New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-25
vNNESOTA-THE INDIAN TROUBLES
CoHesposdenss Of Ts. N. Y. Tribune.
GREENvILLE, Wabasha County, \


GREENvILLE, Wabasho County, NJ. IT,
May II, 1857. (
see by THE TRIBUNE Of May 2 that the account of
the Indian troubles near the South Bend of the Min
nesota or St. Peters River has reached you. As
regards the at Spirit Lake, the account you
give is undoubtedly correct, and horrible affair
indeed il was. As to a general attack upon the
settlers intended or attempted by the Indians nothing
could be more incorrect. In the published accounts
there are slight differences but from the best authority
the facts are essentially these.
There is rowing Indian family or fragment of a
Tribe consisting of from thirteen to twenty persons
The chief or head of the family bears the name III
spell it Alright of Ink-ta.pu-dah." This family or
tribe were nerer under,treay with the United States
and though not openly hostile, not the same
footing as the friendly Sioux who are under treaty
This chief has two daughters married among the
Yankton Sioux" which formidable tribe, residing
far beyond the frontier line of civilization, are at war
with the United States, and are, If mistake not,
portion Of those Indians whom Gen. Hamey has so
severely chastised. This small band headed by
Ink-ta-pu-dah,' were beyond Mankato and were
passing along when settlers dog attacked them, and
of the Indians shot the dog In the evening the
settler got his neghbors together went to the encsmp
ment OF the Indians took away their guns, tore down
their tents and drove them off with clubs. The Indians
they got AT safe distance, commenced tho
work Of slaughter and reprsal. AL this disaster and
bloodshed lies at the door Of the hadrunken fools
who assaulted the Indians robbed them of their arms,
tore down their tents and drove them off with blows.
No greater indignity than this be put upon the
Indian and nothing like hs would ~ their
deepest revenge and the poor, unwarned, deenseess
families at Spirit Like received the terrible cOnSe
quences Of the guilt and folly of those who rs attacked
the Indians in their tents This was not bad enough
hut the volunteer troops who assembled in hot haste
showed themselves ready 10 shoot anything in the
ot An marching
ont Of Mankato, they came upon " Red Irons band
a small company of friendly Sioux who perchance had
heard of the affair engaged in the peaceabe occu-
patton Of sugar mGkiDg-and nred upon them, when
The Indians fled in great dismay of their number
being shot through the elbow. The excitement was
intense. The settlers beyond and around Mankato In
many instances packed up portion OF their goods in
wa CONS and with their cattle and horses fed from the
country Tor ever leaving valuable claims with cabins
and other improvements for any one who might wish
10 occupy them II trust many of them may ere this
have retuned. They reported as they ned that they
their cabins on fire, and thet hundreds OF Sioux
were assembling 10 attack Mankato, 81. Peters
and Traverse de Sioux. The fires, however, which
they saw in the evening, were the prairie hres
which may be seen everywhere IN the night
time. Mankato has been attacked, nor the
other places mentioned and the friendly Sioux fearing
determination at the hands of the whites have He'd IN
all directions for safety; and am Informed by author
ty the most reliable that the little band OF lnk-ts
pu-dah were all who were concerned IN the massacre
al Spirit Lake, and probably only thirteen of them
had a hand in it, The excitement spread as the set
tiers aed, and the people at Rochester were much
alarmed and the settlers around Farbault left their
homer and came into the town and camped for safety;
ands in consequence of the Ragan-like dispatches
.ent 10 ST. Paul from ST. Peters by terribly scared
nam named "Hezlep," calling for linen, arms
4" and ammunition for Gods sake" the good people
Of s. Paul became que alarmed for their own safety
and one of the papers published startling cry, To
armsw and the people assembled and deliberated as
70 the propriety of raising troops TO defend the city
ST. Paul Won will recolect. is some hundreds OF miles
from the scene of the massacre and the danger was
not rcry imminent All this time the little band OF
murdeers hearing that the United States troops from
Forts Dodge and Ridgey were after them, were max
ing tracks with all speed in order to take shelter
among their Yankton friends, hundreds OF miles be-
You'd Manksto.
Maj. Flandrau, the Indian Agent acted promptly
and hcieutly in allayng the excitement ana ornghS
the frightened settlers their Senses ana also oy
sending the bands Of frightened Sioux wandering
about the country 10 their reserved lands beyond
the 81. Peters River.
Human vanity stuck out awfully during the excite
nent. Some of the commanders of the vaanteer
forces made themselves very ridiculous by their bonn
bastc dispatches and the sad effects Of little bret
authority coming suddenly upon men not used to Il
were udicfoIh in the extreme.
As an instance Of what things excited meQ eau see