Though suffering greatly, the capital and business center of Minnesota was by no means ruined.  The speculators departed, but the farmers and other working classes remained.  Business “touched bottom” and then slowly revived.  St. Paul existed through all the calamity, and its people soon learned the actual necessities of Minnesota.  While they mourn the departure of the “good times,” many of them express a belief that those happy days were injurious to the permanent prosperity of the State.

St. Paul is one of the few cities of the world whose foundation furnishes the material for their construction.  The limestone rock on which it is built is in layers of about a foot in thickness, and very easy to quarry.  The blocks require little dressing to fit them for use.  Though very soft at first, the stone soon hardens by exposure to the air, and forms a neat and durable wall.  In digging a cellar one will obtain more than sufficient stone for the walls of his house.

At the time of my visit the Indian expedition of 1863 had just returned, and was camped near Fort Snelling.  This expedition was sent out by General Pope, for the purpose of chastising the Sioux Indians.  It was under command of General Sibley, and accomplished a march of nearly six hundred miles.  As it lay in camp at Fort Snelling, the men and animals presented the finest appearance I had ever observed in an army just returned from a long campaign.

The Sioux massacres of 1862, and the campaign of General Pope in the autumn of that year, attracted much attention.  Nearly all the settlers in the valley of the Minnesota above Fort Snelling were killed or driven off.  Other localities suffered to a considerable extent.  The murders—­like nearly all murders of whites by the Indians—­were of the most atrocious character.  The history of those massacres is a chronicle of horrors rarely equaled during the present century.  Whole counties were made desolate, and the young State, just recovering from its financial misfortunes, received a severe blow to its prosperity.

Various causes were assigned for the outbreak of hostilities on the part of the Sioux Indians.  Very few residents of Minnesota, in view of the atrocities committed by the Indians, could speak calmly of the troubles.  All were agreed that there could be no peace and security until the white men were the undisputed possessors of the land.

Before the difficulties began, there was for some time a growing discontent on the part of the Indians, on account of repeated grievances.  Just previous to the outbreak, these Indians were summoned to one of the Government Agencies to receive their annuities.  These annuities had been promised them at a certain time, but were not forthcoming.  The agents, as I was informed, had the money (in coin) as it was sent from Washington, but were arranging to pay the Indians in Treasury notes and pocket the premium on the gold.  The Indians were kept waiting while the gold was being exchanged for greenbacks.  There was a delay in making this exchange, and the Indians were put off from day to day with promises instead of money.