St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-08-13
Indian Troubles in Minnesota.
Dispatches from Minnesota 10

rather ominous, in view of facts which
have previously transpired. The In
dians in the Territory have been for
some time troublesome, and some of
them threatening, and the recent
massacres at Spirit Lake and other
places in the vicinity sufficiently ind.
cate the existence of hostile if not a
vindctive spirit among several of the
bands. The annual assemb bling of the
Indian tribes at certain points, to re-
ceive annuities, may prove at the
present time disastrous in its results,
in view of the small number of United
States troops who are Immediately
available to keep them in check.
Those tribes which are Immediately
concerned are of powerful and hardy
race, living in region subject in
winter to the most intense cold, and,
from their conflicts with Northern tenn
pests, with savage beasts, and still
more savage men, have become Injured
to hardship and filed with a rude en-
ergy, which will make them no mean
foes should they unite in a general
and earnest warfare upon the whites.
The United States troops at the
Yellow Medicine station on the 17th
ult., were Major Shcrman's battery of
Flying Artillery and a company Of the
10th infantry, and Major Pattcn and
Capt. Sullcy, with portion of the I'd
Infantry, in all but l65 men, though
a wing of Col. Abercrombie's Infantry
Regiment was expected from the
Sioux Agency, consisting of but a
hundred effective men, Col. Abercrom-
bic having entertained the idea of
garrisoning at the Agency with citizens
during his absence.
On the other hand, the Manwakan-
tons, or Lower Sioux, at the Agency,
number $500 souls at Yellow Medi-
cine there are 5000 Indians, and the
Yanctons, Catheads, and other bands
now on their way will make total
at the two stations, of 10000 savages.
AS the tribes go en- masse to these great
annual gatherings, four-ffths of this
number are probably women, children,
old men and invalids, s,-leaviOg "A
force of 1000 Indian warriors, ready
at moments notice to enter upon the
work of devastation and death.
A letter from the Sioux Agency,
says that a rumor had reached that
place, to the effect that soldier at
Yellow Medicine had been fatally
stabbed by an Indian on the evening
of July Is, without the slightest prov
ocaton The letter writer says:
"The Indian sought protection at
the Sisscton camp. Major Sherman
sent an officer and guard to demand
his surrender, which was not only
peremptorily refused, but large
number of Indians paraded and level
ed their guns upon them. The officer
was not supported strongly enough to
demand his surrender. He reported
to Major Sherman, who immediately
put his battery in. motion TO fire upon
them. The Indians sent a deputation,
begging him to give them till morn
ing and they would then give him up
the culprit The latcness Of the hour
and the desire if possible to avoid a
collision, induced the Major to grant
the time"
Some excitement is said to prevail
in Minnesota, in consequence of Sec
retary Floyd having refused the Gov
ernor of Minnesota permission to ra sc
volunteer troops for the defence of the
Territory, but this refusal is probably
based upon good grounds. 1t may be
deemed inexpedient to provoke the
Indian tribes by the show of a
large hostile force, which would be
equivalent to challenge in the eyes
of the savages and again, it might
be doubtful whether the Minnesotians,
once fairly in arms, and in the presence
of the Indians, could restrain their
hands from taking a deadly vengeance
in some unguarded hour, when the
memory of the deed done at Spirit
Lake was strong upon them. Back
woodsmen are by nature minute-men
yet it seems as if it might have been
as well to have authorized the organ.
ization of a reserve force of thousand
picked men or so, subject to an instant
call to arms whenever imperative ne
cessity should require it.