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

under Lieut.. Col. McPha il, sent forward by
Col. Sibley, who arrived next day with his
whole force.
They found the brave little garrison near
ly exhausted with the labors and vigils
which they had underg one in their defence
of that weak post for period of nine days,
during which they had sustained and re-.
pulsed three several desperate attacks in
force. A number Of b. ave men fell in these
encounters.
While in this diree ton, the Indians ap.
peared to be retreati lg before our forces
news came on the 27t b that the settlers at
Breckenridge on the Red River had been
massacred, and that Fort Abercrombie,w
seriously menaced. To two companies of
infantry already on the march for the pro.
lection of settlemer its in that quarter, two
more were now add ed.
On Sept. Bird, Cs .ptain Strout's company
was unexpectedly s.ttacked by $50 Indians
at Cedar City, in Mcleod county, and re.
treated to Hutchinson, which had been for
titled by its citizens, and was repulsed by
Them. 1t was renewed again at Hutchin-
son, few days after, and repulsed. Their
d, .predations had now extended through the
whole country west of Forest City, and
ma ny persons were murdered and much
pro perty destroyed. Reinforcements on the
way to this district, at the time of these oca
curronces, have since been distributed at
various points in and beyond the settle.
ments, and a portion Of the Third Regi.
ment, as soon as it arrived, was dispatched
in this direction.
Intelligence was also received that the
raid had extended into jackson and ada.
cent counties on the Iowa border.
The troops for the protection of the
southwestern frontier, in the meantime, were
placed in charge of Col. Flandrau, whose
energetic defence of New Ulm had proved
high capabilities for the service. Troops
were forwarded to him as rapidly as they
could be raised and equipped, aud he has
now under his command force of about
500 men, which, in case of emergency, can
be largely reinforced fron the citizens in the
vicinity.
All the arms and ammunition, not in the
hands of troops in active service, which
could be obtained from any quarter, have
been distributed as soon as received to the
citizens of every locality which seemed to
De in danger. By these precautions, and
the distribution of bodies of troops at short
distances apart, our whole Indian border,
along the line of the Chippewa country,
from Chengwatana, in the st. Croix Val.
lev, to Grow Wing, on the Mississippi, and
thence to- Fort Abercrombie, on the Red
River, an. 1 all along the frontier exposed to
Sioux dep relations, from the Sank Valley,
southwark, via Fort Ridgley, to the Iowa
line, has bee n put in a posture of defence,
as far as defe. nee is practicable against these
secret and sku liking marauders, over such a
vast extent of country, with the small num-
Der of troops and still smaller supplies of
war material at ,'ur disposal.
Two thousand one hundred and htty
troops and sew, ral hundred irregular
mounted men are no scattered along this
extensive line, and tn, ere have been issued
to citizens l,O56 Stand of arms, 3,l75
pounds of powder, l,2LV pounds OF lead,
and 80 sacks of shot.
These depositians wer.' at first made
chiefly with view to the Immediate secu'
rity of the lives and property OF our from
tier settlers, to restore that confidence
throughout our western and nortl 'ern coun-
ties which was necessary to save he crops
from destruction, and to support the citi
zens in measures of self-defence.
Perhaps it will be necessary, in order to
prevent the depopulation of these porti> 'ns
of the country, to maintain small bodies Ut
troops there for some time to come.
In the meanwhile no necessary preparas
tons have been neglected for the pursuit
and chastisement of the Sioux.
Colonel Sibley-with force Of 1900
men at Fort Ridgley, small body of
mounted men, and several pieces of artillery,
all we have-has the direction of offensive
operations which he has been instructed
to carry on with all possible vigor and dis
patch.
He is, however, as yet, very deficient in
cavalry, the large force OF mounted citizens
who generously accompanied him for the
relief of Fort Ridgley, having disbanded
when that object was attained, with the
exception of about ninety men.
A large organized body OF cavalry was
considered Indispensable for an effective
campaign, and at my urgent request, after
many delays, the President has been pleased
to authorize the raising and equipment OF
THOUSAND mounted troops. The United
States Quartermaster stationed here, is au~
thorized to purchase horses for this regi-
ment and trust that his speedy execution
of this order will enable US to press our OPP
eratioDs against the Sioux.
1 have thus far given only so much of the
history of our Indian disturbances as was
required to show the necessity of the meas,
ures adopted for their suppression and the
general scope of our military operations, for
details of which must refer you to the re
port of the Adjutant General, and the off,
cial dispatches of the officers commanding
the various detachments, which will be
transmitted to you.
But this review of the Sioux revolt,
would be incomplete without some further
reference to the singular atrocities which
have marked its course, and to the mischief
inflicted upon our people.
The sudden and treacherous Outburst of
savage cruelty, which in one sudden blow
struck down their friends and neighbors of
another blood, and revelled in general
massacre of men, women and children, has
been alluded to.