St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-06-25
IMPORTANT LETTER FROM COL. NIL
LER.

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM COL. NIL
LER.
We are permitted to publish the fol-
lowing letter received by one of our citi.
zens from Col. Stephen Miller, at present
in command of the forces remaining for
the defense of the frontier. From it, it
will be seen that all possible measures
have been taken to protect exposed SET.
tiers aud villages from Iudian raids, and
the suggestions it contains are wise and
timely.
HEAD Q'Es OF rnE FoRcrs tn GARRISON.
Dts'T OF MlxN., DEP'r OF TIE NORTH WEST,
ST, PAUL, MINI, June 18th, 1868
Mr. DEAR GExERAL.-Yours of the 18th
inst. is just At hand, and contents noted. 1t
would afford me great pleasure, had men.
enough, to place troops wherever there was
a possibility of assault; but We must 10 the
best We can with our limited forces.
You noticed the order fixing as nearly as
may be . due line southward, from Payn.s-
vile via Fort Ridgely, to the Iowa line, throw
ing all er,ne",ly all our effective forces. in ed-
ranee of the citizens 1t small posts, md tfav
ersing and scouting with cavalry the inter-
mediate ground daily, and as nearly as We
can, hourly. As this shortens the old line
more than nchalf, the same number of troops
can Of course DO double the work, beside prov
ing protection to farmers and settlements,
as-Keu as towcs. i trust that this really
meritorious plan will be appreciates and that
oil good citizens along the border will not on
ly approve our efforts, but will arm them
selves and stand their ground so that should
Sioux or even a half lozen Of them by any
means get behind our lines, they and the
troops may hunt them down like wolves.-
This line shall extend and traverse with
cavalry in the same way (by CONSTRUCTIVE :
defensive work at or near 1'.ne George) TO
Sauk Centre. -srcn will prove q protection
not only TO Richmond but to hundreds Of claims
beyond.
There have been engaged in all the Indian
raids into our State since Jan'y 1st, as nearly
as can ascertain, about sixteen or eighteen
hostile Sioux, and yet hundreds of full grown
men have fed or talk of leaving the frontier
of the State! I am ashamed Of them. The
Indians are not fools. They know of this ter
ror and take advantage of it. Let US but
teach them, as did our ancestors IN Penn,
Ohio, Kentucky and the whole Northwest,
that every citizens has sworn their destruc-
ton and dares to fulfil his VOW, and raids
will be few and far between. I know that
this may require that some of our citizens
should send their families to the rear. and re.
main themselves upon the frontier to fight,
possibly in few cases to die. But the sacri.
6ce will be infinitely less than we experience
under our present plan and the results cores.
pondingly glorious. know that Minneso'
tians in the field are brave, and feel very Ger
tain that did you and other prominent citizens
present these views to the masses. they would
prove equally gallant at home. Let them but
comprehend and they viii approve the mill
tary distribution o: our forces.
The particular case to which. you refer
shall receive due consideration, but as q eener
al rule villages and special settlements must
share the common lot, and rely upon the. mil
itary line in advunce of their homes, and uroI
their own right arms for. safety. And as tht
State Government proposes to furnish all ex
posed localities with arms and ammunition,
trust that no panic or stampede will ensue.
need not say to you that myself and en-
tire command are Minnesotians that with 20,
and all good citizens We have common in
terest in the destiny and prosperity Of th'
State, and that it is our purpose and determi
nation not only to meet, but as fur as praeti
cable to follow and slaughter, every inhuna,
fend that dares to set his foot upo,, the from
tier of our cherished commonwealth. =.
Very Respt'y, your ob't serv't, -
s. MILLER
| GEsL. H. 2. MITCHELL,
st. Clou1, MINI.