History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 63

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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1 shall march toward the Yellowstone in two days, bearing a little south, and } expect to overtake the enemy again on my way. In the battle of Killdeer Mountain above nar- rated, there were 2 killed and 8 wounded in Brackett's Minnesota Battalion; I killed and I wounded in the Sixth lowa; 2 killed in the Second Minnesota; and i wounded in the First Dakota Cavalry.

General Sully's next report is from his camp on the Yellowstone, after his passage through and the battles of the Bad Lands. It is as follows:

Camp on the Yellowstone River, Dakota Territory,

August 13, 1864.

Sir: } have the honor to make the following report of my operations since 1 made my last report, on the 3Ist of July, on my return to Heart River, after my fight :

1 assembled together all my Indian and half-breed guides I had to consult about my course. 1 had not quite six days' full rations on hand, and I must strike the Yellowstone

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by the most direct route at the Brazcau House, where I had ordered two small steamers to meet me the first part of August. They all told me it was impossible for wagons to get through the country near the Little Missouri, without they went south, the route 1 started on before I was turned north by the report that the Indians were on Knife River. 1 would thus strike the Yellowstone near the Powder River, and it would take me two or three weeks, and then, besides, I could not meet my boats there. One Indian, however, a Yank- tonian, told me he had frequently been across that country on war parties, and he thought he could take the wagons through by digging some of the hills. 1 placed myself under his guidance, and he took me in a west direction for three days along the Heart River ; plenty of good grass and water, but timber scarce; the country filled with extensive beds of coal, in some places beds ten feet thick. From what I have seen, coal, I feel sure, can be found in all this country, from the Missouri west to the Yellowstone. On the 5th day of August we came in sight of the Bad Lands, which extend along the Little Missouri, the valley being about twenty miles across; through the middle of this valley runs the river. When I came in sight of this country from the top of the tableland we were marching on, I became alarmed, and almost despaired of ever being able to cross it, and should have been very much tempted, had I rations enough, to turn back, but, on a close examination of my rations, I found I had only rations for six days longer, by some mistake of my commissary. I suppose, for he is not with me to explain, as I left him back at Fort Rice. 1 therefore had to reduce the bread ration one-third, all other stores except meat, one-half, so as to make it last me to the river. We camped that night with little or no grass and but a few holes of muddy rainwater. I have not sufficient power of language to describe the country in front of us. It was grand, dismal and majestic. You can imagine a deep basin, 600 feet deep and twenty-five miles in diameter, filled with a number of cones and oven-shaped knolls of all sizes, from twenty feet to several hundred feet high, sometimes by themselves. sometimes piled up into large heaps on top of one another, in all conceivable shapes and confusion. Most of these hills were of gray clay, but many of a light brick color, of burnt clay : little or no vegetation. Some of the sides of the hills, however, were covered with a few scrub cedars. Viewed in the distance at sunset it looked exactly like the ruins of an ancient city. My Indian guide appeared to be confident of success, and trusting to him, 1 started next morning, and by dint of hard digging, succeeded by night in reaching the banks of the Little Missouri, about twelve miles. I regret very much that some gentlemen well acquainted with geology and mineralogy did not accompany the expedition, for we marched through a most wonderful and interesting country. It was covered with pieces of petrified wood and on the tops of some of the hills we found petrified stumps of trees, the remains of a great forest. In some cases these trees were from sixteen to eighteen feet in diameter. Large quantities of iron ore, lava, and impressions in the rocks of leaves, of a size and shape not known to any of us. The banks of the Little Missouri are thickly timbered with cottonwood, and the river resembles very much the Missouri on a small scale. We had now reached the river and the middle of the Bad Lands. Having dug our way down to this point it was now necessary to dig our way out. I therefore ordered out a strong working party, with four companies of cavalry, under charge of Lieutenant Colonel Pattee, Seventh Iowa Cavalry. I remained in camp to allow the animals to rest and pick up what grass could be found around, there being very little to be found. Some few of the men, however, without orders, took their horses into the timber beyond the pickets, leaving their saddles and arms in camp. A small party of Indians crawled up to them, fired on them, creating a stampede. Most of the men ran away, leaving their horses, and the Indians succeeded in getting a few away, but three or four men, having some courage, mounted their horses bareback and gave chase, causing the Indians to drop all the horses, which were retaken, save one or two. A company was soon in pursuit, but the Indians escaped through some of the numerous ravines and forests. As we had saddled and hitched up everything at the first alarm, 1 broke camp and moved up the river three miles in the direction of our route, where the grass was said to be better, By evening the working party under Colonel Pattee returned, having cut three miles of the road. A part of a company, however, by accident, had been left behind. They were surrounded by Indians and were near being cut off, but by a hasty retreat they succeeded in getting through a deep gorge, where the road was cut, the Indians firing at them from the tops of the hills. They pursued them to the river and showed themselves on the tops of the high bluffs opposite my camp, firing into my camp, but a few shells from Jones' battery soon scattered them, and with the exception of a little picket firing there was no more trouble that night. I now knew I had come upon the Indians 1 had fought about a week ago, and in the worst possible section of the country I could possibly wish to encounter an enemy. My road lay through a succession of mountain gorges, down deep ravines, with perpendicular bluffs, so narrow only one wagon could pass at a time, intersected with valleys, down which the Indians could dash onto any point of my train. Stretched out in a single line we would extend from three to four miles. The large emigrant train I had were ox teams heavily loaded, and it was impossible to move them except at a snail's pace. 1 felt more apprehension for their safety than for that of my command, for they had with them a large number of women and children. Therefore I took every precaution for protection as well as for attacking. I distributed my command along the Blanks of the train, and a strong guard in the rear, with Captain Pope's four howitzers ; with orders for companies to dismount and take the heights at dangerous points.

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remaining there until the next company in their rear relieved them. ] sent three companies of the Second Brigade, who had the advance, ahead with the pioneer party, followed by Jones' Battery. Colonel Thomas, with the rest of his Second Brigade, followed on the flanks of the wagons, while the First Brigade followed, guarding the rest of the trains. 1 accompanied the advance brigade. I had given orders that at every point when the nature of the ground would allow it, for the teams to double up and park as close as they could, so as to close up the rear. After marching about three miles we came on to the Indians strongly posted in front and on the flanks of a deep mountain pass. They were dislodged after some little trouble, the shells from Jones' Battery doing good execution, and the advance with other troops pushed on, while the pioneer party made the road. The Indians attacked me on the flanks and rear at the same time, but on all occasions they were repulsed with heavy loss by troops near by, and thus we advanced, fighting, hunting a road and dig- ging it out, till we reached a small lake and spring about ten miles from our starting point, repulsing the Indians at every point with great slaughter. I speak partly from what I saw, for in their hasty retreat they had to leave in many instances their dead on the ground; they carried them off whenever they could. At the spring there was for a short time a brisk little skirmish, the Indians trying to keep us from the only water we had that day, and the day was so hot that the animals were suffering very much, having not much to eat for two days. Part of Colonel McLaren's Second Minnesota had most of the work here. One of his companies in advance got separated from the rest and surrounded; they, how- ever, got into a hollow and defended themselves until relieved by other companies sent out from Colonel Thomas's command. Their loss, however, was slight in comparison to their danger. Unfortunately this day I lost the services of my guide; he was shot, having ven- tured too far in the advance. He was the only one who knew the country over which we were marching.

The next morning we moved onward. The Indians were in front of us, appearing as if intending to give us battle. Probably about one thousand showed themselves. 1 pushed forward Major House, Sixth Iowa, with two companies of the Sixth, and Captain Tripp's company of Dakota Cavalry, and sent forward Major Brackett with one company of his battalion, and Pope's four howitzers, dismounting the rest of the Sixth Iowa, under Colonel Pollock, on the right, and three companies of the Seventh Iowa, under Lieutenant Colonel Pattee, on the left, to push out and clear our flanks, and moved forward with Jones' Battery and the train; Colonel Thomas, with . his Minnesota Brigade, taking care of the rear. We advanced without much trouble with a little skirmishing in front and also an attack in the rear. The enemy were repulsed on all sides. It was evident in spite of all their boasting that all fighting was out of them. A few miles brought us to an open country, and the last we saw of the Indians was a cloud of dust some six or eight miles off, running as fast as they could. They were better mounted than we were. The men behaved well. There were many acts of individual bravery displayed. A great deal of ingenuity in many cases was shown by the men in trapping the Indians who, afraid of our long ranged rifles and artillery, kept themselves at a respectful distance. Parties would crawl out behind hills while a small party mounted would dash onto the Indians, fire and retreat, drawing the Indians into an ambuscade, when they would succeed in emptying a few saddles and capturing a few ponies. It is impossible for me to give anything like a correct report of the number of Indians killed, the fighting extended over so great a distance, and was a succession of skirmishes; there was certainly over one hundred killed. Other officers feel sure there were double or treble that number. It is certain, however, their loss was very heavy. The same Indians I fought before were engaged, besides Cheyennes, Brules. Minneconjous, and others from the south. This I got from my own Indians, who, during the fight, conversed with them from behind the hills. They met me under every disadvantage on the strongest of positions and were entirely crushed and routed. If I had had anything to eat and was not encumbered with an emigrant train, and if my animals had not been without food so many days, I might have overtaken some of them, for they fled in all directions.

I would here state that on crossing the Little Missouri I found the country covered with myriads of grasshoppers, who had eaten everything. My animals were almost starved. I found this state of things all the way to the Yellowstone, and I was obliged to abandon and shoot a number of animals on the road. After marching six miles this day, we came to the place where the Indians left about thirty hours before my arrival. From the size of their camp, or rather bivouac, for they had pitched no lodges, I should judge all the Indians in the country had assembled there. The space they occupied was over one mile long and half a mile wide, besides which we discovered camps all over the country, close by this spot. I found the lodge trails turned to the left in a southwest direction. We still continued our course west by north, and next day crossed a heavy trail going northeast toward the same point where I first fought them. It was evidently not all the lodges that went that way. We continued our way across the country to the Yellowstone, which we reached on the 12th of August, over a section of country I never wish to travel again; our animals half dead with hunger, the grass entirely eaten off. 1 should judge it is never very good grass in the best of seasons. The water we had to drink, the worst sort of alkali water; this told on the animals. Fortunately we here met the two boats I ordered to get up the Yellowstone, if possible, and the first steamer that ever attempted to ascend this river. These boats were the Chippewa Falls and the Alone, small stern-wheel steamers, the former drawing only

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twelve inches light; they cach had about fifty tons of freight; very little of it corn. The steamer Island City, having aboard nearly all iny corn, struck a snag near Fort Union and sunk. The steamers attempted to go above this point, but a rapid shoal rendered it im- possible. It was also fortunate for the boats that we arrived when we did, for the water is falling fast, and it will be impossible for them to go down the stream over rapids below without the help of our wagons. Having no grass to recuperate my animals, I had to again change my plans. I intended to again strike across the country northeast, in hopes of reaching the Indians again, but without any grass for several days this could not be done. I therefore crossed the command over the river, fording it with my wagons without much difficulty. The building of the post on the Yellowstone this year I consider not practicable. The loss of one of my boats, the impossibility of getting boats this late up the river, and the want of grass preventing me from hauling stores several hundred miles up the river, will show you the reasons. I shall follow down the Yellowstone to its mouth, cross the Missouri and down it to Bertold. I will by this means have grass and a good road, though I increase my distance over one hundred miles. I have the honor to enclose you the reports of com- manders in regard to the part they took in the different skirmishes. With much respect, your obedient servant,

Assistant Adjutant General, Department of the Northwest. ALF. SULLY, Brigadier General.

The subsequent reports of General Sully, made at various points as he was returning from his expedition, are principally devoted to the conduct of the war. and the policies and methods of the Government in dealing with the Indians. No further trouble was experienced from the hostiles, who had apparently suffered too much to be able to make another stand against the troops and had already in large numbers made their way to places of safety, some returning to the various Indian agencies where they could secure rations and deny that they had partici- pated in any hostile acts against the Government ; while others went north into the British possessions, where they could feel secure, as our troops were not per- mitted to cross the line. Sully reached Fort Union on the Missouri August 18th, and speaks in his report from that point of the difficulties encountered by the steamboats, caused by low water, in their voyage down the Yellowstone. He also parted company with his emigrant train, which pursued its journey toward the set- ting sun, taking along sundry mules, oxen, rifles, ammunition, etc., from Sully's property. He sent an expedition after the purloiners which overtook one party composed chiefly of the gentlemen of the train, and who had only taken ten mules, a half dozen oxen, some rifles, pistols, and other minor things. Those that were less gentlemanly were not pursued further owing to the exhausted condition of the cavalry horses, but the general felt that they had secured the bulk of the spoils of war taken during the campaign. At Fort Union, which was situated a few miles above the mouth of the Yellowstone, the expedition crossed to the north side of the Missouri, the cavalry fording the stream, which was very low. Fort Union was found to be in a very dilapidated condition, and was being used as a trading post. The general realizing the necessity for a military post at or near this point, though not favoring Fort Union, selected a new site below the Yel- lowstone's mouth for a post to be erected the next season. He deposited the sup- plies he had brought along for the post he had expected to establish on the Upper Yellowstone, at Union, and left one company of the Thirtieth Wisconsin in charge. On the 21st day of August he resumed his march for Fort Berthold. sending his sick and wounded down on the steamboats.

On the march the general learned that a large portion of the Indians he had fought at Killdeer Mountain had been supplied with powder and balls by half- breeds of the North who lived on the other side of the line, and claimed the pro- tection from the British flag, which flag was looked upon as unfriendly to the United States in the Civil war then pending. He also learned from what he esteemed as good authority that thousands of the hostile element were anxious to make peace, and he had great confidence in these reports, which were abun- dantly substantiated during the following winter and spring. No hostile bands were met with.

At Fort Berthold, an Indian settlement, the general met the Rees, Gros Ventres and Mandans, who gave him a cordial welcome. These Indians had been friendly to the whites for scores of years, the Mandans always. On that account they

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were at constant war with the Sioux, and Sully as a mark of appreciation for their consistent loyalty left Captain Moreland with a company of the Sixth lowa Cavalry with them to assist them in their unequal combats with the Sioux. These Indians were industrious and progressive and were gathering a large crop of corn when the general reached their settlement, which was composed of a large num- ber of frame structures as well as substantial dirt and pole lodges. They offered 10 send out a force with the general, but he was not then going on another fight- ing expedition. Subsequently Fort Stevenson was established for the protection of these people, and as a supply post for Fort Totten at Devil's Lake, which was built a year or two later. Fort Buford was also provided for.

On the 30th the march south was resumed, and camp near Fort Rice was made September 9th. It was here learned that a large train of emigrants led by Captain Fisk had reached Fort Rice a month earlier under cavalry escort, and that Fisk had induced the commander at the fort to furnish him an escort through the Indian country west recently traversed by Sully's expedition. At the time of Sully's arrival messengers had come in from Fisk's train, asking for a larger escort to pilot him beyond the danger line. The messengers brought word that Fisk was surrounded by the savages and could not move forward without an escort. It was known that a large number of women and children were with the train, and Sully, though determinedly opposed to the policy of escorting emigrants, whom he characterized as made up of men largely who were trying to escape being drafted, concluded to send out a strong detachment and bring the train back, but on no account would he furnish an escort if they insisted in going ahead. Accordingly Col. Daniel J. Dill, of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Infantry, then sta- tioned at Fort Rice, with a force of 550 infantry, 300 cavalry and one section of artillery, were at once dispatched to the relief of the beleaguered train. This expedition followed Sully's trail five days, then turned a little south and on the tenth day came up with the emigrants, 180 miles out. They found the emigrants well fortified and in condition to resist any attacks from Indians. No Indians had been seen for a number of days, and Colonel Dill concluded that they were secreted in the Bad Lands, which were nearby, waiting for the train to move. The people of the emigrant train were of the same mind and had resolved they would not move another mile without an escort. Fisk, however, favored going forward, escort or no escort, though he urged Dill to pilot them through the Bad Lands, where he thought they were strong enough to take care of themselves. Colonel Dill informed the emigrants that he would be unable to furnish them any escort whatever if they persisted in going on ; but that he would start on his return to Fort Rice at six o'clock the following morning, and any who wished the protec- tion of the command to return could have it by being ready at that time. The emigrants took a vote on the question and all but twenty voted to return, and when the return march was begun the next morning the entire party had agreed to return. Colonel Dill met with no Indians, but crossed a number of large Indian trails on his return. A small party of Indians attempted to stampede his ani- inals during early morning and succeeded in getting away with fifteen. He lost one man belonging to the Eighth Minnesota. The man obtained liquor from some of the emigrants and became intoxicated the morning the command left, and was supposed to have laid down and was left behind. This relief expedition reached Fort Rice on September 30th, having been absent twenty days. The emi- grants divided here, some going back with the Minnesota troops, and the larger part with the troops coming down the river.

The general was very much gratified at the result of this expedition and the safety of the emigrants. Had the train been captured by the hostiles it would have emboldened them to further depredations and largely neutralized the effect of Sully's victories, which had so dispirited the hostiles that large numbers of them were already inclined to sue for peace.

The commanding general left Fort Rice, which he pronounced as one of the best posts in the West, about the 20th of September, halting on his way down at

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the various camps and disposing of his troops for the winter. He reached his headquarters at Sioux City about the 20th of October.

The result of the campaign had undoubtedly destroyed the confidence of the Indians in their ability to cope with the military force of the Government. Sully's campaign had thoroughly demoralized and disheartened the leading hostiles, and broken up the combination of the various tribes that had made up the hostile army. Sully assured the Government that no aggregation of hostile forces need be feared, and the only danger apprehended was from the frequent stealthy depredations of small bands, and troops had been distributed to guard against this so far as practicable.

General Pope, commanding the department in which Dakota was included, complimented Sully for the energy that had characterized his conduct of the campaign and the success which had crowned his labors. Pope felt that the Indian war was ended, and so assured the people, but he did not believe the situation was secure, and would not be so long as the British possessions afforded security to the hostile element and even offered inducements for the continua- tion of hostilities. In concluding his report to Major General Hallock, com- mander of the army, General Pope suggests that :

In some manner the British Government should either prevent hostile Indians who reside within the boundaries of the United States from seeking refuge in British territory. or should secure the United States against the raids of such Indians, or should permit the United States forces to pursue into British territory all Indians who belong south of the line and who are at war with citizens of the United States. One of these three demands is certainly reasonable, and will effect the desired purpose. In the same connection it will be necessary to prohibit half-breeds and other British subjects from coming into the territory of the United States to trade with Indians, whether hostile to us or not, who live south of the British line. The hostile Sioux have, for the past two years, been supplied with ammunition, provisions, etc., to carry on hostilities against the United States by British subjects, both in their own territory and ours. A state of hostility between the Sioux and citizens of the United States of course throws all the trade with such Indians into the hands of British traders, hence the anxiety of those traders to prevent peace with the Sioux Indians.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 63

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