Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

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[233] resumed. The expedition had but fifteen days rations, nine or ten of which would be consumed in returning to Camp Atchison. It would take two or three days to cross the Missouri, so that all the surplus would have been consumed in crossing and recrossing the river.

The animals were completely worn down. Over twelve miles a day could not be made on the scanty feed they were getting. It would, therefore, have been useless to go farther. Much had been accomplished. Forty-four bodies of warriors had been found — many more carried off and concealed. The season's supplies of meat and clothing material, and their wagons, destroyed. The howlings of the squaws that came across the river told the tale of their misery and despair.

If General Sully shall arrive and take up the pursuit, their destruction can be rendered complete.

The body of Lieutenant Freeman, killed by the Indians, was promptly recovered, and buried at Camp Sibley, near the Big Mound. The scouts who were with Lieutenant Freeman and Mr. Brackett did not give themselves up to the hostile Indians, but made their way, minus horses, directly to camp. Lieutenant Freeman was killed on the east side of the hill, about the time the battle began on the west side. The scouts gave the same account of the affair that Mr. Brackett did. Search was made that evening for Mr. Brackett, but he could not be tracked on the dry prairie.

The following is the official list of the killed and wounded, as reported by Medical Director Wharton:

The Killed.

Surgeon J. S. Weiser, First Minnesota mounted rangers.

Private Gustaf Stark, Company B, First Minnesota mounted rangers.

Private Nicholas Miller, Company K, Sixth Minnesota volunteers.

The above were killed in the battles above described. To these must be added the name of

Lieutenant Freeman, Company D, First Minnesota mounted rangers, who was killed in the affair from which Mr. Brackett had such a narrow escape.

Private John Murphy, First Minnesota mounted rangers, killed by ligntning.

Wounded.

Private John Platt, Company L, First Minnesota mounted rifles, wounded in right groin; since died.

Private Andrew Moore, Company B, mortally shot in right side.

Corporal William B. Hazlep, Company B, in right shoulder joint; recovering.

Sergeant James G. Grady, Company L, First Minnesota mounted rifles; flesh wound in thigh.

Making eight deaths by wounds or casualties, and two slightly wounded.

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General Sibley's order.

The following order was read on dress parade on the evening of July thirty-first:

headquarters District of Minnesota, Department of the North-West, Camp Slaughter, July 31, 1863.
To the Officers and Soldiers of the Expeditionary Forces in Camp:

General order No. 51: in the field.--It is proper for the Brigadier-General commanding to announce to you that the march to the ,west and south is completed, and that on tomorrow the column will proceed homeward, to discharge such other duties connected with the objects of the expedition, on the way, as may from time to time present themselves.

In making this announcement, General Sibley expresses also his high gratification that the campaign has been a complete success. The design of the government in chastening the savages, and thereby preventing for the future the raids upon the frontier, has been accomplished. You have routed the miscreants who murdered our people last year, banded as they were with the powerful Upper Sioux to the number of nearly two thousand warriors, in three successful engagements, with heavy loss, and driven them in confusion and dismay across the Missouri River, leaving behind them all their vehicles, provisions and skins designed for clothing, which have been destroyed. Forty-four bodies of warriors have been found, and many others concealed or taken away, according to the custom of these savages, so that it is certain they lost in killed and wounded not less than from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty men. All this has been accomplished with the comparatively trifling loss on our part of three killed and as many wounded. You have marched nearly six hundred miles from St. Paul, and the powerful bands of the Dakotahs, who have hitherto held undisputed possession of the great prairies, have succumbed to your valor and discipline, and sought safety in flight. The intense heat and drought have caused much suffering, which you have endured without a murmur. The companies of Sixth, Seventh, Ninth, and Tenth regiments of Minnesota volunteers, and of the First regiment Minnesota mounted rangers, and the scouts of the battery, have amply sustained the reputation of the state by their bravery and endurance amidst unknown dangers and great hardships. Each has had opportunity to distinguish itself against a foe at least equal in numbers to itself.

It would be a gratification if these remorseless savages could have been pursued and literally extirpated, for their crimes and barbarities merited such a full measure of punishment; but men and animals are alike exhausted after so long a march, and a farther pursuit would only be futile and hopeless. The military results of the campaign have been completely accomplished, for the savages have not only been destroyed in great numbers, and their main strength broken, but their prospects for the future are hopeless indeed, for