, 1863-05-21
MINNESOTA CORRESPONDENCE.
How Il Scn1p Dance IL sContiuctel-TIaey
Speak En.lI.h-A Profitable Trans
Actt0n-The Overland ExpeaftIon-A
Dry ScasoH-EInjZra1ton.


81. PAUL. May, Is, 1863.
HOW SCALP DANCE Is CONDUCTED.
As tho Ninnebagoea were cmigrating from
the State, they halted day or two at Fort
Smelling, six miles above this city. They had
the scalps which they had recently taken from
the Sioux stretched upon hoops, ornauented
with fancy colored gewgaws, and attached to
long poles. Other poles had the skin Of tue
fingers with the entire nails attached, tufts Of
hair, pieces Ct flesh, ETC., fastened to them.
In the centre Of their cncampment they had
erecled tall sapling, aud around this they
gathered with their trophies, and held the
"scalp dance" About dozen braves would
surround the pole and commence beating
upon their rough drums, and chanting their
war song, at the ean1e time keeping timc
with their feet. The braves would be imme-
diatcly joined by squaws and children, who
bore aloft the precious relics, and danced
around the circle rs they joined in the song.
The braves rcmain stationary, except that
they keep time; but the s4uaws are In CON
etant motion. They crowd together 60 closely
that it makes solid ring Of human beings.
Children three feet high would participate in
great vehemence us any one. They have a
chorus to their war song, and when tho
squaws joined il that, swecter voice. rang
out than you will ordinarily hear. They
would eontinue this during IN entire night,
and nearly all the day. It was singular
spectacle to behold in the midst Of ciAilized
people, and attracted . great deal Of alton
tion.
TnET SPEAK REGLISH.
They have lived in close proximity to the
whites so long that many could speak English
very distinctly. One Of their leading chiefs
wears regular citizens clothes, and his CON-
pleAion is that Of n laboring man. Tou would
never suspect that he WIS /: s. noble 1ndiau.''
On convcrhing with them, several informed
me that they were afraid Of the Sioux, against
whom they hare declared war.
ArRoF1TAnI.B TRANSACTION.
The Government contracted with Pierre
Choteau Is Co. Of st. Louis to remove the
Winnehagoes, at s::5.o0 4 head; or, as there
hre SEC Of them, they receive 81, 400 for tile
jnb. 1t is allowing 4 large estimate for ex-
| pcIscs, when NC say that the contractors
cltar 5000 per head, or, in the aggregate,
| S3t, 1.0. We presume they stand ready to
| take any other little jobs that the etioyerument
wishes to dispose Of, At the sa,ne rate.
ao'1se'
Gen. siblcy and stall leave here next Mon-
day for Camp Pope, the rendezvous Of the
expedition. They expect to start for the
Plains some time during the week following
| their arrival at the Camp. One hundred and
| 1fty-six mule wagons, carrying 27O, coo ratiuns.
which is sufficient for three months, consti.
tutes the supply train.
| Brig. Gen. Smith, who IL at present In Mil
waukcc, will take command 1t theee head
tcrs during the absence of Gen, Sibley. In
! company with Gen. Pope, he is sxp-ctsd here
this week.
TIN OVERLAND HypSDrr1oS.
Cant, Fisk, who conducted a laree marty to
Walk Walla. ". r, last .casou. viii leave ST.
| Cloud early next month, with . second expe-
| dillon. Emigrant. aud hcalth.seckers nr, ii
| ready beginning to assemble at the rendez-
yo,1e, st. Cloud, and the prospect Is, that the
party viii be quite larce. Cant, Fisk has
| inns far been Unable to secure military cs-
cort from Fort Ahrrrro,nhie to The Wissonri
and many who vonld otherwise ncronn.nv
thc ,xnrijtion decline doi,r 40. lest thcv ,n.1
! he af:1cte,1 hy indians "a one shoni5 ,hin5 I
| of gong without fn]ly ,nyestirntiusr the Isl
| fh.f vii he nm WV AA'A
"1A1 ~ 'A.' ....
f1rr epr;rr hax heso r,,r,o,.lan&J- 5.,- -