Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-12
AN INDIAN BATTLE.
A Whole Town WATCHING tho R,,

The Minnesotian, printed at Shakopee, give;
an account OF battle between two Indian
tribes, Chlppewas and Sioux, which took place
IN that vicinity, and of which the citizens OF
onakoPee were gratifed spectators:
The Chippewas numbered, according to diff
lerent enumerations made of them at house.
"here they passed, $50 TO 200 warriors They
arrived at the woods opposite to Murphy's land.
Ing below Shakopee, during Wednesday night
Ihe hrst lntimatiOn the Sioux had of their
presence was the killing of one of their number
at daybreak, who was fishing in a canoe. His
squaw immediately fed to the tepees, which
are mile below the town, and gave the alarm,
when the Sioux warriors, to the number of 40
or %, seized their guns, and at once proceeded
to the terry under cover of the bushes on the
south bank. rapid fire then commenced be.
tween the hostile tribes across the river. which
did no damage to either party, on account of the
distince. The Chippewas fell back, however,
and the Sioux In body crossed on the ferry,
and the battle again commenced in the timber
with murderous ferocity, and lasted about
five hours.
The warfare was conducted in regular Indian
style-a running fight among the trees and logs,
and grass lnterspersed with few hand to-ba1d
conflicts with tomahawk and war club When
n Sioux would fall he was Immediately carried
TO the rear and taken across on the ferry boat.
Several who were also severely wounded, were
IT, tney recover red
a little would again rush back into the thickest
OF the fight The Sioux are said to have ac.ed
with the greatest bravery during the whole bat
tie, charging upon and following the enemy with
perfect desperation. Whenever a Chippewa
would fall his head was Immediately cut off and
carried to the rear. Four CHASTITY heads we're
thus taken over the river and exhibited with
great exultation by the squaws, who were busy
all the time carrying ammunition which it is
hv rit to sc
chargc,l and encouraging their warriors Later
In the day, some headless bodies of the Chip
pewas were brought over and the sauaws
hacked them to pieces, and burnt it up, This
last slckening spectacle of barbarity is said, by
those who witnessed, to have been hailed with
tiendish eXultatiOn by the Sioux.
About ten clock the Chippewas drew off and
the whole force retreated over the bluffs, in the
direction of Lake Minnetonka, leaving four of
their warriors behind them, one of whom, from
the decorations on the scalp, is supposed to be a
distinguished chief. As they passed a certain
point on their trail they were CARRYING six, and
some accounts say eight, wounded braves on
lltters, besides those wounded who were able TO
walk. some Of whom seemed to be badly hurt.
Ihe Sioux then returned to their encampment
with great exultatiOr over their victory and
counted their loss, when it was found that two
were Killed, two pronounced by physicians
present to be fatally wounded, and ten others
wounded more or less, presenting a bloody pic
ture OF barbarism to the crowds of citizens who
had assembled there. Four raw scalps were
Haunted on pole, and four CHASTITY heads were
paraded as trophies, besides the disfigured
trunks of two others.
During the whole battle the high bank which
overlooked the bottom across the river, near
Mayor Murphy's house, was lined with specta-
tors-indeed, g the whole town" might be said
to have been there watching the fight, and seem
Ing to enjoy the unusual spectacle of two ma
tlons OF barbarians, numbering, mangling, mu-
tliatlng each other, in full sight of a city of
Christians, It's churches, court houses and in
stitutiOns of learning Barbarism and its brutal
Spectacles in contrast with enlightenment and its
blessings.