The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-07-05

although on ceded lands, were really
in the very heart of the Indian coun-
try, and absolutely unprotected and
defenseless.
In August, 1856. I had received the
appointment of United States Indian
agent for the Sioux of the Mississippi,
the agencies of which Indians were on
the Minnesota river, at Redwood, and
on the Yellow Medicine river, few
miles from its mouth; but having been
oa the frontier for some time previous
to such appointment, I had become
quite familiar with the Sioux, and
knew in a general way of Ink-pa-du-
ta's band, it's habits and whereabouts.
In 1854 and 1855 they came to the
payments and demanded share of
the money of the Wak-pe-ku-te band,
and made a good deal of trouble, but
were forced to return to their haunts
on the Big Sioux and in the adjoining
country, without accomplishing their
purpose.
Early in March, 1857, these Indians
were hunting in the neighborhood of
the settlement on Rock river, and one
of them was bitten by a dog belong
ing to white man. The Indian kill
ed the dog. The owner of the dog
assaulted the Indian, and beat him
severely. The white men then went
in body to the camp of the Indians,
and disarmed them. The arms we're
either retutned to them, or they obtain
ed others, which, I never could with GER
tainty discover. They may have been
given back to them on condition that
they would leave, which theory seems
very probable, as they Immediately
came north toward Spirit Lake. They
must have arrived at the Spirit Lake
settlement about the 9th or 7th of
March. They proceeded at once to
massacre the settlers, and succeeded
in killing all the men there, together
with some women, and carrying off
four women, three Of whom were mar
ried and one single. Their names
were Mrs. Mobiles, Mrs. Thatcher, Mrs.
Marble and Miss Gardner. They
then came on north to the Springfield
settlement, where they killed every
body they found, including Mr.. Will
lam Wood. I regret very much that
I did not obtain from Mrs. Marble or
Miss Gardner, whom we afterwards
rescued, the names of the victims, as
/ fear no record was ever made of
them. I learned at the time, and so
reported to the government and news
papers, that the number killed was
about twenty, as near as could be
ascertained; but more accurate in
formation subsequently obtained, in
creased the number to forty-two,
which latter number, I am sure is
very near the truth.
The first information received of
this terrible affair was through the
efforts of a Mr.. Morris Markham, who
had been living in the family of Mr..
Gardner, at Spirit Lake, previous to
the massacre. He returned from an
absence of some time in Iowa, on the
9th of March and proceeded to his
former home. He found the house
sacked and three dead bodies lying in
it. He then visited two other houses
and found them deserted and plum
dered. He then secreted himself until
night, when he went to fourth house,
and saw six or eight lodges of Indians
'encamped near it. Taking it for
granted that these Indians had done
the mischief, he went at once to
Springfield and reported what he had
seen. Had not this news reached
Springfield before the arrival of the
Indians, the result would have been
more disastrous than it was. Some
Of the people fed, but Mr.. Wood and
others remained, and lost their lives
in consequence. It has always
been my opinion that, being in
the habit of trading with these
Indians occasionally, they did not be-
lieve that they stood in any danger;