Minnesota weekly times., 1857-04-25
Official Ace.sn. Of the Lat. Indian Dlfflcul,,.,.
Correspondence Of the Pioneer and Democrat. A

sioux AGENCY, Aprli LIZ 1901
As the recent Indian difficulties at SPIRIT Lake,
will give rise to rumors of all kinds, which as is
usual in such cases, will bo exaggerated in their
origin, and grow as they extend from the scene
of the occurrence, deem it my duty, being in
possession of the facts they really transpired,
to give them publicity, in order to prevent efro-
neOus statements from going abroad, which may
be prejudicial to the interests and advancement
of the Territory, by unnecessarily alarming those
who intend immigrating here the present season.
The Sioux Indians bearing abroad the reputa-
ton of being powerful and warlike race, and
so few persons being conversant with their con-
dition, their divisions, and their relation to the
Government, the whites, and to each other, the
offences of any portion of them will naturally be
attributed to them all, and awaken apprehension
in quarters where there are no possible grounds
for them it is to allay such fears, and to direct
public sentiment in the right channel, at the out
set, that propose an explanation of the difficult
ty, the causes which have led to it, the Indians
who are chargeable with it, and the influence it
will legitmately exert upon the country. a.
The Lake is situated near the north line of the
State of Iowa, n short distance west of the Des
Moines River where it crosses that line. Last
spring, Hon. VIM. Freeborn, of Red Wing, in
connection with other gentlemen, projected q set
Element at this point, which had progressed up to
this winter, to six or seven houses, with as many
families; they were well supplied. and contem-
plated large improvements this season.
Some time last spring, or summer, town was
laid off ten or fifteen miles from this Lake, up the
Des Moines River, and called Springfield, by q
Mr.. Wood, formerly of Mankato. This settlement
at the time of the trouble, (Which occurred during
the early part of March,) contained two trading
houses and several families; this was the nearest
settlement on the north, there being no habitation
nearer than the Wa. .ton-wan River. There is no
settlement on the west of it. The nearest settle
ment on the south, is reported to be about forty
miles down the river, which takes it source in
Spirit Lake, known among the Indians as ln-yan-
van Key, or Rock River. 1t will be seen that this
locality is isolated, and on the extreme verge of
civilization, and without it possessed the means
of defence within itself, would be unprotected in
case of danger from an enemy. The settlers
houses are always considerable distance apart,
and generally not within sight of each other, and
would fall an easy prey to half dozen men act
ing in concert.
The Indians were hunting in Iowa, in the vicin-
ity of the settlement on Rock River; one OF the
Indians was bitten by dog belonging to white
man, and he killed the dog. The white man as
saulted the Indian and beat him severely, and the
whites proceeded to the camp of the Indians and
disarmed them; by some means the Indians re-
possessed themselves of their arms, or procured
others, and commenced an attack upon the settle
ment, with what result, have been unable cer-
tainly to ascertain, but fear the worst they came
up to Spirit Lake, and by taking one house at
time, az is reported, either killed, took prisoners,
or drove away all the persons residing there.
The first that was known of this outrage, was
sscertained by Mr.. Morris Markham, who had
been residing at Spirit Lake, in the family of MIR.
Gardiner, and who returning after an absence Of
some time in Iowa, proceeded to his former resi-
dence on the 9th of March last and found it sack.
ed and three dead bodies in the house. He visit
ed two other houses that day, and found them de-
serted he then secreted himself until night,
when he went to 8 fourth house and saw six or
eight lodges of Indians encamped near 1t sup
posing they had been the cause of what he had
witnessed, he went Immediately to the Des Moines
settlement and reported what he had seen. Most
of the men being absent, they sent to Fort Ridge
ly for relief, and two young men came over, ar
irving on the 18th of March !: being personally
acquainted with some Of the parties at the Des
Moines who had signed statement of the facts,
and knowing the presence in that neighborhOod
of a lawless Indians, was fully satisfied of the
truth of the report, and after consultation with
Col. Alexander, commanding Fort Ridgely, he,
with commendable alacrity, dispatched compa-
nv of the Tenth Infantry under Capt. Bee and
Lieut.. Murray to the scene of the troubles
These troops encountered all the difficulties and
obstacles incident to marching over prairies COW
cred with deep snow, and just in the transition
stage between winter and spring, but persevered
dav after day until they reached the Lake. Here
they ascertained that the Indians were two days
in advance of them on the retreat, having been
apprised by Of the traitors of the approach OF
the troops, after which Information they murdered
him, plundered his establishment, and made good
their retreat into country which made capture
improbable, with their small force, and pursuit
unavailing. Had it not been for this untoward
circumstance the troops would probably have ta-
| ken them on the spot. The indians here, report
| that force arrived from the Missouri River OF
about one hundred soldiers, but have heard no
| thing reliable concerning them. Capt. Bee has
returned, leaving Lieut.. Murray at the Lake with
twenty-four men. A guard will be kept there
until orders are received what action to take to
punish the offenders. The exact number of per-
| sons killed is not ascertained, but over twenty
are said to be missing. This is history of what
has taken place.
will now give you short history of the In
dians who have committed this outrage, and theiI
character, and relation to the Sioux of Mime.
sofa.
Previous to the year 1851, the date OF the
| Treaty between the Mde-wa-kan-ton and Wax
pe-ku-ti Sioux, these Indians inhabited the coun-
try of the st. Peters or Minnesota up to the Lit
tie Rapids and also the northern portion of Iowa.
and about the Des Moines and Spirit Lake coun-
| try. The Wak-pe.ku-ti were under two chiefs
Wam- di.sapa, and Ta-sa-gi, and were at wal
with the Sacs and Foxes; the Wak-pe-ku-ti who
! now live on the Reservation, say that it was the
Iawless and predatory habits of the Indians un.
der WAN .di-sapa that kept up that var. The
Sac and Fox troubles and other causes separated
the Wax -pe-ku-ti, and those under Wam-di-sap
gradually went toward the Missouri river, inhab-
iting the country about Verl2illion river. At the
| ~. a. -kop -touo and r.
| pe-kti lands, these Indians were not considered
as occupying the lands embraced in the treaty
| then made, which includes the Des Moines and
| Spirit Lake country, and they did not appear OF
| take any part in the treaty. More recently they
| have planted near Spirit Lake. In 1884 num-
Der of them came to the payment and claimed
the right to be participants in the annuities, and
were rejected by the Indians and the Agent. Last
| fall they came again, and were again rejected
There is no friendship existing between these In
| dans and those included in the Treaty, and they
are as ready to depredate upon those Indians as
upon the whites. ft.. eal
The force of this strolling band who have done
this mischief is not more than eight or ten lodges
| or about fifteen men. They are led by Ink
du-ta and are all we'll known. The case has beer
laid before the Indian Department by myself, and
| immediate and energetic measures recommended
to bring the offenders to justice. 1t has also beer
Iuily rsporteo Dy tue omcers at Fort hlogiey, anC
have no doubt but that the government will
speedily punish the guilty parties.
The Sioux Indians upon the reserve are well
disposed, and receive this intelligence with a.
much indignation and disapprobation as the
whites themselves. They are doing their best te
| improve their condition, and stand clear of any
suspicion of, or connection with this affair. The
few of them who yet linger about the white set.
Elements will be removed in the spring, and would
have been before had it been possible for them te
| subsist on tie reserve this winter.