military honors, and the wounded properly cared for. This event
adds one more to the long list of fatal errors committed by our military
forces in dealing with the Indians of the Northwest. They should never
be attacked without a force sufficient to demonstrate the superiority of
the whites in all cases and under all circumstances. Many a valuable
life has been thus unnecessarily lost.

Major Wilkinson, who lost his life in this encounter, was a man who had
earned an enviable record in the army, and was much beloved by his many
friends and acquaintances in Minnesota.

The principal Indian engaged in this fight has been called, in every
newspaper and other reports of it, Bug-a-ma-ge-shig; but I have
succeeded in obtaining his real name from the highest authority. The
name, Pug-on-a-ke-shig, is the Chippewa for "Hole-in-the-day."

Shortly after the return of the troops to Fort Snelling the settlers
about Cass and Leech lakes became uneasy, and deluged the governor with
telegrams for protection. The national guard or state troops had nearly
all been mustered into the United States service for duty in the war
with Spain, but the Fourteenth Regiment was in St. Paul, awaiting muster
out, and the governor telegraphed to the war department at Washington to
send enough of them to the front to quiet the fears of the settlers.
This was declined, and the governor at once ordered out two batteries of
artillery, all the state troops that were available, and sent them to
the scene of the troubles, and then sent his celebrated telegram to the
war department, which may be called the "Minnesota Declaration of
Independence." It ran as follows:

"Oct. 8, 1898.
"_H. C. Corbin, Adjutant General, Washington, D. C.:_

"No one claims that reinforcements are needed at Walker. I have
not been asked for assistance from that quarter. Although I do
not think General Bacon has won the victory he claims, other
people do not say so. The Indians claim to have won, and that is
my opinion. The people all along the Fosston branch of railroad
are very much alarmed, and asking for protection, which I have
asked of the war department. The soldiers are here, and ready
and willing to go, but as you have revoked your order of
yesterday, you can do what you like with your soldiers. The
State of Minnesota will try to get along without any assistance
from the war department in the future.

"D. M.