The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-05-16

there was stipulated peace pact be,
tween Sioux and Ojibways, and both
tribes must have increased greatly in
numbers, In that year q few Ojibway
warriors were killed by the Sioux and
a tribal war was commenced which
was kept up for nearly one hundred
years. The Sioux at the commence.
ment of these wars between them and
the OjibwaYs occupied an empire OF
itself extending from the borders on
the north to Iowa on the south, and
from the St. Criox on the east to the
mountains on the west; they must have
numbered many thousands. lRadisson
says there were seven thousand at
Kathio when he visited them in 1859.
that there we're large settlements OF
them east, west, north and south.
There were large villages of them at
Rice lake, Garrison, Plat lake and all
along Rum and Snake rivers.
The Ojibways braves must have
congregated in swarms to dare attack
the great Sioux town of Kathio, al.
though they were armed with flint.
locks and must have accumulated a
large supply of powder and lead and
felt sure of success. They had to
make three or four days. march to
reach Kathio from Superior and to
give battle to numerous outlying
settlements before reaching Mile
Laos, which would naturally give
warning to the main settlement at
Kathio. What opposition they met
with we have no record to show, but
probably many Siouxs and Ojibways
were killed before the latter reached
KathiO.
The main settlement at Kathio was
located on high rolling ground with
commanding position to observe any,
thing going on in every direction, and
the numerous old remains of earth
works and mounds in all directions
show that if strong force lay behind
them, even with only bows and arrows
such as were used in killing buffalo,
they must have laid many an Ojibway
low before they penetrated their earth
works, and the Ojibways must have
numbered many thousands to have
succeeded in making such a clean
massacre as they did of the whole
three towns and settlements. But few
OF the Sioux apparently escaped.
The writer's residence occupies what
is supposed to be the main point they
attacked, comprises about ten acres
and is circled by long line of earth
works and mounds. Not knowing the
significance of these earthworks,
twenty years ago I plowed and scraped
many of them down, but enough re-
main to easily follow their course.
This ground must have witnessed one
OF the most fierce and bloody mas
sacres of savages that ever
took place on American soil, as
no doubt thousands fell before the
Sioux gave up their time hallowed
home The battle must have extended
from Cormorant point down to near
the outlet, distance of one and half
miles, and was an all day, battle, for
the Ojibways did not reach the
other side of the river until the next
day. A small island was then stu
ated at the outlet, a mere molehill, but
which was occupied by a few wig
vans. The account of the different
battles as related by the historians
runs as follows:
"Having made the customary prep
arations, and invoked the Great
Spirit to their aid, this large war
party which the old man had collected
left Fon du Lac and followed the trail
towards Mile Laos, which was then
considered the stronghold of their
enemies, and where the blood which
they went to revenge had been split
The Dakotahs occupied the lake in
two large villages, one being located
on Cormorant point and the other at
the outlet of the lake. A few miles be-
low this last village, they possessed
another considerable village on a
smaller lake, connected with Mile
Laos by portion of Rum river which
runs through it. These villages con-
sisted mostly of earthen wigwams
such as are still found to be in use
among the Arickar ees and other tribes
residing on the Upper Missouri The
vanguard of the Ojibways fell on the
Dakotahs at Cormorant point early in
the morning, and such was the extent
of the war party that before the rear
had arrived the battle at this point
had already ended by the almost total
determination of it's inhabitants, and a
small remnant only retired in their
canoes to the greater village located