To this end another expedition was fitted out from the Minnesota side, which was to co-operate with General Sully from the Missouri side. General Sully, on account of the low stage of water in the Missouri in 1863, was unable to co-operate with General Sibley, as was intended, and on August 1st, 1863, and when General Sibley's order for the homeward march was promulgated, General Sully was one hundred and sixty miles farther down the river than it was intended he should be. This was the reason why the Indians were not more severely whipped than they were. It would have been suicidal for General Sibley to have crossed the Missouri river at this time, with rations and ammunition as scarce as they were. The Indians took advantage of the situation and evinced a determination to take the field again. A cavalry regiment had been authorized by the War Department for one year and for frontier service. This regiment was filled to the maximum, and placed in command of Colonel R. N. McLaren. A battalion had been raised previous to this, known as Hatch's battalion, and was on duty near Pembina, and by this wise provision confidence was restored in this part of the country. The Indians still had undisputed possession of the country west of the Missouri, and, although they may have been peaceable, it was necessary to settle the question permanently, and place them on their reservations. The plan of the campaign of 1864 was very similar to that of the year previous, excepting in the matter of command, the two columns,--the one from the Minnesota side and the other from the Missouri side,--were to combine and become two brigades, under the command of General Sully. The first brigade was composed of Iowa and Kansas infantry, and they embarked at Sioux City, Iowa, and proceeded up the Missouri. The second brigade embraced the Eighth Minnesota Infantry, mounted on ponies, Colonel M. T. Thomas in command; the Second Minnesota Cavalry, Colonel McLaren; and the Third Minnesota Battery, Captain John Jones. This brigade was in command of Colonel Thomas, and left Fort Snelling on June 1st. General Sibley and staff accompanied this brigade of 2,100 men as far as Fort Ridgely, where he gave them their final orders. Colonel Thomas, who considered General Sibley a man of ability, thought him too cautious, and, in response to his final orders, said: "General, I am going to hunt for Indians; if they will hunt for and find me it will save a heap of trouble." It was a beautiful morning on June 5th, and as the first rays of the morning sun flashed the full light of day, "boots and saddles" sounded in the clear tones of the bugles, and the column, headed by a magnificent band, mounted on milk white horses, marched out to the tune of "The Girl I Left Behind Me."