St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1863-03-12
LETTER FROM 11nUr. FnEEmAu.
Aors CAippesca Depredations-Four Seoundrel.
CHPtuved-ztial-Relea Nth ,rhol.some (!)
udricc & 81

threatened to kill his wife If she did no,
leave the premises, and on her refusing tt
do SO, took her by the hair, dragged he,
to the door, drew knife mcnacinely
across her throat, and threatened to scalp
her children. With her children she i'm.
mediately took refuge in Mr.. Martin
house, short distance off, who reported
the case to Headquarters here. A de.
tachment Of ten men Of Co. D, LIST Regt
NJ. NJ. r., under my command was prompt
ly dispatched to ascertain facts and par.
ticulars and do all in our power towards
arrestiog the parties implicated.
When l arrived at the premises, there
were no indications discovered of damage
to house or furniture, but Mr.. Burke as
surred US Of the truth of the alleged treat.
ment of lis wife, and also stated that
there were some 100 lbs. of pork missing
when they returned to the house.
BY circling the grounds about the
house, it was soon discovered that there
was strong evidence of four or more In
dams having approached the house from
piece OF timber on the South west side
and leaving on the North west, also of
their having entered the root house.
knowing, from the direction of this last
trail that it was impossible to follow it on
horseback, ordered back the horses
with three men to stop at Mr.. Adley's
house at Melrose, and taking three Of the
remaining number with me, rapidly fol-
lowed up the tr4il about two miles when
we came upon an Indian camping ground
Of the previous night, with FIRE still burn
ing and apparently not long deserted. l
then sent back for more of my men to
come up, and on their arrival hurried
along with them on the fresh trail through
tbicket, prairie and marsh, in snow at
lines up to our hips, with crust, INSULT
cicnt to bear us, for about eight miles,
when being in advance Of my party, l
worked my way through hazel thicket
in hollow, and suddenly came upon a
party Of four Chippewa Indians busily en-
gagged in preparing a camping place. Ow-
ing t. the dense growth surrounding the
spot and the preoccupation Of the Indians,
they were intensely surprised, when, by
the barking Of little dog, their attention
was called to the fact that I was but ten
PAGES FROM them with my rife at a
READY" and coolly surveying them.
With their peculiar erunts Of surprise,
the Indians sprang to their feet. One of
them motioned to their guns, which were
stuck up in the snow, aud all four march,
ed off short distance, halted and stood
facing inc. l quickly stepped between
them and the guns, directed one of my
men who had then come up, to discharge
the pieces, which being done, and others
of the detachment having arrived, we took
the Indians in custody, brought them in
to garrison and put them under good
guard. What will be done With them is
unknown. The parties aggrieved are ex-
pected here to give their testimony and
identify the Indians.
The course taken by these Indians is
rather singular aud suspicious to say the
least of it.
After leaving Burke's house, they struck
out North-westward about two miles, then
nearly due west eight miles to where they
were taken, but ir going to that point,
they had deyiated from direct course,
SO as to go close around, or enter each
house within sight Of them, though to do
so, sometimes took them mile or more
out oftheir way.
They allegc that they were going to
Lake George (near which they were cap
tured) to trap and hunt, but they had no
squaws usual appendages to hunting par
tics) with them. They also had left, far
behind them, good hunting ground in
their own country, and were then on Sioux
country, near too, to points where it is
suspected that Sioux are now prowling.-
One Of these Indians is said to be one OF
Hole-in-the-D Days head warriors.
They have by their conduct created
much alarm and just indignation among
the settlers, for they scarcely know what
to do.
l was surprised to find 50 many settle.
ments in tho country through which We
passed, and strange to say, not one inhab-