Minnesota weekly times., 1857-05-09
Of the late Massacre BY the Indian:
In Northern Iowa. Sixty Killed, Wounded and
missing. sufferinss Of the Volunteers.
FoRr Dopoz, Iowa, April 18th, 1857.

In Northern Iowa. sixty killed, Wounded and
missing. sufferiass Of the Volunteers.
FoRr DoDoE, Iowa, April 18th, 1857.
Ts His Exceency, James W. Grimes. Governor of the State
SIR:--Being called upon by the frontier settlers
for aid in checking the horrible outrages commit
ted upOn' the citizens living on the Little Sioux
River, in Clay co., in the Spirit Lake Settlement,
and in Emmett Co., by the Sioux Indians, by au-
thOrity you vested in me, / raised and organ
ized and armed three companies of 30 men each,
which were as we proceeded increased to over 81
men each. We took up our line of march on the
25th of March, and proceeded up the west branch
of the Des Moines River to intercept the savages
whom, report said, were about to sweep all the
settlements on that river. BY forced marches
through snow banks from Is to 20 feet deep, and
swollen streams, we forced our way up to the
State line, where We learned the Indians were en-
bodied or 800 strong at Spirit Lake and Big Is
land groves. Never was harder service rendered
by any body of men than by those 10 men un-
der my command. We had to ford streams
breast deep every few miles, and at all snow
banks or drifts, had to shovel roads and draw our
wagons through by hand with tug ropes, also the
oxen and horses. All were wet all day up to the
middle at least, and lay out on the open prairies
at night without tents or other covering than a
blanket or buffalo robe.
About ~ miles up we met those who had es-
capped the massacre at Springfield, composed of
three men unhurt, two wounded, and one female
wounded and several women and children, in all
numbering some Is or 20 persons. They had es-
capped in the night, carrying nothing with them
but what they had on when they were attacked
had nothing to eat for two days and one night.
They We're about exhausted and the Indians on
their trail pursuing them. Had not our scouts
HiSaOvaraN ham apdr fod ho m
doubt but that they all would have been murder
ed that night. We found them in miserable
condition, destitute Of every thing like clothing
and food, three of them badly wounded and sew
eral OF the women without bonnets or shoes. The
poor women wading breast deep through snow
and water and carrying their crying children.
We halted at a small lake that furnished sufi-
cient timber to make fires and warm them-fur-
nished them with provisions and gave them ban-
kets to shield them from the severe weather and
gave them all the relief in our power. Our sur
geon dressed the wounds of the wounded, whose
wounds were in bad condition. We encamped
there with them that night, posting setinels and
plckets, expecting to be attacked. Next morning
we sent them on with our scout to what is known
as the Irish settlement, to remain until we return
ed, the settlers above that point having abandon
ed their homes and embodied themselves at that
place, where they were engaged in building a
Block House. We proceeded on our march,
throwing out in advance some 80 scouts, recon-
noitering and examining every point where the
enemy might possibly be found-every point of
timber, lake and stream was closely examined,
and found very fresh traces of the Indians thro'-
out the day. From these tracks and trails they
had all taken their course for Spirit Lake, or in
that direction. By forced marches we reached
the State line, near Springfield, and encamped
about sundown on the margin of grove, detailed
6O men. armed with rifles and revolvers, with or
ders to cook their suppers and supply themselves
with cold rations, each company their own, and
De ready to march all night, in two divisions of
~ men each, and surprise the Indians before day
Light next morning. Furnished them with guides,
as the information we had just received was that
the Indians were embodied at or near the trading
house of half breed by the name of Caboo.
we proceeded with great hopes of overtaking
and giving good account of them but, to our
great modification, we found they had all fed on
the approach of so regulars from Fort Ridgeley.
Woods d Caboo, traders, gave them the informa-
ton that the troops were coming, and whose move
ments they sent their runners to watch. Had they
not sent to Fort Ridgeley for troops we would
most certainly have overtaken them.
The conduct of the troops from Fort Ridgeley
is bard to be accounted for. On Thursday, the
18th of March, the Indians attacked Springfield
and neighborhood. Tho citizens defended them
selves as well as they could. The battle and pill
Laying lasted until nightfall, when the Indians
withdrew. On Friday, in the afternoon, the
troops from Fort Ridgeley arrived all well mount
ed on mules. Those troops lay at Springfield all
day Saturday, and assisted in burying some Of the
dead. Their officers counselled with the half
breed, CabOO, who was the only one unharmed,
and known to be acting with and identified with
the Indians, and whose squaw, (he is married to
q \ ShHSk, IL ol
Mrs. Church, with other articles taken from the
citizens. Said officers lay over from Friday even.
ing till Sunday morning without pursuing or max
ing any effort to 0Vertake the Indians, who, they
must have known, had taken off four white wo.
men as prisoners.
On Sunday morning he set out on their trail
and followed them half the day, finding theil
mp-fres--ovcrtaking three or four struggling
squaws, let them go--and finding all kinds Of
goods thrown and streamed along their trail to
Tighten their load and expedite their fight. Wher
he could not have been over half days march
OF them, be stepped and returned the same even.
ing Sunday to Springfield. When he ordered
the men to return they expressed wish to follow
on, and said they would put up with half rations
if he would allow it. His reply was, be had nc
orders to follow them.
On Monday he set out to Spirit Lake to bury
the dead, &c. He went to the first house, thai
of Mr.. Naples, found one dead body, buried it,
and returned to Springfield. IT'S certain such
troops. or rather such oAicers will afford no pro.
lection to our frontier settlers. Such men are
not it to protect our frontiers. Think of his con-
duct! bis men all we'll mounted, turning back
when he was not half days march of them
they loaded down With plunder. and horses and
mules, and carrying of with them four res pecta-
BILE women as prisoners. The Indians were known
to have some 25 or 30 head of horses and or lC
mules, taken from the settlers. These Indians
commenced low down on Little Sioux River near
the south. west corner of Buena Vista county,
and proceeded to break up and destroy all the set
Elements in that county, Clay, Dickinson and En-
mitt counties; then intended coming down the
west branch as far as they dare. Throughout
their whole course they have completely demolish-
ed every settlement, killed the cattle, rarised the
women and most scandiously abused them. They
stood over the men with their guns cooked, while
they were engaged in their hellish outrages.-
Along that river they approached, and got in the
town through professions of friendship, and with
rush seized the men and arms, taking the peo-
pie by surprize, attacking in such way that one
family could not help the other; all attacked si-
simultaneously, robbed them of everything, and
left them helpless in the midst of cold weather
and deep SHOWS. They did not commence to kill
the settlers until they reached Dickinson county.
There at Spirit Lake it appears that the settlers
had prepared to defend themselves, as we'll as
they could, and from all appearances they fought
bravely for their families. The settlers at Spirit
Lake numbered over forty souls, not one OF whom
is left to tell the tale. Finding that the troops
from Fort Ridgley had not buried the dead, de-
tailed 25 men to proceed II miles to the Lake,
and reconnoitre that district, and if no Indians
were discovered. to inter the dead, as an act of
humanity. Guides were procured; and they set
out under the command of Captain johnson and
Lieut.. Maxwell, of Company c. They could find
no Indians, but found their encampment, and
dreadful destruction of property. They per-
formed the sad duty of interring the dead, so far