Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-10-02

ST. LOUIS, Sept. "a.
A great battle was fought with the Indians on
the Sd inst, at the Sand Hills on the North fork
OF the Platte River. The entire force of the
troops numbered $50 under General Harvey,
Major Cady commanded the infantry, and Col.
Cook the dragons, one company of mounted in
fantry, and company of artillery. The battle
commenced early in the morning and lasted some
ten hours. The Indians fought desperately, but
were routed. A running fight then followed for
some ten miles. The Indians then made stand
and again fought desperately, but were again
completely routed, leaving 80 men killed and so
women and children prisoners. The Indian wo
men fought furiously. Gen. Harvey lost six men
killed and the number were wounded.-
The Indians concerned in this battle were Sioux,
and the same who massacred Lieut.. Graft ms
command and murdered the mail party. The way
bills were found with them.
~ The mail from below brought us the above
telegraphic despatch. 1t is not to be doubted,
that the western Sioux will need severe and
bloody chastscment ere they are convinced of
the power of the white people, and that their true
policy is peace instead of war; Appropos, to the
above news we find in the st. Anthony Repub-
can of Saturday. A communication from DR..
Williamson, the old missionary of the Sioux, now
located among the Sissetons and WarpacoutOns
on the upper Minnesota. 1t is doubtless some of
the Teeton Sioux, referred to at the close of the
article, whom Col. Harvey has just defeated. A
lesson or two Of the same kind to the Yankton
Sioux {" Ihanktonwan," as DR.. w. spells it)
would doubtless do them also "power of good"
Here is DR.. W's communication:
Iudiam Batue-More about 1t.
| Editor Of The Republican Last week wrote
for your paper hastv notice of reported battle
hatxr M Ibupkf ouy nd tho Pod Nv
er Half Breeds. l have just been conversing with
| an intelligent Dakota of this neighborhood, who
| has been to Lac Traverse and seen number of
the Ihanktonwon who were concerned in that af
fray. The account which he gives, and which
may be relied on substantially correct, differs
considerably from that which first heard. He
| says as the Ihanktolwons were following the
| Buffalo, they came in sight of the people of Red
River. Not wishing to fight them, they turned
aside from the course they were moving, to avoid
them. But after some days, one man who was
very DESTROYS of fighting, succeeded in inducing
others to join him. In the night they surrounded
| the camp of the Half Breeds, which camp was
formed, they say, by enclosing large circular
area with their carts Immediately in side Of
their carts were their tents, and in the centre
were their horses and oxen. One narrow open
ing had be left where the carts not in con-
tact with each Other, to serve as door. Early
in the morning the Sioux on horse back fired on
proving fatal to several of the assaans. The
cattle and horses soon became frightened with the
noise of battle. and while their owners were busy,
| forced their way out Of the door. Shortly after
| woman in the camp called GU; to them that she
! was a Dakota, naming IL man who lives at Lac
| qui Parle rs her father She supposed to be
young woman who formerly lived in the mis-
sion family at that place, and was married, year
or two ago, TO Red River Half Breed, then
living at Lac qui Parle. Out of regard to her,
they say they CEASED firing upon the camp, and
went in pursuit of the animals. "A few of the
horses they unable to catch, but succeeded
| In capturing two nun red and three of them, and
upwards of thty head Of cattle, part of which
| had been brou. hit to Lac Traverse and were seen
! by my informant, who says that the lhantOnwons
who plant near that Lake, and partners in the
treaty of lS55, were not concerned in it; and
since the battle, Burning Earth his visited the
liait Breeds anu satisfied them OF the friendly
disposition Of himself and the Sissitouwons.
| About 10 OF the IhanktOdwons were killed, and
do not KNOW that they killed than one of
those whom thy attacked. When they suisse
quently visited the place, they found th,t the
Red River people had destroyed their lrts, and
such o.hcr property us they could not take away
with them.
| My Informant also saw at Lac Traverse sever
al Tec:oawans from beyond the Missouri. who
| SAYS that their people have Killed number Of
emi@rants, taking TIA if teams and other property.
They do not say they spared the women and child
zen, at irst reported here but say if the white
people continue to pass through their country
| they expect to be ext rminatcd, and So they are
determined to attack them on the ioa /: that they
axe not afraid of them, because the white men
arc slow like women and children; and though
the horses Of the white men run fast for IL short
distance, they not equal to theirs which Can
run ali day, while the horses of the white men
/ give out after running from ten to fifteen miles.
There is reason 10 fear that this war with the
Indians beyond the Missouri will prove il serious
| and troublesome affair. L. S. w.
| pAJUTAzEE.