The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-17

Medicine did not seem to be so blood
thirsty as the lower ones. "Other-Day, .
a full-blood Indian, gave the alarm, and
piloted party Of about sixty whites to a
place Of safety. The houses and churches
Of the missionaries were also burned.
Here much time was spent in counselling.
Little Grow was very anxious to move up
in body and place themselves under the
protection of the English at the Red River
settlement, but majority were against
him. In the meantime the attacks upon
New Ulm and Fort Ridgely had been
made, but their statements were so con-
flicting, and l was suffering from my
wounds so much, that took no pains to
ascertain the particulars one thing is GER
tain, however, that they did not lose so
many men as the whites have always sup
posed to have been killed. -.' p "
At New Ulm the Sioux were assisted by
some of the Winnebagoes, and the con-
duct of "Little Priest I" in that engage
ment was very highly spoken of by the
Sioux
"Little Priest " is the head chief Of the
Winnebagoes, and lost two of bis warriors
in that attack. Messengers were sent
from here to the Sissitons, Yanctons, Yank-
tonnais, and to the governor of Sekirk
Settlement, to inform them that they (the
Mede-wa-kan-toans and Wa-hpe-kwtes)
had declared war against the whites, and
praying for their assistance. They con-
sidered it almost certain that the western
tribes would join them, and they conf
IDENTIFY believed that the English would as
sist them. They say that many years
ago the English gave them small piece
of artillery, and named it "Da-ko-ta-chis-
ti-na," or Little Sioux, and promised
them that in case any difficulty should
arise between the Americans and them
selves, that they could look to them (the
English) for assistance. could not hear,
in any of my conversations with them,
anything that caused me to suspect that
secessionists had anything to do with it.
If the tribes on the Missouri have been
tempered with by secessionists, (Which
may have been the case,) this outbreak,
I think, was no part of the programme.
My friend refusing to take part in the
battles, Little Grow attributed it to my
influence over him, and began to threaten
to put me out of the way. was often
hidden in other lodges, or in holes in the
ground, when the warriors were seen COM
ing around our lodge. 'r
While encamped here, "Standing Buff
falo, the head chief of the Sissitons, came
down with about two hundred warriors,
and, in council with Little Crow, demand
ed the goods that had been taken from
the Agency buildings at Yellow Medicine
as his property. This demand Little Grow
refused to comply with, saying that as he
had done all the fighting he was entitled
to the plumber. Standing Buffalo then
refused to take any part in the war, and
threatened Little Grow or any of his peo-
pie with death if they came into his coun-
try for protection, in case they were de-
feated by the whites.
A favorable opportunity offering, the
friendly camp was formed and strongly
entrenched. COL Sibley was advancing
slowly, but surely, and the Indians de-
cided to give him battle at Yellow Med
icine. The battle of Wood Lake was
fought, and for the first time the In
dams were defeated. So great was their
confidence in being able to overpower
Colonel Sibley's forces, that great many
of them brought down their squaws and
wagons to take back the plumber. The
manner in which they made the attack on
our troops showed also that they were
confident of success Between 700 and
800 Indians attacked about twice their
own number in the open prairie and in
broad daylight. Such an attack was
probably never before heard of in Indian
warfare. They returned home down.
hearted and detected. Hastily holding
council, the resolved to continue their
flight northward, and if those in the
friendly camp were fools enough to give
themselves up to the whites they could do
So About 220 captives had been gath
cred into the friendly camp and delivered
up to Colonel Sibley upon the arrival of his
forces. t"
In regard to the treatment of the pris-
oners, for my own part | was constantly
with my friend, and received the best of
treatment from him and his wife. But the
female captives were, with very few ex-
ceptions, subjected to the most horrible
treatment In some cases woman would
be taken out into the woods and her per-
son violated by six, seven, and as many as
ten or twelve of these fiends at one time.
There was, 1 believe, but one captive
killed; that was boy who had in some
way offended his captor, who deliberately
shot him dead. t..
With the exception of being almost de-
voured by fleas and other vermin, which
always invest an Indian lodge, my situa-
ton was as comfortable as it could be un-
der the circumstances. Before leaving
the Indian camp my friend restored to me
my watch, ring, pin, and, in fact, every
thing l had about my person when l was
taken. .-.
Too much praise cannot be awarded to
Colonel Sibley, whose thorough knowl-
edge of Indian character has so success
fully enabled him to accomplish the objects
of the expedition. "r1
The rescue of his unfortunate country
men, who were held as captives by a
savage foe, was ever uppermost in his
thoughts, and though others may censure
him for not coming up to their expecta-
tons, we who have been rescued will ever
hold the name of Henry Il. Sibley dear in
our heart. ,.d GEORGE FL. SPENCER, JR.
! The Boston Courier, thus makes a