University of Virginia Library

STATEMENT OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS
OF THE SIXTH IOWA CAVALRY.

We, the undersigned, late officers and members of
the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, being duly sworn, do hereby
depose and say that, during the winter of the years
1864 and 1865, the said Sixth Iowa Cavalry was stationed,
and doing military duty, at Fort Sully, in the
Territory of Dakota; that we, in our respective military
capacities, were present during the winter stated
at the aforesaid post of Fort Sully. Deponents further
say that, on or about the 6th day of December, in the
year 1864, an Indian appeared before the fort, and
signified to the officer of the day, Lieutenant G. A.
Hesselberger, that he had something to communicate to
those within the fort; and the said Indian was allowed
to enter, and presented to the commanding officer, Major
A. E. House, of the regiment before stated, a note,
or letter, which letter we all thoroughly knew, the purport
of, and it was seen and read by——. It was
written, or purported to be, by one Mrs. Fanny Kelly,
who represented herself as a captive in the hands of
certain Blackfeet Sioux Indians; and that, under a
pretext of delivering her up to her people, they intended
attacking the town or village to which they
purposed going.

Deponents further say that, at the time of the receipt

of this letter, the said Fort Sully was not in
such a state of defense as would have enabled the garrison
to hold it against the attack of any considerable
body of men; that, in consequence of the receipt of
said letter, Major House brought the cannon in position
to bear on all sides of the fort, and otherwise
ordered and disposed of the garrison to withstand any
attempt to capture or destroy the fort.

Deponents further say that, on or about the 9th day
of December, the said Mrs. Fanny Kelly was brought
in as a captive and delivered by the Indians to the
commanding officer at Fort Sully; that the Indians
came up to the fort painted in war paint, and singing
their war songs; that as soon as Mrs. Kelly was within
the gates of the fort, they were closed, and all the
Indians save those who had her directly in charge
were shut out from entrance into said fort.

Deponents further say, that they verily believe, from
information then gained, and from that which they afterward
learned, it was the intention of the Indians to
attack the fort, and they were only prevented from doing
so by the preparations which the letter of warning
from the said Mrs. Fanny Kelly had induced the commanding
officer to make; and they verily believe that,
had the attack been made without such preparations, it
would have resulted in the capture of the fort and the
massacre of its inmates; and such was the expressed
opinion of nearly all the members of the said Sixth
Iowa Cavalry then stationed therein; and further deponents
say not.

Signed.
John Logan, Capt. Co. K, Sixth Reg. Iowa Cavalry.
Dean Cheadle, O. S. "    "    "    "
John M. Williams, Q. M. S. "    "    "
John Magee, Serg't Co. H, "    "    "
John Cooper, Corp. Co. K, "    "    "
Merit M. Oakley, Corp. Co. H, "    "    "

Personally appeared before me, A. J. McKean, Clerk
of the District Court, Linn County, State of Iowa, and
made solemn oath that the foregoing is true and correct
in all particulars, and that neither of the parties
hereto subscribing is interested in any way in any effort
which the said Mrs. Kelly may make, or has
made, for indemnity, on this 22d day of January,
A. D., 1870.

[Seal.] A. J. MoKean,
Clerk District Court, Linn County, Iowa.

Treasury Department,
Second Auditor's Office, December 2d, 1870.

I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the
original filed in this office.

E. B. French,
Second Auditor.

[The memoranda below are written with pencil.]

Captain Logan was the officer of the day when
Mrs. Kelly was brought into the fort (Sully).

John Magee, Sergeant Co. H. Sixth Iowa Cavalry,
was sergeant of the guard at the same time.

To Hon. James Harlan, U. S. S., and Hon. Wm. Smyth, M. C.,
Second Congressional District, Iowa:

Gentlemen:—

I was at Fort Sully when the arrangement was
made for the capture of this woman. Was not there
when the Indians brought her into the fort; but am
satisfied that the above affidavit, in the main, is correct.

(Signed.)    T. S. Bardwell,
Late Assistant Surgeon Sixth Iowa Cavalry.

Treasury Department,
Second Auditor's Office, December 24, 1870.

I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the
original filed in this office.

E. B. French,
Second Auditor.