The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-15

nelghbOrh0od, was nearly as quiet but not as
clean as in the old days before the volunteers
had possession of it. Col. McLaren remains
commander of the post, and appears to succeed
well in the duties of the position.
Everybody that goes to the Fort wants to
peep into the guard-house. epresume none
of our temperance correspondents from among
the soldiers we're in there, and so pass by the
old guard-house appropriated to the soldiers,
and visited the wooden building next to it,
where are confined the
INDIAN PRISONERS.
The party confined here at the Fort num-
bers twenty-three, including eighteen braves
brought down from Pembina last week, who
surrendered themselves to Major Hatch. It
would hardly be interesting to give their
names, a. none of them have name or fame
beyond their own tribe, though three or four
were intelligent looking and fine specimens
of bone and muscle. Very few of them were
entirely clean, and the room being poorly ven-
tilated, our visit to the braves was brief
one.
THE HOSPITALS.
The Hospitals are, on account of the large
number of men at the Fort, nearer full than
In past times, but the medical attendance is
ample. We were informed that few cases
Of small pox had occurred among the new re-
cruits, but every precaution had been taken
against its spread, and as the grounds are
cleaned and sanitary regulations recommended
by the Surgeon in charge are strictly enforced,
the general health of the troops at the post will
remain good. The chief difficulty in the way
of general cleanliness is the continual changing
of detachments, some coming and others going
each day, but we judge by appearances that
Col. McLaren has made considerable improve
ment in this respect since last winter, and has,
probably, had all done that the crowded con-
dition of the barracks permitted.
THE sQUAws AND PAPPOOsEs
About half mile from the Fort in a smaller
"pen," the tepees of the Indian prisoners are
Gently sent down from Major Hatch's COM
mand at Pembina, are securely guarded by
Capt. Paine's Company, D, of the I'd cavalry.
which we found under command of Lieut..
Smith. The squaws number, perhaps, twenty.
Among these. the palm of beauty is awarded
to young squaw, said to have been one of the
latest additions to the harem of Little Grow.
There are none extremely hag-leoking among
these squaws, though even the beauty wouldn't
make popular model for statue of Pocahon-
tas. The children and papp0oses number
about forty and enjoy themselves just about the
We
strained children would do. The women stay
closely within the tepees, which are the re-
mains Of the old tents the Indians had, prob
ably from the Government, before the Indian
war. They are not well clothed, but yet as
well as the generality Of Indian women who
have not the aid of the whites. They are as
closely guarded as the circumstances seem to
require. some intercourse being allowed with
the friendly Indian and half-breed women who
come to see them from Mendoza and the neigh
b0rhOod, and visitors at the Fort occasionally
being allowed to 30 within the enclosure, to
see how Indians look in their tepees. One Of
the youngest and best looking squaws has al
ready added a new petticoat and shawl to her
limited neutrality-suspicious. al offering from
some white brave who has been smitten by her
dusky charms, or, maybe, contribution from
some old acquaintance among the visitors, but
mystery to the guard. Most of the women
were engaged in sewing and bead work.
THE suTLKR's BEER.
Colonel McLaren being absent, we were i'll
formed by an officer of the command that the
Suffers privilege to sell beer is not granted by
Col. McIaren, but comes from higher author
ity; that the drunkenness which had been no.
ticed around the post was, in the opinion of
our informant, mostly caused by liquor surrep-
titiously introduced by officers, soldiers and
citizens and that Col. McLaren had promptly
suppressed selling of liquor within the lines of
his command. or in the neighborhood, when i.
came to his knowledge.