The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-14
Letter OF Gen. Pope to Gov. Ramsey.
Headquarters DEPT. OF THE NORTHwEsr,(
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Nov 6, 1862.

t ST. PAUI., Mnn., NOV 3, 1867. }
Ny DEAR SIR: Your letter Of this date
IS received, and, in accordance with your
wishes and those of many of the respect
able citizens of your State, I have counter
manded the order for the 9th and 7th |
Minnesota Regiments to go South, and
shall send the Sd Regiment instead.
1t is perhaps true, as you state, that the
departure of these regiments would alarm
the frontier settlers, and perhaps prevent
many OF them from returning to their aban-
doned homes; but think that much of
this alarm would result from misappre-
hension of my purposes. never, for a
thought of abandoning any posts
heretofore occupied, during this winter, at
least.
Fort Ridgley, and points on the river
below, would have been, and will be, occu-
pied, as also the line of frontier posts from
Sank Centre as far south as the Iowa line,
with advanced posts at Madelia, Chain
Lakes, and in Jackson county.
The force had designed to keep in this
State, consisted of the 9Th, 9th and 10th
Regiments Gnfantry), the Sd Regiment
(mounted), and the Cavalry Regiment au-
thorized to be raised in this State, six COM
panies of which are already prepared for
service. This would have given an effective
force of 4,76O. In Iowa l am keeping one
infantry regiment and one cavalry regi-
ment, numbering 1920 men. With this
force of 1000 men, of whom nearly one
half would be mounted, l proposed to make
vigorous campaign in the spring, which
should cover the whole region between the
Missouri River and the eastern boundary
of Minnesota.
| am induced to retain the 9th and 18th
Regiments here as you request, not be-
cause ofactual danger to the settlements,
but as you suggest, and as | have myself
thought necessary, to restore confidence to
a people panic-strickeu at the awful out
RACES but recently perpetrated by the
Sioux. I can well understand how people
should be timid after such an experience,
and how impossible to induce the inhabi-
tants to remain on their farms and in their
villages without sense of ample security.
1t is to be hoped that the assurance given
by this military force will not be needed,
as the Government needs troops in the
South very much, and | am very anxious
to meet its wants as far as possible
AS the hearty concurrence and co-ope-
ration of the people of the State in the
measure which / propose, and which the
Government has now under consideration,
is essential to success and as my purpo-
ses seem to have been greatly misunder-
stood, and in some cases perhaps misrep-
resented, think it proper again to state
to you the policy and the plans which will
guide my operations here.
| have proposed to the Government to
disarm and remove entirely from the State
all the annuity Indians, and all other Indi-
ans now within its boundaries; to place
them where they can no longer impede the
progress OF the settlements nor endanger
the settlers; during the campaign of the
next summer to seize and dispose Of all
the Indians upon whom we can lay our
hands in like manner, so that the lines of
travel and emigration shall be secure to the
smallest parties; to treat all Indians, as
the late outrages and many previous out
RACES have demonstrated to be the only
safe and humane method, as irresponsible
persons, to occupy nearly the same rela-
ton to the Government as lunatics do to
the State authorities; the Government to
feed and clothe them cheaply, and for that
purpose to use the annuities now paid
them, and the proceeds of the sale of their
reservations; to pay no more annuitles,
and give the Indian no more arms or weap-
hxry ho h.
BY this mode of treatment, great bar
rier, which has been constantly accumulat-
ing by the removal, periodically, of the
Indian tribes, and their location along our
borders, will be at once lifted away, and
the whole region to the Rocky Mountains
will, in very short time, be opened to
emigration, travel and settlement. By this
policy, also, the Indian being deprived of
his arms, and of the power of indulging his
habits OF wandering restlessness, and re-
moved from the association of gamblers,
whisky sellers, and unprincipled white men
and half-breeds, will be brought to a con-
dition where Christianity and education
can best be brought to bear upon him, and
where some hope of success will be offered
to the missionary and instructor in their
humane labOrs.
Whatever the effect might be on the
present generation Of Indians, there is
great reason to hope that the succeeding
generation will be so far brought under the
influence of education and civilization that
the Indian can safely be trusted among the
whites.
In humane view both to whites and
Indians, and in view of the continued
progress and prosperity Of the State, this
policy seems to me to be wise and conclu-
sive of the whole question, and l shall
spare no means to have it adopted by the
Government and carried out.
The Sioux prisoners engaged in the late
outbreaks will be executed unless the
President forbids it, which, from the tone
OF his dispatches, l am sure he will not
do.
Very respectfully, Governor,
Your Obedient servant,
JOHN POPE.
Major General Commanding.
Gov. A. RAMSEY, Minnesota.