mping place and remained there on account of the jaded horses. On the
26th, with the Sixth Regiment in advance, the march was resumed. On
arriving at Dead Buffalo Lake, some 15 miles from the last camp, the
Indians again appeared in force and commenced an attack. Colonel Crooks
immediately deployed a part of the Sixth, including Company E, as
skirmishers, under Lieutenant Colonel Averill, and they advanced
steadily, driving the enemy as they went; the remainder of the regiment
under Major McLaren being held in reserve. After an advance of about
one and one-half miles Major McLaren with five companies of the Sixth
was ordered to return to the camp at the lake, three companies
remaining at the front. Desultory firing was kept up until about 3
p.m., when the Indians made a final assault, which was repulsed in fine
style by the troops under command of Major McLaren. The Indians, having
been defeated at every point, now withdrew from the field.

On the morning of the 27th the advance was again resumed, and in the
afternoon a camp was formed on Stony Lake. On the 28th, as the troops
were forming in column, the Indians again appeared and made their last
charge. About one mile beyond the lake the Sixth Regiment was deployed
to skirmish on the right of the train, and they repelled the attack of
the Indians who threatened it. The firing continued for a time, the
Indians finally making a rapid retreat in the face of the advancing
expedition. The pursuit was continued until Apple River was reached,
where a camp was formed for the night.

On the 29th the army crossed Apple River, continuing the pursuit, and
in the afternoon the Missouri River was reached, the regiment, under
the immediate command of Colonel Crooks, skirmishing nearly two miles
through the woods to it. The Indians having crossed to the west bank
and hoisted white flags, the battery which had been advanced, and was
in good position for shelling, was moved away, as the policy seemed to
be to kill Indians only when they made an attack. Many of the
skirmishers ventured to the river bank and began filling their
canteens, when suddenly the enemy fired at them from the other side and
the men were forced back, but not without sending a volley in return. A
camp was formed on the banks of the Missouri River near the mouth of
Apple River. The point on the river struck was in about 46 deg. 40' north
latitude, 600 miles from Fort Snelling by the route followed, 6 miles
above the