CHAPTER LIV.

DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHWEST-INDIAN TROUBLES IN MINNESOTA-DEATH OF LITTLE CROW-GENERAL SIBLEY'S EXPEDITION AGAINST THE INDIANS HE DEFEATS, PURSUES, AND ROUTES THEM-GENERAL SULLY'S BATTLE AT WHITESTONE HILL-ESCAPE OF THE INDIANS-GENERAL CONNER'S BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS-DEPARTMENT OF WEST VIRGINIA -GENERAL AVERELL'S RAID INTO SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA-HIS CAPTURE AT SALEM AND DESTRUCTION OF COMMISSARY AND QUARTERMASTERS' STORES-HIS ESCAPE FROM THE SIX GENERALS-SKETCH OF GENERAL AVERELL-OTHER OPERATIONS IN WEST VIRGINIAARMY OF THE POTOMAC-LEE'S FLANKING MOVEMENT ITS EXTENT-GENERAL MEADE'S EXCESSIVE CAUTION-THE CAVALRY BATTLE AT BRANDY STATION-GENERAL WARREN'S BATTLE WITH HILL'S CORPS AT BRISTOW STATION HILL REPULSED-CUSTER'S ATTACK ON STUART'S CAVALRY-LEE'S RETURN TO THE RAPIDAN-IMBODEN'S ATTACK ON CHARLESTOWE, VIRGINIA-LEE REMOVES TO THE RAPPAHANNOCK AND FORTIFIES HIS POSITION-MEADE DRIVES HIM BACK, TAKING OVER TWO THOUSAND PRISONERS-SEDGWICK'S ASSAULT AT RAPPAHANNOCK STATION-ITS SUCCESS-THE LEFT WING AT KELLY'S FORD AND BRANDY STATION-MEADE's coup-de-main-HIS PLANS UNMASKED--HIS WITHDRAWAL

ACROSS THE RAPIDAN-RESULTS.

IN the Department of the Northwest, the summer of 1863, though hap pily unsullied by any massacres like the atrocious slaughter of 1862, was not wholly free from Indian disturbances. Little Crow, the wily and daring leader of the Sioux in their deeds of blood in 1862, had, during the winter, visited the British settlements, and endeavored to obtain from the authorities there, arms, ammunition, and provisions, in large quanti ties. He failed in this, but secured from some of the traders a moderate supply of powder and fire-arms, and gathered, in May and the early part of June, a large force of Indians at Miniwakan, or Devil's Lake, in Dakota Territory, five hundred miles northwest from St. Paul. He had sent also in April, May, and June, small bands of Indians, a half dozen or dozen together, to penetrate into Minnesota, and rob, murder, steal horses, and other valuables. Several of these bands had succeeded in eluding the frontier guard of over two thousand men, which had been stationed along the western line of Minnesota, and had succeeded in murdering twentyfive or thirty persons, though full half the number of Indians had met their death at the hands of the settlers. In the latter part of June, from some unexplained cause, Little Crow, taking one of his sons with him, left the Indian camp, and made his way into Minnesota to steal horses. About the first of July, he was in the vicinity of Hutchinson, Minnesota, and Mr. Chauncy Lampson and his son, who were out hunting, observed them prowling about, and evidently bent on mischief. They were nearly six miles from the town. Mr. Lampson fired upon them, and the elder Indian fired in return, wounding Mr. Lampson, when young Lampson fired and instantly killed Little Crow, but his son made his escape. Neither