The search of Thursday having proved fruitless, as night approached the
line was thrown some five miles in advance due west, and a cordon of
pickets was stretched from Judson, on the Minnesota river, to Garden City,
on the Watonwan river, a distance of at least thirteen miles. The line
passed through the village of Lake Crystal, the pickets being liberally
disposed at all of the roads, crossings, fords and ferries. Brissette,
Harrison and Clark, aided by W. Erwin, of St. Paul, (a most admirable
organizer and active commander,) and Baxter, of Faribault, having charge
of the arrangements, and acting under the orders of Gen. Pope, who had
changed his headquarters to Lake Crystal. The town board of that place
responded with the most commendable promptitude to every expressed desire
of the leaders, providing provisions for a large number of men and horses,
and furnishing transportation for the pickets to their several locations.
At an early hour in the evening the picketing was completed, and the
commander-in-chief with his aids watched through the night, momentarily
expecting the arrival of