The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-10-03
letter from st. Cloud.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

ST. CLOUD Sept. "a, 1862
To the Editor of'he Pioneer:
Capt. McCoy's company which reached
here on the Goth inst. from Sank Centre,
was called back to Richmand on Monday
last, by the report that ''the Indians" had
attacked Mettendorf's house, on the
Paynesville road, q miles from Richmond,
had shot two Of his children and were COM
ing down the Valley. In Just one hour
and twenty minutes from the time that
the messenger brought the news, the COM
pany LETT town, accompanied by Messrs. H.
q. Burbank and L. A Evans, end other
citizens. They reached Richmond at 3 o.
clock P. NJ. of Monday, and proceeded ten
miles on the Paynesville road, where they
encamped for the night, without encoun-
terng any Indians. They however found
that Merthalers CD house had been fred
into, seven shots have been found in the
door, and the hay and grain stacks sur
rounding it, had been fired and were still
burning. Tuesday morning they proceed
ed to Paynesville, and then, with what
| horses they could muster, secured the
country round. Mettendorfs place is abont
one and half miles from Richmond. and
there, or near there, the depredations COM
menced. Between Mettendorf's and
Paynesville they found seven houses Durn-
ed. L have been able to ascertain the
| names Of five OF the owners and occupants,
viz Hollifer, Bayteuge, Waltenburgh, Ernd
Ga Protestant minister) and Schaetfer.
| At Paynesville they found the houses of
the following named persons burned, with
out-houses and stacks, viz: Brown, Payne
Twitchel, Peace, Darnell, Chisholm, Bates
| and Luce
Between Richmond and Paynesville they
found the ashes of fifteen large grain stacks,
and every stack Of hay on the road had
been destroyed. Hogs and cattle had been
shot-some of them cut in pieces, others
lying unmutlated in the roads and fields.
Many of the owners of property are in
Capt. Freemans company of mounted men
at Fort Abernrombie. The whole region
around Paynesville is utterly devastated,
and, from certain unmistakable signs,
,chite men are believed to have partici-
pated in the robberies and the destruction
of property.
Last evening this town was thrown into
a tremendous excitement by the report
that the Indians had appeared at Cornell S
place, and fired his grain stacks and burned
a threshing machine and horsepower be-
longing to Philip Beauprie, Esq, Of Sank
City. This being only three miles from St.
Cloud, went out early this morning and
found that the machine and stacks had been
destroyed, but not by Indians. TWAS I'M
doubtedly the work of a malicious, murder
Gus chite gang, and the impression is gain
ing ground that the depredations at Maine
Prairie and Paynesville are to be traced to
the same source.
Capt. McCOy's company have just re-
ceived orders from Gen. Pope to proceed
at once to Sank Centre, and while l am
writing, they are marching past my door.
The celebrated guide, Pierre Bottineau,
returned day before yesterday from the
Salmon River Expedition, having seen
them safely across the Plains On his re-
turn he encountered $50 AssinibOine In
dams and hunters on the Plains, and he
learned that the Red Lake Indians were
friendly. Though all seemed pretty well
posted in regard to the Sioux troubles.
The band of Chippewas now in your
city had "pipe-dance here on Monday
for the especial delectation of some of the
bon tom of St. Cloud society, who were
highly entertained. ..