Saturday, January 18, 2014

Major General John Pope to Major General Henry W. Halleck, October 9, 1862

SAINT PAUL, MINN.,
October 9, 186210.45 p.m.

 Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

The Sioux war may be considered at an end. We have about 1,500 prisoners – men, women, and children – and many are coming every day to deliver themselves up. Many are being tried by military commission for being connected in the late horrible outrages, and will be executed. I have disarmed all, and will bring them down to Fort Snelling until the Government shall decide what to do with them. I have seized and am trying a number of Winnebagoes who were engaged with the Sioux.

The cavalry forces march immediately for the Yankton village, and will arrest the perpetrators of the murders at Spirit Lake. Posts must be kept up all along the frontier this winter to induce the settlers to go back. They are already returning in large numbers. It will in all views be advisable in the spring to make strong military demonstrations on the plains. The Indians are greatly terrified. I have destroyed all the fields and property of the Sioux. An expedition must be made to Red Lake as soon as possible. I am sending one into the Chippewa country.

 JNO. POPE,
Major-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 13 (Serial No. 19), p. 722

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