Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-08-01
The Rnmored Indian War.

The following private letter from a for
hat citizen of this County. glyes interest
ihg account Of the fright which the pe6pl,
in western Minnesota have lately had.
FAIR Haven. July IL. 18G0.
Our city is thrown into the widest ex.
element this morning. 4 dozen team.
with men, women and children, arrived
from Forest City, flying fugitivcs from the
ever savage Indian foe.
Their Story: Seven thousand Indian;
were last night ~encamPed, within eight
miles of Forest City.-There had been a
quarrel at the agency, two agents were
killed, some soldiers, and a good MANY In
dams, and the savagcs, were now rush
ing on the settlements.
Evening. News has spread to Maine
Prairie and nearly every citizen. with
whatever effects they could most easily car
ry, and Aocks and herds have left for St.
Cloud. Men on horseback, and with
teams ran their horses and stormed around
like crazy men. One fellow running his an
imal under the whip. wa hailed for iutel-
ligenec, says he 81 heard shooting and yell
ing" jerking his lcins and applying whip
and spur. he cried git cp," and away he
went, his c~oat-tail streaming in the breeze.
Latest arrivals from Forest City. state
that messengers have been sent to the agen-
cy for facts, and some have reconOitered,
the region of Lake Ripley, the reported
whereabouts of the insidious foe, and no
Indians could be found. The grave heads
of u city were so PhilOsOphicaly calm,
hat stranger and citizen resigned them
selves to the embrace Of natures kind re-
s%torer, balmy sleep" The adventures
of last night rendered it very refreshing to
the fagitires.
Thursday morning, July -.
The night passed off quietly except that
an untutOrcd dog set up a hideous howl
that affrightencd some nervous ones sadly.
News from Forest City states no cause of
alarm so far as can be learned.
4 hundred armed men from St. Cloud
on Maine Prairie, three miles north
of us in the night, to visit the deserted
and farms of the escaped citizens.
Some of our Forest City ncighbors started
home in the night, and more are off this
morning. The whole country west and
west of us, is deserted, with few ex-
Calves turned to the cows, pigs
set at liberty, and every thing left to the
mercy of savages, lin imagination.) But
the wanderers are coming to themselves,
and returning to their deserted homes.
Friday, July Is.
A loud rap at the door aroused us to
consciousness, from as sweet a sleep as
no danger was near. We equipped
ourselves. and unbOI;ed. We had in our
some of the poor frightened wan
lerers, and a friend had come for them,
with the joyful news sail right"
The messengers had arrived from the
agency at Fort Ridgely, where the trouble
said to have commenced; with the
good news that there has been "no trouble,
no one has been killed" and no u cxis-
ted for excitement or fear. The story is
that 4 drunken soldier started the fright
full story, for his own diversion.
In conclusion l would gay to all the
east, have no fears for US: for ] am
of the opinion, that if We never depart this
life till killed by Indians, we shall live till
good old age. l consider that We are
no more danger than you arc. The ex-
element about Indians is totally ~unfounded
and yet is perfectly natural, SO long as they
have been guilty of so many mcrciless mas
acres, and continue their acts of violence
upon settlers on the extreme frontier.
The Chippewa and Sioux tribes that in
habit the settled portion of Minnesota are
civilized, and arc perfectly aware
IF the superior strength of the whites, and
will not attack them. And then
they are always at war with each other.
So that if either tribe were to rise, the
whites can depend upon the other to help
it. Our crops are fine, and wealth
It fair; and all is pleasant to Inc in this
beautiful cline. Minnesota forever.
THOS. c. PARTRIDGE.