The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-08
FROM THE BRITISH POSSESSIONS
Major Hatch Permitted to Cross
the Boundary Line in Pursuit
Of the Sioux,
Important Correspondence between
Governor Dallas and Major
Hatch.
COUNCIL OF ASslNIBoIA.

From the Fort Garry Nor'-Wester, March II.
A meeting of the Governor and Council
of Assiniboia was held on the 18th day of
March, 1864. Present-A G. Dallas,
Esq GovernOr-in- Chief of Rupert's Land,
President; W. Mactavish, Esq, Governor
of Assiniboia Rt. Rev. the Bishop of Ru-
pert's Land; Rt. Rev. the Bishop of St.
Boniface John Black, Recorder; William
Cowan, FRANCOIS Bruneau, Pascal Breland,
Solomon Amlin, r. Macbeath, Thomas
Sinclair, John Inkster, Macmillan Genton.
AMERICAN TROOPS PERMITTED TO CROSS THE
BOUNDARY LINE IN PURSUIT OF THE SIOUX.
Governor Dallas informed the Council
that his chief object in calling them to-
gether was to lay before them a cory of q
correspondence with Major Hatch, by
which they would observe that he had
granted permission to the American troops
to follow the Sioux across the boundary
line. Knowing that in doing so he had
acted in accordance with the repeatedly
expressed wishes of the people, who had
even proposed to invite the presence of the
American troops, he had not considered it
necessary to consult tho Council before
sending his reply to Major Hatch. But, as
the permission granted involved some re-
sponsibility, he wished the Council to share
the responsibility with him by confirming
his act.
The Council had no hesitation in COM
ing to the conclusion that the Governor in
his whole dealings with the Sioux, and
correspondence with the Americans, had
only done what was necessary for the gen.
eral welfare and safety of the Settlement,
and had therefore no hesitation in cor
tirming and approving the permission
granted to Major Hatch, which they knew
to be in accordance with the wishes of
the people.
A MESSAGE FROM TIE SIOUX.
The Governor further stated that he
had received q message from the main
body of the Sioux, on the Missouri, asking
his advice as to making peace with the
Americans and limiting at desire to visit
the Settlement in the spring. He had
returned an answer advising the Sioux to
make peace with the Americans, or to be
prepared for prosecution of the war with
renewed vigor next summer.
CORRESPONDENCE WITH MAJOR HATCH.
The following is the correspondence
with Major Hatch:
lCopy.I
LETTER FROM MAJOR HATCH TO GOV DALLAS
HEADQ'ES INDEPENDENT BATTALION No W
PEMEINA, D. T., March 4, 1864.
His Erceilency, A. G. Dallas, Governor of Prince
Rupe'ts Land, &C.. Fort Garry:
SIR have the honor to state that party
OF murderers, belonging to the Sioux tribe of
Indians, to avoid the just punishment of their
crimes, have fled from before the military
forces of the United States Government and
are now supposed to be temporarily located in
the vicinity of Poplar Point, on or near the
Assiniboine River.
The near approach of spring, and the danger
of scattering and re-enacting in part the bar
barous scenes of 1862 and So. urges me to
make every effort in my power to secure them.
L cannot, however take any steps which may
by any chance place soldiers under my com
mand in such position that they may appear
as trespassers upon British SOIL
Therefore. the locality of the forty -ninth par
allel never having been officially determined.
do not feel justified in moving in pursuit OF
these murderers towards the point where they
are now encamped, without the consent of your
EXcellency.
The great desire have to prevent the muir
der of innocent women and children upon our
frontier induces me to trouble your Excelen-
cy with the request that permission may be
granted me to pursue and capture these sava-
ges, with an armed force, wherever they may
be found
| have the honor, sc.
(SignedD f. A. C. HATCH.
Major Commanding.
(CnrY LETTER FROM GOV. DALLAS To MAJOR
HATCH.
Fort GARRY, RED RIvEEt
March Z 1864. !
MAJOR Hatch, I0aam0Dai00 r. s. IyDoDs ut