 small party of In
dams and killed. He was buried il
the trenches with military and Ma
sonic honors. Later His body wa
taken up and removed east. His or
derby, Nicholas Miller, was buried II
field north of the camp and north
west of the Falconer home. So ia
as is known his body was never re
moved and till lies there unknoW1
and unmarked. Application has bee
made for government marker to b
placed on his grave.
General Sibley remained at Cam
Slaughter waiting for General Sull.
until August /, during when TIM
his men destroyed all the Indial
supplies that were left in their re
treat over the Missouri and also IL
skirmishing with the struggling hos
tiles left on the east bank.
Rifle Pits Preserved
On the first Of August, Sible
marched to Camp Braden on Appl
Creek, on the Craven farm northeas
of Menoken, where the remains o
rifle pits are still well preserved
On April they marched to Cam
Banks, three miles north Of Driscol
Here the Indian scout, Chaska, die
of poisoning, accidental or otherwise
and was buried in the trenches abou
the camp. A small plot of ground ha
been donated the state by the owner
Louis Slaatenhouse of Driscoll, an
eventually a marker will be place
there to honor the memory OF Chas
ka, the faithful Sioux, who gave hi
life in the service of the whites.
On the morning of Augut 3, 1876
the expedition continued on to tn
east out of Burleigh County on thei
way home to Minnesota.
Gen. Sully Delayed
The Sully expedition of 1863. Nj
Wright continues, was supposed t
have connected with General SIble,
but the former was delayed and di
not reach Long Lake until the latte
part of August. At this camp hi
army rested while two companies 0
cavalry under Captain Cram scoute
to the Sibley camp at the mouth o
Apple Creek and returned to Lon
Lake with the news that Sibley ha
reached the Missouri and returne
east. Sully turned southeast on re
ceiving this information, and /afte
several days travel he came upo
camp of Indians in the vicinity
the White Stone Hills in Dicke
County and fought battle with ther
on September 3, 1863.
In 1864 General Sully conducte
a military expedition to the killdee
Mountains and the Yellowstone rive
returning by way Of Fort Buford an