Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-23
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

The st. Louis Democrat furnishes the particulars of
the lamentabe affair, derived from LEFRoY IorT,
the Sioux interpreter mentioned in the preceding letter.
The two accounts agree in all essential particulars That
of Mr. IoTr however, into detail concerning
what took place previous to the conflict. He says
Lieut.. Fleming when the story Of the .ost cow was
told to him. at sent for the head chief of the Sioux
(Matteiowan, the Bear and demanded that the Mime
congou Indian should be delivered up Matteiowan in
formed him that il he would send file Of soldiers he
would endeavor to have the Indian surrendered Lieut.
Fleming then ordered out Lieut. Grattan with twenty
two men, and the United States Interpreter Auguste
Lucien accompany the Sioux chief to the Minnnecon
gou village which situated nine miles below
the Fort Bordeau's Rouse The Lieutenant with
his command marched down, taking with him two six
Founders and planted them in the Wazhaze camp where
the Indian in question was lodged Matteowan then
into the village and demanded the Indian but the chiefs
would listen him. They told him that they would pay
for the cow they would replace it. they would leave
the matter be settled the Agent when he came but
that they would rather be killed themselves than give the
Indian Mateiowan returned made his statement to Lieut.
rttan told him If he wanted the Indian he would have
to 20 and kill him. he unable to get him. and then
returned to the Sioux camp Lieut. Grattan replied that
if there was any killing to be done he would attend to
that matter, and accordingly Immediately ranged his
pieces Of artillery and commenced firing upon the village
Three four muskets also fred at the time,
but the only result to knock the top off of the
lodges and to wound Matteiowan and his brother who
standing front-the former with three balls the
latter with SO the troops fred the Indians
returnedt and poured upon them shower of arrows.
The first discharge killed Lieut. Grattan who stand
ing by the side of the As he fell his
command at lost heart and attempted to leaving
their cannon, arms, and every thing else The Sioux
then charged upon the flying soldiers and shot and toma
hawked every man of them save one who made his es-
cape by taking down rsvine, and thus getting out of
sight The tragedy occurred the afternoon of the
10Th Of August and it not until the next morning
that the news Of it reached the Fort"
Nothing further has been heard from the Fort at the
present time, and it would that the report that
the Sioux had surrounded Laramie is not confirmed
As to their taking it. 1.-THE Republican says that is not
regarded as very probable by those best acquainted with
Its situation The Indians may invest it, but, it is well
known that they provided with provisions &C.
for such an undertaking they must fail unless they can
hre the Fort This they cannot do. They may burn the
soldiers quarters and the outside buildings but the
troops retreat to the Fort which contains all the
stores and there defend themselves. The
Fort is adobe building with walls three feet thick
arge enough to accommodate oil the whites and impreg
lable against all the assaults Of the Indians In any
went they safe enough and the Indians are much
likely to starve out than the occupants Of the Fort
ien CLARK has ordered troops from Fort Riley to
he relief Of Fort Laramie.