Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-09-17
From the st. Paul Times, August 81.
Indian Fight in minnesota

The cavalry company which left this city
on Monday morning last had skirmish with
six Indians at the town of Washington, in
Chicago county on Friday last. The follow
ing particulars are furnished us by Mr. Still
well, an eye witness to the combat. 1t APP
pears that for few days past some indians
had been in the habit of killing deer and
selling the venison at that place. About
noon on Friday, there were six Indians at
the store of Mr.. Caldwell, in the town of
Washington, where lot of workmen who
had been at work in the neig hborhood, had
also congregated, for general amusement, at
this time Mr.. Caldwell who had been to the
mill, about mile or so down the road ar
rived, and stated that the soldiers were COM
ing, and shortly after the cavalry company
made their appearance in the distance. I'm
mediately the Indians became frightened
and put out, endeavoring to make their es-
cape, which the advance guard of the caval-
ry observing, despatched messenger to the
main body for orders, receiving which, they
put spurs to their horses and soon succeeded
in overtaking the runaways. The Indians
appeared to have quietly submitted and
were conveyed back to the main body of the
cavalry which were stationed in corner of
a field. Suddenly the indians made break
through the fence, and started on run for
corn field some distance off. Captain Star
key gave orders to fire in the air to frighten
them, as he did not wish to kill any of them,
but this did not seem to have the effect to
stop them. The fence was tore down and the
company pursued and fired upon them, which
fire was returned by the Indians, the result
of which was the killing of Mr.. - McDo-
mold, a member of the cavalry company,
who was shot directly through the heart.
Two OF the Indians were wounded-one it is
thought mortally, as the ball passed directly
through his body-the other was wounded
in the heshy part of both legs. The Indians
were finally all retaken again, and when our
informant left ION friday the company
were making preparations to bring the pison-
ers to the city, and also the body of their
unfortunate companion.
The cavalry company have arrived in this
city with their prisoners One of the woun-
ded Indians died from the effects of his
wounds on Saturday. We give the following
account Of the skirmsh from one of the
members of the cavalry company, which is
but very little different from the second given
above -
The troops of cavalry arrived at Sunrise
river on Friday morning about IL O'Clock,
and built a bridge to cross said river. Met
Mr.. Caldwell, who informed us that there
were Indians on the prairie beyond. Marched
slow until we arrived within sight of the
Washington Hotel. When within quarter
of mile of the hotel the Indians came out
and run for the woods, a short distance off
. The advance guard were ordered to pursue
them, and overlook them about 200 yards
from the woods. They told them that they
would not be harmed if they would come
back with them to the corner of the fence,
where the main body of the cavalry were
stationed. As soon as they came up orders
were given to surround them. The moment
the company moved to carry out this order
the Indians threw off their blankets and
dadged under the fence and ran for a corn
field short distance off. Upon this the
commander ordered two pistols to be fred
in the air to brighten them, which failed to
stop them. The order was then given to
tear down the fence, and pursue and take
them. As the company got opposite the In
dams IN the cornfeld, two of the Indians
fired but without effect-some of the men,
bers then also fired, with similar result The
company still rushed forward, when one or
two shots wereGre by the Indians-one of
which killed Francis Donnelly. Several of
the company returned the fire, and two of
the Indians Were wounded-one of which
has since died of his wounds. In few
moments the indians were surrounded, and
orders given to cease firing, when they were
all taken prisoners. There AIDE so many con-
iilctlng stories in regard to the transaction
that 1t is impossible to arrive at the exact
|, truth in the matter.
The Indians were all lodged in the CITY
Hall on Saturday evening whence we under
stand they are to be taken to Fort Smelling.