The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-08

INDIANS ON THE COTTONWOOD.

DAYS previous, and the settlers had be-
come much alarmed, and some of them
had fled TO New Ulm, arriving on Thurs
day evening. Capt. Cox was Immediately
sent out with twenty-five mounted men
for the protection of the settle nents.
On Thursday, man came in from the
Cottonwood, and reported that he heard
the discharge of about fifty guns, but
could give no other information Rein
forcements were sent out to Capt. Cox,
but nothing more was known of the
affair when our informant left.
EIGHTEEN MORE BODIES FOUND.
A private letter from Camp Pope states
that scouting party of soldiers had dis
covered, in ravine about three miles
from camp, the remains of eighteen bodies
massacred last fall by the Indians. They
were of bota sexes and various ages, from
infancy to maturity. Their bones were
collected and buried. These persons, the
Mankato Record says, were part Of
thriving German settlement, nearly oppo-
site from Camp Pope.
On the 3Oth, Indians were seen at Mil
ford, between Fort Ridgley and New Ulm,
on the Minnesota river. Lieut.. Colonel
Pfaender, commanding at the Fort, sent
out seventy men to hunt them, and a
courier to inform Colonel Wilkin, at Saint
Peter.
We copy the following interesting from
tier news from the Mankato Record:
HOSTILE INDIANS ON THE FRONTIER.
We learn that Indians seen almost daily
in the vicinity of Camp Pope. \ few nights
ago, party encamped within mile and a half
Of that point, on the opposite side OF the
! river.
We have no doubt but Indians are scattered
in small bands along our entire frontier, await
ing favorable opportunities to harlass settle
ments. This, we believe will be the character
of their warfare until Il line of military posts
is established beyond the settlements from Fort
Ridgey to the Iowa line. The companies of
infantry and cavalry now quartered from twen-
ty to fifty miles within the settlements. would
be more than sufficient to form line that
would render our whole frontier secure. Farm
ers are being driven from their farms at the
very moment they have prepared their ground
for spring planting, and unless they are soon
enabled to return in safety, much suffering must
necessarily ensue.
ABOUT THE MINNEAPOLIS.
On Saturday last, the Winnebagoes were
convened in council by their agent. and ofiici-
ally informed of the intention of the Govern
ment to remove them to new reservation
west of the Missouri. The announcement was
received with much opposition by the indians,
and at first Il determination to resist the action
of the Government. Since then, however.
;,I. and &c oIn xaI
they will 90 peaceably, but under protest.
On Monday and for several days subsequent,
councils have been held among the Indians,
and though no definite conclusion has been
arrived at, yet it is thought the party in favor
of removal is gradully increasing.
The Indians pretend that at the time OF MAX
ing the last treaty, they did not understand the
provisions Obviating the necessity of further
treaties and placing the nation under the con-
troll and management Of the President and
Congress.
The treaty in question was certainly the best
ever made with any Indian tribe, it treats
them simply as wards of the Government,
which they are in fact, and not as an ndepen-
dent nation.
The explanation of this provision has had a
good effect in inducing the Indians to submit
to the proposed removal.
During the week teams have been constantly
engaged in moving in the goods of traders and
the Government; and in his intercourse with
the Indians the agent speaks of their removal
as q certainty, not intimating any doubts upon
which they can base hopes OF prOlongng their
stay beyond the will of the Government.
On Tuesday evening, Justus Z. Ramsey, APP
pointed agent of the Government, to receive
the Indians at this place and feed and protect
them while here arrived by the stage. lie
visited the Indians on Wednesday, and notified
them that he was prepared to receive them.
Some of the Chiefs wished to council with him,
probably for the purpose of protesting against
the removal, but as he had no authority to hear
them, he respectfully declined their request.
Baptiste Lassallieur, head Chief of the tribe,
\ ahali-breed, is much opposed to removing to
the new reservation. He says it is d-n cold
countrv-nO wood: been there-knOWs all
about it; d-n bad country for Indian.
The Indians blame Winne-sheik as being the
main cause OF their present troubles. They
claim that for his persistent opposition to the
last treaty, they would ere this have been To-
Gated permanently on their present reservation,
owned their lands in scveralty and it would
| have been impossible for the Government to
have removed them. In this instance, at least,
| Wnne-Shek has proved, uniLtcntiOnally on
his part however, the friend of the whites
The Indians are expected to arrive here early
next week, and will probably be carried in the
smaller class Of steamboats, to Fort Smelling
where large boats will be in readiness to con-
ycy them to their destination.
During the past week, the settlers around
the reservation have been uneasy in conse-
ouence of reports of contemplated hostties
on the part of the Indians, and some families
moved to town; but generally the reports have
proved Incorrect.
A TRAPPER MISSING.
Mr.. Gardner Frost, of Freedom county. in
this State, was trapping in Cottonwood county,
at the time of the recent Indian raid, and is
supposed to have been killed He was not far
distant from the scene of some of the murders,
and as he has ovcrstayed his time and not been
heard from. his friends believe he is dead. One
of the scalps found in the camp near the south
branch of the Watonwan, conforms to the de-
scription of Mr.. Frost. Capt. Cutter, at Fair
mount. sent out, last week, detachment OF
soldiers to search for Mr.. f., with what success
we have not learned.
Since writing the above, we learn that the
detachment in search of Mr. FrOsts bjdy have
failed to find it; but there is no doubt that he
was killed by the Indians. Mr.. Friend who was
tranpipg with Mr.. +, separated from him one
mnrninS. each to look after his own traps,
since which time he has not seen him, though
he searched for him two days before returning
to Fairmont The Indians, strange to say, did
not take Mr.. Frosts cattle, and only about for
vof his traps were missed. Mr.. Frost had