USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Dickinson County, Iowa, together with an account of the Spirit Lake massacre, and the Indian troubles on the northwestern frontier > Part 20
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"WHEREAS, it is believed from the general uprising of these Indians and the great extent of their depredations and from various circumstances relating thereto that they are incited to these aets of cruelty by evil disposed whites from our ene- mies and that a general Indian war is impending, and,
"WHEREAS, the people along the borders of Iowa and Min- nesota are deserting their homes and fleeing to places of safety in the interior of the state and entirely abandoning their homes and property for places of safety, therefore, Resolved, by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa," etc.
The resolution was an earnest appeal to the general govern- ment for immediate assistance. This bill and resolution were approved by the Governor on the ninth of September, and Colonel Ingham reported to the Governor the next day.
The Governor immediately issued General Orders No. 1, to- gether with the following additional instructions, to Colonel Ingham :
"EXECUTIVE OFFICE, IOWA. "DES MOINES, SEPTEMBER 13, 1862.
"S. R. Ingham, Esq. Sir: You are intrusted with the or- ganization of the forces provided by law for the defense of the northwestern frontier, and with furnishing them with sub- sistence and forage during and after their organization, also with the posting of the troops raised at such points as are best calculated to effect the object proposed until the election of the officer who will command the entire force and generally with the execution of the orders issued of this date in connection with this force. It is impossible to foresee the contingencies that may arise rendering necessary a change in these orders
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or the prompt exercise of powers not therein contained, and delay for the purpose of consulting me might result disastrous- ly. In order to avoid these results as far as possible, I hereby confer upon you all I myself have in this regard. You may change, alter, modify or add to the orders named as in your sound discretion you may deem best. You may make such other and further orders as the exigencies of the case may, in your judgment, render necessary. In short, you may do all things necessary for the protection of the frontier as fully as I could do if I were personally present, and did the same. The first object is the security of the frontier; the second, that this object be effected as economically as is consistent with its prompt and certain attainment.
"Very respectfully your obedient servant, "SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD."
The following extract from General Orders No. 1 will ex- plain the manner of raising and organizing the force.
"First. The number of companies that will be received for service under the act to provide for the protection of the northwestern frontier of Iowa from the hostile Indians, passed at the extra session of 1862, and the aets amendatory thereto is as follows, viz: One to be raised at Sioux City, one at Deni- son, Crawford County, one at Fort Dodge, one at Webster City, and one now stationed at Chain Lakes and Estherville.
"Second. These companies shall contain not less than forty nor more than eighty men each. They will elect the company officers allowed and in the manner prescribed by law. As soon as company elections are held, certificates of the result must be sent to the Adjutant General for commissions. After being mnstered and sworn in they will proceed, on a day to be fixed by S. R. Ingham, to vote at their several places of rendezvous by ballot for a Lieutenant Colonel to command the whole. * * The highest mimber of votes cast for any one candidate shall elect.
"Fourth. The points at which the troops will be stationed will in the first place be fixed by Mr. Ingham and afterwards by the Lieutenant Colonel elect. * *
"Seventh. Each man will be required to furnish his own horse and equipments. Subsistence and forage will be fur- nished by the state. The same pay will be allowed for this service as is now allowed for like service by the United States. "SAMUEL J. KIRKWOOD, Governor of Iowa."
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COL. INGHAM'S SECOND REPORT
We will now give extract from Colonel Inghan's second re- port to Governor Kirkwood.
"In pursuance of these orders and instructions, I proceeded to Fort Dodge and mustered and swore into the service of the state for nine months, unless sooner discharged, the company raised at that place, first inspecting the horses and equip- ments and having them appraised. I then proceeded with due dispatch to Webster City, Denison and Sionx City, and in like manner mustered in the companies raised at those places. * * * These four companies, and the one that had previously been stationed at Chain Lakes and Estherville, were all that were authorized under your General Orders and mustered in all about two hundred and fifty men, rank and file. As each of the companies were sworn in, marching orders were at once given to the commanding officers and such other orders as seemed advisable for the purpose of carrying ont the objects in view, as expressed in your orders and in- structions. One company was stationed at Chain Lakes, one at Estherville, and portions of companies at each of the fol- lowing points, to-wit: Ochevedan, Peterson, Cherokee, Ida, Sac City, Correctionville, West Fork, Little Sioux and Mel- bonrne, thus forming in conjunction with the portion of Cap- tain Millard's company stationed at Sioux City and Spirit Lake, a complete line of communication between Chain Lakes and Sioux City.
"After consulting the feelings and wishes of the settlers along the line, and after a careful survey of the ground it was determined to erect blockhouses and stockades at the fol- lowing points, to-wit: Correctionville, Cherokee, Peterson, Estherville and Chain Lakes. At Spirit Lake a stockade had already been built around the courthouse by Lieutenant Saw- vers. The courthouse being constructed of brick, made a work of a very permanent and durable character. In making these locations T was, of course, governed in a great degree by the desires and wishes of the settlers at the expense of what might be regarded by military men as a proper location in a strict military point of view. In conceding these points to them, T assumed that inasmuch as the state was constructing the works solely for their use and benefit, if the settlers them- selves were satisfied, certainly the state would be. At the points above indicated are the principal settlements on our
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1 extreme northwestern border and they are the only ones at which it was necessary to construct works as contemplated in your orders."
Then follows the details of building the stockades and fur- nishing supplies which are too lengthy for reproduction here. Further on he continues :
"In accordance with your orders, I fixed Friday, the seventh of November, as the day on which the several companies should hold an election for Lieutenant Colonel to command the whole. At the election so held, James A. Sawyers, First Lientenant of Captain Millard's company, was chosen. And permit me to say that an excellent selection was made. In my opinion no better man could have been found for this service." * *
In addition to the active efforts made by the Governor and legislature in providing an armed force for the protection of the frontier settlements, Governor Kirkwood made special efforts to obtain the most reliable information possible as to the strength of the hostile Indians, their number, equipment and everything possible connected with their movements. To that end he dispatched Honorable George L. Davenport, a man well informed in all matters connected with the northwestern Indians, to proceed at once to Minnesota, and through the agencies and authorities there, to gain all the information pos- sible and report at once. Below are given extracts from his report.
"To His Excellency, Governor Kirkwood. Dear Sir: I proceeded to Burlington and delivered your communication to Honorable J. W. Grimes, and in consultation with him he advised me to proceed at once to Minnesota and ascertain the extent of the Indian outbreak. He gave me letters of intro- duction to His Excellency, Governor Ramsey, and to Honorable Commissioner Dole. Upon my arrival at St. Paul, I called on Governor Ramsey, who gave me all of the information in his power. He informed me that the outbreak with the Sioux is of the most serious character, and the massacre of the men, women and children of the frontier settlements the largest
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INVESTIGATION BY HON. GEO. L. DAVENPORT
known in the history of the country. Over six hundred are known to be killed and over one hundred women and children are in the hands of the savages as prisoners. The Indians are very bold and defiant, repeatedly attacking the forts and troops sent out against them. They have plundered many stores and farm houses and have driven off a very large number of cattle and horses. The Indians continue to attack the settle- ments almost every week, keeping up a constant alarm among the people. It is estimated that over five thousand persons have left their homes and all of their property, cansing im- mense loss and suffering."
Then follows the details of arrangements made by Gov- ernor Ramsey for the protection of the Minnesota frontier. The report of his Minnesota tour closes as follows :
"I am much alarmed in regard to the safety of the settle- ment on the northwestern border of our state. I think they are in imminent danger of an attack at any moment, and will be in constant alarm and danger during the coming winter. As the Indians are driven back from the eastern part of Minne- sota they will fall back towards the Missouri slope and will make inroads upon our settlements for supplies of food and plunder. They are much exposed to attacks from parties of Sioux passing from the Missouri River to Minnesota. *
"Yours respectfully, "GEORGE L. DAVENPORT. "Davenport, Towa, September 17, 1862."
After Mr. Davenport's return from his Minnesota trip, Governor Kirkwood sent him west on a tour through Nebraska and Dakota. The result of his observations and investiga- tions on this trip were to the effect that the strength of the Indian forces and the number of warriors they could place in the field had been largely overestimated. AAfter giving the location and estimated strength of several bands on the Mis- souri River, and detailing the measures there taken for de- fense, he closes that part of his report as follows:
"They have erected forts or blockhouses at Yankton. the seat of government, at Elkhorn and Vermilion Rivers,
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in which are a small force of volunteers, and with the troops your excellency has stationed between Sioux City and Spirit Lake, along the northern part of this state, our citizens need not apprehend any danger from the Indians on that or any other part of our frontier."
In discussing the causes that led to the outbreak he closes as follows :
"I am of the opinion the cause of dissatisfaction among many of the tribes of Indians is caused mainly by the general government paying the annuities to the Indians in goods instead of money. Ycar before last his money bought a great many goods. Goods were cheap. Last year he gets less. He is dissatisfied. He thinks the agent is cheating him. This year he gets only half as many. Now he feels sore. He thinks he is wronged, although the government agent explains to him that cotton and wool and other things have gone up in price and that his money does not buy as much as before. It is difficult to make the Indian understand or believe it, but pay him his dollars and then he knows the government has fulfilled its part. * (Signed ). "GEORGE L. DAVENPORT."
General Sully, who led the several expeditions against the Indians, gave it as his opinion that the cause of the outbreak at the time it occurred was that the agent attempted to pay the money portion of the annuities in greenbacks instead of gold, as had formerly been done. This was the first the In- dians had seen of the greenbacks, and they indignantly refused them. They were afterwards exchanged for gold, but not in time to prevent the trouble.
Another theory is that emissaries from the Confederates were sent among the Indians to incite them to deeds of vio- lence and insurrection. Judge Flandran says there is no foundation for any such suspicion. He further writes at greater length and more in detail about the matter. He says :
"Much dissatisfaction was engendered among the Indians by occurrences taking place at the time of the negotiating of
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CAUSES OF THE OUTBREAK
these treaties. This dissatisfaction was increased rather than diminished by the subsequent administration of the treaties under the general government. * * *
The provisions of the treaties for periodical payments of money and goods and other benefits, although carried out with sub- stantial honesty, failed to meet the exaggerated expec- tations of the Indians. * Nothing special has been discovered to have taken place to which the out- break can be immediately attributed. It was charged to emissaries from the Confederates in the South, but there was no foundation for these surmises. The rebellion of the south- ern states was at its height. Large bodies of troops were being sent out of Minnesota. The payment due in June or July, 1862, was much delayed. The Indians were hungry and angry. * *
* Some of the chiefs were ambitions and thought it a good opportunity to regain their lost country and exalt themselves in the eyes of their people. This combination of circumstances operating upon a deepseated hatred of the whites, in my opinion, precipitated the outbreak at the time it occur- red."
Another theory, and one that was entertained by many who understood the subject best, was that the Indians construed the failure of the authorities to capture and punish Inkpadutal and the remainder of his band for their part in the outrages of 1857 as an evidence of weakness and cowardice on their part. It is said that Little Crow boastfully declared "that if Inkpadutah with his fifteen followers could massacre a whole settlement and create a panie that drove thousands from their homes and escape unpunished, he, numbering his warriors by thousands, could massacre and expel all the whites from the Minnesota Valley." Now it is more than probable that the wily chieftain, seeing that the men were being sent out of the state by thousands, really imagined himself strong enough to recover his lost hunting grounds and re-establish his waning prestige and power. Again, may not the cause have been the inexorable logie of events; the immutable decree of fate ? May not the whole affair have been one link in the great chain
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of fatalities which has followed the native tribes from the time the whites first set foot on the shores of New England, and will continue to follow them until the race becomes extinct ? Who knows ?
More space has been given to these official reports than was at first intended, but there is no other way in which so accu- . rate an understanding of the situation and condition of affairs on the frontier at that time can be had as by these reports. They were written on the ground at the time by some of the best known and level headed men in the state, and their statements will at once be taken at their face value. In perusing these reports the reader will not fail to notice that Spirit Lake and the settlements in Dickinson County were the most exposed of any on the Iowa frontier, being at the northwestern angle of the line of posts from Chain Lakes to Sioux City. On the other hand, there was no point on the entire line where less excitement prevailed and less needless fear and apprehension were felt than in the vicinity of the lakes. Colonel Ingham noticed this fact when he was here, and mentions it in his report as follows: "This feeling (re- ferring to the general feeling of fright and apprehension then prevailing), however, seemed to be more intense and to run higher in the more inland and remote counties from the bor- der than the border counties themselves."
It will be noticed that the events which have taken so much space to relate were crowded into a small portion of time in the fall of 1862. By the time that winter fairly set in, the stockades at the different posts were completed and ocenpied by the requisite number of troops and a system of scouting and carrying dispatches put into operation. Doubtless this prompt action of the authorities, state and national, prevented any further depredations, and it certainly inspired the set- tlers with a greater feeling of security.
CHAPTER XXII.
EXPEDITIONS AGAINST THE INDIANS-SULLY'S EXPEDITION-HIS FORCE LEAVES SIOUX CITY AND FOLLOW UP THE MISSOURI-EXPECT TO FORM A JUNCTION WITH SIBLEY'S FORCES AT APPLE RIVER -ON ARRIVING THERE FIND SIBLEY HAS BEEN THERE AND TURNED BACK-BATTLE OF WHITE STONE HILL-THE RETURN TO SIOUX CITY-SIB- LEY'S COMMAND-MOVE ACROSS MINNESOTA- FIGIIT THREE BATTLES BEFORE REACHING THE MISSOURI-ON REACHING THE MISSOURI FIND THAT SULLY HAS NOT YET ARRIVED- REST TWO DAYS AND THEN TURN BACK-THE EXPEDITIONS OF 1864-RELIEF BY CAPTAIN FISK-EXPEDITION TO DEVIL'S LAKE IN 1865.
THE summer of 1863 two expeditions were sent by the United States government against the Sioux. One of these expeditions was fitted out in Sioux City under the command of General Alfred Sully, and proceeded up the Missouri River with the intention and expectation of forming a junction with the other which was fitted out at St. Paul, under the command of General HI. H. Sibley, and went across the country to the upper Missouri, expecting to meet Gen- eral Sully upon their arrival there. But the two forces failed to connect. General Sully's predecessor, General Cook, although a good man, had had no experience in fitting ont expeditions of this kind, and General Sully found on his arrival to assume the command that many things that were absolutely essential had been overlooked. These defects it took time to remedy. At that time there were no railroads west of the Mississippi,
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and for supplies they had to depend on the navigation of the Missouri, and that was always a very uncertain contingency. This season it proved more so than usual, as it was very dry.
After many vexatious delays, the expedition left Sioux City some time in June with the expectation of forming a june- tion with Sibley's command about the last of July or the first of August. Sully's force was made up of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, the Nebraska Second, a battery of four pieces, and the Sioux City Cavalry, and numbered about three thou- sand. The summer was one of the dryest on record. In that country of tall grass and running streams, the horses often suffered for want of food and water. The vegetation was absolutely burned up and many of the streams had gone dry. It was not the design of the General to follow the river in its windings, but to cut across from one bend to another, in order to shorten the distance. In doing this he was sometimes compelled to make forced marches of from twenty to thirty miles to the river for water. Most of the small lakes in that region had gone dry and those that had not were so impreg- nated with alkali that the water could not be used. The water of the Missouri River is known to be thick with the light. yellow sand that forms the bluffs through which it runs. Up- on boiling the water this sand settles to the bottom and the water remains remarkably clear and pure. It has to be treated in this way to make it fit for cooking purposes.
The expedition had for a guide a full blooded Blackfoot Indian by the name of "Fool Dog," assisted by a French half- breed by the name of La Fromboise. Whether this was the same Joe La Fromboise that piloted Captain Bee's expedition from Fort Ridgley to Jackson in 1857 is not fully known, but it is more than probable that he was. The expedition proceeded up the river as rapidly as possible, considering the obstacles they encountered. As they neared the place appoint-
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SULLY'S EXPEDITION UP THE MISSOURI
ed for making the junction with Sibley's forces, they learned through the Indian scouts that Sibley had been there, and not finding Sully's column there, had turned back. In order to test the truth of this report, the General sent forward a de- tachment under the lead of the Indian guide to investigate the facts, while the main body went into camp on Long Lake Creek and remained there until the messengers returned.
Upon their return with the information that the Indians had crossed the Missouri and that Sibley had taken the back track for St. Paul, it became necessary for Sully to change his plans. Most of the officers believed that since the Indians had crossed the Missouri, it would be necessary for the troops to do the same if they expected to meet them, but when the matter was suggested to the Indian guide, he would only shake his head, give an expressive grunt and point to the cast ; accordingly, when General Sully put his column in motion, he acted on the guide's advice and moved in that direction until the third of September, when he encountered a large body of Indians in camp at White Stone Hill.
These were in part the same that General Sibley had driven across the Missouri River a month before, but had crossed back heavily reinforced from the wilder tribes on the other side. They had been watching Sibley closely, and knew all the details of his movements and thought when he turned back on the first of August that they had nothing farther to fear, and so they went to work securing their winter supply of buffalo meat and skins, in which they were phenomenally successful. They had heard nothing of General Sully's ex- pedition up the river, and were wholly ignorant of his move- ments.
Sully broke camp at Long Lake Creek either the first or second day of September. Soon after changing his course and starting east, unmistakable signs of the close proximity of
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Indians were abundant and growing more so. Carcasses of recently slain buffaloes were encountered in increasing num- bers, and everything indicated that a large force was near. The guides are reported to have told the officers that in all probability the Indians were at one of three different points curing their meat. Acting on this theory, the General sent forward two detachments, with orders for one to take the right and the other the left, and advance rapidly, while he with the main body would move more deliberately.
This was the order of advance on the third of September. Major House, of the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, had command of one of the advance battalions. His force numbered about three hundred. About two P. M. they sighted the Indians. some six or eight lodges being in sight. Here the guides were in favor of halting and sending back for reinforcements, but the Major seeing no signs of a large force, continued to move forward, until, on reaching the crest of a ridge, he saw spread out before him a camp of four to five hundred lodges.
By this time he was discovered by the Indians, and it was too late to retreat, and the only thing for him to do was to halt his men and assume a defensive position and be mighty quick about it. He had no time to lose. The Indians outnumbered him at least seven to one, and had they charged at once, he might have met the same fate that overtook Custer a dozen years later. At any rate there would have been a bloody battle. But the Indians saw that House's force was not for- midable, and they were in no hurry. They had a "palaver" with the scouts and interpreter, and when told there was a much larger force near, they didn't believe it, but all the same, when House sent his messengers back for reinforcements, some Indian runners followed them to find out whether they had been told the truth or not. On coming in sight of Sully's force and noting its strength, they hurried back to report.
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BATTLE OF WHITE STONE HILL
It was between four and five o'clock P. M. when the mes- sengers sent back by House reached headquarters. The force had gone into camp and were just ready to partake of their coffee and hard tack when the messenger galloped up to head- quarters to report. The bugles immediately sounded "Boots and Saddles," the boys sprung for their horses, and in an in- credibly short space of time were taking a headlong gallop toward the Indian rendezvous, leaving a sufficient force to guard the camp. The distance was not far from ten miles and was covered by the troops in about an hour. The Indian runners got in just ahead of them, and the Indian lodges came down all at once as though a cyclone had struck them. Up to this time they believed Major House's force was all they would have to contend with, and they felt strong enough to resist him.
The General's plan was to send one force around them to the right and another to the left, with orders to form a june- tion in their rear, while he with the reserve would remain on the other side. It was not the General's intention to bring on an engagement at once, but, if possible, to secure the sur- render of the Indians without a fight. While he was nego- tiating to that end, the Nebraska Second precipitated an en- gagement by firing without orders, and in an instant all was confusion. La Fromboise, the interpreter, was caught between the lines when the firing commenced, and he had a serious time getting back to headquarters. It was about sundown when the firing began, and it was kept. up vigorously on both sides until the gathering darkness put an end to the conflict. The men remained in position and stood holding their horses by the bits all night.
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