Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-06-17
Indian Warfare in Minnesota.

hght at Ohakopee, scott county, Mlnn., nave |
already been published, some details of the
affair will be found interesting. 1t seems that
the Indian battles of modern days are fully re-
ported in the papers, and are witnessed by hun
dreds of delighted white spectators. The St. |
Paul Pioneer had the enterprise to dispatch
reporter to the scene on the first ntimation of a
rencontre between the Sioux and Chippewas,
and the following is his account of the fight
body cons listing of about 200 Chippewas
arrived about two miles below this place, OPP
posite the Sioux encampments, on WednesdaJ
night and made all their preparations for an
attackiearly on the following morning. The
Sioux had received an intimation that their
foes were preparing for battle. The Chip
pewas had arrived unknown to the Sioux, and
the first intimation of their being in the neigh
borhood was the attack made upon poor fellow
who was sitting on the bank of the river enga-
ged in catching fish for his morning meal.
A bullet from the gun of a skulking Chippe-
wa pierced his head and he fell dead upon the
spot, while the next moment the scalping knife
Of his foe proclaimed victim and victory for
the Chippewa. The sound of rifle was the
signal for war whoop among the Sioux, and
Immediately their encampment was in arms and
ready for the fray. The whole number of the
Sioux consisted of only fifty men (some say less)
and leaving their families they poured en- masse
to the field of battle, with guns, tomahawks,
and every conceivable weapon they could lay
their hands on. The Sioux crossed the MINES
ota river at Major Murphy's Ferry, about two
miles below here, of which they had possession
during the day, and met the Chppewas in the
open bottom land directly opposite 1t was an
t uneven fight in pointof numbers, but the Sioux
t were armed with desperate energy.
G To render themselves more dexterous and skill
+ ful in the use of their weapons their cumber-
l. some garments were laid aside, and many of
J. them were fighting in almost nude state.
'f There was no regular plan of battle it was
a helter skelter tight-a constant running and
l. lodging fire, with here and there hand-to-
ID hand fight, one or the other of the parties be-
1t ing sure to bury his tomahawk deep in the skull
of his antagonist before its close, Muzza Ham
= pa, one of the Sioux had desperate rencontrc
' with Chippewa, in which he was severely
- wounded, but succeeded in killing his foe after
a long contest. A mere boy belonging to the
IL Sioux, who had only one arm, came in contact
IL with a Chippewa brave, und fought with des-
y peraton rarely ifever surpassed, and continued
" the fight until he had laid the Arave, who was
~ decked off with all his plumes and Indian par
- aphernalia, dead at his feet. The conflict be-
lo tween these two bands was characterized by the
III most tiendish atrocity. The bodies of the Chip
W pewas as they fell, were cut to pieces by the
IL women of the Sioux, and in some instances a
V fire was built and the body thrown on piece
- meal on the consuming flames the scalp being
. taken off first and retained prize; the head
was then severed from the body and thrown up.
: on the flames, after which the knife was applied
to the hand, to the shoulders, to the thighs, the
knees, and SO on-tho whole corpse, as it were,
Nv being cut into kndling wood, and made to feed
" not only the fire in the bush, but the insa-
tiate fire of the Siouxs wrath
:. The field Of battle is covered with the little
trappngs of Indian dress, such as plumes, birch
bo bark maps, broken tomahawks, &c, &c.
% have just been shown one of the tomahawkt
Ia belonging to a Chippewa, but which was wrench
m ed from him in conflict by a Sioux, and the
,s blade Of which was broken off in the formers
head by the latter, causing almost instant deatt
Ii, Another curiosity also shown me, which wal
.o5 picked up on the field, is birch bark map, Oh
nd which | find some strange hieroglyphical marks
which are explained as illustrating the trai
routes of two tribes, and showing the exact po
sitlon OF the encampment of the Sioux at thi
place. The map is marked with one or two lakes
''' lake Minnetonka evidently being one, ant
n' the route from that place to this l understand
u" the Chippewas have had this attack all cut an,
dried for weeks, but have been SO cautious il
W their movements as not to excite the suspicion
=" " of the Sioux.
''N The conflict, terrible as it was; was seen B,
- hundreds Of the citizens Of Shakopee and amons
vi" the number n'dng ladies, who, however, coul,
' only see the fighting, without its details, at
distance
nu' Another incident of the battle should no
~" forget to mention here is, that one of the Siou
iet Indians, getting out of powder and lead pluug
~, ed in, swan scross, and, having obtained SUI
VI ply, hastened back the same way, and renewe
the fght.untl the Chippewas were driven fror
the field.
to
in. SHAKoPEE, Friday morning, May %.