St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-05-07
FROM RED, RIVER.

FROM RED, RIVER.
FoRr ABERcRoMB1E, D. T., April Goth, 1868.
LOCAL EDITOR DEMocRAr.-The news from
this section Of country is somewhat unimport-
ant. Ihave no graphic account Of the reduce
ton Of Charleston or Vicksburg to give you,
nor yet any remarkable exploits against the
brutal red skins; but will briefly state that
Georgetown fort Sanhorn) is evacuated, and
the steamer International is moored under COW
er Of the guns of Fort Abercrombie We, Nhe
boat crew. did not continue on our way direct
to Georgetown, as was the intention when We
left St. Cloud. We deemed it unsafe for 80
few men to stay at the former place without
some protection. Therefore we remained at
Abercrombie until orders arrived granting US
company Of soldiers to escort us to George
town and return with the boat Captain Bar
rett's company were detached for the occasion
and made m attempt to start on the 14th,
but unfortunately as four-mule team was
crossing the river, the wagon (loaded with pro-
visions, &c. ran off the ferry boat into the
river, dragging the mules after it, one Of which
was drowned before it could be rescued 49,
Lieutenant Becker lost all his baggage which
he never recovered, and the provisions were
almost I'LL lost
= This incident put an end to the expedition
for that day, but the following morning found
us on our way bright and early. The clouds
of dust from the prairie and heavy wind
made our journey very disagreeable. We ar
rived at Georgetown on Thursday Q6th).-
About twenty miles from the latter place we
met three Red Lake Indians. two of whom
knew welD. They were hunting on the river
and were on their way to Georgetown, and
for Sioux. They said the Pembinas' had made
q treaty with the Sioux but they had not and
did not intend TO- and if they had an opportu-
nifty would like to take few Sioux scalps.-
But the Devil trust them; Judge a white
mans scalp would answer as we'll as Sioux
if a favorable chance presented itself.
We were until Monday terrifying the pilot
house and hastily putting the machinery to-
gesher, when we steamed up, and about noon
began TO wenl our way up the circuitous, wind
ing, crooked channel Of the Red River of the
North. In fact, crooked is not name for it,
there ought to be some new word coined in the
English language to give any thing like COR
rect idea of the shape of the river. We ar
rived at this place last evening, making the
trip from Georgetown in four and half days
We did not find 20 many Instructions in the
river as L anticipated: a few suags and some
overhanging trees only, had to be- removed
The water vas at q good stage, with the ex-
ception Of two or three places about twenty
miles by land this side (south) of Georgetown
(what distance by water cannot tell, but
something less Il an fve hundred miles,; there
the boat rubbed the bottom of the river lit
tie, but not so as to materially retard our prog
ress. Our boat is we'll proportional for the
river below Georgetown, but above it is alto
gether too large; in fact think no boat could
be built to navigate to advantage such crook
ed stream, although we got the International
to Fort Abercrombie without, damage, except
ing fen scratches on her railing Our Cap
tain is an experienced steamboatman, cautious,
careful and prudent and much depended on
Captain Painters judgement in getting the
steamboat safely up stream so difficult to nav
igate.
The soldiers occasionally went ashore in
small parties, hunting or skirmishing, be-
lieve they called il, through the belt of timber
that lines the bank Of the river, and nearly ev-
cry party would bring some kind of game
aboard. One killed fine otter, another =
mink, H. another a large elk,oI others
geese, ducks, prairie chickens and musk
rats The soldiers had no difficulty in keep
ing pace with us-at certain places we would
have to steam it for miles and then find our.
selves within few rods Of where we started.
Therefore, those on shore could walk from one
while it would take hours for the boat
toget around. The boys seemed to enjoy them
se'ves we'll on the trip, and should think
would be glad to go on another such expedi-
ton, as a.change TO- lite in fort.
= The time for the boat to leave this place for
Fort Garry is unknown to me at present. It
depends in measure upon the growth Of the
grass: l suppose that as soon as cattle can
feed on grass, q train with freight will come
fol- US to load up, and then hope we will have
soldiers along - far 40 Pembina, or our route
town again l will give you oil that is worth
writing about. ~ .
\ \ y Very Respectfully yours,
.,. E. r.. ABEL.
-------> - 1854 :.
"A Washington Telegram says the condemn
ed Indians are to be sent to the Tortugas.
"---~~k-s.------- A--: -.
Thermometrioal Record. 5>,
Reported expressly for thu DExoeRAr, b.
S. Mar1att, Druggist, st. Cloud.
.R7AsMo. I'm. 5px:
Anril 40 40 co