The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-06-02

to terminate, and the amount paid therefor.
Ordained and dated at the City Of st. Paul
this 22nd day of May, A. D.. 1855. lasiE
- s.asg'.os ,are ALEX. RAMSEY. I'D ]
.r.......,., ...,s...-g ,ss Mayor.
SHERWOOD HoucH, City Clerk.
From the st. Louis Republican, 10th inst.
Arrival from he Falls of the Missouri - The |
Western Indians.
Mr.. John G. Tevis, who has passed several |
months at Fort Union, and other trading pests
on the Missouri, and Mr. Galpin, of Fort Pier.
re, arrived in this city yesterday. In company
with Mr.. Culbertson. special Indian agent for
the Black Feet MIR. Tevis left Fort Union ont he |
10th OF April. He represents the navigation |
of the river as exceedingly difficult even for
Mackinaw boats, and from its source to the
mouth of the Platte it was lower than has ever |
been known. During the month of April not a |
drop of rain fell in their whole course of trav-
ell. The winter had been very mild, and little
or no show had fallen.
In consequence of tie mildness of the winter
the trade in Buffalo robes had greatly dimin-
ished, and comparatively a small number will
be brought to market The herds Of Buffalo
wintered in the mountains. and the Indians,
located on the rivers. could not 60 out to hunt
them, and hence the diminished supply.
On the 18th of April. Mr.. Cu,bertsen and Mr..
Tevis fell in with a portion of the Yanktonnais
band of the Sioux, a short distance below the
Rec village. They were detained there two
days, and Mr.. Culbertson had long talk
with them. Of this talk Mr.. c. has sent us the
following memoranda They reported that
they had, few days before, left the hostile
Sioux congregated in great Numbers in the vi
cinity of the Rainy Butte, (about two days
march YVES of the Rec village. and about four
- fl,o b>f% Xol1o
that point much the largest portion, in fact
nearly all the tribes of the Missouri and Platte
Sioux we're collccting-eXpecting, also, to be
joined by the Chayennes and Arrapahoes.
which, in all probability, they will be. They
will mum Der 100 lodges. or 5000 warriors, at
the lowest calculation. They avow their de-
termination to carry on an eXterminating war,
not only against the troops sent out to oppose
Them but to put to death every white man they
may meet, whether a trader or not. They also
include the Crows, Gros Ventres of the Nilsson
ri, or Minetarees, and Assineboines, among
their enemies
Stree the defeat or massacre of the detach-
ment Of the U. S. troops undar Lieut. Grattan.
at Fort Laramie these Indians imagine that
they can easily overcome any white force that
may be sent against them. They avow a de-
termination to allow no emigrants to pass thrO
or near their country, and will destroy all who
|
around the emigrant route in small parties.
The main band will await the coming of the
troops.
During the last winter, a band of Sioux.
numbering between two and three hundred
picked warriors attacked an Assineboine camp
while all the active men were out hunting, and
only few old men and bOys--nOt more than
! forty in all-were at home. These few. how
ever, kept the Sioux warriors al bay until their
! al
equal in number to the Sioux. routed and drove
them off, killing three warriors, one chief of
note. The Assineboines lost three women.
Still these Sioux Indians, since the massacre at
Laramie. conceive the whites to be contempt
BILE towards, and do not believe any account
which is given to them of the power of our
government, or the efficacy of our troops and
they expect to drive them as they would herd
of buffaloes. This, Mr. Culbertson remarks, is
no eXaggeratiOn.
The band we met. a part of the Yanctonnais.
were retreatiag out of the way of the war, to
the east side OF the Missouri-professing friend
ship for the whites, and refusing to join in the
war. Yet they pressed the boats of the cOmpa-
ny into their service-detaining them for two
days, compelling the men TO cross their bag
gage and themselves over the river. They did
no other injury.
All the bands Of the Sioux are engaged in
! i
! a portion of the Yanctonfais.
| After the auv,e was written, We had con-
versation with Mr.. Galpin, the chief of the
Company's traders at Fort Pierre. He has
long been a resident in the heart of the Sioux
country, knows them WELL and spent the whole
of last winter with them. He thinks that the
number a. Rainy Butte, is greatly magnifed-
that they could not exceed 500 lodges-and
that the hostility manifested towards the whites
according to the report of the Yanctonnais, is
not SO general as is stated. For two months
after the massacre of Grattan's command there
was great excitement throughout the nation,
but it has died away, and the disposition of the
Indians is to be at peace with the whites. The
Platte Brules are an exception to this feeling
they are hostile to the whites. II was this por-
ton OF the Sioux that were concerned in the
massacre of Grattan and his men. Although
MIR. Galpin does not credit the reports of de
termination to make war upon our troops and
citizens, he still thinks that the proposed mill
tary expedition into that country will have an
excellent effect, and ought to be prosecuted
The agents of the United States have always
represented that if the Indians did not behave
themselves, a large military force would be
sent among them. but as this has not been done
they begin to look upon all such statements
with doubt of our ability to do it,, Fort Pier
re, it will be recollected. has been selected as
one of the principal posts TO be occupied by
the proposed military expedition.
MrGalpih represents the winter as having
been remarkably mild. Very little snow had
fallen but he says that we may expect a
rise in the river in two or three weeks, as there
is always enough snow in the mountains. re-
naming from year to year, to produce this cf-
feet.