| OCR Text |
Show 18 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOXER OF INDIAN PFFAIR8. leading to the agency. Soou after arriving at Orow wing next morning, more than double the number of Indians that it had been agreed should visit tho .council ground were seen coming very slowly down the bank of the ;river, in I order, as it afterwards appeared, that some two hundred' of their number, who had crossed the river above, might come around throng11 the brush, and thus surround us. When it was discovered that t h entire body of Indians were thus posted, and that they were all armed and painted for war, it became evident that Hole-in-the-day was acting treacherously. The Indians had takenpossession of the road leading into the towu, and had made prisoners of two citizens. Hole-in- the-day now approached the council ground, with about eighty of his followers. Of course no good results could be expected from a council held under these threatening circUmstances; but to gain time I resolved to proceed. Captain Libby's company, which was stationed at this point, was cautiously put under axms. The citizens of the town and other whites in attendance were on the alert and well armed. If the council could be prolonged until the middle of the after-noon, troops would arrive from the fort, (for which we sent a messenger in dis-guise through the Indian lines,) and we would thus be able to make a fair show for succesiful resistance, in case of an attack. I first demanded of Hole-in-the-day the release of the prisoners, the opening of the road, and that he should withdraw his warriors from the brush surrounding the town. After considerable parley, he consented to the release of the prisoners, and that citizens, and none others, might pass along the road. We then proceeded with the council, but arrived at no satisfactory result. Hole-in-the-day made no charges against the goeernment or its agents. He complained that troops had been sent against him, that he had been fired upon, and stated that for this reason his people. had taken arms. During the council he was insolent, defiant, and disrespectful. At its close he stated that it would require several days to settle the difficulty; and thereupon it was agreed that we should again meet for council on the following day. The Indians were then withdrawn from around us, and we returned to the fort, meeting our re-enforcements on the way. It is perhaps fortunate that %hey did not arrive before the conclusion of the council. Being satisfied that the troops at my disposal were not sufficient to guard the fort, the agency, and settlements, should hostilities commence, a messenger waa at once sent to Governor Ramsey, with a statement of bur proceedings and a request for additional forces. The next day-having meantime taken the pre-caution to guard against being again surrounded-we repaired to Crow Wing, according to agreement. A nlessenger that I had that morning sent to the agency was seized on his return by the Indians, robbed of his horse, and com-pelled to return on foot. I also learned that the Indians still held as prisoner the wife of one of the government employds. I then seita note to Hole-in-the-diY, demanding the ,release of the prisoner and the return of the horse previous to the liolding of any filrther communications. This demand was peremptorily, refused. After another unsuccessful effort to procure a council, we returned to the fort. That day I learned, as I. have reason to believe by the procurement |
