The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-09-18

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Correspondence of the Telegraph .I. . a..
EAU CLAIRE, SEPT. 9, 1862.
| DEAR TELEGRBPH:-On Sunday last this place
and in fact the entire Valley was thrown into a
state of stupendous excitement by the repor that
the Indians tof the Chippewa tribe) were wi thin
few miles of the village burning everything and
numbering every one. In fifteen minutes from
the time the report reached here our streets were
thronged by young and old, men and women, from
the cray headed man to the maiden of sixteen and
infant of six weeks The fright of The women. to
great extent was too great for tears-while the
men armed with every conceivable weapon, from
rifle to pitchfork and sharpened lightning rod,
expressed by every feature their stern resolve to
do or be done for. The "llOme Guards were
quickly formed in line and took an earnest lesson
on "double-quck" and kindred other steps
Scouts were sent out in all directions and in fact,
every body and everything was turned bottom side
up Teams poured in from the country-packed
with women and children, and, am informed, one
horse actually died from fright either from that or
from having been driven an indefinite number of
miles in an incredible short space of time.
This deponent, in company with half dozen
others was some twelve lies from the village at
the time aud every house W passed. women would
rush out and entreat not to wait m oment, but
hurry to town and ''save them if we could, OF
course, horsefesh was Of no account under such
circumstances We arrived in town just in time
to have been out in drenchng rain of about an
houYs duration. The panic had somewhat subslN
ded--mayhap, the rain had partly washed their
fears away But guns could not be had for love
or money-and sound pitch forks were looked up
on with covetous eyes, by the unarrned.
The foundation Of this great alarm was simply
this a Norwegian living about thirty miles from
here told another Norwegian and thet Norwegian
had told an American and the American brought
the story to town that they had better beware
as there was something going on among the Indi-
ans Many other stories were told. One man ha d
Icounted fifty Indians only ten miles distant-in q
few hours scouts acknowledging but one mecca.
sin track was found GA the spot designated Other
stories equally absurd were eagerly swallowed
and passed from mouth to mouth. Women bur-
ried their valuabes in their -yards-clasped
their infants and fled for strengthening the IN
touched meal upon the table. Our hotels were
crowded as we'll as great many of our private
dwellings, by families from the country, who In
their fright had forgotten to bring anything save
themselves In fact there was stampede on the
grandest scale throughout the entire Valley Al
late as Monday afternoon loads of women and
children passed through our streets en- route Tor
/ the Southern part of the State. The whole scene
beggars description and can be easier imagined
than described Pckets were kept out at THU
place all Sunday night.
GAN things have an end ;" and by about Tues
day night almost Everybody and his wife, haC
returned to their respective domicils which the.
had left so percptatey--the conviction forcing
Itself upon Them doubtless, as their fingers eager
lily sought their craniums that they had not beel
scalped, but hadbee most egregiously sold
Far be it from me to talk lightly of danger, @
the precautions taken TO guard against it but tn
-iidea Of men crediting every idle story and telln
it to their wives and children thereby causing
them to suffer more than though the actual DANCE
, was upon them, is simply absurd-nay, sinful
We are pleased to state there were few men i
this place who preferred to investigate these store
before giving them credence IT'S true the Siou,
have murdered several hundred whites in Mime
sofa within the past few weeks. But the Chip
J., pewas and the other tribes residing in this Stat
were never more friendly to the whites than q
e present, and have actually offered to take han
in the determination ofthe Sioux s
You will see by official reports that Eau Clair
:, Co. has SeUenteem men now in the field above he
regular quota. Aside from which there has bee
some eighty men recruited within the past fe
weeks. A new company is being raised here an
is already nearly filled. Bully for Eau Clail
County, shouts every one, and we join in tt
IA cry