The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-12

THE INDIAN WAR.
BATTLE NEAR FORT RlDGLEY.
Captain Grants Company
Surprised.
TERRIBLE CA L A NIL
THIRTEEN MEN Kill LED.
FoRTY-SEVEN MEN WOUNDED.
BATTLE NEAR FORT RlDGLEY
TERRIBLE CALAMITY
THIRTEEN MEN KILLED.
FoRrY-sEVEN MEN WOUNDED.
list of Killed and Wounded.

From the Daily Pioneer of the 9th.
Colonel John S. Prince OF this city, and
Lieutenant Charles j. Stees, of the Young
Mems Guard, arrived last night with dis
patches from Fort Ridgley, giving the &C.
count of an engagement with the Indians
about l8 miles from Fort Ridgley, result.
ing in loss of ID men killed and AZ
wounded. They left Fort Ridgley on
Thursday, Pm, travelled all night and
reached Saint Paul Friday, at 6, P. M.
The following account was forwarded for
publication by Lieutenant Colonel Marshall
of the Seventh Regiment, and although not
an official report, is probably correct &C.
count of the battle:
Captain Grant, with company OF in
fantry, and Captain Anderson, with 70
cavalry, were sent on to clear the way to-
wards Yellow Medicine, and bury the dead
on Sunday morning, August 3lst They
encamped that night opposite the Lower
Agency, on this side the river. Next
morning (Monday) Captain Anderson, with
his cavalry and few infantry, forded and
swan the river to the Agency and buried
the dead there, while the remainder o.
Captain Grants division buried large
number on their side-mostly soldiers from
Captain Marsh's compaDy-together they
inferred IS, greater part of whom were
horribly mutilated. Near the mouth OIL
Beaver river Captain Grant picked up Q
woman who had been on the prairie for two
weeks.
Major Brown penetrated as far as the
fork of the roads to Yellow Medicine AMI
Coteau Prairie, to ascertain if possible
which way the Indians had taken. he saw
no indications of their having been there
for four or five days.
The cavalry re-crossed to Capt. Grants
division, and they encamped for the night
on Birch, Coolie, opposite the Agency, and
three miles from it. Next morning, tues.
day. at the early break Of day, as the
guards were being changed, the sentries saw
some objects moving over the prairie to-
wards them !; they at first supposed them
cattle, but fired at them. A volIey was
instantly returned, killing some of the
guard, and wounding number more.
Within ten minutes the whole encamp-
ment was surrounded with over two hun.
dred and fifty savages, pouring from all
sides CALLING fire into the very midst Of
our troops. If they had then made q
charge, the whole camp would have
been cut to pieces. Their fire was
briekly returned from our men who were
obliged to fight laying fat in the grass and
among the wagons. at ten o'clock they
commenced throwing up entertainments
working as they lay, for it was impossible
for man to raise his head without at once
having number of shots fred at him. Tht
works were, however pushed on, and by two
P. M. they had their lines entrenched with
earthworks and the dead horses which they
rolled together in line as much as possible
Early in the morning our guard at For
Ridgley heard the firing, and Major r. N
McLaren, with three companies Of infantry
and Col. McPhail, with about fifty cavalry
were sent in the direction from which it wal
heard. They advanced to within thret
miles of Capt. Grants encampment on The
opposite side Of the river. Here they were
nearly surrounded by Indians, who endeav'
ored to hem them in and cut them of from
water, intending, doubtless, to make {
charge rext morning at day break. They
were however held at distance by on
shell with which we kept securing the "a
vine and woods. 3. cae ga
A messenger returned to us at the for
about 2 P. N. reporting the state of affairs
and, as soon as the lines could be formed
Col. Sibley with his whole command lef
for their relief. The 7th regiment hat
but just joined us, and the men were wea
~, foot sore and hungry, but they receivet
the tidings Of q brush with the savage
with shout, and eagerly pushed on will
us without waiting for food or rest. WI
marched till two next morning, WED
nesday) when we Joined Major McLar
ems division. Having rested on our arml
a couple Of hours, we again pushed on Al
break of day. The number of Indians
around continually increased, and BY the
time we were opposite Capt. Grants en-
campment, the skirt Of the woods and the
ravine were teeming with them, making
the morning hideous with their yells. A