The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-05-01
The First Boat of the Indian tHA.
!, pedition--ThesT Trip up the Minne-
sofa Rivcr..lncidents Of the voyage
= ..LOcatiOn of the CamP,:&c.s &C. H.

Alex. Hutchinson, which, as your readers
are aware. has been heightened and re-
painted. measuring one hundred and eighty
five fleet, with tonnage of about three
hundred and fifty. We had on board
large supply of commissary and quarter
master goods, and arrived at Fort Smelling
soon after dark. Here we took on board
one company, one cannon, one mule team,
and considerable amoant of ordnance
stores. The commanding officer of the
expedition, Major McLaren, of the Sixth
regiment, also came on board at this place,
and here commenced some of those Incl
dents so.peculiar to an expedition of this
character. 5 ;sass
Something overboard!" exclaimed the
teamster; and, sure enough, the doctors
horse, which had become fractions, took it
into his head to kick up his heels, and
somebody supposing said horse intended
something serious at his brains, struck said
horse on the back, and SO said horse con-
celved the idea of going overheard and
overheard he went. As matter of course
all was excitement on board, although
littlesattention was paid to the poor brute,
which pulled and Wheeled as it swan,
first to the stern and then to the bow of
the boat, and finally struck out in double
quick for the opposite shore. Amid the
darkness of the night, and the confusion
on the boat, it was impossible to ascertain
if the animal was drowned, but the sup
position is that he gained the shore, and is
now grazing upon the newl y-appearing
grass. II shall never forget the look of
utter desolation which sat upon the coun-
tenance of the teamster as he announced
to the quartermaster of the post, that the
DOCTOR horse was gone, sure as pop, and
that it was absolutely necessary to procure
a boat to save him. The loud laugh OF
the quartermaster brought consciousness
into the brain of the frightened man, and
he exhibited great relief when it was an
nounced that probably the horse was safe.
We were soon underway, and that night
all was quiet on board. AT every town
where we stopped we found considerable
excitement Capt. Hutchinson took on
two more companies, (which, with two
hundred tons of freight, gave the steamer
about all she could manage. The second
night thesboys got into the whiskey. y
guard was placed over it, much to their
chagrin, but the commissary found that
about as much whisky was missing with
the guard as without.
At LIE Sueur we met Lieutenant Colonel
Jennison. His men were all in good trim
and ready for fight; SO, too, at st. Peter,
MankatO, and other towns on the river
The lowness of the water and the length
of the boat retarded our progress, but
with a careful captain and an excellent
pilot! Capt. Lucky, of your city, we work.
eds our way up from Mankato towards
Fort Ridgley. We heard of Indians on
the route :; the men are all ready to meet
them, but nary Indian made his appear
ance. The trip from Mankato to New
Ulm was quite tedious.
New Ulm shows the effect of Indian bar
barities. Here the soldiers discovered a
dog which had been in the Birch Coolie
fight, and was wounded twice. 1t was a
common dog, but the appearance OF the
brute drew forth shouts Of joy from those
who had taken part in that battle, and a
rush was made for the animal. The owner
drove him back. and for this act he came
very near losing his head The dog made
tracks; the boys swore at the owner; the
bell rung, the whistle sounded, and in a
gify, we were putting once again up the
river. I have no time only to say that
New Ulm is beautiful location, and that
100 houses were destroyed by the red
devils at this place. Information has been
received that a Sioux Indian had been
seen and schased, and, as matter of
course, Emuch excitement was the conse-
quence. 'ta o.a
The Germans are throwing up earth
works here in order to be able to meet
the Indians when they come. A wise
precaution. We found q company sta
toned at town called Milford. There
thirty eight whites were killed. No It'd
ings of Indians Made Fort Ridgley Just
at night. Found everything in good Or
der, and was Hospitality received and en-
tertained Left in the morning, but not
until Major McLaren had news that some
of our men had been attacked fifty miles
south of Mankato. That morning it was
a scene of excitement on the boat, Am.
munition was issued Guns were over.
hauled. Men excited. Indians Tin i'm.
agination) were seen in a thousand direc.
tons. On the approach of night every
man was ordered to sleep upon his arms,