Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-06-08
The indian TROUBLES

~ fO1 1SaAOoS VI q SSOOS III
the Days Of
1852
Narclsse Gravel, who was an active
participant in the defense of this re-.
gion in 1862, when there was fear
that the massacres in the southern
part of the state would be repeated in
the northern. is an inmate of the hos
pital in this city. An effort will be
made to secure for him the benefit of
the state pension given to those who
aided in 1862 N. Richardson, who
recently received q pension tor such
service, is preparing tue documents
for Mr.. Gravel and for VIM. Nichol-
son, and az both caves are very deserv.
ing, it is thought there will be no
difficulty 10 securing the pension.
From the affidavit made by Mr.. Ora.
vel we give the following, which will
give come idea of what was undergone
at the time:
Mr.. Gravel. now 68 years Of age,
has been resident of this state since
1857. The Indian troubles we're acute
between August 18th and Sept. 18th,
1862. At the time Mr.. Gravel and
family were residing in Crow Wing
village Opposite the mouth of the
Grow Wing river. The Indian agency
was located four miles up the river.
He was then In employ Of Major
Walker, the Indian agent Walker
was informed that the Sioux were
killing people in the southern part Of
the state, and that the head chief of
the Chippewas Hole. in the-D Day, had
collected IS warriors at Gull Lake,
about twelve miles from the agency,
and Walker wrote an order to the
commander at Fit. Ripley asking him
to send detachment Of soldiers TO
take the chief prisoner. Mr.. Gravel
took the order to the fort, arrived Sat.
urday st midnight. The commander
informed him that he had but "a men
fit for duty, but would send IL with
him. Arriving at Grow Wing Mr..
Gravel Eaw Hole.in. the. Day, and
pointed him out to the soldiers, who
tried to arrest him, but as he was a
swift runner he got to the river and
in a canoe to his home a mile up the
river on the west bank just as the
soldiers got t. the east bank. They
| fired at him across the river, and he
returned the FIRE with a Winchester
and disappeared in the woods. From
that time the chief was active and
hostile and sent runners to the bands
to get them together. He ordered
that the whites at Leech Lake be
killed, but the Indians there refused,
only taking the whites prisoners. At
one time there we're over sou warriors
campe1 III the vicinity Of Crow Wing.
with few to oppose them. During the
whole time Gravel was busy scouting,
carrying dispatches, or on guard at
Fit. Ripley. Gravel carried gun the
whole time. ALI the men possible
were induced to stay. and at one time
Gravel boarded four or five men and
many t1ansients. for which nothing
was ever received. The Indians TOOK
ten fat hogs and COW from him.
Without the help from the few whites
then In the country, the Indians
would nave ravaged the country.
There is little doubt but what Little
Crow and Hole.in. tbe-Day had an un-
derstandlng. In carrying dispatches
Gravel generally travelled at night,
and was shot at by Indians twice. he
had to swim the river on horseback
and got badly chilled, but got little
rest and pushed on. The privations
suffered weakened him, and be was
taken sick with rheumatism which he
never got over, although be mad been
very rugged man. While he was
able to do some work his constitution
was broken and at length his health
began to fail and about twenty years
ago his strength entirely left him.
Since that time he has not Keen able
to walk without clutches and moves
about with great difficulty, and is
confined to HE bed much CT the time
and unable TO GO any work. The dis
ability he received is permanent, and
under the circumstances Is entitled to
the pecsion.