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

lied, to march at once to the scene of re-
ported disturbances, and Hon. H. H. Sibley,
whose residence OF thirty years on the from.
tier, and intimate familiarity with the In.
dian character and modes of warfare, indi-
Gated special fitness for the service, was
designated to the command.
On the 2lst, when authentic information
of the extent and character of the outbreak
was first received, accompanied with the
announcement that New Ulm had been at
tackled in force, and Fort Ridgley beleag.
ured, another force of seven companies was
instantly sent forward under Colonel
Crooks, with orders to report to Col. Sib.
ley. At the same time, mounted volunteers
were called upon, by proclamation, to join
the forces moving up the Minnesota Valley.
This call was responded to with generous
alacrity by about 500 mounted citizens.
While these bodies were moving up the
Valley, companies of mounted men and in.
fantry were sent as rapidly as they could be
raised and equipped, for the protection OF
the sparsely settled districts OF country ly-
ing north and south of the scene of the
Sioux depredatiOns on the Minnesota river,
which seemed to be exposed to incursions
of marauding parties from that quarter.
In the meantime the Chippewas had as.
sumed threatening attitude, for reasons
not now distinctly understood, but which,
from its conjunction with the Sioux raid,
gave rise, at the moment, to widespread
apprehension that these inveterate enemies
had buried the Ratchet in league against
the whites. The Chippewa Agent, Mr..
Walker, having failed in an attempt to ar
rest the Chief, Hole in.ths-Day, fled to
Fort Ripley, under an impression that a
general massacre was to be attempted.
In consequence of this threatening dispo-
sition, tie citizens of various exposed local
tiles on the Chippewa border were as far as
possible supplied with arms and ammunition
and detachments of troops, including COM
panies of mounted citizens, were sent for the
protection OF the St. Croix, Rum River,
and Upper Mississippi Valleys -Four
companies were sent to Fort Ripley, where
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Mr..
Dole, who had come to the State for the
purpose of effecting treaty with the Chip
pewas of Red Lake, undertook the task of
restoring order among this tribe.
No depredations, however. have as yet
been committed by the Chippewas, and, if
they ever entertained any hostile intentions,
which is doubtful, it is likely that the efforts
of Commissioner Dole, backed by the ample
preparations made to enforce his authority
will be sufficient to ensure their quiet
The outbreak of the Sioux occurred at a
time when we were little prepared in many
respects to meet 80 sudden all emergency
Fortunately, we had just raised consider
able part of the new levies ordered by the
President. But most of these were farmers
taken from the thick of the pending harvest
and had enlisted on the promise of fur
Tough to the first of September to secure
their crops, and so large part of the VOL
unteers were absent at the time, that the
forces sent had to be made up of fragments
of different companies and regiments.
A still more serious embarrassment was
felt at the outset from the want of arms
and ammunition. Application was, how
ever, Immediately made by telegraph tC
Washington, st. Louis, and the Governors
of adjoining States, and in addition to sup
plies received from regular sources, an
consiD for prompt response to my reques
for cartridges:
The occasion also revealed very sur
prising and unexpected deficiency of fire
arms and ammunition among our frontier
settlers. Nothing more strongly shows thu
feeling of security among the people, an(
the great change in this respect from thu
frontier habits of twenty or thirty years ago
than the fact that guns of any sort, it il
the houses. The deficiency was made W
as much as possible by such arms as we
could furnish, and by supplies of ammuni
ton purchased here.
The urgent necessity for the prompt ant
speedy conveyance of troops and suppiie
to threatened points, and the want of regu
lar means of transportation, made it neces
sary to authorize the impressment of horse
and teams, which were in general willngl,
yielded and often volunteered by their own
ers for the purpose, in all cases to thei
great Inconvenience, and often to thei
damage, though at stipulated rates of com
pensatiOn.
Certain persons were also commissioner
TO raise detachments oil mounted men 10
special aud instant service, and were au
thorized under certain restrictions to i'm
press horses The emergency which mad
it necessary TO resort to this measure. hav
ing passed, and learning that the authorit,
given Was 10 some cases abused, or take
advantage of By unauthorized parties,-
these orders have generally been revoked
/ trust that you will promptly provide tn
requisite compensation for the parties who's
property has been impressed for the publ
service, and there can be no doubt that ne
cessary expenditures under this head will b
ultimately reimbursed by the General Gov
ernment, in whose behalf they were incur
red.
Our new volunteers, though brave, ar
as yet inexperienced. and in other respect
lily prepared for the active service int
which they have been ordered. The war
of disciplined troops being early felt, til
Third Minnesota then on parole at st. Lou
is, was at my request ordered to report her
They arrived on the 4th inst, and were il
stantly dispatched under Major WEIGH
the scene of hostilties.
In the mean time the progress OF the In
dams appeared to be checked.