The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-21
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT

breeds, Henry Milard, Babtiste Campbell,
and Hyppolite Auge, and two Indians.
One of the Indians was first tried, and
as he was going out of the door, he said
hastily, there was white man with him,
and gave the name of Milard. he was ar
rested, and brought before the court the
next day, and the Indian called as wit
ness, and on being Intercepted as to
whether he knew the prisoner, he turned
around, and after leisurely scanning him
from head to foot, said he never saw him
before; hut Milard had previously made
some rather damaging admissions, and
being asked whether he desired to call any
witnesses, mentioned the name of Camp.
bell, who being called, stolidly told the
whole thing, saying that they were sent
over the river by Little Crow after cattle,
and saw the white man, and all fred at
the same time, and the man fell, and that
he was sure the Indian shot him, as he had
gotten where he could get better shot.
He said with the utmost sang froid, that
he aimed 10 hit him, but unfortunately
failed. Auge had gone to St. Peter, but
was sent for ON the double quick, ind
came
Several OF the Renyille Rangers were
also tried, who deserted from the Fort,
and were in all the battles One of these,
about eighteen, built like a young Hercules,
and smart as steel trnp, stated when ar
raigned that he went from the Fort to cut
Kin-ne-kin-nic, and the Indians surround
ing the Fort while he was out, prevented
his getting in, and that his presence in the
battles was compulsory, and stoutly denied
having been guilty Of any wrong act. The
evidence showed that he was of decided
ly belligerent character, having been en-
gagged in war parties against the Chippe-
was, and that at Wood Lake he had scalped
the first men, killed one of the Renville
Rangers, an old gray headed German (and
very likely was the one who had cut his
head and hands Off and had received there
for one of two belts of Wampum, which
Little Grow had promised to the two men
who should kill the first white men. He
called his Indian uncle in his defence, but
he, much to his disgust, admitted that he
had received the wampum.
Another vas tried, and old duck, who
offered two punches of crow feathers to
those who would bring in the scalp of Sib-
ley and Forbes.
The female sex was represented in the
person of one squaw, who, it was charged,
had killed two children. The only evidence
to be obtained against her was camp rumor
to that effect among the Indians, so she
was discharged. Her arrest had one good
effect, as she admitted that she had taken
some silver spoons across the river, and
ninety dollars in gold, which she had turned
over to an Indian, who, being questioned
concerning it, admitted the fact and turned
the money over to the General. ..
All ages have been represented from
boyish fifteen up to old men, scarcely able
to walk, or speak, who were " fifty years
old !" to use the expression of one "a long
time ago, and then they stopped counting"
Two of these old gentlemen were once
brought in together, who were direct oppo-
sites in phys;ognomy-the face Of one run
ming all 10 nose, which terminated sharply,
giving him the pointed expression, while
that Of the other was perfectly flat, and
about two feet broad, and fully illustrated
(what / always considered as a fable) the
fact of persons being in existence who
couldn't open, or shut their eyes and
mouths at the same moment. This speci-
men was apparently asleep the whole time,
with his lower jaw down, and as closed
eyes was his normal condition, he had to
be punched up every two minutes, when
the president of the commission was inter-
rogating him, as he wished to look in his
eyes, SO that his rat trap was kept in con-
tinual motion, eyes, and mouth, alternately
opening and shutting with jerk.
Another weazen faced, shaggy haired
lank specimen of many winters, with green
goggles, looked more like the Devil, than
any thing human should have run from
him in the night had he been "good In
dian =" in times of peace, in reasonable
probability that he was Satanic-horns and
a tail were all that were necessary to make
the personifcation.
Another equally antiquated specimen,
but by no means terrific in appearance,
and not of the smallest account to himself,
or any body else, sore eyed and of lynn
phatic temperament astonished the court
by stating that he was the sole cause of
the Sioux difficulty-that be was living
near New Ulm upon the charity of the
whites-thst the whites were in fact Law