Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-07-08
The Sacking of Medary


We have had telegraphic news of the
Indian depredations at Medary, in Mime
sofa. but a letter in the ST. Paul Pioneer,
written June l6, from Saratoga, on the Big
| Cotton wood River, pretends 10 give the
details. There are certain features about
the tale so very 'a-indian like, that they
should be received with much allowance
The idea that Indians should sieze proper
ty as security for the contracts with our
government, is little too methodcai and
business-like for savages. We fancy there
is not ''nigger in the wood pile" but
a white man who wants at least enough of
Indian war to secure the presence of troops
and the consequent pickings at army con-
| tracts.
The letter says;
Day before yesterday three thousand
Yankton (tle same Indians that caused
the disturbances in this vicinity last Sum-
mer, and who seem to Eave come now but
to execute the threats they then made,) ar
rived before Metlary, and demanded recon-
pense for intrusions upon soil, which they
claimed rightfully belonged to them. but
which was sold 20 Government long ego
by the lower Sioux. Councils were held
with their chiefs. They said their Glands
had been sold from them, were being set
tied upon and dug up with roads, DC, and
that others were getting the pay for the
land and all extra privileges thereon
Government, or the "Great Father had
promised them money, but it had not come.
and they were now going TO take the mat
ter into their own hands," Upon this re-
solve, although they had been previously
almost prevailed upon to pass on to the
Agencies, they commenced plundering the
houses, from cellars to garrets. They de
manded everything, even to our firearms
and teams, but upon being sternly assured
that the white man would die fighting be-
fore Welding his arms or his horse, they
yielded this point. 1t was however, with
great difficulty that we could prevent, with
out violence, the young Indians from cut
ting the harness to pieces while hitcL ing
up our teams for departure, as we were IN
solently ordered to do. The settlers, for
several miles each way, were warned of the
danger, and they fled to the town, leaving
everything behind to be plundered and
burnt by the Indians. AT the moment we
were ordered to leave, tie torch was appli-
ed to every building in the town, and every
claim cabin round about, which in our re-
treating steps we witnessed fall 10 the
ground. The toll Of our hands were heaps
of ruin; the pioneers homes were beds of
ashes, to be scattered again to the parties.
A train of emigrapts comeing into Me-
Diary at or about this time, were plundered
of everything except their teams to retreat
with. Word has just reached us that
Flandrau, fifteen miles below Medary, was
also burnt down and the inhabitants driven
off. The settlers between FlandraI and
the Falls will probably go into the town
at the Falls and prepare for defense. But
| think the Indians will not go that far
South, as it is out of their range Of oper-
ations, for the present at least. They were
to 90 directly from Medary TO Yallow Med
icine or the Upper Sioux Agency. where
they will demand the anruities which these
other Sioux are receiving on said lands, or
the treaty therefor, to be now and hence
forward paid to them; and ifth Govern
ment Agents refused to acquiesce, they (the
Indians) would sack every town on the
Minnesota River, TO the foot of the reserve,
and every town and settlement on Wasioja
(the river we are now encamped on) to its
mouth.
Most of those who retreated from Media
ry and vicinity are encamped at this place
and below on the same stream. We have
sent two messengers to Yellow Medicine,
while M. De Wit and pasty have gone
into the lower Sioux Agency. Mr.. D. will
go to Fort Ridgley and probably to ST.
Paul. The military force at Fort Ridgley
is nothing to the emergency, scarcely ade-
quate to the protection of the Fort itself
against an invading host of enlightended
sayages. Something should be speedily
done to avert most calamitous warfare.