The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-05-14
From the Pioneer and Democrat t
Omcial Account ~ the Late In
dian DiMlculties. 80

q N From the Pioneer and Democrat
Omcial Account ~ the Late In
dian DiMnculties. 80
Sioux AoExcy, April II, 1857.
. Spirit Lake u situated hear the north line Of
The State Of Iowa, short dista nee west OF the
Des Moines River where it crosses that line.
Last spring the Hon. William Freeborn, Of
Red Wing, in connection with other gentle
men, projected settlement at this point.
which had prog' essed up to this winter to six
or seven houses, with as many families they
were we'll supplied, and contemplated large
Improvements this season. n
Some time last spring or summer, town
was laid off ten or fifteen miles from this lake
up the Des Moines River, and called Spring.
field, by 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 sew
eral families; this wasthe nearest settlement
on the nerth, there being no habitation nearer
than the Walton. wan river. There Is no set
tlement IN the west Of it. The ne Arrest settie-
ment on the sonth is reported to be about for
ty miles down the river, which takes its source
at Spirit Lake, known among the Indians as
In-yan-yan Key, or Rock River. II will be
seen that this locality is isolated. and ON the
extreme verge of civilization, and without il
possessed the means Of defense within itself
would be unprotected in case of danger from
the 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 acting in con-
cert i3s .as8 80 ss
The Indians were hunting in Iowa, in the
vicinity Of the settlement on Rock river one
Of the Indians was bitten by dog belonging to
a white man, and he killed the dog. The white
man assaulted the Indian and beat him severe-
ly, and the whites proceeded to the camp of
the Indians and disarmei them; by some
means the Indians repossessed themselves Of
their arms, or procured others, and commenced
an attack upon the settlement. with what re-
sult have oeen unable certainly to ascertain,
but fear the worst. They came up to Spirit
Lake, ami by taking one house a, time, as is
reported, either killed, took prisoners, or drove
away all the persons residing there. sN t'--
The first that was known of this outrag
was ascertained by Mr.. Morris Markham,
who had been residing at Spring Lake, in the
family of Mr.. Gardner, and who, returning af-
ter an absence Of some time in Iowa, proceed
ed 10 his former residence on the oh of
March last, aud found it sacked and three
dead bodies in the house He visited two
ether houses that day, and found them deser-
ted. lie then secreted bimself until night,
when he went to a fourth house, and saw ak
or eight lodges Of Indians encamped near it,
Supposing they had been the cause OF what he
had witnessed, he went Immediately to the Des
Molnes settlement and reported what he had
seen. Most OF the men being absent, they
sent 10 Fort Rid. ely for relief, and two Young
men came over, arriving on the 18Th Of March;
being personally acquainted with some Of the
parties at the Des Moises who had signed a
statement Of the facts, and knowing the pres
ence in that neighborhood of iawless Indians,
was fully satisfied of the truth Of the rep ,rt,
and after consultation with COL. Alexander,
commanding Fort Ridgely, be, with commsn-
dabie alacrity, dispatched company Of the
Tenth Infantry, under Captain Bee and Lieu
tenant Murray, 10 the scene Of the troubles.--
These troops encountered all the difficulties
and obstacles incident to marching over prairies
covered with deep snow, and just in the tran
sition stage between winter and spring, but
persevered day after day until they reached
the Lake. Here they ascertained that the In.
dians were two days in advance Of them on
the retreat, having been apprised by one ol
the traitors Of the approach sof the toops, at
ter which information they murdered him
splandered bis establishment, and made good
their retreat into . country which made cap.
+ture improbable, with their small force, and
pursuit unavailng. i Had it not been Tor this
untoward circumstance the troops would prob
ably have taken them on the spot. The In
dams here report thar iorce arrived from the
Missouri river Of about one hundred soldiers,
but ! have heard nothing reliable concerning
them. Captain Bee has returned, leaving
Lieutenant Murray at the Lake with twenty
four men. A guard will be kept there until
orders are received what action 20 take to
punish the offenders. The exact ndmber OF
persons killed Is not sscertained, but, over
twenty are said to be missing. This Is his
tory Of What has taken place. ifEa
t HrsToay OF THE AosriLE INDrANs.ao
( Twill now give yon short history Of the