The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1862-09-17
frME GOvERNER,s MEssA0E,

IluOCCN A1V W. Sot J w SO$9OVAVA A S<ANAs
session, to take measures and supply near!
to meet the necessity Of the present extra
ordinary crisis in our history, for which tn
resources at the disposal OF the Executive
and the ordinary scope of the laws are to
tally inadequate. 1t is not probable that il
the course Of century to come, an occasion
will arise equally serious or so urgently re
quiring the immediate interposition of tn
Legislature IF. ... .~.t
Through all the horrors Of the giganti
|civil war which has convulsed the country
and though our best blood, has been freel,
given to its cause, and our homes were lef
desolate and our harvests to perish, that ou
citizens might hasten to the rescue of tn,
imperilled Government, we have still beer
congratulating ourselves that our border
were far removed from the devastatin,
scenes Of war-that here under the seren
skies Of the far Northwest, our homes ant
households at least were secure from tn
havoc and violence of the strife.
From this dream Of security we have beer
suddenly awakened to find our frontier set
Elements attacked and desolated by treach
erous foe, living unsuspccted in our midst
whose first warning Of hostility was the in
discriminate massacre of men, women ant
children.
The circumstances of this outbreak Civ
it an aspect of wanton malignity and perfdy
scarcely paralle]ed, fiat all, even in the tragi
annals Of Indian crime.
Up to the date of this event the Sioux, O
Dakota Indians of Minnesota had, as q tribe
lived in terms of unbroken amity and conf
dence with the citizens of this State, friend
ship running back for more than genera
ton Of traders and trappers. The depreda
tions often committed by individuals, eve'
the murderous raid of Ink pa du ta's bant
at Spirit Lake, in 1857. which was openly
discountenanced by the tribe at large, die
not disturb this general feeling of confidence
in our Indian neighbors.
In return for their lands, once comprising
a large part Of Minnesota, but which they
had voluntarily relinquished to the United
States by treaty, home had been giver
them in the western part Of the State, and
muniEcent provisions made for their com
fort, education, and reclamation to civilized
pursuits. Missions and schools had beer
founded among them. Numbers Of our fel
low citizens and their families had Ions
dwelt among them from motives of benevo
lence or gain, to instruct them in the art.
and duties Of civilization, or engaged in tht
pursuits of peaceful industry. White trad
|ers had married Sioux women, and then
offspring formed alink ofsympathy between
the races: Numbers Of Sioux, on the Other
hand, had adopted the dress and customs
of civilization lived in houses and cultivat
ed arms.
Prosperous and happy settlements hai
grown up around and near this mixed com
munity, with whose inhabitants the Indians
mingled in daily and friendly intercourse
Even the occasional menaces and bluste rim.
demonstrations which sometimes arose wher
they were congregated in large numbers a
the Agency, had never been regarded b,
the Government officers with serious appre
hension, and company Of United States
soldiers sta'ioned at Fort Ridgley for tn,
purpose, had always been sufficient to main
tain order. But on this occasion the fore,
had been augmented by an additional hal
a company at the request Of the Agent.
! A few weeks previous 10 the outbreak,
menacing demonstration Of this kind hat
occurred at the Upper Agency, where tn
Indians had prematurely assembled in lag
numbers in anticipation Of the payment Q
their annuities, but which on account Of th
tardy appropriations by Congress, had bee'
unusually delayed. But this disturbanc
had been promptly sllayed by the exertion
Of the Indian Agent, MIR. Galbraith, and tn
Indians had been sent away to their villa
ges apparently satisfied with his assursnc
that the money would soon be received
when they should be sent for, So assure,
was Mr.. Gaibraith Of their pacific dispos,
tion, so unsuspecting Of any possible DANCE
ofa hostile outbreak, that leaving his tamil
in their midst atsYelIow Medicine, he had
ons Friday, the 18th Of August, before th
revolt, started from Red Wood with com
pany Of recruits, and WAS on his way to Fs,
Smelling, when he was recalled by the IN
telligence OF = general massacre Of the white
on the Reservation s~svs aas Il >.s,sz.5 j
The blow indeed had fa'len with appallin
lsuddenness. - I #5e<s# t.s.s GGzsssxss - p
One the l7th Of August. four miscrean,
Iit is said. Of Little SKIS band, made the
s|appearanee 1t Acton, Aeeker county, wheI
they murdered , family of six parsons. Th
sssassins fsI to Red Wood, where fearful
being delivered up 70 punishment, they ma
havs sought their own safety by instigatin
10 general revolt. Perhaps this was but Il
first step in tho development Of pas.i
eonspiracy-oomprisins one q mora hand
At any rate. their hoods example, and il
tcesd'arJ argomsnt&. ooncaning with pn
vious causes Of disafscsion,e liz deieneele.
Is,ats OF the whitss inhahitaa,s, and d