The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-29
FROM THE CHIPPEWA COUNTRY,
THREATENING CONDITION
OF AFFAIRS.
Letters from Fort Ripley.

HEADQUARTERS FORT Ripley,
August %, 1862, 8 o'clock A. M.
To Governor RAMSEY, St. Paul;
SIR: l travelled all night, and arrived at
the Fort at A. NJ, and found Indian mat.
tiers as follows: Indians are assembling in
large numbers at Gull Lake, 20 miles north
of here.
Six families from Leech Lake were taken
prisoners, by the band known as Leech
Lake Pillagers. The Indian preacher,
johnson, who is friendly, was at their coun
Gil, and says it is preconcerted movement,
and that Hole in the.day says the same in
council; and it was arranged with the Sioux
and Chippewas to strike at this time. The
arrangement was for the Chippewas to first
kill Agent Walker, then attack and take
the Fort, and overrun the Mississippi
Valley.
Hole in-the-Day stated in council that
we bad all we could manage with our breth-
rem South, and that, with the Sioux and
Chippewas together, we would not be able
to successfully resist.
Lieut.. j. B. Forbes, by his promptness,
saved the Fort. He received news of the
movement at two o'clock P. NJ, on the 10th
inst. He Immediately took twenty-six men
and started for the Agency. He met the
Agent on bis retreat to the Fort. He got
sight of Hole.in-the-Day, and gave chase.
He only escaped by taking boat and cross
ing the river. The boys had brisk fight
with some fifty of his warriors, and Holes
in>the.Day was seen to fall, and his warriors
carried him from the field. We hear today
that he is confined to bis tent by sickness.
He will not own that he was hit.
Lieut.. Forbes declared martial law and
ordered all citizens of the vicinity to report
at the Fort. To their promptness 10 obey.
ing the call, can be credited the safety of
the Fort and the valley.
Immediately on my arrival sent Lieut..
Beauliew with message to Hole.in. the
Day to Immediately release all whites he
held as prisoners, and informed him that if
be failed to do this, it would be considered
as commencing hostilities, and we should
act accordingly. at the same time, in>
formed Hole~in the-Day, that if be remain
ed quiet and did not permit his men to dam
age the citizens, that this matter of diff
Guilty with Agent Walker would be inves.
tigated by the Indian Commissioner. l in
formed Hole-in-the Day that the whites
had always looked on him as friend, and
that hoped he would not disappoint them.
l at the same time informed him, that if he
persisted in hostilities, that we should make
it a war of extrmination. HoIeSin.the.
Day answers and says that be will imme-
diately send the prisoners and will agree to
wait four days to see Commissioner Dole.
The Indian preacher johnson is here
claiming our protection, and says Hole in-
the~Day is afraid to attack US until be re-
| ceives reintOrcements from Leech Lake,
which be has sent for. The company which
| ordered here from ST. Cloud, went the
| other way after lett. Lattersall's compa-
| ny does not arrive yet. They had not
reached st. Cloud at IL A. NJ. to-day.
We have about thirty soldiers and fifty
| citizens to defend the Fort and settlers, and
pUoIIy aTiUeU. we WANT ammunition an0
| guns ior citizans and volunteers to help US.
The Sioux are working up This way. They
are numbering settlers at or near Forest
City. We detail tonight for guard "a
men. We do net intend to be caught
asleep, Our men do not undress, but sleep
with their guns by their side.
LATER.-f'he Express from Grow Wing
has just arrived, and says the wives and
children of the Cnippewas are all leaving
the country. and none bat warriors remain.
1t may mean fun-hut they will get plenty
of it.
The citizens Of Crow Wing and Little
Fa Is are organized, and all the women and
children gathered together tonight, and the
men mount guard like soldiers. You may
hear of the cItizers of this valley being kill
ed, but you will rot hear OF their running
from their humes. They are determined to
stand by them to the last.
If you should send any men here to ope-
rate against Indians, Lieutenant Beauliew's
company would be good one, as they
know the ways of the Indians.
| have ciliz .ns near the Indians who re-
port warrants made by them.