I was wrong in the previous post when I said I thought that Louis L'amour's Great-Grandfather was killed at the Battle of Whitestone Hill. It turns out that he was killed in a skirmish surrounding the Battle of Big Mound instead.
It is widely reported that during the opening sequences of the Battle of Big Mound that Lieutenent Ambrose Freeman (L'amour's Great-Grandfather) and George Brackett, a civilian contractor, were off hunting antelope and were joined by some friendly Dakota. Subsequently, they were attacked by a war party of other Sioux and Freeman was killed.
We will discuss the Battle of Big Mound in future posts, but this appears to be one of those battles in the1863 campaign that involved the Dakota, Nakota and Lakota tangling with the soldiers.
Interestingly, this battle took place well east of the Missouri River and Sitting Bull is often placed as being at the Battle of Big Mound and other battles in this area.
It is somewhat odd to think of Sitting Bull fighting US soldiers well east of the Missouri River in 1863. These battles are obviously overshadowed by events at places like Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Chickamauga.
Lt Freeman and George Brackett were off a flank of the greater expedition as they were want to do. Freeman had just shot an antelope with his Colt Revolving Rifle, which Freeman had tied around his neck when they were jumped by Indians. The were riding hard, but Freeman was hindered by the antelope and an Indian gained on them and shot an arrow into Freeman's side. They made it to a slough where they dismounted. Freeman told Brackett he was gone, and Brackett jumped into the slough and hid. Freeman was scalped and Brackett alluded death in the slough. After dark Brackett began walking back to Camp Atchison which he eventually reached. The Historical Society has a manuscript that Brackett wrote of the ordeal and told his children and grandchildren for years after.
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