Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-02-20
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is.

the Northwest, gives no adequate cause for
mischief and outrages of such magnitude
Evidences of a premedtated design in their
attacks is not satisfactory. The Sioux brood
ed over and complained of misunderstanding
treaty stipulations, but their agent, Mr.. Gal
brath, had apprehended no unusual difficult
ty up to the time of the outbreak. They ap-
peared to cooperate cordially in preparations
made for their civilization and material ad-
vancement. Messengers had been sent to
other tribes, even to Selkirk Settlement, to an
nounce their declaration of war and to demand
their assistance, but there is no evidence of a
reasonable ground for such expectations.
The Secretary of the Interior thinks the
chief or immediate cause was an unfortunate
affair in which few young Indians became
involved through the use of spurious liquors,
at Acton. This occurred at time when
their minds were infamed by accounts given
by reckless or malicious persons of bloody
conflicts in the United States, affirming the
Government broken up, and their annuities
would not be paid, and they must take care
of themselves. This excitement added to
disaffection that having parted with their
lands evidently led them to attempt to repos-
sess their hunting grounds.
Threatened difficulties with the Chippewas,
Delaware and Winnebago Indians were hap
PLY arrested.
The quarrel was personal between the
agent and principal chief of the Mississippi
bands. u.-. e.-
The message is accompanied by interesting
and circumstantial details of the massacre, by
Agent Galbraith and Geo. H. Spencer, and
the report of Calvert Sibley.
The report of Senator Wilson, from the
Military Committee, in answer to a resolution
inquiring into the case of Richard Thomas,
of Maryland, alleged to be insane from ill
usage while prisoner Of war, states that he
was placed in confinement Dec 81, 1861, and
after March Sd, 1862, he was kept in close
quarters. He attempted to escape in April,
by jumping overheard and swimming to the
Long Island shore, since which time he has
not been out of his room except during a
visit from his mother, permitted by the Secre-
tary of War. He is allowed to communicate
only with the officers of the guard, through
whom he can procure any fooc he desires in
addition to his rations. Having taken advan-
tage of paper and books to communicate with
persons outside, he is not allowed the privi-
lege of their use.
The surgeon reports his health generally
good = better now, by his own confession,
than when he was first imprisoned. He con-
siders the prisoner mentally sane, but regards
him as eccentric.
Adj Gen. Townsend reports him as indlct-
ed by the Grand Jury of Maryland District
for attempting to seize the Mary Washington
and for treason, and quotes the opinion of
Gen. Dix that he should be treated as pirate
and spy. There are four witnesses to the first
crime, and the evidence to the second charge
consists in his being taken in the disguise of
female, with commission as Colonel of
rebel volunteers of Virginia on his person.
In consequence of such report, he is not
held as prisoner of war; He was placed
in close confinement for desperate attempt
to escape.
WASHINGTON, Feb 16.
The Secretary of the Navy has received vol
luminous dispatches from Rear Admiral Du-
pont in reference to the late attack on the
blockading fleet off Charleston. The officers
commanding various vessels of the blockading
feet make the following statement
We deem it our duty to say that the re-
suits as published in Charleston papers are
false in every particular. No vessels were
sunk and none set on fire. Two vessels
alone were injured-the Mercedita and Key
stone State. After the firing ended the
blockade continued as before. No vessel ran
in or out the port that day nor was any at
tempt made to run the blockade. These are
the facts, and we do not hesitate to state that
no vessel did come out beyond the bar after
the return of the rams between and o'clock
I'M. E.... t...
US. CoNsuLArE,1
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Jan. 81.
SrR:-It is my painful duty to inform the
Department of the destruction of the United
States steamer Hatteras, recently under my
command, by the rebel steamer Alabama, on
the night of the 18th inst, off the coast OF
Texas The circumstances of the disaster
are as follows: On the 18th inst, at $3.50
o'clock, while at anchor IN company with the
fleet, with Commander Dell, off Galveston, I
was ordered by signal from the flagship
Brooklyn to chase sail to Southwark Of
Eastward I got under way Immediately and
steamed with all speed in the direction indi-
Gated. After some time strange sail could
be seen from the Hatteras, and it was ascer-
tanned to be steamer, which fact communi
Gated to the flagship by signal. continued
to chase and rapidly gained on the suspicious
vessel. When within about four miles of the
vessel observed she had ceased to steam and
was lying broadside, awaiting us. 1t was
nearly O'clock and quite dark, but notwith-
standing the obscurity of night I felt assured
from the general character Of the vessel and |
her maneuver that should soon encounter
the rebel steamer Alabama.
Being able to work but four guns on side
Of the Hatteras-two short 32-pounders, one |
30 FOUNDER rifed gun and one 20 FOUNDER
rifed gum concluded to close with her, that
my guns might be as effective as necessary.
came within easy speaking range, and upon
asking, "What steamer is that?" received
the answer, ''Her Brittanic Majesty's ship
Vixen" Ireplied that would send a boat
aboard, and Immediately gave orders. In the
Meantime both vessels were changing their
,ositions-the stranger endeayoring to gain
desirable position for a raking fire. Almost