Year: 1866

Men.


Fort AbercrOmbie (DacOtaA) Cor tEe0. 2Sl orae So.


Paul Pioneer.


Company A, I'd Minnesota Volunteer Cavalry,
Captain A. r. Field, Jr., commanding, was
ordered a short time since TO march from Fort
Wadsworth Dacoah Territory (about eighty
miles southwest OF this post, to Sauk Centre,
Minnesota. The company was divided into two
detachments. One, of some thirty-four men,
under Lieutenant William l.. Briley, left Fort
Wadsworth on Monday, the goth inst, and the
other detachment, comprising che balance of the
company, under command of Captain Field, left
on Tuesday morning. The detachment under
Lieutenant Bri]ey arrived at Twin Lake Station
on Monday afternoon uoTty miles distant from
this post, in good shape The next morning
they lett that station, and came on until past the
eighteen mile point where they we're over
taken by severe storm and had to return to the
timber and camp, where they were weather
bUOnd for two days. But 1t is not of them that
we have to relate, as on Thursday evening they
arrived at this post SAFE not having frozen at all,
az they had the advantage OF timber at their
camp during the storm. 1t is OF Captain Field
and his party concerning whose fate we are in
doubt tonight.


The Cautain with the balance of his command
lett Fort Wadswor on Tuesday morning at
O'Clock, ana had very pleasant weather during
the first part of the day-they passed over the
Coteau and lett it all in good condition, and
when about four miles this side OF the Fort Of
the Coleau, they met the paymaster, Lleute-
nant-Colonel Smith, who was on his way to



Of Lieutenant Gerald, of this command. They
stopped and chatted for q while, and each party
passed on their way. This meeting was at III
AM, and some twenty or twenty-five miles from
Twin Lake Station, which point Captain Field
expected to make that evening" When within
about twelve or fourteen miles of the station,
Captain Field, with three of his men, lett the
balance OF the command under Lieutenant
Stevens, and went on ahead, intending to have
bles and everything prepared for his men when
they arrived. 1t was blowing and showing some
when he lett the command, but very soon after
leaving it. there came on one of those terrible
winter storms wherein it is unsafe tor man or
beast to be away from timber or shelter.


Lieutenant Stevens and his party faced it until
the animals refused to GO any further; they
would not and could not be made to face IL, and
they were obliged TO turn back and seek cam D.
ing ground at the foot of the Coteau. All but
thirteen reached it, and they camped down in
the snow, burying themselves in the snow as a
shelter from the bitter blasts. One poor fellow
Ia corporsD of the thirteen died about IL O'Clock
at night, while the rest crept closer in to their
cold bed, except one noble fellow, who all the
night long stood his lonely watch, endsavoriug
to keep his companions from perishing; he
would uncover them that they might not smo-
ther and to see how they Jared, and would cover
them that they might not freeze, and when he
found one that was stupid or cold, he made
free use of his black-snake whip to bring back
the freezing man to life. And once, too, on
the march, he observed mule teamster who
was freezing but still determined to ride his
nulSj pullcu HIS ulul0 anu gave u
severe whipping with his "black-snake,n until
nature, under the lash, again bid defiance to the
storm.


The next day this portion of the command
returned to Fort Wadsworth, but numbers of
them were badly frozen. But Captain Field and
his three men, where are they? The last seen
OF them was when they LETT to go into Twin
LakeE Station in advance of the detachment
Captain Field had with him five horses Zone
led) and two dogs when he left his command.
Three horses are found two are missing, as
well as the dogs. 1t is barely possible that il he
outlived the terrible storm OF Tuesday and Tues
day night that he may be still alive as the two
horses and two dogs would furnish them with
the necessary food to sustain life for some time;
but it is almost hoping against hope to think
that he may yet be found alive.


The storm of Tuesday was awful. Pen can.
not describe it, have lived IN Minnesota over
nine years, and never, neUer have seen such
weather as have during the past winter.
Since writing the above | have learned that
the name of the corporal who was frozen on
the night of the 18th was Harkness-I think
Lysander G..