The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-07-01
Indiaa DtfIae aitlss-ssekinx Of Msdary.
Piuadfviag T,am4--k,iiing Cattle Ksfrsaf e(
Cassns and Settlers, &C., &c.

SARATOGA, on Big Cottos- Wood
Diver, Minn., June 10, 1858.
When last wrote you t2sth Mny, from
Medary,) things were well with US. and
Frightening every day in Dakota. Tonight
after fatiguing retreat march Of nearly AZ
miles, ! pause to pencil basty account o.
what has happened, and Of the alarming
difficulties by which VIC arc still surrounded.
Day before yesterday three tbousand
Yanktonais (the same Indians that caused
the Disturbances in this vicinity last sum
mcr and who seem 10 have come now but
10 execute the threats they then made,) ar
rived before Medary. AID demanded recon.
pense for intrusi0ns upon soil which they
claimed rightlnIly belonged TO them, but
which was sold to Government long ago by
the lower Sioux. Councils were held with
their chiefs. They said their 4" lands had
been sold from tbsm, we're being settled up
on and dug up with roads, &c, DC, and
that othevs were getting the pay for the land
and oil extra privileges thereon. Govern
mcnt, or the Great Father had promised
them money, but /, had not come; and they
were now going to take the matter into their
own hands" Upon this resolve, although
they hal been previously almost prevailed
upon To pass on to the Agencies, they com
mcnced pIundcring the houses, from cellars
10 garrets. They demanded everything,
eyea 30 oar !ra-arEs and teams, s,sst uIoa
being stcrnly assured that the white man
would die fighting before yielding hiS arms
or his horse, they yielded this point. It
was, however, with great difficulty that we
could prevent, without violence, the young
Indians from cutting The harness 10 pieces
while hitching up our teams for departure.
as VIC were insolently ordered 10 do. The
settlers. for several miles each why. were
warned Of the danger, and they He'd to the
town, leaving nearly everything behind TO
bc plundercd aud burnt by the Indians. At
tho moment VIC were ordered 10 leave, the
torch was applied to every building in the
town, and every claim Cabin round about,
which, in our retrcating steps we witnessed
fall TO the ground-the toll Of our hands
were heaps Of ruins, the pioneers homes
were beds Of ashes. to be scattered again
to the prairia.
A train OF immigrants coming into Me
dairy ut or about this time, were Plundcred
Of everything except their teams to retreat
with. Word has reached us that Flandrau.
l5l miles below. Medary, WIS also burnt
down and the inhabitants driven OF. The
settlers between Flandrau and the Falls will
probably 20 into the town ut the Falls AMI
prepare Tor defence. but think tho Indians
viii net 60 that far South, w it Ia out Of
their range Of operations, for the present ut
least. They were TO go directly from Me.
Diary to Yellow Medicine or tho Upper
Sioux Agency, where they would demand
INC annu'''cs "h'eh 'hese o'hcr SIOUX a''
receiving on said lands, or the treaty there
Tor. tosc now and beneeiofward paid to
them and II the Government Agents re-
fused TO acquicSce' thcy l'ie indiahs) wou"
sack every town on the Minnesota river, 10
4
INC 1901 Oh Inc reserve, a'a every TOW" a''"
'e''''ie"' On ""''0~ N'"0 '''' W. "'
now coehnPcu ohl 10 US "nouh'
hu' : must cut ''iiS snort o"' 'o"'"i
IS "'oa'''e' ~" "a'','s 'V' '"'' '''p".n'
""'' Nv" ~ ".' '''"" W N'N'' =, y
'o'S's "o' 'n'''u''''s p"P's''''' '"'"'e "
'hat they ai' III o"n enongu'