The autumn of ’62 witnessed the campaign for the chastisement of these Indians.  Twenty-five thousand men were sent to Minnesota, under General Pope, and employed against the Sioux.  In a wild country, like the interior of Minnesota, infantry cannot be used to advantage.  On this account, the punishment of the Indians was not as complete as our authorities desired.

Some of the Indians were captured, some killed, and others surrendered.  Thirty-nine of the captives were hanged.  A hundred others were sent to prison at Davenport, Iowa, for confinement during life.  The coming of Winter caused a suspension of hostilities.

The spring of 1863 opened with the outfitting of two expeditions—­one to proceed through Minnesota, under General Sibley, and the other up the Missouri River, under General Sully.  These expeditions were designed to unite somewhere on the Missouri River, and, by inclosing the Indians between them, to bring them to battle.  If the plan was successful, the Indians would be severely chastised.

General Sibley moved across Minnesota, according to agreement, and General Sully advanced up the Missouri.  The march of the latter was delayed on account of the unprecedented low water in the Missouri, which retarded the boats laden with supplies.  Although the two columns failed to unite, they were partially successful in their primary object.  Each column engaged the Indians and routed them with considerable loss.

After the return of General Sibley’s expedition, a portion of the troops composing it were sent to the Southwest, and attached to the armies operating in Louisiana.

The Indian war in Minnesota dwindled to a fight on the part of politicians respecting its merits in the past, and the best mode of conducting it in the future.  General Pope, General Sibley, and General Sully were praised and abused to the satisfaction of every resident of the State.  Laudation and denunciation were poured out with equal liberality.  The contest was nearly as fierce as the struggle between the whites and Indians.  If epithets had been as fatal as bullets, the loss of life would have been terrible.  Happily, the wordy battle was devoid of danger, and the State of Minnesota, her politicians, her generals, and her men emerged from it without harm.

Various schemes have been devised for placing the Sioux Indians where they will not be in our way.  No spot of land can be found between the Mississippi and the Pacific where their presence would not be an annoyance to somebody.  General Pope proposed to disarm these Indians, allot no more reservations to them, and allow no traders among them.  He recommended that they be placed on Isle Royale, in Lake Superior, and there furnished with barracks, rations, and clothing, just as the same number of soldiers would be furnished.  They should have no arms, and no means of escaping to the main-land.  They would thus be secluded from all evil influence, and comfortably housed and cared for at Government expense.  If this plan should be adopted, it would be a great relief to the people of our Northwestern frontier.