Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-09-11
The Indian War.
To the Citizens of Floyd County:

line lndlan war.
To the CIiseas of Floyd County:
We, the undersigned, Committee
appointed and sent by the citizens of
Charles City and vicinity, to Minneso'
Ia, to ascertain the facts connected
with the late Indian raid, would res
pectfully submit the following state
nent:
First. We with haste travelled to
the Wianebago Reserve. and found
100 men stationed there to watch the
Winnebagoes and keep them in sub
lection, though ostensibly to insure
their safety against attacks from the
Sioux, their old foes. We found there
six Sioux prisoners taken by the Win
nebagoes. At first the Winnebagoes
were divided upon the question of af-
filiating with the Sioux or helping the
citizens. They at last decided to re-
main friends of the white settlers.
From there we proceeded to Manka-
to, and on arriving there we found the
town fortified, and the people appar-
emily quiet. But the leading citizens,
those who knew best what the In
dams were doing, assured us that
danger was imminent. They said
that, to allow the people generally to
know the worst, would produce an in
slant stampede Of all the inhabitants.
This accounts for the fact that, often
when we made inquiry as to danger
from the Indians, we received for re-
ply, "No danger; all quiet now In
dams driven Off" &c.
While we were in Mankato, news
came in of the massacre of three per-
sons, and boy wounded, in Nicollet
county, about eighteen miles from
there. The leading citizens tried to
smother this report and keep it from
the masses, until they could thorough
ly investigate the facts connected
Herewith. A committee was appoint
ed for the purpose, of whom Judge
Flandrau was member, and the re.
port found to be trnc.
Second, We would say that Colo
mel Flandrau has command of the for.
ccs on the west side, and Of him we
obtained valuable information. It is
his opinion that there is trouble brew.
ing which will soon develop itself, and
that Iowa, as we'll as Minnesota, is in
danger. He and Col. Sibley have
troops enough to hold the Indians in
check for the present, but how long
he could not say. He advises the cit
liens Of Northern and Western Iowa
to be in readiness, as there is certain
ly q concert of action on the part of
the various Indian tribes to massacre
the white settlers and lay waste the
whole Northwestern frontier, and
they will do it if not promptly check
ed. Treaties are of no avail, and he
thinks our only permanent safety con-
sists in totally annihi!ating them, and
thus completing alasting peace.
i Col. Flandrau started out Compa.
ny of armed men on Thursday morn
ing, under Capt. VIM. Bicrbaner, to
afford what protection they could to
the settlers. They were to visit Ma.
della, and would probably extend the
scout westward to the Des Moines riv-
or. The settlers complain because
the Government has taken away their
effective men for tho war, and does
not protect them against the Indians.
II thus neglected the country will ere
long lose its white population, be-
cause there is too much feeling of in.
security for them to remain there.
The number of persons known to
have been massacred is 2l5. The
number taken prisoners is about 40.
Col. Flandrau says that, from his
knowledge Of the facts he is salts
fed the above number of killed and
prisoners is not exaggerated, and will
prove much too small.
The forces at Fort Ridgely, New
Ulm, and South Bend, under Colonies
Sibley and Flandrau, number about
1900.
The county of Blue Earth, and near
~ all that part Of Minnesota through
which we passed, showed signs of re-
cent descrtion. Houses were left
tenantless, fields of wheat were un.
harvested, and every thing had the
appearance Of hasty descrtion. Some
of the settlers had fed to the villages
or forts for safety, and others had re-
moved out Of the State, seeking an
asylum with their relatives and friends
in Iowa, Wisconsin, and other States.
DAVID NJ. FERGUSON.
| A. l.. COLLINS.
Charles City, Sept. s, 1862.
/ Yye