The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1849-06-14

of the tribe, wished to know at once of
Major Taliafero (the Siox agent,) what
should be done? Saying, " Father, you
have always interfered and stopped the
war parties; you have tied up our hands,
and in this treaty we listened to your words,
because you said you knew better than we
did, that the Chippewas would keep the
tomahawk buried. What think you now
of the dogs? Scarcely is the stem of the
pipe of peace dry, with which we smoked,
until the wolf is again on the path of the
deer; their hands are red with our blood;
and one of our fires is extinguished."
The agent, for want of presence of mind
or forethought, told them to do as they pleas.
ed. Had he promised to send troops after
the offenders, even then the tumult might
have been quieted. Gladly avaiIing them
selves of the permission thoughtlessly Civ
en-, they formed themselves into two parties,
and with speed known only to an Indian
when bent on an errand of vengeance, they
started in pursuit. One party took the
route now known as the Saltwater and ST.
Paul road, cvertaking the Chippewas at
Saltwater, just at night-fall, encamped in a
ravine where Mckusick's mill now stands.
The pursuing party halted this side, and
despatched scouts TO recOnnoitre, who re-
turned with intelligence that there was a
white man encamped with them. a council
of war was held. 1t was concluded to wait
until daybreak for an attack, as there would
he danger TO the white man from random
shots. He was an old trader among the
Chippewas, and was on the way to the pay
memt with them. At daylight, the fight
commenced, by the Sioux pouring volley
from the heights of the ravine into their
unsuspecting enemies below. The Chip
pewas fought braveIy, covering the retreat
of their women and children to the lake
shore, where lay their birch canoes. Our
friend, the trader, being awakened by the
din of the fight from a comfortable slumber,
probably dreaming of a rise in the price of
fishes or otter skins, at once beat retreat
for his canoe, and wounded himself in fall
ing over picket of his tent, TO this day
he believes he was wounded by Sioux ar
row. Some forty or fifty Chippewas, men,
women and children, were left dead, their
bones to be bleached in that ravine, which
is now part of Saltwater. Some ten or
fifteen Sioux were killed and many wound
ed; among the latter, was one who may he
seen occasionally about St. Paul on crutch-
es. He there was shot in the leg, His
friends refusing 10 have the leg amputated,
it literally rotted off, He is now second
Father Matthew among his tribe, an apostle
of temperance, and good member of H.
dian society.
The other party of Sioux, whom we left
at the agency, followed after that portion
of the Chippewas who went homeward, up
the Mississippi and overlook them on a
tributary stream Of the Mississippi, called
Rum river, the next morning. Into Rum
river the ChIppewas, were making portage
that Is, the women, and part OF the men,
carrying their canoes and baggage, while the
rest OF the party were hunting deer. The
Sioux, before making an attack, tore up all
the red legglns they could raise, into strips
for making badges for soldiers, whose duty
would be to see that no quarter was given
or prisoners taken. Like bloodhounds the
Sioux sprang forward, with lance and tom
ahawk; and many a ChIppewa's scalp was
torn from the head before life was extinct.
Among the Sioux was one young man of
much personal attraction, who, while they
had been at peace at Fort Smelling, became
enamored with a young Chippewa damsel,
whose love was returned. They had part
ed, vowing mutual fidelity. Where did they
meet? He overlook her during the massa-
ere, with his tomahawk appraised, In an
instant mutual recognition took place. She
turned to hm-to him, whose head she had
pillowed on. her bosom, Casping her arms
and in pantomimic language she asked to be
made his prisoner. What could he dos
The edict had gone forth--no prisoners!
His reputation as a warrior, according to
Indian education, demanded her life; but
his love whispered, "spcre her." He pass
ed on; he could not save her; but he was
determined some other hand than his should
destroy her. He passed on, and shuddered
as he heard instantly afterward, the dull
sound of a tomahawk entering her brain.
From these two fights, the Sioux brought
home ninety-nIne scalps; leaving eighteen
of their own tribe dead on the fields, and ten
more MORALLY wounded. A SIOUX.
For the Pioneer.
LANCASTER, May 30, 1S49.
ErienR GOo1bue II want tn unaka INV