The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-05
THE NUEM RERE KILLED.
r II + F U I U r + =.

h'DOLS1. MIN. AuS' 81. iOoA'
To His Excellency Alexander Ramsey, Cover
nor Of Minnesota:
In compliance with your directions, left
ST. Paul on Monday, the 25th instant, and
on the evening OF the same day delivered
your dispatches and other communications
at ST. Peter, TO Colonel Sibley, in COM
mand OF the Indian expedition, and on the
27th and 28th instant accompanied him to
this place.
found it not necessary, upon my arrival
at st. Peter, to urge, as you had requested,
Colonel Sbley to greater rapidity OF move
ment, as he was prepared to start the day
after my arrival.
THE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRY.
The beautiful country between st. Peter
and Fort Ridglev we found to he complete.
ly abandoned by the inhabitants the
houses in many cases left with the doors
open, the furniture undisturbed, while the
cattle ranged about the doors or through the
cultivated fields. The contrast between the
evidences of human industry around US and
the total absence of human beings was most
impressive end striking.
:: This region OF country is admirably ad-
aptedlto agricultural purposes. The soil is
rich; the timber scattered in groves or skirt.
ing the Minnesota river, near which the
road passes, while fine meadows and lakes
offer attractions to the stock raiser.
The country to the line of the Military
Reservation, within few miles of Fort
Ridgley, has been well settled, the improve.
ments OF a superior character, and the har-
vest evidently abundant. The work ol
harvesting seemed to be farther advanced
than in the valley north of st. Peter, the
grain being already stacked.
DEPREDATIoNs COMMITTED ALONG THE ROAD
With the exception of the entire absence
of the inhabitants, and the silence which
reigned supreme, we met no evidences O
the Indian outbreak until we had proceeded
about sixteen miles from st. Peter; here
we found the ruins OF house which haC
been burned to the ground. 1t had formerly
been hotel, kept by man named Herner
it was regular stopping place for travellers
and farmers.
Seventeen miles frcm St. Peter we cam,
to house where three persons, men an(
women, had been murdered. They had beer
flying to St. Peter panic.stricken, from
some point further west had stopped ove
night at this house; their cattle strayet
away during the night, and in the morning
while hunting them they were attacked b.
the Indians and murdered. Their bodie
were fourd by scouting party day O
two afterwards, and taken into St. Pete
for burial.
In the yard of the house stood the wagon
of these unfortunate people their trunk
broken. open and the ground strewn wit
their effects. The trunks were old fash
ioned and of German make, and bore upo
the sice, in large letters, the name, "JoHAN
SCHwATz." 1t was indeed melancholy t
look into them, and see their little trinket
their prayer books, their clothing, and eve
the toys of children; and reflect upon tn
sudden and brutal death which had overtak
en- them.
Ii The House where these bodies wer
found was not burned, although barn AM
a large quantity of hay near it-som
thirty-sx tons-were destroyed.
About thirty miles from st. Peter, at
little town called, l think, lafayette, tn
Expedition encamped for the night.
Here we found the remains of yer.
fine house and barn, owned by a Mr.. Klaus
W. hAI hnox, 4. l.. f1NoI Ix