butary streams to the Big Sioux on the west side,--many miles
of land and bluffs, prairies, and lakes seeming as not ten miles
distant. At various points we passed through fields of buffalo bones.
Arrived at "Two Lakes" (Mde-nonpana), where the Indians camped last
night and left a sign indicating that they had moved to the westward
two days previously. In order to overtake them, Colonel Marshall took
the mounted men, howitzer, and the best teams, and pushed ahead,
leaving the infantry and baggage train, under command of Captain
Valentine, to follow on his trail and camp at the next creek for the
night, with instructions to continue the forward movement if he did not
return. Instead of following instructions, Captain Valentine crossed
the creek, and, ascending the next hill, perceived what appeared to be
a beautiful lake a few miles distant; he continued the march, intending
to camp there; so we marched and marched, but no lake appeared; the
men, worn and fatigued, lagged behind, some straggling back for five
miles, and curses, loud and deep, were heard on every hand,--the lake
turned out to be a mirage, a sight not uncommon in this region. Failing
to arrive at the lake, we finally camped in the prairie grass, without
wood or water; and, the rations being short, we went to sleep,
supperless, after marching until 10 o'clock at night.

October 17th. The morning found us camped on the top of the Coteaus
with no sign of Colonel Marshall and his men. Struck tents before
daylight and were on the march without breakfast. At about two miles
from the last camp we arrived at the Big Sioux River (here very narrow,
with marshy banks), and halted for breakfast; but there was no feed for
the horses. The men of the Third Regiment dealt out their last
crackers, and Company G had one ration of flour, sugar, and coffee.
Flour mixed with water and fried in fat was indeed and in truth a great
luxury, of which even a white plumed knight might well be proud,--at
this stage of the game. The expedition was now four days' march from
Camp Release, and the provisions were all gone. The scouts returned and
reported that they had seen "nothing of Marshall or any other man." We
again resumed the march, and at sundown arrived at Hawk's Nest Lake.
Here we met Quinn (the scout), and some mounted men, who brought the
cheering news of the capture of 150 Indians, including 34 warriors.

On leaving the main body of the expedition, Colonel Marshall had moved