The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-05-05
INDIAN WAR I'M MrNrEsorA.

The Minnesota papers bring US the par
ticulars of the recent massacre at Spirit
Lake, and other places in Minnesota, of
graph:
Troops left Fort Dodge on the Oath of
March, and after march of six days ar
rived at place called the Colony" set
tied by Irish emigrants. There they found
that the place had been attacked by a band
of Sioux, and seven persons killed, three
wounded, and four women carried off cap
tives. Among the killed was VIM. Wood,
George NJ. Wood. Mr. Church and Josiah
Stewart. The attack was without provoca-
ton, and unexpected by the settlers. VIII
liam Wood was an old resident of Mankato,
! and trader at Springfield.
At the commencement of the fight Mr.
Wood went out to the bank of the river to
talk TO the Indians, and as he turned about
to 60 home be was shot dead and imme-
diately set on fire. his body, when found,
being awfully burned. They next called
at the house OF Josiah Stewart, and shot
life, to which they replied, ''nepo squaw,"
(kill squaw.) and shot her also in the head.
Her two little girls were killed with war
| clubs. John Stewart, little boy eight
years old, hid himself behind log and es-
capped. Major Williams has taken him
home, and will bring him up. He has now
a good protector.
They then proceeded to the house of Mr.
Thomas. Several families had here col
| lected together, and there were some eight
or nine rifles in the house. Umpashoto. an
old Indian chief, well known in this neigh
borhood, ran past the house shouting to the
inmates, several of whom unfortunately
vcntured to the door to see what was the
matter, when about twenty Indians, posted
behind a hay stack, about five rods distant,
| fired upon them, killing son of Mr. Thomas,
aged 10 years. Mr. Thomas was wounded
in the arm, rendering amputation necessa-
ry; David Carver was shot through the
arm, the ball lodging in his side, the wound
is not considered dangerous; and Miss
Drusella Swiver received ball in her
shoulder, the ball passing out upon the OPP
posite side.
The doors were instantly shut and barri-
caded. Some of the inmates engaged
themselves in moulding balls-others in
! loading the rifles, while John Bradshaw and
a man named Markham fired upon the In
dams without. Their chief and number of
others were killed-the exact number is
not known. 1t was reported by an Indian
| to man named Shigley that nine were
killed and five wounded. Towards night
the Indians withdrew, carrying their dead
and wounded with them. No white person
was killed after the first fire. One Indian
was shot by Mrs Church, who loaded guns
for the men in one of the houses.
The men sent to Spirit Lake have re-
turned. They have buried twenty
bodies, two were found burned, besides, it
is not known, of course, whose skeletons
they were They first visited the house of
Mr. Thatcher, and found two bodies-those
of A. Noble and Mr. Roam. They then Wis
tied the residence of Jonathan House, here
nine bodies were found dreadfully mangled
-men, women and children, all indiscrim-
inately murdered. The body of Jonathan
House is reported missing.
The next house was Changers, near the
Lake. Here, probably, a sharp conflict
ensued. A man named Snyder was found
dreadfully mangled with broad axe. The
Changers have one missing, probably both
killed. The body of man was found upon
the Lake near the house, so mangled that
it was impossible to recognise him. Signs
indicative of a fight were seen about this
house.
They next went to Mattox's house, where
eleven were found. This house had been
burnt. The men and women shot and
children tomahawked, were some twelve
persons-one missing.
The troops found about twenty five MEN,
women and children upon the prairie, some
of whom had been wounded by the Indians.
They were without provisions, scantily
clothed and exhausted by fatigue.
The Indians have taken four women pris-
| oners. 1t is supposed that about seventy
persons have been killed and taken prison.
erS.
On the 10th inst, the citizens of Mankato,
learning of the outrages committed by the
Indians on the Watowan, mustered nearly
fifty men, and started for that point. On
Sunday morning they discovered new traces
of the Indians, near the residence of Mr.
Slocum. AS they approached, and the In
dams showing a disposition to light, the
Mankato men fired upon them, killing some,
but the number is not known. The Indians
retreated behind the trees. Another con-
| flict occurred five Indians were killed.
The Indians then retired to block house,
and on one of them making his appearance,
he was shot by Mr. johnson. Just as the
boat was leaving St. Peters. messenger
arrived, bringing intelligence of battle on
the Watowan, about thirty miles above
Mankato, between the volunteers under the
command of Con Dodd and tba Ird;on. =,