innesota, would be 945 miles in length, course N.N.W. The water
route to the latter place, via Mississippi Sound and New Orleans, is
about 2,350 miles; while that actually traveled, via Vicksburg, is
about 1,585 miles.

APPENDIX.

LIEUT. COL. MARSHALL'S RAID INTO DAKOTA--1862.[3]

BY

CAPT. CHARLES J. STEES.

After the memorable release of the captives at Camp Release, the scouts
were very diligent in searching out and locating the numerous small
bands of hostile Indians who were scattered through the country to the
north and west of the camp. Upon learning that there were several
lodges of Indians to the westward in the vicinity of Wild Goose Nest
Lake, General Sibley, under date of October 13th, 1862, directed
Lieutenant Colonel Marshall of the Seventh Regiment to take command of
an expedition detailed to capture any bands to be found along the upper
Lac qui Parle valley, and, if necessary, to go as far as the western
side of the Coteaus, about 45 miles distant.

[3] From the journal of Charles J. Stees, late captain of Company
G, Sixth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and formerly
major of the Fourth Regiment, Third Brigade, First Division,
Pennsylvania Infantry.

October 13th (1862). Cold, windy day. Company G was ordered to be ready
to move at 12 o'clock, midnight, with six days' rations. The men
thought they were going below with the prisoners, but were disappointed
on learning that we were off on an Indian hunt. The expedition under
Lieutenant Colonel Marshall consisted of Company G, of the Sixth
Regiment, under command of Captain Valentine; 100 men of the Third
Regiment--50 mounted--under Lieutenant Swan; Company B, Seventh
Regiment, Captain Curtis; a mountain howitzer with 8 men under Sergeant
O'Shea; Major Joseph R. Brown and 4 scouts (Bell, Quinn, and 2
Indians). Left Camp Release at 10 p.m. for the Lac qui Parle valley.
It was very cold traveling, so much so that the water froze in our
canteens.

October 14th. We made a very rapid march during the night, and reached
the Lac qui Parle River before daybreak, made a bridge, using the
wagons for the purpose, and all crossed over. Soon after passed a
deserted bark village. The scouts reported that there were Indians
ahead with eight ox teams, but there was nothing to be seen but the sky
and prairie. The Indians, discovering that they were pursued, now fired
the prairie in front of us with the evident intention of