The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1862-09-04
1ndiantown, Sept. |, 1892.


naturally awakened some alarm, and
inquiry as to the intentions Of the In.
dams in this county. The uneasiness
here, resulted in sending committee Of
inquiry among them, and being one Of
this committee, l propose to give to your
readers the benefit Of what we saw and
heard.
We found a hundred or more present
gatheringplum drying corn and doing
other work appropriate to the season,
and another hundred (more or less) Of
whites, who seemed to be Watching the
first hundred and making themselves at
home generally.
Any one at all posted in Indian habits
must have observed cleanliness, and a
home like and settled appearance, quite
unusual, also large proportion Of the
very old and very young. Those who
enjoyed personal acquaintance, must
have also noticed that all the fighting
men belonging to this particular squad,
were at home. They talked freely Of
our war, and of milan troubles at the
north, reports Of which had evidently
reached them through the whites. They
expressly denied having done OF threa-
tened anything to arouse suspicion, and
seemed hurt at our want Of confidence.
One old man said, 1--WE were once a
powerful people; we lived and acted
then as we do now and no one thought
it wrong, and now that we are but a
feeble remnant, it seems hard to be sus-
pccted of treachery." "The rrca,
spirit sees us" he said "knows We are
your friends. We shall not go away
if trouble comes we will meet it here, it
we die, we will die here"
1t should be borne in mind that thes,
are at war, with the Sioux, and friendly
with the u'ippewa's and Winnebagoes
The Chippewa's are also at war will,
the Sioux, unless Joined with them in
the present raid against the whites, as
many suspect. These Indians know
nothing of any such Union, ard disbe.
lieved it, stating'that wo''patics ofthcm
met very lately and had fight. They
deny having been tempered with by
any body, and say they have had no
visitors from any distant tribes this
season. except FIVE from Michigan last
spring, and that those were worthless
fellows. Trey have given up their
annual elk hunt for fear of the Sioux.
and s. EN- glad to be as far from the
scene of conflict as they are. The rest
Of the tribe (now in Kaasas) have heard
OF the Arkansas Indiaa trouble, but have
had no part in it. When asked if they
would join us against the Sioux, they
replied they were to weak, but some Of
them would 60 AZ guides
There was much more talk, but all to
the same purpose. We were able to
trace up several sensation reports and
invariable found they would not bear
handling. We advised them 10 keep
near home, to allow no whiskcy among
them, and to inform us if any was sold
them. We also asked them to apprisc
US OF any attempt at tampcring with
their loyalty aud to communicate any.
thing they mightlea from their friends.
They were also assured they might live
as much like Indiana as they pleased,
provided always, they behaved them.
selves.
At the close Of the interview, there
was decided upward tendency of the
social barometer, and We drove away
with strong impression that our ssMus.
qnaka" neighbors need our protection
several times more than we do theirs.
and that they are too well aware of the
advantages Of this Union to ever secede
while the, can avoid It.
Hastily yours
w. III.
"Don't be afraid Of the Ma-squa.kas
for they have given us no occasion to
be-; such is the language Of the above
letter, and we consider it very sensible
indeed. Since the news Of Indian de.
predations by the Sioux in Minnesota
have reached us, all sorts of crazy bug.
a-boo stories have been set afioat in this
community, to unstring the nerves of
the timorous. Some will not stay alone
evenings, others must have their rooms
securely locked and barred, while still
others have secured up their old fowling
pieces and muskets, and secured a good
stock Of ammunition, all to be expended
upon Mr.. Indian one Of these evenings
We have repeatedly assured our people