History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 52

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1198

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On the 27th I started late, having had some difficulty in crossing the river, making a march of five miles, still in a northerly direction, and encamped on another branch of the same river. Company K, of the Second Nebraska, joined me this day, having been sepa- rated from the other company. The next day we had to make some deviations to the west on account of hills and sloughs, and made the outlet of Long Lake, a march of some twenty miles. On the way we saw numerous signs of Indians in large numbers having been recently there, and found an old lame Indian concealed in the bushes, who was well known by many of the men of the command as having for some years resided near Sioux City. He had the reputation of being what is called a "good Indian." He stated that his horse had been taken away from him, and that he had been left there. He looked almost starved to death. He gave me the following details, which have since mostly turned out to be correct : He stated that General Sibley had fought the Indians at the head of Long Lake, fifty miles northeast from me, some weeks ago; that he followed them down to the mouth of Apple Creek ; that the Indians attacked him on the way, and that there was some skirmishing. At Apple Creek Sibley had another fight, and that in all the fights about fifty-eight Indians were killed; that General Sibley fortified his camp at Apple Creek, and after awhile returned to James River; that a few days after General Sibley left, the Indians, who had their scouts out watching, recrossed the Missouri, and while doing so discovered a Mackinaw boat on the way down. They attacked the boat, fought the entire day, until sundown, sunk her, and killed all on board-twenty-one men, three women, and some children ; that before she was sunk the fire from the boat killed ninety-one Indians and wounded many more; that a small war party followed Sibley some days; returned with the report that he had crossed the James River; then some of the Indians went north; the larger portion, however, went toward the head of Long Lake, and that he thought a por- tion of them were encamped on the Missouri River west of me.

This report was so much in keeping with the Indian mode of warfare that, though it came from an Indian, I was led to give it some consideration, particularly the part that stated the Indians, after watching Sibley's return, recrossed when all danger was over, and went back to their old hunting grounds. Besides, the guides who were acquainted with the country stated that "a large body of Indians could not live on the other side long without going a great distance west; that always at this season of the year the Indians camped on the Coteau, near the tributaries of the James, where the numerous lakes or springs kept the grass fresh; here the buffalo were plenty and the lakes and streams full of fish, and that here they prepared their meat for the winter, moving to the Missouri. where fuel was plenty, for the winter." I therefore determined to change my course toward the east, to move rapidly, and go as far as my rations would allow.

I felt serious alarm for the safety of Captain LaBoo, who had about fifty men with him, and who had already been out about two days without rations. I encamped liere for the next day, and sent out four companies of the Second Nebraska and one of the Sixth Iowa, under command of Major J. W. Pearman, Second Nebraska, to hunt him up, and see

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if there were any Indians on the Missouri. The next day, however, Captain LaBoo's com- pany returned, having made a march of 187 miles, living upon what buffalo and game they could kill, scouring the country to my left, overtaking the camp of the ten lodges he was sent after, destroying them, but seeing no Indians. This same day, 29th, 1 sent two com- panies of the Sixth lowa, to the mouth of Apple Creck. They reported on their return that they found the fortified camp of General Sibley, his trail, and his return trail toward the east ; that they could see no signs of there having been any fight there, nor could they see the Mackinaw boat reported by the old Indian. This detachment was under command of Capt. D. W. C. Cram, Sixth Iowa Cavalry. The battalion of Major Pearman joined me before starting, having seen nothing, and after a march of ninety miles through a country with no wood whatever, but with good grass and plenty of lakes of the most abominable water, on the 3d of September we reached a lake, where, on the plains near by, were the remains of a very large number of buffaloes recently killed. Ilere I encamped to wait the reports of the commands I had out during the march, who every day discovered fresh signs of Indians, their lodge trails spread over the country, but all moving toward a point known to be a favorite haunt of the Indians. I had this day detailed one battalion of the Sixth Iowa, Major A. E. House, commanding, and Mr. Frank LaFromboise as guide, to keep ahead of me five miles, and in case they saw a small band of Indians, to attack them or take them prisoners. If they should find a large band, too large to successfully cope with, to watch the camp at a distance and send word back to me, my intention being to leave my train under charge of a heavy guard, move up in the night time, so as to surround them, and attack them at daybreak. But for some reason satisfactory to the guide, he bore off much to my left, and came upon the Indians in an encampment of over four hundred lodges, some say 600, in ravines where they felt perfectly secure, being fully persuaded that I was still on my way up the Missouri. This is what the Indian prisoners say. They also say that a war party followed me on my way up, in hopes of stampeding me, but this they could not do. I marched with great care, with an advanced guard and flankers; the train in two lines, sixty paces apart, the troops on each side; in front and center myself with one company and the battery; all loose stock was kept between the lines of wagons. In this way I lost no animals on the campaign except some few, about a dozen, that got out of camp at night; nor did the Indians during all the trip, ever attack me or try to stam- pede me.

Major House, according to my instructions, endeavored to surround and keep in the Indians until word could be sent me; but this was an impossibility with his 300 men, as the encampment was very large, mustering at least twelve hundred warriors. This is what the Indians say they had. but I, as well as everybody in the command, say they had over fifteen hundred. These Indians were partly Santees from Minnesota; Cutheads from the Coteau; Yanktonnais, and some Blackfeet who belong on the other side of the Missouri, and, as I have since learned, Uncapapas, the same party who fought General Sibley and destroyed the Mackinaw boat. Of this I have unmistakable proof from letters and papers found in the camp and on the persons of some of the Indians, besides relies of the late Minnesota massacre; also from the fact that they told Mr. LaFromboise, the guide. when he was surrounded by about two hundred of them, that "they had fought General Sibley, and they could not see why the whites wanted to come to fight them, unless they were tired of living and wanted to die." Mr. LaFromboise succeeded in getting away from them after some difficulty, and ran his horse for more than ten miles to give me informa- tion, Major House with his command still remaining there. He reached me a little after 4 o'clock. I immediately turned out my command. The horses at the time were ont grazing. At the sound of the bugle the men rushed with a cheer, and in a very few minutes saddled up and were in line. I left four companies and all the men who were poorly mounted. in the camp, with orders to strike the tents and corral all the wagons, and starting off with the Second Nebraska on the right, the Sixth Iowa on the left, one com- pany of the Seventh Iowa and the battery in the center, at a full gallop, we made this distance of over ten miles in much less than an hour.

TIIE BATTI.E

On reaching near the ground I found that the enemy were leaving and carrying off what plunder they could. Many lodges, however, were still standing. I ordered Col. W. R. Furnas, Second Nebraska, to push his horses to the utmost, so as to reach the camp and assist Major House in keeping the Indians corralled. This order was obeyed with alacrity, the regiment going over the plains at a full run. I was close upon the rear of the regi- ment with the Sixth lowa. The Nebraska took to the right of the camp, and was won lost in a cloud of dust over the hills. fordered Col. D. S. Wilson, Sixth lowa, to take to the left, while I, with the battery, one company of the Seventh lowa. Captain .A. J. Millard. and two companies of the Sixth lowa, Major Ten Broeck commanding, charged through the center of the encampment. I here found an Indian chief by the name of Little Soldier. with some few of his people. This Indian has always had the reputation of being a good Indian and friendly. I placed them under guard and moved on. Shortly after I met with the notorious chief, Big-Head, and some of his men. They were dressed for a fight but my men cut them off. These Indians, together with some of their warriors, mustering

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about thirty, together with squaws, Indian ponies, and dogs, gave themselves up, number- ing over one hundred and twenty human beings. About the same time firing began about a half mile ahead of me, and was kept up, becoming more and more brisk until it was quite a respectable engagement. A report was brought to me, which proved to be false, that the Indians were driving back some of my command. 1 immediately took possession of the hillocks near by, forming line, and placing the battery in the center on a higher knoll. At this time night had about set in, but still the engagement was briskly kept up, and in the melee, it was hard to distinguish my line from that of the enemy. The Indians made a very desperate resistance, but finally broke and fled, pursued in every direction by bodies of my troops. ] would here state that the troops, though mounted, were armed with rifles, and according to my orders, most of them dismounted and fought afoot until the enemy broke, when they remounted and went in pursuit. It is to be regretted that I could not have had an hour or two more of daylight, for I feel sure, if I had, I could have annihilated the enemy. As it was I believe I can safely say I gave them one of the most severe punish- ments the Indians have ever received. After night set in the engagement was of such a promiscuous nature that it was hard to tell what results would happen; I therefore ordered all the buglers to sound the "rally," and building large fires, remained under arms during the night, collecting together my troops. The next morning early I established my camp on the battlefield; this was the 4th, the wagon train under charge of Major Pearman, Second Nebraska, having in the night been ordered to join me, and sent out strong scout- ing parties in different directions to scour the country to overtake what Indians they could, but in this they were not very successful, though some of them had some little skirmishes. They found the dead and wounded in all directions, some miles from the battlefield; also immense quantities of provisions, baggage; etc., where they had apparently cut loose their ponies from "travois," and got off on them; also large numbers of ponies and dogs, har- nessed to "travois," running loose on the prairie. One party that I sent out went near to the James River, and found there eleven dead Indians. The deserted camp of the Indians, together with the country all around, was covered with their plunder. I devoted this day together with the following, the 5th, to destroying all this property, still scouring the coun- try. I do not think 1 exaggerate in the least when I say that I burned up over four hundred thousand to five hundred thousand pounds of dried buffalo meat as one item, besides 300 lodges, and a very large quantity of property of great value to the Indians. A very large number of ponies were found dead and wounded on the field ; besides a large number was captured. The prisoners, some one hundred and thirty, I take with me below, and shall report to you more specially in regard to them.

The surgeon of the Second Nebraska Cavalry, Dr. Bowen, who has shown great energy and desire to attend to his duties during the campaign, started out during the night of the engagement with a party of fifteen men, to go back to the old camp to procure ambulances. But as they did not return on the morning of the second day, I knew that he was either lost or captured. (He returned about noon of the second day.) I therefore sent out small scouting parties in every direction to hunt them up. One of these fell into an ambuscade, by which four of the party were killed and the rest driven in. I immediately sent out five companies of the Nebraska Regiment, Colonel Furnas in command, who after a long march, found that the Indians had fled. They succeeded, however, in overtaking three concealed in some tall grass, whom they killed. The fight has been so scattered, the dead Indians have been found in so many different places, that it is impossible for me to give an accurate report of the number killed of the enemy. I, however, think I am safe in reporting it at 100. (] report those that were left on the field and that my scouting parties found.) During the engagement, for some time, the Second Nebraska, afoot and armed with rifles (and there are among them probably some of the best shots in the world), were engaged with the enemy at a distance not over sixty paces, pouring on them a murderous fire in the ravine where the enemy were posted. The slaughter, therefore, must have been immense. My officers and the guides I have with me think that 150 will not cover their loss. The Indian reports make it over two hundred. That the general may know the exact locality of the battlefield. I would state that it was as near as I could judge, about fifteen miles west of James River, and about half way between the latitudes of Bone Butte and head- waters of Elm River, as laid down on the government map. The fight took place near a hill called by the Indians White Stone Hill.

In conclusion I would state that the troops of my command conducted themselves well; and though it was the first fight that nearly all of them had ever been in, they showed that they are of the right material, and that in time with discipline they will make worthy sol- cliers. It is to be regretted that we lost so many valuable lives as we did, but this could not be helped; the Indians had formed a line of battle with good judgment, from which they could be dislodged only by a charge. I could not use my artillery without greatly endanger- ing the lives of my own men; if I could, I could have slaughtered them. I send you accom- panying the reports of Colonel Wilson, Sixth Iowa, and Colonel Furnas, Second Nebraska, also official reports of killed and wounded, and take this occasion to thank both those officers for the good conduct and cheerfulness with which they obeyed my orders on this occasion. Both of them had their horses shot in the action. I would also state that the several members of my staff rendered me every possible assistance.

CHEYENNE VILLAGE ON THE YELLOWSTONE

IRON BULL, CHIEF OF THE CROW NATION

CHEYENNE WARRIORS IN FANCY COSTUMES, AND ARMED

175

TITON SIOUX. IN COUNCIL COSTUME AND WAR BONNETS

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On the morning of the 6th I took up my line of march to Fort Pierre. If I could have remained in that section of country some two or three weeks I might have accomplished more; but l was satisfied from the reports of my scouts that the Indians had scattered in all directions-some toward the James River; some, probably the Blackfeet, to recross the Missouri ; and a part of them went north where the Indians say they have friends among the half-breeds of the North. My rations were barely sufficient with rapid marches to enable me to reach Fort Pierre. The animals, not only the teams I have reported to you as worthless, but also the cavalry horses, showed the effect of rapid marching and being entirely without grain. I brought with me all the prisoners I had, and tried to question them to gain some information. The men refused to say more than that they were "good Indians," and the other bad ones joined their camp without their will. The squaws, how- ever, corroborate the report I have already given you in regard to the destruction of the people on board the Mackinaw boat and the fights with General Sibley, in which these Indians had a part. They also state that these Indians, after re-crossing to this side of the Missouri, sent a party to follow Sibley until he went to the James River, then returned to their camp near Long Lake to procure a large quantity of provisions and other articles they had cached there, and then came to the camp where I met them.

After marching about one hundred and thirty miles I reached the mouth of the Little Cheyenne on the 11th, where I found the steamboat I had ordered to be there on the 8th instant. It was lucky she was there, for without the grain she brought up I could not have brought my empty wagons back, for some miles north of the Cheyenne and to Pierre the grass now is about all gone. 1 placed my wounded on the boat, and as many empty wagons as she could carry. I am afraid the loss of horses and mules will be considered very great, but it could not be helped. When I found it impossible for the rear guard to get an animal along, I ordered it killed, to prevent its falling into the hands of the enemy.

Very respectfully, Major, your obedient servant, ALF SULLY,

Brigadier General, Commanding.

MAJOR J. F. MELINE, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Department of the Northwest.

P. S .- By actual count the number of my prisoners is 156; men 32, women and chil- dren 124. I would also beg leave to say that in the action I had of my command between 600 and 700 men actually engaged. My killed number, as far as ascertained, 20; wounded, 38. Lieut. Thomas J. Leavitt, Sixth Iowa, was mortally wounded in the night engagement on the 3d. The Sixth Iowa lost 11 killed and 21 wounded; the Second Nebraska, 6 killed and 13 wounded.

Major House of the Sixth lowa Cavalry, who was sent forward with a bat- talion of his regiment to locate the Indians who had been reported some ten miles away, performed that duty speedily, came upon a large encampment of Indians, whom he located, and immediately dispatched a messenger to General Sully with the information. In the meantime Major House made an excellent disposition of his troops ready for battle should the enemy attack him. While these prep- arations were being made, a delegation of the Indians came in tinder a flag of truce and attempted negotiations. They offered to surrender some of their chiefs; but as Major House did not know who was vested with anthority, he demanded the unconditional surrender of all. This the Indians refused to do, and having sent away their squaws and papooses, together with their stock of provisions, they placed themselves in battle array. In the meantime the mes- sengers sent to General Sully had safely reached their destination and delivered their message and the general, as he relates in his report, lost no time in prepar- ing for the march. He was ten miles from the Indian camp but he covered the distance with his cavalry, he says, in less than one hour. The day was waning. The advance, led by the Second Nebraska Cavalry, under Colonel Furnas, joined House and the battle was on. Furnas, in his report, which contains most of the details of the battle, says :

On approaching the Indian encampment, I found House's Battalion drawn up in order of battle on the north side, and on reconnoitering the enemy's position perceived that the Indians were leaving as fast as possible. I immediately ordered Major House to pursue on the left flank of the enemy, while 1, with the Second Nebraska, moved on their right flank I immediately formed my men in line of battle. As the enemy was then situated and my men formed, I intended to have advanced the Second Battalion, Companies F. G, Land MI .. commanded by Captain LaBoo, Major Pearman having been leit in command of the camp, with the First Battalion commanded by Maj. J. Taffe, and await further orders from the

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general commanding, As it was then nearly dark I felt that time was precious, and if any- thing was to be done that night it must be done speedily, and made up my mind to attack the enemy immediately. 1 therefore changed my plan of operations. I ordered Major Taffe with his battalion to proceed to the head of the ravine in which the enemy was posted, to cut off their retreat in that direction, which order was promptly executed, and his command formed in line awaiting further orders. I then ordered the Second Battalion to advance directly upon the enemy, which it did. Major Taffe then, by my order, came forward, the live of the two battalions forming an obtuse angle. When within 400 yards I ordered my men to dismount, and after advancing 100 yards nearer, ordered the Second Battalion to open the battle by a volley from the Enfields, which they did with precision and effect, creating quite a confusion in the enemy's ranks. At this time I perceived what I supposed to be House's Battalion, about 11/2 miles distant, advancing upon the enemy's rear. In the order in which my line was now formed, I advanced upon the enemy, pouring upon him as I advanced a fire from my whole line, which was immediately and vigorously returned by the Indians. When within thirty yards of the enemy's lines, I ordered a halt in rear of a slight elevation of ground, in front of which was a ravine in which the Indians were posted. The fight now became general and my whole line was hotly engaged. At this juncture, what I supposed to be House's Battalion (as it was now quite dark) advanced and commenced an attack on the enemy's left. As they were now formed, and fearing that the Indians would attempt to escape by way of a ravine a short distance beyond the left of my line, or get in iny rear the same way, I ordered Major Taffe to extend the left wing of my line, in order to cover this supposed outlet for the Indians with my guns. The battle now raged with great fury for some time on both sides. The enemy successively, by a desperate charge, attempted to turn my right and left flanks, but they were repulsed with slaughter. They fell in every direction in front of my line by the unerring aim of my brave soldiers, who, both officers and men, fought with the courage and coolness of veterans, exposed as they were to a galling fire from the enemy during the whole time. At this juncture I became convinced that House's Battalion, mistaking my command for Indians in the darkness, were firing into them. I therefore ordered my men to fall back out of range of House's guns and mount their horses, as the Indians were now in a rout and were fleeing out of range of my guns up a ravine some distance to the front. The horses becoming alarmed, and to a con- siderable extent unmanageable for a short time, created a slight confusion as the men were in the act of mounting, but it was only momentary, as my squadrons were in a few moments again formed in line on the crest of a hill some two hundred yards in the rear of my last line of battle, mounted and ready to follow up the victory, as the enemy were fleeing, leaving everything behind them. But it being very dark, and in view of the position of the Sixth Iowa, I deemed it imprudent to attempt a pursuit before morning, as it was then 8.30 or 9.00 P. M. Having no means of communicating that night with the general commanding, I ordered my men to dismount and lay on their arms, holding their horses, until early dawn, when 1 marched from the battle ground of the previous evening and went into camp about one mile from it and at the upper end of the Indian encampment. On passing over the ground of the recent encampment of the Indians and of the battle, I found that the enemy had abandoned all their tents, clothing, cooking utensils, valuables, supplies, in fact, everything they possessed was strewn over the ground of their retrcat for miles. Their flight had been so precipitate that they had abandoned everything but their dead, whom they carried away as fast as they fell. Their rout was so complete and their flight so sudden that many of their children were left behind on account, as I supposed, of their being an incumbrance to their flight. From the best information derived from guides, the enemy's strength was not less than one thousand warriors. Their loss in killed will not fall short of one hundred and fifty. as scouts sent out the next day after the battle report their dead as scattered over the country for miles on the line of their retreat, and their wounded is twice that number. The casualties in the Second Nebraska Cavalry are two killed, thirteen wounded and ten missing men. 1 found among the effects of the Indians Minie rifles and rifle cartridges; also several boxes of army revolvers and rifle cartridges were found, and various other articles, some of which were undoubtedly taken from the whites in the late Minnesota massacre. The enemy was composed of Santees, Brule, Yanktonnais and Blackfeet Sioux and Cuthead Indians and were evidently the same Indians with whom General Sibley had a recent engage- ment on Apple Creek. The Indians are now destitute of supplies. clothing, and almost everything else, they having abandoned all except their clothing and arms. Many of the former were, however, killed or captured during the battle. I would have pursued the enemy the following morning after the battle had it not been for the exhausted condition of my men and horses.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 52

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1198

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1198