Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-05-07

Ii is certain such troops. or rather such Off
GERS, will afford no protection TO our from
tier settlers. Such men are not fit to pro-
tect our ircntiers. Think of his conduct!
his men all we'll mounted, turning back
when he was Lot half a days march of
tnem, they loaded down with plunder, and
horses and mules. and carrying off with
them four respectable women as prisoners
The Indians were known TO have some
twenty five or thirty head of horses, and
eight OF ten mules, taken from the settlers.
These Indians commenced low down on
Little Sioux River near the Southwest
corner of Bu.na Vista county, and proceed
ed to break up and destroy a.! the settle
men's in that county, Clay, Dickinson and
Emmiit coun;ies; then intended coming
down the West Branch Des Moines River
as far as they dare. Throughout their whole
course they have completely demolished
every settlement, killed all the cattle, rav-
ishsG the women, and most scaDdalously
abused them. They stood over the men
with their guns cooked while they were en-
gagged in their hellish ou,rages. Along that
river they approached, and got into The
houses through professions Of friendship
and with a rush seized the men and arms
taking the people by surprise, attacking in
such way that one family could not help
the other; all attacked simultaneously, rob-
bed them of everything, aud left them help.
less in the midst of cold weather and deep
SHOWS. They dio not commence 10 kill the
settlers until they reached Dickinson coun.
iy. There at Spirit Lake it appears that
the settlers had prepared TO defend them.
selves, as well as they could, and from al
appearances they fought bravely for then
families. The settlers at Spirit Lake num-
bered over forty souls, not one OF whom i:
lett to tell the tale. Finding that the troop:
from Fort Ridgely had not buried the dead
detailed tN enty five men to proceed twelve
miles to the Lake, and reconnoitre that dis
trict, and if no Indians were discovered, tC
inter the dead, as an act of humanity Guide.
were procured, and they set out under The
command of Capt. Johnston and Lieutenan
Maxwell, of Company C. They could int
no indians, but found their encampment
and dreadful destruction of property -
They performed the sad duty of interrine
the dead SO far as they could find any
They found and buried twenty-nine bodies
found the skulls and bones of those whc
were burned il the ruins of house, which
with the one buried by The troops from For
Ridgely. made in all thirty-two dead fount
at Spirit Lake-nine killed at Springfield
and twelve missing at the Lakes, certainly
killed; it is supposed they were lying off a
distance, killed in attempting to escape
some two or three were found who had beer
shot in attempting 10 escape, four of thei
uomcb taken off as prisoners, and thre,
badly wounded.
may sum up as follows: In all forty on,
kill,d twelve missing, no doubt killed; fou
badly wounded, two | fear mortalIy; fou
women prisoners, besides several men from
Boone River and counties East OF this, VIII,
crossed the Des Moines River with a view
of going to Dickinson county and the Lakes
have never yet been heard from-supposet
&C BIZ killed on their way.
From all appearances the Sioux Indians
have determined to wage war of extermi
nation On cur frontiers, as everything goe,
to show it at every point on the upper De-
Moines. Big Is and Grove Spirit Lake, an,
all points where we found traces O. th,m.-
They had lett The most threatening signs
stakes set up and painted red, trees barkeC
and painted, representing men pierced will
arrows, &c, NC. AT every point they brok,
up and destroyed all furniture, burnt The
houses and killed the catte-over one hun
dred head of fne cattle were found sho
down and untouched in any way but knock
ing off the horns--I suppose to make pow
der horns. Their whole caurse goes to shou
that they intend to break up and stop thu
settlement of that North and North West
country.
force was fiom one hundred and fifty to ta,
hundred warriors, judging from their eli
campments, &c; the number of Indian
must be fifteen to twenty killed an wound
ed. From the number seen to fall killed
and judging from The bloody clothes an
cluls of blood in their encampments, tn
Struggle at the Lakes must have been yer,
severe, particularly the one at the house 0
Esq Matocks. E'even dead bodies wer
found at this house, together with severa
broken guns-they appear to have Tough
hand to hand.