The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-02-07

spent in their old quarters. Fort Smelling
then Fort 81 Anthony was being built in
Tie meanwhile. and ~ rapidly q roams could
bc prepared they were occupied by the troops,
but the whole numhcr could not 10 accosnsno.
dated until ls2a, when tho work was finally
completed A largo portion Of the lumber
used in its construction was cut out with
whip saws, from pine logs brought down Iron,
the Rum River. in ls2l. The small saw mill
near the falls was not finished until about the
same period with the fort itsrif.
! II is stated there was such lack oil
writing paper IN the fort, during 1890 '?l
that iicat. Camp, tommissary, or Quarter.
master, was eomplicd 10 make cut his quar-
terly accounts for transmission 70 Washington.
on strips Of birch bark,
In 1924. Col. Smelling, who had previously
arrived aud assumed the command. undertook
10 raise wheat whecwith TO furnish ioar for
the troops. but the crop failed. aud ~ conse-
qaenev, the garrison were placed Tor thrcc
months on half n,ious,
rus rsorniEs or ls2;
The amicabie relations existing between the
Government officers and Dakosas, received
severe shock in 1877. A party of Chippewss
having desecndci the Mississippi gu visit 10
the commanding officer Of the Fort. were a.
lowrd TO encamp outside the walls, under pro
lection Of the guns. During the hight they
were troi upon by small number Of Dakotas
aud two Of their party wounded Col, Shell
| Ing wAsintormel Of the outrage, and On the
following morning he raradei his men under
arms, marched towards the prairie where a
large number Of the Dakotas VEN assembled
and seized somc OF the principal mcn ~ hos
tagcs for tho surrender Of the guilty parties
and placed them under guard. During the
next day, three OF the young men. said 10
have participated IN tho night attack, wop
orcagh, IN and delivered up, They were i'm
mcdiately turned over TO the Chippowas, who
put them 10 death In the prscnccof the troops.
aud two days after, n fourth, having also been
surrendered. mot like fate. The bodies were
suffered to remain where they fell, without
burial, until becoming offensive, they were
thrown over the steep blun near the Fort. II
subsequently appeared that but two out Of Che
four were really guilty. the Of thc innocent
men Ind sacrificed himself 10 shield his brother.
wbo was n mere boy, and tho other WIS not u
the attacking party, The excitement which
was produced by 40 unusual proceeding. was
prodigous, not only among tho nakotas, but
among their white friends 10 the country. Tho
Comn,andant was charged with unjusti6ablc
hrss%' i7'i's-s dssarss,r ~se- s*i.s. ~ .s,aaesat
mc', and for a short time thcr was fair pros.
pcct oI an Indian war Col Smelling jasiiflci
the steps he had taken, on the ground that the
American flag hal been insui'ci by the violence
offered 10 Indians under its immediate protcc-
ton. AMI II was his duty "a punish the offenders.
As ncr question OF policy, ther IL no
doubt that Col. Smelling committed grave
atooemcn, for the woaadng Of two Chippc-
was, both OF whom recovered. True, thu 10.
verify Of the measure tended 90 prevent future
outbreaks Of like kind In the imisaiiate
vicinity Of the Fort, but II also excited far
deeper evaporation IN tho minds Of the Dako.
tas against their hereditary enemies. tho Chip.
pewas. and spirit Of revenge against the
soldiers, both Of which found vent In blood.
Many Chippewa ssNlp was torn from the
reeking head by tho friends Of the victims
which but Tor their unhappy fate would have
remained whcrc Providence hal placed it--and
number Of American soldiers. supposed by
their officers aud comrades to have sllamsfllly
deserted their colors, had In reality been ruth.
lcssly slain and their bodies concealed by Ia
kOtn hands.
Several Of such caUa were brought 10 light
W lths ny VIE uuutfns bHu uNbW'u Wy
the Indians themselves, One sol,iier was shot
und bs body secrctod near Lake Calhoun.
Another was dispoacd Of IN like manner about
two miles below Mendoza and ! myself dIs-
covered the skeleton Of white man, not far
from my present place Of residence, which bore
the mark Of bullet In the skull. and which
was recognized IN tho remains Of soldier by
the strips Of clothing found IN the immediate
viatptty Ia aaraainn tgt attstsae Euri.
banlt while descending the Mississippi 10
boat. IN company with othars. found, at the
head Of Lake Pepp, four dead bodies Of sol
dcrs, partly devourcd by birds 81 prey. The
fate of these men elected but little sympathy.
for they were engaged In M attempt 10 desert,
when they were set ppon aud butehcrc,l by eer.
tain Dakotas Of the Red Wing baud.
Other instances. no doubt. occurred Of the
same kind for the desire Of revenge when
once aroused in the savage breast, IA not easily
satiatcd. lis
Our fellow citizen, Joseph II, Brown, wm ai
Lake Trayers when the Dakofas were delivered
over 10 the Chippewas for execution. and on
his way back, hr narrowly escapcd death Of
Lao qui- ParIc, Traverse dcs Sioux and Skis
village. II being the ayowcd intention Of the
friends Of the victims TO destroy him.
BpGIsSiSG % ugAs NAVIGATION.
The frat steamer that ever asrnled ihe u,
per Mississippi Ia Fort Smelling wss tho "vir-
giuia," stern wheeled boat, which arrived u,
the poet'in the early part oi May, 1923 n Ia
stated. that artipei on duty first heard tha
sound made by the escaping steam, bssore The
lsat was discrrniblo Tic cried out most yoeif
erousl,, and when officers and Incii crowded
around him for information, II happrncd that
the sounds w,re no longer audible. The poor
fellow wins 10 imminesi dnDgcr of Icing put up-
DIR guard, when the Virginia made br ap
pcaranoe, and her arrival was greeted by the
booming Of ramon and l,y shonts ~ welrome
from the wiiole command
Previous ~ the introduction OF steamers mp
on the waters II the Upsw Mississippi ksci
boats we're used exclusively for the transIorta.
ton ~ troops and supplies sixiy days time
from st. Louis 10 Port Smelling was considered
cool average trip. ia-ts, Has
prosyNH trsaKHsRs
The humber trade. iDw 70 important in liz
charBci.r, may be- said 10 have bcen originated
10 1889 90 1910, whss Orange Walker and
bi. raftBsr erected the Marim mill. ON the H.
Croix river They WE'RE followed by John N.
X usick. who built 1w mill at stillwntes IN |
1874, and by M1rreY. aIpi IsoOnis, who com |
menced the Arcola mills about the same time. |
Tl.e-e genilsrpen, with Elan Gnelry aih the |
brotbcrs Taylor, werr the piop~rs ~ the com
nerce 10 pine lumber IN Minnesota.
afsstoxARy OgfpAfIosg