The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-05-07

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An extract FROM the Fort Dodge Senuhei-Extra.
The late Indian OItrages at the
NOrfh-Highly Exaggerated HUI
mOrs growing out of them
statement Of facts for the Pub
lie. $50
The scenes of the outi ages aud massacre
referred to are distant from Fort Dodge, to
the northwest, from 10 to 80 miles, or, say
90 miles to the most remote point. They CON-
menced OH the Sioux, in Clay County, about
the 10th or Goth February, and terminated OF,
the 26th of March, over month ago, at the
house Of Mr.. Thomas, some IL or ii miles
north Of the State line. The Indians were
there repulsed, after having killed one person
and wounded three others. No murders &C.
Cured on the Sioux. That work began on
the Lakes, about the 9Th or 9th of March, be-
tween which time and the 26th Of the same
month, 80 persons were massacred, and some
fifteen more (among them four women) either
slain or carried off into captivity-they are,
at any rate, missing. Since the 26th of March,
no further outrages have taken place, of which
the undersigned have any advice; nor have they
any reason to suppose that any have occur.
red. e s,s rEs4+ szs .sster
The company which left here on the oath Of
March, composed of over 100 men, and COM
manded by Maj. VIM. Williams, learned on
approaching the vicinity Of the most recent
murders, that the Indians had left there and
gone to the west or north; that detachment
of troops, from the U. s. Military Post at
Fort Ridgely, in Mime sofa, had already
reached there; and consequently-the savages
being several days on their m,rch-any furth-
err advance by the party from here, in pursuit
Of them, was deemed to be unadvisabie; the
more especially so, as the men, who were lily
prepared for the campaign had already suffered
severely, and were getting short of provis-
ions.
Since the return of the command 10 Fort
Dodge, on the 18th inst, no further word
none at least to be at all relied on---eached
here Of any Indians having been seen, until
Friday last, the 9th inst. On that day, a
communication was received here, Of which
we give copy below. Irvington and Ago
ma are two small towns, some IS aud 40 miles
north Of here. They had sent out scouts from
there, OF whom VIM. H. Ingham was one, to
ascertain the whereabouts of the Indians, il
any were to be found. Geo. Smith, the wri-
ter Of the letter, and Ingham, mentioned, are
both well known here, and regarded as good
men, upon whom every reliance may be
placed.
ICopy.1
IRvINGToN, April 23d, 1857.
Messrs. Williams, Duncombe, and others;
Mr.. w. II. Ingham writes us that there
are 400 warriors, with Red Wing at their head,
in the neighborhood of Spirit Lake, and ad-
vises us to prepare as fast as possible.
We are fortifying here at Algona. We want
guns and ammunition and perhaps men.
We wish you to notify the people at Web
ster City OF our situation and wants.
a Yours in haste. III
(Signed.) GEORGE SMITH.
Such is the letter; and out of the intell.
gence it conveys, communicated by Mr.. Ing
ham to his friends at Algona, and Irvington,
has grown, we presume the extravagant and
absurd story, now flying on the wings of the
wind, Gas we already hear far from the South
that from 5000 to 1000 warriors are coming
down upon US to sweep the Des Moines VAL
ley; and that Fort Dodge and Webster City are
believed to have been already attacked, and
laid in ashes! There is, in truth, no probabili-
ty of any such thing happening-none what
ever. We apprehend no serious danger here.