The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-12-25
THE HATCH BATTALION.
How it was Raised-..The PROMISES
that were Given, and how sA"So
Promises have been Fulfilled

How it was Raised-..The promises
that were Given, and how those
Promises have been Fulfilled
PEMB1NA, Nov 20, 1863.
To the Editor Of the Pioneer:
As many of your reader nave iiiehu' eon
nected with the expedition sent out against Tue
Indians. under the management OF tnat oiu ln-
dian trader. Major E. A. Z. Hatch, l have
deemed it matter of great interest to them to
give a short narration of the manner in which
Il was raised. the promises that were given,
and of the long and tedious march made
through the wilderness, without horses with
out forage, and without the proper amount of
clothing necessary to the warmth of the men,
through an average of from six to eight inches
of snow, over wild and barren country, inhab-
tied by wild beasts and still wilder men.
repetition of the events of the past year
need not be made in order to acquant the peO-
the savages who so mercilessly and so wantonly
laid waste the homes and tiresides of so many
of our well.to-do farmers and other citizens OF
the frontier. There already had been more
than one expedition sent out to quell the dis
turbances and if possible to make permanent
and lasting peace, but which had invariably
returned without accomplishing any of the de-
sired results. Matters had at last assumed such
fearful and alarming aspect that something
must be done before our whole State should
become infested with those beasts who are
worse than the locusts of old, and Maj. Hatch
was the only man deemed capable of bringing
about the desired result
Well he was called, ard the following prop
ositions were made to him, viz: that if he
would raise battalion of cavalry to proceed to
our frontier and put quietus to this Indian
war, he should have an Independent command
and everything necessary to the equipping OF
the same He acceded to these propositions
and commenced the work lie called for five
hundred French horses, knowing that they
were the only horses able to stand so long and
tedious a trip without the Necessary amount OF
forage required for other animals. How was
that call answered: In this way, and here was
the first deception: instead of five hundred
fine French horses which he was promised,
there came all the used-up horses of other reg
iments. that had all the diseases common to
them. and last but not least, they bore upon
them the small letter sc" insignificant OF it.
SELF but fun of meaning when put i'll the right
place. The Major felt the insult, and it stung
him to the quick but there he was i'll tight
corner out of which he knew not how to come
with honor to himself and friends. He began
TO see that he now was made the unwilling in
strument by which designing kmves would fill
their own pockets out of the necessities OF those
who had been induced by them to leave COM
Portable homes to face all the hardships and
dangers of soldiers life to protect the homes
and firesides of those 10y whom they were being
robbed.
Well. rs the old saying goes, he had to grin
and bear il" AS he knew of no way by which
he could get ont of it: So after being kept at
least a month longer than he wished-as he
desired to arrive at Pembina before snow fell
in order that he might get rs many horses
through as possible-he got started for Penn
bina on the first day of October in rather
shabby condition. Our first days march took
us TO within about two miles OF st. Anthony,
when we pitched our tents and prepared for
long STAY, as there were indications of more
knavery working against the Major; as all be-
gan to SET that he was determined to do some
thing to bring the Indian War to close, and
thus al. chances of filling their pockets with
the money coined by the blood OF their fellow
citizens would be lost, and he would win lasting
laurels for fighting for his country instead of
his own pockets.
After staying about week we again struck
tents and started upon the march-this time
with the determination to keep moving, the
Major thinking that if his was an independent
command he would manage the affairs himself.
But such had been his cOntiding nature that
he soon found himself caught in we'll
laid trap. and instead Of his being an " in
dependent" command, he was ordered
to report to Gen. Pope. This was the second
deception, which tended to increase his mOrti-
fcation and blight his hopes. NOtwithstand-
ing these difficulties, however. the Major, who
is a man of great nerve and determination,
kept pushing ON. Gas he had found out that the
military authorities and other men in high
places were determined that he should accom-
plish nothing ifthey would not get all the hon
orr meeting with all the troubles necessary to
a long and tedious march, until we arrived at
St. Cloud, where We again prepared for a
long stay to get good ready, as we would
after this, march through wild country
where we could get nothing that we might
need. Thus you can see the manner in which
the Battalion was raised, the promises thai
wer, made, by men who had never intended te
fulfill Them ahd the receptions, which have
but half noticed, that were played upon Maj
Hatch in his endeavors to devise some mean.
nv which the Indian war should be ended.
" EQUITY.
Mr. Rollins Resolution.