The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-05-01


Ny attention has recently been called to the
" Address delivered before the Minnesota His
torical Society. by Honorable HgsEy II. Sis-
LEV = published in your paper Of February 8,
to which desire TO reply. 80 far as his remarks
bear upon the actions Of my father during the
Indian troubles 81 1927. From ny former az
quaintauce with the honorable gentleman ]
zeal faly satisfied tina; he would make no state
meDt which be did not believe TO b. correct,
bat am quite as well convinced that those
who have smartea under the penalties Of the
(fall letter law during my fathers military rule
oysr the Indian Territory, have had bic ear
and made statements which capno, he substan-
tinted by the facts Of the ease.
The Indian troubles fir, commenced up
on the introduction OF the United States troops
into the Minnesota country, and my father was
M sooncr established in command of Fort st
Peters, (not st. Anthony than be was called
upon TO defend il against large body OF In
liabs headed by the renowned Dakota Chic
Wsnata and J think ! can shy with truth, nj
well as with pride and satisfaction, that TO ths
bravery and consammaie skill Of Col. SIZZLING
and TO him only, repetition Of the Michilimac
ian slaughter was saved 10 the country. Fully
convinced OF taking the fort by surprise, th'
willy chief gathered his warriors. in number
-roof Tins &. gfaaT II mr. t'1s'l 7i7r sc5,rr
and with the friendly wampum IN one hand apc
the pipe Of peace in the other, he presen'e'
himself before the gates demanding an utter
view foe the purpose of"hasing talk with hi
white father" for the purpose of securing ami
cable intercourse between his people and th'
new comcrs The vigilance Of my father has
for .onn time noticed evident sgns OF jealous,
at the Invasion oi their Territory by miliiar,
force. as also disposition to turbulence among
the Indians. and when Wanata arrived at TIL
gate Of Fort ~. Peters he found ii close,
against bin, an1 instead Of surprising the fort
be was himself surprised TO find himself an'
body guard marching 10 the council chamber
lcIwects al,ss' - l'Esasssz bsysg r. -th'
cclncil chsmec7 his treaehery Of purpose wa
fully revealed 90 the satisfaction 81 the whol'
garrison, AID after being deprived Of his implc
,nenis Of war. and ba.sss VI aonor praseute,
a.ssss, In the UBs'i states and British gov
ni'sssmhieh were burned 10 ashes beior'
hi cycs upon the parade ground was dis
missed ~ disgrace shah never forget th'
scene which followed this summary AID BE
served PUNISHMENT Of this great chief who "a
ge,her with tie warriors forming his bod.
guard. sin moe severely punished themselves
for the in,r' al their plae, hy seArfnIiy rashinl
their limbs with thor knives,
" hat was thu result OF this decisive step @
Col SvyilISa' Did il further stir up the m
mostly Of the Indian tribes against him ? "
air 90 the contrary, II gave him a characte
and standing. among these wild men OF th
forest OF that nature which only could hayt
restored peace and kept their turbulent nature
under control. During his whole life Wanat
was one Of Col @SytIfNas most unwavetin.
Indian friends His visits 20 Fort s.. Peter
ard 10 Fort %ncliing were frequent, and Haycr a.
tcr did he attempt hostile demonstration
aguinst the Fort on The contrary, his hst Ct
forts were pat forth to preserve pace Iii
dwelling place was however. too remote e. en-
able him ~ all times 10 exert his influence viii
the tribes in the immediate vicinity Of the for,
and consequently repeated ou,ragcs were cora
mitled. and although they could bot be pre-
yrn,cd Wanaia was prompt 10 rnuicriu.
justice when these outrage came within his 30
ris,llctiou
The next outrage committci by the Indians
COMING wi,hiu ms recoiiec,ion WA the mnrde
of a party of dravers, and theft II their cattle
that we're ou their way to Fort Spclling for III
garrison supplies. This Outrage was promptly
aroned for hy the chiefs OF th' tribe themselves
The next serious outrage was committed il
is2a-'2b upon a party ot SWISS from Penbi
IA. or the Rod River. when several lsrson
we're hutchered for refusing whiskcy anh Other
articles TO the attacking party. The par'iel
in this affair wcrc also punished by the che''
Of the tribe During the summer IT ls26 /
sfAdier, who was ont bunting hut u iew wlla
rom tho for, Smelling WAS shot and scalped
and late in the hall. THE latter par, OF Noycm
Der ihiuk,l a soldier, who hail been drummeS
on, Of the iort for crimes committed. was NOR
icrcd on hi. way to 1t Louis During ID,
sam. var Sioux brave tW,ssSsr,NsA; Oh
W. Acs pcG) lnv coucralcd FIR weeks in the neigl
horhoud Of the f,rt for the idcclar,,ll pnrpoS.
rf shoo'irg 'he writer a this article Cor tn
reason tina, hayirg t.,n caught ulaDs ais
,hieving in the Fort ~ had t-Nra rrohlh te,
from cntCrib; Il again
There srrr many o'hci incidents Of iia,
character which 30 rot r'membsr In suffcien
detail To make them worthy ~ statement hu'
'h,ns Gavc given enough "a show that Mr.
Sirlvl WAS wrong 10 stating that he murders
ant oa,rsyes Subsequent 10 So, were the con
seqorucc NJ NY fathers severity dsring that
GEAR and uhject 10 the inference &C. ,ha, Il
FEET being drawn by the Honorable gentleman
as unjust 30 the memory ei ColoBrl SMELLING
a. wrli ~ untrue IN the pi,nts stated ard
N W. ! car sssest witAca; fear NJ cupiradic
tlou, hat 'hc mrre frequent acts o. mGrl,r and
pillagc nv the nasotas 10 afrr wears, werr IN
coGssQUencN II the withdrasal a. that nstrsiu,
Which D0.oncl SMILING I'D nvct them. and
hsyv cyrFy reason .us believing that tie
moving spiut in uearly sll tho- early troubles
WAS trader hy thc natoe q FsRslE.ctr. who
wa early punished by ny father fcr smuggling
whskey a1lOng The lBjiaes contrary 20 law
NJ SiE4sy after glviEg very ipcorrect az.
cru1t Of the Affairs 81 1927, says AK a usN
question g policy. there is 10 dctb; that C.}
SSaIiSG committed a grave eTror 10 saeritc.
lug to,'' Dakota iess a. an a,oneH,ent for tbs
ev's1l-rg of .tcp Chipp"Ess. both 81 Nkori
rSNoserj' In reply tc The question q policy
q s ct b aNs>Sssry 'or ne to say that If'oae.
SSriItSgs neasarrs were aaily approved by
ta goyerHmeu, When TIE FACTS wrN pl&esi he-
tc-v The wa. dereIturn, a, Wasa,Dg,on ard
rprrv, ira, the loss ~ NY 'atscrs pap,rs by