rests were
promptly made by the guard. This had the effect of driving them all back
to their camps. Almost immediately afterward they struck their tents,
and removed to a distance of from two to four miles. This was looked
upon at the Agency as a war movement, and all possible defensive
preparations were at once made. Some of the women were sent away, guns
and pistols were loaded, field pieces and troops were placed in
position, and pickets were thrown out. Everything looked like war. Still
there had been no actual bloodshed. Through the mediation of Rev. Mr.
Riggs, who had long resided among them as a missionary, peaceful
counsels finally prevailed with the Indians. Thirty-six of the chiefs
met the Agent in council, smoked the pipe of peace, acknowledged their
offence, and expressed their sorrow and shame at its occurrence. Three
days afterward another council was held, in which they agreed to receive
certain rations, and promised to induce their people to move away until
the annuity money should arrive. The Agent, on his part, forgave their
trespass, and promised to send for them as soon as he should be prepared
to make their payment. So confident was he that the arrangement was
amicable and satisfactory, that he went soon afterward to St. Paul on
business, leaving his family at the Agency.

Things remained in this condition until Sunday, the 17th of August,
1862. On that day, four young Indians, belonging to Little Six's band,
went to the house of Mr. Jones, at Acton, Meeker county, Minnesota. As
they evinced an unfriendly disposition, Mr. Jones locked his house, and
with his wife, went to the house of Mr. Howard Baker, a near neighbor,
where he was followed by the Indians. They proposed to go out and shoot
at a mark, but after leaving the house, suddenly turned and fired upon
the party, mortally wounding Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Mr. Baker, and a Mr.
Webster. Mrs. Baker, with a young child, concealed herself in the cellar
and escaped. The Indians then returned to Jones' house, which they broke
into, killing a young woman who had been left there. This was the first
bloodshed of the war.

Up to this time there seems to have been no deliberate preparation, no
concerted arrangement for the outbreak against the whites. There was
excitement and discontent among the Indians on account of hunger, the
delay of their payment, and the real or supposed wrongs and frauds
committed by white traders and officials; but no organized host