The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-12

CITIZENS might hasten to the rescue OF the
imperiled Government, we have still been
cOngratulating ourselves that our borders
were far removed from the devastating
scenes of war-that here, under the serene
skies of the far Northwest, our homes and
households at least were secure from the
havoc and violence of the strife,
From this dream Of security we have been
suddenly awakened to find our frontier set
Elements suddenly attacked and desolated by
a treacherous foe, living unsupported in our
midst, whose first warning of hostility was
the indiscriminate massacre OF men, women
and children.
The circumstances of this outbreak give
it an aspect of wanton malignity and peril
dy scarcely paralleled, if at all, even in the
tragic annals of Indian crime.
UP to the date of this event the Sioux, or
Dakota Indians of Minnesota had, as a
tribe, lived in terms of unbroken amity and
confidence with the citizens of this State,
friendship running back for more than a
generation of traders and trappers. The
depredations often committed by indivis
duals, even the murderous raid OF Ink.pa-
du ta's band, at Spirit Lake, in 1857, which
was openly discoUntenanced by the tribe
at large, did not disturb this general feeling
OF confidence in our Indian neighbors.
In return for their lands, once compris.
ing large part of Minnesota, but which
they had voluntarily relinquished to the
United States by treaty, home had been
given them in the western part of the State,
and magnificent provisions made for their
comfort, education, and reclamation to civ
lized pursuits. Missions and schools had
been founded among them. Numbers of
our fellow citizens and their families had
long dwet among them from motives OF
benevoence or gain, to instruct them in the
arts and duties OF civilization, or engaged
in the pursuits OF civilized industry. White
| traders had married Sioux women, and their
| offspring formed a link of sympathy between
| the races. Numbers of Sioux, on the other
hand, had adopted the dress and customs
of civilization lived in houses and cult
waited farms.
Prosperous and happy settlements had
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 bldster-
ing demonstrations which sometimes arose
when they were congregated in large num-
bers at the Agency, had never been regards
| ed by the Government officers with serious
apprehension, and company of United
States soldiers stationed at Fort Ridgley
for the purpose, had always been sufficient
to maintain order. Onl this occasion
the force had been augmented by an add.
tlonal halt company at the request of the
Agent.
A few weeks previous to the outbreak,
meDacIng demonstration of this kind had
occurred at the Upper Agency, where the
Indians bad prematurely assembled in large
numbers in anticipation of the payment of
their annuities, but which on account of
the tardy appropriations by Congress, had
been unusually delayed. But this distur-
bance bad been promptly allayed by the ex.
ertions of the Indian Agent, Mr.. Galbraith,
and the Indians had been sent away to their
villages apparently satisfied with bis assur-
ance that the money would soon be receiv.
ed, when they should be sent for. So ass
sured was Mr.. Galbraith of their pacific
disposition, so unsuspecting of any possible
danger of hostile outbreak, that leaving
his family in their midst at Yellow Med.
cine, he had, on the Friday 1.-THE 18th of
August) before the revolt, started from
Red Wood with company of recruits, and
was on bis way to Fort Smelling, when he
was recalled by the intelligence of general
massacre of the whites on the Reservation.
The blow indeed lad fallen with appalling
suddenness.
On the 18th of August four miscreants,
it is said, of Little SKIS band, made their
appearance at Acton, Meeker county, where
they murdered family OF six persons. The
assassins fled to Red Wood, where, fearful
of being delivered up to punishment, they
may have sought their own safety by insti.
eating general revolt. Perhaps this was
but the first step in the development of a
partial conspiracy, comprising one or more
bands. AT any rate, their bloody example,
and incendiary arguments concurring with
previous causes of disaffection, the defence
less state of the white inhabitants, and the
tempting prospect of plumber from the well
| stored warehouses, seems to have fired the
slumoering mine OF hate and treachery so
long masked under an appearance of friend
| ship. The sanguinary contagion spread
from band to band, and on the morning of
q
sign of warning, without preconcert on
their part, OR provocation on ours, all the
innate depravity of this savage race was let
loose at once on the unsuspecting white in.
habitants, and men, women, and children
were involved 10 an indiscriminate and aw,
full massacre. A force of forty-fve soldiers,
which had been sent up from Fort Ridg.
ley, on the first rumor of disturbance, arriv.
ed only to be attacked in ambush, and half
their number, with their leader, slain. The
horrible work of murder, pllage and des
vastation begun at Red Wood was swiftly
extended throughout the Sioux Reserva-
ton, and the adjacent settlements where the
families, living in isolated babitations at
considerable distances apart, afforded an
easy prey to the skulking foe. Hundreds
of every age and sex persisted by the hands
of these remorseless butchers.
Hundreds who narrowly escaped, fed to
Fort Ridgley, New Ulm, st. Peter, and
other towns for protection, and the fearful