The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-08
indian Troubles at the Northwest.

Our accounts from the Northwestern from
tier furnish alarming details Of Indian out
ngcs on the western border Of Minnesota
and Iowa. The Official report Of MAJOR VIII
liams who was sent with three companies Of
thirty men each, to check the inroad OF the
Sioux Indians in the upper part Of Iowa gives
a graphic picture Of the atrocities Of these
savagcs. The report shows that the force
of Indians, about 200 in number, having
previously been on terms Of friendly inter.
course with the whites, suddenly appeared
among them as enemies, and on the eth Of
March commenced the work Of murder and
outrage. They spared neither sex, killing
women and children as well as men, and ac-
companying their murders with acts Of the
most horrible outrages and brutality. The
number Of whites known to have been killed
is forty-one, most Of whose bodies were
found and buried by the expedition. At
least 20 more are believed to have persisted.
Major W illiams states that il was the evil
dent intention Of the Sioux to wage war
Of determination on our northwestern from
tiers, and although he states that he has
driven out of the northern part Of the State
every one Of the tribe, there is great reason
to fear repetition Of their invasions. The
subjoined extracts from Major Williams re-
port to Gov. Gaines Of Iowa, will give some
idea Of the state Of affairs which will un.
doubtedly claim the early attention Of the
government. at Washington. Major Will
hams force consisted Of three companies Of
81 men each. lie says:
We took up our line OF march on the
25th of March, and proceeded up to the west
branch Of the Des Moines river, to intercept
the sayagcs, whom. report sild, were about
to sweep all the settlements on that river.
BY forced marches through snow banks
from fifteen to twenty feet deep, and swoll-
en- streams, we forced our way up to the
State line. where We learned the Indians
were embodied 200 or 800 strong ut Spirit
Lake and Big Island groves. Never was
harder service rendered by any body Of men
than BY those Ito men under my command.
We had to ford streams breast deep every few
miles, and Mt all snow banks or drifts We
had to shovel roads and draw our wagons
through by hand with tug ropes. also the
oxen and horses. AL were wet all day up
to the middle ut least, and lay out on the
open prAries at night without tents Or other
covering than blanket or Buffalo robe.
About so miles up we met those who had
escaped massacre at Springfield, composed Of
three men unhurt, two wounded, and one
female wounded and several women and chill
dren, in all numbering some Is or 90 per-
sons. They had escaped in the night, car
rying nothing with them ut what thew had
on when they were attacked-had nothing
10 eat for two days and one night. They
whey were about exhausted and the Indians
on their trail pursuing them. Had not our
scouts discovered them and reported, there
can be no doubt but they oil would have
been murdered that night. We found them
in miserable condition, destitute of every.
thing like clothing aud food, three of them
badly wounded, and several of the women
without hornets and shoes. They had moth.
VI ing ON them but what they had the night
they aed. The poor women wadinx breast
deep in snow and water and carrying their
crying children.
These Indians commenced low down on
Little Sioux River, near the southwest cor.
ner Of Buena Vista County, Clay, Dicksr-
son and Dewitt counties, then intended com-
ing down the West Branch as far az they
dare. Throughout their whole course they
have completely demolishedevery settlement
and killed all the cattle, rari,Aed the NO
men, and most scandalously abused them.
They stood over the men with their guns
cooked, while they were engaged in their
hellsh outrsges. Along that river they ap-
preached, and got into the houses through
profession Of friendship, and with o rush
seized the men and arms, taking the people
by surprise, attacking in such way one
family could not help the other all attack
ed simultaneously, robbed them of every
thing, and LETT them helpless In the midst Of
cold weather Ind deep snow.