The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-05-27
Indian Troubles in Northern Iowa.

By the politeness of Mr. WISE, of the Man
kato Record, we are in the receipt of the fol-
lowing slip from his paper which contains
more of the details of the Indian outbreak in
Northern Iowa than appeared in the account
we published on Sunday:
From Mr.. Palmer citizen of Jackson
county, Minnesota, we have obtained the fol-
lowing particulars of fight between two SOL
diers and eight or ten Indians, near Peterson,
Clay county, Iowa. Company I, 9th Iowa
headquarters at Esterville. Small squads of
this company are stationed at Spirit Lake, Pc
terson and Cherokee.
On Sunday last, Sergeant WhitlOck and pri-
vate Mckinley, of the garrison at Peterson,
were out on a scouting expedition, and when
returning, within two miles of Peterson, they
were confronted by an Indian, who fired at
Whitlock, the ball grazing his forehead. Sew
en- others then stepped out and fired, frighten-
ing his horse, which threw him. One large
Indian in advance of the others attacked w.
with knife, stabbing him in the back and in
the left arm. w. clinched with the Indian,
took the knife from him and killed him. By
this time Whitlock got his revolver out, with
which he shot another Indian, finishing him
without the knife.
A third Indian had attacked Whitlock, and
was about striking him over the head with q
gun or club, when McKinly, who had gone in
pursuit of the sergeant'S horse, returned and
shot the Indian, killing him. The others made
their escape Mckinley then placed w. on his
horse and rode in the direction of the post,
but he was SO much exhausted from loss of
blood and over-exertion, that he tainted when
within several hundred yards of the garrison
His comrades, however, carried him in, and
dressed his wounds, which are considered dan
gerOus. On Monday the sergeant was better
On Sunday, after the fight, two soldiers and
two citizens went out to the place where the
fight occurred, and they saw four Indians, who
Immediately scattered for the timber, into
which the whites did not consider it safe to
follow them.
Sergeant WhitlOck is represented as a pow
erful man, and of great personal courage as
manifested.
Peterson, in the vicinity of which the above
fight occurred, is in Clay county, about forty
five miles west of south from Spirit Lake,
which latter point is from 80 to 100 miles from
Mankato.
Brackets Battalion arrived at Spirit Lake,
the day the fight occurred, and camped the
same night about five miles south of the lake.
Its course was in the direction of Peterson, and
it was en- route for that place on Monday,
where the intelligence first reached it. We
doubt not that the Major sent detachment
forward, arriving at Peterson before troops
from Spirit Lake could reach there.
We understand that there were about ten or
twelve families in Jackson county, Minnesota,
sixteen miles north of Spirit Lake. at the time
of the fight, who repaired to Spirit Lake for
protection. These people have been at Jack
son for some time, where they have been en-.
gagged in farming. They certainly deserve pro-
lection, and we hope that such action will be
taken by the military authorities as will enable
them to return to their homes
Reports have reached here of the killing OF
a boy about five miles beeond Madelia. Three
Indians were seen. Col. Pfander has sent for
ward detachment Of cavalry.
We have also rumOr that soldier was
killed on the Cottonwood, though not general
ly credited.