H. H. Sibley, September 1, 1864

GENERAL: I have the honor to state that official dispatches report the murder by twenty-one Sioux Indians of two men outright and of a third, who lived only a few hours, named Brisse, Lusta, and Dean, who were on their way with two teams from Georgetown to Fort Abererombie. The affair took place about twenty-eight miles from the latter post, at 2 p.m. on 23d ultimo, the savages being in ambush in the woods of the Red River. One man, who drove the leading team, escaped with his team, and the other team followed at full speed with one of the dead men and the wounded man remaining in the wagon, so that the Indians got no horses or other plunder. Major Adams received intelligence of the murders about 7.30 the same evening, and immediately proceeded with forty mounted men to the scene of the outrage, which he reached early in the morning. After burying two of the men, one of whom was frightfully mutilated, the trail of the Indians was taken, which led to the Cheyenne River and up that stream, but the murderers had too long a start to be overtaken. They evidently came from the camp of desperadoes on the Missouri Coteau, west of Devil’s Lake, from which all of these parties, in my opinion, have sprung. This large camp of about 400 lodges is composed of the most desperate villains from all the various bands of Sioux, and I am not without hope that Colonel Thomas may be enabled to attend to them after recrossing the Missouri River. It would be well worth the effort, for the extermination of the whole gang of 700 or 800 warriors in that camp would extinguish the great element of mischief and danger on this frontier.

One of the party who was concerned in the Blue Earth raid has been captured by my scouts near Fort Wadsworth while he was trying to steal some of their horses. It is not probable he will be allowed an opportunity of renewing his exploits in that direction. He frankly avowed that he was one of the party of nine who had been on a horsestealing expedition to the settlements. Heseemed perfectly indifferent as to his fate, and will probably receive no more mercy than he expected. I have given positive orders that no quarter shall be given to those savages who are found in the act of committing depredations on the settlers. Iam, general,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,