Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-06-05
Our Shak Opee COrrcspOndence.

Sn'y -Aihc cdrS ago.
Our Shak Opee correspondence.
Description of the Indian Batle-Indirnation meeting
OF the Citizens of Shakopee-Street Fight, &c.
SHAKopEE, May 2Sth, 1858.
To the Editors o. the Ainnesotian:
Several members of the St. Paul press
came up in the Antelope last night to get the
particulars of the battle between the Chippe-
was and Sioux, and have doubtless given you
ample particulars before this time. This is
truly great country where one can get up
by sunrise, take his wife and family in bug.
gy, ride a mile or so in the fresh morning air.
witness such a scere as an Indian fight from
such view as we had, be treated to Chip
pewa barbecue and return to breakfast at
seasonable hour, without costing the first red
cent, although several red skins had to pay
dearly for the entertainment.
When the fight first commenced opposite
Major Murphy's, his wife, daughter and two
lady visiters arose and stepped upon the riv-
er's brink and watched the whole affair quite
unconcernedly, although, at one time, the
rifle balls whzzcd and sang past them, strik-
ing in close proximity. Before the battle
ended, very large number of the population
of men, women and children of the city, were
gathered around the dead, dying and wound
ed warriors which the Sioux had brought
over the river, and from their elevated posi-
ton could see, with the naked eye, every
movement of the combltants, and with the
aid of telescopes, counted the number Of
Chippewas which collected on the opposite
bluffs where the Sioux had driven them.
The ground from the river to the bluffs,
(about three-lourths of mile,) is level
grassy plain, with few large elm trees near
the north bank; while the south bank on
~hlch we stood, is high, overlooking the
whole scene as perfectly as one could sit in
the boxes of a theatre and observe the play
upon the stage Only think of what sight
we had of Indians stripped to the breech-
cloth, running, skulking, crawling, shoot
ing, tomaLawking, 'calping, mutilatlng-the
souaws carrying the wounded, shouting and
encouraging their braves, who were yelling,
fighting, bleeding, dying. crossing and re-
crossing the river The retreat of the Chip
pewas to the opposite hills, gathering under
the trees, where all their gestures and actions
we're clearly visible through the telescope
while among us, and at our feet, were ladies
and Chippewa scalps, horses and carriages
and Chippewa heads, gentlemen, and Chip
pewa hands, children and strips of Chippe-
va skin, barking dogs, moaning squaws, dying
warriors, bleeding braves, crying children,
yelling combatants, neighing norses, cacklIng
hens, whistling bullets, cracking rifles, puff
fng steamboat. smoking Dutchmen, mixed
up with the different languages, including the
silvery tones of beautiful women the whole
concluding with the building OF fire, ap-
pearance of the headless trunk Of Chppe-
wa, a very extensive retrograde movement on
the part of the ladies and children, the con-
tention of these who advocated or objected
to the consummation of the barbarous act,
the roaring OF the flames, the broiling OF the
carcass, the rising of the incense, and the
general leaving in disgust, or lingering for
curiosity of the crowd-and all this adjoining
a city Of thousand Inhabitants.
Now, what are we to do ? allow them to
min here enacting all the barbarites OF
savage warfare until the Government. Agent
gets through with his sculduggery at Wash
ing on and calls them up to payment or take
it upon ourselees to start them off instanter,
is the question considered in Holmes Hall to-
night, by very large meeting of our citizens
who appointed a Committee of five by ,esc-
luton, " to wait upon the Indians tomorrow
morning and inform them that if they do not
remove out of our vicinity before ten days
that we will drive them out" Another
Committee Of five was appointed to commu-
nicate the foregoing re solution to the Gov
crnor with statement Of our grievances
and request that he take such measures as
may be in his power 20 rid us Of these out
rageous nuisances.
Messrs. Overton, Titus, Pierce, Lincoln
and Garig were appointed on the last named
Committee.
We had 4 sharp little street fight between
i German confectioner On Holmes St. and
MN iy the name of Stryker, who got his
head badly cut in the encounter.
The difficulty originated in claim case
which they had Just been contestirg at the
Forest City land Office. We are not al lie to
lie rn what effect this fisticuff will be likely
to have upon the decision Of the L. 5. Land
Officers. GEORGIUs.