The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-07

THE WINDY DAY-GRAVE OF GEORGE
GLEASON-ENCAMPMENT OF SQUA VS.
THE INDIAN PRZsONRRS-THRIR PUN.
LSHMENT.

TIE INDIAN FHxSONEhS-IHEIR PUN
ISHMENT.
CAMP S1BLEy, At REDWOOD AaENcY,l
Oct. Is. 1862.
To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
The military expedition of General Sib-
ley left Camp Relief day before yesterday,
and arrived at this place this afternoon.
The march to-day was pleasant. The
sun shone brightly, and the clear autumn
air was calmly arrest. But yesterday was
enough to render one utterly disguised
with a soldiers life. Old Eolus seemed to
be re-enacting the same lively little opera
ton which Virgil describes him doing at
the instigation of the cruel Juno, except
that he mingled the land with the sky, in
stead of the sea. The dust drove in dark
ening clouds across the prairie, filling the
eyes and ears, noses and faces, of our poor
soldiers, and giving them the appearance
ofhaving been suddenly resurrected from
dirty graves, and the cold wind was so in
tense, that they shivered as if in fear that
old man Death was hurrying fast behind to
re-consign them to the abodes which they
had prematurely left. Horses would turn
from the road and back up against the
wind, and neither whip or spur would push
them forward; and so we left them, soon
to fall upon the prairies and remain mel
ancholy memorials of our armys returning
march.
During the day we passed poor Glea-
sons grave. He lies close to the road, on
the left hand side coming down-2O miles
from Yellow Medicine. We buried him
on our upward march: he was then near
ly wasted away to a skeleton: large
stone was imbedded in his skull.
Some of his clothes were still on him,
and on his shirt the Indians had left his
gold sleeve buttons. I knew them in
moment, having often seem him wear
them. One of the boys took them away
to send them to his relatives.
He was bringing Mrs. Wakefield and
children from Yellow Medicine, it will be
recollected, on Monday, the day of the
outbreak, unconscious of the difficulty,
when he was set upon by two In
dams, and shot down like dog
Gay, jocund, genial fellow, the very
soul of mirth and humor, he will
long, long, be remembered among the
victims of the murderous savages. Major
Galbraith, l understand, intends to have
his remains removed, and receive Christian
burial in Shakopee or st. Paul. One of
his murderers now awaits his doom in
our Jail.
Last night we pitched our camp on the
Redwood River, eight miles above the
Agency. Here was located large encamp-
ment of squaws and children. AS our
wagons containing the Indian prisoners
appeared in sight, the women began to
weep, and to set up dismal wall. Antoine
Premier told several Of them that there were
forty-five white men, women and children
on the other side of the river, who had
been barbarously murdered but few weeks
before, by these same Indians; and that
they then had no tears for them, and that
they had better recollect this, and keep
still. This had the effect of putting a qui-
etus upon them.
In the edge of the woods skirting the
Minnesota River from the Redwood to the
Agency, there are many Indian houses
which are as comfortably constructed as
our own. Nearly every one contained a
stove, but these have all been removed to
camp, and placed in our tents.
Over one hundred and fifty Indians were
brought down by us from Camp Relief
They are chained together by the feet, by
twos, and are only able to navigate with
difficulty, and that in a very constrained
manner. When they walk along, the SOL
diers annoy them by crying out, Left {!
Left" They appreciate the force of this,
as they have observed our men marching
when this command was given. They are
now designated, whenever spoken of, as
"Los from "Lo! the poor Indian, -
&c. Two hundred and fifteen of the gen.
tlemen are now in custody at Yellow Medi-
cine; but they will be brought here in a
day or two for trial. This is the most
appropriate place to bring the devils for
punishment. Here it was that the first
outrages of magnitude were committed.
The fire has scarcely died out in the ruins
of the goodly buildings which they de-
stroycd, or the blood of their murdered,
mangled victims sunk into the ground.
Just opposite is the battle-ground of Birch
Coolie-almost within stOne's-throw. l
was there to-day. The dirt on the graves
of the slain is yet fresh.
You can see, as if it was done but yes
terday, behind every little bush and eleva-
ton around the camp, the places where
the savages lay when they fired upon our
soldiers, and the trails which they made
over the grass in crawling to them. The
splinters made by our bullets upon the
trees of the Coolie are still hanging upon
them, and the dead horses massed around
and through the entertainments, though
much wasted, are easily distinguishable
from one another
A few hours ago the scorched skeleton
of one of their victims, scarcely cold, was
taken from the smouldering ruins of one
or the buildings here, and the corpse OF
one of Narsh's men found near the ferry.
Surely the avenging Nemesis is in pursuit
of the demons on eagle wings.
The number of the lprits soon to be