The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-05
A Letter on the Chippewa
DiffCulty.
SETTLERS RETURNING H0ME-CA USE OF THE
TROUBLE-GROSS MIS-STATEMENTS- THE
INDIANS PEACEABLE.
SAUK RAPIDS, Aug 30. 1862.


To The Editor of the Pioneer and Democrat:
The Chippewa scare has about subsidized
and the farmers OF this vicinity have gene.
rally returned home to secure their crops.
There has been no hostility among the
Chippewas towards the whites. The only
trouble has been that they have complained
of having been defrauded out of a portion
of their annuities by the late Agent; and
some months since, Hole-in-the.Day went
to Washington and demanded of the Cons
missioner of Indian Affairs and the Secre-
tary of the Interior an investigation of the
matter. This was promised him imme.
diately, but the investigation was deferred,
until the Indians becoming impatient, as.
sembled small number and killed three
oxen belonging to the Indian farm. Agent
Walker then ordered squad of troops to
arrest Hole in-the-Day. He was found at
Grow Wing, alone and unarmed, with the
exception of revolver, and seeing the
troops in pursuit, he threw off bis blanket
and ran for his house, two miles above
Grow Wing, where he arrived, and in great
haste took bis wife and children into ca.
noe and crossed the river. At about the
moment be landed on the west bank of the
river, Sergeant Stacy, with two privates,
arrived on the opposite bank and ordered
him to halt or be wou Id fire; and not being
obeyed, the sergeant gave orders to fire.
Hole-in- the-day then turned around and
returned the fire with his revolver. And
thus ended the fight so graph ,caly de-
scribed by the Commandant of Fort Rip.
ley as having taken place between 26 of his
command and 80 Indian warriors under
Hoe-in-the-Day.
Large numbers of settlers have left the
country during the panic created by false
and exaggerated reports of the numbers and
disposition of the Indians at Gull Lake.
On the very evening that the commanding
officer OF Fort Ripley saved that post from
capture by bis "promptness" l was having
"a talk" with Hole-in.the- Day at Gull Lake,
% miles from the Fort. Left Gull Lake at
9 P. M, and not an Indian was seen between
there and the Fort, except two or three old
decrepid ones with their squaws at Crow
Wing.
The Indians have made no demopstra-
| ton whatever, against the citizens OF Crow
Wing, and il is all CANNON about their
| having robbed the stores and trading hou.
ses at that point, to be sure the Pillagers
broke open the trading houses at Leech
Lake, about 20 miles from Fort Ripley,
but this is nothing worse than they have
done frequently. The prisoners taken by
the Pillagers were we'll treated and released
before the arrival of Capt. Hall from re-
cruiting service below. Capt. Hall was in.
formed at Little Falls, on his way from St.
Paul, that the prisoners would be released
that day, which was done.
should not have said thus much of the
report OF Capt. Hall to Gov. Ramsey, were
it not that it is an official paper and con-
tanning so much misstatement is liable to
produce an unnecessary feeling of hostility
towards the Chippewas, who have always
been the firm friends and allies of the whites,
and believe hold themselves in readiness
as soon as these slight troubles are adjusted
to turn the whole strength of their nation
against their hereditary enemies, the Sioux
VERITAS.