Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1857-05-09

The INDIAN DIFFICULTIES. \
Official account Of the Agent Of the Sioux Indians
TRoN THE ST. PAUL (MINsEsoTA) TIMES OF APRIL q
Sioux AGzscy, April II, 1857
As the recent Indian difficulties at Spirit Lake
give rise to Of all kinds which, Is Il usual in
cases, viii be exaggerated in their origin and grows
they extend from the soene Of the occurrence deef
duty being in possession Of the facts they reg
transpired, to give them publicity, in order to preyt
erroneous statements from going abroad which maze
preudical to the interests and advancement of the +
ritory, by unnecessarily alarming those who intend
migrating here the present season:
The Sioux Indians bearing abroad the reputatiopf
being powerful and warke race, and so few perss
being conversan with their condition. their divsis,
and their relations to the Government the whites I'd
to each other the offences of any portion of them
naturally be attributed to them all, and awaken an
henson in quarters where there no possible gro
for them. 1t is to allay such fears, and to direct
sentiment in the right channel at the outset that
pose an explanation of the difficulty, the causes
have led to it, the Indians who are cbargeable wi
and the influence it will 'legitimatey exert ul
country. Fc
The Lake is situated the north line of II Pate
of Iowa, short distance west of the Des Mones ler
where 1t crosses that line. Last spring Hon. VIM. ee
born, of Red Wing, in connection with other gentlen,
projected settlement at this point which had proposed
up to this winter to six houses with as my
families; they well supplied and contemplatedrge
improvements this season.
Some time last spring or summer a town was la off
ten fifteen miles from this lake. up the Des hines
river, and called Springfield by Mr.. Wood, form,y of
Mankato This settlement at the time of the tuble
(which occurred during the early part Of Marcfcon-
tanned two trading houses and several families Twas
the nearest settlement the north there being pabi-
tation nearer than the Waton- river Therd set
Element on the west of it, The nearest settling on
the south is reported to be about forty miles do e
river, which takes its in Spirit Lake, known
| the Indians In-yan-y an-Key, or Rock river.
be that this locality is isolated and on the
verge of civilization, and without it possessed the
of defence within itself would be unprotected in
/ danger from enemy. The settlers houses are
a considerable distance apart, and generally moi
sight of each other, and would fall easy prey
a dozen men acting in concert.
/ The Indians hunting in Iowa, in the Nj
/ the settlement ON Rock river. One of the InkF
bitten by dog belonging to white man, ands
/ the dog. The white man assaulted the hGf5I BIT
him severely and the whites proceeded to the ca me
| Indians and disarmed them. By means thai ms
repossessed themselves of their arms or procrr ers
and commenced attack upon the settlement 1h what
result have been unable certainly ascerta out fear
the worst. They up to Spirit Lake, ante taking
one house at time as is reported either | ID took
prisoners or drove away all the persons resi- there
The first that known of this outrage wfscertain
| ed by Mr.. Morris Markham who had bed siding at
Spirit Lake, in the family of Mr. Gardiner who, re-
turning after absence of some time in ID proceed
ed his former residence on the 9th of Nib last and
found it sacked and three dead bodies in ttbuse. He
visited other houses that day and found EN- desert
ed He then secreted himself until night yen he went
to a fourth house and six eight lodi fof Indians
encamped near it. Surprising they had lrh the cause
of what he had Witnessed he went imm Ately to the
Des Moines settlement and reported whaj lie had
Most of the being absent they sent ort Ridgely
for relief and two young men over, #iyng on the
18th OF March Being personally acquaied with some
of the parties at the Des MONIES who had gned state
men of the facts and knowing the presencn that neigh
borhood of lawess Indians, was fullyasfed of tht
truth OF the report and after consultion with Col
Alexander, commanding Fort Rdgely, htwh common
dable alacrity, dispatched company ofe Tenth Infan
try under Capt. Bee and Lieut. Murray the scene O
the troubles These troops encounters all the dticu
ties and obstacles incident to marching rpraries
yered with deep snow and just in the tIsidon state be
tween winter and spring, but perseverh dy after day
until they reached the Lake Here thej aserained tina
the Indians two days in advance tim on the re
treat having been apprized by of thrators of thu
approach of the troops; after which formation they
murdered him, plundered his establishment and made
good their retreat into country wich made captGr
improbable with their small force I'd pursuit unavai
ing. Hadi not been for this untowtd circumstance thu
troops would probably have taken tim on the spot TIT
Indians here report that force aFyed from the Mis-
SCUM riser Of about one hundred Idiers but hav
heard nothing reRrle thy. &C Nee ha
reurvoi leaving Lieut.. Murray at the Lake yEWsnry-
four men. guard will be kept there untD5rders are
received what action to take to punish te Offenders
The exact number of persons killed is not scertaned
but over twenty said to be missing ThiAs history
| of what has taken place.
The force of this strolling band who hay done this
mischief is not more than eight ten odgk or about
fifteen men. They led by Ink-pa-duta{n md are al
well known The has been laid befot the lndiar
department by myself and immediate and rgetic mea
sures recommended to bring the offenders justice i
has also been fully reported by the officers at Fort Rldg
ly, and have doubt but that tie Government vii
speedily punish the guilty parties.
The Sioux Indians upon the Rasef are well disposed
and receive this intelligence with much indignation
and dsapprobaton as the whites thpselves They are
doing their best to improve their tndition and sane
clear of any suspicion of connen with this affair
The few of them who vet nper alt the white settle
mens will be removed in the spring Ind would have beer
before had it been possible for th to subsst on the
Reserve this winter.
So far, them from the Sioux al tribe, being impi
Gated in this affair it has beer frperated by few
stroling Indians who are not recc sed by the Sioux
the Government and have been fl ears outlaws among
their own people, and who it is d opinion, will be ex
terminated before the leaves of neSlantumn fall
Persons coming into the Terri ~ need feel no more
apprehensions from the Sioux ndfs than if this unfor
tunate affair had not occurred buwhen their adyentu
rous dispositions lead them to the cnnes of the nar
Territory and almost beyond the each of friendly
sistance from the settlements prence would seem tt
suggest that they should 60 in suent numbers to in
sure their safety. Respectfully, Il
CHASlC. FLANDRAU,
| Agent for tie Sioulof the Mississippi
/
| THE NEW YORK AARCHY