The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-09-12
The Indian Depredations in Minnesota.
The Scene of the Atrocities.

In answer to The Governors call, hundreds Ol
armed men are fastening to the scene OF the a.
trocious murders, and unless the reports oi
dissatisfaction among the' tribes further west
ward is correct, we hope, before many days
have passed, to record the fact that the insur-
reotion has been quelled, and that the warrior
who, from disappointment at temporary pro-
crAstination upon the part of the Government,
IS is alleged by some, or from false and decep-
tive promises and statements Of fends in the
einploy OF Southern Traitors,as is stated by
Others, have urged their followers 10 the per-
petration of deeds which, in their enormlt ty,
makes the blood curdle have met with that
reward which their crimes merited
Browne and Renville counties, in which the
enormities have transpircd, are situated in the
Southwestern corner of Minnesota, the two
counties being separated by the Minnesota, or
St. Peters river This stream has source in q
series of lakes lying between latitude 45 degrees
and sc minutes north, and flows south-easterly,
for about three hundred miles, to its confluence
with the Blue Earth river. 1t then has north
east course for a distance of about one hundred
and twenty miles, until it reaches the Missis-
sippi, at Fort Smelling. 1t is navigable about
forty miles, but small boats can run up to Pat
terson Rapids, two hundred and ninety-fve
miles from its mouth. New Ulm, the scene of
one of the most atrocious Of the depredations,
is a town settled within a few years. located on
the right bank of the Minnesota, and in the
southeastern portion of Browne county. Fort
Ridgey, is in Renyille county, about ten miles
above and on the opposite bank Of the river
Ii has of late years been used as an artillery
post, but previous to the rapid increase of pop
ulatlon Of the State was an important fortiica-
tion.
In 1850, the white population of Minnesota
was only 9077; but so rapid was the imnli-
grafton, that in 1860 it had increased to It's,
535 1t is said to have been first visited by two
white traders inthe year 1864; but until 1919,
it was the home of the Sioux and Chppewas,
the only representatives of civilization being the
trappers, traders and lumbermen on the st. Croix
river, and few missionaries
The Sioux, who appear thus far to have been
the perpetrators of the murderous deeds recor-
@ a, SoRss4 RssI fey ,ysA days2Te eoaEageous
have extended from the Blue Earth region to
the Rocky Mountains. Their principal agency
is a few miles above Fort Ridgley. They also
call themselves Dacohas, andhaye always cher
ished the doadliest animosity to the Chippewas,
with whom they are at constant war. and the
acts off enmity mutually INDUCED in by the
two tribes have no parallel in Indian history.
Tradition has il, that, long before the visit of
the first white man to their territory, there eXis-
ted at The mouth of the Menomee river an ex-
tensive Rlenomce town, under the jurisdiction
of q chief of influence
Some distance above upon the banks of the
same river, were four Chippewa settlements,
also under the guardianship OF powerful chief
tain. After friendly intercourse of long du-
ration. the Menomee ruler distracted the stream,
with view of stopping the fish from ascen-
ding. A famine was created among the Chip
pewas, and remonstrance provoking insult the
war began. The Sioux were the principal al
lies of the McnOmecs, and until the year 1880,
when the United States Government deemed
proper TO interfere, hostilitics continued almost
without intermission. They formerly number
ed thirty thousand in all, seven thousand of
whom were warriors, but in 1858, disease had
so decimated their numbers, that not more than
eight thousand remained.
The Chippewas, from whom danger also ap-
pears 10 threaten, and who are known also by
the name of Oiibways, are Il type OF the Algon-
qun stock and at very early period were dis
covered by the French occupying the basin OF
Lake Superior to which point they stated they
had come many years before, from the cast.
On November %, 1885, the first treaty between
the United States and this tribe was sigped, for
the purpose of assigning the boundaries of their
possessions.
In 1875 they were party to a treaty of
pacilication, and in the year 1905 and 1908
made large cessions of land, by treaty, TO our
Government. In 1915 they took part at a con-
ference held at Detroit for The pacifcation of the
Northwestern tribes with each other and with
the United States, and in the following year
ceded all their remaining lands in Ohio. In
1854 and II $50 they ceded nearly all the lands
then in their possession, many of which reser-
vations we're set apart, and every exertion was
made by the Government agents to induce them
to adopt habits and pursuits of civilized life.
The attempts, however, were generally useless
They have rarely evinced any inclination to inn
prove the opportunities offered
They are brave and expert warriors and fish
ermcn, but, in general, are contemners OF arts
industry and letters The use of the bow and
arrow they consider the noblest employment Of
man. while agricultural and mechanical labors
they regard as degrading in the extreme, and
upon all occasions have opposed the introduce
tion of schools and industrial improvements.
Repeated attempts have been made by Christian
missionaries to improve theircondtion, but they
regard them with suspicion and look upon them
as interlopers who contemplate and design the
overthrow of their primitive system of living.
The Chippewas are tall, well developed and good
looking. What their actual strength is at the
present time it is difficult to estimate, but prob
ably they do not number more than ten thousand.