The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-07
INDIAN DEPREDATIONS.
Outrageous Plundering and De-
StructiOn.

The Fort Garry Nor Wester, of Sep
tember Oath, contains most interesting
account of the plundering of a train of
goods, en- route from Georgetown to that
settlement, by the Chippewas. The ac-
count was written by one of the party
Those who have been so fast in their con-
illusions that the Indian war was ended,
will recollect that PREPARATION has never
been made for this outrage, and that the
season of transportation of goods from
Minnesota to the British settlements was
prematurely closed.
We print below some extracts from the
Nor. Wester's account:
In company with others, was at George
town, waiting for a passage down by the
steamboat to Fort Garry. We had heard
flying rumors of Indian depredations on
the St. Peters River, and in the Sank
Valley; but, beyond somewhat conflicting
reports, we had nothing to alarm us, and
so we quietly awaited the course of events
which we expected would leave us safe and
sound at Fort Garry There was, more
over, company of soldiers at Georgetown,
which made us feel all the more secure
The steamboat arrived there from Fort
Garry, on Sunday, the Oath Of August, and
on the next CMonday) evening she was
ready to start back, and would have done
so, but for an important communication
from the Captain in command of Fort
AbercrOmbie, addressed to Mr.. Kittson,
the gentleman in charge of Georgetown.
The Captains messenger reached that place
about midnight, with word that we should
at once prepare for the worst from the
Sioux. Immediately, Mr.. Kittson and Mr.
A. H. Murray, chief trader Of the Hudson's
Bay Company, ordered all the men into
the principal house. Arms and ammuni-
milton were provided, a large supply Of
water and provisions was secured, the
windows were barricaded, and every pos
sible preparation made.
The next morning, there being no signs
OF Sioux, messengers were dispatched all
around to warn in the settlers. When all
were collected, we mustered about forty
men, but were rather short of arms. Our
condition was one of painful suspense for
the next week. We did not feel safe
where we were, and we dreaded leaving,
lestwe should be attacked by the way.
Thus the weary days passed away, until
the 9Th September, when Messrs. Kilt
son and Murray resolved to quit George
town, with all the property, cattle, &C.,
and abandon the place to its fate. The
wagons and carts were sent off by land, and
the boat was loaded and started On the
next day the boat got aground, and after
the most determined efforts had failed to
extricate her, Captain Noble concluded
that it was useless to try to get her down
to Fort Garry, for the water was entirely
too low. So the large barge was called in
to requisition. She was laden with a car
go of about fifteen or twenty tons, and
about the same amount was piled upon the
wagons and carts, and a second start was
made. We passengers were put into the
barge, and congratulated ourselves that
henceforth all would be clear sailing.
Shortly after the new arrangement was
made, it was found that on account of the
crookedness of the river and occasional
grounding in shoal spots, the barge was
falling behind the teams SO, by order of
Mr.. KittsOn, the passengers were transfer
red to wagons. ought to have stated be-
fore that there had been collected at the
Grand Forks (where the Red Lake river
empties into the Red Biver) very large
number of Indians and French Canadian
Halfbreeds, waiting for the long-eXpected
Treaty which the American Government
was to make with the Chippewas about
certain tracts of land On Wednesday
evening, the 10th instant, we camped with
in three miles Of the Grand Forks, where
the Treaty Indians and Hrlfbreeds were
congregated. The formernumbered about
2,OOO-men. women and children-the
latter about 200.
And now commenced the most Outra-
geous conduct that ever | witnessed inmy
life, and which it was the main purpose
of this communication to relate AS soon
as we had stopped for the night, on the
10th Gas above stateO within three miles
of the Grand Forks, up came band of
Indians, and demanded provisions. Penn
lean and flour in no sparing quantity was
melted out to them, but they were not sat
isfed On being informed that there was
no more provisions, they cody entered
the ring or circle which we had formed
with our wagons and carts, and drove out
all the cattle away to their own encamp-
ment This act was done in that pecu
liarly insolent and provoking manner so
characteristic of savages when they have
power and feel their high dignity touched.
Impudent as this was, we all felt that there
was no help for it, a, their numbers were
two overwhelming to admit of successful
opposition on our part. So we passively
looked on while our cattle were being de-
liberately mustered away. 1t did make
my blood boil, when I considered the pro-
found impertinence of the act which we
had to witness with the best grace posi-
BILE. Mr.. Kittson exclaimed very pointed
ly to us all" These Chippewas, whom
we have always fed, clothed, and caressed,
and whom we had right to expect to be
/ friendly to us in this moment of peril,
when we are flying from their hereditary
foes the Sioux-they are not whit bet
ter than the Sioux. We have leaped out
of the frying-p pan into the fire." On say
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