The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-07-26
For the Pioneer.
A Border Incident.

Doctor Buchanan, an Indian trader of
long standing and some notorieiy among the
Chippewas, accompanied Genl. V. on tour
through the Chippewa country few years
since. AT that time, as has always been the
case, the Chppewas and Sioux were at
war, and each tribe embraced every oppor-
tuniiy that presented of attacking, killing,
and scalping their opponents. The Genl.
and party had made h pleasant voyage, and
after visiting Leech lake, and by portages
connecting small streams aud lakes ia the
interior, had passed into Pine river, thence
TO the Mississippi, and following the "father
Of waters" had made their last encampment
before reaching The mouth of the St. Peters
on one of the beautiful points on the west
bank of the Mississippi, below the mouth Of
Sank river. The tents were pitched, the
fire was lighted aud blazing cheerfully, while
the cook was busily engaged in preparing
the evening meal. The General and Doc
tor b. were reclining comfortably OH their
robes in the tent, discussing the beauties Of
scenery around them, the fertility of the
soil, and the agricultural advantages of the
country through which they had passed, md
endeavoring to estimate the probable agri-
cultural, numbering, and mercantile wealth
that few short years would deveope in a
country then an entire wilderness. While
IN very Interesting calculation of the hy-
draulic power which could be commanded
on the rapids in the Mississippi over which
they had recently passed, an Indian of the
Chippewa tribe, who had with few hun
dred others accompanied the party from
Crow Wing, came rushing into camp out of
breath, and proclaimed that party Of
Sioux were in the vicinity of the camp, and
hIv th.,, Il.
night. This changed the aspect of affairs
in the camp instantly. The quie. that had
reigned a few moments previously, was
changed to the most perfect coniusion.-
Many were the propositions for defence or
flight from the camp. Each person made
various propositions as TO the course to be
pursued; among which the General propc-
Ised to cross the river and encamp on the
iopposite side, or drop down the river. This
Doctor Is. knew to be the most dangerous
course they could pursue, Us it would ex-
pose them to the fire of an enemy who
would be protected by an ambush. The
Doctor advised remaining where they were.
and defending themselves, If attacked, as
well as they best might. This the General
thought would be leaving themselves expo
sed, and he appeared to look, as the Doc
tor expressed il, rather pale about the gIiis
He however Expressed himself prepared for
any emergency, his only grief however, APP
peared to be that if he should be killed, he
would leave below wife and child urpro-
vided for. Sis that all 20 said the Doctor
I"Why, my dear sir, have three wires and
nineteen children unprovided for!''
The comparatively insignificant risk pos
terity ran of loss by his death, reconcied
the General to his danger, and he ate his
supper and went to rest and lay quietly un-
I'll morning; there being, in all probability,
no Sioux in the vicinity, the Indians having
mistaken some stump or tree for an eneinv.