Minnesota weekly times., 1857-05-16
M.r. J. m. Indl,n piffle.l,y.


succeeded in raising company OF volunteers,
who were to be sent forth from Mankato to Slo-
cum's ON the Watonwan, whore the Indians were
said to have gathered with hostile intentions, and
where they were making hostile demonstrations.
The morning after the arrival of the volunteers,
the Indians were discovered in camp, several
miles from Slocum's, and on the soldiers bearing
down upon thom, part of them fed in order to
draw the whites into an ambuscade. The whites
entered the camp, not however until after Sc.
we're brush with their enemies. Then commenced
an engagement which lasted nearly an hour,
the Indians in the meantime graduallay giving
way. The camp was entered, and found therein
goods stolen from the settlers on the Watonwan;
also goods that had been stolen from the Des
Moines, bearing the private mark of Mr.. Wood.
In the fight which ensued, it is supposed that Sc
veral Indians were killed (such is the story of the
Indians themsslves) and among those injured,
was a nephew Of Red Iron, chief reputed to be
friendly, and another of Red Irons band, who
was shot through the hand. The volunteers did
not disturb the lodges of the Indians, or carry
off their horses or plundered goods, their object
being to rid the country of the depredators upon
the whites. Soon after, the Indians returned,
took up their lodges, their goods, their horses,
and left, it is thought, for the Agency. In few
days, while the Mankato men were guarding Slo-
GUMS assisted by the regular troops who had ar
rived. the Indians returned, and when about twen-
ty miles from Mankato, above Slocum's, attacked
some Norwegian families, firing several times up
on them, but without killing any. Here two or
three heads Of cattle were butchered, household
articles destroyed, and everything they could car
ry taken away with them. Mr.. Brant, residing
at the crossing of the Little Cotton Wood River,
near the Minnesota, fourteen miles from Manka-
to, was killed and his house ried of its contents
His bodywas carried to clump of hazel brush,
partially stripped and concealed. The articles
taken from the house, were two thirds
of barrel of -four, double barrellsd gun. re-
volver, moccassins, looking glasses, an ax and
two coats-no pants, Gall just such plunder as In
dians are constantly in search off, and all this
was done, says Mr.. Wardlaw, by those peaceable
Indians who we're engaged making sugar on the
Watonwan, when the fact is, that not a single
maple sugar tree can BE- found within six or eight
miles of the place where the Indians were en-
camped!
As regards the Spirit Lake affair, from which
point MIR. Wardlaw has just returned, where he
has been acting in the capacity of Administrator
on the Estate of the Messrs. Wood, one of whom
came to the Territory with him, he informs us
that the story of the murder of the settlers at
that place is too sad and too true, 1t seems that
the difficulty originated at place called Grass
Lake, in Iowa, where, hou many were killed, it
is impossible to tell. The Indians then moved to
Spirit Lake, the largest proportion of the settle
ment of which lies in Minnesota Territory. Here
all we're killed. Thirty-nine bodies were buried
BY the troops. None was spared, neither the
stalwart man, the vigorous youth, the feeble child
or the inoAensive woman, all with the exception
of the four females in captivity fell beneath the
relentless weapon of the savage.
The Indians next attacked the Des Moines set
Element, which is about 10 miles from the Iowa
line, u, Minnesota. Here the Messrs. Wood were
killed, both of whom were evidently the particu-
lar marks of ths sayages. The body Of William
Word was pierced with -iasd balls, and had, from
all appearances been made a target of, and then
burnt, while the head of Geo. M. Wood was lit
orally blown from his body. Next, the family of
MIR. Stuart was attacked, and all killed with the
exception of small boy, who was returning from
the woods, and who, seeing the savages murder
ing his parents, hid himself between some logs,
where he remained until they had left, when he
made ais way to the.next house occupied by
Mr.. Thomas, which was subsequently attacked,
but was successfully defended. Mrs. Church
and her sister, girl aged about lS years, load
ed and fred their guns as rapidly as the men, un-
til the young lady was wounded and tainted from
the loss of blood. The Indians meeting with
warmer reception at this place than they antici-
pated, ,retrsated, leaving all the inmates of the
house either Killed or wounded, but Mrs. Church
and her infant child, The left arm of Mr.. Thom.
as, broken in the fight, has since been amputated.
Another house, nearly mile from tho residence
of MIR. Thomas was attacked, bat being defended
the Indians drew of. No one injured, although
the house was pretty thoroughly riddled with bal
let-holes. A portion of these Indians then pro-
oesded to the Watonwan ('for the purpose of ma
king sugar. sas a matter of course,) where they
committed the depredations narrated above
Another portion with their captives (the four wo-
men) and their plundsr, proceeded to the James
River, towards the Missouri.
The amount of property destroyed by these In
dians, cannot be less than $4,000, for which
Government should by all means make the set
tiers remuneration. At least 100 head of cattle
have been killed; from 40 to so horses and mules
carried away q considerable number of hogs
killed, and even the eats and dogs were destroyed
exhibiting fendish spirit which is characteristic
of the Indian. A large amount Of msrchandize,
arms, ammunition and furs were obtained from
the trading houses. Stoves, and other household
furniture of no earthly use to the Indians, were
recklessly broken into thousand pieces.
MIR. Wardlaw is satisfied land he is not alone in
the belief) that the prompt action of the volun.
tsers from Msnkato, st. Peters and Traverse pre-
vented the massacre of all the whites for twenty
Eve miles above Mankato, and he is still of the
Impression, that unless troops are stationed at
the Watonwan and Des Moines settlements, a
large number of settlers will leave to more thick
ly settled parts where they can be protected.
In behalf of settlers, with whom he has q large
acquaintance, he wishes us to express to those
citizens of St.Paul and elsewhere, who respond
ed to the calls for help their highest appreciation.
While they felt assured that their fellow-citzens
scoud respend, they felt perfectly able to defend
themselves provided they had been furnished
with suitable arms and ammunition. Mr.. Ward
Law also commends the Iowa volunteers and Min
nesota regulars for ths prompt manner in which
they repaired to the scene of the massacre, and