The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-05-14


sacrc " indials In lewa.
W. WIliiims wtiies fon Fort DOdss
under the dsss Ct April IL. to GovefnoF
Gtims., Of Iowa, an OiseisI account Oflhe
late Iodian niassaetes Of that State. He
says
These Indians commenced low down on
little Sioux River near the south west eqE-
ner Of Buena Vista county, and proceeded to
break up and destroy all the settlements in
that county, Clay, Dickson and Emmitt coun.
ties; they intended coming down the West
Branch ss far as they dare. Throughout
the whole course they have completely de-.
molished every settlement, killed oil the
cattle and rayished the women. They stood
over the men with their guns cooked, while
they emRvgeu In their hellish outTages. -
Alvng the river they approached and got In
houses through professions Of ftriendship, and
with rush seized the men and Mtns, taking
the people by surprise, uitacking theh in
such a wsy that ore fsmiIy could not help
the other; all attacked simultaneously, rob-
bed them Of everything and left them help:
less in the midst Of cold weather and deep
fsti6ws. VI
They did not commence to kill the se,tlers
buDl they reached Dickinson county. There
1t Spirit LSle y uPbears that the settlers
I'hia Prepared to defend themselyes, as .wtll
as they could, aud from all qppeSrahces they
fought bravely for their families. The set.
tiers ut Spirit Lake nomberedover forty souls
not one OF whom isleltto tell the tale. y
Winding the troops from Fort Ridgeiy hid
not buried the dead, ] detailed IS men to
proceed twelve miles to the Lake and recon
noitre that district. and II no InCians were dis
covered, 10 inter the dead, as an act OF 1hu.
manity. Guides were procured aud they set
out under the coinihand Of Captain Johnson
and Lieutenant Maxwell, Of Company c.
They could iud no Indians, but found their
encampment. and dreadful destruction Of
properly. They performed their sud duty Of
interring the dead, SO far as they could find
any. -s,r..
They found and buried 30 bodcs-lound the
skulls and bones Of those who were buried
in the ruins Of house, which, with the one
buried BY the troops from ,Ridgely, made in
ell 80 dead found at Spirit Lakc-9 killed Of
! Springfield, 10 missing at the Lakes certain
! " killed, lit is supposed they are lying otfa
! a distance, killed in attempting to escape,
of their women taken off as prisoners, and
badly wounded, ,gs.s Fsat a;s 6,s
I may sum up as follows: In all, Al kill.
cd; IL missing, no doubt killed; bndly
wSeRaed. y fear tnoftully; 4 women priso.
Iners, bes iaes severed Men from Boone River
aad counties,east OF ,Iiis, who Tfds<ed 'tte
Des Moines River with view DIGGING t.
Dickinson county and the Lakes have neyel
yet been heard from supposed to be killes
On the WAY. $3.50 "7s sfH 70 tey
/ From alI appearances the Sioux Indians
thuye esiermined to wage war pf cxtermin
. alton h,tdsr syoprieEs, Iss everything. gYe'
to show 1t at every point at The upper De-
Moines, Big Island Grove, Spirit Lake, ant
4 ali points where we found traces Of them
They had left the most threatening signs
stakes Sc, up:and painted red, trees barke;
aud puinted, representing men. pierced witt
arrows, 6c., &c. AZ every poiht they brok
up and destroyed all furniture, burnt tn
] houses, and killed the csttle--oyer le6 hea
|, Of cattle were found shot down and 4tItGuch
ed in any way but knocking, of ,be. horns
aud supPpsc 70 maze Powdtr 'kiTRs. ,Thei
! whole course goes TO show that they iuten
| to break. up and stop tile settlement Of tn,
1 horth add northwest, country. Rl