The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-01
The Situation Of Indian Affairs in
Minnesota.


to their progress by the citizens and SOL
diers of the State, we published an article
by which we endeavored to impress upon
the authorities having the matter in charge,
that the war was not over as had been
represented by General PORE. For this
we were severely criticised by the Press
and the commanding General. The ope-
rations of the Indians this spring have,
however, proved that all we said concern
ing the necessity of vigilant and vigorous
measures to infict punishment for past
outrages, and to secure indemnity for the
future, were true. The rolls of the hostile
Sioux, show that they number about Z 900
souls, of these about 1900 were captured
in the campaign Of last summer and fall,
and these have been held prisoners at Fort
Smelling and Mankato. The other 5000
have been at large on the plains, concoct-
ing plans for further depredations as soon
as the season would permit them to move.
The location of these 5000 savages during
the winter has been as follows:
Little Grow with party has frequented
the neighborhood of Long Lake, on the
Missouri, about 1875 or, so miles above Fort
Pierre and little Southwest of Devils
Lake. White Lodge, with another party
has been at Painted Wood, in the same
neighborhood. The balance have been at
Devils Lake, during the winter. Delega-
tions from these Indians have been fire.
quently to St. Joseph and Pembina, and
one party of seventy visited Fort Garry,
with the design of obtaining arms and am
munition from the British traders, but We
are happy to say that they were refused,
and the most sincere friendship and SYM
pathy was manifested by our British
neighbors for us in our troubles.
Without any intention of rejecting upon
the administration of affairs, we take the
liberty of suggesting that in our opinion,
a blow might have been struck during the
winter at the encampments at Devils
Lake, making St. Joseph, which lies eighty
miles to the Northeast, the base Of ope-
rations. which would have resulted in the
capture, OF disastrous rout of the whole
nest. We do not say this unadvisedly
Reliable information existed of their where
abouts as early as October last, and the
country about St. Joseph could have fur
nished ample forage for the expedition.
Had this been done, in our opinion, in
stead of warlike and defiant demonstra-
tons upon our frontier this spring, over
lures of peace, and equalization would
have been received before this.
In regard to the Importance which this
subject bears to the Development and flu
ture prosperity of our State, we have but
to refer to the Red River commerce be-
tween St. Paul and the British possessions.
In the last few years this trade has grown
into proportions not generally known by
our citizens. Immense amounts of goods
are annually transported over the line,
bonded under the reciprocity treaty be-
tween Great Britain and this country for
the Hudson Bay Company, and an amount
fully equal for the free traders along the
border-the whole carrying trade and a
large portion of the buying and selling &C
cruing to the people of this State. The
route in fact occupies the same relation to
Minnesota and the country Northwest that
the Erie canal does to New York and the
Western States. For the present this
route is practically closed, and unless pro-
lection is afforded will remain So
If we look in the direction of the South
western portion, we will find that from
New Ulm down the Minnesota to Blue
Earth, and up that river and its tributa-
ries to the north line of Iowa and the Mis-
souri, river, all the population not driven
off, is confined within stockades and mill
tary lines-agricultural pursuits substan-
TALLY at an end, and immigration ended.
Having presented the situation, and init
mated what might have been done, let us
see what has been, and is being done, by
way of remedy for these evils. Last fall,
not man could be found in the State who
was not in some way interested in the
presence of the Indians among us, that did
not insist upon the removal of them all be-
yond the limits of the State, and to such a
distance as would render the inhabitants
secure against their possible inroads, and
also upon the necessity Of the execution of
the 800 murderers who are confined
at Mankato. The winter has passed, and
the Chippewas are fastened upon us by
treaty at location practically the same as
they have previously occupied, and the
Sioux and Winnebagoes are to be remov-
ed to Fort Randall, point to the South
west of Mankato, on the Missouri, dis
lance only trihe greater from our settle
want, +bo, fbo rooopt rocorro4;.. c A. :,