The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-05-12
PROTECTION OF fHR FRONTIER
Means Adopted to Prevent Incur.
sions Of Indians.
Who is Responsible for Lenisncy
to tho MurdererS. aF

Who is Responsible for Lenisncy
to tho Murderers. aF-
LETTER FROM GEN. sIRLRY.
Headquarters District OF Minnesota.
Department OF the Northwest,
Saint Paul, Nay 6, 1885.
TO the Editor Of tie Pioneer: aH .ass.
GENTLEARN-I have been requested to state
publicly the measures which have been adopt.
ed by the military authorities to defend the
frontier of this State against the incursions of
hostile Indians, with view of appeasing the
approximations of the settlers in the border
counties. .stt.r
It was represented to me that the line of
stations occupied by the troops last year did
not sufficiently cover the settlements made and
contemplated Lieut. Col. Pt@nder was in
structed therefore to take up q new line from
twenty to twenty. five miles further west, ex-
tending from Alexandria south to the Iowa
line, and the positions were indicated in my
instructions to him. Fourteen posts, inclu-
ing Alexandria, constitute the new line, some
of them fifteen or sixteen miles apart, but gen.
orally the interval Is from ten to twelve miles
between them. Detachments of fifteen or
twenty men are directed to be stationed at each,
mostly of cavalry, and daily communication
kept up along the whole line. Besides these,
Col Pfender was instructed to keep other caval-
~ parties in motion along the posts. north and
south of the Minnesota River, to detect the pas
sage Of Indians ut any point and follow their
trail, and to destroy utterly any raiders who
might be overtaken, taking no prisoners under
any circumstances.
II. A second line was directed to be formed,
extending from Fort Abercrombie to the James
river by the way Of Fort Wordsworth, to be held
by trusty scouts, in such force as to enable them
to intercept and destroy or drive back any war
parties who were on their way to the border.
The positions assigned to them are On the usual
approaches by way of the great water courses,
and the Coteau de Prairie to the Minnesota and
Iowa settlements, end If In full operation it
seems hardly possible that any number of Indi-
ans could penetrate through both of these lines
obedience without discovery. The same orders
to take no prisoners have been given to Major
Rose commanding Fort Wadsworth, under
whose command all the scouts are acting.
1t is true, notwithstanding the known vigil
lance and efficiency Of the two officers named,
that one or more small parties of savages have
made their way undiscovered through the
double lines, or have turned them by proceed
ing south, through western Iowa, and have
committed brutal murders. which no one can
deplore more deeply than lido. And it Is quite
possible that during the movements Of troops,
&c. to their new stations, these Indians may
have passed through between them without
detection; and I am frank TO confess, that not
withstanding every precaution, and the utmost
vigilance on the part of officers and men, small
parties may again succeed in the hazardous
undertaking Of reaching the settlements, and
perpetrating similar outrages to those already
committed. But would reasonably ask of
those who are ever ready to cayil at and find
fault with the management of affairs, to be
good enough to indicate better plan of de.
fence before they proceed farther in that direc-
ton. Every one that I know Of, at all &C
quainted with the subject and have consulted
with very many frontier men, has expressed
an unqualified approval of the arrangement
claim, therefore, that the military authorities
have done and are doing every thing praetiea-
BILE, to afford protection to our citizens, to the
extent of the means at their command.
And now, word to the dealers In periodical
panics, who unfortunately are found in mum.
bers along the border. If, instead of fleeing
in terror at the appearance of few Indians,
these men would seize their muskets and make
8 bold front, my word for II, in ninety-ni
cases out Of . hundred, they would be left un-
disturbed. few resolute men would suffice
to clear neighborhood of these providers, who
lie in wait to murder unresisting women and
children and unarmed or timid men, but who
are extremely loath to confront men determined
tofight. Kentucky, Ohio, and other Western
States, were not settled under the protection
of soldiers, but rather by men who depended
rifles -
The Government does not undertake to fun-
ish guard of armed men for every house and
lalL4 VI tuC AOusiCAs ouu C1u etdLc WlkuOut
any violation of official confidence, that it is
chiefly owing to my earnest request to my sa-
periors in command, that I have been permit
ted to employ 90 many troops for the local de-
fence of the State. and to guard the main ave.
nues of approach. Let the settlers organize in
small bodies, prompt to succor each 9TH
er when cause for alarm exists, and
will promise on my part as COM
mandant of the District that there shall
be no remissness or relaxation of effort on the
part of the military to secure them against at
tack.
Myself citizen of the State, and identified
with its interets, can give no better assurance
than is presented by that fact, of my intention
and desire to protect every man, woman and
child in the State against the attacks Of the
merciless savages, and will state In reply to
the charge of leniency towards these wretches
that if my influence or appeals could have been
of any avail, all of the fends concerned in the
outbreak of 1862 or in like outrages since that