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Post by mdenney on Oct 9, 2007 1:29:01 GMT -5
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Just at this point, Capt. Dodd, of St. Peter, and some one else whose name I do not know, charged down the street, to ascertain (I have since learned,) whether some horsemen seen in the extreme lower town, were not our friends coming in, and were met about three blocks down with a heavy volley from behind a house, five bullets passing through Capt. Dodd, and several through his horse. They both turned, and the Captain got in sufficiently near to be received by his friends before he fell. He died about five hours after being hit. Too much cannot be said of his personal bravery, and general desire to perform his duty man fully.
Capt Saunders, of the Le Sueur company, was shot through a part of his body shortly after, and retired, placing his rifle in effective hands, and encouraging the men. The fight was going on all around the town, during the whole forenoon and part of the afternoon, sometimes with slight advantage to us, and again to the Indians, but the difficulty that stared us in the face, was the gradual but certain approach, up the main street, behind the burning buildings, which prom ised our destruction. We frequently sallied out and took buildings in advance, but the risk of being, picked off from the bluff, was unequal to the advan tage gained, and the duty was performed with some reluctance by the men. In the lower part of the town I had some of the best men in the State, both as shots and for coolness and determination. It will be suffi cient to name two as types of a class of the fighting
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men Asa White and Newell Houghton, known to all old settlers. They did very effective service in checking the advance, both by their unerring rifles and the good examples their steadiness placed before the younger men.
We discovered a concentration of Indians on the side of the street towards the river, and at the rear of the buildings, and expected a rush upon the town from that position, the result of which I feared more than anything else, as the boys had proved unequal to it in the morning ; and we were not disappointed, for in a few moments they came, on ponies and on foot, furi ously, about sixty in number, charging round the point of a little grove of oaks. This was the critical point of the day, but four or five hours under fire had brought the boys up to the fighting temperature, and they stood firmly, and advanced with a cheer, routing the rascals like sheep. They received us with a very hot fire, killing Houghton, and an elderly gentleman, whose name I did not know. As they fled in a crowd at very short range, we gave them a volley that was very effectual, and settled the fortunes of the day in our favor, for they did not dare try it over. I think, after once repulsing them in a fair fight, we could have successfully resisted them, had they returned a second time, as the necessary confidence had been gained.
White men fight under great disadvantage the first time they engage Indians. There is something so fiendish in their yells, and terrifying in their appear ance when in battle, that it takes a good deal of time
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to overcome the unpleasant sensation that it inspires. Then there is a snake-like stealth in all their move ments that excites distrust and uncertainty, which un- steadies the nerves at first.
After this repulse, the battle raged until dark, with out sufficient advantage on one side or the other to merit mention in detail, when the savages drew off, firing only an occasional shot from under close cover.
After dark, we decreased the extent of our lines of barricades, and I deemed it prudent to order all the buildings outside to be burned, in order to prevent their having come from behind which, to annoy us. We were compelled to consume about forty valuable buildings, but as it was a military necessity, the inhab itants did not demur, but themselves applied the torch cheerfully. In a short time we had a fair field before us, of open prairie, with the exception of a large square brick building, which we held, and had loopholed in all the stories on all sides, which commanded a long portion of our front towards the bluff. We also dug a system of rifle pits on that front, outside the bar ricades, about four rods apart, which completed our defenses.
That night we slept very little, every man being at the barricades all night, each third man being allowed to sleep at intervals.
In the morning, the attack was renewed, but not with much vigor, and subsided about noon.
Daring the day, a body of men appeared in the lower town, and turned out to be a detachment of one
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f
hundred and fifty volunteers from Nicollet and Sibley counties, under Capt. E. St. Ju]ien Cox, which had been forwarded to our relief by Col. Sibley. They had about fifty Austrian rifles, and the rest were armed with shot guns and hunting rifles. Their appearance inspired us with gladness, as things were becoming doubtful
I held a council of the officers, and we determined to attempt an evacuation of the town, carrying off all the inhabitants, women, children, sick and wounded, to the number of about two thousand. This move ment was a very perilous x>ne to undertake, with the force at our command, but the confined state of the town was rapidly producing disease among the women and children, who were huddled up in cellars and close rooms, like sheep in a cattle car, and we were fast becoming short of ammunition and provisions. I feared the result of another attack by a larger force, and all the people decided that they would abandon the town the first opportunity, as residence there was impossible under the circumstances.
At daylight next morning the barricades were bro ken, and the wagons taken out and put in motion. The scene was one of indescribable confusion and de struction. The poor people, naturally desirous of car rying off all they could, filled their wagons with boxes and baggage, to the exclusion (as we found before the train was complete,) of many of the women and wounded. I was, therefore, compelled to order all ar ticles of a bulky nature to be tumbled out, and their
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places supplied by more valuable freight It was hard, but necessary, and the inhabitants yielded with less reluctance than I had anticipated.
About nine o'clock A. M., we moved with one hun dred and fifty-three wagon loads of women, children, sick and wounded, and a large company on foot. Lieutenant Cox took the general disposition of the escort, and the various commands were posted so as best to protect the whole in case of attack. It was a melancholy spectacle to see two thousand people, who a few days before had been prosperous and happy, re duced to utter beggary, starting upon a journey of thirty miles, through a hostile country, every inch of which we expected to be called upon to defend from an attack, the issue of which was life or horrid butch ery. Beggary, starvation, and probable destruction were at one end of the road ; a doubtful escape from the latter at the other. We took the latter alterna tive, and, under Providence, got through.
During the battle, we lost, as near as I can ascertain, about ten killed and fifty wounded. I can give you no accurate detail of either, as the casualties occurred among citizens, soldiers, and strangers. The physi cians, of whom, fortunately, we had a good supply, ' may have kept some hospital lists, but I have been too much occupied to ascertain. I was satisfied to know the wounded were well cared for, without knowing who they were.
I was seconded, ably and bravely, by all the officers and most of the men of the companies, and many citi-
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zens from different parts of the State, and strangers who were present, so uniform was their good conduct, and valuable their services, that one could not be men tioned without naming all. There were several cases of abandonment immediately preceding the attack, which, if designed to evade the struggle, were dis graceful in the extreme, and unworthy of Americans. But as they may have arisen from other causes, I will not report the names of the parties.
Many narrow escapes occurred during the protracted fight Several persons were shot through the hat One young man received three bullets through the pantaloons in rapid succession, without being hurt in the least
We did not burn the town on leaving, thinking pos sibly that the Indians might not return and destroy it, and not deeming it much of a defense for them, should they occupy it on our return.
It was my design that the country between New Ulm and Mankato, should be immediately reoccupied by our troops, and the ground temporarily lost by our withdrawal, regained at once by fresh troops, well equipped and capable of remaining on the field, and I looked for material of that sort for the business on my arrival ; but not a soldier from the regular service, ex cept Captain Dane, with one hundred horses, has yet reached that part of the country, which is at this mo ment utterly defenseless, except so far as he is capable of holding it The citizen volunteers that went to the assistance of New Ulm, disbanded pretty generally on
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their return, being barefooted, overworked, and re quired at their homes.
I wish your Excellency would turn the tide of sol diers flowing into the valley, to the Blue Earth region, from which the whole southern portion of the State can be protected, and efficient co-operation afforded the column advancing upon the north side of the Min nesota.
Hoping my operations meet your approval, I am Truly your obedient servant,
CHAELES E. FLANDEAU, Commanding West of the Minnesota.
CHAPTER XVII.
THE MISSION 1*ARTY.
Dr. Williamson, unwilling to believe there was any thing but a "scare," and yet fearing all things, sent away from Yellow Medicine, on Tuesday morning, the younger members of his family, while, with his wife and sister, he remained, to see whereunto the trouble would grow. For thirty years he had labored among this people had a perfect knowledge of their lan guage, and his soul was wholly engrossed for their good, both temporally and spiritually in short, had been, as the others, a faithful, self-sacrificing missionary. This was the work to which he had devoted his life. His influence over them, was, under some circum stances, very great. Why should it not be now ? He had seen individual dissatisfaction, but never a general uprising, and he was unwilling to interpret aright the demonstrations before him.
Mr. Riggs, under the guidance of a Christian Indian, had started, with his family, from Hazlewood, early on Tuesday morning, but was met by a hostile party, his team taken from him, and they escaped to a bushy island, in the river, where they were nearly devoured by mos quitoes. The first detachment of Dr. Williamson's household, hunted them out, and with them went on
theii way, numbering, in all, some forty persons, and Et
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not over six armed men in the company. Providen tially, the terrible rain storm, which caused the battle at the fort to cease, until the "cords were lengthened, and the stakes strengthened," completely obliterated their tracks, so that they were not followed and mur dered, by the war party which crossed their trail.
The Doctor remained until Wednesday, when, as sured it was no longer safe to do so, they started, in an ox cart, guided by a Christian Indian, to overtake their family and other friends. Passing Beaver Creek Set tlement, they found it entirely deserted. Inquiring of some Indians where the white people were, they replied :
"All gone to the fort, and you go, too, or you will be shot"
Nearly all there had been killed or made captive. In one instance, a war party started out of the Big Woods, with the design of crossing the trail of these parties, to kill or make them prisoners. "His-big- fire," a Christian Indian, known as Eobert Hopkins, joined and kept with them until he had lured them from their purpose, and their intended victims had passed beyond the reach of their bullets, when he left the war path and returned to find the people of his choice the Christian Missionaries.
On, the separate mission parties journeyed, scarcely knowing their whereabouts, or caring, so that they kept out of the way of the prowling savages, which, occa sionally, were seen in the distance. It was woman's patience and faith which shone clearest, and buoyed up the sinking spirits of the men, during those desolate
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days and nights, suffering, as they were, for food, and often drenched to the skin with the cold, drizzling, and again the pelting rain. Even the children endured all this with a fortitude which shames complaining man hood.
At last, the two mission parties, having each been increased by wounded fugitives, to whom they had act ed the "Grood Samaritan," form a junction, and together make for the fort, where, unknown to them, the battle fury raged with the greatest violence. All were eager to enter its walls, thinking then all danger would be over. How every heart rej oiced at the prospect of being, once more, safe from fear, with abundance of food and rest I
Now they pass a sight which makes all hearts quail, and to thank God for their own deliverance, thus far. A mother and three children lay by the roadside, (the first time they had dared take to the road,) weltering in their own gore. And, near by, a sick woman had been burned, on the mattrass on which she lay, while her two sons were trying to escape with her. This filial love was rewarded by cruel death to each. Traces of massacre and butchery were more frequent, as they neared their destination, and their danger, where they had hoped security, was most augmented. The plains around were literally fall of Indians, some of whom were seen at no great distance.
They now expected an attack, and drew up in battle line, with onward march, tightening their grasp upon their weapons, with firm resolve to die, rather than
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Post by mdenney on Oct 9, 2007 1:30:50 GMT -5
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yield to the foe. They trusted in the living God, and He could and did deliver them.
Then they saw rockets ascend from the fort, and had no thought but that they were beacons, to guide them there, and not signals of distress, as they really were. There was then a lull in the battle storm, which was improved by Dr. Williamson and Mr. Hunter, who went forward, crawling on their hands and knees, and, as by miracle, avoiding the skulking Indians, and pass ing the blazing stables, enter the garrison, in safety. It was a wonderful exploit, which surprised all within the walls. But the long desired rest had not come yet.
The exhausted condition of the troops, and the crowded state of the barracks, made it inexpedient for more to enter, even could they escape the savage bul let or tomahawk. With sad disappointment, the tidings was received by the hastening party, and their hearts sunk within them. It was now quite dark, and the glare of burning buildings misled these scalp-seekers, and though passing but a few rods from them, their "eyes were blinded that they did not see them," and they hastened on, with rapid speed, still further away, in quest of their prey. With suspended breath, and flut tering hearts, they had heard them pass, and again, with as much speed and little noise as possible, push on their tired teams. From sounds they heard, death seemed lurking all around, but, trusting in God, they fainted not. In fording a stream, the exhausted teams gave out, and then they unhitched and let them graze, despite the danger. So tired and worn were all,
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that they sank down on the wet grass to rest, while one only, each in turn, rifle in hand, stood guard over their sleeping friends.
They knew these blood-hounds were upon their track, and that, just before daylight, was their time for attack, so, as this danger approached, they were again on the move. Four of their number now left, going in another direction. Scarcely were they out of sight, when their Mends heard the firing of guns ; afterwards the decayed bodies of these four men were found, where they fell, scarcely a mile from the main party. Thus had these again escaped death.
On Saturday morning, August 23d, after a vigorous siege of four days, the Indians, despairing of ultimate success, and ignorant of the decimated condition of the garrison, leaving a few men to prevent the arrival of re-enforcements, and starve the garrison out, they with drew their main force, and moved for another attack on New Ulm. The Indians moved through the tall, dripping grass, in their approach to the doomed city ; scarcely five miles away were passing the mission party, to whom their guns were visible, and by whom the rattle of the same was distinctly heard. They saw the burning buildings, as one after another lit the sky, with its glare, or sent up its lurid columns of smoke.
That night, another tragic scene was enacted, at Nor wegian Grove, two miles from which they "encamped" in a deserted house. Weary and worn, they slept se curely, while those who fled from it two hours before they entered, were already dead, though they then
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knew it not, nor of the bloody enactments, even then, at the "Grove." From this point, their dangers lessen ed, until all had been welcomed by friends, at various points, who had, during this memorable week, been mourning them as among the slain. They had "com mitted their ways unto the Lord," and he had, myste riously, "directed their steps."
CHAPTER XVHI.
MASSACEB AT BIG STONE LAKE.
On the banks of Big Stone Lake, far away from white settlements, government agents had sent four men to cut hay, build a blacksmith shop and stables, prepara tory to establishing an Agency there. They had, with them, John Julien, a lad of sixteen, for cook, whose parents lived near the lower Agency, and were among the first victims of the raid.
The first specified part, of their work was done, and they were camped on the shores of the lake, cutting logs for the buildings. On the morning of the 21st of August, unaware of any danger, and sleeping in uncon scious security, in their tent, they were suddenly arous ed by a loud and repeated war whoop. They were scarcely on the feet before they were surrounded by fifty or sixty Indians, some on foot and some on horse.
Within ten paces of the tent, a volley was fired, kill ing one man, Henry Manderfield, instantly. Two oth ers escaped, to be murdered by another party, when thirty miles away. Another, Anthony Manderfield, brother to the above, plunged into the ravine, on the brow of which their tent stood, was closely followed, and several ineffective shots fired upon him. Reaching the lake, he waded along the shore, for two miles, fol lowed by three Indians, in a canoe. Seeing they gain-
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ed upon him, yea, were about to lay violent hands upon him, by a dexterous manoeuvre, he eluded their grasp, plunged into the bushes, where he remained concealed till the immediate danger was passed. He then pushed on, with bare and bleeding feet, in all haste, to the foot of the lake, and though, on one occasion, passing very near an Indian village, a rain, providentially, ob literated his footsteps, hence he was not followed.
At Lac-qui-parle, at the house of a half-breed, he saw Mrs. Huggins, whose husband had been murdered, and Miss Julia La Frambois, captives. He was kindly cared for, his bleeding feet bound up, and his stomach cravings satisfied. But they urged him away, with all possible speed, for they knew it was unsafe for him to remain. After four days of almost incessant travelling, with very little food, he arrived at Fort Eidgley, if not a better, a wiser man, for his experience at Big Stone Lake, and to avenge their treatment of him, and the death of his brother, by joining a cavalry company in defense of the frontier.
The boy, mentioned above, was taken prisoner, the details of which, we reserve for a separate chapter.
When the "Expedition" passed this point, in June after, George Spencer, and others, went over to see the ruins of his trading house. Here they found the skel etons of two human forms, one of whom, George recog nized, by the shreds of clothing left, as the clerk in his own employ, when the outbreak commenced The other, as in the employ of Louis Eoberts, at another trading post, two miles away, who, in two days, lost
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$80,000 by the Indian raid. Here they had lain, through autumn's rains and winter snows, till summer's heat had come, and were now, by friendly hands, buried, where, by savage hands, they fell. How many more such there be, their bones bleaching by sun and wind, yet remains to be seen.
CHAPTER XIX.
MURDER OF AMOS W. HUGGINS.
Some thirty years before this great Sioux tragedy was enacted, Revs. Riggs and Huggins, faithful and devout men of God, then in the vigor and prime of youthful manhood, and the heart's glow of richest earthly love, settled on the banks of Lac-qui-parle,* several hundred miles removed from civilized life. But they had girded them for the sacrifice, and the sal vation of the red man, for whom Christ had died, as for themselves, was the impulse of their hearts. In due time, a son was given to Mr. Huggins, which the Indians learned to pet-, caress and love.
Slowly their work went on, and after years of toil, these now toil-worn men and women were able to re joice in some perceptible good to the people among whom they lived Olive plants had increased around their tables, and though, to human view, their work seemed disheartening, yet could their hearts rejoice in His goodness, while they could still "thank God and take courage."
Amos W., the subject of this chapter, at the age of sixteen, was sent away, to finish the education com menced under the tutelage of his mother. Meantime, a change in the base of missionary operations took place, and this point was left for more urgent fields of
*The lake that speaks.
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labor. Amos, having completed Ms education, return ed to his father's house, bringing with him a fair young bride, to grace his frontier home. Government had designated him as its agent, teacher, and general super intendent of Indian aifairs at Lac-qui-parle. On the very soil where his boyhood was spent, he dwelt, and among the very people of boyhood's memory. Thus, in quiet security, never dreaming of trouble, their iso lation was not an unpleasant one. To these loving hearts, all the joys of earth centered at their own hearth-stone.
Employed as female teacher, Miss Julia La Frambois had long been a valued member of his household. Though a half-breed, she was a young lady of high cul tivation, and spoke several languages fluently.
Two smiling cherubs blest their happy home, and a more bright and beautiful morning never dawned, than on the 19th day of August, 1862. It was Mrs. Hug- gins' twenty-fourth birthday, of which she says : "She little thought, when the morning dawned, so full of hope, and promised to be the happiest day of her life, it was to close, the saddest she had ever known."
Mr. Huggins had been in the field, superintending the work in which the Indians were engaged, and at four o'clock in the afternoon, returned home, bringing with him the oxen they had been using.
Previous to this, two Indians from Bed Iron's village came to the house, seemed unusually talkative, asked many questions of Miss Julia, about the sewing ma chine she was using, but excited no suspicion. As soon as Mr. Huggins came up, they left the house, and
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the next moment the women heard the report of two guns. Julia rushed out, as the Indians rushed in, who, in a wild, excited manner, exclaimed to Mrs. H. :
"Go out, go out ; you shall live but go out take nothing with you !"
In the strange bewilderment of the moment, she scarce understood their meaning, and from their man ner, supposed that their enemies, the Chippewas, were upon them. Mechanically, she obeyed the imperative command, when she was aroused to terrible conscious ness, by seeing Julia, kneeling by the lifeless form of her husband. "O, Josephine ! Josephine 1" was all she said ; but it told the awful tale that he was dead. A ball had entered his back, passing through his body, killing him instantly. An ocean of grief swept over her soul, in that one awful and bitter moment. No time was given to adjust the lifeless form, but seeing they were really going to shoot her, unless she went away, she hastily threw over him a lounge cover, on which she was sewing, when she ran out ; and with tearless eyes, but a bursting heart, left him there, with out even a last kiss of those lips which would never again return this seal of affection. Julia had preceded her to Mr. De Cota's, a half-breed Chippewa trader, with' a Sioux wife, who lived near, taking with her the dar ling little Letta.
When the heroic girl, with their host and hostess, re turned to the tragic scene, (it was not deemed safe for the wife to go with them,) they found many excited savages gathered around, some ready almost to "gnash on him with their teeth," for the crime of being a white
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man ; and others, among whom was the chief of the village, Wa-kan-ma-ni, or Walking Spirit, who de nounced the deed, the latter saying, had he been there, he would have died before harm should have come to Mr. Huggins.
Before the sun went down, these friendly hands had buried him, without shroud or coffin, and with sad hearts, turned away, while the evil-designing Sioux pillaged the house, and divided among them, for their breakfast, the oxen, which he had driven from the field. With a brave heart, Julia had entered the house, even while full of pillagers and murderers, and secured some articles, which were afterwards of great value to them.
Among the relics of these spoils, were two pocket Bibles, one of which was the well thumbed companion of Mr. Huggins, the precepts of which he bound to his heart, as "the man of his counsel and rule of life.'-' O, what a comfort was this, in the weary, anxious days of captivity which followed, precious for the sake of him who had read and loved its teachings, as also the "hidden manna" of its leaves the gracious promises which now fed her sore heart. Therefore, she trusted its teachings, and waited, while its Divine Author guarded her fatherless little ones, and kindly disposed the savages' hearts toward her.
CHAPTER XX.
CAUSE OF THE WAR WHAT IS AN INDIAN?
We append the reply of one, to the above question, whose opinion is at least entitled to respect and consid eration. His whole statement will be found of thrilling interest; and we cheerfully present to our readers the following statement of Mr. Spencer :
"Ever since the treaty, which was made in 1851, with the nation of Dakota or Sioux Indians, they have been finding fault, complaining that the government did not strictly comply with the stipulations of the treaty. While some of the causes of these complaints have been imaginary, there can be no doubt but that there have been good grounds for others. In regard to the management of affairs among the lower Sioux, where the recent outbreak originated, I cannot speak know ingly, as I have not resided among them since the treaty went into effect But among the upper Sioux, the Sissitons in particular, with whom I have been en gaged, in trade, for the past two years, there has been some cause for complaint, on their part.
"I have often heard Standing Buffalo, the Sissiton chief, complain about the whites not fulfilling their promises in regard to the location of mills, schools, mechanics, physicians, etc., among his tribe. It is true that the lower bands enjoyed all the advantages to be derived from these sources, but as they were located at
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a distance of nearly one hundred miles from the vil lages and fields of the Sissitons, they derived but little, if any, benefit from them. It is too often the case, that the parties who are employed by the government to hold councils, form treaties, etc., with Indian tribes, do not sufficiently understand the character of the parties with whom they are negotiating ; and, consequently, although matters may go off smoothly enough at the time, difficulties are liable to arise in the future, the consequences of which may be disastrous.
"As there are other savage tribes, standing in the same relations to the government to-day, that the Sioux occupied, previous to the insurrection, it may be well enough to examine, minutely, one or two points con nected with Indian affairs, which, if properly observed, may be the means of preventing a repetition of the cruel blow, by other tribes, which has been so fearfully inflicted by the Sioux. In the first place, let us exam ine the Indian himself. What is an Indian ?
"Simple as this question may seem, yet it is one that, in my opinion, is not thoroughly understood by our officials, and others, who have Indian affairs in charge. In the great chain of nature, the Indian is a connecting link between the wild beast and the human species. In shape he is human, and has the gift of speech, and, to a limited extent, the use of language. In almost all his actions, he seems to be guided by instinct, rather than reason ; to say that he possesses no intellect, might possibly be saying too much ; but if he does, it seems to be so clouded and obscured, that it does not avail him much. Long association with the whites has de-
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veloped, in some of them, the reasoning faculties, and shown them to be possessed of some little intelligence. So the same thing may be said of some animals, whose performances seem to be more the result of reason than instinct The treachery of the Indian is proverbial Unaccustomed to the comforts and luxuries of a home, there is, in his language, no word which answers to our word home. Accustomed, from infancy, to witness scenes of violence and bloodshed, and, as soon as he can speak, it is impressed upon his mind, that the great est achievement he is capable of performing, is to dye his hands in the blood of his fellow-creatures, whereby he may become entitled to wear a scalp-feather. He soon learns to take delight in participating in the ex citement of the chase, and in following the war path. His passions being subjected to no restraint whatever, his imagination is constantly taxed to invent some new mode of torture, to apply to the victim that may have been unfortunate enough to fall into his hands. The brutish propensities largely predominating, it requires but slight provocation to cause him to turn his murder ous weapons against his fellow-beings. Poets may sing, and romancers may write, as much as they will, about the "noble savage," the "dignified and majestic bearing of nature's nobleman," the "generous traits of character" possessed by the "sons of the prairies," etc., but "distance lends enchantment to the view," and after having been, more or less, intimately associated with them, for the last ten years, I have been unable to per ceive but a very few of those noble attributes which
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have been so plentifully ascribed to them. There are some individual exceptions, it is true. As you will find, among our own race, persons, who have been rear ed under the holy influences of Christianity, possessing the spirit of fiends, so you will find, occasionally, an Indian who is possessed of some feelings of humanity. Skilled to perfection in the peculiar craft pertaining to his calling, and his powers of endurance being almost incredible, when aroused, he becomes the most danger ous of foes.
"When difficulties and misunderstandings arise be tween civilized nations, they may be amicably adjusted by negotiation, or, that failing, a resort to warfare, con ducted on scientific principles, but never losing sight of the great principles of humanity. But not so with a race of savages. Diplomacy is something unknown to them.
"When they feel that they have been wronged, they proceed (actuated solely by a desire for revenge) to wreak their vengeance upon defenceless, helpless wo men and children. Such being the state of things, how important it is that the government should see that the stipulation of the treaties now existing with those tribes who yet remain friendly, should be strictly and faithfully complied with. Since open hostilities have been commenced by one tribe, it will not require much to induce other tribes to follow their example.
"Another point, which is a very essential one, is the employment of competent interpreters men who have
a thorough knowledge of the two languages. It is my F
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opinion, that more than one-half of the misunderstand ings which have arisen between the Indians and the government, may be traced to the fact that the inter preter did not understand, himself, what had been said to him. As a general thing, half-breeds are employed to interpret.
"White men, who are capable of interpreting, cannot afford to accept the position of government interpreter, because the salary is so small that they can make more other ways. To explain what I mean, more fully, we will examine the languages. Ten thousand words will probably more than cover the number of words in the Sioux language, while our language is said to contain over forty thousand words. Now, the half-breed, of course, is raised among the Indians, and acquires his mother tongue perfectly. As he grows up, he becomes associated with the people of the frontier, and from them acquires his knowledge of English, which is not such English as is spoken among the elite. The per son who has acquired his education, and has graduated from our high schools, speaks a different language, you might say, from the backwoodsman, who, probably, never saw the inside of a school-house.
"The excess of thirty thousand words in our lan guage over that of the Indian, renders it very easy to say things which cannot be literally interpreted into the Indian tongue. In such cases, you can only con vey the idea ; that is, if the interpreter has intelligence enough to catch the idea himself. Now, our officials are generally intelligent and educated men. In coun-
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cils with the Indians, they use the English language in its purity, to which the ear of the poor half-breed is entirely unaccustomed. He hears big sounding words ; they are all Greek to him, and, under such circum stances, to convey the proper idea, is next to an impos sibility. Under such circumstances, treaties are formed, and, when signed by all parties, the Indian is, half the time, as ignorant of the contents of the document, as a native of Africa. On the other hand, I have known instances where white men, who were wholly unfit for the office, have received and held the responsible posi tion of interpreter for the government; men whose knowledge of the Indian tongue scarcely enabled them to carry on simple every day conversation. They were favorites of those in authority, and therefore received the appointment, the question of competency never being taken into consideration. Under such circum stances, it is the easiest thing in the world for serious misunderstandings to arise between the Indians and the government
"Now, in regard to the Sioux, they knew that the Federal Government had been carrying on an expensive war for a long time ; they believed that almost all our able-bodied men had gone South to take part in the war. The customary time arrived for the payment of their moneys and distribution of goods, and the Indians were assembled to receive them ; but the money did not arrive.
"They were put off, with promises that, by such and such time, they should have their money, but were as often disappointed.
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"Two months after the customary time for making payments had passed, when their agent volunteered to go into the service of his country, and faking almost every able-bodied man on the reservation with him, he left his post, to be gone, nobody knew how long. The Indians, finding that their agent had thus left them, without giving them any satisfactory explanations, were at once impressed with the idea that the Federal Government had ceased to exist, and that their money had been expended for the purpose of carrying on the war, and that they were left to take care of themselves, as best they could."
When they broke camp at Ked Wood, and started for Yellow Medicine, Mr. Spencer says :
"A fine large flag, of the Hudson Bay Company, was flying out to the breeze, from one of the wagons in front, and a few American flags, which had been captured, were raised at different points of the procession.
"It did not occur to me, to inquire how they came by that emblem of British authority, but I supposed it to have been presented to some chief or soldier, many years ago, and it had been preserved until the present time. In the early part of the present century, British flags, medals, &c., were freely distributed among all the Indian tribes by the British traders.
* * -x- * * *
"Here much time was spent in counselling. Little Crow was very anxious to move up in a body, and place themselves under the protection of the English, at the Ked Eiver settlement, but a majority were against
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him. In the meantime, the attacks upon New Ulm and Fort Eidgley had been made, but their statements were so conflicting, and I was suffering from my wounds so much, that I took no pains to ascertain the particulars ; one thing is certain, however, that they did not lose so many men as the whites have always supposed to have been killed.
"At New Ulm, the Sioux were assisted by some of the Winnebagoes, and the conduct of 'Little Priest,' in that engagement, was very highly spoken of by the Sioux.
" 'Little Priest' is the head chief of the Winneba goes, and lost two of his warriors in that attack. Mes sengers were sent from here to the Sissitons, Yanctons, Yanktonais, and to the governor of Selkirk Settle ment, to inform them that they (the Mede-wa-kan-tons and Wa-hpe-kwtes) had declared war against the whites, and praying for their assistance. They considered it almost certain, that the western tribes would join them, and they confidently believed that the English would assist them. They say, that many years ago, the Eng lish gave them a small piece of artillery, and named it, 'Da-ko-ta-chis-tina,' or 'Little Sioux,' and promised them that, in case any difficulty should arise between the Americans and themselves, they could look to them (the English) for assistance. I could not hear, in any of my conversations with them, anything that caused me to suspect that secessionists had anything to do with it. If the tribes on the Missouri had been tampered with by secessionists, (which may have been
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the case,) this outbreak, I think, was no part of the programme.
"While encamped here, 'Standing Buffalo,' the head chief of the Sissitons, came down with about two hun dred warriors, and, in a council with Little Crow, de manded the goods that had been taken from the Agen cy buildings at Yellow Medicine, as his property. This demand Little Crow refused to comply with, say ing that as he had done all the fighting he was entitled to the plunder. Standing Buffalo then refused to take any part in the war, and threatened Little Crow or any of his people with death, if they came into his country for protection, in case they were defeated by the whites."
CHAPTER XXI.
LAKE SHETAK MASSACRE.
Lake Shetak, in Minnesota, ninety miles west of New Ulm, is the head- waters of the Des Moines river in Iowa. Attracted by its unsurpassed loveliness and fertility of soil, some six or eight American families, making a community of some fifty souls, united in a settlement on its banks. Industry was well rewarded, and comfort smiled a constant guest at their hearth stones. A weekly mail brought them tidings from the outward warring world, in the strifes of which they had no wish to mingle.
On the memorable twentieth of August, they went about their daily avocations as usual, till past mid-day, little dreaming of the terrible siege raging at Fort Kidgley, or the fate 'which awaited them ere the sun went down. So general was the onslaught from one extreme of the state to the other, it is hard to divest ourselves of the belief of preconcerted, pre-arranged action. Certain it is, that all acted under "orders" of the commanding general of evil ; hence their death- dealing power.
Some two months before the outbreak, Mr. Phineas P. Hurd, formerly a resident of Steuben county, New York, but for three years a resident at Lake Shetak, with one man and a team, left home for Dakota Terri-
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tory ; since which time no tidings had come from him, and his wife, was daily watching for his return ; and his own heart too also bounded with joy at the antici pated welcome, as the distance hourly decreased be tween him and home.
The farm which smiled under the magic wand of cultivation, was left in charge of a Mr. Yoigt, and the tidy, skillful housewife and dairy woman, was evinced by the cheerful aspect within doors, and the golden butter and rich cheese which sent their fragrance from the dairy room. Mrs. Hurd was an industrious woman and early riser ; hence, before the sun was up or her children awake, she, with the hired man, was out milk ing the cows. On the bitterly eventful morning of August 20, 1862, while thus engaged, they are sur prised at the appearance of some twenty Indian horse men, and more at seeing her husband's horses among them. Suspicion was aroused and they hastened with in, while the savages were dismounting, to be followed by the whole gang, who at once commenced an indis criminate plunder. Beds were ripped open and the feathers sent kiting in the air ; cheese, for which they have the greatest abhorrence of anything eatable, were pitched into the yard ; trunks and drawers were rifled of their contents, and a ball was sent to the heart of Mr. Yoigt, who fell dead with Mrs. Hurd's baby in his arms, as he was trying to hush its cries.
That was an awful hour ; her home desolated, her husband, though her fears were not yet confirmed, a mangled carcass but a few leagues from the home to
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which he hastened, and now driven out with her un dressed children, denied even a sun-bonnet or shawl, and life granted only on condition of giving no alarm, and starting across the prairie for the towns. Thus under an escort of seven Indians on horseback, with one child toddling by her side and another in her arms, she was hurried through an unfrequented trail for three miles, and then bidden to go alone, "to look not behind, nor tarry in all the plains," under penalty of sharing death with all the other settlers.
The August sun was shining with unusual bright ness upon the suffering head of our heroine, and the thick matted grass was heavily beaded with dew, which also, soon set bleeding the bare tender feet of the pedestrians, and most piteously cried the little boy Willie, of only three years, to return home, and re peatedly asked where she was going. Alas, she could not tell him. Death by savage hands was behind her, and starvation with all its horrors before. The re peated firing of guns convinced her that her neigh bors were suffering a like peril with herself.
It was some relief to her throbbing heart, *when her little boy ceased to complain and manfully trudged along by her side, with apparent confidence in his mother's course, and the younger rested in blissful un consciousness on her bosom.
Now. burst upon the shelterless, weary wanderers, one of our wild western storms that terrible storm of which mention is elsewhere made which, sweeping
over the prairies and bluffs, obliterated tracks, pro- Pl
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duced a lull in battle storms, and saved hundreds of hapless wanderers from savage hands and bloody death. So are often life's greatest discomforts, the soul's richest blessings. For three full hours the storm- king reigned supreme ; the thunder and lightning were terrific, and the water fell in a blinding deluge, wash ing out the trail, and covering the lower portions of the prairie. But He who folds the lambs in his bosom, gave her strength to wander on, breakfastless and din- nerless though they were, to a slight, sandy elevation, where, supperless, she laid down her precious charge for the night, while bitterly her heart ached that she could not respond to her boy's pleadings for food ; and there, her scant garments drenched to the skin, all that long dreary night, she leaned over her children, her own shivering body protecting them from the wind. Willie slept most of the night, but the baby worried almost constantly ; happily its plaintive wail reached not the savages' ears, else a tomahawk would have sought its brain.
The second day was a duplicate of the first, till toward evening, when she had the additional trial of seeing her little boy become very sick, and his phys ical powers fast failing him ; but the baby still slept and nursed, and so suffered less. At night she struck a road, and then understood her whereabouts. With all her foot-sore walking, she was but four miles from home, having doubtless wandered in a circla Her heart sank within her and a sense of exhaus tion before unknown carne upon her. After two
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day's constant travel, her journey was just be gun.
But, cheered by the fact that she was no longer lost upon the vast prairie, with woman's courage she pushed on in the road to New Ulm, till nature demanding rest, she halted for the second night. Willie's sickness increased, and he asked no more for food. In the morning he could no longer walk, but craved water from every spring or pool they passed
To carry both her children was quite impossible for the exhausted mother, but her maternal love, of which we have no fuller or nobler exemplification^ found practical development Here let the reader pause and fix this woman and the circumstances surrounding her, in the mind's eye. Enter into her feelings if you can, after two days of fasting, watching and wandering, and tell me if history presents a more striking example of woman's heroism and endurance, as with the fire of determination in her eye, and firm purpose in her step, she conceals one child in the grass, and taking the other in her arms, passes over the first half mile, when she deposits this and returns for the other. Thus all that day she travels three times over the same path. We read of Spartan mothers and Cornelia's "jewels," but it is left for Minnesota mothers of 1862, to evince to the world the powers of human endurance in the strength of maternal love !
Take now another view. A distant cabin meets the eye, it revives her sinking heart and nerves her with the hope of rest and food, and on she presses, tell-
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ing her boy of the relief so near. She enters, no sound breaks upon the awful silence, its inmates had either been murdered or had deserted it. She commences her search for food, but not an article could be found. In despair she sank down in unconscious exhaustion, to be aroused by the plaintive, pitiful cry of her boy, de manding the fulfillment of her promise for food, of which they had now been four days destitute. She now bethought of the garden, and thither she went, found some carrots and onions, of which she ate, but her sick child refused them. That night they slept in a corn field, and she made her supper on raw corn, having no fire to roast it. The following morning, with as much joy as Hagar felt when she found the stream in the wilderness, and pressed therefrom the cup to the lips of her famishing boy, did Mrs. Hurd find the decaying remnant of a ham, not to exceed a pound. Of this she fed at intervals her starving boy, and had the blissful satisfaction of seeing him rapidly revive, and his vomiting cease. It was manna from heaven to her. She was here joined by some of her refugee neighbors, (of whom more anon,) and they continued together till they reached "Brown's," sixty miles from Shetak, where the inmates had been murdered. There they remained ten days, making themselves at home, while awaking to the terrible reality of their fate, real izing more keenly the bitterness of experience, and the dark uncertainty which awaited them.
CHAPTER XXII.
THE GENEKAL ONSLAUGHT.
The note of alarm sounding from the door of Mrs. Hurd, soon extended through all the settlement, and was confirmed by the strange movements of the hos tile foe.
The people at once aroused to their danger and col lected in one house for defense ; but finding they were insufficient in numbers and means to combat so for midable a foe, determined on flight. Women and children were hastily loaded into farm wagons, and the men on foot were as body guards for defenseless wives and children. Shaping their course towards New Ulm, the fate of which they had not heard, their anxious hearts beat with premature hopes of a safe asylum there. Alas, how little thought they, with all their fears, that separation and death was so soon to ensue, and that captives and fugitives, some of them were to pass through sufferings of which their own hearts had never conceived !
When but two miles on their journey, a fighting party of eight or ten Indians suddenly came upon them, ready for immediate action. Women and chil dren hid in the high grass while the battle raged. Two of the men deserted at the onset. The others
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nobly stood their ground, till all the men were wound ed, and Mr. Eastlick and eleven others killed.
The Indians, now regarding their work as complete, called to the women to surrender as prisoners of war, pledging life and protection if they did so ; if not, threatening them with death as soon as their retreats could be- hunted out. Their wounded husbands, hop ing they might eventually be ransomed by Govern ment, encouraged the surrender. Without a parting kiss, and scarcely a parting glance, they were driven away from husbands ; and children in some instances, with scarcely an idea of what their fate was to be. Like a horrid nightmare dream seemed the experience of the day, yea, of the last few hours.
The supposed dying husbands watched the receding forms of their families, till lost amid the foliage, and then nerving themselves to superhuman effort, assisted each other to their feet in trial to escape, all save Mr. Ireland, who was left to die, and in his agony anxious ly awaited the end.
When half a mile away, the captives were over taken by Burton Eastlick, who for the love he bore his mother, had determined to follow, but she entreated him to return for the sake of his baby brother, only fifteen months old, which had been ruthlessly torn from her ; with the injunction to save him, if possible, and carry him in his arms as far as he could, or till he reached some settlement. A sacred charge, and how regarded by this noble boy of twelve years we are yet to see.
DAKOTA WAR WHOOP.
No sooner had Burton received this charge, than with bursting heart, he obediently turned to retrace his steps, when the sharp crack of muskets made him look back in time to see his mother and three other women, together with several of the children, fall in death. Three bullet wounds in the head, back and knee of Mrs. Eastlick, had not produced the effect de signed by the savages, and a young monster beat her on the head with the butt of his gun till she was quite insensible, and then with the spared captives, they hastened away.
"When Mrs. Bastlick revived, darkness had settled upon the earth, like the pall upon her heart. Her last recollections were of her friend and neighbor, Mrs. Everett, lying near her quite dead, and her infant vainly endeavoring to draw sustenance from the source to which it had never before appealed in vain, and a little girl was crying over them in the bitterness of first heart grief. Now, these two children were dead, the Indians had returned and shot them.
To find her husband and see if he was really dead, Mrs. Eastlick crawled through the thick dew-matted grass to the battle ground. Cold and stiff she found him, and the little son of six years whom she left wounded in the feet, was with him he too had ceased to suffer. Eeader, picture to yourself that scene if you can ! Silence sublime, reigning over all the broad expanse of earth and sky, and she alone with her dead, and there she must leave them. Again and again she kisses lips and forehead, and turns away in
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tearless agotay, but firm, and resolved to find her wan dering, living 'children.
Four miles from the main settlement of Lake She- tak, had resided the family of Mr. Myers. Early in the day he had become convinced that Indians, on hostile work intent, were prowling around. But there was no time or opportunity to confer with his neigh bors, and so with a sick wife, on a bed in an ox wagon, with four little children, he started for some point of safety.
The wounded men, before mentioned, aided by an invisible power, had progressed about sixteen miles, and on the following day fell in with the Myers party. There was joy in that meeting, though their hearts were full of grief. The heavy, springless wagon in which they found a place, relieved, by change, their wounded limbs and broken bones ; but slowly, very slowly, moved those plodding oxen along, and sadly their aching hearts kept time to the dull creaking of the lumbering wheels. Their undressed wounds were painful in the extreme, and why or how they lived through these weary days, is not in the scope of human mind to understand. , Their only food was flour and water cakes, with no other ingredients, baked in' the sun, they fearing to make a fire, lest the lurking In dians should be attracted by the smoke, and thus again put their lives in jeopardy.
They were unmolested by the way, but had several narrow escapes. On one occasion, they took shelter for the night in a deserted house, which had been
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sacked by the Indians. Scarcely ten rods distant was another house, where some Indians spent the night in feasting and plunder, but left, providentially, without making any discovery as to the occupancy of the other.
On approaching New Ulm, Mr. Myers left the team to go into town for assistance. When too near to rem edy his error, for he was seen and pursued, he saw the Indians had already besieged it, the work of destruc tion was going on, and their horrid war whoop rung on the air. Happily he eluded pursuit, and though he could not return to his waiting, anxious family, he bent his steps for Mankato, twenty-five miles below, where he arrived in safety.
The wagon party, alarmed at his long absence, con cluded some evil had befallen him, and sure he would not return, moved on, heading their oxen toward Man kato. Nervous, excited, anxious and alarmed at every sight or sound, worn- out with suffering, hunger and waking, and constantly watching for Indian "signs," it was not strange they should mistake the encamp ment of U. S. troops for Sioux teepees. They left their wagon and hid in the swamp, but fortunately not till they had been seen by the soldiers, who suspecting the true cause of their movements, hunted them out and brought them into camp, where a safe escort into town was furnished them.
It was eight days since their wounds were received, to which neither lint nor bandage had been applied. But now, broken arms are set, putrid wounds dressed,
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and the poor sufferers made as comfortable as the cir cumstances would allow, in a town of only two thou sand inhabitants, already crowded with refugees.
CHAPTER XXIII.
OUTBKEAK AT THE NORTH.
Like a spark of fire in a magazine of powder, had been the war spark, ignited at Acton, and from the ex treme north to the south-western boundary of Minne sota, the explosion was being felt An electric chain, passing from village to village, through every savage heart, could scarcely have produced a more simultane ous uprising.
On the 24th of August, a party of Sioux crossed the the Red river of the north, at Breckinridge, where the entire "town" was comprised in a mammoth hotel took possession of the horses, and slaughtered or drove off the cattle. Their next onslaught was on the "Breckin ridge House," which was strongly barricaded by those who had resolved to defend it, or die in the attempt Doors and windows were smashed in, and no living man was left to tell the tale. On the following day, a reconnoitering party drew up before the house, and scarcely had their eyes surveyed the destructive work, ere a large force of Indians sprang up, as from the earth. Their swift-footed horses, as well as their riders, saw the danger, and they reached the fort, in safety. A day or two after, another body of men went up to learn more of the true state of affairs. As they came near, a woman came forth from the saw mill, eliciting
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both their sympathy and protection. She wore but two garments, and these were stiff with the blood which, for twenty-four hours, had flowed from her wounded side, during which time she had not tasted food. Her home was at "Old Crossing," sixteen miles distant, where, with her son, she kept a "station," and with them lived little Jimmy Scott, her pet grandson, only five years old. The Indians attacked the house before breakfast. Young Scott was killed, and his mother severely wounded. She lay upon the floor, they supposing her dead, while they plundered the house. Then they came round her, kicking and punch ing her with sticks and guns, stripped off her dress, preparatory to mutilating her body, when the sound of approaching wheels drew their attention without, and they rushed for the prize of the farmer's loaded mar ket wagon, she not daring to move a hand to staunch the blood of the wound, lest they should return, and note its change of position. But she opened her eyes, and saw little Jimmy, bewildered, and almost power less from fright, and faintly whispered him to do the savages' bidding, they might let him live.
The farmer had escaped to the woods, and greedy with venal desire, they did not pursue ; but driving the wagon to the door, emptied the flour from the sacks, and drove off, taking little Jimmy, who, in obedience to his grandmother's injunctions, passively submitted to his fate. Not till the sound of the wheels had died on her ear, and no other sound broke upon the awful silence, did she again venture to open her eyes. Then
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she crawled to the door, where lay the ghastly form of her murdered son, her youngest born, and, faint from the bleeding wound, and without bonnet, shawl, or dress, she started. Fifty dollars in silver had been over looked, when the Indians robbed the house, and this she hid in a haystack, with the provident hope of its doing goc/d to some one. All that day, she walked and crawled, eating nothing but some savory herbs, that grew in her path. As twilight's mellowing influence fell over the earth, she crawled to the door, where she had hoped a friendly admittance. One glance, and she knew the fiends had been there ; and though she did not know of the three dead bodies within, she turned to the saw mill, for shelter, and was found, as described. The ladies at Fort Abercrombie made her as comfort able as their own wardrobes would allow, and with kind surgical care, her wound was, in due time, healed A party went down to "Old Crossing," to bury her son, and brought to her the money she had hidden. A few days after, others found the body exhumed, with a stake driven through it, into the earth.
The reconnoitering party entered the Breckmridge House, where they found the three dead bodies, with chains on their legs, by which they had been dragged from room to room, leaving a bloody trail, as the work of plunder progressed. They had now been several days dead, and were very offensive.
On further search, the stage of Burbank & Co.'s line was found in the river, the top cut off, the horses taken, and the driver killed. Articles of minor value were
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scattered around, and a distributing office had been improvised for the mail, letters and drafts were sent to the four winds of the prairie. Thus commenced the conflict, along the northern line of travel, and so few were the men and arms at Fort Abercrombie, that all who were there, and more, were needed for its protec tion.
Many of the people who were- driven from their homes, could not get to the Fort, and so made their way to the nearest village. Thrilling tales are told of these life adventurers, of their almost miraculous escapes, and providential guidance beyond the reach of savage hands. We remember of a man and his wife, with a little boy, of four years, whom they had brought forty miles, on their backs, coming into St. Cloud. Never had they a mouthful to eat, and never a loud word was spoken. Once or twice only, did the little hero whis per, "I am hungry"
Another instance there was of a man shot at his own doof. His wife drew him in, and bolted the door, when her husband continued to load the gun, which she fired, through the window, till the Indians, after several had fallen, withdrew, doubtless supposing a hidden force within. The husband, sure he must soon die, and feel ing that every moment's delay but increased her peril, begged his wife to save herself by flight Eeluctantiy she did his bidding, and after incredible hardships, by day and by night, she reached a friendly shelter. A few days later, some white men entered the dwelling, expecting to find only a putrid corpse. To their sur-
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prise, the man was still alive, though he had made re peated attempts to end his physical agony. In a short time, he was re-united with his wife, rejoicing in the failure of the dull butcher knife to perform his bidding.
CHAPTER XXIV.
SIEGE OF FORT ABERCROMBIE.
When the northern stampede began, Fort Abercrom- bie was garrisoned by only forty men, in command of Captain Yanderhock, with no protecting walls, or even embankments. The danger becoming known, messen gers, with "life in their hands," were sent forth to warn the citizens, government and Red River trains, known to be on the route, which, it was rumored, the Indians had gone to intercept, and also to Si Paul, for mil itary re-enforcements. The citizens at once banded with the troops for defense of the post, and soon com pleted a breastwork, from cord wood, covered with earth on the three most exposed sides.
The list of women and children soon swelled to six ty-two, who, being crowded into the soldier's quarters, the only bullet proof building, made a one room com munity of two hundred and fifty. Here commissary stores were brought, water was hauled, and whatever of comforts could be supplied for so large a family. Eyelids were held open in suspense, and the nerves of the women set quivering, at the least note of alarm. There was neither eating nor sleeping, only as each gnawed at hard tack, with which their pocket was sup plied, when faintness from the cravings of hunger came over them, and slept on a blanket, which was
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rolled up for a seat, during the day. The men, in turn, kept guard without, while the women, even though all freedom from excitement was most desirable for some, energetically worked at cartridge making, or moulded bullets for hourly expected use,
The first show of Indians was on the 28th of Au gust, when, in a daring, dashing manner, a large com pany of horsemen came in sight of the fort, and killed the herdsman, surrounded and drove off nearly three hundred head of cattle, and many of the horses and mules of the fort, which, in defiance of the guns, they entered the stables to obtain, A few, almost reckless men, went forth to dispute their right, and sheltered by the stacks of hay, actually drove them from the stables, and saved a few of the horses. The Indians fled to the woods, where Capt. V. thought imprudent to follow them, as the fort had poor enough protection at best Take away the handful of men, and who would save it, if attacked from another side ? The three succes sive days, the Indians bivouaced in sight of the Fort, their smoke revealing their whereabouts, while they barbacued and feasted.
At early dawn, on the morning of Sept 1st, the ac tual siege of the fort commenced, and, for several hours, raged, with fearful power, against fearful odds. The loss on our side was comparatively small, only one killed and several wounded. Their casualties were unknown, as only two of their dead were left on the field ; the prairie was strewn with cloths and paper, sat urated with blood, which indicated more than it proved. G
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The brave little band at the fort was, by no means, idle. Every soldier and citizen worked with a will, in anticipation of a renewed attack, till, on the morning of the sixth just as the sober gray was yielding to rosy tints the pickets announced the enemy's ap proach. This band was variously estimated at from five hundred to one thousand strong, and spread them selves, the mounted ones ahead, in the form of a fan, till three sides of the fort were enclosed by them. As they wildly dashed on to the attack, their yells were most terrific, and their appearance hideous in the ex treme. This was so unlike anything the men had ever heard or seen, that the first effect was not very cheer ing ; but they rallied behind the breastwork, and though attacked at four points, fought with a coolness and he roism equal to anything we read of in history. Had they met this superior force of blood-hounds, with oth er than determined wills, all must have fallen into sav age hands, and the buildings have been reduced to ashes. The fire from the howitzer scattered them like autumn leaves. One shell entered a log building, where many of the savages had taken refuge, doing deadly work. The blood on the floor revealed its ef fect. After three hours' hard fighting, the unequal conflict ceased, with a decided repulse to the assailants. Scarcely had their war whoops ceased to reverberate on the air, when a messenger, two weeks away, returned, with the cheering news of re-enforcements near. In forty-four hours, Mr. Hill had made the trip of two hundred and fifty miles, to St. Paul, and his demand
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for troops was promptly responded to ; but these could not move with, the celerity of fleet horses, nor could each man carry, in his haversack, sufficient food for his journey.
Though there were no more direct attacks, small scouting parties kept up a harassing fire from the op posite shore, where bushes and weeds concealed them. The dwellings, to which some of the families had re turned, were being riddled with balls, and some per sons had very narrow escapes. A friend of the writer was guest at the house of Mr. Stone, the sutler. After two weeks' fasting, the women went over, with the hope of being unmolested, while they should have a week's palatable rations prepared. They were seen, and a ball, sent to them, whizzed past their heads, and lodged in the casing of the door, as they were about to enter. Then, like "rain on the roof," they fell all around, while the inmates of the house lay upon the floor, almost breathless, with fear, till the bullet storm had subsided. Under circumstances like those named, per sonal ablution or tidy apparel, was not to be thought of, and for three weeks, the husband of the friend above alluded to, never removed his boots from his feet, only to shake out the fleas.
Under circumstances and with surroundings like those before described, the existence of three immortal beings was commenced. True, two of these had just opened their eyes, drew a few fleeting breaths, and then passed on to that eternal state, of which this life is but a shadow, away from the cares and bloody strife
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which surrounded their advent into existence. In a soldier's bunk, partitioned from the main quarters by tent canvas, the chill wind whizzing between the logs, laid my friend, Mrs. L., pale, weak and senseless. Bravely had she endured the terrible siege, but the re action came. The little one soon passed away. Her husband lay on a stretcher, in the same little place, for his wound was not healed. All are to leave the band of women and children, whom a common misfor tune had bound so closely, and almost made friends of uncongenial spirits. They drew around her bunk, for a last leave of one who had been a moving spirit in their midst one whose manner ever endeared her to all hearts, high or low, rich or poor. She heeds it not. She realizes not that she is so soon to be left, with scarce a female friend, and well may it be that she does not. Yet an All- wise Being had "ordained her unto life," even in such surroundings, and, in due time, the anxious hearts of friends, who could render no aid in this extreme need, but to wait and pray, was relieved by her presence among them, she quite satisfied with her eventful experience in frontier life.
Three weeks had they worked, watched, and waited, till, at last, when the suffering need is withdrawn, three hundred men are added to the number already there. These were decreased by death but eight, since the siege commenced, but several were helpless from wounds. Small parties were sent out daily, to recon noitre, who, every little while, would discover an Indian, like a toad under a mushroom, his head
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popping from 'neath a bush, or from amid the weeds, tempting a shot, and these parties were, several times, surprised by superior numbers, when desperate fighting would follow ; but the savages were always the van quished party.. Once, our men effected, by strategic movement, a backward retreat, and though leaving two dead on the ground, and others were wounded, they reached the goal in safety. One of this party actually died from fright, a few hours after his return. Another gave out, but with encouragement and aid, stood again upon his feet, just in time to send a ball to the heart of an Indian, who, at the moment, aimed at the heart of his comrade, though not in time to prevent a flesh wound in his leg.
The sad presentiment of the parents of a young man, in this rencontre, which was distinctly heard at the fort, proved literally correct. A few days after, a volunteer party went out to find and bury him and another, who was killed at the same time. The body of the last lay on his face, with his skull smashed in, and his brains scattered about, with eighteen bayonet thrusts in his back, and on one leg, a gash, nearly to the bone, from the hip to the calf of the leg.
The body of the other, Edgar Wright, had been rip ped open to the throat, the heart and liver taken out, the lungs left on the chest, the head cut off, scalped, and stuck in the cavity of the abdomen, with the face toward the feet. The hands were cut off, and placed side by side, two feet from the body, but what was indi cated by this arrangement of these organs, was not un-
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der stood. In this case, as in those of a majority of the sufferers, the victim was void of offense toward their foe, and a young man of unblemished reputation, against whom they could have had no memory of wrongs to revenge. They knew him well, and ha.d received fre quent hospitality at his hand. This case is not an ex ception, for they have been most ingenious in devices of cruelty toward those who have most befriended them, and for whom they had professed most friendship.
We narrate these horrid facts, not because we love to dwell upon them not because we are unmoved by the pen rehearsals, and the nerves can be quiet under it; but we give them, that the Indian sympathizers may see the diabolical natures of the foe our State has had to meet. We think it a mock philanthropy, which would screen these guilty, unprovoked wretches from merited justica
CHAPTER XXV.
INDIANS AT SIOUX FALLS CITY.
Wherever the magic wand of civilization had passed, there went the human fiends, intent on bloody work. We have seen them in the interior ; we have seen them at the extreme north ; and now to the very south western corner of the State, and even a few miles be yond, in Dakota Territory, we see them as on other occasions, watching for a mark to shoot at. Sioux Falls City on the Big Sioux river, had just commenced an existence, and eight families were all its boast. Their nearest neighbors to the east were at Lake She- tak, sixty-five miles distant, and the nearest on the south at Yankton, about the same distance as the for mer.
Fortunately, on the 25th of August, a small mili tary force under Lieut. Bacon, was stationed here, else doubtless there would have been a general massacre, and the world would have been ignorant of the transac tion. Bright and joyous rose the sun on that sadly eventful day, and nought of earth or air evinced the dark pall to settle upon that little community, and rest with leaden weight on some.
Mr. Joseph B. Amidon, who had emigrated from St. Paul three years before, was, as also his wife, a former resident of Essex county, N". Y., and they were
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among the "first settlers" of this point. He resided on a "claim," one mile from the main settlement; and was with his son at work in the hay field, nearly a half mile from his dwelling. The supper prepared by the hand of his waiting, watching wife, remained un touched, for the husband and son came not from their toil. Anxiety filled her heart, strange suspicions un nerved. her, though she knew not of the Sioux up rising. The clock struck ten, and unable longer to endure her suspense, she went to the soldiers' camp, her nearest neighbors. With soldierly promptness, they searched without avail the field where, during the day, they had seen the missing ones. Across the road was a cornfield, and thither how they repair, fearing they may have been decoyed there, and sure of 'foul play from savage source. Just as the morning dawned, the cold, stiffened bodies were found ; a ball had pierced the father's heart, and earth had drank his blood. The soft plowed earth where they lay, showed very plainly Willie's severe struggles with death. Three balls had pierced his body, to the effects of which he yielded not easily or soon. They are taken to their now desolate home, where the wife alone awaits tidings from them. It is no marvel that she was well nigh paralyzed with the shock of sudden grief, and mechanically submitted to the bidding of others, as they prepared to bury her dead.
Scarcely was the dust to dust consigned, ere the In dians appeared, menacing for a fight, which was stern ly met by the determined force. A sharp, brisk en-
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gagement ensued, in which seven Indians were made to "bite the dust," and which prevented the further ex ecution of their base designs for that time.
In the rapid succession of events, came the news of the outbreak, and the Governor's order for the people to leave for some point of safety. Government con veyance and military protection would be furnished, but only one hour was allowed to prepare for depar ture. What an hour was that I How much must be crowded into it, and it is no wonder the brain should reel or the heart seem petrified with the sudden transi tion ! But there was no alternative, savage eyes were even then watching their movements, awaiting the withdrawal of troops, for a general conflagration, which ensued a few hours later. This sad-hearted cor tege, moving with the swiftness of ox and mule teams, are pilgrims and strangers in an unpopulated region, some of whom are obliged to make a circuit of a thou sand miles, to reach a point two hundred and fifty miles distant Such are the dangers of the way where moccasined feet stealthily tread.
Gt
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE HEROIC BOY.
We have seen Burton Eastlick following the cap tive party, and returning by the urgent desire of his mother. He had seen his mother shot, and supposed her dead. Beside his dying brother he watched till the angels bore his spirit above, placed the dear little form beside his idolized father, and with a bravery which would have honored men of mature years, af fectionately took his baby charge, and commenced preparations to start, in obedience to his mother's dying wish. Mr. Ireland, who, it will be remembered, was left to die, remonstrated. "He could never carry out the design, and it was better that they die there to gether." But the boy was resolute and firm. "Noth ing should deter him from the effort, he would carry the baby as long as he could, they might be saved." And so, folding his arms close about the child, he started. Mr. Ireland had given him some directions about his course, and other matters, which proved of use to the boy when alone upon his strange but holy pilgrimage.
The heroic spirit of the boy incited Mr. Ireland with new hope of life, and he said, "Why should I die here alone, when such a boy can do so much. I, too, will try and get away." And so he went, bleeding and
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suffering as lie was, every rod gained increasing his desire to gain another. Ah, there is a Providence that watches our course and aids us in distress, and truly man is immortal till his work is done. We have, in more instances than are recorded in this work, been led more than ever before into a full, firm, unwavering belief in that Providential care and guidance which shapes our course in life so minutely as to number "the very hairs of our head."
A n infidel world must admit the hand to be more than chance, which spared so many of this doomed settlement, protecting them in captivity, 6r succoring them by night and by day in eiforts to reach the other settlements. Mr. Ireland's body had been the target for eight balls, three of which had passed through his lungs. His wife and two of his children were killed, and two daughters, Rosanna and Ellen, carried into captivity, and compelled to walk the entire distance to the Missouri river, being over seven hundred miles by the route they chose. This, and other incredible hard ships which befell these girls, would seemingly have overpowered the physical energies, had not Divine aid been given them. He who said, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee," did not forget his promise, until they felt themselves safe with their rescuers, though strangers, such as their young hearts might well appreciate, and who in due time restored them to the arms of their father.
Can imagination paint the sufferings of Mr. Ireland during his weary wanderings of fourteen days, that
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followed his resolve for life ? His wounds alone, with the kindest wifely care, and most careful nursing, should have allowed many anxious fears for the result. Weakened by the loss of blood, and the want of food, with naught but the bracing breeze, and the pure spring water, which none too frequently bubbled in his path, it is surely beyond the comprehension of mortal, how the frail fabric could continue to throb and beat with pain, while the fever's heat would nearly consume his vitals. How painful the progress, how bitter the thoughts of the future, for he knew not that one of his family lived, or if alive, but that a life fate worse than death was theirs, with faint hope of living to tell the tale of his horrid suffering, or much less to clasp to his heart the remnant of his once happy family.
Ninety miles, thick with dangers, lay before him, but our little hero, Burton, faltered not. True, his arms became very tired, but then he placed this pre cious burden on his back, and thus the first day he made sixteen miles, and thus he traveled on, making sixty miles in ten successive days. His food was raw corn and such as he could find in deserted houses. How carefully he munched the coarse, unpalatable fare, to relieve the baby cravings for its mother ! How tenderly he folded him in his arms to shelter him from the chill night dews how lovingly soothed his weary wail, lest the very breeze should announce their living to those from whom they fled and how spasmodi cally hugged him to his heart, at the least real or im aginary note of alarm ! Brave, darling boy ! Did
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angels ever before witness a deed like thine! His tory's page furnishes nothing more noble, more deserv ing immortal fame! Thy name with the good and great shall live. We would fain impress on thy young brow the seal of admiring approval, and record with immortal pen the undying virtue of thy noble deed ! God bless thee, noble boy !
The reader has seen the resolute mother, wounded, bruised and left for dead, crawling back to the battle field, finding her precious dead, and, with sublime pur pose heroically turn from them for a lone, weary march over the now desolate prairies. She traveled by night and hid in the grass for several days, till almost ex hausted from exertion and hunger. At the risk of being seen and murdered, she resolved -on finding something to eat. So she crawled through the grass to a cornfield, but her stomach, so long empty, rejected the raw corn, and she became deathly sick and obliged to lie by for some time.
The friendly breeze cooled the festering, undressed wounds, which were occasionally bathed by a cool spring, and on she moved, an illustration of the pow ers of human endurance. At a deserted house she stopped over night, killed a chicken, and with her teeth, pulled the raw, bleeding meat from its breast. She continued very sick during the night, but the fol lowing morning, tearing the remainder of the chicken into strips to be dried in the sun as she went, she pro ceeds, and this, with three ears of raw corn, was all she eat during all those ten solitary days. Oh ! the
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lonely night wanderings ! the anxious, listening days, when the very silence was painful the terrible stom ach cravings and the bitter heart throbbings for the loved and slain, as also for the living ! But guided by an unseen hand, deliverance is sure to coma Joy, such as but the mother heart knows, was soon to com mingle with her grief, such as for a time to make her almost forget its woes, and her weary, wounded body its pains.
From Sioux Falls City, in Dakota Territory, to New Ulm, August Garzene, a Frenchman, was employed in carrying the mail. Lake Shetak settlement lay on his route. All the little community were known to him. On his return route he meets Mrs. Eastlick, whom he at first scarcely recognizes, so jaded and changed is she. By dint of management, he gives her a seat in his single sulky, and at "Dutch Charley's", ere many hours, she folds to her heart her emaciated children, in whom the reader will recognize the heroic boy and his baby brother. We present the reader the sad, happy group, in their fugitive garments.
There, too, was Mr. Ireland, with eight balls in his body, whom the boy's courage had saved, together with Mrs. Hurd and her two children. These last had fallen in company several hours before and continued their less lonely course together. A glad meeting for hearts so mangled and torn ! A few miles further they continue their pedestrian journey, where at "Brown's" they find more comfortable quarters, from whence Mr. Ireland is sent ahead to New Ulm for assistance.
MRS. EASTLICK AND HER CHILDREN. (The Heroic Boy and his Baby Brother.)
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Lieutenant Koberts, with twelve men and a team, was at once dispatched to their relief, and reached them about midnight. The following morning at day light, with an escort of soldiers, they were on their way to join their neighbors at Mankato, who supposed them dead, when after fifteen days of intense suffering they enjoyed the luxury of food and rest, devoid of present fear.
Twelve bodies had fallen in death, at Lake Shetak, Aug. 20th, 1862. Twelve months and more, through winter's snows and summer's heat, the angels watched their unburied dust, while surviving friends plead for an escort of soldiers, to protect them, in the last sad burial rite. On the 28th Oct., 1863, they had the mournful satisfaction of consigning the beloved "dust to dust." Each body had retained its own living im press so distinctly, that there was no difficulty in mark ing the grave of each.
The beautiful farms there lie in waste, and the whole region is depopulated. Such is the work of savage hands, such the horrors of savage ire.
CHAPTER XXVII.
SIEGE OF HUTCHINSON.
The main body of troops, as we have seen, were marching up the Minnesota Valley, to the theatre, or centre of hostilities. Detachments or companies were stationed in the most exposed localities, some of whom had brisk skirmishes with the red foe, and others were left unmolested. Several companies of mounted citi zens did efficient service, at various endangered points.
Captain Strout, with a company of fifty men, was stationed at Cedar City, whence all the people had fled. Here they were unexpectedly attacked by one hundred and fifty Indians. They fought like veteran heroes, until nearly overpowered by numbers, they retreated to Hutchinson, a town well fortified, eighty miles above the capital, and the first beyond the Big Woods.
From Cedar City, this savage band moved towards Forest City, making a determined assault, but success fully repulsed by the inhabitants, who had fortified the town, and made it quite a stronghold.
Thwarted in their last attempt, they advanced on Hutchinson, where Capt. Strout and his fifty men, to whom the citizens of town and vicinity joined them selves, valorously met the foe, and after more or less hard fighting, for two days, successfully repulsed them. Capt. Strout's dispatch, under date of Sept 3d, says :
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"I was attacked to-day by about one hundred and fifty Indians, about half of them mounted. They numbered full double my force, and fought us for two hours and a half. I threw my company into four sec tions, and in open order, pressed against them, as skirm ishers, after which, as they so far outnumbered my force, I made a fierce march against their main body, which was still in front Our loss, in the engagement, was three killed, and fifteen wounded. A number of the men were very much injured by exhaustion.
"I think I am safe in saying, that the Indians lost, in killed and wounded, two or three times our number.
"We lost most of our rations, utensils, tents, and some arms, from the excitement. Some horses ran away, others got mired, so that we lost nine, in all, from these causes.
"The Indians had excellent guns. They were bright, and carried better than our guns. They were dressed partly in citizen's dress, and many of them rode fine horses. Their ponies would lie down when they dismounted. Sometimes the Indians would rush up to within one hundred yards of my force."
Near the village of Hutchinson, lived a Mr. Adams, who, with his wife and child, were fleeing for their lives, to the protection of the town, when he, their nat ural protector, abandoned them to their fate. Finding themselves closely pursued, he threw the child, which he was carrying, and concealing himself in the grass, made his escape. She, possessed of a true mother's feel ings, stopped to pick up her child, and was captured.
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Her captor wished to take the child upon his horse, but she clung to it with an unyielding grasp. After re peated attempts to take it from her, the Indian became enraged, forced it from her grasp, and then shot it be fore the eyes of the agonized mother. These facts, I have from Mr. George Spencer, who had been a captive three weeks, when Mrs. Adams was brought into the Indian camp. During this time, he had heard no news from the whites, though many captives had been brought in. He says, "I told my friend (Chaska) that I should like to see the white woman who had just been brought in, when he immediately sent for her."
"I found her to be a very pretty and intelligent little woman, and from her learned the latest news in regard to the preparations which were being made by the whites to punish the Indians."
"In relating to me her history, when she spoke of the murder of her child, her first born and only child, she wept bitterly. Upon seeing which, the Indians inquired the cause. They then directed me to explain to her the reason why her child had been killed : that if she would have let the Indian take it, he would have brought it along safely." A poor apology for his bar barity, inhuman fiend, that he was.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BATTLE OF BIRCH COOLIE.
The citizens of Minnesota had now begun to realize the horrors of a home war. Sorrow comes to their hearts, and sadness to their homes. Familiar faces, which went forth, but a few days agone, will be seen there no more !
The murdered dead remain unburied, and their nauseous effluvia taints the air, at Eed Wood, and else where. A detachment, composed of one company of cavalry, under Capt. Anderson, and another of infantry, under Capt. Grant, in command of Maj. J. R. Brown, were sent out, August 31st, by Col. Sibley, commission ed with the sad burial charge of these victims of savage brutality. At night, they encamped opposite the Lower Agency, and on the following morning, they find and bury about thirty bodies, in every conceivable state of mutilation, and mostly the heroes of Capt. Marsh's company. While this was being done, a detachment, having crossed the river to the Agency, were engaged in the same sad and unpleasant duty there. About eighty -five bodies in all, were buried by the two com panies, that day.
Having re-united, they moved on, some three miles, to Birch Coolie, where they encamped for the night. There were no traces of Indians having been in the
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vicinity for many days, and a precaution against them was less in their thoughts, than personal comfort, when their camping ground was selected. Had they appre hended an attack, they would have sought the protec tion of the timber, not more than two hundred yards away, instead of the smooth prairie, the most unpro- pitious spot that could have been found for the ordeal which followed. Fortunately, the camp was made in the usual way, with the wagons packed around, and the teams fastened to them. The horses of the mounted men were fastened by strong picket ropes. A guard of thirty men and two non-commissioned officers, were detailed, and ten sentinels were on constant duty. Around the camp fire, the men talked over the horrid, sickening scenes of the day, till drowsiness settled upon their eyelids, when each, in their own respective tents, sunk into slumbers profound, unmindful of the senti nel's monotonous tread.
Sept. 2d was giving due notice of its dawning morn, in the sober gray which precedes its golden glimmer ings of light, and an officer of the guard was com pleting his round with a new relief The sentinel saw, by the waving furrows of the tall grass, that objects were moving stealthily along, in zigzag lines, not far away. Unwilling to give the alarm, without cause, he recalled the officer, and pointed them out to him. At this moment, came deafening war whoops from all sides, and the next, a raking cross fire poured in upon the unconscious sleepers. Most of the guard fell, some killed, and others wounded. The tents were riddled
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with bullets, and many in them were wounded, and others received their death shots, before aware of the presence of danger. Not sixty seconds of time was required for all this, and the utmost confusion prevailed, for a few minutes, and had the assailants charged into camp, a general slaughter would have followed. The panic and confusion of mind, which such hurried events create, gave place, in an almost incredibly short space of time, to calm, deliberate action. Every wounded man, whose hand could clutch a rifle, crawled from his tent, and with those uninjured, ranged himself at command, along the edges, behind the prostrate bodies of horses, wagons, or whatever else could answer for a temporary barricade. Thus on their faces, two and two, they worked. Some dug trenches with their bay onets, throwing up the earth with their tin cups, while others, loading as they lay, would rise on one knee, fire and fall, to repeat the process. Meanwhile, the hoarse braying of the animals, in their dying agonies, mingling with the groans of the wounded and dying men, is be yond the power of pen to depict. The first volley was the most deadly of any, for when the men were thor oughly roused, they deported themselves with the cool ness and bravery of heroes and veterans, though they had been scarcely two weeks in the field. Every man was a host. It is but justice, to make some allusion to the honored dead, who fell here, in defence of our Min nesota homes.
Among the first to enlist in the renowned company of "Young Men's Guards," raised in St Paul, for na-
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tional service, was Benjamin S. Terry. When the burial party went forth from their encampment, at Fort Eidgley, Sergeant Terry volunteered to accompany them, though his company was not detailed. His ob ject was to identify his bosom friend, George Spencer, by some specifications by which a stranger could not, as it would be far advanced in decomposition (for all sup posed him dead.) This made known to Capt. Valen tine, consent was given. No sooner was the alarm given, than, rifle in hand, he sprang from the tent, when a ball pierced his side and he fell, mortally wounded. Several times after his wound was dressed, he crawled from his tent, and took unerring aim at the head of a grass-hidden foe. He was perfectly aware of his situation, and before the sun went down, had fought his first and last battle with the Indians, and closed the more important life battle. He was a mem ber, modest and unassuming, of the First Baptist Church, in St. Paul, and of three brothers, was the second who had fallen by savage hands ; the first in 1852, while acting as their teacher and missionary, at the north. His body was afterward removed to St Paul, and more than one eye was dimmed as they saw the friend for whom his own life had been given, with tearful heart and sad face, acting as first bearer at his second burial.
Corporal Wm. M. Cobb, of St. Paul, was a young man of many virtues, and the pride of his father's, household. He received four bullets at one volley but still bravely fought on for an hour, when, ex-
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hausted from the loss of blood, he walked to the sur geon's tent, where his wounds were dressed. He lived until the next morning, but not to see the end of the fight His dying injunction was "not to give up the camp."
Sergeant Wm. Irvine was among the bravest of the brave. For thirty hours he lay upon his face without food or drink, discharging his gun as often as he could "sight an Indian." He had just sent a message to Capt Grant that he had killed three or four, when a a ball pierced his head, rendering him senseless. He died on his way to the fort, after relief had come to that worn out band.
These, with others, were afterward removed to St. Paul, and with suitable honors, buried in Oakland Cemetery. "So rest the brava"
All that day and all the night, that bullet shower raged. The little brave band was completely sur rounded, and no possibility of sending for relief un less heaven interpose, they must all die. Many a one lay soaking with his own blood, the soil of the trench he had dug with his bayonet and tin cup. On the morning of the 3d, the crack of the rifle is still heard, and its effect continues to tell upon our men. With savage yells and demoniac war-whoops the work goes on till nearly night
In Capt Grant's force were several half-breeds, who had fought valorously all the day and night On Wednesday morning, the Sioux commander called out in his own language for these to leave the whites, come
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over to their side, and they should have protection, as suring them that only the white blood was sought, and that they were going to charge at once and put every person to death. This was understood by all the half breeds, and by Maj. Brown, who translated it for Capt Grant
But Heaven interposed in the moment of greatest peril, and sent the boom of the approaching cannon, and at the same moment, an Indian horseman rode rapidly up to their commander, and was distinctly heard to say, that "two miles of white men" were com ing to the relief of the besieged party, which was fol lowed by the quick command to "cut them off anni hilate them I"
The pickets around Col. Sibley's camp at Fort Kidg- ley, fifteen miles distant, heard the firing early on Tuesday morning, and reported the same at headquar ters, but the echoes from the woods and reverberations from the bluffs, prevented them from determining the exact point of compass from whence the sounds pro ceeded. Convinced that the burial detachment was in imminent peril, somewhere, two companies, with a few mounted men, with a six pound howitzer, under Col. McPhail, were ordered to their relief. As by intuition, their march was shaped in the right direction.
Bidding defiance to the men and terror inspiring gun, the savages hastened on to meet and annihilate them, leaving a few men around the camp, which they '' thought now almost defenseless. Little Crow had pro-
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claimed to his people that Col. Sibley's army was com posed of old men and little boys hence but little to be dreaded in the conflict. But when they saw the formidable array, with all the modern paraphernalia of war, they deemed annihilation less sure, and con cluded to defer it till the next day, while they demon strated their prowess by firing from a distance, brand ishing their hatchets, defiantly waving their blankets and sounding the horrid war whoop.
To the inexperienced eye of our men, the scattered horde of savages seemed greatly magnified in numbers, and they fancied themselves too weak to cut their way to the relief of the struggling, suffering band ; there fore they bivouaced for the night, and returned a messenger for still greater re-enforcements. This mes senger was the brave and intrepid Sheehan, of Yellow Medicine and Fort Eidgley renown. The Indians an ticipating the design, tried to cut him off, chased him some seven miles, sending more than fifty bullets at him but his work was not yet done. Col. Sibley, with his entire remaining force, took up the line of march the same evening, reaching the second detach ment about midnight. At early dawn the column was in motion. As the sun rose, the sheen of bright mus kets, in the hands of distant running Indians, was seen all around them, but quite out of range. They had delayed their attack for the stimulus of rest and food, but now, when they saw this column twice the length of the previous evening, they were powerless with wonder ; unable to account for its sudden growth,
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and declared that "five miles of white men and a big gun were too much for them to fight."
A sufficient number of the enemy had remained at Birch Coolie to keep up a harassing fire. The main body of the Indians continued to brandish their bur nished weapons, which flashed back the sun's rays, and louder and more defiant became the continuous war whoop.
Thus was each party deceived with the number and strength of the other. Our force continued to ad vance in battle line, their fire, however, having but little or no effect on the distant foe, unless it was to impart an impression of superiority in strength and discipline, and keep them in the distance, till they finally retired.
When first the group of conical tents appeared across the distant ravine, there were doubts whether they were friends or foes. To annihilate them if the latter, before they have time to remove, and to relieve them if the former, the march is quickened. Dead horses form the barricade, but not a sign of life ap pears. Had all been slaughtered and the relief come too late? Aye, live men were in the trenches and joy fully aware of the approach of friends, for they knew they could hold out but a few hours longer. The want of water alone would soon have made them pow erless. Had the savage force remained undivided, they would doubtless even then all have been, found slain. A strange, wild, but genuine joy reigned in camp. Some clapped their hands and laughed, others
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danced in delight some gave praise to God, and oth ers were mute with their real heart gratitude.
There was but little time for congratulation, for thir teen dead comrades lay unburied, and sixty more were suffering from wounds. "The hero of a thousand bat tles" no more deserves the laurel wreath of FAME than the heroes of Birch Coolia For thirty-six hours, without food or rest, they had worked as none but he roes can, and had held their camp against three hun dred savage foes.
Impromptu mattrasses of prairie grass, placed on the 'hard wagon bottom, served for ambulances, and at sun down they commenced their return march. At mid night, tired and worn out with fighting and marching, they entered camp at Fort Ridgley.
According to facts afterwards obtained from reliable sources, the Indian force at Birch Coolie was three hundred and nineteen men, who had come from their encampments at Yellow Medicine, with the design of separating in two columns and simultaneously attack ing Mankato and St. Peter, in order to mete to them the fate of New Ulm, and had no idea of meeting any opposition by the way. The event proved that the detachment had been started from Fort Eidgley at the right time. Had these savages met with no check, they would have laid those flourishing towns in ashes, and many of the people would have shared the fate of those of New Ulm, and the adjacent country and then it was their purpose to follow up this success (they never thought of repulse,) to St. Paul, attack it
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in the night time and reduce it to ashes, and more se verely afflict the people than they had elsewhere. But Grod rules, and their designs were thwarted.
Those whose graves were made on the battle-ground were not the only victims of the Birch Coolie battle. One after another of the brave wounded swelled the list of dead, so that in ten days they numbered twenty- three. Of these, Robert Gibbons is worthy of special mention, being a humble Christian and prominent, de voted member of the Methodist Church in St. Paul. He had given two sons to the national army, and when a sudden home emergency arose, he joined a cavalry company to die the soldier's honored death, and when his remains were removed, to receive the soldier's honored burial, amid bleeding hearts and appreciating friends.
Mr. J. W. DeCamp had entered the ranks to fight in retaliation of the supposed death of his wife and three children. But he fell while fighting valorously, and though he reached the fort alive, he did not live to know but his worst fears were true.
Mrs. DeCamp was a companion in captivity with Mr. Spencer, and the utter neglect with which she was treated,' was almost as unendurable as the surplus of of attention to others. She was claimed by no one in particular, and consequently, often went to bed hun gry, she and her children, if indeed they were so for tunate as to find a blanket bed, on which to sleep. Our informant has himself besought the pity of the inhuman brutes and obtained something for her to eat.
One dark rainy night, according to a pre-arranged
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plan, with no one to guard her, she found little diffi culty in seeking the river, where a flotilla of canoes awaited herself and children, together with the family of her rescuer. For three days and nights they floated or paddled down stream in these open crafts, with the discomforts of a cold, drizzling rain, with insufficient clothing or food. But hope of a re-union with her husband, stimulated her desire for life.
On their way, they discovered a woman and five children lurking in the bushes, their clothes and flesh rent with the briers, and they were much emaciated from long fasting and anxious watching. This was Mrs. Eobideaux, who was welcomed to their frail fleet, and made as comfortable as circumstances would admit. These were all brought safely into port by Lorenzo Laurence, a Christian Indian, who jeopardized his life in this and other kindred acts, and with John Other- day, and others, is entitled to the^ gratitude and pro tection of white people for all time. These are evi dences that the missionaries' labors have not been en tirely in vain.
Simon, too, another Christian Indian, and an old man, rescued Mrs. Newman and three children from the hands of their captors, and rested not till he had placed them in friendly hands at the Fort. But the bright hopes which poor Mrs. DeCarnp entertained of meeting her husband went out when she reached her destination. Her brimming cup of sorrow overflowed at his grave, which had been made several days when she reached the Fort
CHAPTER XXIX.
BATTLE OF BIRCH COOLIE OFFICIAL EEPOKT OF MAJ. J. R. BROWN, COMMANDING- DETACHMENT.
FORT EIDGLEY, Sept. 4, 1862.
Col. H. H. Sibley, Commanding Expedition in Sioux Country :
SIR : In compliance with your order, I left the en campment at this post, on the morning of August 31st, 1862, to visit the different settlements between this post and Beaver River, to search for and bury all persons that could be found murdered, and at the same time, to examine the country about the Lower Sioux Agency and Little Crow's village, to mark all indications of the movement of the Indians, and the course taken by them in their retreat
Capt Grant's Company A, 6th Regiment ; Capt An derson's Company of mounted men, several volunteers from the officers of the expedition, a fatigue party of twenty men, and seventeen teamsters, with their teams, formed the force of the detachment.
On the 31st of August, the detachment moved in a body and encamped on the Minnesota bottom, at the mouth of Birch Coolie and opposite the Lower Sioux Agency, having found and buried sixteen corpses du ring the day.
On the 1st of September, the detachment marched in a body to the river bank, when the mounted corn-
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pany, with one team and eight of the fatigue party, accompanied me across the river, under the protection of the infantry. After searching around the Agency, and becoming satisfied there were no Indians in the vi cinity, Capt. Grant was directed to remain with his company, and twelve of the fatigue party, and sixteen teams, on the east side of the river, to bury what mur dered persons could be found at the crossing and at the settlements, as far as Beaver river, and from the Beaver river to return to the upper timber on the Birch Coolie, and encamp.
I proceeded with that portion of the detachment that had crossed the river, to bury the dead about the Agency, and then proceeded to Little Crow's village, and from there I went alone to where the road leading to the Coteau de Prairie diverges from the Yellow Me dicine road, to ascertain whether the Indians had gone to the Coteau, or continued up the Minnesota, towards the Yellow Medicine.
The road and the camps about Little Crow's village, indicated that the main body of the Indians had an immense baggage train, which had gone forward about six days previous, and a smaller baggage train coming from the lower part of the reservation, had gone forward two days subsequently, the entire force keeping the Yellow Medicine road.
In all our examinations, no signs could be found about the village, along the road, or at the river cross ing, near the village, that any Indians had been in the
vicinity for the four days previous. This was the uni- Ht '
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ted opinion of Maj. Galbraith, Messrs. Alex. Faribault, Geo. Faribault, and J. J. Frazier (who were among the volunteers,) and myself; and, as the Indians, when encamped near their villages, invariably visit them frequently, the general supposition was, that upon learning the approach of troops, the lower Indians had gone up to join the Yellow Medicine Indians, that they might subsequently act in concert in their defense against the troops, or in their movement west
Having accomplished the object of my visit to Little Crow's village, I proceeded to the ford, near that village, and re-crossed the Minnesota river, and near sunset, reached the encampment selected by Capt. Grant, near the upper timber of the Birch Coolie, and about three miles from the Lower Agency.
The two divisions of the detachment buried, during this day, fifty-four murdered persons. Capt Grant found a woman who was still alive, although she had been almost entirely without sustenance for fourteen days, and was severely wounded. She escaped from the massacre at Patterson's Kapids.
This camp was made in the usual way, on the smooth prairie, some two hundred yards from the timber of Birch Coolie, with the wagons packed around the camp, and the team horses fastened to the wagons. The horses belonging to the mounted men were fastened to a stout picket rope, between the tents and wagons, around the south half of the camp Capt. Anderson's tents being behind his horses, and Capt Grant's tents
DAKOTA WAK WHOOP. 185
being inside the wagons, which formed the north half of the camp.
A guard of thirty men and two non-commissioned officers was detailed and organized ten sentinels be ing stationed about thirty yards from the wagons, at in tervals, around the camp, with instructions to keep a good lookout, and report any noise or other indications of the approach of Indians.
Nothing was reported from the guard, until half past four o'clock, on the morning of September 2d, when one of the guard called out, "Indians," and almost in stantly afterward, a shower of balls fell upon the camp. The firing, for probabjy a minute, was entirely on the part of the Indians, during which time, many of our men were either killed or wounded ; but the mortality among the men, at that time, was, by no means, as se vere as might be supposed, owing to the protection afforded by the horses.
Capt Anderson and his company promptly availed themselves of the protection afforded by the wagons near him, and opened fire upon the Indians.
Capt. Grant's company and the fatigue party prompt ly seized their arms, and commenced firing ; but they, for some minutes, continued to expose themselves, im prudently, and, consequently, were very much cut to pieces. After the entire detachment became settled under the shelter of the wagons and dead horses, but few were killed or wounded, and the close firing on our side soon caused the Indians to withdraw to the shelter of the woods.
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After the withdrawal of the Indians, the construc tion of rifle-pits was commenced in different parts of the camp, which, although the men worked with a will, progressed slowly, owing to the hardness of the soil, and the want of proper tools. Three spades, one pick, "bayonets, tin pans, etc., constituted our means for ex cavation ; and yet rifle-pits to the extent of about two hundred feet in length were completed. From the time the first rifle-pit was commenced, but one man was killed and two wounded, although the fire of the Indians was continued until the arrival of re-enforce ments.
Although the Indians had great advantages over us in the early part of the engagement, I think that the mortality on our side, fearful as it was, did not exceed that of the Indians, judging by the numbers they carried across the prairie from the timber from which they fired. Our men were cool, and had orders to dis charge their pieces only when a prospect of hitting a foe was presented.
About two o'clock, on the 2d of September, the report of a cannon, which we were confident was dis charged by friends approaching to our relief, was hailed with joy, and as we were then in a condition to laugh at. all the attacks of Indians upon our position, we felt confident that they would be cheated of a victory through starvation or thirst.
As the re-enforcements advanced, the Indians began to withdraw from us, and prepare for operations against the approaching force. We could see and hear the
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Indians, and learned through them that the force was not large, and they hoped to cut it off. This gave us some uneasiness, because we feared the troops might attempt to cross the Birch Coolie about dark ; but we soon learned they were halted, and that the Indians proposed to wait until morning to make an attack upon them. In the morning of Sept. 3d, we again observed the the manoeuvers of the Indians, and could plainly hear their lamentations at the discovery that you with your entire force had reached Col. McPhail's camp during the night. From that time, the Indians had no hopes of either capturing us or defeating the re-enforcements. Still they kept up a fire on us until your van reached within two or three hundred yards of us.
The Indian force which attacked our camp, I esti mate at from two hundred and fifty to three hundred, all well armed and many mounted on good horses.
Enclosed, you will find Capt. Anderson's report, detailing the force, operations, and casualties of his company. His officers and men (with the exceptions he indicates,) acted with the utmost coolness and cour age. The captain, although twice severely wounded, continued in active command of his company until your re-enforcements reached our camp. To the prompt movements and energetic action of himself, and his officers and men, the early retreat of the Indians from the prairie, is in a great measure due.
Capt. Grant rendered important service in the construction of the main line of rifle-pits. Lieut.
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Gillam, of Capt. Grant's company, with a small party, located themselves on the left of Capt. Anderson early in the fight, and did gallant service. Lieut. Baldwin, of the same company, also acted with cool courage in the different portions of the camp where his duties called him. Lieut. Swan, of the 3d infantry, (a vol unteer,) was in charge of a party near and on the left of Lieut. G-illam, where he and his party did good service. Mr. Alex. Faribault, with his son, J. Frazier, and other volunteers, had position on the north por tion of the camp, where good service was done during the continuance of the battle. Major Galbraith and Capt. Eedfield, both volunteers, were wounded early in the morning. Maj. Galbraith received two wounds, but continued to assist in the construction of the rifle pits. Lieut. Patch, (volunteer) and Sergeant Pratt, of Capt. Grant's company, also rendered valuable service in the defense of the western rifle-pit
There were wounded, of the volunteers, in addition to those mentioned above, Daniel Blair and Warren DeCamp, the latter very severely. Mr. J. C. Dicken- son, of Henderson, and R Henderson, of Beaver river, also volunteers, left the camp in company with four others at the first fire, and were probably killed. The body of Mr. Henderson was found a short distance from the camp.
Having received no report from Capt. Grant, I am unable to give the names of the killed and wounded of his company, and the fatigue party attached to it
There were a few men who behaved badly, mostly,
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I think, teamsters ; but with these exceptions, the entire detachment acted with commendable coolness and courage. Probably the desire of Capt. Grant's com pany to charge upon the Indians, led to their exposure, and consequently so many deaths and wounds. After they took position behind the wagons, but few casual ties occured.
It is a singular fact, that the woman found by Capt. Grant escaped unhurt, although she lay in a high wagon, exposed to the fire of the Indians, and which had several balls pass through it. The killed and wounded were reported to Yan on the 3d instant, by Dr. Daniels, who accompanied the detachment. That report I believe to be correct.
Every horse belonging to the detachment was killed, excepting six, which were left at the camp, being wounded and unable to travel
The tents belonging to the detachment were perfectly riddled, one having one hundred and forty ball holes through it. They are unfit for service. Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JOSEPH E. BEOWIST, Maj. Gen., 3d Division Minnesota Volunteer Mil.,
Com. Detachment
CHAPTER XXX.
WANDERING REFUGEES.
Alone, in the wild morass, through tangled bottom land thickets, crawling in tall prairie grass, and subsisting on hazel-nuts for eight days, a mother wandered with her child. Her scant house covering nearly worn from her person, was poor protection from the chill night air, and the dew-beaded grass added to the discom fiture of her midnight ramblings. No Indian trail, even, marked the course for her feet to tread ; but her upturned eye marked the course of the stars, and her uplifted heart sought guidance of Him who "stayeth the rough wind in the day of the east wind." The infant which nestled now quietly in her bosom, had ever been fretful, restless and loud crying. Often she detected the savage foe prowling upon her path. Then she would kneel and pray for deliverance, and that the pitying angels would keep quiet the babe, that its wail reveal not her lurking place so would the dan ger pass.
Incredible as it may seem, this woman, Mrs. Almira Harrington of Leavenworth, Brown county, had a se vere bullet wound in the back. The same ball had killed a man near her and severed a finger from the hand of her infant.
The first night of encampment by the sad New Ulm
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cortege, on their mournful route to Mankato, was her rescue made. She was cautiously crawling through the grass towards the encampment, when discovered by a picket, who snapped two caps at her before he dis covered she was a white woman, and but for their de fect he would have shot her. This mistake occurred from her hailing him in the Sioux language he very naturally mistaking her for one of the tribe. Her story is a very thrilling and affecting one, and given with no ordinary intelligence, as she is a woman above the ordinary grade of intellect. Her escape and rescue may be regarded almost a miracle.
The escape of Mrs. Caruthers, of Beaver Creek, from her captors, is hardly less remarkable than the former. Two Indians claimed her, both of whom de termined to make her his squaw. The contest between them became fierce, each unwilling to yield his right. In the heat of the quarrel, one of their squaws, fearful of being supplanted in the affections of her lord, sig nified a readiness to aid her. She accordingly spirited Mrs. Caruthers and her two children off to a cornfield, from whence she made her escape, not waiting to know the result of the quarrel.
After being out two days and nights with little rest, she reached the Minnesota river, where she found a canoe and tried to paddle herself over. But "white squaw" having not yet learned "the light canoe to guide," found her frail craft playing funny antics, and resigning herself to its pranks, she laid down "the paddle," and floating on with the drift-wood five or six
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miles, was providentially thrown on shore near the Fort She rapped for entrance, with one child in her arms and another on her back, and found a safe asy lum there.
An amusing incident occurred with a young lady captive at the Lower Agency. The house of the Episcopal clergyman, Mr. Hinman, had been pillaged, and his clerical robes desecrated to savage use. With the red man, as with many white men, it is the dress that makes the man hence their increased pomp and stately bearing when new blankets are distributed. No doubt he had looked in some time at the open door when the good man had been ministering at the altar, with an envious eye for his priestly robe. Now what could be more opportune ? It was his, he had got it, and he would wear it he would even honor his fair captive with the escort of his dignified self in pontifi cal robes. In self-admiration and self-congratulation he stalked around, vainly imagining himself the ad mired of fair eyes, when a witty thought struck him,
and turning to Miss , he asked if she "belonged to
his church ?" The ludicrousness of the scene, despite the sadness, produced an audible smile, at which the poor fool was so elated, attributing it to his witticism alone, that he arose in ecstatic rapture, and for the mo ment forgot all but himself The opportunity was seized for escape, and when the pompous wit came down to a level with the rest of mankind, "his bird had flown," and no magic could lure her from her safe hid ing place.
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A young man who escaped the murderous grasp, lay all that fearful Monday in his grassy concealment He then moved on as best he could, till, finding him self nearly surrounded, he crept away in the grass, barely avoiding their savage clutches. Here he re mained till a heavy rain came on, when, from a knowl edge of their character, he felt he had little to fear. So he manceuvers till confident of eluding pursuit, and boldly pushes forth. From a high bluff he has sur veyed the scene, and no signs of Indian for miles around. Down the hill he rushes with rapid strides, but at the base is brought to a dead halt. One hun dred and fifty warriors at least are huddled together in the tall grass, not ten feet from him. The noise of the rain prevented the detection of his footsteps, and for tunately their backs were toward him, blankets drawn over their heads, and heads under their arms. Quick as if a thunderbolt had hit him, he drops to the ground and commences a worming ascent hunger and weari ness creeping upon him. Another day and night he rests, when again he resorts to the creeping process, and finally, succeeds in reaching a standing where erect locomotion is comparatively safe, to find not unfre- quently in his path some freshly bleeding token of their inhuman deeds.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE MANIAC.
When Captains Chittenden and Northrup, under Col. McPhail, passed up the Minnesota Valley, to raise the siege of Fort Ridgley, they were joined by Charles Nelson, a Swede, whose home at Norwegian Grove Set tlement was burned the day previous by the Indians. He had seen the tomahawk cleave the head of his wife in her attempt to escape. His two little sons he last saw run ning for the corn, and the Indians in close pursuit. He, with bleeding feet, walked twenty-five miles to Henderson, where he met the troops, and supposing himself the only survivor of his family, joined them, thus to avenge their fall.
Passing the spot, so late his happy home, he seemed utterly stupefied with grief, and mechanically closing the gate of his garden, inquired, "When it would be safe to return." His reason was gone ! This incident incited the following lines a few days after, while their writer, Captain Chittenden, was seated under the Falls of Minne-ha-ha, which our nation's poet has immortal ized in his wondrous (?) song of Hiawatha :
Minne-ha-ha, laughing water,
Cease thy laughing now for aye, Savage hands are red with slaughter
Of the innocent to-day.
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111 accords thy sportive humor
With their last despairing wail ; While thou'rt dancing in the sunbeam,
Mangled corpses strew the vale.
Change thy note, gay Minne-ha-ha;
Let some sadder strain prevail Listen, while a maniac wanderer
Sighs to thee his woful tale :
"Give me back my Lela's tresses,
Let me kiss them once again 1 She who blest me with caresses,
Lies unburied on the plain !
"See yon smoke ; there was my dwelling ;
That is all I have of home ! Hark ! I hear their fiendish yelling,
As I houseless, childless roam !
"Have they killed my Hans and Otto?
Did they find them in the corn ? Go and tell that savage monster,
Not to slay my youngest born.
"Yonder is my new-bought reaper,
Standing 'mid the ripened grain, E'en my cow asks why I leave her
Wand' ring unmilked o'er the plain !
"Soldier, bury here my Lela ;
Place me also 'neath the sod ; Long we lived and wrought together
Let me die with her O God !
"Faithful Fido, you they've left me ;
Can you tell me, Fido, why God at once has thus bereft me ?
All I ask is here to die.
"0, my daughter Jenny, darling ! Worse than death is Jenny's fate I"
Nelson, as our troops were leaving, Turned and shut his garden gate.
CHAPTER XXXII.
TALES OF SUFFERING.
Before the persistent and protracted engagement of Birch Coolie, Capt. Grant, on his route there, found a woman and four children in the swamp, who, for three weeks had subsisted on nuts and wild plums. They had seen no fire, found no covering but heaven's can opy, while rains had beat and fierce winds had blowed, and their now tattered garments were hardly sufficient for covering, and the chill autumn night air piercing to their very vitals. During this time she had given premature birth to an infant, which her own hands had buried. Exhaustion and constant fear made her a half wild woman, and she endeavored to elude her rescuers when first seen, by crawling deeper into the morass, and for some time she could not be made to understand that they were really her friends.
Her story is a heart- thrilling one. She had seen her husband and two children butchered, and her own back, incredible as it may seem, was the receptacle 'of seventeen buck-shot, which were not removed till after she was brought to St. Paul. Three of these were lodged in the bone, and none had entered the vitals, it having been a side shot. By superhuman effort and, woman's dexterous skill, she and her two remaining children eluded her pursuers, and to her own were
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added two others, of a slain neighbor, which Provi dence threw in her way, and now, day and night, these four helpless little ones clung to her, begging for food and shivering with cold. She had not expected ever again to see a white person, believing herself the only one living in all that region, and had expected relief only in death.
During the memorable thirty-six hours while raged the bullet shower of Birch Coolie, this poor suffering woman, with the children, was lying quietly, as if fear and suffering had paralyzed the senses, in a wagon, protected only by a tent canvas. Several balls passed through the wagon box. Gradually she came to re alize the change in her condition, and well did she appreciate the comparative comfort and kindness she received.
Soon after the terrible war whoop had rung through the State before yet the people had regained mental equilibrium the citizens of Saint Paul were startled by the bringing hither by their parents for medical treatment, two shockingly mutilated children, the first real exhibition we had here seen of savage barbarity. Four children were alone in the house, two of whom were killed outright, and the other two left, one of eleven years, with fourteen frightful tomahawk gashes about the breast, arms and head the other, a mere baby, had three severe cuts on the head and face. No human skill could save them.
The mother with four other persons, was out of the house when the attack was made on it. Those with
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her were killed, |ind she barely escaped with life, and hid in the woods till nightfall. The husband and father, unprepared for the change in his home, after a day's absence, returns to find it desolate indeed his mangled children lying upon the floor, and all in silence, save the groans of the two in whom life yet lin gered. In that brief survey, how his agonized soul yearned for the presence of her who doubled his joys and divided his sorrows ; nor was he long to endure the suspense. She had crawled from her concealment, when night shadows made it safe, to endure the anguished surprise with her other self But there is no time for tears or even the burial of their dead, they must fly with the mangled living.
A detachment of soldiers, sent up the Big Cotton- wood for the purpose, found and buried nine bodies, all of which were terribly decomposed.
One man, evidently surprised at his meal, had fallen forward on the table.
A woman was lying across a wagon-rack, near which was the body of a man, doubtless her husband, with his head cut off and several bullet-holes in his body.
A child was found nailed through its hands and feet to a tree. Another literally skinned ! O, the horrors of savage butchery ! The world has no record of such inhuman acts.
The first process of torture is usually to strip them of clothes, and the varied and cruel modes would' seem incredible, were they not authenticated beyond
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dispute; but we withhold the most saddening, soul- sickening pictures, for the pen revolts at their rehearsal ; nay, there is no written language that would convey their full import True it is, as often remarked during its progress, that the most horrid features of this Indian war will never be written.
A wife and several small children were, in one in stance, butchered before the eyes of the husband and father, he being detained for the purpose of being made a witness. Prematurely hastening the advent of her infant, they threw it around her neck as she was bound to the tree, and turning to the husband said, "there, you go to St Paul and tell them we are going to serve all the women there the same."
On the 27th of October, two months after compara tive quiet had been restored to our borders, and troops, unmolested, were encamped at Yellow Medicine, the recent stronghold of the red man, and heaven's dews, heavy and chill, were nightly drenching the earth, two emaciated figures of the human form were brought into camp. They were Mrs. Boetler and her child, of three years old, who had wandered since the outbreak, not having seen a human being till picked up by the soldiers. There is no power in language to convey an idea of what she suffered, never seeing fire, and living mainly on raw potatoes, till, from extreme weakness, she could not speak above a whisper. She made her escape with three children, two of whom died from starvation. With her own hands she dug their graves in the sand and heaped them up with leaves. The little girl who lived was as weak and emaciated as
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herself, but with kind treatment, medical attention and good nursing, physical vigor returned, but a pall never to be removed, rests upon their hearts.
The foraging party which brought Mrs. Boetler into camp, buried forty-seven bodies, and left elsewhere, sev enteen unburied. There is little doubt but hundreds have been left, unfound, till decomposition has taken place, and that the number of actual slain will swell to a larger list than we now have, while houseless, fire- less wanderers roamed here and there till the last shred of clothing was gone, and cold weather upon them, they lay them down to die, having been the severest sufferers of the Indian raid.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE ATHENJEUM.
So vigorous were the measures, so determined the efforts of our troops, that ere one month had passed, the fast fevered pulse was quiet, fears were subdued, and midnight alarms ceased, save in night-mare dreams, resulting from the daily developments of blood and murder.
Minnesotians, with all their fertility of imagination, had never anticipated the sad fate which awaited her that her fairest portions would, be drenched with the blood of the owners, or that the most remote frontiers man needed any stronger protection than his own powerful arm and his own resolute will. The Indians, we all thought, would never dare molest a settler ; not that they were too good to do it, but fear of the pow ers to whom they were amenable would prevent. But too late have they awakened to the need of strong frontier defenses a cordon of military posts will be demanded, to protect from further incursions, extend ing from the Red river of the North to the Red river of the South.
The direct loss by savage hands was not much less than that occasioned by the panic and flight. Many of the dead found on our prairies were the victims of starvation, after having fled the actual danger.
Scarcely a town without the range of their savage
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menace but gave shelter to the homeless; in many, citizens opened their own dwellings to give comfort and solace to the stricken ones. Societies were formed for their relief, food and clothing provided without stint, and for many weeks large donations from eastern cities, in money and goods, were daily received by the committees, and distributed to each "as they had need." The thanks of Minnesotians are due, and given in no stinted measure, for the prompt and ready co-operation in relief of these suffering thousands.
Take one example as a specimen of the congregating points. The vast German Athenaeum of St. Paul, was given up to the reception of refugees. Benevolent hearts, beating in the breasts of noble men and women, were devoted to their needs. Through these and her own observation, the writer obtained an insight into the individual history of that one-roomed community, more than one half of whom were children. Arrivals and departures were of daily occurrence, and some days, five hundred persons were there to be fed, and many of them clothed, wholly, or in part, besides sleep ing arrangements provided, and, as the weather was becoming colder, there was necessarily a large demand for bed coverings.
Many of these spoke only a foreign tongue, and a striking characteristic of all was the seeming extreme age lines of grief and care. Nor is it strange. Most of these had been reduced from competence to penury. Garners were full, plenty smiled at their boards the '" family circle was unbroken. One day, and ! how
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changed ! Farms are dreary wastes, the stock driven off or roam, uncared for, over the prairies, houses and barns are pillaged, or a heap of smouldering ruins, and the family ranks invaded by grim and ghastly death. The panorama is a very sad one to gaze upon, and still sadder is the real life it represents. Dost wonder, read er, that premature age is engraven on the index of those sad, weary hearts ? Alas ! we only wonder that death has not set his signet there. Truly, woman was made to suffer and endure !
Here, at the Athenaeum, is one family, whose beauti ful country home, just without the village of New Ulm, was the admiration of all. Their carriage and elegant matched horses were conspicuous objects during the besieging of that town ; for their buildings had all been burned, and their valuables seized upon. Their broad acres, teeming with golden plenty, were now one desolate waste, over which the cattle roamed, uncared for, and several thousands in money and promissory notes, were burned with the house. But all was naught, for the family circle was unbroken.
One little child, with violet eyes, of deep meaning, the only living member of its family, is being kindly nursed by a self-constituted foster-mother, who feels that Providence directed her to its rescue. This woman was fleeing from those whose war-whoop was ringing in her ears, when, stumbling over some object, conceal ed in the grass, she fell prostrate. Kegaining her feet, she involuntarily cast her eyes backward for the cause of her downfall. The fall, rise, and seizure of the child
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was but the work of an instant, and with it in her arms, she soon eluded pursuit. Then, in her covert, she first looks upon the child To her surprise, its mother, whom she knew to have been killed, was a neighbor and dear friend. The story being told, this darling baby-boy elicited no little interest from those who visited the building, and many of our best citizens desired to adopt him. But the foster-mother said u nay," its grand-parents were its rightful claimants, and her care would cease not till theirs commenced.
Another, with an eye of more than ordinary intelli gence, dignity of mein and lady -like in deportment, had opened her house and larder to the heroic men who so nobly fought' in defense of New Ulm, till the excitement of the terrible conflict obliged her to take her couch in real indisposition. Thus helpless she lay, while the bullets whizzed, and rattled upon the walls, and at last, necessity forced the alternative of firing the dwelling for better range of the foe. Hurried by her husband, she caught an ordinary dress, which was just thrown on (our lady readers will understand this), slipped her stockingless feet into slippers and made her egress at the front door as the savages made in gress at the rear. But her bright, intelligent boy of ten years, and her husband were saved, so she bore in silence the loss of all things else.
Here, too, is another ; her husband died in her arms from a wound, a few hours after the battle. Her aged mother and herself each try in vain to hush the plain- * live cry of the children in their arms, both mere in-
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fants, but recently, she says, " so rosy and fat," now so squalid and pale. Plenty smiled in her larder and cellar, and her wardrobe was rich and rare. The gar ments they wore away had become mere shreds, and their place is supplied by those of coarser texture than ever worn before. Her home and its contents are a heap of ashes, and with a bursting heart she sobs, "all would be nothing if he were only here." Though scarcely thirty, she looked like an aged grandmother of her own children, so terrible is such sudden grief to the heart
As soon as possible, all who desired it, were fur nished homes, either from private bounty or public resources, when a gradual improvement was apparent The little squalid ones again smiled and crowed in healthful glee, and the burden of their mother's grief was lightened by the occupation of mind and the necessity for effort
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE CAPTIVE'S EXPERIENCE AS FURTHER RELATED
BY HIMSELF.
""We remained at Little Crow's village five days, during which time all the Indians who had their vil lages below that place, moved np to our encampment, and in those five days the country for miles around was visited by the warriors, who dealt death and de struction to every person or thing within their reach. A great many female prisoners were brought in every day. I was the only white man ever taken and spared.
"There were three or four Canadians who had resided among the Indians a great many years, who had married Indian women and had children grown, who re-married with them ; but they were not considered as prisoners, as they were allowed to retain their teams and other property. One of these men is said to have made his escape to the whites, but returned to his Indian family again after a few days.
"The attacks on New Ulm and Fort Eidgley were made while we were at this village, and after being convinced that they could not reduce the Fort, they made preparations for a move.
"In a short time the lodges were all struck, and their entire camp was in motion. A great many wagons were broken down on the journey in consequence of.
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their being so heavily loaded. They supposed, of course, that a white man's wagon could carry all that could be piled on to it
"As I was too badly hurt to walk, my friend got me a place to ride in a small one horse wagon, while he walked along by my side. The train of horses, wagons, etc., I should judge was about three miles long. After crossing the Eed Wood river we had proceeded about three miles, when the body of a white man was pointed out to me, lying near the side of the road, upon his face. I got out to look at it, but it was so much swollen I could not have recognized it But upon the shirt collar I read the name of 'Greo. H. Grlea- son.' He had then been dead about a week. Poor fel low, he had not a personal enemy among the whole tribe, but was universally beloved by all, both whites and Indians, but those savage fiends had sworn to spare none, not even women nor helpless children.
"About three o'clock of the second day's march we arrived at Yellow Medicine, where a large encamp ment in shape of a circle was formed, wifh the 'Ti-zo- ti,' or Soldier's lodge in the centre.
"I would here add that this Soldier's lodge, being composed of the bravest and wisest, governs the tribe. Their word is law, and from their decision there is no appeal. To it the chief must submit in silence.
"Here the Mission houses, the Agency buildings, and the house of Other Day were fired, also some other houses belonging to the farmer Indians.
"We remained here about two weeks, during which It
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time the battle with Capt Strout's company was fought and the battle of Birch Coolie. Here, also, Gren. Sibley succeeded in opening correspondence with Little Crow. It was here, also, that Mrs. Adams was brought in a captive, some particulars of which will be found else where."
From this point, two messengers were dispatched north, south, and west, as spoken of elsewhere, and from here he sent word to his friends that he was still alive, etc.
CHAPTER XXXV.
EFFORTS TO REGAIN THE PRISONERS.
Until after the battle of Birch Coolie, the Sioux had no doubt of final and complete success. The spirit of their leader had been infused into the mass, and for a time his scepter of influence was swayed in power. But a reaction comes. The whites have not all gone South, and those that remained had given occular dem onstrations of their fighting qualities. Little Crow, the wily warrior Chief, feels his influence on the wane, and is often obliged to hide himself at night, to escape the fury of his dissatisfied soldiers, and then in the morning he convenes a council and all are ready to do his bidding, after he has feasted them to their full con tent
Colonel Sibley had left a note attached to a stake on the Birch Coolie battle ground, as follows :
"If Little Crow has any proposition to make to me, let him send a half-breed to me, and he shall be protected in and out of my camp.
H. H. SIBLEY, Col. Commanding Military Expedition.
The note was found and given to their male captive to be read to them. Little Crow desired him to pen the reply which he would dictate, but his arm, broken by the bullet, was not yet well, and he declined, but sent by the flag of truce which bore the reply, a mes-
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sage to Ms friends "that lie was alive." The following is a verbatim copy of Little Crow's letter.
"YELLOW MEDICINE, Sept. 7, 1862.
"DEAR SIR: For what reason we have commenced this war, I will tell you. It is on account of Major Galbraith, we made a treaty with the Government a beg for what little we do get and then can't get it till our children are dicing with hunger. It was with the tra ders that commence. Mr. A. J. Myrick told the Indians they would eat grass or their own dung, then Mr. Forbes told the lower Sioux that were not men then Robert he was making with his friends how to defraud us of our money, if the young braves have push the white man, I have done this myself; So I want you to let the Governor Kamsey know this. I have a great many prisoners women and chil dren it aint all our fault the Winnebagoes was in the engagement, two of them was killed. I want you to give me answer by bearer all at present.
Yours truly,
his
LITTLE M CROW, mark."
The following day the truce bearers returned with the following reply to the foregoing :
"LITTLE CROW : You have murdered many of our people without any sufficient cause. Return me the prisoners, under a flag of truce, and 1 will talk to you like a man.
H. H. SIBLEY, Col. Commanding Military Expedition."
The above was not in accordance with the mighty warrior Chieftain's ideas, and the prisoners were still "held in durance vile."
The soldiers, the people and the press became im patient for the expedition to proceed. Col. Sibley was charged with remissness, negligence and a desire to favor the Indians. Still he kept his own counsels,
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unmoved by calumny and trusting his own superior judgment He knew his men were undisciplined re cruits, but never an army composed of better material. Halls of science, business houses and churches had contributed to swell the enrolled list They must not be sacrificed, and to rush unprepared upon the enemy was madness. Besides, he knew the Indians well habits, character and fighting proclivities he knew, too, what woxild probably be the fate of the unhappy prisoners, should he be precipitate. The Indians held them for a specific end. Had the attack on them been made before they deserted their camp, it was their de sign to tomahawk every captive. This was not con sidered by his impatient slanderers, whose tongues were afterwards silenced, when they saw the wisdom of his plans and his courage in braving censure.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN COL. SIBLEY AND LITTLE CROW.
It was hoped that the checks which had been given the Sioux, with the practical knowledge gained of the fighting qualities of those with whom they contended, would cause the cessation of hostilities and the deliv ery of the captors. But always, in their mode of war fare, the danger is nigh when least expected. Fair, open field fight is avoided. Small guerrilla squads prowl through the country on fleet stolen horses, stri king where they can wield the most successful blow, and before the alarm can be raised, are beyond the reach of punishment
Coursing down the Minnesota valley, we find them in Blue Earth county on the 12th September, commit ting depredations and murders, where comparative se curity was being felt, and no supposition of an Indian within fifty miles. Four men, after taking their fami lies to a place of safety, had returned to secure their crops, as many others had done, and were surprised and murdered, within one mile of a military company, stationed there for the protection of the neighborhood, This circumstance evinced the necessity of strong armed forces, where there was no apparent danger.
On the 12th of Sept, another flag of truce, with
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another communication from Little Crow, was received at the "head-quarters." The bearer of the dispatch, had a secret for CoL Sibley's ear a dissatisfaction had arisen in camp, confirmed by a private letter, secretly brought and delivered, and it was very evident that the war party among the Indians, had determined on a desperate stand against our forces. We give below a copy of Little Crow's second letter to Gen. Sibley :
"RED IRON VILLAGE, OR ) WAY-AU-AKAN. \ "To HON. H. H. SIBLEY :
il we have in ma-wa-kan-ton band one hundred and fifty-five pres- oners not included the Sisitons and warpeton presoners, then we are waiting for the Sisiton what we are going to do with the prison ers they are coming down they are at Lake quiparle now, the words that I want to the governel il want to here from him also, and I want to know from you as a friend what way that il can make peace for my people in regard to presoners they fair with our children or our self just as well as us.
"Your truly friend,
"LITTLE CROW."
We append the answer.
HEAD-QUARTERS MILITARY EXPEDITION, ) Sept. 12, 1862. J
To LITTLE CROW, Sioux CHIEF:
I have received your letter to-day. You have not done as I wished in giving up the prisoners taken by your people. It would be better for you to do so. I told you I had sent your former letter to Gov. Ramsey, but I have not yet had time to receive a reply. You have allowed your young men to commit some murders since you wrote your first letter. This is not the way to make peace.
H. H. SIBLEY, Col. Com. Mil. Expedition."
The following is the private letter named above, re ceived at the same time as the other. The contrast of
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the two will readily evince the power of the Christian over the savage Indian :
"WAY-AWA-KAN, Sept. 10, '62. "Cor,. H. H. SIBLKY, Fort Ridgley :
"Dear Sir : You know that Little Crow has been opposed to me in everything that our people have had to do with the whites. He has been opposed to everything in the form of civilization and Chris tianity. I have always been in favor of, and of late years have done everything of the kind that has been offered to us by the Govern ment and other good white people he has now got himself into trouble that we know he can never get himself out of, and he is try ing to involve those in the murder of the poor whites that have been settled in the border ; but I have been kept back with threats that I should be killed if I did anything to help the whites. But if you will now appoint some place for me to meet you, myself and the few friends that I have will get all the prisoners that we can, and with our families go to whatever place you will appoint for us to meet.
"I would say further, that the mouth of the Red Wood, Candiohi on the north side of the Minnesota, or the head of the Cottonwood river one of these three places, I think, would be a good place to meet.
"Return the messenger as quick as possible, we have not much time to spare.
"Your true friend,
"WABASHAW, "TAOPEE."
CoL Sibley returned answer, as follows :
"HEAD-QUARTERS MIL. EXPEDITION, )
Sept. 12, 1862. f ,
"To WABASHAW AND TAOPEE :
"I have received your private message. I have come up here with a large force to punish the murderers of my people. It was not my purpose to injure any innocent person. If you and others who have not been concerned in the murders and expeditions, will gather yourselves, with all the prisoners, on the prairie in full sight of my troopspand when the white flag is displayed by you, a white flag will be hoisted in my camp, and then you can come forward and
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place yourselves under my protection. My troops will be all moun ted in two days' time, and in three days from this day I expect to march. There must be no attempt to approach my column or my camp, except in open day, and with a flag of truce conspicuously displayed. I shall be glad to receive all true friends of the whites with as many prisoners as they can bring, and I am powerful enough to crush all who attempt to oppose my march, and to punish those who have washed their hands in innocent blood.
"I sign myself the friend of all who were friends of your great American Father.
"H. H. SIBLEY, "Col. Com. Mil. Expedition."
As soon as the Expedition was provided with "bread and bullets for ten days in advance," the Col. issued his marching orders, and on the 18th of September crossed the Minnesota river, opposite the Fort, nearly two thousand strong, and in mud and rain, pushed on eager for the climax.
On their route the main body found and buried the body of Philander Prescott, an esteemed Christian man, who for more than thirty years had been employed as interpreter, and had been one of the first victims of savage wrath. His history is peculiar and full of in terest. When a young man he had found his way into the heart of the Sioux country, where, throwing off the restraints of civilized life, he adopted the habits, customs and costume of the tribe. He had married a squaw who bore him several children, who were grow ing up in all the ignorance which surrounded them. Thus he lived and thus he might have died, had not the Holy Spirit been commissioned with a message to his heart, reviving in even these dark surroundings the re ligious impressions of childhood. Deep and pungent
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conviction for sin was fastened "like a nail in a sure place," and he found peace at the feet of Jesus in the surety of pardon through his blood. Now arose the question of duty. The now Christian man could not leave his wife and children in heathen darkness, and therefore resolved to give them, with their people, the benefit of his new life. So he came to the frontier and engaged as Interpreter, first at Fort Snelling and later at the new Agencies. His family had been educated in the walks of usefulness, and everywhere commanded respect When the trouble commenced, his wife hid him in an oven, where he remained till the danger seemed comparatively over. Then he started for the Fort, a lone pedestrian, shuddering at the fresh tokens of savage wrath which often met his eye. But this was not long ; the savage hounds were upon his track, and his aged body is left to decomposition without funeral rites, while his well-prepared soul basks in the light of eternal day.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
BATTLE OF WOOD LAKE.
Col. Sibley's force was camped on Wood Lake, three miles below the Yellow Medicine Agency. Thus far had they come 'unmolested by the skulking foe, but frequent proofs of their doings met the eye in the mangled and decaying bodies. Wherever their en campments had been, the ground was strewn with empty trunks, boxes, barrels, fruit and oyster cans, and various other indications of the quality and kind of spoils.
A scouting party, among whom was Other-Day, was sent forward on the 21st Sept., who having curiosity to gratify, hitched their horses for reconnoissance of the deserted Indian houses. A horse of their own party galloped up riderless, and Other-Day hastened out just in time to see an Indian riding off his own horse at full speed. His fire was without effect, but his flash ing eye gave promise of success in a determination for revenge.
Where he was murdered, was found the body of George Gleason, whom it will be recollected was one of the victims of the first day's massacre. There was little else than a dried skeleton. His skull was broken in, and all his clothes gone, save his drawers and shirt Some gold buttons with his initials, which the savages
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had overlooked, were the only means of identity. Around him were fragments of dispatches he was car rying to the Lower Agency, and other papers of both public and private interest With sad hearts they heaped the earth over the remains of their once jovial, warm-hearted friend, and when all terror had fled that region, he was removed by Masonic friends to Shako- pee, where, at last, the rites of a Christian burial were given him.
A daring warrior of Little Crow came to the oppo- posite shore the night previous to battle, counted the tents of Col. Sibley's camp, by which, seeing but forty- eight, he estimated a force of only three hundred men. Their number was seven hundred and eighty, and so they felt safe in risking a battle. The "braves," more honorable than their chief, overruled his intent of a night attack, reminding him of his boast that he could whip the white men, and now, say they, "let's show them by open day-light that we can do it." Crow's plan was to attack with a small force in front, suffi cient to draw them from the ravine, and at a signal to be given, the ambushed Indians were to seize the bag gage wagons and shoot the drivers. So confident was he of success, that their women were brought down- to the opposite side of the river to carry off the spoils, while the men should do the butchering and make a clean sweep of the camp.
Early on the morning of the 23d, a foraging party was surprised, and conveyed the alarm to camp, while it was breakfasting. The Renville Eangers, under
DAKOTA WAR WHOOP. 219
Lieutenant Grorman, were sent at once to their support. In a few moments, the surrounding bluffs were covered with Indians, both on horse and foot, trying to circum vent the camp. The Third Eegiment followed in sup port of the Eangers, who now pushed on a mile in ad vance, and were nearly surrounded, and barely effected a retreat. The artillery kept the opposite shore of the lake, clear. Two companies of the Sixth had a skirm ish on the left, and the Seventh Eegiment, under Lieut. Col. Marshall, made a gallant charge into a ravine on the right, and drove the enemy from shelter there. This charge is pronounced by all, as one of the most valiant and successful ever made. And when we re flect that it was by an undisciplined regiment, not two months from the quiet of home life, and most of them in their first fight, with those who had drank in the war-spirit with their earliest breath, we marvel that the brave Col. Marshall, with his young heroes, had not all been left in ghastly death, instead of driving the foe and leading his men out of that ravine, glori ously victorious.
Other-Day, too, proved himself on this occasion true as steel, and of great courage. He pushed forward of the lines, rushed in amongst the Indians, exposing himself to the fire of both sides, and several times being mistaken for an enemy, was fired at by our men. Finally, after he had shot three Indians, he was sur rounded and led triumphantly into camp with two cap tured ponies, which more than squared up his account for the loss of his own horse.
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During the fight, Little Crow was seen in the dis tance, riding a black horse, with a spy glass in his hand, which he used ever and anon, to see how the war was waging. It was a complete repulse to the Sioux, and from this time they were thoroughly convinced that the despised whites were more than a match for them.
Had the cavalry force been sufficient to follow up this repulse, the whole band might have been de stroyed or made prisoners. But they being nearly naked, with no incumbrance but their guns and pow der flasks, soon outdistanced the infantry and rendered further pursuit futile. But the back bone of the out break was broken the power of Little Crow vanished as in air, and they sought their own safety by flight.
The aspect of affairs, as Col. Sibley moved up the Minnesota valley, was extremely threatening, and the difficulties under which he labored of no ordinary na ture. Had he yielded to the almost unanimous desire of the people to advance, before being fully prepared, and his command been defeated or even temporarily repulsed, it is a fact which does not now admit of question, that there would have been a general upris ing of all the savages on our border, embracing not only the entire Dakota bands, but the Chippewas and Winnebagoes also, which would have resulted in a repetition, upon a larger scale, of the murders and out rages committed by the lower bands of Dakotas. The, imminent peril to the whole State of a premature move ment, was constantly present to his mind, and con
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trolled every action throughout, notwithstanding the immense outward pressure brought to bear from every quarter. The obstinately contested but successful bat tle of Wood Lake, broke the power of the savage, completely demoralized the hostile bands, and relieved the entire frontier, teaching the savages a lesson they are not soon to forget.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
COL. SIBLEY'S DISPATCH TO GOV. RAMSEY.
WOOD LAKE, NEAR YELLOW MEDICINE, > September 23, 1862. $
To His Excellency, Gov. Kamsej :
Sir : I left the camp at Fort Ridgley on the 12th inst, with my command, and reached this point early in the afternoon of the 22d. There have been small parties of Indians each day in plain sight, evidently acting as scouts for the main body. This morning I had determined to cross the Yellow Medicine river, about three miles distant, and there await the arrival of Capt. Rogers' company, of the Seventh Regiment, which was ordered by me from New Ulm, to join rne by a forced march, the presence of the company there being unnecessary by the arrival there of another com pany, a few days previous.
About seven o'clock this morning, the camp was attacked by about three hundred Indians, who sudden ly made their appearance and dashed down toward us, whooping and yelling in their usual style, and firing with great rapidity.
The Renville Guards, under Lieutenant Gorman, were sent by me to check them, and Major Welch, o the Third Regiment, was instantly in line with his com mand, with his skirmishers in the advance, by whom
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the savages were gallantly met, and after a conflict of a serious nature, repulsed
Meanwhile another portion of the Indian force passed down a ravine on the right, with a view to outflank the Third regiment, and I ordered Lieut Colonel Marshall, with five companies of the Seventh Regiment and who was ably seconded by Major Brad ley, to advance to its support, with one six-pounder un der the command of Capt. Hendricks, and I also or dered two companies of the Sixth Regiment to re-en force him.
Lieut CoL Marshall advanced at a double-quick, amidst a shower of balls from the enemy, which for tunately, did little damage to his command ; and after a few volleys, he led his men to a charge, and cleared the ravine of the savages.
Major McLaren, with Capt Wilson's company, took position on the extreme left of the camp, where he kept at bay a party of the enemy who were endeavor ing to gain the rear of the camp, and finally drove them back.
The battle raged for about two hours, the six-pound er and mountain-howitzer being used with great effect, when the Indians repulsed at all points with great loss, retired with great precipitation.
I regret to state that many casualties occurred on our side. -The gallant Major Welch was badly wound ed in the leg, and Capt. Wilson, of the Sixth Regiment, was severely bruised by a nearly spent ball in the shoulder. Four of our men were killed, and between J
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thirty and forty wounded, most of them, I am rejoiced, to say, not severely.
The loss of the enemy, according to the statement of a half-breed, named Jos. Campbell, who visited the camp under a flag of truce, was thirty killed and a large number wounded. We found and buried four teen of the bodies, and as the habit of the Indians is to carry off the bodies of their slain, it is not probable that the sum told by Campbell was exaggerated.
The severe chastisement inflicted upon them has so far subdued their ardor that they sent a flag of truce into the camp to express the sentiment of the Wahpe- tons, composing a part of the attacking force, and to state that they were not strong enough to fight us, and desired peace, with permission to take away their dead and wounded. I replied that when the prisoners were delivered up, it would be time enough to talk of peace, and that I would not grant them permission either to take their dead or wounded.
I am assured by Campbell that there is serious de pression in the Indian camp many having been op posed to the war, but driven into the field by the more violent. He further stated that eight hundred Indians were assembled at the Yellow Medicine, within two miles of the camp, but that the greater part took no part in the fight. The intention of Little Crow was to attack us last night, but he was overruled by oth ers, who told him if he was a brave man, he ought tp fight the white man by daylight. I am fully prepared against night attack, should it be attempted, although
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I think the lesson received by them to-day, will make them very cautious for the future.
I have already adverted to the courage and skill of Lieut. Col. Marshall, and Majors Welch and Bradley, to which I beg leave to add those of the officers and men under their respective commands. Lieut. Col. Averill and Major McLaren were equally prompt in their movements in preparing the Sixth Kegiment for action, and were both under fire for some time. Capts. Grant and Bromley shared the dangers of the field with Lieut. Col. Marshall's command, while Capt. Wil son, with his command, rendered efficient service. The other companies of the Sixth Eegiment were not engaged, having been held in position to defend the rear of the camp, but it was difficult to restrain their ardor, so anxious were officers and men to share with their comrades the perils of the field. To Lieut. Col. Fowler, my A. A. A. G., I have been greatly indebted for aid in all my movements his military knowledge and ability being invaluable to me, and his assistance in to-day's affair particularly so. To Major Forbes, Messrs. Patch, Greig, and McLeod, of my staff, who carried my orders, I must also acknowledge myself under obligations for their activity and zeal, while to Major Brown, also of my staff, though suffering from illness, it would be injustice not to state that he aided me materially by his exertions and advice. The med ical staff of the several regiments were cool and ex pert in rendering their professional aid to the wounded. Assistant Surgeon Seigneuret, attached to my staff, is to be commended for his skill and diligence.
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I am very much, in want of bread rations, six-pounder ammunition, and shells for the howitzer, and unless soon supplied, I shall be compelled to fall back, which, under present circumstances, would be a calamity, as it would afford time for the escape of the Indians with their captives. I hope a large body of cavalry is, be fore this, on their way to join us. If I had been pro vided with five hundred of this description of force to-day, I venture the assertion that I could have killed the greater part of the Indians, and brought the cam paign to a successful close.
Kev. Mr. Kiggs, chaplain of the expedition, so well known for his knowledge of the character and lan guage of the Indians, has been of great service to me since he joined my command.
I enclose the official report of Lieut. Col. Marshall I omitted to mention Lieut. Gorman and his corps of Eenville Eangers. They have been extremely useful to me by their courage and skill as skirmishers. Cap tain Hendricks and his artillerists won deserved praise to-day, and Capt. Sterrett, with his small but gallant corps of cavalry, twenty-seven in number, did good service also.
I send reports of the several Surgeons, embracing lists of the killed and wounded.
Yery respectfully, your ob't serv't,
H. H. SIBLBY, Col. Commanding.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE CHIPPEWAS.
While these barbarities were being enacted in the west and southwest, "tidings out of the north" troubled the political elements at the Capital. Indeed, all the surrounding counties are astir, for there are rumors of a Chippewa uprising. A dark, portentous storm seems about to increase the fury of the one already raging. Aye, rumor says, the Chippewas have joined hands with their hated enemies, the Sioux, and, henceforth, they will do battle together for the extermination of the whites, that Agent Walker, they claim, has wronged them, and they will have redress. All this is not without foundation, and ere the excitement has reached its acme, Agent Walker shoots himself, some say, under the excitement of an insane mind, and more uncharitable ones say, from fear of his doings with them being fathomed.
At this juncture, Hole-in- the-day, the nation's head Chief, issued a proclamation, to the effect that he would not be responsible for the conduct of his people, after ten days, and desired all white settlers to leave the country, before the time specified. The Sioux raid had already depopulated many of the fairest portions of the upper country, and now, the few remaining and dwelling 011 the Chippewa reservation, fled to Fort Eip
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ley or Abercrombie for protection, which were even then crowded with refugees, whom the Sioux had driv en there.
A messenger came from Hole-in-the-day to Commis sioner Dole, asking him to come with Judge Cooper, and make a treaty. These, with Senator Wilkinson and Paymaster Thompson, went at once on their mis sion of peace. It was said that Hole-in-the-day had assured his people that "we had all we could manage, with our brethren the South, and if they pleased to combine with the Sioux, their power would not be re sisted. There surely was cause for alarm alarm for the safety of the State, alarm for the fleeing inhab itant.
In due time, with a strong armed force, threatening in its aspect, the embassy seat themselves in council, when these are at once surrounded by a still stronger force of Chippewas, sending terror to the heart ; and to their minds, bidding defiance to all treaty efforts. Two or three days were consumed in this way, each retain ing their own military force on the ground, and refusing to be first to withdraw. There was no avenue of hope under such threatening skies, and a messenger was dis patched to Grov. Ramsey, to make all haste to be at the council. He lost no time, and with two or three oth ers, was soon under way, and met Commissioner Dole, who considered himself fortunate in having escaped with his life, but deemed him hazardous in the extreme, in going, without a military escort. Therein was the' trouble, but the Commissioner comprehended it not;
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so giving all power into the Ijands of the far-seeing Governor, the two parted.
After an absence of three days from the Capital, the second corps of commissioners returned from a success ful conference with the Chippewas. On the 15th Sept., all pending -difficulties were declared settled, and they shook hands, in taking leave, more cordially than when they met, leaving them in a better state of mind than had existed for years. The public mind was relieved. This was the first rift in the savage war clouds. "Fair weath er," saith the prophet, "cometh out of the north." This seemed a precursor of hope for the dying echoes of the war-whoop, on the other hand. Nearly every Chief of the nation was present, and appended their signature to a treaty of peace, involving perpetual friendship, made and signed at Crow Wing, Sept. 15, 1862, and in presence of the several bands over which each Chief bore rula All hostile demonstrations now cease, and all return, in quiet, to their rude village homes.
Not months had passed since the painted savage, in our streets, or even any number of them, was no cause for alarm. Children followed them from street to street, and old men and maidens, last initiated into western life, were eager for an eligible position to witness the celebrated performance of the begging or scalp dance. To the ungratified eye, it was a coveted scene, and even those to whom it was no more a novelty, never lost the opportunity. But we have shown how vast a change a little time worketh. A red skin becomes a rare sight, and no more thought of, but in connection with rapine
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and murder. Women . turn pale in affright, children scream in terror, and men involuntarily elevate the hand to the cranium, as if to hold fast their scalp, for a band of some forty Indians suddenly appear in front of the Capi tol, on the morning of Sept. 22, demanding an interview with the Governor. The practiced eye could see they were not Sioux, whose bloody knives were still un sheathed ; hence the alarm soon subsided, for policy forbade the violation of a peace treaty, not yet one month old
This delegation represented twenty -one bands, each of which was accompanied by its Chief, tendering the service of the Chippewa nation to Gen. Pope, who was in command of the Department of the north-west, hav ing its head quarters in St. Paul, to become our allies in fighting the Sioux. After trailing the "stars and stripes" through the streets, for an hour or two, while the people, in various humors, looked on its desecra tion, preliminaries for a formal reception and "talk," on the following morning, was being made.
The time designated being made known to them, they, prompt to the hour, were seated on the ground, their feet underneath them, in the usual manner, await ing the best bow of the Governor, when he gave his "talk" in his usual felicitous humor. He welcomed them to the city, forgave past indiscretions of some of their young men, in taking property of the whites, which he was sure they all now regretted, and was^ happy that the Chippewas had never shed the blood of the white man, as their bad brothers, the Sioux, had
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done. He said that Gen. Pope, the great war chief, who had lately come to fight these bad Indians, was not ready for them now, but would send them word when he wanted them to go upon their war-path. He regretted that they were not here an hour earlier, as they then could have witnessed the deliberations of the great council of the State.* He wished them a happy journey home, promised them a good supper that night, and a ride on the fire wagonf to St. Anthony.
The above brief speech was responded to with the usual grunts and "ho, hos," and being concluded, the Chief, Berry Hunter, assured the Governor that the words he spoke "went right into his ears, and they were good, and though he was an old man, he had not lost his reason. That they had come down to show their white brothers they felt very friendly, and never de sired to have any other feeling toward them/'
Big Dog, another Chief, desiring to display his ora torical powers, as also his warrior prowess, came for ward and said "his hands were very red he had paint ed them on purpose, so that when he came to imbrue them in the blood of the Sioux, they would show no stain."
After some more like unimportant speeches, of which these are samples, the council broke up in seeming sat isfaction, but, doubtless, as much from the promised feast, as any other cause, to which, at the appointed hour, they did ample justice. And the following
* An extra session of the Legislature had just adjourned, t Cars.
Jt
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morning opened their eyes in wondering pleasure, as they swiftly rode over the prairie, but dodging, in alarm, at the shrill notes of the engine whistle.
CHAPTER XL.
THE CAPTIVE'S PERIL.
Perhaps it was the power of the whites, and the fear of merited punishment, or the influence of Chaska, whom his white friend had impressed with the evil of their doings, which made dissatisfaction apparent in the Indian camp, and incited the resolve for a separa tion. "The leaven" was surely "hid in the meal," and was working with its own hidden effect for the forma tion of a friendly camp. Believing this to be the case, Little Crow and Ms adherents, daily threatened the life of the captive, Spencer. Chaska was the "head soldier" of his chief when the work began, who had relied on him to carry out his monster plans of ruin and death, but against the whites he would not "move so much as one of his fingers." Threats were made, hard quarrels resulted from his pacific course, and the disposition to be made of the "white man." Armed and mounted men almost daily rode to the door of the lodge demanding "the white man to be brought out." And this, when he was too weak to stand alone, sup ported by the strong arm of his red friend, with the hostile guns aimed at his heart Then Chaska, brave and fearless, would aim his double-shooter, with " Shoot if you like ; kill him if you will ; but two of you will come out of your saddles if you do." They knew his
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spirit, and did not care to risk a test of his steel on their own person ; so for that time the danger would pass, to be repeated in a few hours. Their tent had a large hole dug in the center, where he was concealed when danger was known to be near.
"For the most part of the time," (we quote his own language,) "for ten days previous to the arrival of our forces, I was kept concealed, in consequence of nume rous threats made, and an order issued by Little Crow that Ta-o-pi, my friend, and myself, should be put to death.
"The friendly Indians, however, guarded me faith fully, notwithstanding I was considered by many as the cause of placing their lives in danger. The night before the battle of Wood Lake, I was disguised and sent to a lodge in a different part of the camp, in con sequence of two or three armed Indians who had been discovered lurking round the lodge in which I usually staid, evidently with the intention of trying to get a shot at me.
"Another time a squaw came in and whispered some thing to my friend, who instantly seized his gun, and bade me put on my blanket and follow him. As I followed, he hurriedly told me that Little Crow and two others were prowling around, and intended to fire into the lodge where I was. I was taken to a neighboring lodge and placed in the hole already dug, and care fully concealed, where I passed a long and sleepless night, with a guard of ten or twelve Indians around on the outside. These and similar occurrences hap-
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pened so frequently, that I at length became in different, and did not care how soon death might come.
"My bodily sufferings were very great, but nothing when compared with my mental anxiety. Being threatened with death so often, sometimes I almost prayed that some of their attempts to kill me might prove successful. I thought that death would be a re lief to me.
"Being constantly with my friend, I received the best of treatment from him and his wife. But the fe male captives were, with very few exceptions, subjec ted to the most horrible treatment. In some cases, a woman would be taken out into the woods, and her person violated by six, seven, and as many as ten or twelve of these fiends at one time. There was, I be lieve, but one captive killed ; that was a boy, who had in some way offended his captor, who deliberately shot him dead.
"With the exception of being almost devoured by fleas and other vermin, which always infest the In dian lodge, my situation was as comfortable as it could be under the circumstances. Before leaving the Indian camp, my friend restored to me my ring, pin, watch, money, clothes, and, in fact, every thing I had about my person when I was taken.
"I oftentimes contemplated making my escape, or at least attempting it ; but my wounds were not sufn- ciently healed to allow me to undertake it. I am sat isfied that, had I been perfectly well, I could very easily have stolen a pony and gun, and knowing the
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country well, I should not have had much difficulty in escaping.
"The battle of Wood Lake was fought, and the In dians were thoroughly convinced that the whites were more than they could successfully contend against, and sought safety in flight
CHAPTER XLI.
THE FKIENDLY CAMP.
The day of redemption was drawing nigh ; hearts were to be relieved of the bitter anxiety, and the suf ferings of the captives in the Indian lodges, to end. Of the formation of the friendly camp, Mr. Spencer gives the following particulars :
"While yet at Bed Iron's village, Ta-o-pi, Ma-za-ku- ta, Wa-kin-yan-wash-te, my friend, in accordance with the instructions received secretly from Gen. Sibley, attempted to form the friendly camp, or in other words, to form a separate encampment from the main camp, and to get as many of the captives as they possibly could into their possession, and remain firm, and when the whites came up, to deliver themselves and the cap tives up to Col. Sibley.
"Several attempts were made to establish this camp, but no sooner would the lodges be set up, than hun dreds of armed Indians from Little Crow's camp would come over and push down the lodges and force them back into the main encampment. Some few friendly Indians made their escape, taking captives with them, and succeeded in getting into Fort Bidgley.
"White Lodge left us at this place with his entire band, taking away with him about fifteen captives. They went over toward the Missouri river. One day, when most of the warriors were absent, a party of
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about twenty-five lodges made another attempt to camp by themselves. They were this time successful. They pitched their lodges in a small hollow, and de termined to intrench themselves and fight rather than to again be forced back with Little Crow's party. They accordingly dug large square holes in the centre of the lodges, in which to place the women and chil dren in case of an attack ; so that the little camp was in quite a defensible condition. After it was thus fortified, several other Indians who had not the courage to join in at first, came in, and in a few days our camp numbered about one hundred and twenty -five lodges, and fighting men enough to hold it against all the warriors that the opposite party could bring against it.
"Standing Buffalo, the Sissiton Chief, and Wa-a-na- tan, the chief of the Cut Heads, came down while we were at this place and held council with Little Crow, and determined not to take any part in the war against the whites.
"A great deal of credit has been given to Wa-ba- shaw, a well known chief, for assisting in the formation of the friendly camp. But I can see no just cause why he should have the credit of doing an action which justly belongs to others. After the battle of Wood Lake had been fought, and upon the .return of the -Indians; hastily holding a council, Crow and his followers determined to flee to the plains. Wa-ba-shaw started off with them, and returned and joined the friendly camp only the day before our forces came in
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sight His conduct was most cowardly all through the whole trouble.
"Our camp remained firm, and two days after we had the most welcome news that the 'Long Trader' (the name by which Gen. Sibley is known among the Indians,) with his troops, was in sight.
"It was to me a glorious sight. I had been in cap tivity forty days, and during most of that time my life had been in imminent danger almost every hour. When I rolled myself in my blanket to take a little rest, I knew not whether I should awake in this world or the next I was now about to be released, and take my friends by the hand. Could it be a reality, or was it only a pleasant dream, such as I had often had, to be again dispelled by sounds of the well known war- whoop, which would warn me to betake myself to my place of concealment? The gleaming of the bright bayonets in the sun, the sound of the ear-piercing fife, and the rattling drums, were sufficient to convince me that it was not a dream, but that I was saved.
"Too much praise cannot be awarded to Colonel Sib- ley, whose thorough knowledge of Indian character has so successfully enabled him to accomplish the ob jects of the expedition.
"The rescue of his unfortunate countrymen, who were held as captives, by a savage foe, was ever upper most in his thoughts, and though others may censure him for not coming up to their expectations, we, who have been rescued, will ever hold the name of Henry H. Sibley dear in our hearts."
CHAPTER
CAMP KELEASE.
Two hundred and twenty captives had been aided into the friendly camp, and now hearts beat with exultant hope of no distant release. To what bru tal indignities had they been obliged to submit ! How the heart revolted at the loathsome retrospect ! wives, mothers, young ladies, and young girls, almost chil dren, had met the same fate.
The fairest, most cultivated, and most attractive of the youthful women, was Miss Mattie Williams, of Painesville, Ohio, who, at the time of the out break, was residing with an uncle, seven miles up the Yellow Medicine river. Each sought their own safety, in whatever direction circumstances seemed best to in dicate, neither person or company waiting to see the course of the other. Mr. and Mrs. Eeynolds, the uncle and aunt of -Miss Mattie, were nearing a place of safety, when a party of armed Indians were seen making to ward them. What was to be done? The reeking, jaded horse, just ready to fall, could not be urged out of a walk, and the first thought was to abandon the buggy and trust their own locomotion for safety. But he being a large man, was dissuaded by his wife, who suggested the strategy of playing Indian. By the time they had their blankets adjusted in the most approved
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Indian style, the savages were sufficiently near to sup pose them of their own people, and so made off in an other direction, leaving them to a safe terminus of their route. Miss Williams, with a German servant girl, was in an open buggy, with a Mr. Patwell, and they had begun to feel safe from pursuit, when set on by a gang of these worse than blood hounds ; the man was killed, the Grerman girl was wounded, so that from the wound and other brutal treatment, she died in four days. Miss "W. was hit by a spent ball in the shoulder, but its pain was forgotten, in the terrible anguish that fol lowed, in the experience of forty days' captivity. Oc casionally, she would find the fragment of a book, or some coarse needle work, with which to kill time, else it was all given to bitter reflections on the sad reality of her lot ! how my heart yearned toward her, as she modestly alluded to the indignities, the cruel, brutal treatment which may not be penned, and I felt, and. I still feel, that the man or woman who would stoop to calumniate the fair fame, for such a cause, of one who has thus suffered, deserves to be branded a coward and a brute.
Forty nervous, anxious days, forty restless, sleepless nights, suffering from cold and leaking tents, though never from hunger, forty days .clad in Indian costume, suffering in every way that savage passion could de vise ! A . soft, dewy mistiness creeps from the heart to the eyes as we contemplate the horrors of that life, which time and again she prayed might end. But the hour of release drew near. A giant mind with strong
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will, had every energy of soul bent to this one object, and its accomplishment was sure. With nervous joy she wrapped her blanket around her on the night of the 25th September, for the last time in that Indian camp, and laid her down, not to pleasant dreams, but to blissful waking visions of release.
How her heart fluttered and beat in turn, lest the hope should be thwarted ! Nor was she alone in her night vigils. In every tent in that encampment "eyes were holden" from sleep. Only the infants slept un consciously, as if fear, care or pain had never visited the earth. Were those weary days, those anxious restless nights indeed to end ? was the one absorbing thought, and memorable for this will be that last night in Indian camp. At the first dawnings of day on the morning of the 26th, the camp was astir, and prepara tions went forward for the reception of their dis tinguished guests. Personal decoration was the absorb ing theme of the "Master of Ceremonies." Paint of every hue was in active demand, together with eagle's feathers, beads, and wampum, and white flags were displayed all through their village.
At noon, a flag of truce, consisting of a stolen bed sheet, tied to the end of a pole, went forth to meet the approaching "Expedition." Great indeed was the cap tive's joy on the sound of the martial music, and at the sight of the bright gleaming bayonets in friendly hands ! The Indians, squaws and pappooses, were arranged in a circling wall around the camp for the' reception of their guests, or in awe at the strange and
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imposing display. Col. Sibley marched his column partly around their encampment and went into camp near the river. Some of the men whose families were held captives were allowed to go at once to them, and O ! the joy of such meetings ! Who shall paint the scene? In due time, Col. Sibley and staff went over to take formal possession of the camp. Around him crowded those from whom the blood-stains were scarcely washed, with every protestation of friendship and the constant declaration of "me good Ingian."
Col. Sibley, from his great magnanimous heart assured them, that the really innocent had nothing to fear, while the guilty ones would meet the punishment their deeds merited. He now demanded the uncon ditional and unreserved surrender of all the prisoners. The preliminaries being concluded, the waiting, trem bling captives were brought forth and delivered up to him who had spent anxious days and sleepless nights devising for the accomplishment of this object. He says of it : "I conducted the poor captives to my camp, where I had prepared tents for their accommo dation. There were some instances of stolidity among them, but for the most part, the poor creatures, relieved of the horrible suspense in which they had been kept, and some of the young women freed from the loath some attentions to which they have been subjected by their brutal captors, were fairly overwhelmed with joy." This camp very properly took the name of "Camp Eelease."
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Another, in speaking of the circumstances, and the profound joy which made them speechless, says :
"We brought them into camp and did all we could to make them comfortable, for every heart was moved at the recital of what they had suffered."
Many of these were so overwhelmed with gratitude they could have fallen to the ground, doing reverence to their rescuer. One of his officers said to him "Col. Sibley, / would sooner have the glory of your achievement to-day, than the proudest victory ever won in battle" There was no audible reply, but his manhood was stirred within him, and his soul-fall eye was far more emphatic than words could have been. He had accomplished the sublime purpose of his heart, this great good to more than two hundred helpless beings. What mattered to him the vile reproach of envy, or the clamorous tongue bidding him rush on to mad ex termination, which would have brought inevitable death to every captive. He had the proud triumph resulting from a fearless discharge of duty, and to his own quarters he took the only adult male captive, caring for him as a "father careth for a son whom he loveth."
CHAPTER XLIII.
INDIAN PKISONEKS.
After proper attention to the rescued, the next "order" in the military programme was the erection of a jail in the centre of Camp Eelease. Some were de tailed to cut the logs, others to haul them in, and oth ers to throw them up and firmly bolt their corners ; and before nightfall, the huge pen was completed, ready for occupants. These were brought in 'by Col. Crooks, with an adequate armed force. Those absolutely free from suspicion were unmolested. The prisoners were put in chains, and a strong guard set around the jail. A military commission, composed of Col. Crooks, Lieut. Col. Marshall, and Capts. Grant, Bailey, and Lieut. Olin, to which two or three others were after wards added, was convened for the trial of the guilty.
No more formidable Calendar was ever brought be fore human tribunal. Four hundred and twenty -five men arraigned for criminal trial! Every precaution was taken that no injustice should be shown, and all testimony was required to be written down, that it might be easily recurred to, in case of any after ques tioning of their innocence. Those who plead "guilty'' to charges, had their cases soon disposed of. The equivocation of the guilty parties, who were allowed to testify in their own case, was often, to say the least.
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very amusing, and their statements devoid of all reason and good sense. Many would admit they fired in bat tle, but generally insisted it was at random, and nobody was hurt ! A plea supposed to be valid by the one who rendered it, was that the horse he stole was a very little one, and, of course, his crime not very great, and that the oxen he took were for the gratifica tion of his wife.
A man in the vigor and prime of life declared that his gray hairs should attest his innocence, and some young men, that their hearts were too weak to face fire. A strange admission for an Indian. Another batch would insist that when the battle raged, they were lying flat on their faces, writhing in physical tortures, such as in babyhood would have been relieved by a dose of catnip tea.
A small army of culprits vowed they had crept under a wonderfully capacious stone (which nobody ever saw there,) during the battle at Fort Bidgley, and did not emerge therefrom till all was quiet. A still larger number averred that an unsocial spirit kept them from fighting, and then again that they were in the rear of the several battles ; feasting on roast beef and green corn, and for the truth of the last assertion they called on the Great Spirit, Heaven and Earth to witness. One had his tender sympathies so wrought upon to see his kin killing the whites, that he lay down to sleep and did not wake till the battle was over.
Cut-Nose, whose bloody deeds are before recorded', was condemned for the same, and a companion in crime
\xea-c
CUT NOSE. ( The \Yholesale Butcherer. )
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for having butchered nineteen persons, both made most solemn protestations of "me good Indian," with strong est avowals of friendship for their accusers, proving, very conclusively, that many, in the friendly camp, were as black in crime, as any who went at large, un- whipt of justice.
All ages, from boys of fifteen to infirm old men, were represented by these criminals. One said, he 4 'was fifty a great many years ago, when he quit count ing." The characters were as diverse, if the physiog nomy was a criterion, as the persons represented by them.
The party engaged in the captivity of Mattie Will iams and the murder of Mr. Patwell, were doomed to the punishment their deeds merited. A very old man was identified by two boys, one of more than usual intelligence. Their families had escaped from the vicinity of Beaver Creek, and arrived almost within hailing distance of the fort, when met by the Indians, who told them, if they would return to their homes, and give them their teams, they should not be injured. They accepted the alternative, but when nearly home, the Indians suddenly fired into the party, killing seve ral, and then took the uninjured women and children prisoners. The stolid old wretch was made to confront the witnesses, who identified him as having taken un erring aim at more than one of the party. It was a thrilling scene, the boy hearts swelling with emotions unutterable. "I saw that man shoot my mother," burst forth from one of the boys ; and "I saw him," said the
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other, "shoot a man who had kneeled down to pray." Another was recognized by Mrs. Hunter, as having shot her husband, and taken her into captivity.
Several of the Eenville Eangers, who, it will be re membered, had deserted, were brought before this tri bunal. They had been in all the battles, and fought with a determined daring, equal to the fiercest of the full bloods. Of these, particular attention was drawn to a young Hercules, about eighteen, bright, intelligent ; and competent for a vast amount of evil. He declared he was outside the fort, when the Indians surrounded it, and was thus unintentionally thrown into their ranks, and that his hands were as free from blood as his heart from guile. The evidence, however, proved him to have taken the first scalp at Wood Lake, from an old grey-headed man and former comrade, and re ceived therefor one of the two belts of wampum, which had been promised by Little Crow, as a reward for kill ing the first white man. One greatly amused the Court by asserting that he was the sole cause of the war. He was an old sore-eyed man, of lymphatic tempera ment, and had been living, he said, near New Ulm. The benevolent whites had supported him, and their lavished kindness incited the jealousy of the other In dians, hence the war.
Thus might we multiply instances of strange fabri cations and flimsy subterfuge of falsehoods, which, in detail, would crowd a larger volume than this. Bu*t enough has been given to show their duplicity and their guilt. Three weeks of patient, unremitting labor,
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was given to this business, ere Camp Kelease was bro ken up, and still it remained unfinished. The troops were ordered "below," and the Court adjourned to the Lower Agency, where the work of death had first commenced. Surely, no more appropriate place could have been found.
While at Camp Release, Col. Sibley was very justly promoted to "BRIGADIER GENERAL OF VOLUNTEERS," and the same was confirmed by the U. S. Senate, one year after.
CHAPTER XLIV.
CAPTIVITY OF MRS. SOPHIA JOSEPHINE HUGGINS.
Driven away from her husband, as the reader has seen in a former chapter, it was very natural that Mrs. Huggins should look to the one for protection who had evinced a kindly spirit toward her, and believing they would be more safe with the Chief than elsewhere, she, with Julia and her children, went to his house the same evening.
As they passed through the village, many squaws came oat, with a show of grief, in the usual way of laying the hand over the mouth, groaning, &c. The men loafed at their tent doors, smoked their pipes and said nothing, pretending not to see them. They were kindly received by the Chief's wife and other mem bers of the lodge, her mother, and their son, Na-ho- ton-mana, a lad of fifteen years. A buffalo robe was spread for them at the further end of the lodge, and this "seat of honor" was always reserved for her, so long as she remained a member of the family. On one of her own pillows, at night she rested her throb bing head* and many other articles from her own house were around her, reminders of the day's experience.
That was a dreadful night. Men went and came to consult their Chief, and loud talking was heard aH over the village. Only the children slept sweetly and soundly, as if in their own little crib at home, with a
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loving father near. So hurried and stunning had been the events of the previous evening, that all seemed more . the result of some mental hallucination than actual reality.
The choicest cut from her husband's oxen was set before them for breakfast, but when she thought that he slept his last sleep, she wept but could not eat The pent up waters of the heart had happily found vent. Thank God for tears ! without them, grief's con suming fires would soon destroy the powers for intelli gent action.
News of their captivity having reached the ears of Mr. John Lagree, on the opposite side of the river, some distance away, he came with kindly proffers of a home to these women, promising, as he thought, greater security. Walking Spirit left them to their own choice. Their route lay through Lame Bear's village, where they saw many reminders of the past Indian chil dren dressed in their own children's clothes her hus band's writing desk and their own chairs, besides evi dences that they were not the only sufferers. This was on Wednesday, the 20th August, the day of first attack on Fort Kidgley, about eighty miles away.
The hearts of these women were sad and lonely in the extreme, and their anxiety none the less from an ignorance of the extent of the trouble, and the fact that Lagree and a Frenchman who staid with him, were in -turn watching without, or sleeping with a loaded gun at their side. On Thursday, dreadful ti dings came from the seat of Indian war. All the Mis sionaries and Government officials, it was said, were
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killed, and so for more than one long anxious week had everybody believed. How precious the promises of holy writ, when grief was so poignant and anxiety so distressing. And now, Mrs. Huggins must be robbed of her only earthly comforter and counsellor. Julia's brother, hearing of her fate, had come disguised as an Indian, to take her to his home at Yellow Medi cine. It would not be safe for the mother and chil dren to go with them, and therefore she must abide her time of release, and suffer all her FATHER'S will. That night Mr. Manderfield, who had escaped from Big Stone Lake, came in. The women bound up his bleeding feet, and for the time forgot their own sor rows in efforts to relieve his sufferings and preparing him with comforts for the remainder of his way. He bore the first tidings of their fate and whereabouts to white friends below, who from that time were busy with thoughts and devising plans for her release. On Friday morning, Julia bade her companion in captiv ity adieu, and in Indian costume went forth by the side of her brave brother, on their tedious and perilous journey.
An invitation at this juncture was received from De Cota, to return and make her permanent abode with him at Walking Spirit's village. So after the sad leave-taking of Julia, attended by Lagree, she and her children set out on horseback. As they trotted on through the woods, she imagined every tree hid a lurk ing foe, ready to spring out and shoot them, for she had now become very nervous from continued excite '* ment and suspense. At Lame Bear's village, Lagree,
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who was a Chippewa half-breed, seeing many Sioux about, feared to go further, so getting an Indian woman to "pack" Letta, she took little Charlie in her own arms, sick and weak though she was from having eaten nothing that day. Presently an old squaw came run ning after her, signifying a desire to relieve her of the physical burden. So she put him on her back, pap- poose fashion, with which the little fellow seemed quite content
Her fears were destined to no abatement, for but a little out of the village four hideously painted warriors were lounging by the roadside ; but she hid herself behind the women as best she could, and passed un molested, probably they not detecting her nationality. Again, in passing through a piece of woods, she was desired to go ahead, but trembling with fear, while the women manifested even greater alarm, the cause of which she could not understand.
Now came another sore trial for this "bruised reed." Faint, sick, tired and hungry, she came to the door where she expected a friendly welcome, and in re sponse to their invitation she had made this weary day's journey. Mr. De Cota, her recent neighbor, silently smoked his pipe without the door of his lodge, deigning her never a look, while his squaw wife, cold ly, though not unkindly, motioned her on to the chief's house. Her sensitive, sore heart well nigh sank within her. What would be her next step, if thus coldly re ceived at Walking Spirit's ? The old chief was away, but his wife, anticipating the wants of the exhausted woman, brought her water and food, and arranged for Kt
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her to rest, almost tenderly looking after her com fort,
We are glad that we have comparatively small record to make of women being the aiders and abet tors of the transactions which brought such dismay to our frontier. As a general thing, they have "fed the hungry and clothed the naked" when in their power to do so. True, they have been subject to their liege lords, and obliged to do their bidding ; but whenever left to themselves, we are convinced that the fundamental elements of true womanhood live in the hearts which beat beneath their dirty short gowns and rusty old blankets. Keiaove the shackles which the men inflict upon them, and they would soon arrive to the dignity of white women.
It is but justice to De Cota to say that he was loyal to the whites, and would have received Mrs. Huggins according to his invitation, had his courage been ade quate to the occasion. But he knew his own scalp was in danger, and the least provocation would jeop ardize his life yet more. Things around him looked stormy enough, and his Sioux wife could not save his scalp to the rightful owner, should any act of his ex cite their displeasure. Not long after he took his wife and went to his own people, and for several months thereafter was in government employ, carrying the mail through the trackless region from Pembina to Fort Kandall.
CHAPTER XLV.
MRS. HUGGINS IN CAEE OF WALKING SPIRIT.
The old chief was from home, trying to quell the war-spirit of the young braves, and did not return till Mrs. Huggins had been several days domiciled in his lodge. The usual gutteral salute "ho-ho-ho-," sound ed very cheerily and pleasant, as he extended his hard brawney hand, by which she understood she was very welcome. This increased her confidence, which he seeing, made still greater efforts that she should not feel it misplaced. The language of his actions she knew was very kind, though she understood little of his spoken vernacular. In this assurance, she says her "poor, weary, anxious heart felt comforted. This old man was my friend and protector, I could here find something like rest, quiet and security."
For the six successive weeks she remained a mem ber of the chief's family, regarded more as a distin guished guest than a powerless captive. We rejoice that there are some alleviating features in the wretched Dakota character something to evince them not hopelessly "the children of- wrath." We believe them, bad as they are, the creatures of God, objects of his care and government, but how fallen, how totally depraved. Under like influence, with the same Heaven-born privileges as the white race through gen-
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erations past, the results would be equal. Even worse savages than the North American Indians those whose richest feasts were upon the putrid bodies of their slain enemies, have been brought under the teach ings of the holy influences of Christianity. "Christ has been formed" in their hearts the hope of glory, and "the wrath of man has been made to praise him." So it may be, so it will be with these. All nations "shall call Him blessed," for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, and we are no ways sure but the Lord will overrule this initiatory step for their elevation to the great platform of religious, Christian nations.
For ages, the Indian has known naught but his present life, and from infancy, has been taught that his highest achievement was to take the scalp of an enemy. Hence their glory in the number of scalp- feathers they are entitled to wear.
Not from Walking Spirit and his family alone, was this lone captive the recipient of favors. All the women of the village seemed desirous to outvie each other in this regard, and invariably addressed her in the language of kindness and respect. They would often say, "white woman feel sad ; I want to shake hands with her." But their style of living soon began to tell seriously on little Charlie's health, then the women sent milk for him, and would come and take him out for the air. For days they lived only on potatoes and corn, and then occasionally beef or dog meat, and once in a while they had coffee and sugar >, Those who were well provided with food for the day,
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often sent for her "to come and eat" with them. She had learned to make a virtue of necessity, and the practical illustration of the adage, "when in Eome do as Eomans do," and a cheerful, pleasant conformity to the society in which she lived, conciliated her into favor. Once she was sent for at bed time, to "come and eat." Though not hungry, she went, as it was not policy to refuse. A piece of nice carpet was spread for her to sit on, and a white towel for her plate, which was one of her own, and one of her own dishes to drink from ; the bill of fare, consisting of potatoes, rice, dried apples and cold water. She says of the culinary department, sometimes, when she thought of the dirty dishes her food was on, the dirty kettles it was cooked in, and the dirty hands which prepared it, her stomach rebelled. But she tried to keep away such troublesome thoughts, and make the best of what she had. She well appreciated the kindness which sent one of the women to Yellow Medicine to bring up flour and other articles for her use, and one cold frosty morning, another came cautiously behind her and threw a warm shawl over her shoulders ; though part of the stolen booty, we credit the kindly spirit which evoked the act.
One of her great perplexities was the means of ab lution, which Mrs. Walking Spirit remedied by ob taining from a neighbor a half powder keg. She had no other convenience for washing clothes than an old iron heater, which had been used for a dog dish. This she cleaned, and made subserve her purpose.
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Once or twice she was privileged with a tub and wash board, which had been her own property. She was thankful to get clean clothes, though they went un- ironed.
All this time, not one of the young men of the village was allowed to speak to her, and there was a commendable pride, as they expressed it, 'in keeping her very carfully." No work was ever demanded, or even expected of her ; yet occupation lightened the burden of grief, and so she would assist her hostess in sewing, cooking, and even at times brought water from the brook. Many of her own articles of dress were returned to her, and she was permitted to wear her own costume ; but it was hard to see her children's clothes, of which they were in real need, worn by Indian children, and very painful to see the clothes of her murdered husband on the persons of those, if not his actual murderers, who had "consented unto his death."
The children became great favorites, were petted and caressed, and afraid of no one, and this partiality came near causing her the severest heart-pang she had known. The chief's wife had a brother who lived far to the north, and had no children, and whom she had induced to think could get Mrs. Huggins to give to him her little girl. The proposition was made through a French interpreter, but her decided a no" gave no little offense, especially to the old woman, the man's mother. He was very angry, but the presence of the chief awed him, for he would not suffer the
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child to be taken without her consent ; but the offense was never forgiven, nor could she feel the same meas ure of confidence in the offended party as before. The former fondness of the old woman for the children was changed to indifference or hate, and she was ever afterward very cross to them. This, however, Mrs. H. allowed to pass unnoticed, and thereby prevented any serious quarrels ; yet she lived in constant fear of their being taken by stealth, and would never again trust them alone in her care. She now watched them closely when they were packed around the village by the squaws, who had before done it, eliciting no special anxiety from the mother, and at night folded them in her arms, while she dreamed of a horrid waking to find them gone.
With nothing to distinguish one day from another, Mrs. H. soon lost the days of the week, and afterward learned that several Mondays had been kept by her as the holy Sabbath day. 0, how the Christian woman longed for the privileges of the sanctuary, or even th^ quiet of home retirement, where slie could worship God, with "none to molest or make afraid." But the time for her removal from the red-heated furnace had not yet come, but the "form of the FOURTH" was with her. The refining, purifying process was not yet com plete, and she girded her soul with patience to endure all her Father's will.
CHAPTER XLVI.
THE ALARMS.
There was a mighty host of "Northerners" coming directly through the village. They had many carts, and some of the warriors were on foot and some on horse. The village was in great alarm.
Mrs. Huggins was hurried out to look at them, in the distance, and then to a tent, with orders to suffer no noise from the children, until these were entirely passed. The caravan halted just past her tent, and their tumult so excited the children, that they cried to go out, and it was some time before they were fright ened into silence. There were, at least, six men to a woman, in the crowd. The excitement was intense. Men, women and children were running about, as if frightened out of their wits, all of which the hidden woman could see through a hole in the tent. But for midable and unwelcome as were these visitors, they must be fed. This was the only hope of a pacific turn in affairs, had they come for evil. The young warriors, eager for display, galloped around, firing off guns, and making other demonstrations of their prowess. Then rang forth on the serene air, the stentorian voice of a would-be mighty chief. With a high head, proud look and stately tread, he stalked back and forth, as he de livered himself of the eloquent speech which was burn-
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ing in his soul, threatening to consume him. For sev eral hours, our heroine lay in her concealment, when all was again quiet.
Now came a time when the village was deserted, and Mrs. Huggins was alone, with the nameless old woman, for many days. From night till morning, and from morning till night, she trembled with fear, and closely hugged her children to her heart, lest, in an unexpect ed moment, they should be torn from her, but, guard ed by the divine hand, she was safe.
A week or two after the advent of the "Northern ers," a detachment of the band returned. "Walking Spirit invited them to his lodge for a feast, more to con- cilitate peace than from any real friendship. He guar anteed protection to his captive, and directed her to sit behind him at the door, doubtless for quick egress, in case of trouble, while his guests would fill the lodge. With two loaded guns beside, him, they sat down to the feast, no other woman being allowed inside, only to bring the food, which was fried bread and coffee, to the door. Several of the guests were attentive to the children, feeding and allowing them to drink from their own cups. After considerable speechifying and mean ingless parade, the crowd dispersed, much to her relief.
One day, the chief handed her a nice looking letter, written in Dakota language. She was unable to read it for him,, but waited, with anxious forebodings, the imparting of its contents, and yet with faint hopes of some feeble glimmer of light for herself and children. But instead, the contents were such as to make the
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friendly chief declare himself 'Very angry," so angry that he threw the letter into the fire, in retaliation of the base insult Good Day, its author, had proposed to buy the captive for a wife, and hence her protector's rage.
On another day, she was told to stay very closely in doors, that a "bad man was in the village, and would kill her." She was alone with the children, and wholly engrossed with her sewing, when, of a sudden, the blanket door was thrown up, and a fierce looking, hid eously painted young man, with an elevated drawn sword, stood before her. A child from a neighboring lodge, followed him in, eyeing first one and then the other, with a look of terror. With great self-command, after the first moment of surprise was over, she bent her face to her sewing, yet trembling so violently, she could scarcely hold her needle. But his scrutinizing gaze over, he went away, without speaking. Then she drew a long breath, and thanked God, that she and her children were alive. A moment after his leave-taking, the chief, panting and blowing, sprang through the opening. Her's was no feigned j oy at seeing him, as she smilingly said, "You frighten me, coming in such haste."
"You frighten me," he replied, as he sat down to rest. "I was afraid you would be killed before I got here."
Some women then came in, and told her about the angry man. His wife, for whom he was in search, had run away from him, and therefore had he come to the chief's house. Thus was she in constant alarm hef nervous system agitated with the most harrowing fear,
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and was often hid, by her protector, from threatening dangers.
News from below became more and more exciting, and, finally, the battle of Wood Lake determined the terror-stricken Indians on flight. "To go or not to go," was left optional with the captive. She could not go alone to her friends below, nor could Walking Spirit now go with her, as he had hoped to do, as all the re gion was filled with the hostile, fleeing foe. So she committed herself to the guidance of Providence, know ing thereby she should not be led wrong.
All was now the bustle of preparation. Corn and potatoes were to be gathered and prepared for the jour ney, or buried. One, acquainted with their life habits, and unacquainted with present incentives, would have thought them suddenly metamorphosed into a provi dent, working people. Some pounded corn from the cob, others parched it or bagged it up for the journey, and others were packing the household goods. Our heroine was no idler, and, therefore, made herself as useful as she could. She assisted to put up five sacks of corn and potatoes, for family provisions by the way.
All being in readiness to depart, the story was circu lated, that all the white prisoners were killed, and that retributive justice would soon fall upon the Indians. Walking Spirit would have remained, had he dared, but discrimination between the friendly and unfriendly Indians, he thought, would not be made in the swift winged justice upon their track. The innocent wjis liable to suffer with the guilty.
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Hosts of Sioux were daily arriving from below, with whom many of the villagers "fell in," swelling each ar rival to quite a caravan.
CHAPTER XLVIL
LEAVING FOR THE PLAINS.
The chief's family, still reluctant, were the last to go. Mrs. Huggins had not yet made her decision known. She was perplexed, if not in despair, but she still trusted Him who said, "call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee." When all was ready, the question to go or stay was again submitted, and her answer "I will go," pleased her protector, and prompted a renewal of "faithful care." To her and her children was accorded the privilege of riding on the rear top of the load, while Mrs. Walking Spirit, on foot, led the old horse which dragged the load on poles her mother carried a large pack, and his son led the colt, while he himself drove the oxen. The cow, by espe cial request of her hostess, was led by Mrs. Huggins.
Methinks I see them now filing across prairies ; through dark ravines ; up beetling bluffs and in the forest shade ; while, with mighty force of will, her severe heart-struggles are forbidden vent To lighten the load, in the ascent of 'hills and through mud-holes, our heroine, often, with a child on her hip, and fast hold of the rope which was attached to the cow's horns, performed the unromantic trip of wading ankle deep in mud, and then sat down in the grateful shade of some ancient tree, panting for breath.
The first day of the journey, these were exclusives,
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though in sight of the main caravan. At night their tent was pitched in a beautiful valley, and when the horses were "staked" and all other matters properly attended to, as in well regulated families, they drew around a sumptuous board "groaning" with skunk meat and potatoes.
The calm quiet, the sublime silence of the night was a real luxury to the ardent soul of Mrs. Huggins. It was sweet to reflect on the constant care of Him whose presence fills the universe. Nature had spread around, her sweetest charms, in which a heart like hers might revel both day and night. Early next morning, before the family had breakfasted, an excited horseman rode up with tidings which brought all who understood it to their feet, followed by hasty arrangements to go. Falling in with another company, the greatest haste con tinued till the middle of the afternoon, they, meanwhile, eating nothing, and with only a little parched corn for the children, who became tired, sick and fretful. For four successive days they continued the same haste, the little boy daily growing weaker and weaker, and it was so hard to see him droop thus, with no means to relieve him, and to feel that very soon this precious comfort might be taken from her. Then there was the fear of starvation haunting her, or that Walking Spirit might be overpowered by Little Crow or some of the Northerners, and she be taken away from him. While her only employment was to think, it is not strange, that, with all her firm and steadfast faith, she was thus in soul perplexed. Then again, buoyant hope would cheer her heart, for she knew that friends were earnest-
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ly praying for her safety and release, and she believed that when the divine end was accomplished, the severe discipline would cease. In the presence of danger she ever relied on the judgment of others, to "lie down and cover up," without inquiring as to the why or wherefore trusting the promise "He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wing shalt thou trust," and so was she "not afraid of the terror by night nor the arrow that flieth by noon-day."
CHAPTER XLVIII.
RELEASE AND RETURN.
The reader has seen the main body of troops at Camp Eelease, from whence, on the day following their arrival, General Sibley dispatched four of the most trustworthy half-breeds and Indians, with instructions to follow up the fleeing Indians, and bring back Mrs. Huggins and children, with as much expedition as possible.
The fourth and last outward bound night, Mrs. Hug- gins was made to understand that many bad Indians were in the very large encampment. They had many cattle, horses and wagons, and she counted eighty yoke of oxen, and knew that all were the trophies of their raid upon the whites. Hope now well nigh died from her heart, for in the midst of the great darkness, how could she think of deliverance as near ? So in the physical as moral world, often when least expected, the greatest blessings come. The following morning, a message was brought to the chief, which produced a counter movement on the part of his family. The white lady was not made to understand the reason ; perhaps they designed a joyful surprise, but she dare not hope it augured any good to her, and the suspense threw her into a feverish anxiety, from which she did not recover till it was practically demonstrated. When
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at noon they camped, the family bustled about in preparation for visitors, thus much she knew.
While wondering and waiting for the strange arrival, her heart gave a sudden bound of joy, for the familiar faces of her rescuers were before her. Intuitively she understood their mission. Two letters from General Sibley to Walking Spirit and herself were read, and he declared at once his intention of strengthening the es cort by returning with her to Camp Eelease. Such was the joy of her heart that sleep came not that night to her eyes. The mind was active in the past, present and future.
While Mrs. Walking Spirit got the breakfast, Mrs. Huggins repaired the wardrobe of her husband, that he might appear as respectable as possible in the pres ence of superiors. When she finished, she returned the thread and scissors to his wife, who pressed her to retain the latter, as a parting gift and a memento of her love.
We will note at this point, the release of two little German girls and a half-breed boy, who were in the main encampment. This, to their honor be it said, was more than the duty assigned their rescuers. One of the girls was very beautiful, whose mother was at Camp Eelease when she arrived there, and after clasp ing her to her heart in wild joy, she looked to Mr. Kiggs, and emphatically asked, "Where is the other ?" He could not tell her,
The first night they camped at Big Stone Lake. Lame Bear and some of his people were there, who extended to them the hospitalities of their camp. The
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excitement of joy and its reaction, after all she had passed through, had nearly prostrated Mrs. Huggins' nervous energies, and with a thankful heart she that night sank upon the comfortable bed which was made for her, and awoke refreshed, ready to go on her way rejoicing.
Passing over the same ground she had in going out, with no incidents worthy of note but a satisfaction of daily drawing nearer home, we find them, in less time than when outward bound, approaching Camp Eelease. When but a few miles out, they passed twelve war riors, savagely painted, smoking on the grass. Murder flashed from their eyes, and there was evident cause for alarm, though some of the men halted to shake hands and smoke with them. But as they drove rap idly away, a close watch was kept over the shoulder, till fairly away from any danger of their following. That night the camp was in sight of Lac-qui-parle. They resorted to Sioux stratagem as a precaution against enemies, by leaving their wagons and camping some distance from the road. There was little sleep ; every ear was alert for sounds of a wily foe, and they suffered much from cold, as autumn frosts had come, and the night winds were very chill.
With kind consideration, they halted on the follow ing morning for Mrs. Huggins to visit the grave of her husband, around which they drove stakes by her request, to protect it from careless intruders. They allowed her time to linger over every familiar spot as sociated so closely with him who slept near. How desolate all appeared, and with heart even more des
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olate than all, she turned away, and for her children's sake, nerving her soul with energy to battle a little longer with life.
Eight miles farther, and they entered Camp Eelease, which is to be memorable for all time in the history of Minnesota. The reaction, of a system wrought up so long to the highest tension, had come ; but with the kind care and sympathy there bestowed, she and pin ing little Charlie rallied wonderfully during the two weeks in which the trials of guilty Indians still pro gressed, before being sent down to the anxious hearts awaiting her. To one who has thus suffered, to one who has thus been released, nought but gratitude the most profound could ever arise toward her temporal deliverer, and to Him who disposes the hearts of men to do His will, and brings out all things according to His own hidden plans.
CHAPTER XLIX.
REMOVAL TO CAMP SIBLEY.
On the 23d of October, the condemned and uncon- demned prisoners, chained two and two, were loaded into wagons, twelve or fifteen in each, and under a military escort started for Camp Sibley. Here the trial was resumed in a log house, formerly owned and occupied by a half-breed named LaBatte, "for unro- mantic kitchen purposes, but from hence to pass into history and be immortalized." The main building separate from this, had been deeply stained with the blood of the owner, whose native affinity did not save him from the murderous scalping knife. From the ashes of his dwelling in which he was burned, after having been shot, the soldiers drew forth his charred remains. But a few steps away was the store of Nathan Myrick, where Lynde, the first victim, DeVill and Andrew Myrick were killed. With such remind ers of their guilt before them, how could they hope for pardon ? We wonder that fair and impartial trials were given we wonder at the staying hand which prevented their execution en masse and we wonder at the patience of the commission in the long, tedious trial!
But this heavy criminal calendar was at last cleared, and of the men arraigned for trial, three hundred and three were sentenced to be hung, and twenty to im-
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prisonment. They were removed to Mankato, where an immense jail had been prepared, there to await the execution of their sentence.
As the train of guarded prisoners neared New Ulm, the citizens who had returned to their homes came out pell mell the women leading the van, assailing them with axes, stones and clubs, in retaliation for murdered husbands and children. Even at the point of the bayonet the infuriated mass rushed into the midst of the soldiers, determined to return an equivalent for the past. In several instances the guns were turned aside, or the axe warded off as the fatal blow was about to descend. One woman actually cleft the jaw of an In dian with a hatchet, and another fractured a skull, so that the victim died in a few days. Some eight or ten were badly wounded before the assailants could be driven off. We regret to have this retaliatory act to record, but we aim to give a true and impartial history of the main events. Still we will not too harshly con demn. They had suffered much, and were still smarting under the terrible blow, and a half frenzy seized them when they saw the authors of their misery. Doubt less, more serious would have been the results, had they foreseen that in fixing the day for their execution, the Chief Executive would have been moved with pity for the guilty wretches, and ordered the punishment of all but thirty-nine suspended.
This fact becoming known, some two hundred men, whom suffering and bereavement by savage hands had made desperate, armed with hatchets, knives, and other death-dealing implements, on the 8th of December,
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forced their way through the guard at Camp Lincoln, near Mankato, with the avowed intention of dealing to the murderers the merit of their crimes. Col. Miller, prompt and resolute in the discharge of duty, had them surrounded and prisoners, before they could effect anything, but released them on a pledge to abstain from further attempt at violence. Gov. Eamsey issued a proclamation, urging upon the citizens not to throw away the good name Minnesota had hitherto sustained, by any rash acts of lawlessness which were not neces sary to the ends of justice, of personal security, or even private vengeance. "Our people," he says, "have had just cause to complain of the tardiness of execu tive action in the premises, but they ought to find some reason for forbearance in the absorbing cares which weigh upon the President. If he should decline to punish them, the case will then come clearly within the jurisdiction of the civil authorities."
CHAPTER L.
REMOVAL OF THE GOOD INDIANS TO FOET SNELLING-.
The army of "good Indians," men, women, children and half-breeds numbered some eighteen hundred. On the 7th of November these took up their line of march for Fort Snelling, under escort of Lieut. Col. Marshall's command, all of which made a train of four miles in length.
The "winter quarters," previously prepared, was an immense pen in which their teepees were set according to latest approved city surveys with streets, alleys and public square. Around and without, armed sol diers paraded day and night for six successive months, and the Government outlay for their support was little less than $2,000 per month ; while the hundreds of worthy women and children whom their own tribe had made widows and orphans, were mainly dependent on their own exertions, or the benevolence of a sympa thizing public. Visitors daily thronged the enclosure with "passes" from the post commander, and when ad mitted, a disgustingly filthy sight met the eye. The streets were the receptacles of all the offal of the lodges, where barefooted women and children splashed around in the filthy snow slush, as much at home as my reader on .a velvet carpet with neatly slippered feet
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Here we saw old Betsey, whom we knew before the State was a State, or the Territory had a name, and without whom its history would be incomplete, so identified is she with frontier life and pioneer experi ence. Her ugly old phiz is seen in every Photograph gallery in the land, and readily recognized by every street urchin. Everywhere she has warm personal friends, and it is her proud boast that none of her family have taken part in the raid against the whites. Even she, old as she is, was pattering around barefoot ed, as lithe as a girl of sixteen. Then we bade her good-bye, supposing it the last time, and she actually kissed our hand at parting. But when the encamp ment was broken up to go to the new "hunting grounds," by the earnest desire of her farmer son, Ta- o-pee, old Betsey was permitted to remain with him, so we may have a chance for another parting kiss.
It will be recollected that Ta-o-pee was very active in the formation of the friendly camp, and for the re lease of the prisoners, and made the first move in that direction. Wabashaw, too, was there. These had kept aloof from crime, using every means to subdue the rage of their red brothers. When an answer came from their letter to Col. Sibley, the utmost caution was requisite to conceal the fact from others. Great excite ment that night prevailed, in their camp, on account of the letter Little Crow had received, the contents of which, when interpreted by Spencer, was proclaimed by Little Crow, in thunder tones, to the clamorous throng, which crowded around his tent. Ta-o-pee had
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a secret for the white man's ear, which he managed to communicate. There was an assenting nod to the re quest that he be in readiness to read the letter, the first favorable moment. Excitement run high, and the tent was full, till far into the small hours of morning Ta- o-pee, with nervous anxiety, hidden beneath a calm ex terior, frequently coming in and going out again. At three o'clock, all was quiet ; now was the time ; the moment was an important one. They knew that evil, designing ones were prowling around, suspicious of everything ; so, throwing a blanket over their heads, that the light might not be seen from without, they, underneath it, struck a match, lighted a candle, and in a soft whisper, read the important missive, which the reader has before read, and which was the first hope- inspiring note of a temporal salvation.
Chaska, too, with whom the reader is so well ac quainted, came also with the train. While, in various ways, making himself useful to our people, he was charged, by envious ones, as having taken life before he rescued his friend, for which charge, he was a long time under guard, awaiting trial. He was honorably acquitted, and engaged as scout to the expedition, the following spring. Having renounced his tribal birth right, he was, to all intents and purposes, a white man, faithfully doing his duty, whatever and wherever it might be.
CHAPTER LI.
PKOTEST OF SENATOR WILKINSON" AND OTHERS.
With the groans of the wounded still deadening our ears, and while the echoed shrieks of the already dead, still reverberate from bluff to bluff, and while he still lies in wait for our heart's blood, sympathy for the "poor, wronged red man," is being roused, in some parts of our nation. We love the EAST the soil which our infant feet trod we love its people and its lofty principles of right, but we ignore their argument of the Indians' wrongs. Our nation's pampered proteges instead.
In discussing the removal of the "good Indians" we confess to a desire to see them turned loose on Boston common, as Congress was memorialized to do by seve ral thousand citizens of Minnesota. Had the tragic scenes, of which we have given but a faint outline, been concentrated for one stereoscopic view, in any Eastern city, had their streets been drenched with blood, as were our prairies, had fire and ravishment come to their homes, as to ours, we think we know the New England heart well enough to say, that quite as little leniency would have been desired for the perpe trators, as by us.
We think the protest against Presidential clemency, from Senator Wilkinson and Representatives Aldrich
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and Windham, worthy of immortal record, and here re-produce it for the benefit of our readers, yet to be. "To the President of the United States:
"SiR : We have learned, indirectly, that you intend to pardon or reprieve a large majority of the Indians in Minnesota, who have been formally condemned for their participation in the brutal massacre of our people, in the months of August and September last. If this be your purpose, as representatives from that State, we beg leave, most respectfully, to protest against it, and we do so, for the following reasons :
"These Indians were condemned, most of them, upon the testimony of women, whom they had carried into captivity, after having murdered their fathers, hus bands and brothers, and who were treated, by these In dians, with a brutality never known before, in this country, nor equaled in the practice of the most bar barous nations. There were nearly ninety captives, who were wives and daughters of our neighbors and friends. [This does not include the children.] They were intelligent and virtuous women some of them were wives and mothers others were young and in teresting girls.
"These savages, to whom you propose to extend your Executive clemency, when the whole country was quiet, and the farmers were busily engaged in gather ing their crops, arose with fearful violence, and travel ling from one farm to another, indiscriminately mur dered all the men, boys and little children they came ' to, and although they sometimes spared the lives of
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the mothers and daughters, they did so only to take them into captivity, which was infinitely worse than death.
"Mr. President, let us relate to you some facts with which we fear you have not heretofore been made ac quainted.
"These Indians, whom (as we understand,) you pro pose to pardon and set free, have murdered, in cold blood, nearly or quite one thousand of our people, ravaged our frontier for more than one hundred and fifty miles north and south, burned the houses of the settlers, and driven from their homes more than ten thousand of our people. They seized and carried into captivity more than one hundred women and girls, and in nearly every instance treated them with the most fiendish brutality.
"To show you, sir, the enormity of these outrages, we beg leave to state a few facts, which are well known to our people, but delicacy forbids that we should mention the names of the parties to whom we refer.
"In one instance, some ten or twelve of these Indians visited the house of a worthy farmer, who at the time was engaged with his sons staking wheat They stealthily approached the place where the honest far-- mer was at work, and seizing the opportunity, shot the father and two sons at the stack. They then went to the house, killed two little children in the presence of their mother, who was quite ill of consumption, and then took the sick mother and a beautiful little daughter, thirteen years of age, into captivity. But
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this is not all, nor is it the most appalling feature 'of this awful tragedy. Its horror is yet to be revealed. After removing these unhappy prisoners to a lodge some two miles away, these fiends incarnate, after placing a guard over the weary and exhausted moth er, took her little one outside the lodge, removed all her clothes, and fastened her back on the ground. Then they commenced their work of brutality on this young girl. One by one they violated her person, unmoved by her cries, and unchecked by the evident signs of approaching dissolution. This work was continued until the Heavenly Father relieved her from suffering. They left her dead upon the ground. This outrage was committed within a few feet of the sick and dying mother.
"There is another instance of a girl eighteen years of age. We knew her well before and at the time of her capture. She was as refined and beautiful a girl as we had in the State. None had more or better friends ; no one was more worthy of them than she. She was taken captive by these Indians, her arms were tied behind her and she was tied fast to the ground and ravished by som;<*. eight or ten of these convicts before the cords were unloosed from her limbs. The girl, fortunately, lived to testify against the wretches who had thus violated her. Without being more specific, .we will state that nearly all the women who were captured were violated in this way.
"Again there was a little boy brought to St. Paul (whose father and mother had been murdered,) whose
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life was spared as a witness of the horrid nature of this massacre. His right eye was cut completely out, it had fallen from its socket and perished on his cheek. His two little sisters, aged respectively six and four years, were also saved, but in an awfully mutilated con dition. Their tender arms had been mangled with the savages' knives, and otherwise fearfully wounded and left on the ground for dead.
"Mr. President, there was no justification or pretext even for these brutalities. We state what we know, when we say that the Sioux Agent, Mr. Galbraith, has labored faithfully and efficiently for the welfare of these Indians. The Government, as you know, has built a house and opened a farm for every one of these Indians who would reside upon and cultivate it. Missionaries have labored zealously among them for their spiritual welfare. There has been paid to them yearly the interest upon $2,000,000. Farming imple ments have been purchased, and farmers have been em ployed by the Government to improve and cultivate their lands.
"These Indians have been called by some, prisoners of war. There was no war about it It was a whole sale robbery, rape and murder. These Indians were not at war with their murdered victims.
"The people of Minnesota, Mr. President, have stood firm by you and your administration. They have given both it and you thei r cordial support. They have not violated law. They have borne these suffer ings with a patience such as but few people ever ex-
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