Old Fort Snelling

that no cause could be ascribed for the hostility, each encounter was in itself both the result of preceding conflicts and the excuse for further warfare. Pierre Esprit de Radisson, who

g hospitality in order to have an opportunity for treachery were the military tactics of the Sioux and Chippewa warriors. To prevent such warfare, a mil

oute so difficult that the Chippewas did not make the journey to consult that agent. On the other hand, Fort Snelling was so close, and the Mississippi such a natural outlet from th

, but on May 24th the steamboat Pilot landed him safely at Fort Snelling. To welcome their Father home, and perchance to see if he had any presents or promises for them, a large number of Sioux came from their villages to the fort, as was usual on such occasions. The agent took the opportunity presented by the presence of both Sioux and Chippewas to deliberate

ouse on the flats that border the Minnesota River. The guns of the fort could easily have been trained upon the spot. There was feasting and friendly revelry at the lodge that afternoon and eve

tants of the tepee. There was instant confusion. With a shout of triumph the Sioux ran off. The sentinel on the hill above heard the shots and cries and called for the guard. In a few moments there was at the gat

e Chippewas, complained of the lack of protection: Father: You know that two Summers ago we attended a Great Council at Prairie du Chien, when by the advice of Our White Friends, we made Peace with the Sioux-We were then told, that the Americans would Guarantee our

to march against them with two companies. Upon his appearance they fled, but he followed and was successful in capturing some of them. Nine Sioux-one of whom Major Taliaferro r

ight of blood, become almost fiends, tear off the reeking scalps and hand them to the chief, who hangs them around his neck. Women and children with tomahawks and knives cut deep gashes in the poor dead bodies, and scooping up the hot blood with their hands, eagerly drink it; then, grown frantic, they dance, and yell, and sing t

, had been the principal men in the affair. If the Chippewas did not shoot them, they said, they would

The other, called the Split Upper Lip, was well known as a thief, and was as much detested as his companion was respected. He cried and begged for his life, saying that his gun had missed fire-he had killed no one. The other calml

s falling companion. With new hope he leaped forward. There was a shout of triumph from a group of Sioux hidden in the bushes; and the children of the fort, who had climbed upon the buildings to view the bloody scene from afar, clapped their hands. But the Chippewas were cool in their vengean

g on a visit. That spring there had been a treacherous massacre by Hole-in-the-Day at a Sioux camp. It was true, as he said in the poetic simplicity of Indian style: You See I cannot keep my face Clean-as fast as it is Washed-I am C

had hurried to the scene. Just as he arrived the Sioux fired upon their enemies, killing one outright and wounding another in the knee. All but one of the Chippewas had laid aside their guns, thinking that they were upon neutr

n agent called together the chiefs of the neighboring villages. There was a long council until Major Plympton bro

. Much ceremony attended the proceedings as the Indian mother led her sons to the officers saying: Of seven sons three only are left; one of them is wounded, and soon will die, and if the two now given up are shot, my

re turned over to their own people to be flogged in the presence of the officers. More humiliating than death was their punishment. Their blankets,

At the same time Sioux numbering eight hundred and seventy were encamped near the agency. This was considered an opportune time to conclude a peace, and so the long calumet with its mixture of tobacco and bark of the willow tree was smoked while friendly athletic contests were held on the prairie. On July 1st the two parties of Chippewas started for home. But in one of the bands were the two sons of the man who had been murdered the year before. In the evening before begin

arting Chippewas. The old men, the women, and the children remained at home, eagerly awaiting the result of the coming battle

as he was praying at his altar for the prosperity of his country he was startled by the shrill notes of the Sioux death-song, and gazing through the window saw a bloody throng, dancing about the long poles from which dangled scalps with parts of the skulls still attached. Two terrible struggles had taken place the day before.

t is argued, whither both parties resorted only to become involved in altercations and disputes which resulted in a flaring-up of old flames.332 But it must be remembered that the murders away from the

ent, whose success depended upon the continuation of peace, noted with pleasure these friendly gatherings. The Crane and the Hole in the Day-and other Chippeways at the Agency this day-Several Sissiton Sioux also at the Agency.335 These visits were often protracted for several weeks wit

r deceased friends-The old people among you ought to know this-after the long wars between you.338 Most of the encounters took place either when the warriors were emboldened by liquor, or when the rival hunting parties met on the plains. The strict

grounds of the Chippeways. Eight days later record is made of the fact that the Rum River Chippeways left for their camp this morning-Sent word to their people to hunt on their own Lands & not by any Means to intrude upon the Soil of the Sioux. When the inte

e for murder and depredations-claiming that the other party was the trespasser. When Schoolcraft met the chiefs of the Chippewas in council at Leech Lake in 1832, the latter complained that the provisions of the treaty had not been carried out. The words of the Long-knives have passed

ncy, commenced the survey.346 Later an escort of troops from Fort Snelling was sent him under the command of Lieutenant William Storer, with the result that the reduced garrison was unable to enforce order.347 Whe

e peace conferences were fostered in order to put the seal of the authority of the government upon the transactions. During the winter of 1831 truces were made between several of the bands through the efforts of Agent Taliaferro.350 On August 2, 1843, a g

in readiness. When word was sent to the Sioux that all things were ready, they approached, about three hundred strong, on horseback, all armed and painted, their whoops mingling with the jingling of their arms, ornaments, and the bells of their horses. Making a feint a

peal to a red-blooded officer like Colonel Snelling, who wrote after the trouble in 1827: I have no hesitation in Saying that the Military on this frontier are useless for wa

sion Little Crow's band performed the scalp dance near Fort Snelling in commemoration of the murder of two Chippewas, while the murderers themselves languished in the fort.356 Probably this method of dealing wit

th of June, 1823, a small quarrel almost precipitated a general conflict on the sixth. Much to the chagrin of the Italian traveller, J. C. Beltrami, who was then a guest at the fort, the officers were successful in preventing bloodshed. Everything conspired against my poor notes,

59 Man-of-the-sky, who was chief of the Lake Calhoun band of Sioux, boasted that although he was only twenty-five years old at the time, he had already killed six Chippewas when Fort Snelling was erected, and added: Had it not been for that I should have killed ma

hese struggles. From January 1833 up to this day, wrote Taliaferro, there has been no difficulty between the Sioux and Chippeways-I once kept these tribes at peace for two years and Six Months lacking 15 days. And