Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-08-23
Indian Massacre in Minnesota.

st. Paul, Aug. %.
We can no longer shut our eyes to
the fact that the Sioux Indians have
commenced war upon the settlements
upon our frontier, and have massacred
hundreds OF men, women end children.
BY letter from Fort idgely, goth inst,
II NJ, we learn that Mr.. Wykotf, Act
ing Superintendent, on his way to the
Upper Sioux agencies, to make annual
payment, met messenger miles from
Fort Ridgely, Monday morning, an
nounclng all outbreak at Lower Sioux
agency, and the murder of all the whites
IN the vicinity, except a few who had
made their escape. Capt. Marsh with
45 men, Immediately set out for the
agency, leaving twenty men at this
fort.
LII the evening, seventeen of the men
returned, AT the ferry, opposite the
agency, Capt. Marsh encountered a
large body Of warriors, who opened
hre on them. After few voleys, a
large body of Indians, ambushed in
MS rear, opened fire upon him, imme-
olately killing a number of bis men. A
retreat was attempted, in which It was
thought cxpedient to make a crossing
OF the river. While in the water a vol
ley was fired upon Capt Marsh, who
immediately went down. Besides the
captain, three sergeants and four cor
porals are known to be killed and a
large number OF his command.
Monday night was night of ankle
ty at this garrison. Every precaution
was ia ken to protect the fort. The
lights OF burning buildings and grain
stacks lighted the entire horizon. Es-
capped citizens came in during the night,
giving accounts of horrors too terrible
Tor the imagination to conceive or ap-
preclate. Mothers came in rags and
baretooted, whose husbands and chill.
dren had been slaughtered before their
eyes. Children came who witnessed
the murder of their parents, or their
burning in their own houses. Every
species of torture and barbarity the
imagination can picture seems to have
been resorted to-. Some letter states
that recruits were constantly coming
IN, and at the time of writing there
were $50 armed men at the fort
The roads between Fort Ridgely and
the agency, and in the direction Of
New Ulm, were lined with murdered
men, women and children.
From 800 to 400 women and children
escaped from their homes for miles
around, who are in these barracks.
LATER.
St. Paul, Aug. 23.-Parties from
Minnesota river arrived here last night,
| who state that the scouts sent out have
estimated the number Of whites already
killed at about five hundred.
Their opinion is based upon the
number Of bodies they discovered along
the roads and trails, and on the sup
posed massacre of all the whites at the
Agency. 1t is believed that all the
! missionaries have been killed.
! The civilized Indians, or those who
have discarded the blankets and leg
glngS, are said to have exceeded their
savage brethren in atrocities.
| Mr.. Premier, an Interpreter, who has
spent most Of his life among the Indi-
ans, volunteered to 90 alone to the In
dian country, trusting to his knowledge
OF the Indian and a disguise to escape
! detection.
He dressed and painted himself in
Indian style, and was successful after
travelling 40 miles to the upper agen-
cy. Arrived there in the night. The
place was literally the habitation of
death. No Indians was discovered.
He visited all houses and saw the for
mer occupants lying dead. Some on
door steps, some inside, and others
scattered in yards. He went to the
house OF Hon. J, r. Brown aud recog-
nlzed every member Of his famly-lS
10 alI-murdered.
! Frlnler also visited Beaver Greek.
where he found fifty families had been
killed.
! He visited almost every house found,
and recognized bodies of nearly all
their former inhabitants. Among those
recognized at the Agency were n Civ
ems and family; Mr. Gllbraith and
child: DIR. Wakefield and family, John
Faddens' family, John and Edward
Mayer, and two missionaries, Rev. DR..
Williams and Rev. Biggs.
Ex-Gov. Sibley, now marching to
the relief of Fort RIdgely, reports that
the Sioux bands are united in carrying
out u concerted and desperate scheme
and he says he will only be too happy