Latest / Narrative of Captivity Among The Sioux / Narrative of Captivity Among The Sioux

Transcript

Narrative of Captivity Among The Sioux · Narrative of Captivity Among The Sioux

0:00
Narrative of My Captivity among the Sioux Indians by Fanny Kelley. Dedication to the
0:08
officers and soldiers of the eleventh Ohio Cavalry for their persistent and daring efforts to
0:14
aid my husband in affecting my rescue, and to the officers and soldiers of
0:19
the sixth Iowa Cavalry for kindness shown me after my ransom and return to Fort
0:24
Sully. This narrative is affectionately dedicated by the author introductory. The summer of
0:33
eighteen sixty four marked a period of unusual peril to the daring pioneers seeking homes
0:38
in the far West, following upon the horrible massacres in Minnesota in eighteen sixty
0:44
two and the subsequent chastisements inflicted by the expeditions under Generals Sully and Sibley in
0:51
eighteen sixty three, whereby the Indians were driven from the then western borders of
0:56
civilization in Iowa, Minnesota, and the white settles of Dakota in the Missouri
1:02
Valley. The great immigrant trails to Idaho and Montana became the scene of fresh
1:07
outrages, and from the wild, almost inaccessible nature of the country, pursuit
1:12
and punishment were impossible. I was a member of a small company of emigrants
1:19
who were attacked by an overwhelming force of hostile Sioux, which resulted in the
1:23
death of a large proportion of the party in my own capture and a horrible
1:27
captivity of five months duration of my thrilling adventures and experience during this season of
1:34
terror and privation. I propose to give a plain, unvarnished narrative, hoping
1:40
the reader will be more interested in facts concerning the habits, manners, and
1:44
customs of the Indians and their treatment of prisoners than in theoretical speculations and fine
1:51
wrought sentences. Some explanation is due to public for the delay in publishing this
1:57
my narrative from memoranda kept during the period of my captivity. I had completed
2:02
the work for publication when the manuscript was purloined and published, but the work
2:08
was suppressed before it could be placed before the public. After surmounting many obstacles,
2:15
I have at last succeeded in gathering the scattered fragments, and, by
2:19
the aid of memory, impressed as I pray no mortals may ever be again,
2:23
am enabled to place the results before I trust a kind judging appreciative public
2:31
end of dedication and introductory early history Canada to Kansas, death of my father,
2:39
my marriage, ho for Idaho, crossing the Platte River a storm.
2:46
I was born in Aurelia, Canada in eighteen forty five. Our home was
2:51
on the lake shore, and there, amid pleasant surroundings, I passed the
2:54
happy days of early childhood. The years eighteen fifty two to eighteen fiftyifty six
3:00
witnessed probably the heaviest immigration the West has ever known. In a corresponding length
3:06
of time, those who had gone before sent back to their friends such marvelous
3:10
accounts of the fertility of the soil, the rapid development of the country,
3:15
and the ease with which fortunes were made, the Western Fever became almost epidemic.
3:22
Whole towns in the old Eastern States were almost depopulated. Old substantial farmers,
3:28
surrounded apparently by all the comforts that hart could wish, sacrificed the homes
3:32
wherein their families had been reared for generations, and with all their worldly possessions,
3:38
turned their faces toward the setting sun, and with what high hopes Alas,
3:45
how few comparatively met their realization in eighteen fifty six, my father,
3:51
James Wiggins, joined a New York colony bound for Kansas, being favorably impressed
3:57
with the country and its people. They located the town of Geneva, and
4:00
my father returned for his family. Reaching the Missouri River on our way to
4:05
our new home, my father was attacked with cholera and died. In obedience
4:12
to his dying instructions, my widowed mother, with her little family, continued
4:16
on the way to our new home. But oh, with what saddened hearts
4:20
we entered into its possession. It seemed as if the light of our life
4:25
had gone out. He who had been before to prepare that home for us
4:30
was not there to share it with us. And far away from all earthly
4:33
associations, almost alone in a new and sparsely settled country, it seemed as
4:40
though hope had died. But God is merciful. He prepares the soul for
4:45
its burdens of a truth quote. He tempers the wind to the shorn lamb
4:50
end quote. Our family remained in this pleasant prairie home where I was married
4:56
to Josiah s Kelly. My husband's health health failing, he resolved upon a
5:01
change of climate accordingly. On the seventeenth of May eighteen sixty four, a
5:06
party of six persons, including mister Gardner Wakefield, my husband, myself,
5:13
our adopted daughter, my sister's child, and two colored servants started from Geneva
5:18
with high wrought hopes and pleasant anticipations of a romantic and delightful journey across the
5:25
plains, and a confident expectation of future prosperity among the golden hills of Idaho.
5:31
A few days after commencing our journey, we were joined by mister Sharp,
5:36
a Methodist clergyman from Verdigris River, about thirty miles south of Geneva,
5:43
and a few weeks later we overtook a large train of emigrants, among whom
5:46
were a family from Allen County with whom we were acquainted, mister Larimer,
5:53
wife and a child, a boy eight years old. Preferring to travel with
5:57
our small train, they left the life larger one and became members of our
6:00
party. The addition of one of my own sex to our little company was
6:05
cause of much rejoicing to me, and helped relieve the dulness of our tiresome
6:11
march. The hours of noon and evening rest were spent in preparing our frugal
6:16
meals, gathering flowers with our children, picking berries, hunting curiosities, or
6:23
gazing in rapt wonder and admiration at the beauties of this strange, bewildering country.
6:29
Our amusements were varied. Singing, reading, writing to friends at home,
6:33
or pleasant conversation occupied our leisure hours. So passed the first few happy
6:40
days of our emigration to the land of sunshine and flowers. When the sun
6:45
had set, when his last rays were flecking the towering peaks of the rocky
6:48
mountains. Gathering around campfires in our little home like tent, we ate with
6:54
a relish known only to those who like us, scented the pure air,
6:59
and lived as nature demanded. At night, when our camp had been arranged
7:03
by Andy and Franklin, our colored men, it was always in the same
7:08
relative position, mister Kelly riding a few miles ahead. As evening drew near
7:14
to select the camping ground. The atmosphere, which during the day was hot
7:18
and stifling, became cool and was laden with the odor of prairie flowers.
7:24
The night dews filling their beautiful cups with the waters of heaven. The solemnity
7:30
of night pervaded everything. The warblings of the feathered tribe had ceased. The
7:35
antelope and deer rested on the hills. No sound of laughing, noisy children
7:41
as in a settled country, no tramping of busy feet or hurrying to and
7:46
fro. All is silent. Nature like men, has put aside the labors
7:51
of the day, and is enjoying rest and peace. Yonder as a tiny
7:57
spark, as a distant star might be seen from the road, a little
8:01
campfire in the darkness spread over the earth. Every eye in our little company
8:07
is closed, every hand still as we lay in our snugly covered wagons,
8:11
awaiting the dawn of another day. And the eye that never sleeps watched over
8:16
us in our lonely camp and cared for the slumbering travelers. Mister Wakefield,
8:24
with whom we became acquainted after he came to settle at Geneva, proved a
8:28
most agreeable companion, affable and courteous, unselfish, and a gentleman. We
8:33
remember him with profound respect. A fine bridge crosses the Kansas River, a
8:41
half hour's ride through the dense, heavy timber, over a jet black soil
8:45
of incalculable richness brought us to this bridge, which we crossed. We then
8:50
beheld the lovely valley of the prairies, intersecting the deep green of graceful slopes,
8:56
where waves tall prairie grass, among which the wild flower grow over hundreds
9:01
of acres. These blossoms are scattered yellow, purple, white, and blue,
9:07
making the earth look like a rich carpet of variegated colors. Those blooming
9:11
in the spring are of tender, modest hue. In later summer and early
9:16
autumn, clothed in gorgeous splendor, Solomon's gold and purple could not outrival them.
9:24
Nature seemingly reveled in beauty for beauty's sake alone, for none but the
9:28
simple children of the forest to view her in state. Slowly, the myriad
9:33
years come and go upon her. Solitary places. Tender springtime and glorious summer
9:39
drop down their gifts from overflowing coffers, while the steps of bounding deer or
9:43
the notes of singing birds break upon the lonely air. The sky is of
9:48
wonderful clearness and transparency. Narrow belts and fringes of forest mark the way of
9:54
winding streams in the distance rise conical mounds wrapped in the soft veil of dim
10:01
and dreary haze. Upon the beaten road are emigrants wending their way, their
10:07
household goods packed in long covered wagons drawn by oxen mules or horses, Speculators
10:13
working their way to some new town with women and children. And we meet
10:18
with half breed girls with heavy eyelashes and sunburnt cheeks, jogging along on horseback.
10:24
I was surprised to see so many women among the emigrants, and to
10:28
see how easily they adapted themselves to the hardships experienced in a journey across the
10:33
plains. As a rule, the emigrants travel without tents, sleeping in and
10:39
under wagons without removing their clothing. Cooking among the emigrants to the far west
10:46
is a very primitive operation, a frying pan and perhaps a Dutch oven comprising
10:50
the major part of the kitchen furniture. The scarcity of timber is a source
10:56
of great inconvenience and discomfort, buffalo chips being the substitute at some of the
11:01
stations where opportunity offered, Mister Kelly bought wood by the pound, as I
11:07
had not yet been long enough inured to plan's privations to relish food cooked over
11:13
a fire made with chips of that kind. We crossed the Platte River by
11:18
joining four wagon boxes together, then loaded the boat with goods, and were
11:22
rowed across by about twenty men. We were several days in crossing. Our
11:28
cattle and horses swam across. The air had been heavy and oppressively hot.
11:33
Now the sky began to darken suddenly, and just as we reached the opposite
11:39
shore, a gleam of lightning, like a forked tongue of flame, shot
11:43
out of the black clouds, blinding us by its flash, and followed by
11:46
a frightful crash of thunder. Another gleam and another crash followed, and the
11:52
dense blackness lowered threateningly over us, almost shutting out the heights beyond, and
11:58
seeming to encircle like prisoners in the valley that lay at our feet. The
12:03
vivid flashes lighting the darkness for an instant only made its gloom more fearful,
12:09
and the heavy rolling of the thunder seemed almost to rend the heavens above it
12:15
all at once it burst upon our unprotected heads in rain, but such rain,
12:20
not the gentle droppings of an afternoon shower or a commonplace storm, but
12:26
a sweeping avalanche of water, drenching us completely at the first dash, and
12:31
continuing to pour, seeming to threaten the earth on which we stood, and
12:35
tempt the old plat to rise and claim it as its own. Our wagon
12:41
covers had been removed in the fording, and we had no time to put
12:45
up tents for our protection until its fury was exhausted, and so we were
12:50
forced to brave the elements, with part of our company on the other side
12:54
of the swollen river and a wild scene we could hardly discern through the pelting
13:00
surrounding us. One soon becomes heroic in an open air life, and so
13:05
we put up what shelter we could. When the abating storm gave us opportunity,
13:11
and wringing the water out of clothes, hair and eyebrows, we camped
13:15
in cheerful hope of a bright tomorrow, which did not disappoint us and our
13:20
hundreds of emigrant companions scattered on the way. Each recurring sabbath was gratefully hailed
13:26
as a season of thought and repose. As a matter of conscience and duty,
13:31
we observed the day and took pleasure. In doing so, we had
13:35
divine service performed, observing the ceremonies of prayer, preaching, and singing,
13:41
which was fully appreciated in our absence from home and its religious privileges. Twenty
13:48
five miles from California, crossing is a place called ash Hollow, where the
13:52
eye is lost in space as it endeavors to penetrate its depths. Here.
13:58
Some years before, Gueneral Harney made his name famous by an indiscriminate massacre of
14:03
a band of hostile Indians with their women and children end of chapter one the
14:11
attack and the capture. A train of wagons were coursing their westward way with
14:18
visions of the future bright as our own. Sometimes a single team might be
14:22
seen traveling alone. Our party were among the many small squads emigrating to the
14:28
land of Promise. The day on which our doomed family were scattered and killed
14:35
was the twelfth of July, a warm and oppressive day. The burning sun
14:39
poured forth its hottest rays upon the great Black Hills and the vast plains of
14:43
Montana, and the great emigrant road was strewed with men, women and children,
14:48
and flocks of cattle representing towns of adventurers. We looked anxiously forward to
14:54
the approach of evening with a sense of relief after the excessive heat of the
14:58
day. Our journey had been pleasant, but toil some, for we had
15:03
been long weeks on the road. Slowly our wagons wound through the timber that
15:09
skirted the little Box Elder, and crossing the stream we ascended the opposite bank.
15:16
We had no thought of danger or timid misgivings on the subject of savages,
15:20
for our fears had been all dispelled by constantly received assurances of their friendliness.
15:26
At the outposts and ranches, we heard nothing but ridicule of their pretensions
15:31
to warfare. And at Fort Laramie, where information that should have been reliable
15:37
was given us, we had renewed assurances of the safety of the road and
15:41
friendliness of the Indians. At Horseshoe Creek, which we had just left,
15:46
and where there was a telegraph station, our inquiries had elicited similar assurances as
15:52
to the quiet and peaceful state of the country through which we must pass.
15:56
Being thus persuaded that fears were greatless, we entertained none, and as I
16:03
have mentioned before, our small party preferred to travel alone on account of the
16:07
greater progress made in that way. The beauty of the sunset and the scenery
16:12
around us filled our hearts with joy, and mister Wakefield's voice was heard and
16:18
song for the last time as he sang Ho for Idaho. Little Mary's low,
16:23
sweet voice, too, joined in the chorus. She was so happy
16:27
in her childish glee on that day, as she always was, She was
16:33
the star and joy of our whole party. We wended our way peacefully and
16:37
cheerfully on without a thought of the danger that was lying, like a tiger
16:41
in ambush on our path, without a sound of preparation or a word of
16:47
warning. The bluffs before us were covered with a party of about two hundred
16:52
and fifty Indians, painted and equipped for war, who uttered the wild war
16:56
whoop, and fired a signal volley of guns and reval into the air.
17:02
This terrible and unexpected apparition came upon us with such startling swiftness that we had
17:07
not time to think before the main body halted and sent out a part of
17:11
their force, which encircled us round at regular intervals, but some distance from
17:18
our wagons. Recovering from the shock, our men instantly resolved on defense and
17:23
corralled the wagons. My husband was looked upon as leader, as he was
17:29
principal owner of the train. Without regard to the insignificance of our numbers.
17:33
Mister Kelly was ready to stand his ground, but with all the power I
17:37
could command, I entreated him to forbear and only attempt conciliation. If you
17:44
fire one shot, I said, I feel sure you will seal our fate,
17:48
as they seemed to outnumber us ten to one and will at once massacre
17:53
all of us. Love for the trembling little girl at my side, my
17:59
husband, my friends made me strong to protest against anything that would lessen our
18:03
chance for escape with our lives. Poor little Mary, from the first she
18:08
had entertained an ungovernable dread of the Indians, a repugnance that could not be
18:14
overcome, although in our intercourse with friendly savages, I had endeavored to show
18:18
how unfounded it was and persuade her that they were civil and harmless, but
18:23
all in vain. Mister Kelly bought her beads and many little presents from them,
18:29
which she much admired, but she would always add, they look so
18:33
cross at me, and they have knives and tomahawks, and I fear they
18:37
will kill me. Could it be that her tender young mind had some presentiment
18:41
or warning of her horrid fate. My husband advanced to meet the chief and
18:48
demand his intentions. The savage leader immediately came toward him, riding forward and
18:53
uttering the words how, how, which are understood to mean a friendly salutation.
19:00
His name was Ottawa, and he was a war chief of the Ogallalla
19:03
band of the Sioux Nation. He struck himself on his breast, saying good
19:10
Indian me, and pointing to those around him. He continued, heap good
19:15
Indian, hunt buffalo and deer. He assured us of his utmost friendship for
19:21
the white people. Then he shook hands, and his band followed his example,
19:26
crowding around our wagons, shaking us all by the hand, over and
19:29
over again, until our arms ached, and grinning and nodding with every demonstration
19:34
of good will. Our only policy seemed to be temporizing. In hope of
19:40
assistance approaching, and to gain time, we allowed them, unopposed to do
19:45
whatever they fancied. First, they said they would like to change one of
19:48
their horses for the one mister Kelly was riding a favorite race horse. Very
19:53
much against his will, he acceded to their request and gave up to them
19:59
the noble animal to which he was fondly attached. My husband came to me
20:04
with words of cheer and hope, but oh what a marked look of despair
20:08
was upon his face, such as I had never seen before. The Indians
20:14
asked for flower, and we gave them what they wanted. Of provisions.
20:18
The flower they emptied upon the ground, saving only the sack. They talked
20:23
to us, partly by signs and partly in broken English, with which some
20:27
of them were quite familiar. And as we were anxious to suit ourselves to
20:32
their whims and preserve a friendly intercourse as long as possible, we allowed them
20:37
to take whatever they desired, and offered them many presents. Besides, it
20:42
was, as I have said before, extremely warm weather. But they remarked
20:47
that the cold made it necessary for them to look for clothing, and begged
20:52
for some of our stock, which was granted without the slightest offered objection on
20:56
our part. Ay, in a careless like manner, said they must give
21:00
me some moccasins for some articles of clothing that I had just handed them,
21:04
And very pleasantly. A young Indian gave me a nice pear, richly embroidered
21:11
with different colored beads. Our anxiety to conciliate them increased every moment, for
21:17
the hope of help arriving from some quarter grew stronger as they dallied, and
21:22
alas it was our only one, they grew bolder and more insolent in their
21:27
advances. One of them laid hold of my husband's gun, but, being
21:33
repulsed, desisted. The chief at last intimated that he desired us to proceed
21:38
on our way, promising that we should not be molested. We obeyed without
21:44
trusting them, and soon the train was again in motion, the Indians insisting
21:48
on driving our herd, and growing ominously familiar. Soon my husband called a
21:53
halt. He saw that we were approaching a rocky glen, in whose gloomy
21:59
depths he and anticipated a murderous attack, and from which escape would be utterly
22:03
impossible. Our enemies urged us still forward, but we resolutely refused to stir.
22:11
When they requested that we should prepare supper, which they said they would
22:14
share with us, and then go to the hills to sleep. The men
22:18
of our party concluded it best to give them a feast. Mister Kelly gave
22:22
orders to our two colored servants to prepare at once to make a feast for
22:26
the Indians. Andy said, I think if I knows anything about it.
22:32
Theys had their supper, as they had been eating sugar crackers from our wagons
22:37
for an hour or more. The two colored men had been slaves among the
22:41
Cherokees and knew the Indian character by experience. Their fear and horror of them
22:48
was unbounded, and their terror seemed pitiable to us, as they had worked
22:52
for us a long time and were most faithful, trustworthy servants. Each man
22:57
was busy preparing the sun upper. Mister Larimer and Frank were making the fire,
23:03
Mister Wakefield was getting provisions out of the wagon. Mister Taylor was attending
23:07
to his team. Mister Kelly and Andy were out some distance gathering wood.
23:14
Mister Sharp was distributing sugar among the Indians. Supper that they asked for was
23:19
in rapid progress of preparation, when suddenly our terrible enemies threw off their masks
23:26
and displayed their truly demoniac natures. There was a simultaneous discharge of arms,
23:32
and when the cloud of smoke cleared away. I could see the retreating form
23:36
of mister Larimer and the slow motion of poor mister Wakefield, for he was
23:40
mortally wounded. Mister Kelly and Andy made a miraculous escape with their lives.
23:47
Mister Sharp was killed within a few feet of me. Mister Taylor, I
23:51
can never forget his face as I saw him shot through the forehead with a
23:55
rifle ball. He looked at me as he fell backward to the ground a
24:00
corpse. I was the last object that met his dying gaze. Our poor
24:04
faithful Frank fell at my feet, pierced by many arrows. I recall the
24:10
scene with a sickening horror. I could not see my husband anywhere, and
24:15
did not know his fate, but feared and trembled with a glance at my
24:19
surroundings. My senses seemed gone for a time, but I could only live
24:23
and endure. I had but little time for thought, for the Indians quickly
24:29
sprang into our wagons, tearing off covers, breaking, crushing, smashing all
24:34
hindrances to plunder, breaking open locks, trunks and boxes, and distributing or
24:40
destroying our goods with great rapidity using their tomahawks. To pry open boxes,
24:45
which they split up in savage recklessness. Oh what horrible sights met my view
24:52
pen is powerless to portray the scenes occurring around me. They filled the air
24:57
with the fearful war whoops and hideous shouts. I endeavored to keep my fears
25:03
quiet as possible, knowing that an indiscreet act on my part might result in
25:07
jeopardizing our lives. Though I felt certain that we two helpless women would share
25:12
death by their hands. But with as much of an air of indifference as
25:17
I could command, I kept still, hoping to prolong our lives, even
25:21
if but a few moments I was not allowed this quiet but a moment when
25:26
two of the most savage looking of the party rushed up to my wagon with
25:30
tomahawks drawn in their right hands, and with their left hand, seized me
25:34
by both hands and pulled me violently to the ground, injuring my limbs very
25:40
severely, almost breaking them from the effects of which I afterwards suffered a great
25:45
deal. I turned to my little Mary, who with outstretched hands, was
25:51
standing in the wagon, took her in my arms and helped her to the
25:53
ground. I then turned to the chief, put my hand upon his arm
25:59
and employed or his protection from my fellow prisoner and our children. At first
26:03
he gave me no hope, but seemed utterly indifferent to my prayers. Partly
26:08
in words and partly by signs, he ordered me to remain quiet, placing
26:14
his hand on his revolver that hung in a belt at his side as an
26:18
argument to enforce obedience. A short distance in the rear of our train,
26:22
a wagon was in sight. The chief immediately dispatched a detachment of his band
26:29
to capture or to cut it off from us, and I saw them ride
26:32
furiously off in pursuit of the small party, which consisted only of one family
26:37
and a man who rode in advance of the single wagon. The horseman was
26:41
almost instantly surrounded and killed by a volley of arrows. The husband of the
26:47
family quickly turned his team around and started them at full speed, gave the
26:52
whip and lines to his wife, who held close in her arms their youngest
26:56
child. He then went to the back end of his way and threw out
27:00
boxes, trunks, everything that he possessed. His wife, meantime, gave
27:04
all her mind and strength to urging the horses forward on their flight from death.
27:11
The Indians had by this time come very near, so that they riddled
27:15
the wagon cover with bullets and arrows, one passing through the sleeve of the
27:18
child's dress in its mother's arms, but doing it no personal injury. The
27:25
terrified man kept the Indians at bay with his revolver, and finally they left
27:30
him and rode furiously back to the scene of the murder of our train.
27:34
End of chapter two. My husband's escape, burial of the dead, arrival
27:41
of the survivors at Deer Creek an ill timed ball when the Indians fired their
27:48
fatal volley into the midst of our little company, while yet they were preparing
27:52
to entertain them with a hospitable supper. My husband was some distance from the
27:56
scene of horror, but startled by the unexpected report, he hurriedly glanced around,
28:03
saw the pale, terror stricken faces of his wife and child, and
28:07
the fall of reverent mister Sharp from the wagon while in the act of reaching
28:11
for sugar and other articles of food with which to conciliate our savage guests.
28:17
The hopelessness of the situation struck a chill to his heart. Having laid down
28:22
his gun to assist in the preparation of the feast. The utter futility of
28:26
contending single handed against such a host of infuriated demons was too apparent. His
28:32
only hope, and that a slight one, indeed, was that the Indians
28:36
might spare the lives of his wife and child to obtain a ransom. In
28:41
this hope he resolved upon efforts for the preservation of his own life, that
28:45
he might afterward put forth efforts for our rescue, either by pursuit and strategy
28:52
or by purchase. He was shot at, and the barbed arrows whizzed past
28:56
him, some passing through his clothing. He saw mister Wakefield fall and knew
29:02
that he was wounded, if not killed. Mister Larrimer passed him in his
29:07
flight for life towards some neighboring timber. Mister Kelly then ran for some tall
29:12
grass and sage brush, where he concealed himself favored by the fast approaching darkness,
29:18
scarcely daring to breathe, his mind tortured with agonizing fears for the fate
29:23
of his wife and child. He seemed to hear from them the cry for
29:27
help, and at one time resolved to rush to their rescue or die with
29:33
them. Any fate seemed better than such torturing doubt. But realizing at last
29:38
the utter hopelessness of an attempt at rescue, and knowing that it was a
29:42
custom of the Indians sometimes to spare the lives of white women and children taken
29:48
captive for ransom, he again resolved, if possible to save his own life,
29:52
that he might devote all his energies and the remnant of fortune the savages
29:57
had not despoiled him of to the accomplishment of the rescue of his wife and
30:02
child. Lying in his perilous shelter, he saw darkness creep slowly around the
30:07
hills, closing on the scene of murder and devastation, like a curtain of
30:12
mercy dropped to shut out a hideous sight. He heard the noise of breaking
30:18
and crashing boxes, and the voices of the Indians calling to each other.
30:22
Then came the culmination of his awful suspense. The Indians had again mounted their
30:27
horses, and raising the terrible war song chanted its ominous notes as they took
30:33
their way across the hills, carrying his yearning thoughts with them. Penn Is
30:38
powerless to portray the agony to him of those fearful moments. Still fearing to
30:45
move in the darkness, he distinguished footsteps near him, and knew by the
30:49
stealthy tread that they were those of an Indian. In breathless silence, he
30:55
crouched close to the ground, fearing each instant the descent of the tamaha and
31:00
the gleam of the scalping knife. When, strange to say, a venomous
31:03
reptile came to his rescue, and his enemy fled before it. A huge
31:10
rattlesnake, one of the many with which that region is infested, raised its
31:14
curved neck close beside him, and, thrusting forth its poisonous fangs, gave
31:18
a warning rattle. The prowling Indian took alarm at the sound. Other snakes
31:25
roused for the safety of their young in the dens around, repeated it,
31:29
and the savage, knowing it would be death to venture, further retreated,
31:33
leaving my husband in safety where he had taken refuge. For although he must
31:38
have lain close to the noisome reptile, he received no hurt, and the
31:44
greater horror of his human foe rendered him almost indifferent to the dangers of his
31:48
surroundings. Cautiously, he crawled out of the weeds and grass, and,
31:53
rising to his feet unharmed, started swiftly in an eastward direction. He had
32:00
to go far out in the hills to avoid the savages, and after traveling
32:04
many miles around, he at last reached the large train with which the small
32:08
party I had seen pursued had previously taken refuge. They were already consolidating with
32:15
other trains for defense, and would not venture to join mister Kelly, although
32:21
he earnestly implored assistance to go out in aid of his friends and family if
32:24
any of them should be left alive. The colored man Andy soon after joined
32:30
them. He came in running and in great excitement, and was about to
32:36
report all the company killed when he joyfully discovered mister Kelly. Great consternation and
32:42
alarm had spread with the tidings of the massacre, and fears for personal safety
32:47
prevented anyone from joining my unhappy husband in efforts to rescue his wife and child,
32:53
or succor his missing companions. The train did not move forward until reinforced
33:00
by many others along the road, and even then every precaution was taken to
33:05
secure safety and prevent a surprise. Women in many instances drove the teams to
33:10
prevent their husbands or fathers being taken at a disadvantage. Weapons were in every
33:16
man's hands, and vigilant eyes were fixed on every bluff or gorge, anticipating
33:22
attack. A little time in travel brought them to the first scene of murder,
33:29
where they found the dead body of the companion of the man who so
33:31
narrowly escaped with his family. They placed the body in a wagon and proceeded
33:37
to the dreaded spot where the slaughter of our party had occurred. The wagons
33:43
still were standing and feathers flower. The remnants of much that was but half
33:47
destroyed lay scattered on the ground. Mister Kelly, with faltering steps supported by
33:54
the strong arm of Andy, was among the first to search the spot.
33:59
His intention distress for the unknown fate of his family urged him on, although
34:04
he dreaded to think of what the bloody spot might disclose to him. The
34:08
dead bodies of mister Sharp, mister Taylor, and our colored servant Franklin were
34:14
discovered lying where they had fallen. Poor frank had been shot by an arrow
34:17
that pierced both his legs, pinning them together, in which condition he had
34:22
been murdered by the ruthless wretches by having his skull broken. Both mister Sharp
34:29
and mister Taylor left large families at home to mourn their loss. Mister Larrimer
34:35
came up with an arrow wound in one of his limbs. He had passed
34:37
the night in trying to elude his savage pursuers, and was very tired and
34:42
exhausted, and very much distressed about his wife and son, a robust little
34:46
fellow of eight or nine years, but mister Wakefield was nowhere to be seen.
34:52
After searching the brushwood for some time and a quarter of a mile distant
34:58
from the scene of attack, the discovered him, still alive, but pierced
35:01
by three arrows that he had vainly endeavored to extract, succeeding only in withdrawing
35:07
the shafts, but leaving the steel points still deeply embedded in his flesh.
35:13
Mister Kelly took him and cared for him with all the skill and kindness possible.
35:19
No brothers could have been more tenderly attached to each other than they.
35:22
He then procured as comfortable a conveyance as he could for them, and picked
35:27
up a few relics from our demolished train. Among them was a daily journal
35:31
of our trip, from the time we were married until the hour that the
35:36
Indians came upon us. This he prized, as he said, more than
35:40
he did his life. The next thing that was necessary to do, after
35:45
the wounded were cared for, was to bury the dead, and a wide
35:50
grave was dug, and the four bodies solemnly consigned, uncoffined to the earth.
35:55
A buffalo robe was placed above them, and then the earth was piled
36:00
on their unconscious breasts. At that time, the question of color had occasioned
36:06
much dissension, and controversy ran high as to the propriety of allowing the colored
36:10
people the privilege of sitting beside their white brethren. Poor Franklin had shared death
36:16
with our companions, and was not deemed unworthy to share the common grave of
36:22
his fellow victims. They lie together in the valley of Little Bo's Elder,
36:27
where, with saddened hearts, our friends left them, thinking of the high
36:30
hopes and fearless energy with which they had started on their journey, each feeling
36:36
secure in the success that awaited them, and never for a moment dreaming of
36:40
the grave in the wilderness that was to close over them and their earthly hopes.
36:45
They were buried on the desolate plain, a thousand miles away from their
36:50
loved ones and children who bemoan their sad untimely fate. Mister Kelly found part
36:57
of his herd of cattle grazing near by. Mister sharps were still tied to
37:01
the stake where he had carefully secured them. The Indians had taken our horses,
37:07
but left the cattle, as they do when they are on the war
37:09
path, or unless they need meat for present use. They shot some of
37:15
them, however, and left them to decay upon the plane. Many arrows
37:19
were scattered upon the ground, their peculiar marks showing that their owners had all
37:23
belonged to one tribe. Though of different bands, they were similar in form
37:29
and finish. Their shafts were round and three feet long, grooved on their
37:34
sides that the blood of the victim might not be impeded in its outward flow.
37:38
Each had three strips of feathers attached to its top about seven inches in
37:44
length, and on the other end a steel point fastened lightly so as to
37:49
be easily detached in the flesh it penetrates. The depth of the wound depends
37:53
on the distance of the aim, but they sometimes pass quite through the body,
37:59
though usually their forces exhausted in entering a few inches beyond the point,
38:04
the wounded being made as comfortable as circumstances would allow. The train left the
38:08
spot in the evening and moved forward to an encampment a mile distant from the
38:14
sad place where the journey of our lost companions had ended forever, whose visions
38:19
of the golden Land must be a higher and brighter one than earthly eyes can
38:23
claim. Early next day the travelers arrived at Deer Creek Fort, where mister
38:30
Kelly found medical aid for the wounded, and procured attempt to shelter them,
38:35
and devoted himself to alleviating their sufferings, and, with the assistance of the
38:38
kind people of the fort, succeeded in arranging them intolerable comfort. Captain Reinhardt
38:46
was commanding officer at Deer Creek, and ordered the property of the deceased to
38:51
be delivered over to him, which mister Kelly did. The story of the
38:55
attack and massacre had traveled faster than the sufferers from its barbarity the garrison had
39:01
learned it before the train arrived, through some soldiers returning from Fort Laramie,
39:07
where they had been to receive money from the paymaster, who had heard an
39:10
account of the attack on the road and had a passing glimpse of the terrible
39:15
field of slaughter. The evening that the large train arrived at the fort,
39:20
the officers gave a ball, and the emigrant women were invited from the trains
39:24
camped in the vicinity to join in these inappropriately timed festivities. The mother of
39:31
the child who had so narrowly escaped death, having lost her own wardrobe in
39:36
her efforts to escape the pursuit of the Indians, borrowed a dress from a
39:40
lady who resided at the fort, and attended the entertainment, dancing and joining
39:45
in the gaieties, when the burial of their companion and our poor men had
39:51
just been completed, and the heavy cloud of our calamity had so lately shrouded
39:55
them in gloom. Such are the effects of isolation from social and civil influence
40:01
and contact with danger and familiarity with terror and death. People grow reckless and
40:07
often lose the gentle sympathies that alleviate suffering from infrequent intercourse with it in its
40:14
worst forms. End of chapter three, Beginning of My captivity. The facts
40:23
related in the preceding chapter concerning matters occurring in mister Kelly's experience and adventures after
40:30
the attack upon our train were related to me. After my restoration to freedom
40:35
and my husband by him, I now returned to the narration of my own
40:39
terrible experiences. I was led a short distance from the train with Mary and
40:45
told to remain quiet, and tried to submit, But oh what a yearning
40:51
sprang up in my heart to escape, as I hoped my husband had done.
40:54
But many watchful eyes were upon me, and enemies on every side,
41:00
and I realized that any effort then at escape would result in failure and probably
41:06
cause the death of all the prisoners. Missus Larrimer and her boy came to
41:12
us, trembling with fear, saying, the men have all escaped and left
41:15
us to the mercy of the savages. In reply, I said, I
41:21
do hope they have. What benefit would it be to us to have them
41:24
here to suffer this fear and danger with us? They would be killed,
41:30
and then all hope of rescue for us would be at an end. Her
41:34
agitation was extreme. Her grief seemed to have reached its climax when she saw
41:38
the Indians destroying her property, which consisted principally of such articles as belonged to
41:45
the Dagerian art. She had indulged in high hopes of fortune from the prosecution
41:51
of this art among the mining towns of Idaho. As she saw her chemicals,
41:55
picture cases, and other property pertaining to her colleague being destroyed, she
42:01
uttered such a wild, despairing cry as brought the chief of the band to
42:05
us, who with gleaming knife, threatened to end all her further troubles in
42:09
this world. The moment was a critical one for her. The Indians were
42:15
flushed with an easy one victory over a weak party. They had tasted blood,
42:21
and it needed but slight provocation for them to shed that even of defenseless
42:25
women and children. My own agony could be no less than that of my
42:30
companion in misfortune. The loss of our worldly possessions, which were not inconsiderable,
42:37
consisting of a large herd of cattle and groceries, and goods of particular
42:40
value in the mining regions. I gave no thought to the possible fate of
42:45
my husband, the dark, fearful future that loomed before myself, and little
42:51
Mary, for whose possible future I had more apprehension than for my own,
42:55
were thoughts that flashed through my mind to the exclude of all mere pecuniary considerations.
43:02
But my poor companion was in great danger, and perhaps it was a
43:07
selfish thought of future loneliness and captivity which induced me to intercede that her life
43:13
might be spared. I went to the side of the chief, and,
43:16
assuming a cheerfulness, I was very far from feeling pled successfully for her life.
43:22
I endeavored in every way to propitiate our savage captor, but received no
43:28
evidence of kindness or relenting that I could then understand. He did present me,
43:34
however, a wreath of gay feathers from his own head, which I
43:37
took, regarding it merely as an ornament, when in reality, as I
43:42
afterward learned, it was a token of his favor and protection. He then
43:47
left us to secure his own share of plunder. But we saw that we
43:52
were surrounded by a special guard of armed men, and so gave up all
43:55
struggle against what seemed an inevitable doom, and sat down upon on the ground
44:00
in despair. I know now that night had come upon us while we sat
44:05
there, and that darkness was closing the scene of desolation and death before their
44:09
arrangements for departure were completed. The first intimation we had that our immediate massacre
44:16
was not intended was a few articles of clothing presented by a young Indian whose
44:22
name was Wechela, who intimated that we would have need for them. It
44:27
was a pitiable sight to see the terrified looks of our helpless children, who
44:31
clung to us for the protection we could not give. Missus Larrimer was unconscious
44:37
of the death of any of our party. I did not tell her what
44:40
my eyes had seen, fearing that she could not endure it, but strove
44:45
to encourage and enliven her, lest her excitement should hasten her death or excite
44:51
the anger of our captors. We both feared that when the Indians made their
44:55
arrangements for departure, we would be quickly disposed of by the sk galloping knife,
45:00
or even should we escape. For the time we saw no prospect of
45:05
release from bondage. Terror of the most appalling nature for the fate of the
45:08
children possessed me and all the horrors of Indian captivity that we had ever heard
45:15
crowded on our minds with a new and fearful meaning. The slow fires,
45:20
the pitiless knife, the poisoned arrows, the torture of famine, and a
45:24
thousand nameless phantoms of agony passed before our troubled souls, filling us with fears
45:30
so harrowing that the pangs of dissolution, compared to them, must have been
45:36
relief. It may be thought almost impossible in such a chaos of dread to
45:42
collect the soul in prayer. But when woe is come, the soul is
45:46
dumb that crieth not to God. And the only respite we could claim from
45:52
despair was the lifting of our trembling hearts upward to the God of mercy.
45:58
Those hours of misery can never be forgotten. We were oppressed by terrors we
46:02
could not explain or realize, the sudden separation from those we loved and relied
46:07
on, our own helplessness, and the gloom of uncertainty that hung over our
46:13
future. Surely none can better testify to the worth of trust in God than
46:17
those whose hope on earth seemed ended and faint and weak. As our faith
46:22
was, it saved us from utter desolation and the blackness of despair from among
46:30
the confused massive material of all kinds scattered about. The same young Indian Wetchelah,
46:36
brought me a pair of shoes, also a pair of little Mary's.
46:39
He looked kindly as he laid these articles before me, intimating by his gestures
46:45
that our lives were to be spared and that we should have need of them
46:49
and other clothing during our long march into captivity. He also brought me some
46:53
books and letters, all of which I thankfully received. I readily conceived a
47:00
plan to make good use of them and secret it as many as I could
47:04
about my clothing. I said to missus Larimer. If I can retain these
47:08
papers and letters, and we are forced to travel with the Indians into their
47:12
unknown country, I shall drop them at intervals along the way we are taken,
47:16
as a guide and trusting God, that our friends may find and follow
47:21
them to our rescue, or if an opportunity of escape offer, we will
47:25
seize it and by their help retrace our steps. The property that the Indians
47:31
could not carry with them, they gathered into a pile and lighted the light
47:37
of the flames showed us the forms of our captors, busily loading their horses
47:40
and ours with plunder, and preparing to depart. When their arrangements were completed,
47:46
they came to us and signified that we must accompany them, pointing to
47:52
the horses they led up to us and motioning us to mount. The horse
47:57
assigned to me was one that had belonged to mister Laram and was crippled in
48:00
the back. This I endeavored to make them understand, but failed. This
48:07
was the first reliable assurance they gave us that our lives were not in immediate
48:10
danger, and we received it gratefully, for with the prospect of life,
48:15
hope revived and faith to believe that God had not forsaken us, and that
48:20
we might yet be united to our friends, who never seemed dearer than when
48:24
we were about to be carried into captivity by the hostile sons of the forest.
48:30
Many persons have since assured me that to them death would have been preferable
48:36
to life with such prospects, saying that rather than have submitted to be carried
48:39
away by savages to a dark and doubtful doom, they would have taken their
48:45
own lives. But it is only those who have looked over the dark abyss
48:50
of death who know how the soul shrinks from meeting the unknown future. Experience
48:55
is a grand teacher, and we were then in her school and learned that
49:00
while hope offers the faintest token of refuge, we pause upon the fearful brink
49:05
of eternity and look back for rescue. Missus Larrimer had climbed into her saddle,
49:12
her boy placed behind her on the same horse, and started on,
49:15
accompanied by a party of Indians. I also climbed onto my saddle, but
49:22
was no sooner there when the horse fell to the ground and I under him,
49:27
thus increasing the bruises I had already received and causing me great pain.
49:31
This accident detained me some time in the rear. A dread of being separated
49:37
from the only white woman in that awful wilderness filled me with horror. Soon
49:43
they had another horse saddled for me and assisted me to mount him. I
49:46
looked around for my little Mary. There she stood, a poor, helpless
49:52
lamb in the midst of bloodthirsty savages. I stretched out my arms for her
49:57
imploringly. For a moment. They hesit then to my unspeakable joy. They
50:02
yielded and gave me my child. They then started on leading my horse.
50:08
They also gave me a rope that was fastened around the horses under jaw.
50:14
The air was cool, and the sky was bright with the glitter of starlight.
50:17
The water, as it fell over the rocks in the distance, came
50:22
to our eager ears with a faint, pleasant murmur. All nature seemed peaceful
50:27
and pitiless in this calm repose, unconscious of our desolate misery. The cry
50:32
of night birds and chirp of insects came with painful distinctness. As we turned
50:37
to leave the valley of the little box elder. Straining my eyes, I
50:43
sought to penetrate the shadows of the woods where our fugitive friends might be hid.
50:47
The smoldering ruins of our property fell into ashes, and the smoke faded
50:52
away. Night had covered the traces of confusion and struggle with her shrouding mantle,
50:59
and all seemed biet and unbroken. Peace. I turned for a last
51:04
look, and even the smoke was gone. The solemn trees, the rippling
51:07
water, the soft night wind, and the starlight told no tale of the
51:13
desolation and death. That had gone before, and I rode on in my
51:16
helpless condition, with my child clinging to me, without guide or support,
51:22
save my trust in God. End of chapter four. Plan for Little Mary's
51:30
escape tortures of uncertainty, unsuccessful attempt to escape, The Indians left the scene
51:38
of their cruel rapacity, traveling northward, chanting their monotonous war song. After
51:45
a ride of two miles through tall weeds and bushes, we left the bottom
51:49
lands and ascended some bluffs, and soon after came to a creek which was
51:53
easily forded, and where the Indians quenched their thirst. The hills beyond began
52:00
to be more difficult to ascend, and the gorges seemed fearfully deep. As
52:05
we looked into the black shadows, unrelieved by the feeble light of the stars.
52:09
In the darkness of our ride, I conceived a plan for the escape
52:14
of Little Mary. I whispered in her childish ear. Mary, we are
52:19
only a few miles from our camp, and the stream we have crossed you
52:22
can easily wade through. I have dropped letters on the way, you know,
52:27
to guide our friends in the direction we have taken. They will guide
52:30
you back again, and it may be your only chance of escape from destruction.
52:36
Drop gently down and lie on the ground for a little while to avoid
52:39
being seen. Then retrace your steps, and may God in mercy go with
52:45
you. If I can, I will follow you. The child, whose
52:49
judgment was remarkable for her age, readily acceded to this plan. Her eye
52:53
brightened and her young heart throbbed as she thought of its success. Watching the
52:59
up opportunity, I dropped her gently, carefully and unobserved, to the ground,
53:04
and she lay there while the Indians pursued their way, unconscious of their
53:08
loss. To portray my feelings upon this separation would be impossible. The agony
53:15
I suffered was indescribable. I was firmly convinced that my course was wise,
53:21
that I had given her the only chance of escape within my power. Yet
53:25
the terrible uncertainty of what her fate might be in the way before her was
53:30
almost unbearable. I continued to think of it so deeply that at last I
53:36
grew desperate and resolved to follow her at every risk. Accordingly, watching an
53:40
opportunity, I too slipped to the ground under the friendly cover of night,
53:45
and the horse went on without its rider. My plan was not successful.
53:52
My flight was soon discovered, and the Indian wheeled around and rode back in
53:57
my pursuit. Crouching in the undergrowth, I might have escaped in the darkness,
54:01
were it not for their cunning. Forming in a line of forty or
54:05
fifty abreast, they actually covered the ground as they rode past me. The
54:09
horses themselves were thus led to betray me. For being frightened at my crouching
54:15
form, they stopped and reared, thus informing them of my hiding place.
54:21
With great presence of mind, I arose the moment I found myself discovered,
54:25
and relating my story the invention of an instant, I succeeded partly in allaying
54:30
their anger. I told them the child had fallen asleep and dropped from the
54:36
horse that I had endeavored to call their attention to it, But in vain
54:40
and fearing I would be unable to find her if we rode further, I
54:45
had jumped down and attempted the search alone. The Indians used great violence toward
54:51
me, assuring me that if any further attempts were made to escape, my
54:54
punishment would be accordingly. They then promised to send a party out in search
55:00
of the child when it became light, Poor little Mary alone in the darkness,
55:06
a little helpless child who can portray her terror with faith to trust and
55:13
courage to dare that little trembling form through the long hours of the night kept
55:17
watch. The lonely cry of the night bird had no fear in its melancholy
55:22
scream for the little wanderer who crouched amid the prairie grass. The baying of
55:28
the gray wolf as he passed the lonely watcher might startle, but could not
55:32
drive the faith from her heart. Surely God is just, and angels will
55:37
guide the faltering feet to friends and home. Innocent of wrong. How could
55:43
she but trust that the unseen hands of spirits would guide her from the surrounding
55:47
perils. End of chapter five, continuation of our march into the wilderness,
55:55
suffering from thirst and weariness, disappearance of my fellow prisoner, loss of the
56:01
old Chief's pipe and its consequences to me, a scene of terror to take
56:07
up the thread of my own narrative again, and the continuation of my journey
56:12
with the savages. After the never to be forgotten night when I parted from
56:15
Little Mary and the attempt to save myself will be to entertain my reader with
56:22
a sight of the dangerous and precipitous paths among the great bluffs which we had
56:25
been approaching, and the dizzy, fearful heights leading over the dark abyss or
56:30
the gloomy, terrible gorge where only an Indian dares to venture. The blackness
56:37
of night and the dread of our savage companions added terror to this perilous ride.
56:43
As we passed the Little Creek, before we plunged into these rocky fastnesses,
56:47
we had left some scattered woods along its banks. I remember looking longingly
56:52
at the dim shelter of those friendly trees, and being possessed by an almost
56:57
uncontrollable desire to leap from the horse and dare my fate in endeavoring to reach
57:02
their protecting shade. But the Indians rifles behind me, and my dread of
57:07
instant death restrained me. And now my attention was attracted by the wild and
57:13
terrible scenery around us, through which our fearful captors rode at ease. Although
57:19
it seemed impossible for man or beast to retain a footing over such craggy peaks
57:23
and through such rugged ravines, the cool air and the sound of rippling water
57:29
warned us of our nearness to a river, and soon the savages turned their
57:34
horses down a deep declivity that like a mighty wall closed in the great bed
57:38
of the North Platte. I saw that the river was rapid and deep,
57:44
but we crossed the sands, plunged in, and braved the current. From
57:49
the child to my husband was an easy transition. Indeed, when I thought
57:53
of one, the other was present in my mind. And to mark the
57:58
path of our retreat with the let and papers I dropped on our way seemed
58:01
the only hope I had of his being able to come to my rescue.
58:07
As the horses plunged into the swelling river, I secretly dropped another letter that
58:12
I prayed might be a clue to the labyrinth through which we were being led,
58:16
For I could see by all the indians precautions that to mislead any who
58:21
should have the temerity to attempt our recovery was the design of their movements.
58:27
They had taken paths inaccessible to white men, and made their crossing at a
58:31
point where it would be impossible for trains to pass, so that they might
58:36
avoid meeting emigrants. Having reached the opposite bank, they separated into squads and
58:42
started in every direction except southward, so as to mislead or confuse pursuers by
58:47
the various trails. The band that surrounded and directed us kept to the northward,
58:54
a little by west. I tried to keep the points of compass clearly,
58:59
because because it seemed part of the hope that sustained me. Mister Kelly
59:04
had said that our position on the Little Box Elder was about twelve miles from
59:08
Deer Creek Station, which lay to the northwest of us, marking our present
59:14
course. I tried, by calculating the distance to keep that position in my
59:19
mind, for toward it my yearning desire for help and relief turned. After
59:24
crossing the river and issuing from the bluffs, we came to a bright,
59:29
cool stream of water in a lovely valley, which ran through its bosom,
59:32
spreading a delicious freshness. All around. Brilliant flowers opened their gorgeous cups to
59:38
the coming sunshine, and delicate blossoms hid themselves among the rich shrubbery and at
59:45
the mossy roots of grand old trees. The awakening birds soared upward with loud
59:51
and joyful melodies, and nature rejoiced at approaching day. The beauty and loveliness
59:57
of the scene mocked my sleepless eyes, and despair tugged at my heart strings.
1:00:02
Still I made superhuman efforts to appear cheerful, for my only refuge was
1:00:07
in being submissive and practicing conciliation. My fear of them was too powerful to
1:00:14
allow me to give way to emotion. For one moment, there were sentinel
1:00:19
stationed at different places to give the alarm in case of any one approaching to
1:00:23
rescue, and I afterward learned that in such a case I would have been
1:00:28
instantly murdered. Next morning, I learned by signs that Indians had gone out
1:00:34
in search of Little Mary, scattering themselves over the hills in squads. Those
1:00:39
remaining were constantly overlooking their plunder and unrolling bundles taken from our wagons. They
1:00:45
indulged their admiration for their spoils in loud conversation. The Indians seemed to select,
1:00:53
with a clear knowledge of natural beauty, such localities as seemed best fitted
1:00:58
to suggest refreshment and repose. The scenery through which we had passed was wildly
1:01:04
grand. It now became serenely beautiful, and to a lover of nature,
1:01:08
with a mind free from fear and anxiety, the whole picture would have been
1:01:13
a dream of delight. The night of my capture, I was ordered to
1:01:17
lie down on the ground near a wounded Indian. A circle of them guarded
1:01:22
me, and three fierce warriors sat near me withdrawn tomahawks. Reader imagine my
1:01:29
feelings after the terrible scenes of the day previous, the desolate white woman in
1:01:34
the power of revengeful savages, not daring to speak lest their fury should fall
1:01:39
on my defenseless head. My great anxiety now was to preserve my sanity,
1:01:45
which threatened to be overcome if I did not arouse myself to hope and put
1:01:51
aside the feeling of despair which at times stole over me. My heart was
1:01:55
continually lifted to our Father, and confidently. I now began to feel that
1:02:00
prayer would be answered and that God would deliver me in due season. This
1:02:06
nerved me to endure and appear submissive. At early dawn, I was aroused
1:02:12
from my apparent slumbers by the war chief, who sent me out to catch
1:02:15
our horses, our American horses, being afraid of the savages, and as
1:02:21
the animals were those belonging to our train, it was supposed that I could
1:02:24
do so readily. Upon turning, my eyes were gladdened by the sight of
1:02:30
my fellow prisoner, who was seated with her boy upon the ground, eating
1:02:35
buffalo meat and crackers. I went immediately to her, and we conversed in
1:02:39
low tones, telling her of my intention to escape the first opportunity. She
1:02:45
seemed much depressed, but I endeavored to reassure her, and, bidding her
1:02:50
hope for the best, went back to where the Indians were making ropes and
1:02:53
packing their goods and plunder more securely, preparatory to the succeeding march, which
1:03:00
was commenced at an early hour of the day. We proceeded on our journey
1:03:05
until near noon, when we halted in a valley not far to the north
1:03:08
of Deer Creek Station, and I met this lady again. It was a
1:03:13
clear and beautiful valley where we rested until the scorching rays of the sun had
1:03:17
faded in the horizon. Being burdened with the gun and bow and arrow of
1:03:22
the chief, my tired arms were relieved, and I pled for the privilege
1:03:28
of camping here all night for many reasons. One was we might be overtaken
1:03:32
by friends sent to rescue us, and the distance of return would be less
1:03:37
if I should be successful in my next attempt to escape. My entreaties were
1:03:43
unavailing. The savages were determined to go forward, and we were soon mounted
1:03:49
and started on. We traveled until sunset, then camped for the night in
1:03:52
a secluded valley. We seemed to enter this valley along the base of a
1:03:58
wall composed of buffs or peaks. Within these circling hills, it lay a
1:04:02
green, cool resting place, watered by a bright, sparkling stream, and
1:04:08
pleasantly dotted with bushes and undergrowth. The moon went down early, and in
1:04:14
the dim, uncertain starlight, the heavy bluffs seemed to shut us in on
1:04:17
all sides, rising grimly like guardians over our imprisoned lines. Blankets were spread,
1:04:25
and on these the Indians rested. I was then led out some distance
1:04:30
in the camp and securely fastened for the night. But before this I remarked
1:04:35
to my fellow prisoner my determination to escape that night. If my life were
1:04:41
the forfeit, as in every wind, I fancied I could hear the voice
1:04:45
of little Mary, calling me, She entreated me not to leave her,
1:04:49
but promising help to her should I be fortunate enough to get free. I
1:04:54
sadly bade her good night and went to my allotted place. In the morning,
1:04:59
when permitted to rise, I learned that she had disappeared. A terrible
1:05:03
sense of isolation closed around me. No one can realize the sensation without,
1:05:09
in some measure experiencing it. I was desolate before, but now that I
1:05:15
knew myself separated from my only white companion, the feeling increased tenfold and seemed
1:05:20
to weigh me down with its awful, gloomy horror. In the heart of
1:05:26
the wilderness, surrounded by creatures with whom no court of sympathy was entertained,
1:05:30
Far from home, friends and the interests of civilized life, the attractions of
1:05:35
society, and above all, separated from husband and loved ones, there seemed
1:05:42
but one glimpse of light in all the darkness of despair left, and that
1:05:45
was flight. I listened to every sound while moments appeared hours, and it
1:05:51
seemed to me that death, in its most terrible form would not be so
1:05:56
hard to bear as the torturing agony I then endured. I murmured broken prayers.
1:06:01
I seemed to hear the voices of my husband and child calling me,
1:06:05
and, springing forward with a wild belief that it was real, would sink
1:06:11
back again, overwhelmed with fresh agony. Arrangements were then made for resuming our
1:06:16
journey, and we were soon once more on our march. Another burden had
1:06:21
been added to my almost worn out frame the leading of an unruly horse,
1:06:27
and my arms were so full of the implements I was forced to carry that
1:06:30
I threw away the pipe of the old chief, a tube nearly three feet
1:06:34
long, and given me to take care of, which was very unfortunate for
1:06:40
me, exciting the wrath and anger of the chief to a terrible degree.
1:06:45
Now they seemed to regard me with a suspicious aversion, and were not so
1:06:48
kind as before. The country they passed over was high, dry and barren.
1:06:55
I rode one horse and led another, and when evening came, they
1:06:59
stop to rest in a grove of great timber, where there was a dry
1:07:02
creek. Bed Water was obtained by digging in the sand, but the supply
1:07:08
was meager, and I was allowed none. The sun began to sink,
1:07:13
and the chief was so enraged against me that he told me by signs that
1:07:16
I should behold it rise no more. Grinding his teeth with wrathful anger,
1:07:23
he made me understand that I was not to be trusted, had once tried
1:07:27
to escape, had made them suffer the loss of my child, and that
1:07:31
my life would be the forfeit. A large fire had been built, and
1:07:35
they all danced around it. Night had begun to darken heavily over me,
1:07:41
and I stood trembling and horror struck, not knowing but that the flame the
1:07:45
savages capered about was destined to consume my tortured form. The pipe of the
1:07:51
chief was nowhere to be found, and it was demanded of me to produce
1:07:56
it. He used the Indian words Chopa chinopa, uttered in a voice of
1:08:00
thunder, accompanying them with gestures whose meaning was too threatening to be mistaken.
1:08:08
I looked in fear and dismay around me, utterly, at a loss to
1:08:12
know what was expected, yet dreading the consequences of failing to obey whatchelah.
1:08:17
The Indian boy who had been so kind to me now came up and made
1:08:21
the motion of puffing with his lips to help me, And then I remembered
1:08:26
that I had broken the pipe the day before and thrown it away, ignorant
1:08:30
of their veneration for the pipe and of its value as a peace offering.
1:08:34
The chief declared that I should die for having caused the loss of his pipe.
1:08:40
An untamed horse was brought, and they told me I would be placed
1:08:44
on it as a target for their deadliest arrows, and the animal might then
1:08:47
run at will, carrying my body wherever it would. Helpless and almost dying
1:08:54
with terror at my situation, I sank on a rocky seat in their midst
1:08:59
They were all armed and anxiously awaited the signal. They had pistols, bows
1:09:04
and spears, and I noticed some stoop and raise blazing firebrands to frighten the
1:09:10
pying beast that was to bear me to death. In speechless agony, I
1:09:15
raised my soul to God. Soon it would stand before his throne, and
1:09:19
with all the pleading passion of my sinking soul, I prayed for pardon and
1:09:24
favor in His precious blood, who had suffered for my sins and risen on
1:09:29
high for my justification. In an instant, a life line of thought condensed
1:09:33
itself into my mind, and I could see my old home and hear my
1:09:38
mother's voice. And the contrast between the love I had been so ruthlessly torn
1:09:43
from and the hundreds of savage faces gleaming with ferocity and excitement around me seemed
1:09:49
like the lights and shadows of some weird picture. But I was to die,
1:09:55
and I desired with all the strength of my soul to grasp the promises
1:09:59
of God's mercy and free my parting spirit from all revengeful earthly thoughts. In
1:10:05
what I almost felt my final breath, I prayed for my own salvation and
1:10:11
the forgiveness of my enemies. And, remembering a purse of money which was
1:10:15
in my pocket, knowing that it would decay with my body in the wilderness,
1:10:18
I drew it out, and with suffused eyes, divided it among them,
1:10:24
though my hands were growing powerless and my sight failing. One hundred and
1:10:29
twenty dollars in notes, I gave them, telling them its value as I
1:10:32
did so, when, to my astonishment, a change came over their faces.
1:10:38
They laid their weapons on the ground, seemingly pleased and anxious to understand,
1:10:44
requesting me to explain the worth of each note clearly by holding up my
1:10:47
fingers. Eagerly, I tried to obey, perceiving the hope their milder manner
1:10:54
held out, but my cold hands fell powerless by my side. My tongue
1:10:59
refused to utter sound, and unconsciously I sank to the ground, utterly,
1:11:03
insensible to objects around me. When insensibility gave way to returning feeling, I
1:11:11
was still on the ground where I had fallen, but preparations for the deadly
1:11:15
scene were gone, and the savages slumbered on the ground near me by the
1:11:18
faint firelight. Crawling into a sitting posture, I surveyed the camp and saw
1:11:25
hundreds of sleeping forms lying in groups around, with watches set in their places,
1:11:30
and no opportunity to escape even if strength permitted. Weak and trembling,
1:11:36
I sat down and lay silent until daybreak, when the camp was again put
1:11:42
in motion, and at their bidding, I mounted one horse and led another,
1:11:45
as I had done on the day previous. This was no easy task,
1:11:50
for the pack horse, which had not been broken, would frequently pull
1:11:55
back so violently as to bring me to the ground, at which the chief
1:12:00
would become fearfully angry, threatening to kill me. At once. Practicing great
1:12:04
caution, and using strong effort, I would strive to remain in the saddle
1:12:09
to avoid the cuffs and blows received. Whenever the bridle would slip inadvertently from
1:12:15
my hand, the chief's blasphemous language would all be English. A sad commentary
1:12:19
on the benefits white men confer on their savage brethren when brought into close contact.
1:12:26
Drunkenness, profanity, and dissolute habits are the lessons of civilization to the
1:12:31
red men, And when the weapons we furnish are turned against ourselves, their
1:12:35
edge is keen. Indeed, feeling that I had forfeited the good will of
1:12:42
the Indians, and knowing that the tenure of my life was most uncertain,
1:12:45
I dared make no complaint. Although hunger and devouring thirst tortured me. The
1:12:53
way still led through dry and sandy hills, upon which the sun glared down
1:12:57
with exhausting heat and seemed to scorch life and moisture out of all his rays
1:13:02
fell upon. As far as my eye could reach, nothing but burning sand
1:13:06
and withering sage brush or thorny cactus was to be seen. All my surroundings
1:13:13
only served to aggravate the thirst which the terrible heat of that long day's ride
1:13:17
increased to frenzy. When in famishing despair I closed my eyes, A cup
1:13:24
of cool, delicious drink would seem to be presented to my lips, only
1:13:29
to be cruelly withdrawn. And this torture seemed to me like the agony of
1:13:32
the rich man who besought Lazarus for one drop of water to cool his parched
1:13:38
tongue. I thought of all I had been separated from, as it seemed
1:13:43
to me forever, and the torment of the hour reduced me to despair.
1:13:47
I wished to die, feeling that the pangs of dissolution would not surpass the
1:13:53
anguish of my living death. My voice was almost gone, and with difficulty
1:13:59
I maintained my seat in the saddle. Turning my eyes despairingly to my captors,
1:14:04
I uttered the word minna, signifying water in their language, and kept
1:14:10
repeating it imploringly. At intervals they seemed to hurry forward, and just at
1:14:15
sunset came in sight of a grassy valley through which flowed a river, and
1:14:19
the sight of it came like hope to my almost dying eyes. A little
1:14:25
brook from the hills above found its way into the waters of this greater stream.
1:14:30
And here they dismounted, and, lifting me from my horse, laid
1:14:34
me in its shallow bed. I had become almost unconscious, and the cool,
1:14:40
delightful element revived me. At first I was not able to drink,
1:14:45
but gradually my strength renewed itself, and I found relief from the indescribable pangs
1:14:49
of thirst. The stream by which the Indians camped that night was Powder River,
1:14:57
and here, in eighteen sixty six Fort Connor was built, which in
1:15:00
the following year was named Fort Rena. End of Chapter six, Powder River,
1:15:10
another attempt to escape detection and despair, A quarrel, My life saved
1:15:15
by jumping bear. The name given to Powder River by the Indians is Chehali
1:15:21
Wakapola. It crosses the country east of the Big Horn Mountains, and from
1:15:27
its banks can be seen the snow capped Cloud Peak, rising grandly from its
1:15:31
surrounding hills. Between these ranges that culminate in the Queenlye, shining crowned Height
1:15:38
that takes its name from the clouds it seems to piers, are fertile valleys
1:15:43
in which game abounds and delicious wild fruits in great variety, some of which
1:15:47
cannot be surpassed by cultivated orchard products in the richness and flavor they possess,
1:15:54
Although they ripen in the neighborhood of everlasting snow, in these valleys, the
1:15:59
country seems to roll in gentle slopes, presenting to the eye many elements of
1:16:03
loveliness and future value. Powder River, which is a muddy stream, comes
1:16:10
from the southern side of the Big Horn Mountains and takes a southern course,
1:16:15
and therefore is not a part of the Bright Channel that combines to feed the
1:16:17
Missouri River from the Big Horn Range. This range of the Rocky Mountains possesses
1:16:24
two distinct marked features. First, there is a central or backbone range,
1:16:30
which culminates in perpetual snow, where Cloud Peak grandly rises as the chief of
1:16:34
all its proud summits, falling off gradually towards the southern valley. There are
1:16:41
similar ranges of the Wind River Mountains. Beyond between these ranges, and varying
1:16:45
in breadth from twelve to twenty five miles, are fine hunting grounds, abounding
1:16:51
in noble orchards of wild fruit of various kinds and grapes, as well as
1:16:56
game of the choicest kind. For the huntsmen. Notwithstanding its vicinity to snow,
1:17:01
there are gentle slopes which present features of peculiar loveliness. Several miles northwest
1:17:10
and following the sweep of the higher Northern Range, and six to eight miles
1:17:14
outside of its general base, a new country opens. Sage, brush and
1:17:18
cactus for which nearly two hundred miles have so largely monopolized the soil rapidly disappear.
1:17:27
The change, though sudden, is very beautiful. One narrow divide only
1:17:30
is crossed, and the transition about one day's ride from the above named river.
1:17:36
The limpid, transparent and noisy waters of Deer Fork are reached, and
1:17:41
the horses have difficulty in breasting the swift current. The river is so clear
1:17:46
that every pebble and fish is seen distinctly on the bottom, and the water
1:17:51
so cool that ice in midsummer is no object of desire. The scenes of
1:17:58
natural beauty and the charms that have endured this country to the savage will in
1:18:01
the future lure the emigrant seeking a home in this new and undeveloped land.
1:18:09
This Clear Creek is a genuine outflow from the Big Horn Mountains and is a
1:18:14
type of many others no less pure and valuable, derived from melting snow and
1:18:18
from the innumerable springs in the mountains. Rock Creek comes next, with far
1:18:25
less pretensions, but is similar in character. A day's ride to the northward
1:18:30
brings the traveler to Crazy Woman's Fork. This ever flowing stream receives its yellow
1:18:36
hue from the Powder River waters of which it is a branch. The country
1:18:42
is scarred by countless trails of buffalo, so that what is often called the
1:18:45
Indian trail is merely the hoof print of these animals. Leaving Powder River,
1:18:51
we passed through large pine forests and through valleys rich with beautiful grasses, with
1:18:58
limpid springs, and seamingly eternal verdure. I continued to drop papers by the
1:19:03
way, hoping they might lead to my discovery, which would have proved fatal
1:19:09
had any one attempted to rescue, as the Indians prefer to kill their captives
1:19:14
rather than be forced to give them up. It was the fifth night of
1:19:17
my sojourn with the Indians that I found myself under the sweeping willows of Clear
1:19:23
Creek. The men, weary with travel and glad to find so good a
1:19:28
camping ground, lay down to sleep, leaving a sufficient guard over their captive
1:19:32
and at the outposts. Their journey hither had been a perilous one to me,
1:19:38
unused as I was, to the rocky paths between narrow gorges and over
1:19:43
masses of broken stone, which their Indian ponies climbed with readiness and ease.
1:19:48
I was led to remark the difference between these ponies and American horses, who
1:19:54
could only struggle to find their foothold over such craggy ground, while the ponies
1:20:00
led the way, picking their steps up almost perpendicular steeps with burdens on their
1:20:04
backs. Their travel after the rest at Clear Creek partook of the difficult nature
1:20:10
of the mountain passes and was wearisome in the extreme, and the duties imposed
1:20:15
upon me made life almost too burdensome to be borne. I was always glad
1:20:20
of a respite at the camping ground. On the sixth night, I lay
1:20:25
on a rock under the shade of some bushes, meditating on the possibility of
1:20:30
escape. The way was far beyond my reckoning, and the woods where they
1:20:33
now were might be infested with wild beasts, but the prospect of getting away
1:20:40
and being free from the savages closed my eyes to the terrors of starvation and
1:20:45
ravenous animals. Softly I rose and attempted to steal towards some growing timber.
1:20:51
But the watchful chief did not risk his prey so carelessly. His keen eye
1:20:56
was on me, and his iron hand grasped my wrists and drew me back,
1:21:00
throwing me fiercely on the ground. He hissed a threat through his clenched
1:21:05
teeth, which I momentarily expected him to put into execution as I lay trembling
1:21:11
at his feet. I felt from this time that my captivity was for life,
1:21:15
and a dull despair took possession of me. Sleep, that balm for
1:21:20
happier souls, brought only horrid dreams in which a dreadful future pictured itself,
1:21:27
and then the voices of my husband and child seemed calling me to their side,
1:21:31
alas in vain. For when I woke, it was to find myself
1:21:35
in the grass of the savage camping ground, watched over by the relentless guard,
1:21:41
and shut out from hope of home or civilized life. My feet were
1:21:45
covered with a pair of good shoes, and my chief's brother in law gave
1:21:49
me a pair of stockings from his stores, which I gladly accepted, never
1:21:54
for a moment suspecting that in doing thus I was outraging a custom of the
1:21:59
peace people among whom I was. The Chief saw the gift and made no
1:22:03
remark at the time, But soon after he shot one of his brother in
1:22:08
law's horses, which he objected to in a decided manner, and a quarrel
1:22:13
ensued. Realizing that I was the cause of the disagreement, I tremblingly watched
1:22:17
the contest, unable to conciliate either combatant, and dreading the wrath of both.
1:22:25
The Chief would brook no interference, nor would he offer any reparation for
1:22:29
the rung he had inflicted. His brother in law, enraged at his arrogance,
1:22:34
drew his bow and aimed his arrow at my heart. Determined to have
1:22:39
satisfaction for the loss of his horse, I could only cry to God for
1:22:44
mercy and prepare to meet the death which had long hung over my head.
1:22:48
When a young blackfoot whose name was Jumping Bear saved me from the approaching doom
1:22:54
by dexterously snatching the bow from the savage and hurling it to the earth.
1:22:59
He was named Jumping Bare from the almost miraculous dexterity of some of his feats.
1:23:04
This circumstance and the Indian mentioned were, in my judgment, instruments in
1:23:10
the hand of Providence in saving Fort Sully from the vengeance and slaughter of the
1:23:15
black Feet, who had succeeded in gaining the confidence of some of the officers
1:23:18
on the Missouri River, his activity in the attack of our train, and
1:23:24
the energy he displayed in killing and pillaging on that occasion, notwithstanding his efforts
1:23:30
to make me believe the contrary forbade me to think there was any sympathy in
1:23:34
his interference on my behalf, the Indians submitted to his intervention so far that
1:23:41
he did not draw his bow again, And my suspense was relieved for the
1:23:45
time by the gift of a horse from the chief to his brother in law,
1:23:48
which calmed the fury of the wronged Indian. It happened that the animal
1:23:54
thus given as a peace offering was the pack horse that pulled so uncomfortably against
1:23:59
the leading rain. And thus in the end I gained by the ordeal through
1:24:03
which I had passed, in being relieved of a most unmanageable task. From
1:24:10
the first I was deprived of every ameliorating comfort that might have rendered my existence
1:24:15
bearable. No tent was spread for me, no rug or coverlet offered me
1:24:20
to lie on the hard earth sparsely spread with grass furnished me a couch,
1:24:27
and apprehension and regret deprived me of the rest my toilsome life demanded. They
1:24:32
offered me no food, and at first I did not dare to ask for
1:24:35
it. This was partly owing to the absence of all natural appetite, an
1:24:42
intense weakness, and craving constantly for drink being the only signs of the prolonged
1:24:46
fast that annoyed me. The utter hopelessness of my isolation wore on me,
1:24:53
driving me almost to madness, and visions of husband and child haunted my brain.
1:24:58
Sometimes they were full of hope and tauntingly happy. At others I saw
1:25:03
them dying or dead, but always beyond my reach and separated by the impassable
1:25:09
barrier of my probably lifelong captivity. In my weakened condition, the horrors of
1:25:15
the stake to which I felt myself born daily nearer as they progressed on their
1:25:19
homeward route, appeared like a horrid phantom. It had been threatened me since
1:25:26
my first effort to escape, and I was led to believe such a punishment
1:25:30
was the inevitable consequence of my attempt. The terrible heat of the days continued,
1:25:36
and the road they took was singularly barren of water. The Indians,
1:25:42
after drinking plentifully before starting, carry little sticks in their mouths, which they
1:25:46
chew constantly, thus creating saliva and preventing the parching sensation I endured from the
1:25:53
want of this knowledge. The seventh night, they entered a singular canyon,
1:25:59
apparently well known to them, as they found horses there which evidently had been
1:26:02
left on a former visit. I could not but wonder at the sagacity and
1:26:08
patience of these Indian ponies, which were content to wait their masters coming and
1:26:14
browse about on the sparse herbage and meager grass. The Indians had killed an
1:26:18
antelope that day, and a piece of the raw flesh was allotted me for
1:26:23
a meal. They had then traveled in a circuitous route for miles to reach
1:26:28
the mouth of this canyon, and entered it just after sundown. Its gloomy
1:26:33
shade was a great relief after the heat of the sun, and it filled
1:26:38
my sensitive mind with awe. The sun never seemed to penetrate its depths,
1:26:43
and the damp air rose around me like the breath of a dungeon. Downward
1:26:47
they went, as if descending into the bowels of the earth, and the
1:26:51
sloping floor they trod was covered with red sand for perhaps the space of half
1:26:57
a mile. Then they struck a rocky pavement, the perpendicular walls of which
1:27:01
were of earth. But as they made another turning and entered a large space,
1:27:06
they seemed to change to stone, with projecting arches and overhanging cornices.
1:27:13
The high walls rose above the base so as to nearly meet overhead, and
1:27:17
with their innumerable juttings and irregularities, had the appearance of carved columns supporting a
1:27:23
mighty ruin. Occasionally a faint ray of the fading light struggled with the gloom
1:27:30
into which they plunged deeper and deeper, and then their horses cautious feet would
1:27:33
turn the bones of antelope or deer, drawn thither by the lurking wolf to
1:27:39
feed the young in their lair. I was startled with dread at the sight,
1:27:44
fearing that they might be human bones with which mine would soon be mingled.
1:27:49
The increasing darkness had made it necessary for the Indians to carry torches,
1:27:54
which they did, lighting up the grotesque grandeur of earth and rock, through
1:27:59
which they pained by the weird glare of their waving brands. Arriving at the
1:28:03
spot they selected as a camping ground, they made fires, whose fantastic gleams
1:28:10
danced upon the rocky walls and added a magic splendor to their wondrous tracery.
1:28:15
The ghostly grandeur of these unfrequented shades cannot be described, but their effect is
1:28:20
marvelous. They seemed to shadow forth the outline of carving and sculpture, and
1:28:26
in the uncertain firelight, have all the effect of some old time temple whose
1:28:31
art and glory will live forever, even when its classic stones are dust.
1:28:36
Here I found water for my parched lips, which was more grateful to my
1:28:41
weary senses than any natural phenomenon. And sinking on a moss grown rock near
1:28:46
the trickling rill that sank away in the sand beyond, I found slumber.
1:28:51
In that strange, fantastic solitude. I was aroused by a whistling sound,
1:28:58
and, gathering myself up, looked fearfully around me. Two flaming eyes seemed
1:29:03
to pierce the darkness like a sword. I shuddered and held my breath as
1:29:09
a long lithe serpent wound past me, trailing its shining length through the damp
1:29:14
sand and moving slowly out of sight among the dripping vines. After that I
1:29:19
slept no more, And when I saw the struggling light of day pierce the
1:29:24
rocky opening above, I gladly hailed the safety of the sunshine, even though
1:29:29
it brought sorrow, distress, and toil. When we rose in the morning,
1:29:33
they left the canyon by the path they entered, as it seemed to
1:29:38
have no other outlet, and then pursued their way. End of chapter seven.
1:29:45
The storm arrival at the Indian village, the old chief's wife some kindness
1:29:50
shown me a tend of feast. On the twentieth of July. We had
1:29:57
nearly reached the Indian village when we camped for the night, as usual when
1:30:00
such a locality could be gained on the bank of a stream of good water.
1:30:05
Here was a stream of sparkling, rippling water, fresh from the melting
1:30:11
snow of the mountain. It was a warm, still night. Soon the
1:30:15
sky began to darken, strangely and great, ragged masses of clouds hung low
1:30:19
over the surrounding hills. The air grew heavy, relieved occasionally by a deep
1:30:25
gust of wind that died away, to be succeeded by an ominous calm.
1:30:30
Then a low, muttering thunder jarred painfully on the ear. My shattered nerves
1:30:35
recoiled at the prospect of the coming storm. From a child, I had
1:30:40
been timid of lightning, and now its forked gleam filled me with dismay in
1:30:45
my unsheltered helplessness. The Indians, seeing the approaching tempest, prepared for it
1:30:51
by collecting and fastening their horses, and covering their firearms and ammunition, and
1:30:57
lying flat on the earth themselves. I crouched, too, but could not
1:31:01
escape the terrible glare of the lightning, and the roar of the awful thunder
1:31:05
grew deafening. On came the storm with startling velocity, and the dread artillery
1:31:13
of heaven boomed overhead, followed closely by blinding flashes of light, and the
1:31:18
velocity of the whirlwind seemed to arise in its might to add desolation to the
1:31:24
terrible scene. When the vivid gleams lit up the air. Enormous trees could
1:31:29
be seen bending under the fierceness of the blast, and great white sheets of
1:31:33
water burst out of the clouds, as if intent on deluging the world.
1:31:39
Every element in nature united in terrific warfare, and the security of Earth seemed
1:31:45
denied to me. While I clung to its flooded bosom, and blinded by
1:31:48
lightning, and shocked by the incessant roaring of the thunder and the wild ravaging
1:31:53
of the ungovernable wind, felt myself but a tossed atom in the great confusion,
1:31:59
and could only cling to God's remembering pity in silent prayer. Huge trees
1:32:04
were bent to the earth and broken. Others snapped off like twigs, were
1:32:10
carried through the frenzied air. Some forest monarchs were left bare of leaves or
1:32:15
boughs, like desolate old age, stripped of its honors. The rain had
1:32:20
already swelled the little creek into a mighty stream that rolled its dark, angry
1:32:26
waters with fury, and added its sullen roar to the howlings of the storm.
1:32:30
I screamed, but my voice was lost even to myself in the mightier
1:32:35
ones of the furious elements. Three hours, three long, never to be
1:32:41
forgotten hours did the storm rage thus in fury, And in those hours I
1:32:45
thought I lived a lifetime. Then, to my joy, it began to
1:32:50
abate, and soon I beheld the twinkling stars through rents in the driving clouds,
1:32:56
while the flashing lightning and the roaring thunders gradually becoming less and less distinct
1:33:00
to the eye. And ear told me the devastating storm was speeding on toward
1:33:05
the east. And when at dawn of day the waters were assuaged, the
1:33:11
thunder died away, and the lightnings were chained in their cell. The scene
1:33:15
was one of indescribable desolation. The wind had gone home, daylight had cowed
1:33:20
him from a raging giant into a meek prisoner, and led him moaning to
1:33:26
his cavern in the eastern hills. A strangely solemn calm seemed to take the
1:33:30
place of the wild conflict. But the track of destruction was there, and
1:33:35
the swollen water and felled trees, the scattered boughs and uprooted saplings, told
1:33:41
the story of the havoc of the storm. It was a night of horror
1:33:45
to pass through, and I thankfully greeted the returning day that once more gave
1:33:50
me the comfort of light, now almost my only solace, for my position
1:33:56
grew more bitter as the chief's savage like exultation in my case capture and safe
1:34:00
abduction increased as we neared the village where their families were, and where I
1:34:05
feared my fate would be decided by bloodshed or the fearful stake. On the
1:34:11
twenty first of July, we left camp early, the day being cool and
1:34:15
favorable for traveling. Our route lay over rolling prairie, interspersed with extensive tracts
1:34:20
of marsh, which, however, we easily avoided Crossing. A few miles
1:34:27
brought us to a high, broken ridge stretching nearly in a north and south
1:34:30
direction. As we ascended the ridge, we came in sight of a large
1:34:34
herd of buffalo, quietly feeding upon the bunch or buffalo grass, which they
1:34:40
prefer to all other kinds. These animals are short sighted and scent the approach
1:34:45
of an enemy before they could see him, and thus, in their curiosity,
1:34:50
often start to meet him until they approach near enough to ascertain to their
1:34:55
satisfaction whether there be danger in a closer acquaintance. In this case, they
1:35:00
decided in the affirmative, and when they had once fairly made us out,
1:35:05
lost no time in increasing the distance between us, starting on a slow,
1:35:10
clumsy trot, which was soon quickened to a gait that generally left most pursuers
1:35:15
far in the rear. But the Indians and their horses both are trained buffalo
1:35:20
hunters, and soon succeeded in surrounding a number. They rode alongside their victim,
1:35:27
and, leveling their guns or arrows, send their aimed shot in the
1:35:31
region of the heart, then ride off to a safe distance to avoid the
1:35:34
desperate lunge which a wounded buffalo seldom fails to make, and, shaking his
1:35:40
shaggy head, crowned with horns of a most formidable strength, stands at bay,
1:35:45
with eyes darting savage and defiant as he looks at his human foe.
1:35:50
Soon the blood begins to spurt from his mouth and to choke him as it
1:35:55
comes. The hunters do not shoot again, but wait patiently until till their
1:36:00
victim grows weak from loss of blood and staggering falls upon his knees, makes
1:36:05
a desperate effort to regain his feet and get at his slayer, then falling
1:36:10
once more, rolls over on his side dead. Sometimes these animals number tens
1:36:15
of thousands in droves. The Indians, often for the mere sport make an
1:36:20
onslaught, killing great numbers of them, and having a plentiful feast of tatanka,
1:36:27
as they call buffalo meat. They use no economy in food. It
1:36:31
is always a feast or a famine, and they seem equally able to gorge
1:36:36
or fast. Each man selects a part of the animal he has killed that
1:36:41
best suits his own taste, and leaves the rest to decay or be eaten
1:36:45
by wolves, thus wasting their own game and often suffering privation in consequence.
1:36:53
They gave me a knife and motioned me to help myself to the feast.
1:36:57
I did not accept, thinking then it would never be possible for me to
1:37:00
eat uncooked meat. They remained here over night. Starting early next morning,
1:37:08
we were now nearing the village where the Indians belonged, jumping bare. The
1:37:13
young Indian who had shown me so many marks of good will, again made
1:37:16
his appearance with a sad expression on his face, and that day would ride
1:37:20
in silence by my side, which was an act of great condescension on his
1:37:26
part, for these men rarely thus equalize themselves with women, but ride in
1:37:30
advance. They had traveled nearly three hundred miles, and despite my fears,
1:37:36
I began to rejoice in the prospect of arriving among women, even though they
1:37:41
were savages, and a downing hope that I might find pity and companionship with
1:37:45
beings of my own sex, however separated their lives and customs, might be,
1:37:50
took possession of me. I had read of the dusky maidens of Romance.
1:37:56
I thought of all the characters of romance and history, wherein the nature
1:38:00
of the red man is enshrined in poetic beauty. The untutored nobility of soul,
1:38:05
the brave generosity, the simple dignity, untrammeled by the hollow conventionalities of
1:38:11
civilized life, all rose mockingly before me, and the heroes of my youthful
1:38:16
imagination passed through my mind, in strange contrast with the flesh and blood realities
1:38:23
into whose hands I had fallen. The stately Logan, the fearless Philip,
1:38:29
the bold black Hawk, the gentle Pocahontas. How unlike the greedy, cunning,
1:38:33
and cruel savages who had so ruthlessly torn me from my friends. Truly,
1:38:40
these pictures of the children of the forest that adorn the pages of the
1:38:43
novelist are delightful conceptions of the airy fancy, fitted to charm the mind.
1:38:48
They amuse and beguile the hours they invest with their interest. But the true
1:38:54
red Man, as I saw him, does not exist between the pages of
1:38:58
many volumes. He roams his native wastes, and to once encounter and study
1:39:03
him, there so much must be sacrificed that I could scarcely appreciate the knowledge
1:39:09
I was gaining at such a price. Notwithstanding all that I had seen and
1:39:14
experienced, I remembered much that was gentle and faithful in the character ascribed to
1:39:19
the Indian women. Perhaps I might be able to find one whose sympathy and
1:39:24
companionship could be wrought upon to the extent of aiding me in some way to
1:39:29
escape. I became hopeful with the thought, and almost forgot my terror of
1:39:33
the threats of my captors in my desire to see the friendly faces of Indian
1:39:39
women. The country around was rich and varied. Beautiful birds appeared in the
1:39:45
trees and flowers of variety, and fragrance knotted on their stems. Wild fruits
1:39:50
were abundant, and I plucked roses and fruit for food, while my savage
1:39:56
companions feasted on raw meat. They did not see seemed to care for fruit,
1:40:00
and urged me to eat meat with them. I refused because of its
1:40:04
being raw. A young Indian, guessing the cause of my refusal to eat,
1:40:10
procured a kettle made of fire, cooked some and offered it to me.
1:40:15
I tried to eat of it to please them, since they had taken
1:40:17
the trouble to prepare a special dish, but owing to the filthy manner in
1:40:21
which it was prepared, a very small portion satisfied me. We were now
1:40:28
nearing a river, which from its locality must have been the Tongue River,
1:40:32
where we found refreshing drink and rested for a short time. The Indians gave
1:40:38
me to understand that when we crossed the stream and a short distance beyond,
1:40:43
we would be at their home. Here they paused to dress so as to
1:40:46
make a gay appearance and imposing entrance into the village. Except when in full
1:40:51
dress, an Indian's wearing apparel consists only of a buffalo robe, which is
1:40:58
also part of a fine toilet. It is very inconveniently disposed about the person
1:41:02
without fastening, and must be held in position with the hands. Here the
1:41:09
clothing taken from our train was brought into great demand, and each warrior that
1:41:13
had been fortunate enough to possess himself of any article of our dress now arrate
1:41:17
himself to the best advantage the garments and their limited ideas of civilization permitted,
1:41:24
and in some instances, when the toilet was considered complete, changes for less
1:41:29
attractive articles of display were made. With companions who had not been so fortunate
1:41:33
as others in the division of the goods, that they might also share in
1:41:38
the sport afforded by this derisive display. Their peculiar ideas of tasteful dress rendered
1:41:45
them grotesque in appearance. One brawny face appeared under the shade of my hat,
1:41:49
smiling with evident satisfaction at the superiority of his decorations over those of his
1:41:56
less fortunate companions. Another was shaded from the scorching rays of the sun by
1:42:00
a tiny parasol, and the brown hand that held it aloft was thinly covered
1:42:05
by a silk glove, which was about the only article of clothing except the
1:42:11
invariable breech cloth that the warrior wore. Vests and other garments were put on
1:42:16
with the lower part upward, and they all displayed remarkable fertility in the arrangement
1:42:21
of their decorations. They seemed to think much of their stolen goods, some
1:42:28
of which were frivolous and others worthless. Decorating themselves by way of derision,
1:42:33
each noble warrior endeavored to outdo the other in splendor, which was altogether estimated
1:42:39
by color and not by texture. Their horses were also decked in the most
1:42:44
ridiculous manner ottawa or silver horn. The war chief was a rate in full
1:42:49
costume. He was very old, over seventy five, partially blind, and
1:42:56
a little below the medium height. He was very ferocious and savage looking,
1:43:00
and now when in costume, looked frightful. His face was red with stripes
1:43:06
of black, and around each eye a circlet of bright yellow. His long
1:43:12
black hair was divided into two braids, with a scalplock on top of the
1:43:15
head. His ears held great brass wire rings full six inches in diameter,
1:43:21
and chains and bead necklaces were suspended from his neck. Armlets and bracelets of
1:43:28
brass, together with a string of bear's claws, completed his jewelry. He
1:43:32
also wore leggings of deer skin and a shirt of some material, beautifully ornamented
1:43:38
with beads and fringed with scalplocks, that he claimed to have taken from his
1:43:43
enemies, both red and white. Over his shoulders hung a great, bright
1:43:46
colored quilt that had been taken from our stores. He wore a crown of
1:43:51
eagle feathers on his head, also a plume of feathers depending from the back
1:43:57
of the crown. His horse, an noble looking animal, was no less
1:44:01
gorgeously arrayed. His ears were pierced like his master's, and his neck was
1:44:06
encircled by a wreath of bear's claws taken from animals that the chief had slain.
1:44:13
Some bells and a human scalp hung from his mane, forming together thus
1:44:16
arrayed a museum of the trophies of the old chief's prowess on the war path
1:44:21
and of skill in the chase. When all was arranged, the chief mounted
1:44:28
his horse and rode on in triumph toward the village, highly elated over the
1:44:32
possession of his white captive, whom he never looked back at ordained to notice,
1:44:38
except to chastise on account of her slowness, which was unavoidable, as
1:44:43
I rode a jaded horse and could not keep pace. The entire Indian village
1:44:47
poured forth to meet us amid song and wild dancing in the most enthusiastic manner,
1:44:54
furnishing flags and weapons of war in frenzied joy. As we entered the
1:44:58
village, which stretched for miles along the banks of the stream, resembled a
1:45:02
vast military encampment, with the wigwams covered with white skins like sibly tents in
1:45:09
shape and size, ranged without regard to order, but facing one point of
1:45:14
the compass. We penetrated through the irregular settlement for over a mile, accompanied
1:45:19
by the enthusiastic escort of men, women and children. We rode in the
1:45:25
center of a double column of Indians and directly in the rear of the chief,
1:45:30
till we reached the door of his lodge, when several of his wives
1:45:32
came out to meet him. He had six, but the senior one remained
1:45:38
in the tent, while a younger one was absent with the farmer or gross
1:45:42
venture Indians. Their salutation is very much in the manner of the Mexicans.
1:45:46
The women crossed their arms on the chief's breast and smiled. They met me
1:45:51
in silence, but with looks of great astonishment. I got down, as
1:45:57
directed, and followed the chief into the great land lodge or tent, Distinguished
1:46:01
from the others by its superior ornaments. It was decorated with brilliantly colored porcupine
1:46:06
quills and a terrible fringe of human scalp locks taken in battle from the Pawnees.
1:46:14
On one side was depicted a representation of the Good Spirit, rude in
1:46:17
design and daubed with colors. On the other side was portrayed the figure of
1:46:23
the spirit of Evil in like manner. The Indians believe in these two deities
1:46:28
and pay their homage to them. The first they consider as entirely benevolent and
1:46:33
kind, but the second is full of vile tricks and wicked ways. They
1:46:39
fear him and consider it only safe to propitiate him occasionally by obedience to his
1:46:44
evil will. This may account for some of their worst ferocities, and explain
1:46:49
that horrible brutality of nature which they so often exhibit. The senior wife,
1:46:56
who had remained in the lodge met her husband with the same salutation as the
1:47:00
others had done. I was shown a seat opposite the entrance on a buffalo
1:47:04
skin. The chief's spoil was brought in for division by his elderly spouse.
1:47:11
As it was spread out before them, the women gathered admiringly round it and
1:47:15
proved their peculiarities of taste and love of finery had a counterpart in these forest
1:47:20
bells as well, defined as if they had been city ladies. Eagerly they
1:47:26
watched every new article displayed, grunting their approval, until their senior companion seized
1:47:31
a piece of cloth, declaring that she meant to retain it all for herself.
1:47:36
This occasioned dissatisfaction, which soon ripened into rebellion among them, and they
1:47:43
contended for a just distribution of the goods. The elder matron, following her
1:47:47
illustrious husband's plan in quelling such outbreaks, caught her knife from her belt sprang
1:47:54
in among them, vowing that she was the oldest and had the right to
1:47:58
govern, and threatening to kill everyone if there was the least objection offered to
1:48:01
her decrees. I had so hoped to find sympathy and pity among these artless
1:48:06
women of the forest, but instead cowed and trembling. I sat scarcely,
1:48:13
daring to breathe. The chief noticed my fear in shrinking posture and smiled.
1:48:18
Then he rose and made a speech which had its effect. The women became
1:48:24
quiet. Presently, an invitation arrived for the chief to go to a feast,
1:48:29
and he rose to comply. I followed his departing figure with regretful glances.
1:48:34
For terrible as he and his men had been, the women seemed still
1:48:39
more formidable, and I feared to be left alone with them, especially with
1:48:44
the hot temper and ready knife of the elder squaw. Great crowds of curious
1:48:48
Indians came flocking in to stare at me. The women brought their children,
1:48:54
some of them whose fair complexion astonished me. I afterward learned were the offspring
1:49:00
of fort marriages. One fair little boy, who with his mother had just
1:49:04
returned from Fort Laramie, came close to me. Finding the squaw could speak
1:49:10
a few words in English, I addressed her and was told, in reply
1:49:14
to my questions, that she had been the wife of a captain there,
1:49:17
but that his white wife, arriving from the east, his Indian wife was
1:49:21
told to return to her people. She did so, taking her child with
1:49:27
her. The little boy was dressed completely in military clothes, even to the
1:49:31
stripe on his pantaloons, and was a very bright, attractive child of about
1:49:35
four years. It was a very sad thought for me to realize that a
1:49:41
parent could part with such a child, committing it forever to live in barbarous
1:49:45
ignorance and rove the woods among savages, with the impress of his own superior
1:49:50
race so strongly mingled with his Indian origin. I saw many other fair faced
1:49:57
little children and heard the sad story from their mothers, and was deeply pained
1:50:01
to see their pale, pinched features as they cried for food when there was
1:50:05
none to be had, and they are sometimes cruelly treated by the full blooded
1:50:11
and larger children on account of their unfortunate birth. Now that the question of
1:50:16
property was decided between the women of the chief's family, they seemed kindly disposed
1:50:21
toward me, and one of them brought me a dish of meat. Many
1:50:25
others followed her example, even from the neighboring lodges, and really seemed to
1:50:30
pity me, and showed great evidences of compassion and tried to express their sympathy
1:50:35
and signs because I had been torn from my own people and compelled to come
1:50:41
such a long, fatiguing journey, and examined me all over and over again,
1:50:45
and all about my dress, hands and feet. Particularly. Then,
1:50:49
to their great surprise, they discovered my bruised and almost broken limbs that occurred
1:50:55
when first taken also from the fall of the horse the first night of mine
1:51:00
captivity, and proceeded at once to dress my wounds. I was just beginning
1:51:05
to rejoice in the dawning kindness that seemed to soften their swarthy faces, when
1:51:10
a messenger from the war chief arrived, accompanied by a small party of young
1:51:15
warriors, sent to conduct me to the chief's presence. I did not at
1:51:19
first comprehend the summons, and as every fresh announcement only awakened new fears,
1:51:25
I dreaded to comply, yet dared not refuse. Seeing my hesitation, the
1:51:30
senior wife allowed a little daughter of the chiefs, whose name was Yellowbird,
1:51:34
to accompany me, and I was then conducted to several feasts, at each
1:51:40
of which I was received with kindness and promised good will and protection. It
1:51:45
was here that the chief himself first condescended to speak kindly to me. And
1:51:49
this and the companionship of the child Yellowbird, who seemed to approach me with
1:51:55
a trusting grace and freedom, unlike the scared shyness of Indian children, generally
1:52:00
inspired hope. The chief here told me that henceforth I could call yellow Bird
1:52:05
my own, to take the place of my little girl that had been killed.
1:52:10
I did not at once comprehend all of his meaning. Still it gave
1:52:14
me some hope of security. When at nightfall we returned to the lodge which
1:52:19
they told me I must henceforth regard as home, I found the elder women
1:52:24
busily pounding a post into the ground, and my fears were at once aroused.
1:52:29
Being always ready to take alarm, and suggested to me that it betokened
1:52:33
some evil. On the contrary, it was simply some household arrangement of her
1:52:39
own. For presently putting on a camp kettle, she built a fire and
1:52:44
caused water to boil, and drew a tea, of which she gave me
1:52:46
a portion, assuring me that it would cure the tired and weary feeling and
1:52:51
secure me a good rest. This proved true Soon a deep drowsiness began to
1:52:58
steal over the weary cap. My bed of furs was shown me. Yellowbird
1:53:03
was told to share my couch with me, and from this time on she
1:53:06
was my constant attendant. I laid down, and the wife of the chief
1:53:12
tenderly removed my moccasins, and I slept sweetly, the first true sleep I
1:53:16
had enjoyed in many weary nights. Before my eyes closed in slumber, my
1:53:23
heart rose in gratitude unspeakable to God for his great and immeasurable mercy. I
1:53:30
readily adapted myself to my new position. The chief's three sisters shared the lodge
1:53:34
with us. The following day commenced my labors, and the chief's wife seemed
1:53:41
to feel a protecting interest in me. The day of the twenty fifth of
1:53:45
July was observed by continual feasting in honor of the safe return of the braves.
1:53:50
There was a large tent made by putting several together, where all the
1:53:55
chiefs, medicine men, and great warriors met for consultation and feast. I
1:54:00
was invited to attend and was given an elevated seat, while the rest of
1:54:04
the company all sat upon the ground. And mostly cross legged. Preparatory to
1:54:10
the feast being dealt out. In the center of the circle was erected a
1:54:15
flag staff with many scalps, trophies, and ornaments fastened to it. Near
1:54:20
the foot of the flag staff were placed in a row on the ground several
1:54:25
large kettles in which was prepared the feast. Near the kettles on the ground
1:54:30
also were a number of wooden bowls in which the meat was to be served
1:54:33
out, and in front two or three women who were placed as waiters to
1:54:40
light the pipes for smoking and also to deal out the food. In these
1:54:45
positions, things stood, and all sat, with thousands climbing and crowding around
1:54:49
for a peep at me as I appeared at the grand feast and council.
1:54:54
When at length, the Chief arose in a very handsome costume and addressed the
1:54:59
audience, and in his speech often pointed to me I could understand but little
1:55:03
of his meaning. Several others also made speeches that all sounded the same to
1:55:10
me. I sat trembling with fear at these strange proceedings, fearing they were
1:55:15
deliberating upon a plan of putting me to some cruel death, to finish their
1:55:18
amusement. It is impossible to describe my feelings on that day as I sat
1:55:25
in the midst of those wild, savage people. Soon a handsome pipe was
1:55:30
lit and brought to the chief to smoke. He took it, and,
1:55:33
after presenting the stem to the north, the south, the east, and
1:55:36
the west, and then to the sun that was over his head, uttered
1:55:41
a few words, drew a few whiffs, then passed it around through the
1:55:45
whole group, who all smoked. The smoking was conducted with the strictest adherents
1:55:49
to exact and established form, and the feast throughout was conducted in the most
1:55:55
positive silence. The lids were raised from the kettle, which were all filled
1:56:00
with dogs meat alone, it being well cooked and made into a sort of
1:56:04
stew. Each guest had a large wooden bowl placed before him with a quantity
1:56:10
of dog's flesh floating in a profusion of soup or rich gravy, with a
1:56:14
large spoon resting in the dish made of buffalo horn. In this most difficult
1:56:19
and painful dilemma, I sat witnessing the solemnity my dish was given me and
1:56:26
the absolute necessity of eating it was painful to contemplate. I tasted it a
1:56:30
few times after much urging, and then resigned my dish, which was taken
1:56:35
and passed around with others to every part of the group, who all ate
1:56:40
heartily. In this way, the feast ended, and all retired silently and
1:56:45
gradually, until the ground was left to the waiters, who seemed to have
1:56:48
charge of it. During the whole occasion, the women signified to me that
1:56:53
I might feel highly honored by being called to feast with chiefs and great warriors,
1:56:59
and seeing the spirit in which it was given, I could not but
1:57:01
treat it respectfully and receive it as a very high and marked compliment. Since
1:57:08
I witnessed it on this occasion, I have been honored with numerous entertainments of
1:57:13
the kind, and all conducted in the same solemn and impressive manner. As
1:57:17
far as I could see and understand, I feel authorized to pronounce the dog
1:57:23
feast a truly religious ceremony wherein the superstitious Indian sees fit to sacrifice his faithful
1:57:30
companion to bear testimony to the sacredness of his vows of friendship for the great
1:57:34
Spirit. He always offers up a portion of the meat to his deity than
1:57:39
puts it on the ground to remind him of the sacrifice and solemnity of the
1:57:44
offering. The dog among all Indian tribes is more esteemed and more valued than
1:57:49
among any part of the civilized world. The Indian has more time to devote
1:57:55
to his company, and his untutored mind more nearly assimilates to the nature of
1:58:00
his faithful servant. The flesh of these dogs, though apparently relished by the
1:58:04
Indians, is undoubtedly inferior to venison and buffalo meat, of which feasts are
1:58:11
occasionally made where friends are invited, as they are in civilized society, to
1:58:15
a pleasant and convivial party, from which fact alone, it would seem clear
1:58:20
that they have some extraordinary motive at all events for feasting on the flesh of
1:58:26
that useful and faithful animal, even when, as in the instance I have
1:58:30
been describing, their village was well supplied with fresh and dried meat of the
1:58:35
buffalo and deer. The dog feast is given, I believe, by all
1:58:40
tribes of America, and by them all I think, this faithful animal,
1:58:45
as well as the horse, is sacrificed in several different ways to appease offended
1:58:49
spirits or deities whom it is considered necessary that they should conciliate in this way,
1:58:56
and when done, is invariably done by giving the best in the head,
1:59:00
herd, or the canal. That night was spent in dancing, wild
1:59:04
and furious. All seemed to me. I was led into the center of
1:59:09
the circle and assigned to the painful duty of holding above my head human scalps
1:59:15
fastened to a little pole. The dance was kept up till near morning,
1:59:18
when all repaired to their respective lodges. The three kind sisters of the chief
1:59:24
were there to convey me to mine. End of Chapter eight. Preparations for
1:59:30
battle. An Indian village on the move, scalp dance, a horrible scene
1:59:36
of savage exultation, compelled to join the Origies, a cause of Indian hostility,
1:59:43
another battle with the white troops, burial of an Indian boy, a
1:59:47
hasty retreat made to act as surgeon of the wounded, mauve taire or bad
1:59:53
lands. The next morning, the whole village was in motion. The warriors
1:59:58
were going to battle against a white enemy, they said, And old men,
2:00:02
women and children were sent out in another direction to a place of safety
2:00:08
as designated by the chief. Everything was soon moving with the rapidity of custom.
2:00:14
The tent poles were lowered and the tents rolled up. The cooking utensils
2:00:17
were put together and laid on cross beams connecting the lower ends of the poles
2:00:23
as they trail the ground from the horses sides to which they are attached.
2:00:28
Dogs, too, are made useful in this exodus, and started off with
2:00:31
smaller burdens, dragging after them in the same manner that horses are packed.
2:00:38
The whole village was in commotion, children screaming or laughing, dogs barking or
2:00:43
growling under their heavy burdens, Squaws running hither and thither, pulling down teepee
2:00:48
poles, packing up everything, and leading horses and dogs with huge burdens.
2:00:55
The small children were placed in sacks of buffalo skin and hung upon saddles or
2:01:00
their mother's backs. The wrapped up lodges, which are secured by thongs,
2:01:03
are fastened to the poles on the horses backs, together with sundry other articles
2:01:09
of domestic use, and upon these are seated women and children To guide the
2:01:15
horse. A woman goes before holding the bridle, carrying on her back a
2:01:18
load nearly as large as the horse carries. Women and children are sometimes mounted
2:01:24
upon horses, holding in their arms every variety of plunder, sometimes little dogs,
2:01:30
and other forlorn and hungry looking pets. In this unsightly manner, sometimes
2:01:35
two or three thousand families are transported many miles at the same migration, and
2:01:41
all being in motion at the same time, the cavalcade extends for a great
2:01:45
distance. The men and boys are not so unsightly in their appearance, being
2:01:50
mounted upon good horses and the best Indian ponies, riding in groups, leaving
2:01:57
the women and children to trudge along with the burdened horse and dogs. The
2:02:01
number and utility of these faithful dogs is sometimes astonishing, as they count hundreds,
2:02:08
each bearing a portion of the general household goods. Two poles about ten
2:02:13
or twelve feet long are attached to the shoulders of a dog, leaving one
2:02:17
end of each dragging upon the ground. On these poles a small burden is
2:02:21
carried, and with it the faithful canine jogs along, looking neither to the
2:02:27
right nor to the left, but apparently intent upon reaching the end of his
2:02:30
journey. These faithful creatures are under the charge of women and children, and
2:02:36
their paces. Occasionally encouraged with admonitions in the form of vigorous and zealous use
2:02:42
of whips applied to their limbs and sides. It was quite painful to me
2:02:46
to see these poor animals thus taken from their natural avocation and forced to a
2:02:53
slavish state of labor, and compelled to travel along with their burdens. Yet
2:02:58
when this change has been made, they become worthless as hunters or watchers,
2:03:02
and even for the purpose of barking, being reduced instead to beasts of burden.
2:03:08
It was not uncommon to see a great wolfish looking dog moodily jogging along
2:03:13
with a lot of cooking utensils on one side, and on the other a
2:03:16
crying papoose for a balance, while his sulking companion toils on, supporting upon
2:03:23
his back a quarter of antelope or elk, and is followed by an old
2:03:27
woman or some children who keep at bay, all refractory dogs who run loose,
2:03:32
occasionally showing their superiority by snapping and snarling at their more unfortunate companions.
2:03:40
This train is immensely large, nearly the whole Sioux nation having concentrated there for
2:03:45
the purpose of war. The chief's sisters brought me a horse saddled, told
2:03:49
me to mount and accompany the already moving column that seemed to be spreading far
2:03:56
over the hills to the northward. We toiled on all day. Late in
2:04:00
the afternoon we arrived at the ground of encampment and rested for further orders from
2:04:05
the warriors who had gone to battle and would join us there. I had
2:04:10
no means of informing myself at that time with whom the war was raging,
2:04:15
but afterward learned that General Sully's army was pursuing the Sioux, and that the
2:04:19
engagement was with his men. In three days, the Indians returned to camp
2:04:26
and entered on a course of feasting and rejoicing that caused me to believe that
2:04:30
they had suffered very little loss in the affray. They passed their day of
2:04:34
rest in this sort of entertainment, and here I first saw the scalp dance,
2:04:40
which, ceremonial did not increase my respect or confidence in the tender mercies
2:04:45
of my captors. This performance is only gone through at night and by the
2:04:49
light of torches. Consequently, its terrible characteristics are heightened by the fantastic gleams
2:04:56
of the lighted brands. The women too took in the dance, and I
2:05:00
was forced to mingle in the fearful festivity. Painted and dressed for the occasion
2:05:06
and holding a staff from the top of which hung several scalps, the braves
2:05:12
came vauntingly forth with the most extravagant boasts of their wonderful prowess and courage in
2:05:16
war, at the same time brandishing weapons in their hands with the most fearful
2:05:21
contortions and threatenings. A number of young women came with them, carrying the
2:05:28
trophies of their friends, which they hold aloft, while the warriors jump around
2:05:31
in a circle, brandishing their weapons and whooping and yelling the fearful war cry
2:05:38
in a most frightful manner, all jumping upon both feet at the same time
2:05:42
with simultaneous stamping and motions with their weapons keeping exact time. Their gestures impress
2:05:49
one as if they were actually cutting and carving each other to pieces. As
2:05:54
they utter their fearful, sharp yell. They become furious as they grow more
2:05:59
excited, until their faces are distorted to the utmost. Their glaring eyes protrude
2:06:04
with a fiendish, indescribable appearance while they grind their teeth and try to imitate
2:06:10
the hissing, gurgling sound of death in battle. Furious and faster grows the
2:06:15
stamping, until the sight is more like a picture of fiends in a carnival
2:06:19
of battle than anything else to which the war dance can be compared. No
2:06:25
description can fully convey the terrible sight in all its fearful barbarity. As the
2:06:30
bloody trophies of their victory are brandished aloft in the light of the flickering blaze,
2:06:35
and their distorted forms were half concealed by darkness. The object for which
2:06:41
the scalp is taken is exultation and proof of valor and success. My pen
2:06:46
is powerless to portray my feelings during this terrible scene. The country seemed scarred
2:06:53
by countless trails where the Indian ponies have dragged lodge poles in their change of
2:06:59
habitations or the antipathy of the Indian to its occupation or invasion by the white
2:07:04
man is very intense and bitter. The felling of timber, or killing of
2:07:10
buffalo, or traveling of a train, or any signs of permanent possession by
2:07:14
the white man excites deadly hostility. It is their last hope. If they
2:07:19
yield and give up this, they will have to die or ever after be
2:07:24
governed by the white man's laws. Consequently, they lose no opportunity to kill
2:07:30
or steal from and harass the whites when they can do so. The game
2:07:34
still clings to its favorite haunts, and the Indian must press upon the steps
2:07:40
of the white man or lose all hope of independence. Herds of elk proudly
2:07:45
stand with erect antlers, as if charmed by music, or as if curious
2:07:49
to understand this strange inroad upon their long secluded parks of pleasure. The mountain
2:07:55
sheep look down from belting crags that skirt the perpendicular north and face of the
2:08:00
mountains, and yield no rival of their charms or excellence for food. The
2:08:05
black and white tailed deer and antelope are ever present, while the hare and
2:08:11
the rabbit, the sage hen, and the prairie chicken are nearly trodden down
2:08:16
before they yield to the intrusion of the stranger brands. Wild geese and ducks
2:08:22
multiply and people the waters of beautiful lakes and are found in many of the
2:08:26
streams. The grizzly and cinnamon bears are often killed and give up their rich
2:08:31
material for the hunter's profit, and the buffalo in numberless herds with tens of
2:08:37
thousands in a herd, sweep back and forth, filling the valley as far
2:08:41
as the eye can reach and adding their value to the red man, both
2:08:46
for food, habitation, fuel and clothing. The Big Horn River and mountains
2:08:52
and streams beyond are plentifully supplied with various kinds of fish. The country seems
2:08:58
to be filled with wolves, which pierced the night air with their howls,
2:09:01
But like the beavers whose dams encumber all the smaller streams, and the otter
2:09:07
are forced to yield their nice coats for the Indian as well as white man's
2:09:11
luxury. The Indians felt that the proximity of the troops and their inroads through
2:09:16
their best hunting grounds would prove disastrous to them and their future hopes of prosperity,
2:09:22
and soon again they were making preparations for battle. And again, on
2:09:26
the eighth of August, the warriors set forth upon the war path, and
2:09:31
this time the action seemed to draw ominously near our encampment. An Indian boy
2:09:37
died the night before and was buried rather hastily in the morning. The body
2:09:43
was wrapped in some window curtains that once draped my windows At Geneva. There
2:09:48
was also a red blanket and many beads and trinkets deposited on an elevated platform
2:09:54
with the moldering remains, and the bereaved mother and relatives left the lonely spot
2:09:58
with loud lamentations. There seemed to be great commotion and great anxiety in the
2:10:05
movements of the Indians, and presently I could hear the sound of battle,
2:10:09
and the echoes that came back to me from the reports of the guns in
2:10:13
the distant hills warned me of the near approach of my own people, and
2:10:18
my heart became a prey to wildly conflicting emotions as they hurried on in great
2:10:22
desperation, and even forbid me turning my head and looking in the direction of
2:10:28
the battle. Once I broke the rule, and was severely punished for it,
2:10:33
they kept their eyes upon me and were very cross and unkind, panting
2:10:39
for rescue, yet fearing for its accomplishment. I passed the day. The
2:10:45
smoke of action now rose over the hills beyond the Indians now realized their danger
2:10:50
and hurried on in great consternation. General Sully's soldiers appeared in close proximity,
2:10:58
and I could see them charging on the Indians, who, according to their
2:11:01
habits of warfare, skulked behind trees, sending their bullets and arrows vigorously forward
2:11:07
into the enemy's ranks. I was kept in advance of the moving column of
2:11:11
women and children who were hurrying on, crying and famishing for water, trying
2:11:18
to keep out of the line of firing. It was late at night before
2:11:22
we stopped our pace, when at length we reached the lofty banks of a
2:11:26
noble river. But it was some time before they could find a break in
2:11:30
the rocky shores, which enabled us to reach the water and enjoy the delicious
2:11:35
draft, in which luxury the panting horses gladly participated. We had traveled far
2:11:41
and fast all day long, without sensation, through clouds of smoke and dust,
2:11:46
parched by a scorching sun. My face was blistered from the burning rays,
2:11:52
as I had been compelled to go with my head uncovered, after the
2:11:56
fashion of all Indian women, had not had a drop of water during the
2:12:00
whole day. Reluctant to leave the long desired acquisition. They all lay down
2:12:05
under the tall willows close to the stream and slept the sleep of the weary.
2:12:11
The horses lingered near, nipping the tender blades of grass that sparsely bordered
2:12:16
the stream. It was not until next morning that I thought of how they
2:12:20
should cross the river, which I supposed to have been the Missouri. It
2:12:24
was not very wide, but confined between steep banks. It seemed to be
2:12:30
deep and quite rapid. They did not risk swimming at that place, to
2:12:33
my joy, but went further down and all plunged in and swam across,
2:12:39
leading my horse. I was very much frightened, and cried to Heaven for
2:12:43
mercy. On that morning we entered a gorge, a perfect mass of huge
2:12:48
fragments which had fallen from the mountains above. They led my horse and followed
2:12:54
each other closely and with as much speed as possible, as we were still
2:12:58
pursued by the troops. During the day, some two or three warriors were
2:13:03
brought and wounded. I was called to see them and assist in dressing their
2:13:07
wounds. This being my first experience of the kind, I was at some
2:13:11
loss to know what was best to do, but seeing in it a good
2:13:16
opportunity to raise in their estimation, I endeavored to impress them with an air
2:13:20
of my superior knowledge of surgery and as nurse or medicine woman. I felt
2:13:26
now from their motions and meaning glances, that my life was not safe,
2:13:31
since we were so closely pursued over this terrible, barren country. My feelings
2:13:37
at this time cannot be described. When I could hear the sound of the
2:13:41
big guns as the Indian's term cannon, I felt that the soldiers had surely
2:13:46
come for me and would overtake us, and my heart bounded with joy at
2:13:50
the very thought of deliverance, but sank proportionately when they came to me bearing
2:13:56
their trophies, wreeking scalps, soldiers unit covered with blood, which told its
2:14:01
sad story to my aching heart. One day I might be cheered by strong
2:14:07
hope of approaching relief, then again would have such assurance of my enemy's success
2:14:13
as would sink me correspondingly low in despair. For some reason, deceptions seemed
2:14:18
to be their peculiar delight, whether they did it to gratify an insatiable thirst
2:14:22
for revenge in themselves or to keep me more reconciled, more willing and patient
2:14:28
to abide was something I could not determine. The feelings occasioned by my disappointment
2:14:35
in their success can be better imagined than described. But imagination, even in
2:14:39
her most extravagant flights, can but poorly picture the horrors that met my view.
2:14:45
During these running flights. My constant experience was hope deferred that maketh the
2:14:52
heart sick. It was most tantalizing and painful to my spirit to be so
2:14:56
near our forces in the flag of liberty, and yet a prisoner and helpless.
2:15:03
On and still on, we were forced to fly to a place known
2:15:05
among them as the bad Lands, a section of country so wildly desolate and
2:15:11
barren as to induce the belief that its present appearance is the effect of volcanic
2:15:16
action. Great boulders of blasted rock are piled scattering round, and hard dry
2:15:22
sand interspersed among the crevices. Everything has a ruined look, as if vegetation
2:15:28
and life had formerly existed there, but had been suddenly interrupted by some violent
2:15:33
commotion of nature. A terrible blight, like the fulfilling of an ancient curse,
2:15:39
darkens the surface of the gloomy landscape, and the desolate, ruinous scene
2:15:45
might well represent the entrance to the infernal shades described by classic riders. A
2:15:52
choking wind with sand blows continually and fills the air with dry and blinding dust.
2:15:58
The water is sluggish and dark, and apparently life destroying in its action,
2:16:03
since all that lies around its moistened limits has assumed the form of petrification
2:16:09
rocks, though they now seemed they had formerly held life, both animal and
2:16:15
vegetable, and their change will furnish a subject of interesting speculation to enterprising men
2:16:20
of science who penetrate those mournful shades. To discovered toads, snakes, birds,
2:16:26
and a variety of insects, together with plants, trees, and many
2:16:31
curiosities, all petrified and having the appearance of stone. I was startled by
2:16:37
the strange and wonderful sights. The terrible scarcity of water and grass urged us
2:16:43
forward, and General Sully's army in the rear gave us no rest. The
2:16:48
following day or two, we were driven so far northward and became so imminently
2:16:52
imperiled by the pursuing forces that they were obliged to leave all their earthly effects
2:16:58
behind them and swim the Yellowstone River for life. By this time the ponies
2:17:05
were completely famished for want of food and water, so jaded that it was
2:17:09
with great difficulty and hard blows that we could urge them on at all.
2:17:13
When Indians are pursued closely, they evince a desperate and reckless desire to save
2:17:18
themselves, without regard to property or provisions. They throw away everything that will
2:17:24
impede flight, and all natural instinct seems lost in fear we had left.
2:17:31
We had left in our compulsory haste, immense quantities of plunder, which proved
2:17:37
immediate help, but in the end a terrible loss. General Sully, with
2:17:43
his whole troop, stopped to destroy the property, thus giving us an opportunity
2:17:46
to escape, which saved us from falling into his hands, as otherwise we
2:17:52
inevitably would have done. One day was consumed in collecting and burning the Indian
2:17:58
lodges, blankets, provisions at sol, and that day was used advantageously in
2:18:03
getting beyond his reach. They travel constantly in time of war, ranging over
2:18:09
vast tracts of country, and prosecuting their battles or skirmishes with a quiet determination
2:18:15
unknown to the Whites. A few days pursuit after Indians is generally enough to
2:18:20
wear and tire out the ardor of the white man, as it is almost
2:18:24
impossible to pursue them through their own country with wagons and supplies for the army,
2:18:30
and it is very difficult for American horses to traverse the barren, rugged
2:18:33
mountain passes. The Indians having every advantage in their own country and using their
2:18:39
own mode of warfare. The weary soldiers return disheartened by often losing dear comrades
2:18:46
and leaving them in a lonely grave on the plain, dissatisfied with only scattering
2:18:52
their red foes. But the weary savages rest during these intervals, often sending
2:18:58
the friendly Indians as they are called and believed to be, who are received
2:19:03
in that character in the forts, and change it for a hostile one as
2:19:07
soon as they reach the hills, to get supplies of ammunition and food with
2:19:11
which they refreshed themselves and prosecute the war. After the attack of General Sully
2:19:18
was over, an Indian came to me with a letter to read, which
2:19:20
he had taken from a soldier who was killed by him, and the letter
2:19:24
had been found in his pocket. The letter stated that the topographical engineer was
2:19:30
killed, and that General Sully's men had caught the Red devils and cut their
2:19:35
heads off and stuck them up on poles. The soldier had written a friendly
2:19:39
and kind letter to his people, but ere it was mailed, he was
2:19:43
numbered with the dead. End of Chapter nine, mourning for the slain,
2:19:50
threatened with death at the Fiery Stake, saved by a speech from Ottawa,
2:19:56
starving condition of the Indians. As soon as we were safe and General Sully
2:20:01
pursued us no longer, the warriors returned home, and a scene of terrible
2:20:07
mourning over the killed ensued among the women. Their cries were terribly wild and
2:20:11
distressing. On such occasions, and the near relations of the deceased indulge in
2:20:18
frantic expressions of grief that cannot be described. Sometimes the practice of cutting the
2:20:22
flesh is carried to a horrible and barbarous extent. They inflict gashes on their
2:20:28
bodies and limbs an inch in length. Some cut off their hair, blacken
2:20:33
their faces, and marched through the village in procession, torturing their bodies to
2:20:39
add vigor to their lamentations. Hunger followed on the track of grief. All
2:20:45
their food was gone, and there was no game in that portion of the
2:20:48
country. In our flight they scattered everything, and the country through which we
2:20:54
passed for the following two weeks did not yield enough to arrest starvation. The
2:21:00
Indians were terribly enraged and threatened me with death almost hourly and in every form.
2:21:07
I had so hoped for liberty when my friends were near, but alas
2:21:11
all my fond hopes were blasted. The Indians told me that the army was
2:21:16
going in another direction. They seemed to have sustained a greater loss than I
2:21:20
had been made aware of, which made them feel very revengeful toward me.
2:21:26
The next morning, I could see that something unusual was about to happen.
2:21:31
Notwithstanding the early hour, the sun barely appearing above the horizon, the principal
2:21:37
chiefs and warriors were assembled in council, where, judging from the grave and
2:21:41
reflective expression of their countenances, they were about to discuss some serious question.
2:21:48
I had reason for apprehension from their unfriendly manner toward me, and I feared
2:21:52
for the penalty I might soon have to pay. Soon, they sent an
2:21:58
Indian to me, who asked me if if I was ready to die to
2:22:01
be burned at the stake, I told him whenever Wakan Tanka, the Great
2:22:05
Spirit was ready, he would call for me, and then I would be
2:22:11
ready and willing to go. He said that he had been sent from the
2:22:15
council to warn me that it had become necessary to put me to death on
2:22:18
account of my white brothers killing so many of their young men recently. He
2:22:24
repeated that they were not cruel for the pleasure of being so. Necessity is
2:22:28
their first law, and he and the wise chiefs, faithful to their hatred
2:22:33
for the white race, were in haste to satisfy their thirst for vengeance,
2:22:39
and further that the interest of their nation required it. As soon as the
2:22:43
chiefs were assembled around the council fire, the pipe carrier entered the circle,
2:22:48
holding in his hand the pipe ready lighted. Bowing to the four cardinal points,
2:22:54
he uttered a short prayer or invocation, and then presented the pipe to
2:22:58
the end old Chief Ottawa, but retained the bowl in his hand. When
2:23:03
all the chiefs and men had smoked, one after the other, the pipe
2:23:07
bearer emptied the ashes into the fire, saying, Chiefs of the Great Dakota
2:23:13
nation, wok In Tanka, give you wisdom, so that whatever be your
2:23:16
determination, it may be conformable to justice. Then, after bowing respectfully,
2:23:22
he retired. A moment of silence followed, in which everyone seemed to be
2:23:28
meditating seriously upon the words that had just been spoken. At length, one
2:23:33
of the most aged of the chiefs, whose body was furrowed with the scars
2:23:37
of innumerable wounds, and who enjoyed among his people a reputation for great wisdom,
2:23:43
arose, said he. The pale faces, our eternal persecutors, pursue
2:23:50
and harass us without intermission, forcing us to abandon to them one by one,
2:23:56
are best hunting grounds, and we are compelled to seek a refuge in
2:24:00
the depths of these bad lands, like timid deer. Many of them even
2:24:05
dare to come into prairies which belong to us, to trap beaver and hunt
2:24:09
elkin buffalo, which are our property. These faithless creatures, these outcasts of
2:24:15
their own people, rob and kill us when they can. Is it just
2:24:20
that we should suffer these wrongs without complaining? Shall we allow ourselves to be
2:24:24
slaughtered like timid aus sinaboins without seeking to avenge ourselves? Does not the law
2:24:31
of the Dakotas say justice to our own nation and death to all pale faces.
2:24:35
Let my brothers say, if that is just pointing to the steak that
2:24:39
was being prepared for me, vengeance is allowable, sententiously, remarked Mapea the
2:24:46
sky. Another old chief Ottawa arose and said, it is the undoubted right
2:24:52
of the weak and the oppressed, and yet it ought to be portioned to
2:24:56
the injury received. Then why should we put this young innocent woman to death?
2:25:01
Has she not always been kind to us, smiled upon us and sang
2:25:05
for us? Do not all our children love her as a tender sister?
2:25:09
Why then, should we put her to so cruel a death for the crimes
2:25:13
of others, if they are of her nation? Why should we punish the
2:25:18
innocent for the guilty. I looked to Heaven for mercy and protection, offering
2:25:24
up those earnest prayers that are never offered in vain. And oh how thankful
2:25:30
I was when I knew their decision was to spare my life. Though terrible
2:25:35
were my surroundings, life always became sweet to me when I felt that I
2:25:39
was about to part with it. A terrible time ensued, and many dogs
2:25:43
and horses even died of starvation. Their bodies were eaten immediately, and the
2:25:50
slow but constant march was daily kept up in hope of game and better facilities
2:25:56
for fish and fruit. Many days in succession I tasted no food save what
2:26:01
I could gather on my way. A few rose leaves and blossoms was all
2:26:05
I could find, except the grass I would gather and chew for nourishment.
2:26:11
Fear, fatigue, and long continued abstinence were wearing heavily on my already shattered
2:26:16
frame. Women and children were crying for food. It was a painful sight
2:26:22
to witness their sufferings, with no means of alleviating them, and no hope
2:26:26
of relief save by traveling and hunting. We had no shelter save the canopy
2:26:31
of heaven, and no alternative but to travel on and at night lie down
2:26:37
on the cold, damp ground for a resting place. If I could but
2:26:41
present to my readers a truthful picture of that Indian home at that time,
2:26:46
with all its sorrowful accompaniments, they are certainly engraved upon faithful memory to last
2:26:52
forever. But no touch of pen could give any semblance of the realities to
2:26:58
another. What exhibitions of their pride and passion I have seen? What ideas
2:27:05
of their intelligence and humanity I have been compelled to form? What manifestations of
2:27:09
their power and ability to govern? Had been thrust upon me? The treatment
2:27:15
received was not such as to enhance in any wise a woman's admiration for the
2:27:20
so called noble red man, but rather to make one prey to be delivered
2:27:24
from their power, compelled to travel many days in succession, and to experience
2:27:31
the gnawings of hunger without mitigation. Every day had its share of toil and
2:27:37
fear. Yet while my temporal wants were thus poorly supplied, I was not
2:27:41
wholly denied spiritual food. It was a blessed consolation that no earthly foe could
2:27:48
interrupt my communion with the heavenly world. In my midnight, wakeful hours,
2:27:54
I was visited with many bright visions. He walks with thee that angel kind
2:28:00
and gently whispers be resigned. Bear up, bear on the end, shall
2:28:05
tell the dear Lord Ordereth all things well. End of chapter ten. Meet
2:28:13
another white female captive. Sad story of Mary Boyeaux, a child roasted and
2:28:20
its brains dashed out. Murder of Missus Fletcher, five children slaughtered fate of
2:28:26
their mother. It was about this time that I had the sorrowful satisfaction of
2:28:31
meeting with a victim of Indian cruelty, whose fate was even sadder than mine.
2:28:37
It was a part of my labor to carry water from the stream at
2:28:41
which we camped, and awakened. For that purpose, I arose and hurried
2:28:46
out one morning before the day had yet dawned clearly, leaving the Indians still
2:28:52
in their blankets and the village very quiet. In the woods beyond, I
2:28:56
heard the retiring howl of the wolf, the shrill shriek of the bird of
2:29:01
prey as it was sweeping down on the unburied carcass of some poor murdered traveler,
2:29:07
and the desolation of my life and its surroundings filled my heart with dread
2:29:11
and gloom. I was so reduced in strength and spirit that nothing but the
2:29:16
dread of the scalping knife urged my feet from task to task. And now
2:29:22
turning toward the teepee with my heavy bucket, I was startled to behold a
2:29:26
fair faced, beautiful young girl sitting there, dejected and worn like myself,
2:29:31
but bearing the marks of loveliness and refinement, despite her neglected covering, almost
2:29:39
doubting my reason, for I had become unsettled in my self, reliance,
2:29:43
and even sanity. I feared to address her, but stood spellbound, gazing
2:29:48
in her sad brown eyes and drooping pallid face. The chief stood near the
2:29:54
entrance of the teepee, enjoying the cool morning air and watching the interview with
2:30:00
amusement. He offered me a book, which chanced to be one of the
2:30:03
Wilson's readers, stolen from our wagons, and bade me show it to the
2:30:07
stranger. I approached the girl, who instantly held out her hand and said,
2:30:15
what book is That? The sound of my own language, spoken by
2:30:18
one of my own people was too much for me, and I sank to
2:30:22
the ground by the side of the stranger, and, endeavoring to clasp her
2:30:26
in my arms, became insensible. A kindly squaw who was in sight must
2:30:33
have been touched by our helpless sorrow, for when recovering, she was sprinkling
2:30:39
my face with water from the bucket and regarding me with looks of interest.
2:30:43
Of course, we realized that this chance interview would be short, and perhaps
2:30:48
the less that we would be able to enjoy. And while my companion covered
2:30:54
her face and wept, I told my name and the main incidence of my
2:30:58
capture. And I dreaded to recall the possible fate of my Mary, lest
2:31:03
I should rouse the terrible feelings I was trying to keep in subjection as my
2:31:07
only hope of preserving reason. The young girl responded to my confidence by giving
2:31:13
her own story, which was related to me as follows. My name is
2:31:18
Mary Boyeo. These people call me Mattie. I have been among them since
2:31:24
the massacre in Minnesota, and am now in my sixteenth year. My parents
2:31:28
were of French descent, but we lived in the state of New York until
2:31:33
my father, in pursuance of his peculiar passion for the life of a naturalist
2:31:37
and a man of science, sold our eastern home and came to live on
2:31:41
the shores of Spirit Lake, Minnesota. The Indians had watched about our place
2:31:48
and regarded what they had seen of my father's chemical apparatus with awe and fear.
2:31:54
Perhaps they suspected him of working evil charms in his laboratory, or held
2:31:58
his magnets, mygroscopes and curiously shaped tubes in superstitious aversion, I cannot tell.
2:32:05
I only know that we were among the first victims of the massacre,
2:32:09
and that all my family were murdered except myself, and I fear one younger
2:32:15
sister, You fear, said I. Do you not hope that she escaped?
2:32:22
The poor girl shook her head. From a life like mine, death
2:32:26
is an escape, she said bitterly. Oh, it is fearful and a
2:32:31
sin to rush on bidden into God's presence. But I cannot live through another
2:32:35
frightful winter. No, I must, and will die if no relief comes
2:32:39
to me. For a year, these people regarded me as a child,
2:32:45
and then a young man of their tribe gave a horse for me and carried
2:32:48
me to his teepee as his wife. Do you love your husband, i
2:32:52
asked. A look bitter and revengeful gleamed from her eyes. Love a set
2:33:00
vitch who bought me to be a drudge and slave, she repeated, No,
2:33:05
I hate him, as I hate all that belonged to this fearful bondage.
2:33:09
He has another wife and child. Thank God, she added, with
2:33:13
a shudder, that I am not a mother. Misery and the consciousness of
2:33:18
her own degraded life seem to have made this poor young creature desperate. And
2:33:24
looking at her toil worn hands and scarred arms, I saw the signs of
2:33:28
abuse and cruelty. Her feet, too were bare and fearfully bruised and travel
2:33:33
marked. Does he ill treat you, i inquired his wife? Does?
2:33:39
She answered? I am forced to do all manner of slavish work, and
2:33:43
when my strength fails, I am urged on by blows. Oh, I
2:33:48
do so fearfully dread the chilling winters without proper food or clothing, and I
2:33:54
long to lie down and die. If God's mercy will only permit me to
2:33:58
escape from this hopeless imprisonment, I have nothing to expect now. I did
2:34:03
once look forward to release, but that is all gone. I strove to
2:34:07
go with the others who were ransomed at Fort Pierre, and missus Wright pled
2:34:13
for me with all her heart. But the man who bought me would not
2:34:16
give me up, and my prayers were useless. Mister Dupuys, a Frenchman
2:34:22
who brought a wagon for the redeemed women and children, did not offer enough
2:34:26
for me. And when another man offered a horse, my captor would not
2:34:31
receive it. There are many prisoners that I did not see in the village,
2:34:35
but I am left alone. The Yanktons who hold me are friendly by
2:34:41
pretense, and go to the agencies for supplies and annuities, but at heart
2:34:45
they are bitterly hostile. They assert that if they did not murder and steal,
2:34:50
the father at Washington would forget them. And now they receive presents and
2:34:54
supplies to keep them in check, which they delight in taking and deceiving the
2:35:00
officers as to their share in the outbreaks. Her dread of soldiers was such
2:35:05
that she had never attempted to escape, nor did she seem to think it
2:35:11
possible to get away from her present life. So deep was the despair into
2:35:15
which long continued suffering had plunged her. Sad as my condition was, I
2:35:20
could but pity poor Mary's worse fate. The unwilling wife of a brutal savage,
2:35:26
and subject to all the petty malice of a scarcely less brutal squaw,
2:35:31
there could be no gleam of sunshine in her future prospects. True, I
2:35:37
was like her, a captive, torn from home and friends, and subject
2:35:41
to harsh treatment, but no such personal indignity had fallen to my lot.
2:35:46
When Mary was first taken, she saw many terrible things which she related to
2:35:52
me, among which was the following. One day, the Indians went into
2:35:58
a house where they found a woman making bread. Her infant child lay in
2:36:01
the cradle, unconscious of its fate. Snatching it from its little bed,
2:36:07
they thrust it into the heated oven, its screams, torturing the wretched mother,
2:36:11
who was immediately after stabbed and cut in many pieces. Taking the suffering
2:36:16
little creature from the oven, they then dashed out its brains against the walls
2:36:20
of the house. One day, on their journey, they came to a
2:36:26
narrow but deep stream of water. Some of the prisoners and nearly all of
2:36:30
the Indians crossed on horseback, while a few crossed on logs which had been
2:36:35
cut down by the beaver. A lady by name missus Fletcher, I believe,
2:36:41
who was in delicate health, fell into the water with her heavy burden,
2:36:46
unable on account of her condition to cross, and was shot by the
2:36:50
Indians, her lifeless body soon disappearing from sight. She also told me of
2:36:56
a white man having been killed a few days previous, and a large sum
2:37:00
of money taken from him, which would be exchanged for articles used among the
2:37:05
Indians when they next visited the Red River or British possessions they went, She
2:37:11
told me two or three times a year, taking American horses, valuables,
2:37:16
et cetera, which they had stolen from the Whites, and exchanging them for
2:37:20
ammunition, powder, arrow points, and provisions. Before they reached the Missouri
2:37:26
River, they killed five of Missus Dooley's children, one of which was left
2:37:31
on the ground in a place where the distracted mother had to pass daily in
2:37:35
carrying water from the river, and when they left the camp, the body
2:37:39
remained unburied. So terrible were the sufferings of this heartbroken mother that when she
2:37:46
arrived in safety among the whites, her reason was dethroned, and I was
2:37:50
told that she was sent to the lunatic asylum, where her distracted husband soon
2:37:56
followed. Mary wished that we might be together, but knew that it would
2:38:01
be useless to ask, as it would not be granted. I gave her
2:38:05
my little book and half of my pencil, which she was glad to receive.
2:38:11
I wrote her name in the book together with mine, encouraging her with
2:38:15
every kind word and hope for the future. She could read and write and
2:38:20
understand the Indian language thoroughly. The book had been taken from our wagon,
2:38:24
and I had endeavored to teach the Indians from it, for it contained several
2:38:28
stories, so it made the Indians very angry to have me part with it.
2:38:35
For hours I had sat with the book in my hands, showing the
2:38:37
pictures and explaining their meaning, which interested them greatly, and which helped pass
2:38:43
away and relieve the monotony of the days of captivity which I was enduring.
2:38:48
Moreover, it inspired them with a degree of respect and veneration for me when
2:38:54
engaged in the task, which was not only pleasant but a great comfort.
2:38:58
It was by this means they discovered my usefulness in writing letters and reading for
2:39:03
them. I found them apt pupils, willing to learn, and they learned
2:39:09
easily and rapidly. Their memory is very retentive, unusually good. End of
2:39:16
chapter eleven, first intimation of my little Mary's fate, despair and delirium,
2:39:24
A shower of grasshoppers, a feast, and a fight, an enraged squaw,
2:39:30
the chief wounded. One day as I was pursuing what seemed to me
2:39:35
an endless journey, an Indian wrote. Up beside me, whom I did
2:39:39
not remember to have seen before. At his saddle hung a bright and well
2:39:43
known little shawl, and from the other side was suspended a child's scalp of
2:39:48
long fair hair. As my eyes rested on the frightful sight, I trembled
2:39:54
in my saddle and grasped the air for support. A blood red cloud seemed
2:39:58
to come between me in the outer world, and I realized that innocent victim's
2:40:03
dying agonies the torture was too great to be endured. A merciful insensibility interposed
2:40:11
between me and madness. I dropped from the saddle as if dead, and
2:40:16
rolled upon the ground at the horse's feet. When I recovered, I was
2:40:20
clinging to a squaw, who, with looks of astonishment and alarm, was
2:40:24
vainly endeavoring to extricate herself from my clutches. With returning consciousness, I raised
2:40:31
my eyes to the fearful sight that had almost deprived me of reason. It
2:40:35
was gone. The Indian had suspected the cause of my emotion and removed it
2:40:39
out of sight. They placed me in the saddle once more, and,
2:40:43
not being able to control the horrible misery I felt. I protested wildly against
2:40:50
their touch, imploring them to kill me, and frantically inviting the death I
2:40:54
had before feared and avoided. When they camped, I had not the power
2:41:00
or reason to seek my own tent, but fell down in the sun,
2:41:03
where the chief found me lying. He had been out at the head of
2:41:07
a scouting party and knew nothing of my sufferings. Instantly approaching me, he
2:41:13
inquired who had misused me. I replied, no one. I want to
2:41:18
see my dear mother, my poor mother, who loves me and pines for
2:41:22
her unhappy child. I had found by experience that the only grief with which
2:41:28
this red nation had any sympathy was the sorrow one might feel for a separation
2:41:33
from a mother, and even the Chief seemed to recognize the propriety of such
2:41:37
emotion. On this account, I feigned to be grieving solely for my dear
2:41:43
widowed mother, and was treated with more consideration than I had dared to expect.
2:41:50
Leaving me for a few minutes, he returned, bringing me some ripe
2:41:54
wild plums, which were deliciously cooling to my fever, parched lips, hunger
2:42:00
and thirst, sorrow and fear with unusual fatigue and labor had weakened me in
2:42:05
mind and body, so that after trying to realize the frightful vision that had
2:42:09
almost deprived me of my senses, I began to waver in my knowledge of
2:42:15
it, and half determined that it was a hideous phantom, like many another
2:42:20
that had tortured my lonely hours. I tried to dismiss the awful dream from
2:42:24
remembrance, particularly as the days that followed found me ill and delirious, and
2:42:31
it was some time before I was able to recall events clearly. About this
2:42:37
time, there was another battle, and many having already sank under the united
2:42:41
misery of hunger and fatigue, the camp was gloomy and hopeless in the extreme.
2:42:48
The Indians discovered my skill in dressing wounds, and I was called immediately
2:42:52
to the relief of the wounded brought into camp. The fight had lasted three
2:42:56
days, and from the immoderate laments, I supposed many had fallen, but
2:43:03
could form no idea of the loss. Except when encamped for rest. The
2:43:07
tribe pursued their wanderings constantly, sometimes flying before the enemy, at others endeavoring
2:43:15
to elude them. I kept the record of time as it passed with the
2:43:18
savages as well as I was able, and with the exception of a few
2:43:24
days lost during temporary delirium and fever at two separate times, and which I
2:43:28
endeavored to supply by careful inquiry, I missed no count of the rising or
2:43:33
setting sun and new dates, almost as well as if I had been in
2:43:37
the heart of civilization. One very hot day, a dark cloud seemed suddenly
2:43:43
to pass before the sun and threaten a great storm. The wind rose,
2:43:48
and the cloud became still darker until the light of day was almost obscured.
2:43:54
A few drops sprinkled the earth, and then, in a heavy, blinding
2:43:58
and apparently inexhaustible shower, fell a countless swarm of grasshoppers, covering everything and
2:44:05
rendering the air almost black by their descent. It is impossible to convey an
2:44:09
idea of their extent. They seemed to rival Pharaoh's locusts in number, and
2:44:16
no doubt would have done damage to the food of the savages had they not
2:44:20
fallen victims themselves to their keen appetites. To catch them, large holes were
2:44:26
dug in the ground, which are heated by fires. Into these apertures.
2:44:30
The insects are then driven, and the fires, having been removed, the
2:44:33
heated earth bakes them. They are considered good food and were greedily devoured by
2:44:39
the famishing Sioux. Although the grasshoppers only remained two days and went as suddenly
2:44:46
as they had come, the Indians seemed refreshed by feasting on such small game
2:44:50
and continued to move forward, halting one day to rest beside good water.
2:44:56
I busily engaged myself in the chiefs teepee or lodge. I had grown so
2:45:01
weak that motion of any kind was exhausting to me, and I could barely
2:45:07
walk. I felt that I must soon die of starvation and sorrow, and
2:45:11
life had ceased to be dear to me. Mechanically, I tried to fulfill
2:45:16
my tasks so as to secure the continued protection of the old squaw, who,
2:45:22
when not incensed by passion, was not devoid of kindness. My strength
2:45:26
failed me, and I could not carry out my wishes and almost fell as
2:45:31
I tried to move around. This met with disapprobation and better fed than myself,
2:45:37
she could not sympathize with my want of strength. She became cross and
2:45:43
left the lodge, threatening me with her vengeance. Presently, an Indian woman
2:45:48
who pitied me, ran into the teepee with great haste, saying that her
2:45:52
husband had got some deer meat and she had cooked it for a feast and
2:45:56
begged me to share it. As she spoke, she drew me toward her
2:46:01
tent, and hungry and fainting, I readily followed. The chief saw us
2:46:07
go, and, not disdaining a good dinner, he followed. The old
2:46:11
squaw came flying into the lodge like an enraged fury, flourishing her knife and
2:46:16
vowing she would kill me. I rose immediately and fled, the squaw pursuing
2:46:22
me. The chief attempted to interfere, but her rage was too great,
2:46:26
and he struck her, at which she sprang like an infuriated tiger upon him,
2:46:31
stabbing him in several places. Her brother, who at a short distance
2:46:37
beheld the fray, and, deeming me the cause, fired six shots,
2:46:41
determining to kill me. One of these shots lodged in the arm of the
2:46:46
chief, breaking it near the shoulder. I then ran until I reached the
2:46:50
outskirts of the village, where I was captured by a party who saw me
2:46:54
running, but who knew not the cause. Thinking I was endeavoring to escape,
2:46:58
they drank me in the tent, brandishing their tomahawks and threatening vengeance.
2:47:05
After the lapse of half an hour, some squaws came and took me back
2:47:09
to the lodge of the chief, who was waiting for me before his wounds
2:47:11
could be dressed. He was very weak from loss of blood. I never
2:47:18
saw the wife of the chief afterward. Indian surgery is coarse and rude in
2:47:24
its details. A doctor of the tribe had pierced the arm of the chief
2:47:28
with a long knife, probing in search of the ball it had received,
2:47:31
and the wound, thus enlarged, had to be healed. As soon as
2:47:35
I was able to stand, I was required to go and wait on the
2:47:39
disabled chief. I found his three sisters with him, and with these I
2:47:43
continued to live in companionship. One of them had been married at the fort
2:47:50
to a white man, whom she had left at Laramie. When his prior
2:47:54
wife arrived. She told me that they were esteemed friendly and had often received
2:47:58
supplies from the fort, although at heart they were always the enemy of the
2:48:03
white man. But will they not suspect you, asked I. They may
2:48:07
discover your deceit and punish you some day, she laughed derisively. Our prisoners
2:48:15
don't escape to tell tales, she replied. Dead people don't talk. We
2:48:20
claim friendship, and they cannot prove that we don't feel it. Besides,
2:48:24
all white soldiers are cowards. Shudderingly, I turned away from this enemy of
2:48:30
my race and prepared to wait on my captor, whose superstitious belief in the
2:48:35
healing power of a white woman's touch led him to desire her services. The
2:48:41
wounds of the chief were severe, and the suporation profuse. It was my
2:48:46
task to bathe and dress them, and prepare his food. Hunting and fishing
2:48:50
being now out of the question for him, he had sent his wives to
2:48:54
work for themselves, keeping the sisters, and myself to attend him wherewith our
2:49:01
soldiers seemed to have decreased the power of the chief to a great extent.
2:49:05
As he lay ill, he evidently meditated on some plan of strengthening his forces,
2:49:11
and finally concluded to send an offer of marriage to the daughter of a
2:49:15
war chief of another band. As General Sully's destructive attack had deprived him of
2:49:20
already offerings, he availed himself of my shoes, which happened to be particularly
2:49:26
good and reducing me to moccasins, sent them as a gift to the expected
2:49:31
bride. She evidently received them graciously, for she came to his lodge almost
2:49:37
every day to visit him, and sat chatting at his side, to his
2:49:41
apparent satisfaction. The pleasure of this new matrimonial acquisition on the part of the
2:49:46
Chief was very trying to me on account of my limited wardrobe. For as
2:49:52
the betrothed continued in favor, the Chief evinced it by giving her articles of
2:49:56
my clothing. An Indian woman had given me a red silk sash, such
2:50:03
as officers wear. The Chief unceremoniously cut it in half, leaving me one
2:50:09
half, while the coquettish squaw received the rest. An Indian husband's power is
2:50:15
absolute, even to death. No woman can have more than one husband,
2:50:20
but an Indian can have as many wives as he chooses. The marriage of
2:50:24
the Chief was to be celebrated with all due ceremony when his arm got well,
2:50:30
But his arm never recovered. Mister Clemmens, the interpreter, tells me
2:50:35
in my late interview with him that he still remains crippled and unable to carry
2:50:39
out his murderous intentions or any of his anticipated wicked designs. He is now
2:50:46
living in the forts along the Missouri River, gladly claiming support from the government.
2:50:52
End of chapter twelve. A rival of Porcupine, a letter from Captain
2:50:58
Marshall hopes of rescue, treachery of the messenger Igosigalo nietzscha the tables turned another
2:51:07
gleam of hope. The Indian white teepee disappointed. A white man bound and
2:51:13
left to starve. A burial incident. Before the Indians left this camping ground,
2:51:20
there arrived among us an Indian called Porcupine. He was well dressed and
2:51:24
mounted on a fine horse, and brought with him presents and valuables that insured
2:51:31
him a cordial reception. After he had been a few days in the village,
2:51:35
he gave me a letter from Captain Marshall of the eleventh Ohio Cavalry,
2:51:41
detailing the unsuccessful attempts that had been made to rescue me, and stating that
2:51:46
this friendly Indian had undertaken to bring me back, for which he would be
2:51:50
rewarded. The letter further said that he had already received a horse and necessary
2:51:56
provisions for the journey, and had left his three wives with thirteen others at
2:52:01
the fort as hostages. My feelings on reading this letter were indescribable. My
2:52:07
heart leaped with unaccustomed hope at this evidence of the efforts of my white friends
2:52:13
in my behalf. But the next instant despair succeeded this gleam of happy anticipation,
2:52:20
for I knew this faithless messenger would not be true to his promise,
2:52:24
since he had joined the Sioux immediately after his arrival, among them in a
2:52:28
battle against the Whites. My fears were not unfounded. Porcupine prepared to go
2:52:35
back to the fort without me, disregarding my earnest prayers and entreaties. The
2:52:41
chief found me useful and determined to keep me. He believed that a woman
2:52:46
who had seen so much of their deceitfulness and cruelty could do them injury at
2:52:50
the fort and might prevent their receiving annuities. Porcupine said he should report me
2:52:56
as dead or impossible to find, or could I prevail on him to do
2:53:01
anything to the contrary. When reminded of the possible vengeance of the soldiers on
2:53:05
his wives, whom they had threatened to kill if he did not bring me
2:53:09
back. He laughed. The white soldiers are cowards, he replied, They
2:53:16
never kill women, and I will deceive them as I have done before.
2:53:20
Saying this, he took his departure. Nor could my most urgent entreaties induce
2:53:26
the Chief to yield his consent and allow me to send a written message to
2:53:31
my friends, or in anywise assure them of my existence. All hope of
2:53:35
rescue departed, and sadly I turned again to the wearisome drudgery of my captive
2:53:41
life. The young betrothed bride of the old chief was very gracious to me.
2:53:48
On one occasion, she invited me to join her in a walk.
2:53:50
The day was cool and the air temptingly balmy. Down there, she said,
2:53:56
pointing to a deep ravine. Come in, walk, it is cool
2:54:01
and shady. I looked in the direction indicated, and then at the Indian
2:54:05
girl, who became very mysterious in her manner as she whispered, there are
2:54:11
white people down there. How far? I asked, eagerly, about fifty
2:54:16
miles? She replied. They have great guns and men dressed in much buttons.
2:54:22
Their wagons are drawn by horses with long ears a fort, thought I,
2:54:28
But remembering the treacherous nature of the people I was among, I repressed
2:54:33
every sign of emotion and tried to look indifferent. Should you like to see
2:54:37
them? Questioned Ego Cigalinetcha, as she was called. They are strangers to
2:54:43
me, I said quietly, I do not know them. Are you sorry
2:54:48
to live with us? You do not have such bread as I would like
2:54:52
to eat, replied I cautiously, And are you dissatisfied with our home?
2:54:58
You have meat? Now, it is better than that at the other camping
2:55:03
ground. There we had no food, and I suffered. But your eyes
2:55:07
are swollen and red, hinted she, you do not weep for bread.
2:55:13
These questions made me suspicious, and I tried to evade the young squaw.
2:55:16
But in vain. Just see how green that wood is, I said,
2:55:22
affecting not to hear her. But you do not say you are content?
2:55:26
Repeated she will you stay here? Always? Willingly come and listen to the
2:55:31
birds, said I, drawing my companion toward the grove. I did not
2:55:37
trust her, and feared to utter a single word lest it might be used
2:55:41
against me With the chief. Neither was I mistaken in the design of Ego
2:55:46
Sigalinischa, for when we returned to the lodge, I overheard her relating to
2:55:50
the Chief the amusement she had enjoyed in lying to the white woman, repeating
2:55:56
what she had said about the fort, and inventing entreaty which I had used,
2:56:01
urging her to allow me to fly to my white friends and leave the
2:56:05
Indians forever. Instantly, I resolved to take advantage of the affair as a
2:56:09
joke, and, approaching the Chief with respectful pleasantry, begged to reverse the
2:56:15
story. It was the squaw who had implored me to go with her to
2:56:18
the white man's fort, I said, and find her a white warrior for
2:56:22
a husband. But true to my faith with the Indians, I refused.
2:56:28
The wily Ego Sigalinizscha, thus finding her weapons turned against herself, appeared confused,
2:56:35
and suddenly left the tent, at which the old chief smiled grimly.
2:56:39
Slander, like a vile serpent, coils itself among these Indian women, And,
2:56:45
as with our fair sisters in civilized society, when reality fails, invention
2:56:50
is called in to supply the defect. They delight in scandal and prove by
2:56:56
it their claim to some of the refined conventionalities of civilized life. Porcupine had
2:57:01
spread the news abroad in the village that a large reward had been offered for
2:57:05
the white woman. Consequently, I was sought for the motive being to gain
2:57:11
the reward. One day, an Indian whom I had seen in different places
2:57:16
and whose wife I had known, made signs intimating a desire for my escape
2:57:20
and assuring me of his help to return to my people. I listened to
2:57:26
his plans, and although I knew my position in such a case to be
2:57:30
one of great peril, yet I felt continually that my life was of so
2:57:33
little value that any opportunity, however slight, was as a star in the
2:57:39
distance, and escape should be attempted, even at a risk. We conversed
2:57:45
as well as we could several times, and finally arrangements were made. At
2:57:50
night. He was to make a slight scratching noise at the teepee where I
2:57:54
was as a sign. The night came, but I was singing to the
2:57:58
people and could not get away. Another time, we had visitors in the
2:58:03
lodge and I would be missed. The next night, I arose from my
2:58:07
robe and went out into the darkness. Seeing my intended rescuer at a short
2:58:13
distance, I approached and followed him. We ran hastily out of the village
2:58:18
about a mile, where we were to be joined by the squaw, who
2:58:20
had helped make the arrangements and was favorable to the plan for my escape.
2:58:26
But she was not there. White Teepee, that was the Indian's name,
2:58:31
looked hastily around, and, seeing no one, darted suddenly away without a
2:58:35
word of explanation. Why the Indian acted thus I never knew. It was
2:58:41
a strange proceeding. Fear lent me wings, and I flew rather than ran
2:58:46
back to my teepee or lodge, where, exhausted and discouraged, I dropped
2:58:52
on the ground and feigned slumber, for the inmates were already aroused, having
2:58:56
just discovered my absence. Finding me a parly asleep, they lifted me up,
2:59:01
and, taking me into the tent, laid me upon my own robe.
2:59:07
The next evening, White Teepees sent for me to come to his lodge
2:59:11
to a feast where I was well and hospitably entertained. But not a sign
2:59:16
given of the adventure of the previous night. But when the pipe was passed
2:59:20
he requested it to be touched to my lips, then offered it to the
2:59:24
Great Spirit, thus signifying his friendship for me. In this month, the
2:59:31
Indians captured a white man who was hunting on the prairie and carried him far
2:59:35
away from the haunts of white men, where they tied him hand and foot,
2:59:39
after divesting him of all clothing, and left him to starve. He
2:59:43
was never heard of afterward. There were twin children in one of the lodges,
2:59:50
one of which sickened and died, and in the evening was buried.
2:59:54
The surviving child was placed upon the scaffold by the corpse, and there remained
2:59:58
all night, its crying and moaning, almost breaking my heart. I inquired
3:00:05
why they did this. The reply was to cause the mate to mourn.
3:00:09
The mother was on one of the neighboring hills, wailing and weeping, as
3:00:13
is the custom among them. Every night nearly there were women among the hills
3:00:18
wailing for their dead. End of Chapter thirteen, Lost in the Indian village,
3:00:26
Black Bear's White Wife, a small tea party, the white boy captive
3:00:33
Charles Sylvester, the Sun Dance, a conciliating letter from General Sibley, a
3:00:39
puzzle of human bones the Indian. As an artist, I destroy a picture
3:00:45
and unpunished with fire brands a sick Indian. About the first of October,
3:00:50
the Indians were on the move as usual, and by some means, I
3:00:54
became separated from the family I was with and was lost. I looked around
3:01:01
for them, but their familiar faces were not to be seen. Strangers gazed
3:01:05
upon me, and although I besought them to assist me in finding the people
3:01:09
of my own teepee, they paid no attention to my trouble and refused to
3:01:15
do anything for me. Never shall I forget the sadness I felt. As
3:01:20
evening approached and we camped for the night in a lonely valley after a wearisome
3:01:24
day's journey. Along one side stood a strip of timber with a small stream
3:01:31
beside it. Hungry, weary and lost to my people, with no place
3:01:35
to lay my head, and after a fruitless search for the family, I
3:01:39
was more desolate than ever. Even Koku or yellow Bird, the Indian girl
3:01:46
who had been given me, was not with me that day, making it
3:01:48
still more lonely. I sat down and held my pony. It was autumn
3:01:54
and the forest wore the last glory of its gorgeous coloring. Ally, the
3:02:00
leaves lay along the paths like a rich carpet of variegated colors. The winds
3:02:05
caught a deeper tone, mournful as the tones of an Aeolian harp. But
3:02:09
the air was balmy and soft, and the sunlight lay warm and pleasant as
3:02:13
in midsummer over the beautiful valley, now occupied with numberless camps of tentless Indians.
3:02:22
It seemed as if the soft autumn weather was to the last moment unwilling
3:02:26
to yield the last traces of beauty to the chill embraces of stern winter.
3:02:31
And I thought of the luxuries and comforts of my home. I looked back
3:02:35
on the past with tears of sorrow and regret. My heart was overburdened with
3:02:41
grief, and I prayed to die. The future looked like a dark cloud
3:02:46
approaching, for the dread of the desolation of winter to me was appalling.
3:02:52
While meditating on days of the past and contemplating the future, Kaoku came suddenly
3:02:56
upon me and was delighted to find the object of her search. They had
3:03:01
been looking for me and did not know where I had gone. Were quite
3:03:05
worried about me, she said, and she was glad she had found me.
3:03:11
I was as pleased as herself, and rejoiced to join them. One
3:03:16
has no idea of the extent of an Indian village, or of the number
3:03:20
of its inhabitants. It would seem strange to some that I should ever get
3:03:24
lust when among them. But like a large city, one may be separated
3:03:28
from their companions and in a few moments be lost. The Indians all knew
3:03:35
the white woman, but I knew but few comparatively, And consequently, when
3:03:39
among strangers, I felt utterly friendless. The experience of those days of gloom
3:03:46
and sadness seemed like a fearful dream, now that my life is once again
3:03:50
with civilized people and enjoying the blessings that I was there deprived of. Some
3:03:56
twenty five years ago, an emigrant train en route for California arrived in the
3:04:01
neighborhood of the crossing of the North Platte, and the cholera broke out among
3:04:07
the travelers, and every one died, with the exception of one little girl.
3:04:11
The Indian black bear, while hunting, came to the wagons, now
3:04:16
a morgue and finding the father of the girl dying with cholera, took the
3:04:20
child in his arms. The dying parent begged him to carry his little one
3:04:26
to his home in the east, assuring him of abundant reward by the child's
3:04:31
friends in addition to the gold he gave him. These facts I gleaned from
3:04:35
a letter given to black Bear by the dying father, and which had been
3:04:39
carefully preserved by the daughter. Instead of doing as was desired, he took
3:04:46
the money, child, and everything valuable in the train to his own home
3:04:50
among the hills, and there educated the little one with habits of savage life.
3:04:56
She forgot her own language, her name, and everything about her past
3:05:00
life, but she knew that she was white. Her infancy and girlhood were
3:05:05
therefore passed in utter ignorance of the modes of life of her own people,
3:05:09
and contented and happy she remained among them, verifying the old adage that habit
3:05:16
is second nature. When she was of marriageable age, Black Bear took her
3:05:20
for his wife, and they had a child, a boy. I became
3:05:26
acquainted with this white woman shortly after I went into the village, and we
3:05:31
were sincere friends, although no confidants, as I dared not trust her.
3:05:35
It was very natural and pleasant also to know her, as she was white,
3:05:41
and although she was an Indian in tastes and habits, she was my
3:05:45
sister and belonged to my people. There was a sympathetic chord between us,
3:05:50
and it was a relief to be with her. On the occasion of my
3:05:54
first visit with her, Black Bear suggested the idea that white women always drank
3:05:58
tea together, so she made us a cup of herb tea, which we
3:06:03
drank in company. I endeavored to enlighten her and to do her all the
3:06:09
good I could told her of the white people and of their kindness and Christianity,
3:06:13
trying to impress her with the superiority of the white race, all of
3:06:18
which she listened to with great interest. I was the only white woman she
3:06:22
had seen, for whenever they neared any fort, she was always kept out
3:06:28
of sight. She seemed to enjoy painting herself and dressing for the dances as
3:06:33
well as the squaws, and was happy and contented with Indian surroundings, for
3:06:39
she knew no difference. I know not what has become of her, for
3:06:43
I have never heard, neither can I remember the name of her father,
3:06:48
which was in the note handed the Indian by his dying hand. A little
3:06:52
boy fourteen years old whose name was Charles Silvester, belonging in Quincy, Illinois,
3:07:00
who was stolen when seven years of age, was in the village and
3:07:03
one day I saw him playing with the Indian boys, and discovering immediately that
3:07:09
he was a white boy. I flew to his side and tried to clasp
3:07:13
him in my arms in my joy, exclaiming, oh, I knew you
3:07:16
were a white boy. Speak to me and tell me who you are and
3:07:20
where you come from. He also had forgotten his name and parentage, but
3:07:26
knew that he was white. When I spoke to him. The boys began
3:07:31
to plague and tease him, and he refused to speak to me, running
3:07:35
away every time I approached him. One year after, one day, when
3:07:39
this boy was out hunting, he killed a comrade by accident, and he
3:07:43
dared not return to the village, so he escaped on his pony to the
3:07:48
white people. On his way to the States. He called at a house
3:07:52
where they knew what Indians he belonged to, and they questioned him whether he
3:07:58
had seen a white woman in the village. He replied in the affirmative,
3:08:01
and a bundle of pictures being given him, he picked mine out from among
3:08:05
them, saying that is the white woman whom I saw. After a while,
3:08:11
being discontented with his own people, he returned to his adopted friends on
3:08:16
the North Plat and became an interpreter and trader, and still remains there,
3:08:20
doing business at various posts. When the Indians went to obtain their annuities,
3:08:28
they transferred me to the Unkpapas, leaving me in their charge, where there
3:08:33
was a young couple and an old Indian who had four wives. He had
3:08:37
been very brave, it was said, for he had endured the trial which
3:08:41
proves the successful warrior. He was one of those who looked at the sun
3:08:46
without failing in heart or strength. This custom is as follows. The one
3:08:52
who undergoes this operation is nearly naked and is suspended from the upper end of
3:08:56
a pole by a cord which is tied to to some splints which run through
3:09:01
the flesh of both breasts. The weight of his body is hung from it,
3:09:05
the feet still upon the ground helping support it a very little, and
3:09:09
in his left hand he holds his favorite bow, and in his right with
3:09:15
a firm hold his medicine bag. A great crowd usually looks on, sympathizing
3:09:20
with and encouraging him, but he still continues to hang and look at the
3:09:26
sun, without paying the least attention to any one about him. The mystery
3:09:31
men beat their drums and shake their rattles, and sing as loud as they
3:09:35
can, yell to strengthen his heart, to look at the sun from its
3:09:39
rising until its setting, at which time, if his heart and strength have
3:09:43
not failed him, he is cut down. Receives a liberal donation of presents
3:09:48
which are piled before him during the day, and also the name and style
3:09:52
of a doctor or medicine man, which lasts him and ensures him respect through
3:09:58
life. It considered a test of bravery. Superstition seems to have full sway
3:10:03
among the Indians, just as much as in heathen lands beyond the sea,
3:10:09
where the Burmham mother casts her child to the crocodile to appease the great Spirit.
3:10:15
Many of these Indians were from Minnesota and were of the number that escaped
3:10:20
justice two years before after committing an indiscriminate slaughter of men, women and children.
3:10:26
One day I was sent for by one of them, and when I
3:10:30
was seated in his lodge, he gave me a letter to read, which
3:10:33
purported to have been written by General Sibley. As follows this Indian after taking
3:10:39
part in the present outbreak of the Indians against the white settlers and missionaries.
3:10:43
Being sick and not able to keep up with his friends in their flight,
3:10:48
we give you the offerings of friendship, food and clothing. You are in
3:10:52
our power, but we won't harm you. Go to your people and gladden
3:10:56
their hearts. Lay down your weapon and fight the white men no more.
3:11:01
We will do you good and not evil. Take this letter. In it
3:11:07
we have spoken. Depart in peace and evermore, be a friend to the
3:11:11
white people, and you will be more happy. H. H. Sibley,
3:11:16
Brigadier General commanding expedition. Instinctively, I looked up into his face and
3:11:22
said, intend to keep your promise. He laughed derisively at the idea of
3:11:26
an Indian brave abandoning his profession. He told of many instances of outrageous cruelties
3:11:33
of his band in their marauding and murderous attacks on traveling parties and frontier settlers,
3:11:39
and further to assure me of his bravery, he showed me a puzzle
3:11:43
or game he had made from the finger bones of some of the victims that
3:11:48
had fallen beneath his tomahawk. The bones had been freed from the flesh by
3:11:52
boiling, and being placed upon a string, were used for playing some kind
3:11:58
of Indian game. This is but one of the heathenish acts of these Indians.
3:12:03
The Indians were fond of recounting their exploits and savage like dwell with much
3:12:09
satisfaction. Upon the number of scalps that they have taken from their white foes.
3:12:15
They would be greatly amused at the shuddering horror manifested. When to annoy
3:12:20
me, they would tauntingly portray the dying agonies of white men, women and
3:12:24
children who had fallen into their hands. And especially with the effect of their
3:12:30
description of the murder of little Mary, afford them satisfaction. I feel now
3:12:35
that I must have been convinced of her death, yet I could not then
3:12:39
help hoping that she had escaped. These exploits and incidents were generally related by
3:12:46
the Indians. When in camp, having nothing to do, the great lazy
3:12:50
brutes would sit by the hour making caricatures of white soldiers representing them in various
3:12:56
ways, and always as cowards and in fear your beings, sometimes as in
3:13:01
combat, but always at their mercy. This was frequently done apparently to annoy
3:13:07
me, and one day, losing patience, I snatched a rude drawing from
3:13:13
the hands of an Indian who was holding it up to my view, and
3:13:16
tore it in two, clasping the part that represented the white soldier to my
3:13:20
heart and throwing the other into the fire. Then, looking up, I
3:13:26
told them the white soldiers were dear to me, that they were my friends,
3:13:30
and I loved them. I said they were friends to the Indians and
3:13:33
did not want to harm them. I expressed myself in the strongest manner by
3:13:37
words and signs. Never did I see a more enraged set of men.
3:13:43
They assailed me with burning firebrands, burning me severely. They heeded the points
3:13:48
of arrows and burned and threatened me sorely. I told them I meant no
3:13:54
harm to them, that it was ridiculous they're getting angry at my burning a
3:13:58
bit of paper. I promised I would make them some more, that they
3:14:03
should have pictures of my drawing. When at last I pacified them, they
3:14:07
were much like children in this respect, easily offended but very difficult to please.
3:14:13
I was constantly annoyed, worried, and terrified by their strange conduct,
3:14:18
their transition from laughing and fun to anger and even rage. I knew not
3:14:24
how to get along with them. One moment they would seem friendly and kind.
3:14:30
The next, if any act of mind displeased them, their faces were
3:14:33
instantly changed, and they displayed their hatred or anger in unmeasured words or conduct.
3:14:39
Children one hour, the next fiends. I always tried to please them,
3:14:45
and was as cheerful as I could be under the circumstances. For my
3:14:48
own sake. One day I was called to see a man who lay in
3:14:52
his teepee in great suffering. His wasted face was darkened by fever, and
3:14:58
his brilliantly restless eyes rolled anxiously, as if in search of relief from pain.
3:15:05
He was reduced to a skeleton and had endured tortures from the suppuration of
3:15:09
an old wound in the knee. He greeted me with the how how of
3:15:13
Indian politeness, and in answer to my inquiry why he came to suffer?
3:15:18
So he replied, I go fight white man. He take away land and
3:15:24
chase game away. Then he'd take away our squaws. He take away my
3:15:28
best squaw. Here his voice choked, and he displayed much emotion, pitying
3:15:35
his misery. I endeavored to aid him and rendered him all the assistance in
3:15:39
my power. But death was then upon him. The medicine man was with
3:15:46
him, also practicing his incantations. We were so constantly traveling it wearied me
3:15:52
beyond expression. The day after the Indian's burial, we were again on the
3:15:58
move end of chapter fourteen, preparing the chee chaw Cha or kill akinic attack
3:16:07
on Captain Fisk's emigrant train. Fourteen Whites killed a big haul of whiskey,
3:16:13
A drunken debauch, I write a letter to Captain Fisk under dictation poisoned Indians.
3:16:20
The train saved by my clerical strategy. One of the occupations given me
3:16:26
while resting in the villages between war times was to prepare the bark of a
3:16:31
red willow called kilikinic for smoking instead of tobacco. They discovered that I could
3:16:37
sing, and groups of idle warriors would gather around me before the tent,
3:16:41
urging me to sing as I worked a dreary dreary task, chanting to please
3:16:48
my savage companions, while I rubbed and prepared the bark of willow, my
3:16:52
heart ready to burst with grief. On the fifth of September they went to
3:16:58
battle and surprised a portion of Captain Fisk's men passing in escorting an emigrant train,
3:17:03
fourteen of whom they killed and captured two wagons loaded with whiskey, wines,
3:17:09
and valuable articles. There was a quantity of silverware and stationery also taken
3:17:15
by them. Among the articles captured and brought into camp were a number of
3:17:20
pickles in glass jars, which the Indians tasted. The result was comical in
3:17:26
the extreme, for there is nothing that an Indian abhors more than a strong
3:17:30
acid. The faces they made can be imagined, but not described. Thinking
3:17:35
they might be improved by cooking, they placed the jars in the fire,
3:17:39
when, of course, they exploded, very much to their disgust for the
3:17:43
white man's kettles. I could hear the firing plainly, And when they returned
3:17:48
that night in triumph, bringing with them the plundered stores, they committed every
3:17:54
description of extravagant demonstration in the wild orgies which follow they mocked and groaned in
3:18:01
imitation of the dying, and went through a horrid mimicry of the butchery they
3:18:05
had perpetrated. They determined to go out again and capture a quantity of horses
3:18:11
corralled in the neighborhood and sweep the train and soldiers with wholesale massacre. But
3:18:16
they feared the white man's cannon and deliberated on means of surprising by ambush,
3:18:22
which is their only idea of warfare. Indians are not truly brave, though
3:18:28
they are vain in the name of courage, cunning, stealth, strategy,
3:18:33
and deceit are the weapons they use in attack. They endure pain because they
3:18:39
are taught from infancy that it is cowardly to flinch, but they will never
3:18:43
stand to fight if they can strike secretly and escape. Fearing the cannon,
3:18:48
yet impatient for the spoil almost within view, the Indians waited for three days
3:18:54
for the train to move on and leave them free to attack. For two
3:18:58
days, I am play lord and begged on my knees to be allowed to
3:19:01
go with them, but to no avail. At last, I succeeded in
3:19:05
inducing them to allow me to write as they knew I understood the nature of
3:19:11
correspondence, and they procured for me the necessary appliances and dictated a letter to
3:19:16
Captain Fisk, assuring him that the Indians were weary of fighting, and advising
3:19:22
him to go on in peace and safety. Knowing their malicious designs, I
3:19:26
set myself to work to circumvent them, And although the wily Chief counted every
3:19:31
word dictated and as they were marked on paper, I contrived by joining them
3:19:37
together and condensing the information I gave to warn the officer of the perfidious intentions
3:19:43
of the savages and tell him briefly of my helpless and unhappy captivity. The
3:19:50
letter was carefully examined by the Chief and the number of its apparent words recounted
3:19:54
at length. Appearing satisfied with its contents, he had it carry to a
3:20:00
hill in sight of the soldier's camp and stuck on a pole. In due
3:20:05
time the reply arrived, and again my ingenuity was tasked to read the letter,
3:20:09
corresponding with the number of words that would not condemn me. The captain's
3:20:16
real statement was that he distrusted all among the savages and had great reason too.
3:20:22
On reading Captain Fiske's words that seemed to crush my already awakened hopes.
3:20:26
My emotion overcame me having told the Indians that the captain doubted their friendliness,
3:20:33
and explained the contents of the letter as I thought best. The next day
3:20:37
I was entrusted with the task of writing again to solemnly assure the soldiers of
3:20:41
the faith and friendship professed. Again, I managed to communicate with them,
3:20:48
and this time begged them to use their field glasses, and that I would
3:20:52
find an excuse for standing on the hills in the afternoon, that they might
3:20:56
see for themselves that I was what I represented myself to be, a white
3:21:00
woman held in bondage. The opportunity I desired was gained, and to my
3:21:05
great delight, I had a chance of standing so as to be seen by
3:21:09
the men of the soldiers camp. I had given my own name in every
3:21:13
communication. As soon as the soldiers saw that it truly was a woman of
3:21:18
their own race, and that I was in the power of their enemies,
3:21:22
the excitement of their feelings became so great that they desired immediately to rush to
3:21:28
my rescue. A gentleman belonging to the train generously offered eight hundred dollars from
3:21:33
my ransom, which was all the money he had, and the noble manly
3:21:39
feeling displayed in my behalf did honor to those who felt it. There was
3:21:43
not a man in the train who was not willing to sacrifice all he had
3:21:48
for my rescue. Captain Fisk restrained all hasty demonstrations, and even went so
3:21:54
far as to say that the first man who moved in the direction of the
3:21:58
Indian camp should be shot immediately, his experience enabling him to know that a
3:22:03
move of that kind would result fatally to them and to the captive. The
3:22:09
Indians found a box of crackers saturated with water, and eating of them,
3:22:15
sickened and died. I afterward learned that some persons with the train, who
3:22:20
had suffered the loss of dear relatives and friends in the massacre of Minnesota,
3:22:24
and who had lost there all, had poisoned the crackers with strick nine and
3:22:30
left them on one of their camping grounds without the captain's knowledge. The Indians
3:22:35
told me afterward that more had died from eating bad bread than from bullets during
3:22:41
the whole summer campaign. Captain Fisk deserves great credit for his daring and courage
3:22:46
with his meager supply of men against so large an army of red men.
3:22:52
After assurance of my presence among them, Captain Fisk proceeded to treat quietly with
3:22:56
the Savages on the subject of a ransa offering to deliver in their village three
3:23:03
wagon loads of stores as a price for their prisoner. To this, the
3:23:07
deceitful creatures pretended readily to agree, and the tortured captive, understanding their tongue,
3:23:13
heard them making fun of the credulity of white soldiers who believed their promises.
3:23:20
I had the use of a field glass from the Indians, and with
3:23:24
it I saw my white friends, which almost made me wild with excited hope,
3:23:28
knowing what the Indians had planned, and dreading lest the messengers should be
3:23:33
killed, as I knew they would be if they came to the village.
3:23:37
I wrote to Captain Fisk of the futility of ransoming me in that way,
3:23:41
and warned him of the treachery intended against his messengers. Note. The original
3:23:48
letters written by me to Captain Fiske are now on file in the War Department
3:23:52
at Washington. Officially certified extracts from the correspondents are published elsewhere in this work,
3:23:58
and no no tongue can tell or pen describe those terrible days, when,
3:24:05
seemingly lost to hope and surrounded by drunken Indians, my life was in
3:24:11
constant danger. Nights of horrible revelry passed, when forlorn and despairing I lay,
3:24:16
listening only half consciously to the savage mirth and wild exultation. To no
3:24:24
overtures would the Indians listen, Declaring I could not be purchased at any price,
3:24:31
they were determined not to part with me. Captain Fiske and his companions
3:24:35
were sadly disappointed in not obtaining my release, and after a hopeless attempt,
3:24:41
he made known the fact of my being a prisoner, spreading the news far
3:24:46
and wide. His expeditions across the plains had always been successful, and the
3:24:52
Indians, knowing him to be very brave, gave him the name of Great
3:24:56
Chief who knows no fear, and he richly the appellation for the expeditions were
3:25:03
attended with great danger. The reports of his various expeditions have been published by
3:25:09
government and are very interesting, giving a description of the country. In September,
3:25:15
the rains were very frequent, sometimes continuing for days. This may not
3:25:20
seem serious to those who have always been accustomed to a dwelling and a good
3:25:24
bed. But to me, who had no shelter, and whose shrinking form
3:25:28
was exposed to the pitiless storm, and not but the cold ground to lie
3:25:33
upon, bringing the pains and distress of rheumatism, it was a calamity hard
3:25:37
to bear, and I often prayed fervently to God to give me sweet release
3:25:43
in a flight to the land where there were no storms. Soon the winter
3:25:48
would be upon us, and the cold and sleet and stormy weather would be
3:25:52
difficult to bear. Would I be so fortunate? Would Heaven be so gracious
3:25:58
as to place me in sircaircumstances where the wintry winds could not chill or make
3:26:03
me suffer? My heart seemed faint at the thought of what was before me,
3:26:07
for hope was lessening as winter approached. End of Chapter fifteen, Scenes
3:26:16
on Cannonball Prairie reflections. Well, do I remember my thoughts and feelings when
3:26:22
first I beheld the mighty and beautiful prairie of Cannonball River, With what singular
3:26:28
emotions I beheld it? For the first time I could compare it to nothing
3:26:33
but a vast sea changed suddenly to Earth with all its heaving, rolling billows,
3:26:39
thousands of acres lay spread before me like a mighty ocean, bounded by
3:26:43
nothing but the deep blue sky. What a magnificent sight, A sight that
3:26:48
made my soul expand with lofty thought, and its frail tenement sink into utter
3:26:54
nothingness before it. Well do I remember my sad thoughts and the turning of
3:27:00
my mind upon the past, as I stood alone upon a slight rise of
3:27:03
ground, and overlooked miles upon miles of the most lovely, the most sublime
3:27:09
scene I had ever beheld. Wave upon wave of land stretched away on every
3:27:15
hand, covered with beautiful green grass and the blossoming wild flowers of the prairie.
3:27:20
Occasionally I caught glimpses of wild animals, while flocks of birds of various
3:27:26
kinds and beautiful plumage skimming over the surface here and there, alighting or departing
3:27:31
upward from the earth, added life and beauty and variety to this most enchanting
3:27:37
scene. It had been a beautiful day, and the sun was now just
3:27:41
burying himself in the far off ocean. Of blue, and his golden rays
3:27:46
were streaming along the surface of the waving grass and tinging it with a delightful
3:27:50
hue. Occasionally, some elevated point caught and reflected back his rays to the
3:27:56
one I was standing upon, and it would cut for a moment his fading
3:28:01
rays and glow like a ball of golden fire. Slowly, he took his
3:28:07
diurnal farewell, as if loath to quit a scene so lovely, and at
3:28:11
last hid himself from my view. Beyond the western horizon. I stood and
3:28:16
marked every change with that poetical feeling of pleasant sadness which a beautiful sunset rarely
3:28:22
fails to awaken. In the breast of the lover of nature. I noted
3:28:26
every change that was going on, and yet my thoughts were far far away.
3:28:31
I thought of the hundreds of miles that separated me from the friends that
3:28:35
I loved. I was recalling the delight with which I had when a little
3:28:39
girl viewed the farewell scenes of day from so many romantic hills and lakes and
3:28:45
rivers, rich meadows, mountain gorge and precipice, and the quiet hamlets of
3:28:50
my dear native land. So far away, I fancied I could see my
3:28:54
mother move to the door with a slow step and heavy heart, and gaze
3:29:00
with yearning affection toward the broad the mighty west, and sigh wondering what had
3:29:05
become of her lost child. I thought, and grew more sad as I
3:29:11
thought, until tears filled my eyes. Mother, What a world of affection
3:29:16
is comprised in that single word. How little do we, in the giddy
3:29:20
round of youthful pleasure and folly, heed her wise counsels. How lightly do
3:29:26
we look upon that zealous care with which she guides our otherwise erring feet,
3:29:31
and watches with feelings which none but a mother can know, the gradual expansion
3:29:35
of our youth to the riper years of discretion. We may not think of
3:29:39
it then, but it will be recalled to our minds in after years,
3:29:43
when the gloomy grave or a fearful living separation has placed her far beyond our
3:29:50
reach, and her sweet voice of sympathy and consolation for the various ills attendant
3:29:54
upon us sounds in our ears no more. How deeply then we regret a
3:30:00
thousand deeds that we have done contrary to her gentle admonitions, How we sigh
3:30:05
for those days once more, that we may retrieve what we have done amiss,
3:30:11
and make her kind heart glad with happiness. Alas once gone, they
3:30:16
can never be recalled, and we grow mournfully sad with the bitter reflection.
3:30:22
Oh my mother, I cried aloud, my dearly beloved mother. Would I
3:30:26
ever behold her again? Should I ever return to my native land? Would
3:30:31
I find her among the living? If not? Heavens, What a sad
3:30:35
What a painful thought? And instantly I found my eyes swimming in tears and
3:30:41
my frame trembling with nervous agitation. But I would hope for the best.
3:30:46
Gradually I became calm. Then I thought of my husband and what might be
3:30:52
his fate. It was sad at best I well knew. And lastly,
3:30:56
though I tried to avoid it, I thought of Mary, sweet lost but
3:31:01
dearly beloved Mary. I could see her gentle features, I could hear her
3:31:07
plaintive voice, soft and silvery as running waters. And sighed a long,
3:31:11
deep sigh as I thought of her murdered? Could I never behold her again?
3:31:16
No? She was dead, perished by the cruel, relentless, savage
3:31:22
silence brooded over the world. Not a sound broke the solemn repose of nature.
3:31:26
The summer breeze had rocked itself to rest in the willow boughs, and
3:31:31
the broad faced, familiar moon seemed alive and toiling as it climbed slowly up
3:31:35
a cloudless sky, passing starry sentinels, whose nightly challenge was lost in vast
3:31:41
vortices of blue, as they paced their ceaseless round in the mighty camp of
3:31:46
constellations. With my eyes fixed upon my gloomy surroundings of tyranny, occasionally a
3:31:52
slip of moonshine silvered the ground. I watched and reflected, Oh, hallow
3:31:58
days of my blessed girlhood. They rise before me now, like holy burning
3:32:03
stars breaking out in a stormy, howling night, making the blackness blacker still,
3:32:09
the short, happy spring time of life, so full of noble aspirations
3:32:15
and glowing hopes of my husband's philanthropic schemes of charitable projects in the future.
3:32:20
We had planned so much for the years to come, when prosperous and happy,
3:32:26
we should be able to distribute some happiness among those whose fate might be
3:32:30
mingled with ours, And in the pursuit of our daily avocations we would find
3:32:35
joy and peace. But alas for human hopes and expectations. It is thus
3:32:41
with our life we silently glide along, little dreaming of the waves which will
3:32:46
so soon sweep over us, dashing us against the rocks, or stranding us
3:32:50
forever. We do not dream that we shall ever wreck until the greater wave
3:32:56
comes over us and we bend beneath its power. If some mighty hand could
3:33:01
unroll the future to our gaze, or set aside the veil which enshrouds it,
3:33:05
what pictures would be presented to our trembling hearts. No let it be
3:33:11
as the all wise hath ordained, a closed up tomb, only revealed as
3:33:16
the events occur. For could we bear them with the fortitude we should if
3:33:20
they were known beforehand? Shrinking from it, we would say, let the
3:33:24
cup pass from me. End of Chapter sixteen. A Prairie on fire Scenes
3:33:33
of terror. In October, we were overtaken by a prairie fire. At
3:33:39
this season of the year, the plants and grass parched by a hot sun
3:33:43
are ready to blaze in a moment, if ignited by the least spark,
3:33:46
which is often borne on the wind from some of the many camp fires with
3:33:52
frightful rapidity. We saw it extend in all directions, but we were allowed
3:33:56
time to escape. The Indians ran like wild animals from the flames, uttering
3:34:03
yells like demons, and great walls of fire from the right hand and from
3:34:07
the left advanced toward us, hissing, crackling, and threatening to unite and
3:34:13
swallow us up. In their raging fury. We were amid calcined trees,
3:34:18
which fell with a thundering crash, blinding us with clouds of smoke, and
3:34:22
were burned by the showers of sparks which poured upon us from all directions.
3:34:28
The conflagration assumed formidable proportions. The forests shrunk up in the terrible grasp of
3:34:33
the flames, and the prairie presented one sheet of fire in the midst of
3:34:39
which the wild animals, driven from their dens and hiding places by this unexpected
3:34:43
catastrophe, ran about, mad with terror. The sky gleamed with blood red
3:34:50
reflection, and the impetuous wind swept both flames and smoke before it. The
3:34:56
Indians were terrified in the extreme. On seeing around them, the mountain heights
3:35:01
lighted up like beacons to show the entire destruction the earth became hot, while
3:35:07
immense troops of buffalo made the ground tremble with their ferocious tread, and their
3:35:13
bellowings of despair would fill with terror the hearts of the bravest men. Everyone
3:35:18
was frightened, running about the camp as if struck by insanity. The fire
3:35:24
continued to advance majestically as it were, swallowing up everything in its way,
3:35:30
preceded by countless animals of various kinds that bounded along with howls of fear,
3:35:35
pursued by the scourge which threatened to overtake them at every step. A thick
3:35:41
smoke laden with sparks was already passing over the camp. Ten minutes more and
3:35:46
all would be over with us, I thought, when I saw the squaws
3:35:50
pressing the children to their bosoms. The Indians had been deprived of all self
3:35:54
possession by the presence of our imminent peril, the flames forming an immense circle
3:36:01
of which our camp had become the center. But fortunately, the strong breeze,
3:36:05
which up to that moment had lent wings to the conflagration, suddenly subsided,
3:36:11
and there was not a breath of air stirring the progress of the fire.
3:36:16
Slackened providence seemed to grant us time. The camp presented a strange aspect.
3:36:24
On bended knee and with clasped hands, I prayed fervently. The fire
3:36:28
continued to approach with its vanguard of wild beasts. The Indians, old and
3:36:35
young, male and female, began to pull up the grass by the roots
3:36:39
all about the camp. Then lastowed the horses and hobbled them in the center,
3:36:43
and in a few moments a large space was cleared where the herbs and
3:36:48
grass had been pulled up with the feverish rapidity which all display in the fear
3:36:52
of death. Some of the Indians went to the extremity of the space where
3:36:58
the grass had been pulled up and formed a pile of grass and plants with
3:37:01
their feet. Then with their flint, set fire to the mass, and
3:37:07
thus caused fire to fight fire, as they called it. This was done
3:37:11
in different directions. A curtain of flames rose rapidly around us, and for
3:37:16
some time the camp was almost concealed beneath a vault of fire. It was
3:37:22
a moment of intense and awful anxiety. By degrees, the flames became less
3:37:26
fierce, the air purer, the smoke dispersed, the roaring diminished, and
3:37:33
at length we were able to recognize each other in this horrible chaos. A
3:37:37
sigh of relief burst from every heart. Our camp was saved. After the
3:37:43
first moments of joy were over, the camp was put in order, and
3:37:48
all felt the necessity of repose after the terrible anxieties of the preceding hours,
3:37:52
and also to give the ground time enough to cool so that it might be
3:37:56
traveled over by people and horses. The next day we prepared for departure.
3:38:03
Tents were folded and packages were placed on the ponies, and our caravan was
3:38:09
soon pursuing its journey under the direction of the chief, who rode in advance
3:38:13
of our band. The appearance of the prairie was much changed since the previous
3:38:18
evening. In many places, the black and burnt earth was a heap of
3:38:22
smoking ashes, scarred in charred trees still standing displayed their saddening skeletons. The
3:38:31
fire still roared at a distance, and the horizon was still obscured by smoke.
3:38:37
The horses advanced with caution over the uneven ground, constantly stumbling over the
3:38:41
bones of animals that had fallen. Victims to the embrace of the flames.
3:38:46
The course we took in traveling wound along a narrow ravine, the dried bed
3:38:52
of some torrent, deeply enclosed between two hills. The ground trodden by the
3:38:56
horses was composed of round pebbles which slipped from under their feet, augmenting the
3:39:01
difficulty of the march, which was rendered still more toilsome to me by the
3:39:07
rays of the sun falling directly upon my uncovered head and face. The day
3:39:13
passed away thus, and aside from the fatigue which oppressed me, the day's
3:39:16
journey was unbroken by any incident. At evening we again camped in a plain
3:39:24
absolutely bare, but in the distance we could see an appearance of verdure,
3:39:28
affording great consolation, for we were about to enter a spot spared by the
3:39:33
conflagration. At sunrise next morning, we were on the march towards this oasis
3:39:39
in the desert. End of Chapter seventeen, Last Days with the Oga Lala
3:39:46
Sioux massacre of a party returning from Idaho. A woman's scalp, a scalp
3:39:52
dance, suspicious circumstance, arrival of Blackfeet Indians, negotiations from my ransom treachery.
3:40:01
My last days with the Oglala Sioux Indians were destined to be marked by
3:40:05
a terrible remembrance. On the first of October, while the savages lingered in
3:40:11
camp about the banks of the Yellowstone River, apparently fearing yet almost inviting attack
3:40:16
by their near vicinity to the soldiers, a large mackinaw or flat boat was
3:40:22
seen coming down the river. From their hiding places in the rocks and bushes,
3:40:28
they watched its progress with the stealthy ferocity of the tiger, waiting for
3:40:31
its prey. At sundown, the unsuspecting travelers pushed their boat toward the shore
3:40:39
and landed for the purpose of making a fire and camping for the night.
3:40:43
The party consisted of about twenty persons, men, women and children. Suspecting
3:40:48
no danger, they left their arms in the boat with a simultaneous yell.
3:40:54
The savages dashed down upon them, dealing death and destruction in rapid stroke.
3:41:00
The defenseless emigrants made an attempt to rush to the boat for arms, but
3:41:05
were cut off, and their bleeding bodies dashed into the river as fast as
3:41:09
they were slain. Then followed the torture of the women and children. Horrible
3:41:15
thought from which all will turn with sickened soul and shuddering cry to Heaven.
3:41:20
How long, o Lord, how long shall such inhuman atrocities go unpunished?
3:41:26
Not a soul was left alive when that black day's work was done, and
3:41:31
the unconscious river bore away a warm tide of human blood and sinking human forms.
3:41:37
When the warriors returned to camp, they brought their frightful trophies of blood
3:41:43
stained clothes and ghastly scalps. My heart's sick eyes beheld the dreadful fruits of
3:41:48
carnage, and among the rest I saw a woman's scalp, with heavy chestnut
3:41:54
hair, a golden brown, and four feet in length, which had been
3:41:58
secured for its beauty. The tempting treasure lost the poor girl her life,
3:42:03
which might have been spared, but her glorious locks were needed to hang on
3:42:07
the chief's belt. Nearly all the flat boats that passed down the Yellowstone River
3:42:13
to the Missouri from the mining regions during that season were attacked, and in
3:42:18
some instances one or more of the occupants killed. The approach of this boat
3:42:24
was known, and the Indians had ample time to plan their attack, so
3:42:28
that not a soul should escape. That night, the whole camp of braves
3:42:33
assembled to celebrate the fearful scalp dance, and from the door of my tent
3:42:37
I witnessed the savage spectacle. For I was ill, and to my great
3:42:41
relief, was not forced to join in the horrid ceremony. A number of
3:42:46
squaws occupied the center of the ring they formed, and the pitiless wretches held
3:42:52
up the fresh scalps that day reaped in the harvest of death. Around them
3:42:56
circled the frantic braves, flourishing torches and brandishing weapons with the most ferocious barks
3:43:03
and yells and wild distortions of countenance. Some uttered boasts of bravery and prowess,
3:43:09
and others lost their own identity in mocking their dying victims in their agony,
3:43:16
leaping first on one foot, that on the other, accompanying every movement
3:43:20
with wild whoops of excitement, they presented a scene never to be forgotten.
3:43:26
The young brave, who bore the beautiful locks as his trophy, did not
3:43:31
join in the dance. He sat alone, looking sad. I approached and
3:43:35
questioned him, and he replied that he regretted his dead victim. He brought
3:43:41
a blood stained dress from his lodge, and told me it was worn by
3:43:45
the girl with the lovely hair, whose eyes haunted him and made him sorry.
3:43:50
After being cognizant of this frightful massacre, I shrank more than ever from
3:43:54
my savage companions and pursued my tasks in hopeless respondence of ever being rescued or
3:44:01
restored to civilized life. One day I was astonished to notice a strange Indian
3:44:07
whom I had never seen before, making signs to me of a mysterious nature.
3:44:13
He indicated by signs that he wanted me to run away with him to
3:44:16
the white people. I had become so suspicious from having been deceived so many
3:44:22
times, that I turned from him and entered the chief's tent, where,
3:44:26
despite his cruelty and harshness to me, I felt comparatively safe. I afterwards
3:44:33
saw this Indian, or rather white man, or half breed, as I
3:44:37
believe him to have been, though he could not or would not speak a
3:44:39
word of English. His long hair hung loosely about his shoulders, and he
3:44:46
was of a dark brown color. He had in no respect the appearance of
3:44:50
an Indian, but rather that of a wild, reckless frontier desperado. I
3:44:54
had never seen him before, though he seemed well known in the camp.
3:45:00
One thing that perhaps made me more suspicious and afraid to trust any one was
3:45:05
a knowledge of the fact that many of the Indians who had lost relatives in
3:45:09
the recent battles with General Sully were thirsting for my blood and would have been
3:45:13
gled to decoy me far enough away to wreak their vengeance and be safe from
3:45:18
the fury of the old chief my task master. This stranger came one day
3:45:24
into a tent where I was and showed me a small pocket bible that had
3:45:28
belonged to my husband and was presented to him by his now sainted mother many
3:45:33
years before. His object was to assure me that I might trust him,
3:45:39
but such an instinctive horror of the man had taken possession of me that I
3:45:43
refused to believe him, and at last he became enraged and threatened to kill
3:45:48
me if I would not go with him. I pled with him to give
3:45:52
me the bible, but he refused. How dear it would have been to
3:45:56
me from association, and what strength and comfort I would have received from its
3:46:01
precious promises. Shut out as I was, from my world and all religious
3:46:05
privileges, and surrounded by heathen savages. Soon after the foregoing incident, the
3:46:13
old chief and his three sisters went away on a journey, and I was
3:46:16
sent to live with some of his relatives. Accompanied by my little companion,
3:46:22
yellow Bird, we traveled all day to reach our destination, a small Indian
3:46:26
village. The family I was to live with until the return of the Chief
3:46:31
and his sisters consisted of a very old Indian and his squaw, and a
3:46:35
young girl. I had a dread of going among strangers, but was thankful
3:46:41
for the kindness with which I was received by this old couple. I was
3:46:46
very tired, and so sad and depressed that I cared not to ask for
3:46:50
anything, But the old squaw, seeming to understand my feelings, considerately placed
3:46:56
before me meat and water, and kindly minutes to my wants in every way
3:47:01
their means would allow. I was with this family nearly three weeks and was
3:47:07
treated with almost affectionate kindness, not only by them, but by every member
3:47:11
of the little community. The children would come to see me and manifest in
3:47:16
various ways their interest in me. They would say, was se chaweya white
3:47:22
woman looks sad I want to shake hands with her. I soon began to
3:47:28
adapt myself to my new surroundings, and became more happy and contented than I
3:47:33
had ever yet been since my captivity began. My time was occupied in assisting
3:47:39
the motherly old squaw in her sewing and other domestic work. There was but
3:47:45
once a cloud come between us. The old chief had given orders that I
3:47:50
was not to be permitted to go out among the other villagers alone, orders
3:47:54
of which I knew nothing. Feeling a new sense of freedom, I had
3:47:58
sometimes gone out, and, on one occasion, having been invited into different
3:48:03
teepees by the squaws, stayed so long that the old Indians sent for me,
3:48:07
and seemed angry when I returned. He said it was good for me
3:48:11
to stay in his tent, but bad to go out among the others.
3:48:16
I pacified him at last by saying I knew his home was pleasant and I
3:48:20
was happy there, and that I did not know it was bad to go
3:48:24
among the other tents. The old chief returned finally, and my brief season
3:48:31
of enjoyment ended. He seemed to delight in torturing me, often pinching my
3:48:35
arms until they were black and blue. Regarding me as the cause of his
3:48:39
wounded arm, he was determined that I should suffer with him while in this
3:48:46
village, Man afraid of his horses arrived and I was made aware of his
3:48:50
high standing as a chief and warrior by the feasting and dancing which followed.
3:48:54
He was splendidly mounted and equipped, as also was another in Indian who accompanied
3:49:01
him. I have since learned from my husband that the treacherous chief made such
3:49:05
statements of his influence with the hostile Indians as to induce him to purchase for
3:49:11
them both an expensive outfit in the hope of my release. I saw and
3:49:16
conversed with him several times, and though he told me that he was from
3:49:20
the Platte, he said nothing of the real errand on which he was sent,
3:49:26
but returned to the fort and reported to mister Kelly that the band had
3:49:30
moved and I could not be found. Captain Fisk had made known to General
3:49:35
Sully the fact of my being among the Indians and the efforts he had made
3:49:39
for my release. And when the Blackfeet presented themselves before the General, asking
3:49:45
for peace and devowing their weariness of hostility, anxious to purchase arms, ammunition
3:49:50
and necessaries for the approaching winter. He replied, I want no peace with
3:49:56
you. You hold in captivity a white woman. Deliver her up to us,
3:50:01
and we will believe in your professions. But unless you do, we
3:50:05
will raise an army of soldiers as numerous as the trees on the Missouri River
3:50:09
and exterminate the Indians. The Blackfeet assured General Sully that they held no white
3:50:16
woman in their possession, but that I was among the Ogalalas. As you
3:50:22
are friendly with them, said the General. Go to them and secure her,
3:50:26
and we will then reward you for so doing. The Blackfeet warriors appeared
3:50:31
openly in the village a few days afterward and declared their intentions, stating in
3:50:37
council the determination of General Sali. The Ogalalas were not afraid, they said,
3:50:43
and refused to let me go. They held solemn council for two days
3:50:48
and at last resolved that the Blackfeet should take me as a ruse to enable
3:50:52
them to enter the fort, and a wholesale slaughter should exterminate the soldiers.
3:50:58
While thus deliberating as to what they thought best, part of them willing and
3:51:01
the other half refusing to let me go. Hunkiappa, a warrior came into
3:51:07
the lodge and ordered me out. Immediately following me, he then led me
3:51:13
into a lodge where there were fifty warriors painted and armed, their bows strung
3:51:18
and their quivers full of arrows. From thence, the whole party, including
3:51:22
three squaws, who, noting my extreme fear, accompanied me, started toward
3:51:28
a creek where there were five horses and warriors to attend us to the Blackfeet
3:51:33
village. Placing me on a horse, we were rapidly pursuing our way when
3:51:39
a party of the Ogallalas, who were unwilling, came up with us to
3:51:43
reclaim me. Here they parleyed for a time, and finally, after a
3:51:48
solemn promise on the part of my new captors that I should be returned safely
3:51:52
and that I should be cared for and kindly treated, we were allowed to
3:51:56
proceed. In their parleying, one of the warriors ordered me to alight from
3:52:01
the horse, pointing a pistol to my breast. Many of them clamored for
3:52:05
my life, but finally they settled the matter and permitted us to proceed on
3:52:11
our journey. After so many escapes from death, this last seemed miraculous,
3:52:18
but God willed it otherwise, and to him I owe my grateful homage.
3:52:24
It was a bitter trial for me to be obliged to go with this new
3:52:26
and stranger tribe. I was unwilling to exchange my life for an unknown one,
3:52:33
and especially as my companionship with the sisters of the chief had been such
3:52:37
as to protect me from injury or insult. A sort of security and safety
3:52:43
was felt in the lodge of the Chief, which, now the fear of
3:52:46
my new position, made me appreciate still more savages. They were, and
3:52:52
I longed to be free from them. But now I parted with them with
3:52:56
regret and misgiving. Though my new masters, for such I considered them,
3:53:01
held out promise of liberty and restoration to my friends. Knowing the treacherous nature
3:53:07
of the Indians, I doubted them true. The Ogallallas had treated me at
3:53:11
times with great harshness and cruelty, yet I had never suffered from any of
3:53:16
them the slightest personal or unchaste insult. Let me bear testimony to this redeeming
3:53:22
feature in their treatment of me. At the time of my capture, I
3:53:26
became the exclusive property of Ottawa, the head chief, a man over seventy
3:53:31
five years of age and partially blind, yet whose power over the band was
3:53:35
absolute, receiving a severe wound in a melee. I have already given account
3:53:41
of as I was compelled to become his nurse or medicine woman, and my
3:53:46
services as such were so appreciated that harsh and cruel as he might be,
3:53:52
it was dangerous for others to offer me insult or injury. And to this
3:53:56
fact, doubtless I owe my escape from a far worse than death. The
3:54:01
Blackfeet are a band of the Sioux Nation. Consequently our allies in battle.
3:54:07
The chief dared not refuse on this account. Besides he was an invalid and
3:54:13
wounded badly. The Blackfeet left three of their best horses as a guarantee for
3:54:18
my safe return. The chief of the Ogolalas had expressed the desire that if
3:54:24
the Great Spirit should summon him away, that I might be killed in order
3:54:28
to become his attendant to the spirit land. It was now the commencement of
3:54:33
November, and their ways seemed to lead to the snowy regions, where the
3:54:39
cold might prove unendurable. When I heard the pledge given by the Blackfeet,
3:54:43
my fears abeyed it. Hope sprang buoyant at the thought of again being within
3:54:48
the reach of my own people, and I felt confident that once in the
3:54:52
fort, I could frustrate their plans by warning the officers of their intentions.
3:54:58
I knew what the courage and discipline of fort soldiers could accomplish, and so
3:55:03
hoped not only to thwart the savage treachery, but punish the instigators. End
3:55:11
of Chapter eighteen. Indian Customs. During my forced sojourn with the Ogallalas,
3:55:18
I had abundant opportunity to observe the manners and customs peculiar to a race of
3:55:24
people living so near, and yet of whom so little is known by the
3:55:28
general reader. A chapter devoted to this subject will doubtless interest all who read
3:55:33
this narrative. Nothing can be more simple in its arrangement than an Indian camp
3:55:39
when journeying, and especially when on the war path. The camping ground,
3:55:45
when practicable, is near a stream of water and adjacent to timber. After
3:55:50
reaching the spot selected, the ponies are unloaded by the squaws and turned loose
3:55:54
to graze. The tents or teepees are put up, and wood and water
3:56:01
brought for cooking purposes. All drudgery of this kind is performed by the squaws.
3:56:07
An Indian brave scorning as degrading all kinds of labor not incident to the
3:56:11
chase or the war path. An Indian teepee is composed of several dressed skins,
3:56:18
usually of the buffalo, sewed together and stretched over a number of poles,
3:56:22
the larger ones containing as many as twenty of these poles, which are
3:56:26
fifteen to twenty feet long. They are of yellow pine stripped of bark,
3:56:33
and are used as trouvois in traveling. Three poles are tied together near the
3:56:37
top or small ends, and raised to an upright position, the bottoms being
3:56:43
spread out as far as the fastening at the top will permit. Other poles
3:56:46
are laid into the crotch thus formed at the top and spread out in a
3:56:50
circular line, with the three first put up. This comprises the framework,
3:56:56
and when in the position described, is ready to receive the covering, which
3:57:01
is raised to the top by means of a raw hide rope. When a
3:57:03
squaw seizing each lower corner, it is rapidly brought around and the edges fastened
3:57:09
together with wooden pins, a squaw getting down on all fours, forming a
3:57:13
perch upon which the tallest squaw of the family mounts and inserts the pins as
3:57:18
high as she can reach. A square opening in the tent serves for a
3:57:24
door and is entered in a stooping posture. A piece of hide hangs loosely
3:57:28
over this opening and is kept in position by a heavy piece of wood fastened
3:57:33
at the bottom when in position. The Indian teepee is of the same shape
3:57:39
as the Sibley tent in the middle is built of fire, where all the
3:57:43
cooking is done, a hole at the top affording egress for the smoke.
3:57:48
The preparation for a meal is a very simple affair. Meat was almost their
3:57:52
only article of diet, and was generally roasted or rather warmed through over the
3:57:58
fire, although sometimes it was partially boiled, and always eaten without salt or
3:58:05
bread. They have no set time for eating, will fast all of one
3:58:09
day and perhaps eat a dozen times the next. The outer edge of the
3:58:13
tent contains the beds of the family, which are composed of buffalo robes and
3:58:18
blankets. These are snugly rolled up during the day and do service as seats.
3:58:24
If there is reason to suppose an enemy near, no fire is allowed
3:58:28
in the camp, and in that case each one satisfies appetite as best he
3:58:33
or she can, but generally with papa or dried buffalo meat. An Indian
3:58:39
camp at close of day presents a most animated picture. The squaws passing to
3:58:45
and fro, loaded with wood and water or meat, or guiding the sledges
3:58:48
drawn by dogs carrying their all Dusky warriors squatted on the ground in groups around
3:58:56
fires built in the open air, smoking their pipes or repair ring weapons and
3:59:01
recounting their exploits. Half naked and naked children capering about in childish glee furnish
3:59:07
a picture of the nomadic life of these Indians of strange interest. Not more
3:59:13
than ten minutes are required to set up an Indian village. When it becomes
3:59:18
necessary to move a village, which fact is never known to the people,
3:59:22
a crier goes through the camp shouting egalacapo, a galacapo. When all the
3:59:28
squaws drop whatever work they may be engaged in, and in an instant are
3:59:33
busy as bees, taking down teepees, bringing in the ponies and dogs and
3:59:39
loading them, And in less than fifteen minutes the cavalcade is on the march.
3:59:45
The squaws accompany the men when they go to hunt buffalo, and as
3:59:48
fast as the animals are killed, they strip off their hides and then cut
3:59:52
off the meat in strips about three feet long, three to four inches wide
3:59:56
and two inches thick, and such as their skill that the bones will be
4:00:01
left intact and as free from meat as though they had been boiled. The
4:00:05
meat is then taken to camp and hung up to dry. It is most
4:00:11
filthy, being covered with grass and the excrement of the buffalo. The medicine
4:00:16
men treat all diseases nearly alike. The principal efforts are directed to expelling the
4:00:22
spirit, whatever it may be, which it is expected the medicine man will
4:00:26
soon discover, and having informed the friends what it is, he usually requires
4:00:31
them to be in readiness to shoot it as soon as he shall succeed in
4:00:35
expelling it. Incantations and ceremonies are used intended to secure the aid of the
4:00:41
spirit or spirits the Indian worships. When he thinks he has succeeded, the
4:00:48
medicine man gives the command, and from two to six or more guns are
4:00:52
fired at the door of the tent to destroy the spirit as it passes out.
4:00:58
Many of these medicine men dep and wholly on conjuring, sitting by the
4:01:01
bedside of the patient, making gestures and frightful noises, shaking rattles, and
4:01:07
endeavoring by all means in their power to frighten the evil spirit. They use
4:01:13
fumigation and are very fond of aromatic substances, using in burning cedar and many
4:01:18
different plants to cleanse the tent in which the sick person lies. The native
4:01:24
plants, roots, herbs, and so forth are used freely and are efficacious.
4:01:30
They are very careful to conceal from each other except a few initiated as
4:01:35
well as from white men a knowledge of the plants used as medicine, probably
4:01:39
believing that their efficacy in some measure depends on this concealment. There is a
4:01:46
tall branching plant growing abundantly in the open woods and prairies near the Missouri River,
4:01:50
which is used chiefly by the Indians as a purgative, and is Euphorbia
4:01:56
corollata, well known to the botanist. Medicines are generally kept in bags made
4:02:01
of the skin of some animal. All the drinks which are given to the
4:02:05
sick to quench thirst are astringent, sometimes bitter, and sometimes slightly mucilaginous.
4:02:13
The most common is called red root Sianothus canadensis, a plant abounding in the
4:02:18
western prairies, although they seem to have more faith in some ceremony. A
4:02:24
dance peculiar to the tribe where I was called the pipe dance, is worth
4:02:28
mentioning, and is called by the Indians a good medicine. A small fire
4:02:33
is kindled in the village, and around this the dancers, which usually consist
4:02:37
of young men, collect, each one seated upon a robe. The presiding
4:02:43
genius is a chief or a medicine man, who seats himself by a fire
4:02:48
with a long pipe, which he prepares for smoking, Offering it first to
4:02:52
the Great Spirit. He then extends it toward the north, south, east,
4:02:56
and west, muttering unintelligibly. Meanwhile, an equally august personage beats a
4:03:03
drum, singing and leaping and smoking. The master of ceremonies sits calmly,
4:03:07
looking on, puffing away with all the vigor imaginable. The dance closes with
4:03:13
piercing yells and barking like frightened dogs, and it lasts an hour or more.
4:03:20
When the mother gives birth to her child, it is not uncommon for
4:03:24
no other person to be present. She then lives in a hut or lodge
4:03:28
by herself until the child is twenty five or thirty days old, when she
4:03:33
takes it to its father, who then sees his child for the first time.
4:03:37
Females after parturition and also in other conditions, bathe themselves swim as they
4:03:43
express it in the nearest river or lake. This is no doubt a most
4:03:50
efficacious means of imparting strength and vigor to the constitution. And it is certain
4:03:54
that Indian females are less subject to what are termed female complaints than white women.
4:04:01
It is an uncommon occurrence that an Indian woman loses her life in parturition.
4:04:07
When the child is old enough to run alone, it is relieved of
4:04:11
its swathings, and if the weather is not too cold, it is sent
4:04:15
off without a particle of clothing to protect it or impede the action of its
4:04:18
limbs, and in this manner it is allowed to remain until it is several
4:04:24
years old, when it receives a limited wardrobe. Despite the rugged and exposed
4:04:28
life they lead, there are comparatively few cripples and deformed persons among them.
4:04:35
It is said that deformed infants are regarded as unprofitable and a curse from the
4:04:39
Great Spirit, and disposed of by death soon after birth. Sometimes at the
4:04:46
death of a mother, the infant is also interred. An incident of this
4:04:50
kind was related to me. A whole family had been carried off by smallpox
4:04:56
except an infant. Those who were not sick had as much to do as
4:05:00
they could conveniently attend to. Consequently, there was no one willing to take
4:05:05
charge of the little orphan. It was placed in the arms of its dead
4:05:09
mother, enveloped in blankets and a buffalo robe, and laid upon a scaffold
4:05:13
in their burying place. Its cries were heard for some time, but at
4:05:18
last they grew fainter, and finally were hushed altogether in the cold embrace of
4:05:22
death, with the moaning wind sounding its requiem, and the wolves howling in
4:05:28
the surrounding gloom, a fitting dirt for so sad a fate. The Indians
4:05:35
believe that God or the Great Spirit created the universe and all things, just
4:05:39
as they exist. They believe the Sun to be a large body of heat,
4:05:43
and that it revolves around the earth. Some believe it is a ball
4:05:48
of fire. They do not comprehend the revolution of the earth around the sun.
4:05:52
They suppose the sun literally rises and sets, and that our present theory
4:05:56
is an invention of the White Man, and that he is not sincere when
4:06:01
he says the earth moves around the sun. They say that paradise or the
4:06:05
happy hunting grounds, is above, but where they have no definite idea,
4:06:11
although I'll think the future a happier state. They regard skill in hunting or
4:06:16
success in war as the passport to eternal happiness and plenty where there is no
4:06:22
cold or wet season. Still, they all acknowledge it is the gift of
4:06:26
the Wahontanka, the great Spirit. The manner of disposing of their dead is
4:06:33
one of the peculiar customs of the Indians of the plains, which impresses the
4:06:37
beholder for the first time. Most forcibly, four forked posts are set up,
4:06:43
and on them a platform is laid high enough to be out of reach
4:06:46
of wolves or other carnivorous animals, and on this the body is placed wrapped
4:06:52
in buffalo robes or blankets, and sometimes both, according to the circumstances of
4:06:58
the deceased, and these are well securely with a strip of buffalo hide.
4:07:03
If in the vicinity of timber, the body is placed on a platform securely
4:07:07
fixed in the crotch of a high tree. The wrappings of buffalo robe or
4:07:11
blankets protect the body from ravenous birds that hover around, attracted by the scent
4:07:16
of an anticipated feast. All that pertained to the dead while living in the
4:07:22
way of furs, blankets, weapons, cooking utensils, et cetera are also
4:07:26
deposited with the body. In some instances, the horse belonging to the deceased
4:07:33
is shot. They believe that the spirit wanders off to distant hunting grounds,
4:07:37
and as it may have to pass over a country where there is no game,
4:07:41
a quantity of dried buffalo meat is usually left with the body for its
4:07:46
subsistence while on a journey. These burial places are held sacred as those of
4:07:50
a Christian nation, and when a tribe is passing such localities, they will
4:07:56
make a detour rather than go the more direct road, by the resting place
4:08:00
of their dead. While the relatives leave the trail and go alone to the
4:08:03
spot, and there renew and repeat their mourning as on the occasion of his
4:08:09
death. They also leave presents for the dead of such little trinkets as he
4:08:13
most prized before he departed to his new hunting grounds. The boys are early
4:08:20
taught the arts of war. A bow and arrows are among the first presents
4:08:24
that an Indian youth receives from his parents, and he is soon instructed in
4:08:28
their use. Indeed, the skill of a hunter seems to be a natural
4:08:33
endowment, and although some are more accurate and active than others, they all
4:08:37
shoot with wonderful precision and surprising aptitude, seeming to inherit a passionate love for
4:08:43
the sports of the chase. The Indian boy receives no name until some distinguishing
4:08:50
trait of character or feet suggests one, and changes it from time to time
4:08:54
as more fitting ones are suggested. Some of their names are very odd,
4:09:00
and some quite vulgar. The wife is sometimes wooed, and one as if
4:09:05
there was something of sentiment in the Indian character, but oftener purchased without the
4:09:09
wooing. When the desired object is particularly attractive and of a good family,
4:09:16
The courting and purchasing both may be required. When a young brave goes courting,
4:09:22
he decorates himself out in his best attire, instinctively divining that appearances weigh
4:09:28
much in the eyes of a forest bell or dusky maiden who receives him bashfully.
4:09:33
For a certain kind of modesty is inherent in Indian girls, which is
4:09:37
rather incongruous when considered in connection with their peculiar mode of life. Discretion and
4:09:43
propriety are carefully observed, and the lovers sit side by side in silence,
4:09:50
he occasionally producing presents for her acceptance. These express a variety of sentiment and
4:09:56
refer to distinct and separate things, some signifying love, some strength, some
4:10:03
bravery. Others allude to the life of servitude she is expected to live if
4:10:07
she becomes his wife. If they are accepted graciously and the maiden remains seated,
4:10:13
it is considered equivalent to an assurance of love on her part and is
4:10:18
acted upon accordingly. Although no woman's life is made less slavish by the marriage
4:10:24
connection, and no one is treated with respect, it is scarcely known an
4:10:28
Indian life that a girl has remained unmarried, even to middle age. When
4:10:33
a chief desires to multiply the number of his wives, he often marries several
4:10:39
sisters if they can be had, not because of any particular fancy he may
4:10:43
have for any but the one who first captivated him, but because he thinks
4:10:48
it more likely to have harmony in the household when they are all of one
4:10:52
family. Not even squaws can live happily together when each may have a part
4:10:58
interest in the same man as their husband. Jointly. Polygamy is inconsistent with
4:11:03
the female character, whether in barbarism or civilization. As many skins as they
4:11:11
can transport on their ponies of the game killed while on their hunts are dressed
4:11:15
by the squaws and then taken to some trading post, military station, or
4:11:20
agency, and bartered off for such articles as are most desired by them,
4:11:24
such as beads, paints, et cetera, and powder, lead and caps.
4:11:30
They are willing to allow much more proportionately for ammunition than any other articles.
4:11:35
They are most outrageously swindled by the traders, whom are government licenses to
4:11:41
trade with them. A buffalo robe, which the trader sells for from ten
4:11:45
to fifteen dollars, is bought from the Indians for a pint cap of sugar
4:11:50
and a small handful of bullets, while furs of all kinds are exchanged for
4:11:54
paints and trinkets at equally disproportionate rates. The Indian and know they are cheated
4:12:01
whenever they barter with the white traders, but they have no remedy as there
4:12:05
is no competition, and hence much of their dissatisfaction. Buffalo robes, bear
4:12:11
skins, and deer and antelope skins are brought in in great numbers. They
4:12:16
shot and trap the beaver and otter expressly for their furs. The Indians are
4:12:22
almost universally fond of whiskey and have a strong propensity for gambling. They will
4:12:28
risk at cards almost everything they own, and if unsuccessful, appear quite resigned
4:12:33
to their loss, resting in the gambler's hope of better luck next time.
4:12:39
The Squaws play a game with small bones of oblong shape, which seems to
4:12:43
have a great fascination for them, as I have known them to spend whole
4:12:48
days and nights at it, and in many instances gambling away everything they owned.
4:12:54
Five of these pieces are used, each possessing a relative value. In
4:12:58
the game. Designate by spots from one to five on one side, the
4:13:03
other being blank. They are placed in a dish or small basket which is
4:13:07
shaken and then struck upon the ground with a jar, tossing the pieces over
4:13:13
and according to the number of spots up, so is the game decided.
4:13:16
Very similar I imagine to the white Man's game of high die. They have
4:13:22
a peculiar way of defining time. When they wish to designate an hour of
4:13:28
the day, they point to the position the sun should be in at that
4:13:31
time. The number of days is the number of sleeps. Their next division
4:13:35
of time is the number of moons instead of our months, and the seasons
4:13:41
are indicated by the state of vegetation. For instance, spring is when the
4:13:46
grass begins to grow, and the autumn is when the leaves fall from the
4:13:50
trees, while years are indicated by the season of snows. There is a
4:13:54
language of signs common to all the tribes by which one tribe may commune indicate
4:14:00
with another without being able to speak or understand its dialect. Each tribe is
4:14:05
known by some peculiar sign. The Indian is noted for his power of endurance
4:14:11
of both fatigue and physical pain. I have thought much upon the fear manifested
4:14:16
by these reputed brave barbarians, they seem to be borne down with the most
4:14:20
tormenting fear for their personal safety at all times at home or roaming for plunder,
4:14:26
or when hunting. And yet courage is made of virtue among them,
4:14:31
while cowardice is the unpardonable sin. When compelled to meet death, they seem
4:14:37
to muster sullen, obstinate defiance of their doom that makes the most of a
4:14:41
dreaded necessity, rather than seek a preparation to meet it with submission, which
4:14:46
they often dissemble but never possess. Instinct, more than reason, is the
4:14:52
guide of the red man. He repudiates improvement and despises manual effort for a
4:15:00
has his heart been embedded in moral pollution. The blanket, as worn by
4:15:05
the Indian, is an insuperable barrier to his advance in arts or agriculture.
4:15:11
When this is forever dispensed with, then his hands will be free to grasp
4:15:15
the mechanic's tools or guide the plow. It is both graceful and chaste in
4:15:20
their eyes. And to adopt the white man's dress is a great obstacle,
4:15:24
a requirement to humiliating, for they have personal as well as national pride.
4:15:31
No hat is worn, but the head is covered with feathers and rude ornaments.
4:15:35
A heavy mass of wampum, often very expensive, adorns the neck.
4:15:41
Frequently the entire rim of each ear is pierced with holes and adorned with jewels
4:15:46
of silver or something resembling it. The Indian does everything through motives of policy.
4:15:52
He has none of the kindlier feelings of humanity in him. He is
4:15:58
as devoid of gratitude as he is hypocritical and treacherous. He observes a treaty
4:16:03
or promise only so long as it is dangerous for him to disregard it,
4:16:07
or for his interest in other ways to keep it. Cruelty is inherent in
4:16:14
them, and is early manifested in the young. Torturing birds, turtles,
4:16:18
or any little animal that may fall into their hands, they seem to delight
4:16:23
in it, while the pleasure of the adult in torturing his prisoners is most
4:16:27
unquestionable. They are inveterate beggars, but never give unless with a view to
4:16:33
receive a more valuable present in return. The white man, he has been
4:16:38
taught, is his enemy, and he has become the most implacable enemy of
4:16:42
the white man. His most fiendish murders of the innocent is his sweetest revenge
4:16:48
for a wrong that has been done by another. The youth are very fond
4:16:52
of war. They have no other ambition, and pant for the glory of
4:16:56
battle, longing for the notes of the war song that they may rush in
4:17:02
and win the feathers of a brave They listen to the stories of the old
4:17:06
men as they recall the stirring scenes of their youth, or sing their war
4:17:10
songs, which form only a boasting recapitulation of their daring and bravery. They
4:17:15
yearn for the glory of war, which is the only path to distinction.
4:17:21
Having no arts or industrial pursuits, the tribes are fast waning from war exposure
4:17:26
and disease. But few of the tribes cultivate the soil, the nature of
4:17:32
the Indian rendering in his eyes as degrading all labor not incident to the chase
4:17:37
or the war path. And notwithstanding the efforts of missionaries and the vast sums
4:17:42
of money expended by the government to place them on reservations and teach them the
4:17:48
art of agriculture, the attempts to civilize the Indian in that way may be
4:17:52
considered almost a total failure. The results bear no comparison to their cost.
4:18:00
Their ideas of the extent and power of the white race are very limited,
4:18:03
and after I had learned the language sufficiently to converse with them, I frequently
4:18:08
tried to explain to them the superior advantages of the white man's mode of living.
4:18:15
They would ask me many questions as to the number of the white men
4:18:18
on this side of the big water and how far that extended, And on
4:18:22
being told of two big oceans, they would ask if the whites owned the
4:18:26
big country on the other side, and if there were any Indians there.
4:18:32
Many of my statements were received with incredulity, and I was often called a
4:18:37
liar, especially when I told of the number and rapid increase of the white
4:18:41
race. Sometimes the older ones would get angry. The younger ones were often
4:18:47
eager listeners, and especially in times of scarcity and hunger. Would they gather
4:18:52
around me to learn about the white man? And then would I endeavor to
4:18:56
impress them with the advantages of a fixed home and tilling the soil over their
4:19:00
wild roaming life. End of chapter nineteen an Indian tradition arrival at the Blackfeet
4:19:10
village and offered to purchase me. Indignantly rejected a yanked in attempts my capture.
4:19:18
The Blackfeet village was one hundred and fifty miles from the Ogolalas, and
4:19:22
the way thither lay often over the tops of bare and sandy hills. On
4:19:26
the summits of these heights, I found shells such as are picked up at
4:19:30
the seaside. The Indians accounted for their appearance there by saying that once a
4:19:37
great sea rolled over the face of the country, and only one man in
4:19:41
a boat escaped with his family. He had sailed about in the boat until
4:19:45
the waters retired to their place, and living there, became the father of
4:19:49
all the Indians. These savages proved very kind to me. Though their nation
4:19:56
is regarded by the whites as very vindictive and hostile, they showed me nothing
4:20:00
but civility and respect. On the third morning we reached a small village where
4:20:06
we halted. The Indians of the village were rejoiced to see me. Among
4:20:11
them, I recognized many familiar faces, and they imparted to us their mistrust
4:20:17
and apprehension. Lest I had been stolen from the Oglalahs, but the Blackfeet
4:20:22
assured them to the contrary, and after questioning me, they became satisfied and
4:20:27
gave us food, promising to send warriors to our village, and giving us
4:20:33
another horse. The journey to the village of the Blackfeet was exceedingly wearisome,
4:20:37
completely exhausting me by its length, and I suffered from the intense cold weather.
4:20:45
Approaching their village, they entered it with loud demonstrations of joy, singing
4:20:49
and whooping after the manner of their race, with noises defying description. I
4:20:55
was received with great joy, and even marks of distinction were shown me.
4:21:00
That night there was a feast and everything denoted a time of rejoicing. My
4:21:06
life now changed. Instead of waiting upon others, they waited upon me.
4:21:11
The day of my arrival in the Blackfeet village was a sad one, indeed,
4:21:17
being the first anniversary of my wedding, the songs and shouts of exaltation
4:21:22
of the Indians seemed like a bitter mockery of my misery and helplessness. I
4:21:27
met in the village many warriors whom I had seen during the summer, and
4:21:32
knew that they had participated in the battles with General Sully. They saw that
4:21:37
something had made me sad and thoughtful and asked what it was. I told
4:21:41
them it was my birthday. Soon after my arrival, Ego Sigalinizscha was sent
4:21:48
to me and inquired how I was treated, and particularly wished to know if
4:21:52
they were respectful to me. She told me that she was sent to inquire
4:21:56
for my safety and well being, and that any remiss on the part of
4:22:00
the Blackfeet would be visited with vengeance. She told me that her people mourned
4:22:04
the captive's absence and grieved for her presence. From others, I learned the
4:22:10
same next morning, there was great commotion in the camp, caused by the
4:22:15
arrival of a delegation from the Yanktins with a handsome horse and saddle as a
4:22:21
present for me. The saddle was of exquisite workmanship, embroidered with beads and
4:22:26
richly decorated with fringe. The Yanktins desired to purchase me, offering five of
4:22:33
their finest horses for me, which the Blackfeet were quite indignant at, replying
4:22:37
that they also had fine horses and deeming it an insult, returned the horse
4:22:42
and its saddle. Fearing my disappointment, they in council that night decided to
4:22:48
present me with something as worthy as the Yanktons had sent. Accordingly, at
4:22:53
the door of my tent next morning were four of their best animals. Eight
4:22:59
beautiful robes were brought in by the young men and given me. Also,
4:23:03
the Yanktons were told to return to their tribe, and if such a message
4:23:07
was again sent, the hatchet would be painted and given to them. This
4:23:12
closed the negotiation, but not their efforts to obtain me. The large reward
4:23:18
which had been offered for my recovery caused the Indians much trouble, as frequently
4:23:25
large parties from other tribes would come in offering to purchase me from those who
4:23:30
held me captive. Several such instances occurred while I was with the Ogallalas.
4:23:36
Nor were the Blackfeet exempt from similar annoyances. One day, while in tall
4:23:41
soldiers Teepee, there was a large body of mounted warriors seen approaching the village.
4:23:47
The women gathered around me and told me I must stay in the tent
4:23:51
concealed. All was excitement and the women seemed frightened. Soon I knew that
4:23:56
preparations were being made for a feast on all large scale. The strange warriors
4:24:02
came into camp and held a council, at which tall soldier made a speech
4:24:07
which from the distance I could not understand. They then had a feast and
4:24:11
departed. The Blackfeet gave me to understand that the visit of these Indians was
4:24:17
on my account, as had been that of the Yanktins. Soon after,
4:24:22
I noticed that parties of warriors would leave the camp daily and return bringing ammunition
4:24:27
and goods of various kinds. I learned from the squaws and children that a
4:24:33
party of traders from the Platte River had arrived in the neighborhood with four wagons
4:24:37
to trade with the Indians, and that they wanted to buy me, but
4:24:41
that the Indians would not part with me. I pretended to the Indians that
4:24:47
I did not desire to leave them, but pled that I might go with
4:24:49
them to see the white men, which was refused, as was also a
4:24:55
request that I might write a letter to them. Soon after, the traders
4:25:00
were murdered, only one man escaping, which reached Fort Laramie nearly dead from
4:25:04
hunger and exposure, having traveled the whole distance from the Missouri River on foot.
4:25:11
I have since learned that the men were sent out by mister Bove,
4:25:15
a trader near Fort Laramie, with instructions to procure my release if it required
4:25:21
all they possessed. Since learning these facts, I am more than ever convinced
4:25:26
that the reluctance of the Indians to give me up grew out of their hope
4:25:30
of capturing Fort Sully through my involuntary agency and securing a greater booty than any
4:25:36
ransom offered, as also of obtaining revenge for the losses inflicted upon their nation
4:25:41
by the soldiers under General Sali. The Blackfeet appeared in every respect superior to
4:25:48
the tribe I had left. The chief tall soldier, displayed the manners and
4:25:53
bearing of a natural gentleman. They kept up an air of friendliness and communicated
4:26:00
frequently with the Whites, but in reality were ready to join any hostile expedition
4:26:04
against them, and were with the Ogo La la Sioux when our train was
4:26:10
attacked at Box Elder. The Blackfeet seemed to be stationary in their village,
4:26:15
only sallying out in small parties for plunder and horses, and during that time
4:26:22
keeping up a succession of entertainments at the teepee of the chief were a constant
4:26:26
arrival of warriors and many Indians from other tribes, who were warmly welcomed.
4:26:32
Added to the excitement of the days. I sympathized with the poor wife of
4:26:37
the chief, who was the only woman beside myself in the tent, and
4:26:41
to whose labor all the feasts were due. She was obliged to dress the
4:26:47
meat, make fires, carry water, and wait upon strangers, besides setting
4:26:52
the lodge. In order these unceasing toils she performed alone the commands of the
4:26:57
chief forbidding me to aid her. While with the Ogolaalaws I never crussed their
4:27:03
will or offered resistance to my tasks, however, heavy having learned that obedience
4:27:08
and cheerful industry were greatly prized, and it was doubtless my conciliating policy that
4:27:15
had at last won the Indians and made them bewail my loss so deeply.
4:27:21
The Squaws are very rebellious, often displaying ungovernable and violent temper. They consider
4:27:26
their life a servitude and being beaten at times like animals, and receiving no
4:27:32
sort of sympathy it acts upon them. Accordingly, the contrast between them and
4:27:37
my patient's submission had its effect upon the Indians and caused them to miss me
4:27:42
when separated from them. During my sojourn in this village, I received invitations
4:27:48
to every feast and to the different lodges. One day, when visiting one
4:27:53
of these lodges, a package of letters was given me to read. They
4:27:59
had been taken from Captain Fisk's train and were touchingly beautiful. Some of them
4:28:04
were the correspondence of a mister Nicholls with a young lady to whom he seemed
4:28:10
tenderly attached. I was asked to read these letters and explain them to the
4:28:14
Indians. I was removed at different times to various lodges as a sort of
4:28:19
concealment, as I learned that the Yanktins had not given up the idea of
4:28:23
securing me. And one night I awoke from my slumbers to behold an Indian
4:28:29
bending over me, cutting through the robes which covered me, after making a
4:28:33
great incision in the tent whereby he entered. Fearing to move, I reached
4:28:38
out my hand to the squaw who slept near me, whose name was Chehampa
4:28:42
say White sugar pinching her to arouse her, which had its effect, for
4:28:48
she immediately arose and gave the alarm at which the Indian fled. This caused
4:28:55
great excitement in the camp, and many threats were made against the Yanktins.
4:29:00
The intense cold and furious storms that followed my arrival among the Blackfeet precluded the
4:29:06
possibility of their setting out immediately on the proposed journey to Fort Sully. The
4:29:11
snowdrifts had rendered the mountain passes impassable, and the chief informed me that they
4:29:17
must wait until they were free from danger before taking leave of the shelter and
4:29:22
security of their protected village. End of Chapter twenty, appearance of Jumping Bear.
4:29:30
I prevail on him to carry a letter to the fort, a war's
4:29:33
speech intended treachery. Resume our journey to the fort singular meeting with a white
4:29:40
man has Richmond fallen. Arrival at the fort, I am free. Jumping
4:29:47
Bear, who rescued me from the revengeful arrow of the Indian whose horse the
4:29:52
thief shot one day, presented himself to me and reminded me of my indebtedness
4:29:56
to him in thus preserving my life. Trembling with fear, I listened to
4:30:02
his avowal of more than ordinary feeling, during which he assured me that I
4:30:07
had no cause to fear him, that he had always liked the white woman
4:30:11
and would be more than a friend to me. I replied that I did
4:30:15
not fear him, that I felt grateful to him for his kindness and protection,
4:30:21
but that unless he proved his friendship for me, no persuasion could induce
4:30:25
me to listen, Will you carry a letter to my people at the fort,
4:30:30
delivering it into the hands of the great chief. There they will reward
4:30:33
you for your kindness to their sister. They will give you many presents,
4:30:37
and you will return rich. I dare not go, he replied, nor
4:30:42
could I get back before the warriors came to our village. My people will
4:30:48
give you a fast horse, said I, and you may return speedily.
4:30:52
Now go and prove your friendship by taking the letter and returning with your prizes.
4:30:59
I assure him that the letter contained nothing that would harm him or his
4:31:03
people, that I had written of him and his kindness, and of his
4:31:07
good will toward them. After many and long interviews the women of the lodge,
4:31:11
using their influence, I at last prevailed upon him to go and invoking
4:31:17
the bright moon as a witness to my pledge of honor and truth. He
4:31:21
started on his journey bearing the letter, which I believed was to seal my
4:31:25
fate for weal or woe. In the moonlight, I watched his retreating form,
4:31:30
imploring Heaven to grant the safe delivery of the little messenger upon which so
4:31:36
much depended. Daring in venturesome deed. Should he prove false to me and
4:31:41
allow any one outside the fort to see the letter, my doom was inevitable.
4:31:48
Many days of intense anxiety were passed after his departure. The squaws,
4:31:53
fearing I had done wrong in sending him, were continually asking questions, and
4:31:59
it was with diace difficulty I could allay their anxiety and prevent them from disclosing
4:32:03
the secret to the other women. The contents of the letter were a warning
4:32:08
to the Big Chief and the soldiers of an intended attack on the fort and
4:32:12
the massacre of the garrison, using me as a ruse to enable them to
4:32:18
get inside the fort, and beseeching them to rescue me if possible. The
4:32:22
messenger reached the fort and was received by the officer of the day, Lieutenant
4:32:27
Hesselberger, and conducted to the commander of the post, Major House, and
4:32:33
a judent pell who had been left there to treat with the Indians on my
4:32:37
account. Footnote. A written statement from Lieutenant Hesselberger setting forth the fact of
4:32:44
my writing and sending the letter of warning, and that it undoubtedly was the
4:32:48
means of saving the garrison at Fort Sully from massacre, is on file in
4:32:52
the Treasury Department at Washington. A certified copy is published in connection with this
4:32:57
narrative and footnote. General Sully was absent at Washington, but every necessary precaution
4:33:06
was taken to secure the fort. Jumping Bear received a suit of clothes and
4:33:11
some presents, and was sent back with a letter for me, which I
4:33:15
never received, as I never saw him again. These facts I learned after
4:33:19
my arrival at Fort Sully. The night before our departure from the Blackfeet village
4:33:26
en route for the fort, I was lying awake and heard the Chief address
4:33:30
his men seriously upon the subject of their wrongs at the hands of the Whites.
4:33:34
I now understood and spoke the Indian tongue readily, and so comprehended his
4:33:40
speech, which, as near as I can recollect, was as follows.
4:33:45
Friends, and sons. Listen to my words. You are a great and
4:33:48
powerful band of our people. The inferior race who have encroached on our rights
4:33:52
and territories justly deserve hatred and destruction. These intruders came among us and we
4:34:00
took them by the hand. We believed them to be friends and true speakers.
4:34:04
They have shown us how false and cruel they can be. They build
4:34:08
forts to live in and shoot from with their big guns. Our people fall
4:34:14
before them. Our game is chased from the hills. Our women are taken
4:34:18
from us or one to forsake, our lodges and wronged and deceived. It
4:34:23
has only been four or five moons since they drove us to desperation, killed
4:34:29
our brothers, and burned our teepees. The Indian cries for vengeance. There
4:34:33
is no truth nor friendship in the white man. Deceit and bitterness are in
4:34:38
his words. Meet them with equal cunning, show them no mercy. They
4:34:44
are but few, we are many. Wet your knives and string your bows.
4:34:49
Sharpen the tomahawk and load the rifle. Let the wretches die who have
4:34:55
stolen our lands, and we will be free to roam over the soil that
4:34:59
was our father. We will come home bravely from battle. Our songs shall
4:35:03
rise among the hills, and every teepee shall be hung with the scalplocks of
4:35:08
our foes. This declaration of hostilities was received with grunts of approval, and
4:35:15
silently the war preparations went on. That I might not know the evil design
4:35:19
hidden beneath the mask of friendship. That night, as if in preparation for
4:35:26
the work he had planned, the gracious Chief beat his poor tired squaw unmercifully
4:35:30
because she murmured at her never ending labor and heavy tasks. His deportment to
4:35:37
me was as courteous as though he had been educated in civilized life. Indeed,
4:35:41
had he not betrayed so much ignorance of the extent and power of the
4:35:45
American nation in his address to his band, I should have thought him an
4:35:51
educated Indian who had traveled among the whites. Yet in his brutal treatment of
4:35:56
his squaw, his savage nature asserted it and reminded me that, although better
4:36:03
served than formerly, I was still among savages. When morning came to my
4:36:08
sleepless night, I arose still dreading lest some terrible intervention should come between me
4:36:15
and the longed for journey to the abodes of white men. The day before
4:36:19
leaving the Blackfeet village, I gave all my Indian trinkets to a little girl
4:36:25
who had been my constant companion, and by her gentle and affectionate interest in
4:36:30
the captive white woman, had created within me a feeling akin to love.
4:36:34
She was half white and was granddaughter of a chief called which in Chiapa,
4:36:40
who also treated me with kindness. The morning after the chiefs addressed to his
4:36:45
warriors, the savages were all ready for the road, and, mounting in
4:36:49
haste, set up their farewell chant as they wound in a long column out
4:36:53
of the village. I have frequently been asked since my restoration to Soviation how
4:37:00
I dressed well with the Indians, and whether I was clothed as the squaws
4:37:06
were. A description of my appearance as I wrote out of the Indian village
4:37:10
that morning will satisfy curiosity on this point. My dress consisted of a narrow
4:37:15
white cotton gown composed of only two breadths, reaching below the knee, and
4:37:22
fastened at the waist with a red scarf, moccasins embroidered with beads and porcupine
4:37:26
quills covered my feet, and a robe over my shoulders completed my wardrobe.
4:37:33
While with the ogallalas, I wore on my arms great brass rings that had
4:37:37
been forced on me, some of them fitting so tight that they lacerated my
4:37:42
arms severely, leaving scars that I shall ever retain as mementos of my experience
4:37:48
in Indian ornamentation. I was also painted as the squaws were, but never
4:37:53
voluntarily applied the article. It was winter and the ground was covered with s
4:38:00
no but so cold was the air that its surface bore the horses feet on
4:38:03
its hard, glittering breast, only breaking through occasionally in the deep gullies.
4:38:10
It was two hundred miles from the Blackfeet village to Fort Sully in the middle
4:38:14
of winter, and the weather intensely cold, from the effects of which my
4:38:18
ill clad body suffered severely. I was forced to walk a great part of
4:38:23
the way to keep from freezing. Hoping for deliverance, yet dreading less the
4:38:29
treacherous plans of the Indians for the capture of the fort and massacre of its
4:38:33
garrison might prove successful and my return to captivity inevitable. I struggled on,
4:38:40
striving to bear with patience the mental and bodily ills from which I suffered.
4:38:45
My great fear was that my letter had not fallen into the right hands.
4:38:51
On our journey, we came in sight of a few lodges, and in
4:38:53
among the timber we camped for the night. While in one of the lodges,
4:38:59
to my supper, a gentlemanly figure approached me, dressed in modern style.
4:39:03
It astonished me to meet this gentlemanly looking, well mannered gentleman under such
4:39:10
peculiar circumstances. He drew near and addressed me courteously. This is cold weather
4:39:15
for traveling, Do you not find it? So? He inquired? Not
4:39:21
when I find myself going in the right direction, I replied. I asked
4:39:26
him if he lived in that vicinity, supposing, of course, from the
4:39:29
presence of a white man in our camp, that we must be near some
4:39:33
fort, trading post, or white settlement. He smiled and said, I
4:39:37
am a dweller in the hills, and confess that civilized life has no charms
4:39:41
for me. I find in freedom and nature all the elements requisite for happiness.
4:39:48
Having been separated from the knowledge and interests of national affairs. Just when
4:39:53
the struggle agitating. Our country was at its height. I asked the question,
4:39:59
has Richmond been taken? No, nor never will be, was the
4:40:03
reply. Further conversation on national affairs convinced me that he was a rank rebel.
4:40:11
We held along conversation on various topics. He informed me he had lived
4:40:15
with the Indians fourteen years, was born in Saint Louis, had an Indian
4:40:21
wife and several children, of whom he was very proud, and he seemed
4:40:26
to be perfectly satisfied with his mode of living. I was very cautious in
4:40:30
my words with him, lest he might prove a traitor. But in our
4:40:34
conversation some Indian words escaped my lips, which, being overheard, rumor construed
4:40:41
into mischief. What I had said was carried from lodge to lodge, increasing
4:40:47
rather than diminishing, until it returned to the lodge where I was. The
4:40:52
Indians, losing confidence in me, sent the young men at midnight to the
4:40:56
camp of the white Man to ascertain what had been said by me and my
4:41:02
feelings toward them. He assured the messengers that I was perfectly friendly, had
4:41:07
breathed nothing but kindliness for them, and was thoroughly contented had so expressed myself,
4:41:14
and there was no cause to imagine evil. This man trafficked and traded
4:41:18
with the Indians, disposing of his goods in Saint Louis and in eastern cities,
4:41:25
and was then on his way to his home near the mouth of the
4:41:27
Yellowstone River. Early in the forenoon of the last day's travel, my eager
4:41:33
and anxious eyes beheld us nearing the fort. The Indians paused and dismounted to
4:41:40
arrange their dress and see to the condition of their arms. Their blankets and
4:41:45
furs were adjusted, bows were strung, and the guns examined by them carefully.
4:41:51
They then divided into squads of fifties. Several of these squads remaining in
4:41:55
ambush among the hills for the purpose of intercepting any whom I ass escape the
4:42:00
anticipated massacre at the fort. The others then rode on toward the fort,
4:42:04
bearing me with them. A painfully startling sight, the last I was destined
4:42:11
to see here met my gaze. One of the warriors in passing thrust out
4:42:17
his hand to salute me. It was covered by one of my husband's gloves,
4:42:21
and the sight of such a memento filled me with inexpressible dread as to
4:42:26
his fate. Nothing in the least way connected with him had transpired to throw
4:42:30
any light upon his whereabouts, or whether living or dead. Since we had
4:42:36
been so suddenly and cruelly separated, all was darkness and doubt concerning him.
4:42:42
Mister Kelly had been a Union soldier, and happening to have his discharge papers
4:42:48
with me at the time of my capture. I had been able to secrete
4:42:52
them ever since, treasuring them merely because they had once belonged to him and
4:42:56
contained his name. Now, as we approached the place where his fate would
4:43:00
be revealed to me, and if he lived, we would meet once more.
4:43:06
The appearance of that glove on the savage hand was like a touch that
4:43:10
awakened many chords, some to thrill with hope, some to jar painfully with
4:43:15
fear. In appearance I had suffered from my long estrangement from home life.
4:43:21
I had been obliged to paint daily, like the rest of my companions,
4:43:26
and narrowly escaped tattooing by pretending to faint away every time. The implements for
4:43:30
the marrying operation were applied during the journey, whenever an opportunity offered, I
4:43:37
would use a handful of snow to cleanse my cheeks from savage adornment. And
4:43:41
now, as we drew nearer the fort and I could see the chiefs arranging
4:43:45
themselves for effect, my heart beat high, and anticipation became so intense as
4:43:52
to be painful. Eight chiefs rode in advance, one leading my horse by
4:43:57
the bridle, and the war warriors rode in the rear. The cavalcade was
4:44:03
imposing. As we neared the fort. They raised the war song loud and
4:44:07
wild on the still wintry air, and as if in answer to its notes,
4:44:12
the glorious flag of our country was run up and floated bravely forth on
4:44:17
the breeze from the tall flagstaff within the fort. My eyes caught the glad
4:44:22
sight, and my heart gave a wild bound of joy. Something seemed to
4:44:26
rise in my throat and choke my breathing. Everything was changed. The torture
4:44:32
of suspense, the agony of fear, the dread of evil to come,
4:44:37
all seemed to melt away like mist before the morning sunshine. When I beheld
4:44:41
the precious emblem of liberty, how insignificant and contemptible in comparison, were the
4:44:48
flaunting Indian flags that had so long been displayed to me. And how my
4:44:52
heart thrilled with a sense of safety and protection as I saw the roofs of
4:44:56
the buildings within the fort covered by the brave men who composed that little garrison.
4:45:03
The precious emblem of liberty, whose beloved stripes and stars floated proudly out,
4:45:08
seemed to beckon me to freedom and security. And as the fresh breeze
4:45:14
stirred its folds, shining in the morning light, and caused them to wave
4:45:18
lightly to and fro, they came like a smile of love and a voice
4:45:22
of affection, all combined to welcome me to home and happiness once more.
4:45:29
An Indian hanger on of the fort had sauntered carelessly forward a few minutes previous,
4:45:33
as if actuated by curiosity, but in reality to convey intelligence to his
4:45:38
fellow savages of the state of the fort and its defenses. Then the gate
4:45:45
was opened, and Major House appeared, accompanied by several officers and an interpreter,
4:45:51
and received the chiefs who wrote in advance. Meanwhile, Captain Logan,
4:45:56
the officer of the day, a man whose kind and sympathetic miness nature did
4:46:00
honor to his years and rank approached me. My emotions were inexpressible, now
4:46:06
that I felt myself so nearly rescued. At last they overcame me. I
4:46:11
had borne grief and terror and privation, but the delight of being once more
4:46:15
among my people was so overwhelming that I almost lost the power of speech or
4:46:22
motion. And when I faintly murmured, am I free? Indeed free?
4:46:26
Captain Logan's tears answered me as well as his scarcely uttered yes, for he
4:46:33
realized what freedom meant to one who had tasted the bitterness of bondage and despair.
4:46:38
As soon as the chiefs who accompanied me entered the gate of the fort,
4:46:41
the commandant's voice thundered the order for them to be closed. The Blackfeet
4:46:47
were shut out, and I was beyond their power to recapture. After a
4:46:52
bondage lasting more than five months, during which I had endured every torture,
4:46:57
I once more stood free among people of my own race, all ready to
4:47:02
assist me and restore me to my husband's arms. Three ladies residing at the
4:47:07
fort received me and cheerfully bestowed every care and attention which could add to my
4:47:14
comfort and secure my recovery from the fatigues and distresses of my past experience.
4:47:22
End of Chapter twenty one retrospection, a border trading post, garrison hospitality,
4:47:30
a visit from the Commandant of Fort Rice, arrival of my husband, affecting
4:47:34
scene at first and some time afterward. At intervals, the effects of my
4:47:41
life among the savages preyed upon my mind so as to injure its quiet harmony.
4:47:47
I was ill at ease among my new friends, and they told me
4:47:51
that my eyes wore a strangely wild expression, like those of a person constantly
4:47:56
in dread of some unknown alarm. Once more free and safe among civilized people,
4:48:02
I looked back on the horrible past with feelings that defy description. The
4:48:07
thought of leaving this mortal tenement on the desert plain for the wolves to devour
4:48:11
and the bones to bleach under the summer sun and winter frosts had been painful.
4:48:17
Indeed, now I knew that if the weary spirit should leave its earthly
4:48:21
home, the body would be cared for by kind Christian friends and tenderly laid
4:48:26
beneath the grass and flowers. And my heart rejoiced therein hunger and thirst.
4:48:32
Long days of privation and suffering had been mine. No friendly voices cheered me
4:48:37
on. All was silence and despair. But now the scene had changed,
4:48:42
and the all wise being, who is cognizant of every thought, knew the
4:48:47
joy and gratitude of my soul true. During the last few weeks of my
4:48:52
captivity, the Indians had done all in their power for me, all their
4:48:56
circumstances and condition would allow, and the women were very kind. But their
4:49:03
people were not my people, and I was detained a captive, far from
4:49:07
home and friends and civilization. With Alexander Selkirk, I could say better dwell
4:49:14
in the midst of alarms than reign in this horrible place. Being young and
4:49:18
possessed of great cheerfulness and elasticity of temper, I was enabled to bear trials
4:49:25
which seemed almost impossible for human nature to endure and live. Soon after my
4:49:32
arrival at the fort, Captain pell came and invited me to go to a
4:49:36
trader's store to obtain a dress for myself. I needed it very much,
4:49:41
having no clothing of my own to wear. A kind lady, missus Davis,
4:49:45
accompanied me, and the sight that presented itself to my wondering eyes will
4:49:51
never be erased from memory. By the doorsteps, on the porches, and
4:49:56
everywhere were groups of hungry Indians of all size and both sexes, claiming to
4:50:02
be friendly. Some of them were covered with every conceivable kind of superficial clothing
4:50:07
and adornment, and critically wanting in cleanliness, a peculiar trait among the Indians
4:50:14
of the Northwest. There was the papoose half breeds of any number, a
4:50:18
few absolutely nude, others wrapped slightly in bits of calico, a piece of
4:50:23
buckskin or fur. Speculators, teamsters and interpreters mingled with the soldiers of the
4:50:30
garrison, squaws with their bright flashing shawls or red cloth, receiving in their
4:50:37
looped up blanket the various articles of border traffic, such as sugar, rice,
4:50:41
flour and other things. Tall warriors bending over the same counter purchasing tobacco,
4:50:48
brass, nails, knives, and glass beads, all giving words to
4:50:52
thought, and a stranger might well wonder which was the better prototype of tongues.
4:50:57
The Cheyennes supplement their words with active and expressive gestures, while the Sioux
4:51:03
amply used their tongues as well as their arms and fingers to all, whether
4:51:08
half breed Indian or white man. The gentlemanly traitor gave kind and patient attention,
4:51:15
while himself and clerks seemed ready and capable of talking sioue French or English,
4:51:21
just as the case came to hand. It was on the twelfth of
4:51:26
December when I reached the fort, and like heaven, the place appeared after
4:51:30
the trials of savage life. The officers and men were like brothers to me,
4:51:36
and their tender sympathy united me to them in the strongest bonds of friendship,
4:51:41
which not even death can sever. A party and supper was made for
4:51:45
my special benefit, and on New Year's morning I was serenaded with cannon.
4:51:51
Every attention and kindness was bestowed upon me, and to doctor John Ball,
4:51:56
post surgeon, I owe a debt of gratitude which mere words can never express.
4:52:02
He was my attendant physician during my sojourn at the fort, and as
4:52:07
my physical system had undergone very severe changes, I needed great care. Under
4:52:11
his skillful treatment and patient attention, I soon recovered health and strength. I
4:52:18
had been severely frozen on the last days of my journey with the Indians toward
4:52:22
the Fort. Colonel Diamond from Fort Rice came to visit me. Ere I
4:52:27
left Fort Sally, he was attended by an escort of one hundred and eighty
4:52:32
men. He told me of his efforts to obtain my release, and that
4:52:37
he with his men had searched the Indian village for me, but found no
4:52:41
warriors there, as they had already taken me to the fort. The Indian
4:52:45
women had made him understand by signs that the white woman had gone with the
4:52:51
chiefs. He said. The Indians were so enraged about giving me up that
4:52:56
they killed three of his men and scalped them. Orders of the chief Ottawa,
4:53:02
who was unable to do any service himself, being a cripple, he
4:53:06
bade them bring him the scalps of the white men. An Indian who had
4:53:11
killed one of the men, fell dead in his lodge the same day,
4:53:15
which frightened the people not a little, for in their superstition they deemed it
4:53:19
a visitation of the Great Spirit for a wrong done. Colonel Diamond did not
4:53:26
forget me, neither did he cease in his efforts on my behalf. During
4:53:30
all this time, no tidings had been received by me of my husband.
4:53:36
But one day great commotion was occasioned in the fort by the announcement that the
4:53:40
male ambulance was on the way to the fort and would reach it in a
4:53:44
few moments. An instant after, a soldier approached me saying, missus Kelly,
4:53:49
I have news for you. Your husband is in the ambulance. No
4:53:55
person can have even a faint idea of the uncontrollable emotions which swept over me
4:54:00
like an avalanche at that important and startling news. But it was not outwardly
4:54:06
displayed. The heart strings were stirred to their utmost depths, but gave no
4:54:11
sound, trembling quivering in their strong feeling. They told not of the deep
4:54:15
grief and joy intermingled there. Mechanically. I moved around, awaiting the presence
4:54:22
of the beloved, and was soon folded to his breast, where he held
4:54:26
me with a grasp, as if fearful of my being torn from him again.
4:54:32
Not an eye present, but was suffused with tears. Soldiers and men,
4:54:37
the ladies who had been friends to me, all mingled their tears and
4:54:41
prayers. Language fails to describe our meeting. For seven long months we had
4:54:45
not beheld each other, and the last time was on the terrible field of
4:54:49
slaughter and death. His personal appearance, oh how changed. His face was
4:54:56
very pale, and his brown hair was sprinkl with gray. His voice was
4:55:02
alone, unchanged. He called me by name, and it never sounded so
4:55:06
sweet before. His very soul seemed imbued with sadness at our separation and the
4:55:11
terrible events which caused it. My first question was concerning my little Mary,
4:55:18
for her fate had been veiled in mystery. He gave me an account of
4:55:22
her burial, a sad and heartrending story sufficient to chill the lightest heart,
4:55:27
which account comprises the succeeding chapter. End of chapter twenty two, sad fate
4:55:37
of Little Mary, the reader will please go back with me to that fearful
4:55:41
first night of my captivity, and to the moment when I put into execution
4:55:47
the plan for dear little Mary's escape, which I prayed might result in her
4:55:51
restoration to our friends. It must have been something more than a vague hope
4:55:56
of liberty to be lost or won that guided the feeble steps of the child
4:56:00
back on the trail to a bluff overlooking the road, where, weary from
4:56:06
the fatigue and terror of a night, passed alone on the prairie. She
4:56:10
sat anxious but hopeful, awaiting the coming of friends. Rescue was seemingly near
4:56:17
now that she had reached the Great Road, and she knew that there would
4:56:19
be a passing train of emigrants ere long. It was in this situation she
4:56:26
was seen by some passing soldiers holding out her little trembling hands with eager joy
4:56:30
and hope, imploring them to save her. It was a party of but
4:56:34
three or four soldiers returning from Fort Laramie, where they had been to meet
4:56:40
the paymaster. They had been pursued by Indians the day before, had also
4:56:45
passed the scene of the destruction of our train, and believed the country swarming
4:56:49
with Indians. Their apprehensions were therefore fully aroused, and fearing the little figure
4:56:56
upon the distant bluff might be a decoy to lead them into ambush, hesitated
4:57:02
to approach. There was a large ravine between, and it is not strange
4:57:07
that their imagination should people it with lurking savages. However, they were about
4:57:11
crossing to the relief of the little girl when a party of Indians came in
4:57:17
sight, and they became convinced it was a decoy and turned and fled.
4:57:22
They returned to Deer Creek station and related the circumstance. Mister Kelly, arriving
4:57:29
soon after, heard it, and his heart sank within him at the description
4:57:33
of the child, for he thought he recognized in it the form of our
4:57:37
little Mary. He applied to the officer in command for a detail of soldiers
4:57:41
to go with him to search for her, but all entreaty and argument were
4:57:47
in vain. The agony that poor child endured as the soldiers turned away and
4:57:52
the war whoop of the savage rang upon her terrified soul is known only to
4:57:56
God. Instead of the rescue and innes friends, which in her trusting heart
4:58:02
and innocent faith she had expected to find, fierce Indians stood before her,
4:58:07
stringing their bows to take her life, thus to win another trophy marking the
4:58:12
Indian murder. The whizzing arrows were sent into the body of the helpless child,
4:58:18
and with the twang of the bowstrings, the delicate form of the heroic
4:58:22
child lay stretched upon the ground, and the bright angel spirit went home to
4:58:27
rest in the bosom of its father. On the morning of the fourteenth,
4:58:33
two days after Mary was seen, mister Kelly succeeded in obtaining a squad of
4:58:37
soldiers at the station and went out to search for the child, and after
4:58:41
a short march of eight miles, they discovered the mutilated remains of the murdered
4:58:47
girl. Mister Kelly's grief and anguish knew no bounds. Three arrows had pierced
4:58:53
the body, and the tomahawk and scalping knife had done their work. When
4:58:59
discovered, her body lay with its little hands outstretched, as if she had
4:59:03
received while running the fatal arrows. Surely, he who numbers the sparrows and
4:59:08
feeds the ravens was not unmindful of her in that awful hour, but allow
4:59:14
the heavenly kingdom to which her trembling soul was about to take its flight,
4:59:18
to sweeten with a glimpse of its beatific glory the bitterness of death. Even
4:59:23
as the martyr Stephen, seeing the bliss above, could not be conscious of
4:59:27
the torture below. Extracting the arrows from the wounds and dividing her dress among
4:59:33
the soldiers, then tenderly wrapping her in a winding sheet, mister Kelly had
4:59:38
the sad satisfaction of smoothing the earth on the unconscious breast that had ceased to
4:59:45
suffer. And when this duty was performed, they left the little grave all
4:59:48
alone, far from the happy home of her childhood and the brothers with whom
4:59:53
she had played in her innocent joy of all strange and terrible faith. No
5:00:00
one who had seen her gentle face, in its loving sweetness, the joy
5:00:03
and comfort of our hearts, would have predicted such a barbarous fate for her.
5:00:08
But it was only the passage from death into life, from darkness into
5:00:14
daylight, from doubt and fear into endless love and joy. Those little ones
5:00:18
whose spirits flowed upward from their downy pillows amid the tears and prayers of broken
5:00:23
hearted friends, are blessed to enter in at Heaven's shining gait, which lies
5:00:29
as near little Mary's rocky, blood stained pillow in the desolate waste, as
5:00:33
the palace of a king. And when she had once gained the great and
5:00:37
unspeakable bliss of heaven, it must have blotted out the remembrance of the pain
5:00:41
that won it, and made no price too great for such a delight.
5:00:47
In the far off land of Indian homes, where western winds fan hills of
5:00:52
black, mid lovely flowers, and golden scenes they laid our loved one down
5:00:56
to rest, where brightest bird words with silvery wings sing their sweet songs upon
5:01:03
her grave, and the moonbeams soft and pearly beams with prairie grasses o'er it
5:01:08
wave. No simple stone e'er marks the spot where Mary sleeps in dreamless sleep.
5:01:15
But the moaning wind, with mournful sound doth nightly. O'er it vigils
5:01:19
keep the careless tread of savage feet, and the weary travelers pass it by.
5:01:26
Nor heed they her who came so far in her youth and innocence to
5:01:30
die, but her happy spirits soared away to blissful climes above. She found
5:01:37
sweet rest and endless joy in her bright home of love. End of Chapter
5:01:44
twenty three. What occurred at Fort Laramie after my capture Efforts to rescue Lieutenant
5:01:52
Brown killed, reward offered. It is the means of restoring another white woman
5:01:56
and child. Her rescuers hung for former murders a letter announcing my safe arrival
5:02:03
at Fort Saley. Immediately after mister Kelly reached Deer Creek at the time of
5:02:08
our capture, he telegraphed to Fort Laramie of the outbreak of the Indians and
5:02:15
the capture of his wife. Colonel Collins of the eleventh Ohio Cavalry, commandant
5:02:21
of the military district, ordered two companies under Captain Schumann and Captain Marshall,
5:02:26
two brave and daring men, to pursue and rescue me and chastise the savages
5:02:33
in case of resistance. But the distance of one hundred miles lay between these
5:02:37
forts, and they only arrived on their way too late for rescue. They
5:02:42
continued their march, however, and after an absence of three days, returned
5:02:48
unsuccessful. Sad to relate, a young and daring officer, Lieutenant Brown of
5:02:53
the eleventh Ohio Volunteers, fell a victim to savage cruelty in my behalf,
5:03:00
for with a view of prospecting the neighborhood, he with mister Kelly, left
5:03:04
the main body with a small squad of men in quest of the Indians.
5:03:08
Coming suddenly upon a band of warriors in their encampment, the brave lieutenant indiscreetly
5:03:15
ordered an attack, but the men, seeing the futility of opposing such numbers,
5:03:19
fled and left. Mister Kelly and the officer, becoming conscious of his
5:03:25
dangerous situation. He feigned friendship, addressing them in the usual way how coda,
5:03:32
which means how do you do friend? But they were not to be
5:03:36
deceived, and sent an arrow, causing him to fall from his horse,
5:03:40
and the effects of which caused his death. A few hours afterward. He
5:03:45
was immediately reported dead, and with all the speed the men could command,
5:03:49
they pursued his murderers, but the fresher horses of the savages carried them off
5:03:55
beyond their reach, and the soldiers were compelled to return in disappointment. Brave
5:04:00
young man, the ardent friend of mister Kelly, and the husband and father
5:04:04
of an affectionate wife and child, stricken down in his early manhood, we
5:04:10
would humbly lay the wreath of immortales upon thy lonely grave. After several expeditions
5:04:17
in like manner which proved unsuccessful, mister Kelly offered a reward of nineteen horses,
5:04:23
the money value of which was deposited with the commander of Fort Laramie,
5:04:27
and it was circulated through all the Indian villages that upon my safe delivery,
5:04:33
the reward would be paid. Every effort possible was made by my husband and
5:04:37
his brothers to procure my rescuer ransom. No money or efforts were spared,
5:04:45
and the long days of agonizing suspense to them were worse than death. The
5:04:51
reward which had been offered for my ransom was the means of rescuing another white
5:04:55
woman, a Missus Eubanks, and her child, held by the Indians.
5:05:00
The Indian Two Face and his son, having a desire to enhance their fortunes,
5:05:06
paid a few small sums to the other Indians who claimed her, and,
5:05:10
taking her with them, set out for Fort Laramie. When they arrived
5:05:15
within a few miles of the fort, the prisoners were left with the son
5:05:18
and some others while Two Faces preceded them to arrange the terms of sale.
5:05:23
The commander agreed to the price, and on the following day, Missus Eubanks
5:05:29
and her child were brought in. The Indians, thinking it made no difference
5:05:33
which white woman it was. This was several months after my capture. Instead
5:05:38
of paying the price, the commandant seized and confined them in the guard house
5:05:42
to await trial for the murder of the ranchmen and the stealing of women and
5:05:47
children. The testimony of Missus Eubanks was proof sufficient. They confessed their crimes
5:05:53
and were executed in May following. In crossing the North Platte River, five
5:06:00
miles below the Fort, missus Ewbanks had suffered intensely, her child being bound
5:06:06
to her back and she holding on to a log bound by a rope fastened
5:06:10
to the saddle of the Indian's horse. The chief passed over easily, but
5:06:15
mother and child were nearly frozen to death by clinging and struggling among masses of
5:06:19
broken ice, and protected only by a thin light garment. Mister Kelly sent
5:06:26
deputations of Indians with horses to the Indian villages with letters to me, which
5:06:32
were never delivered. They were not true to their trust, but would come
5:06:37
to see me without giving me the messages, then return with the declaration that
5:06:41
I could not be found. He would furnish a complete outfit for an Indian,
5:06:47
costing about four hundred dollars, and sent him to find me, but
5:06:52
the Indian cared only for the money. He would never return. Having despaired
5:06:57
of accomplishing anything further toward or my rescue at Fort Laramie, he left for
5:07:02
Leavenworth to obtain help from citizens there. To get permission of the commander of
5:07:07
the division to raise an independent company for my release. There he met with
5:07:12
his brother, General Kelly, who had just returned from the South and had
5:07:18
received a letter from me acquainting him with my freedom. Mister Kelly would not
5:07:22
at first be convinced, but after being shown the letter, he said,
5:07:27
yes, I know that is Fanny's writing, but it cannot be possible.
5:07:32
And by daylight he was on his way to Dakota. Who can tell his
5:07:37
varied emotions during that long and wearisome journey, when at the end Hope held
5:07:42
out to him the cup of Joy, which, after the long suffering of
5:07:47
months he was about to drink. Let only those judge who have been separated
5:07:52
from the dearest on earth, and whose fate was involved in mysterious silence more
5:07:56
painful than if the pallid face rested beneath the coffin lid. End of Chapter
5:08:03
twenty four. Supper in honor of our reunion, departure from Fort Sully,
5:08:10
Incidents by the way arrival at Geneva, mother and child, a happy meeting.
5:08:17
Fort Sully was garrisoned by three companies of the sixth Iowa Cavalry, and
5:08:22
I should be recreant to every sense of justice did I not more particularly express
5:08:27
my gratitude to them, all officers and men, for the delicate, more
5:08:32
than brotherly kindness shown me during my stay of two months among them. They
5:08:37
had fought gallantly during that summer and punished severely the Indians who held me captive,
5:08:44
And though my sufferings at the time were increased tenfold thereby, I believed
5:08:48
the destitute condition of the Indians had much to do with my final restoration to
5:08:53
freedom. Had there been plenty of food in the Indian villages, none would
5:08:59
have gone to Fort Sully to make a treaty. On each of the two
5:09:03
evenings we remained at the fort after my husband's arrival, we were honored with
5:09:07
a feast in marked contrast with those I had attended while with the savages,
5:09:14
stewed oysters relished better than stewed dog and the abundance of other good things.
5:09:18
With the happy, looking, kind, sympathetic faces of my own people around
5:09:22
the board filled me with a feeling of almost heavenly content. Mister Harry Chatterton
5:09:30
presided at the first and in a feeling manner, expressed the delight and satisfaction
5:09:34
of his comrades and himself experienced in this hour of our reunion. Sweet is
5:09:41
this dream divinely sweet, no dream, no fancy that you meet though silent
5:09:48
grief has shadowed, or to crush your love it had no power, though
5:09:52
long divided, You've met once more to tell your toils and troubles, or
5:09:59
renew the pledge of other days and walk in sweet and pleasant ways. May
5:10:03
the good Father of mercies ever protect and bless you. May the sun of
5:10:07
happiness to brightly shine upon you, and may it never again be dimmed by
5:10:11
stern misfortune. Is the earnest and heartfelt wish of every person in this fort
5:10:18
to day end quote with deep emotion, these words were spoken, and we
5:10:23
felt convinced they were from the innermost depths of the heart. How many affectionate,
5:10:30
generous natures are among us, whom we can never appreciate until some heavy
5:10:34
cloud drops down upon us, and they, with their cheerful words and kind
5:10:38
acts, assist us to rise, and in hours of joy, they are
5:10:42
ready to grasp us by the hand and welcome us to happiness. Anxious for
5:10:48
our reunion with our friends and to be once more with my dear mother,
5:10:53
we bade farewell to those who had shown us so much kindness and attention,
5:10:57
and commenced our journey at days to prevent the Indians, many of whom remained
5:11:03
about the fort, knowing of my departure, as I was in constant dread
5:11:07
of recapture. Fort Sully is on the Missouri River, three hundred miles from
5:11:12
Sioux City by land, which distance we traveled in an ambulance. At all
5:11:18
the military posts, stations, and towns through which we passed, all military
5:11:23
and civilians seemed to vie with each other in kindness and attention. Those living
5:11:30
in frontier towns know what the nature of the Indian is, and could most
5:11:33
heartily sympathize with one who had suffered from captivity among them. At Yankton,
5:11:40
I received particularly kind attention from Missus Ashe of the Ash Hotel, who also
5:11:45
gave me the information elsewhere written of the fate of Missus Dooley and Missus Wright.
5:11:52
Here also I met a number of the sixth Iowa Cavalry, to which
5:11:56
gallant Regiment I was under so great obligation. Doctor Bardwell, a surgeon of
5:12:02
that regiment, who was at Fort Sully at the time the Blackfeet, came
5:12:06
in to make a treaty and were sent off after me, and who I
5:12:10
had previously been informed was active in measures tending to my release, was stationed
5:12:15
at Yankton and manifested the kindness of his heart in many ways. At Sioux
5:12:22
City Council Bluffs and Saint Joe, crowds of visitors flocked to see the white
5:12:26
woman who had been a captive with the Indians, and I was compelled to
5:12:30
answer many questions from Saint Joe. We made all haste for Leavenworth, Kansas,
5:12:37
where I was received by friends and relatives as one risen from the dead.
5:12:42
At last we reached our old home in Geneva, the home from which
5:12:47
we had departed but a few months before, lured to new fields by the
5:12:51
brightest hopes of future prosperity, alas what disappointments had fallen to our lot.
5:12:57
But soon I was classed in my dear mind arms, and all my sorrows
5:13:02
were swallowed up in the joy of that reunion. On the morning of our
5:13:07
departure for the Plains, she said, while tears of sorrow filled her eyes,
5:13:11
that she felt as though it was our final farewell. Her fears were
5:13:15
agonizing on my behalf. She seemed to have a presentiment of evil. A
5:13:21
dark, portentous cloud hung over my head, she felt, and would burst
5:13:25
upon me and scatter dismay and grief, which too well was realized in the
5:13:30
days that followed. I endeavored to cheer her with hope, and smilingly assured
5:13:36
her that as soon as the Pacific Railroad was completed, I should visit my
5:13:40
home and her, And though many miles might separate us, we still would
5:13:45
be won in heart. And the facilities for traveling were becoming so easy and
5:13:49
rapid we could not be separated for any great length of time. But her
5:13:53
sad heart refused to be comforted. A mother's unchanging love, stronger than death,
5:14:00
faithful under every circumstance, and clinging with tenacity to the child of her
5:14:04
affection, could not part with me without a pang of anguish, which was
5:14:10
increased tenfold when the news of my capture reached her. Gradually she sank under
5:14:15
this heavy affliction. Health rapidly gave way, and for three long months she
5:14:21
lay helpless, moaning and bewailing the loss of her children. For scarcely had
5:14:26
she aroused from the terrible stupor and grief which the news of my brother's death
5:14:30
from poison, while a soldier in the Union Army had plunged her when this
5:14:36
new and awful sorrow came like a whirlwind upon her fainting spirit. But God
5:14:41
is good in his great mercy. He spared us both to meet once more,
5:14:47
and a letter from my hand telling her of my safety reached her in
5:14:51
due time, and in each other's fond embrace, we were once more folded.
5:14:56
Oh happy hour. Methinks the the angels smiled in their celestial abodes when
5:15:03
they witnessed that dear mother's joy. The reader naturally supposes that here my narrative
5:15:08
ought to end. That restored to husband, mother and friends, my season
5:15:14
of sorrow must be over. But not so. Other trials were in store
5:15:18
for me. And even fortified as I was by past tribulation, I sank
5:15:25
almost despairingly under their affliction. Nor was I yet done with the Indians.
5:15:30
Anxious to again establish a home, we left Geneva, went to Shawnee Town,
5:15:36
where we prospered, but better prospects offering farther west, we went to
5:15:41
Ellsworth, a new town just staked out on the western line of Kansas.
5:15:45
I was the first woman who located there. We lived in our wagon for
5:15:49
a time, than built a hotel, and were prospering when fears of the
5:15:55
Indians again harassed us. The troops at Fort Harker, for my else,
5:16:00
east of Ellsworth, had been out under General Hancock in pursuit of the Indians
5:16:06
to punish them for murders and depredations committed along the line of the Pacific Railroad,
5:16:11
and coming upon an Indian camp, destroyed it, inflicting a severe chastisement.
5:16:17
This we knew would so exasperate the Indians as to render the situation of
5:16:22
the exposed settlements one of great danger, and after my experience, a terrible
5:16:27
dread of again falling into their hands intensified my apprehensions for our safety. The
5:16:33
scouts, Jack Harvey and wild Bill were constantly on the lookout, and eagerly
5:16:40
would we look toward the hills for anyone who could give us news, and
5:16:44
gather around them when they came from the front with anxious faces and listening ears.
5:16:51
Meantime, the population of Ellsworth had rapidly increased, and military companies were
5:16:56
formed for protection. Thus we lived in a continual state of alarm until at
5:17:02
last one night the signal was given that the Indians were approaching. When every
5:17:07
man flew to his post, and the women and children fled to the places
5:17:11
of refuge that had been prepared for them, an iron clad house and a
5:17:15
dugout or place underground. I fled to the latter place, where about fifty
5:17:21
altogether had congregated, and among them were three young men who were the sole
5:17:26
survivors of a large family father, mother, and two sisters murdered and horribly
5:17:32
mutilated in the Minnesota massacres. The Indians were repulsed, but they continued to
5:17:37
harass us and threaten the town, so that it became necessary to apply for
5:17:42
military protection. Accordingly, a number of Colored troops were sent there, which
5:17:48
imparted a feeling of security, But Ellsworth was doomed to a more terrible scourge,
5:17:53
if possible, than the Indians had threatened to be. The troops were
5:17:57
recently from the South. Soon after their arrival among us, the cholera broke
5:18:03
out among them, and spreading among the citizens created a terrible panic. The
5:18:08
pestilence was most destructive, sweeping before it old and young, and of all
5:18:14
classes. My husband fell a victim to the disease. On the twenty eighth
5:18:19
day of July eighteen sixty seven, a violent attack of this terrible disease carried
5:18:25
him off, and in the midst of peril and cares, I was left
5:18:30
a mourning, desolate widow. Being in delicate health, I was forced to
5:18:34
flee to the east and stopped at Saint George, where, one week after
5:18:38
my little one was ushered into this world of sorrow, the people were panic
5:18:44
stricken in relation to the cholera, and when I went there, they were
5:18:48
afraid to receive me into their homes. Consequently, I repaired to a small
5:18:52
cabin in the outskirts of the town, and my adopted son and myself remained
5:18:57
there alone for several days. A young lady, miss Baker, called on
5:19:03
me in great sympathy, saying she was not afraid of cholera and would stay
5:19:07
with me until after my confinement. I was very thankful for her kindness,
5:19:14
and after the fear was over with the people, every attention that humanity could
5:19:18
suggest was given me. But alas my heart was at home and so deep
5:19:23
were my yearnings, the physician declared it impossible for me to recover until I
5:19:29
did go home. The events that had transpired seemed like a fearful dream.
5:19:33
The physician who attended me went to Ellsworth to see if it was prudent for
5:19:38
me to go, sending a letter immediately after bidding me come, as the
5:19:44
cholera had disappeared. Oh how changed was that home. The voice that had
5:19:48
ever been as low sweet music to my ear was hushed forever. The eye
5:19:55
that had always met mine with smiling fondness was closed to light and me,
5:20:00
and the hand so often grasped in tender love was palsied in death. Mister
5:20:04
Kelly, the noble, true and devoted husband, my loved companion, the
5:20:10
father of my innocent child, was gone. Oh how sad that word.
5:20:15
My heart was overwhelmed with grief, and that did its work, for it
5:20:19
prostrated me on a bed of illness, nigh unto death. Doctor mc kennon
5:20:26
very faithfully attended me during my illness, and as I was recovering, he
5:20:30
was seized by severe sickness himself, which proved fatal. He was anxious to
5:20:36
see me before he died, and desired assistance that he might be taken downstairs
5:20:41
for the purpose. His attendants allowed him to do so, but he fainted
5:20:45
in the attempt, and was laid on the floor until he recovered, then
5:20:51
raised and placed on the sofa. I was then led into the room,
5:20:55
and seating myself beside him. He grasped by hand, exclaiming, my friend,
5:21:00
do not leave me. I have a brother in New York. But
5:21:04
his lips soon stiffened in death, and he was unable to utter more.
5:21:10
It was a severe shock to my nervous system, already prostrated by trouble and
5:21:14
illness, and I greatly missed his attention and care. No relative or friend
5:21:19
was near by to lay his weary head upon the pillow, but we laid
5:21:25
him to rest in the burial ground of Ellsworth with sad hearts and great emotion.
5:21:30
In the spring, I went to the end of the road further west
5:21:33
with an excursion party to a place called sherid In. On our return,
5:21:38
we stopped at Fort Hayes, where I met two Indians who recognized me and
5:21:42
I also knew them. We conversed together. I learned that they had a
5:21:48
camp in the vicinity, and they were skulking around reconnoitering. They were well
5:21:52
treated here and very liberally dealt with. They inquired where I lived. I
5:21:59
told them way off near to the rising sun. The next morning, when
5:22:03
the train left town, the band, riding on horseback, jumped the ditch
5:22:08
and looked into the windows of the cars, hoping to see me. They
5:22:12
told the people that I belonged to them, and they would take my papoose
5:22:17
and me way off to their own country. We were their property and must
5:22:22
go with them. It was supposed that if I had been in the cars,
5:22:26
the Indians would have attempted to take the train. End of chapter twenty
5:22:32
five. Elizabeth Blackwell Mormon home a brutal father, the mother, and daughters
5:22:40
flee to the mountains. Death of the mother and sisters from exposure, Elizabeth
5:22:45
saved by an Indian, a white woman tortured, rescued children. The Box
5:22:52
family. Capture of Missus Blynn. Some few weeks after the events just related,
5:22:57
I received a note from I'm a stranger requesting me to call on her
5:23:02
at the dwelling of a hunter where she was stopping. Her name was Elizabeth
5:23:07
Blackwell and emigrated with her parents from England, who became proselytes of the ruling
5:23:12
prophet of Salt Lake City, where they remained until Elizabeth's father took another wife.
5:23:18
This created trouble. Words ensued, soon followed by blows, and Elizabeth,
5:23:25
in endeavoring to protect her mother, was struck by her brute of a
5:23:29
father with a knife, and one of her eyes destroyed. Being discouraged and
5:23:33
broken hearted, the wretched mother and daughters for Elizabeth had two sisters, resolved
5:23:40
to escape. They wandered away among the mountains, and, having no place
5:23:45
of shelter, all perished with the cold, except Elizabeth, who was found
5:23:49
by the Indians nearly frozen to death. They lifted her up and carried her
5:23:56
to camp, where they gave her every attention requisite for restoration. She remained
5:24:02
with the Indians until she was able to go east, where she underwent the
5:24:06
severe operation of having both legs amputated above the knee. The treatment received from
5:24:11
the Indians so attached her to them that she prefers to live a forest life,
5:24:17
and when she gave me her narrative, she was on her way from
5:24:21
the States to her Indian home. Her father soon wearied of his Mormon wife
5:24:26
and escaped to the Rocky Mountains, where he became a noted highwayman. Hearing
5:24:32
of Elizabeth's residence among the Indians. He visited her and gave her a large
5:24:37
sum of money. The fate of his family had great effect on him,
5:24:41
and remorse drove him to desperation. The husband of Elizabeth took his second wife
5:24:48
and Elizabeth's child from Salt Lake to Cincinnati, where they now live. She
5:24:53
was twenty six years old when I saw and conversed with her, A lady
5:24:57
of intelligence and once possessed more than ordinary beauty. She had just received the
5:25:03
news of her father's death. He was killed near Fort Dodge, Kansas.
5:25:10
Elizabeth related to me many acts of cruelty she had witnessed among the savages,
5:25:15
one of which was to the following effect. A woman was brought into the
5:25:19
camp on horseback who had been captured from a train, and an Indian who
5:25:23
was attempting to lift her from the horse, was shot in the act by
5:25:27
her own hand. This so enraged the savages that they cut her body in
5:25:33
gashes, filled them with powder, and then set fire to it. The
5:25:37
sight of the woman's sufferings was too much for Elizabeth to endure, and she
5:25:42
begged the savages to put an end to the victim at once, which accordingly
5:25:47
was done. But although Elizabeth saw many heartless acts, many terrible scenes,
5:25:53
still she had a kindly feeling toward the Indians, for they saved her from
5:25:57
a horrible death by starvation and exposure, and had been very tender with her.
5:26:03
She was somewhat embittered toward the white people on account of her sufferings and
5:26:07
treatment. A short time after, General Sully invited me to Fort Harker to
5:26:14
see two white captive children, a girl of fourteen and a boy of six.
5:26:18
They had been captured two years before, and the account of their treatment
5:26:23
given me by the girl was anything but favorable. The boy was as wild
5:26:29
as a deer. A Sioux woman at Fort Harker had taken these children into
5:26:33
her own family and cared for them as a mother. She was the daughter
5:26:38
of a white man, was born at Fort Laramie, and had married an
5:26:42
interpreter by the name of Bradley. She was quite intelligent, having been educated
5:26:48
by her husband. In January eighteen sixty eight, two other children were captured
5:26:55
in the state of Texas by the Kiowa Indians. They were girls aged five
5:27:00
and three years. Their parents and all the known relatives had been murdered,
5:27:04
and the children had been recently recovered from the Indians and were in the care
5:27:10
of J. H. Leavenworth, United States Indian Agent. Having no knowledge
5:27:15
of their parentage, they were named Helen and Heloise Lincoln. Another interesting family
5:27:22
was taken from Texas by the Indians, their beautiful home destroyed and all killed,
5:27:26
with the exception of the mother and three daughters. Their name was Box.
5:27:32
The ages of the children were respectively eighteen, fourteen, and ten,
5:27:37
and they were allowed to be together for a time, but afterward were separated.
5:27:41
They experienced great cruelties. The youngest was compelled to stand on a bed
5:27:47
of live coals in order to torture the mother and sisters. Lieutenant Hesselberger,
5:27:53
the noble and brave officer whose name will live forever in the hearts of the
5:27:56
captives he rescued, heard of this family, and with a party of his
5:28:02
brave men, went immediately to the Indian village and offered a reward for the
5:28:07
captives, which at first was declined, but he at length succeeded in purchasing
5:28:11
the mother and one girl. He afterward procured the release of the others.
5:28:18
Lieutenant Hesselberger braved death in so doing, and his only reward is the undying
5:28:23
gratitude of those who owe their lives to his self, sacrificing humane, devotion,
5:28:29
and courage. In the fall of eighteen sixty eight, the Indians commenced
5:28:33
depredations on the frontier of Kansas, and after many serious outbreaks, destroying homes
5:28:41
and murdering settlers, the governor issued a call for volunteers to assist General Sheridan
5:28:47
in protecting the settlers and punishing the Indians. Among those who volunteered was my
5:28:52
youngest brother and many of my old schoolmates and friends from Geneva, who related
5:28:57
to me the following incidents, which are fully substantiated by General Sheridan and others.
5:29:03
Missus Morgan, an accomplished and beautiful bride, and Miss White, an
5:29:08
educated young lady, were both taken from their homes by the Indians. They
5:29:14
were living on the Republican River. During their captivity, they suffered much from
5:29:18
the inclemency of the weather, and it was March before they were released by
5:29:23
General Sheridan. The troops the Kansas Boys were all winter among the mountains,
5:29:30
endeavoring to protect the frontier. They suffered great privation, being obliged sometimes to
5:29:37
live on the meat of mules and often needing food. All honor to these
5:29:41
self sacrificing men who braved the cold and hunger of the mountains to protect the
5:29:47
settlers on the frontier. On Missus Blynn, whose maiden name was Harrington of
5:29:52
Franklin County, Kansas, who was married at the age of nineteen and started
5:29:57
with her young husband for the Pasa Coast, was taken prisoner by the Indians
5:30:03
and suffered terrible brutality. About that time, the savages had become troublesome on
5:30:08
the plains, attacking every wagon train, killing men and capturing women. But
5:30:15
the train in which mister Blynn and his wife traveled was supposed to be very
5:30:18
strong and able to repel any attack made upon them, should there be any
5:30:23
such trouble. Missus Blynn had a presentiment of evil, of the fate of
5:30:30
their unfortunate company and her own dark, impending destiny in a dream, the
5:30:34
realization of which proved too true. When she related her dream to her husband,
5:30:41
he tried to laugh away her superstitious fears and prevent its impression on her
5:30:45
mind. It was not many days after that a large number of warriors of
5:30:51
the Sioux tribe were seen in the distance, and the people of the train
5:30:55
arranged themselves in a shape for attack. The Indians, seeing preparation and fearing
5:31:02
a powerful resistance, fired a few shots, and with yells of rage and
5:31:06
disappointment, went off. Within the succeeding days, the travelers saw Indians,
5:31:11
but they did not come near enough to make trouble. Confident of no disturbance
5:31:17
or hindrance to their journey, the happy emigrants journeyed on, fearless comparatively of
5:31:22
the red skins, and boasting of their power. But the evil hour at
5:31:27
last approached. When the column had reached Sand Creek and was in the act
5:31:33
of crossing, suddenly the wild yells of Indians fell upon their ears, and
5:31:37
soon a band of Cheyennes charged down upon them. Two wagons had already got
5:31:44
into the stream, and instead of hastening the others across and thus putting the
5:31:48
creek between themselves and their pursuers, the whites drove the two back out of
5:31:52
the water and entangled in the others through everything in confusion. This confusion is
5:31:59
just what the Indians like, and they began whooping, shouting, and firing
5:32:03
furiously in order to cause a stampede of the live stock. In five minutes
5:32:08
all was accomplished. All the animals, except those well fastened to the wagons,
5:32:15
were dashing over the prairie. The Indians then circled around and fired a
5:32:18
volley of bullets and arrows. Mister Blynn was killed at the second fire,
5:32:25
while standing before the wagon in which were his wife and child. God helped
5:32:30
them, was all he said, as firing his rifle at the Indians for
5:32:33
the last time, he sank down dead. The men returned to the fire
5:32:38
for a while, then fled, leaving their wounded, all their wagons,
5:32:44
and the women and children in the hands of the relentless victors. Santana,
5:32:48
who led the band, sprang in first, followed by his braves, whom
5:32:53
he ordered to let the cowardly pale faces run away without pursuit. The dead
5:32:59
and wounded were scalped, and the women and children taken captive. All were
5:33:03
treated with brutal conduct, and, having secured all the plunder they could,
5:33:08
the savages set fire to every wagon, and with the horses they had taken
5:33:14
from the train, set out in the direction of their villages. Missus Blynn's
5:33:18
child, Willie, two years old cried very much, which so enraged Santana
5:33:25
that he seized him by the heels and was ready to dash out his brains.
5:33:30
But the poor mother, in her agony, sprang forward, caught the
5:33:33
child and fought so bravely with the infuriated murderer that he laughed and told her
5:33:38
to keep it, for he feared she would fret if he killed it.
5:33:44
Mounted on a pony, her child in her arms, she endeavored to please
5:33:48
her savage captor by appearing satisfied, dwelling on the hope that some event would
5:33:52
occur whereby she might be rescued and restored to her friends. It was for
5:33:57
her darling child that she endeavored to keep up her heart and resolve to live.
5:34:03
When they arrived at Santana's village, missus Blynn was left alone of all
5:34:08
the seven who were taken. Group after group dropped away from the main body,
5:34:14
taking with them the women whom they had prisoners. Her hardships soon commenced.
5:34:19
For a day or two she was fed sufficiently, but afterward, all
5:34:23
that she had to eat she got from the squaws in the same lodge with
5:34:27
her, and as they were jealous of her, they often refused to give
5:34:33
her anything, either for herself or Willie. An Indian girl, in revenge
5:34:38
for an injury done her by Santana, the murderer of her best friend,
5:34:42
became a spy for General Sheridan and endeavored by every means in her power to
5:34:48
rescue missus Blynn from the grasp of these savages, but her efforts were unsuccessful.
5:34:55
She was a true friend to the unfortunate lady, giving her food and
5:34:59
endeavoring to cheer her with the promise of rescue and safe deliverance. The squaws
5:35:04
abused her shamefully in the absence of Santana, burning her with sharp sticks and
5:35:10
splinters of resinous wood, and inflicting the most excruciating tortures upon her. Her
5:35:15
face, breasts, and limbs were one mass of wounds. Her precious little
5:35:21
one was taken by the hair of the head and punished with a stick before
5:35:25
her helpless gaze. Missus Blynn, the captive, previous to this torture,
5:35:30
had written a letter to the General commanding the Department, whoever he might be,
5:35:36
and sent it by the Indian girl. We insert a copy of this
5:35:40
letter, which is sufficient to draw tears from the eye of anyone who may
5:35:44
read it. Kiowa Village on the Washida River, Saturday, November seventh,
5:35:51
eighteen sixty eight. Kind friend, whoever you may be, if you will
5:35:56
only buy us from the Indians with ponies or anything, and let me come
5:36:00
and stay with you until I can get word to my friends, they will
5:36:04
pay you well, and I will work for you also and do all I
5:36:08
can for you. If it is not too far to this village, and
5:36:12
you are not afraid to come, I pray you will try. The Indians
5:36:17
tell me, as far as I can understand, they expect traders to come
5:36:22
to whom they will sell us. Can you find out by the bearer and
5:36:26
let me know if they are white men. If they are Mexicans, I
5:36:29
am afraid they will sell us into slavery in Mexico. If you can do
5:36:33
nothing for me, write for God's sake to W. T. Harrington,
5:36:37
Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas. My father tell him we are with the
5:36:44
Kiowas or Cheyennes, and they say when the white men make peace, we
5:36:48
can go home. Tell him to write to the governor of Kansas about it
5:36:52
and for them to make peace. Send this to him, please. We
5:36:57
were taken on October no on the Arkansas below fort Lyon. My name is
5:37:03
Missus Clara Blynn. My little boy, Willie Blynn, is two years old.
5:37:08
Do all you can for me. Write to the peace commissioners to make
5:37:12
peace this fall for our sake. Do all you can, and God will
5:37:18
bless you for it. If you can, let me hear from you,
5:37:21
let me know what you think about it. Write to my father send him
5:37:25
this. Good Bye. Missus R. F. Blynn p S. I
5:37:30
am as well as can be expected. But my baby, my darling,
5:37:33
darling, little Willie is very weak. Oh God help him save him,
5:37:40
kind friend, even if you cannot save me again. Good bye. Missus
5:37:45
Blynn passed her time in drudgery, hoping against hope up to the morning of
5:37:51
the battle, when General Sheridan's gallant soldiers under the command of General Custer came
5:37:56
charging with loud huzzahs upon the village. Black Kettle's camp was the first attacked,
5:38:03
though while the village was of course aroused, the heart of Missus Blynn
5:38:07
must have beat wildly, mingling with hope and dread when she heard the noise
5:38:11
in firing and saw the United States soldiers charging upon her captors. Springing forward,
5:38:18
she exclaimed Willie, Willie saved at last, but the words were scarce
5:38:23
on her lips. Ere the tomahawk of the revengeful Santana was buried in her
5:38:27
brain, and in another instant, little Willie was in the grasp of the
5:38:33
monster, and his head dashed against a tree. Then lifeless, he was
5:38:37
thrown upon the dying mother's breast, whose arms instinctively closed around the dead baby
5:38:42
boy, as though she would protect him to the last moment of her life.
5:38:48
General Sheridan and his staff, in searching for the bodies of Major Elliott
5:38:52
and his comrades, found these among the white soldiers, and they were tenderly
5:38:57
carried to Fort Cobb. In a grave outside the stockade, mother and child
5:39:03
lie sleeping peacefully, their once bruised spirits having joined the loved husband and father
5:39:08
in the land where captivity is unknown. Surely, if Heaven is gained by
5:39:14
sorrows of earth, this little family will enjoy the brightest scenes of the celestial
5:39:19
world. End of chapter twenty six, move to Wyoming, False friends,
5:39:27
the manuscript of my narrative taken by another party and published. I go to
5:39:33
Washington. Mister Kelly's sudden death, my own sickness, and the scourge of
5:39:38
cholera, all coming at one time, proved disastrous to me in a pecuniary
5:39:44
way. I was defrauded in every way, even to the robbing of my
5:39:48
husband's body of the sum of five hundred dollars the day of his death.
5:39:52
However, I finally disposed of the remnant of property left and started for Wyoming,
5:39:59
where lived the only persons beside myself who survived the attack on our train.
5:40:03
They had prospered, and in a spirit of kindness, as I then
5:40:07
thought, invited and prevailed upon me to share their home. It proved a
5:40:12
most disastrous move for me. My leisure hours since my release from captivity had
5:40:18
been devoted to preparing for publication in book form a narrative of my experience and
5:40:25
adventures among the Indians, and it was completed. The manuscript was surreptitiously taken
5:40:32
and a garbled, imperfect account of my captivity issued as the experience of my
5:40:37
false friend, who, by the aid of an Indian, escaped after a
5:40:41
durance of only one day and night. I remained in Wyoming one year,
5:40:47
then started for Washington, resolved to present a claim to the government for losses
5:40:52
sustained at the hands of the Indians. I knew what difficulties beset my path,
5:40:57
but duty to my child urged me on, and I was not without
5:41:02
some hope of success. After learning of my captivity through Captain Fisk, President
5:41:07
Lincoln had issued orders to the different military commanders that my freedom from the Indians
5:41:12
must be purchased at any price, and my sad story was well known to
5:41:18
the then existing authorities. When I arrived in Washington. President Grant, learning
5:41:25
through a friend from Colorado of my presence, sent for me and assured me
5:41:29
of his warmest sympathy. He was cognizant of what had already transpired relative to
5:41:34
me, and told me the papers were on file in the War Department in
5:41:38
charge of General Sherman. In presenting my claim, many difficulties had to be
5:41:45
encountered, but members of Congress, realizing that some compensation was due me and
5:41:51
understanding the delay that would result from a direct application to the Indian Bureau,
5:41:56
introduced a bill appropriating to me five thousand dollars for valuable services rendered the government
5:42:03
in saving Captain Fiske's train from destruction and by timely warnings, saving Fort Sully
5:42:08
from pillage and its garrison from being massacred. This was done without my having
5:42:15
any knowledge of it until after the bill had passed both houses of Congress and
5:42:18
become a law. During my stay in Washington, Red Cloud and a delegation
5:42:25
of chiefs and head warriors from the different tribes of the Dakota or Sioux Nation
5:42:30
arrived. They all recognized me as once having been with their people, and
5:42:34
seemed quite rejoiced at the meeting. Some of the good Christian people of the
5:42:40
city extended to the Indians through me an invitation to attend church one Sabbath,
5:42:45
which I made known to Red Cloud, telling him of the great organ,
5:42:49
the fine music they would hear, and of the desire the good people had
5:42:53
to benefit their souls. Red Cloud replied with dignity that he did not have
5:42:59
to go to the big House to talk to the Great Spirit. He could
5:43:03
sit in his teepee or room and the Great Spirit would listen. The Great
5:43:07
Spirit was not where the big music was. No, he would not go.
5:43:14
None of the Indians accepted the invitation, but some of the Squaws went
5:43:18
escorted to the church in elegant carriages but they soon left in disgust. The
5:43:23
dazzling display of fine dresses, the beautiful church, and the big music.
5:43:30
None of these had interest for them, if unaccompanied by a feast. I
5:43:34
attended several of the councils held with the Indians. At one of them,
5:43:38
Red Cloud addressed Secretary Cox and Commissioner Parker in a lengthy speech on the subject
5:43:45
of his grievances, in which he referred to me as follows. Pointing me
5:43:49
out to the Secretary and Commissioner, he said, look at that woman.
5:43:55
She was captured by Silverhorn's party. I wish you to pay her what her
5:43:59
caps owe her. I am a man true to what I say, and
5:44:03
want to keep my promise. I speak for all my nation. The Indians
5:44:08
robbed that lady there, and through your influence, I want her to be
5:44:11
paid out of the first money do us. Placing his finger first upon the
5:44:17
breast of the Secretary and then of the Commissioner, as if to add emphasis
5:44:22
to what he was about to say, he added, pay her out of
5:44:26
our money. Do not give the money into any but her own hands.
5:44:30
Then the right one will get it. In one of my interviews with the
5:44:36
chiefs, Red Cloud Spotted Tail and others desired me to get up a paper
5:44:40
setting forth my claims against their people, and they would sign it. I
5:44:45
accordingly made out a bill of items and presented it to them with my affidavit
5:44:49
and a statement setting forth the circumstances of capture and robbery, which was fully
5:44:55
explained to them by their interpreter. This document, the chiefs representing the different
5:45:00
bands signed readily. It is inserted elsewhere with other documents corroborative of the truth
5:45:07
of this narrative. It is also signed by another delegation of chiefs I met
5:45:12
in New York. With this last interview with the delegation of Indians I met
5:45:18
in New York ends I trust forever my experience with Indians. The preparation of
5:45:23
the manuscript for this plain, simple narrative of facts in my experience has not
5:45:29
been without its pangs. It has seemed while writing it, as if with
5:45:33
the narration of each incident, I was living over again the fearful life I
5:45:38
led while a captive, and often I have laid aside the pen to get
5:45:42
rid of the feelings which possessed me. But my task is completed, and
5:45:48
with the ending of this chapter, I hope to lay aside forever all regretful
5:45:52
remembrances of my captivity, and looking only at the silvery lining to be found
5:45:57
in every cloud, enjoy the happiness which everyone may find in childlike trust in
5:46:03
Him who ordereth all things well. End of Chapter twenty seven. General Sully's
5:46:11
Expedition during the summer of eighteen sixty four, and while I was a prisoner
5:46:18
with the Indians, an expedition composed of Iowa and Minnesota volunteers with a few
5:46:23
independent companies of Nebraska and Dakota men, with one company of friendly Indians of
5:46:29
various tribes, started from Fort Sully in Dakota, with a double purpose under
5:46:34
instructions from the War Department, of escorting a large emigrant train safely through the
5:46:40
Indian country on their way to Idaho, and if possible, to inflict such
5:46:45
punishment on the hostile bands they might meet as would make them willing to sue
5:46:49
for peace. The expedition was commanded by General Alfred Sali of the United States
5:46:56
Army, a brave, skillful officer, and vette an Indian fighter. Having
5:47:00
spent the best part of twenty five years service on the frontier, He was
5:47:06
a captain of infantry under General Harney in his memorable campaign of eighteen fifty seven,
5:47:11
and was present at the Battle of ash Hollow, where Harney surprised a
5:47:15
large band of Indians with their families, who were slaughtered indiscriminately, inflicting such
5:47:22
punishment as made the name of General Harney a terror to the Indians, and
5:47:26
at the same time brought upon his head the execration of thin skinned philanthropists who
5:47:33
thought savages the noble red men of their imagination, should be conquered only by
5:47:38
the sugar plum and rose water policy. For many interesting particulars of this expedition,
5:47:45
and its bearing upon some of the incidents of my captivity and final ransom,
5:47:49
I am indebted to the correspondence of one who was a member of the
5:47:53
expedition, written to his family during its progress. The first days March carries
5:48:00
the command to the Cheyenne River, where the topographical engineer to whom I have
5:48:04
referred, was killed. His fate was sad, indeed. An officer in
5:48:11
the regular Army, he served with distinction in the South during the rebellion,
5:48:15
participating in over fifty battles and passing through all without a wound. He was
5:48:22
captured by the rebels, paroled, and sent to join General Sully's expedition to
5:48:26
make a topographical survey of the country. Having faced danger on many a well
5:48:32
contested field, he held the Indian in utter contempt and roamed the country along
5:48:37
the line of march with reckless indifference to danger. A short time before reaching
5:48:42
the place where the command intended to go into camp, Captain Fielner started in
5:48:48
advance, accompanied by only one man, a half breed. Reaching the river,
5:48:52
they dismounted and were about fastening their horses to graze near a grove of
5:48:57
wild plum trees when two Indians stepped out and one of them shot Captain Fielner,
5:49:03
the ball from his rifle, passing through both arms and the breast.
5:49:07
The advance guard arriving soon after. Word was sent back to General Sully,
5:49:12
who ordered the company of Dakota Cavalry to deploy and occupy so much of the
5:49:17
country as to make it impossible for the Indians to escape. This was done,
5:49:22
and closing toward a center, the two savages were found in a buffalo
5:49:27
wallow, a depression in the ground made by the buffaloes and forming a very
5:49:32
good rifle pit. Being addressed in their own language, they refused to surrender
5:49:37
and were shot. General Sully afterward had their heads cut off, and when
5:49:41
the command left camp next morning, they graced two pointed stakes on the bank
5:49:47
of the river, placed there as a warning to all straggling Indians. The
5:49:52
feeling manifested by General Sully on the occasion of Captain Fielner's death was intense.
5:49:59
A brave office sir, a scientific scholar, and a gentleman of rare social
5:50:03
qualities. He had won upon the kindlier feelings of his associates in rank,
5:50:08
and was respected by all. His untimely death was sincerely mourned by the whole
5:50:14
command. Death by the hand of the enemy had seldom touched that little army,
5:50:21
so seldom that when a companion failed to answer at roll call, his
5:50:25
absence was felt. The only other officer killed during the three years of General
5:50:30
Sully's operations against the Indians was Lieutenant Thomas K. Levitt of Company B,
5:50:36
sixth Iowa Cavalry at the Battle of white Stone Hill in September eighteen sixty three.
5:50:41
After the Indians had been utterly routed, Lieutenant Levitt went through their deserted
5:50:47
camp on foot, his horse having been shot under him, and approaching a
5:50:52
buffalo robe raised it with the point of his saber, revealing an Indian and
5:50:56
squaw, who sprang upon him so suddenly that he had no opportunity to defend
5:51:02
himself, and with their knives, stabbed him in several places. Darkness came
5:51:08
on and separated from his companions, stripped of his clothing, and wounded mortally.
5:51:15
He was all night exposed to bitter cold. Despite his wounds, he
5:51:18
crawled over the ground fully a half mile, was found next morning and conveyed
5:51:23
to camp, where he died soon after. A young man of superior education
5:51:30
of a wealthy family, he relinquished a lucrative position in a bank and enlisted
5:51:34
as a private, but was soon promoted to a lieutenancy, and at the
5:51:38
time of his death was acting a judant general on General Sully's staff. The
5:51:45
emigrant train to be escorted by General Sully's command came across from Minnesota and were
5:51:51
met at a point on the Missouri River, about four hundred miles above Sioux
5:51:55
City. Here the whole party crossed to the west bank of the Missouri,
5:51:59
where they went into camp and remained long enough to recruit their jaded animals preparatory
5:52:04
to a long and fatiguing march into an almost unknown wilderness, jealously guarded by
5:52:11
a savage foe. During this halt, Fort Rice, now one of the
5:52:15
most important fortifications on the Missouri River, was built, and when the march
5:52:22
was resumed, a considerable portion of the command was left to garrison it.
5:52:26
Here also, General Sully learned that all the tribes of the Sioux nation had
5:52:32
congregated in the vicinity of Knife River, determined to resist his passage through their
5:52:37
country, and confident that superior numbers would enable them to annihilate the whole expedition
5:52:44
and gain a rich booty in horses and goods, to say nothing of the
5:52:47
hundreds of scalplocks they hoped to win as trophies of their prowess. About the
5:52:52
middle of July, the expedition took up its march westward, and after a
5:52:56
few days reached Hart River. Meantime, information had been received from Indians employed
5:53:03
as scouts that the enemy had gathered in strong force at a place called taka
5:53:08
a Kuta or Deer Woods, about eighty miles to the northwest, and that
5:53:15
distance out of the proposed route of the expedition. Accordingly, General Sully ordered
5:53:19
the emigrant train and heavy army wagons corralled. Rifle pits were dug, and
5:53:25
as the emigrants were generally well armed, it was deemed necessary to leave only
5:53:30
a small force of cavalry to protect them in case of attack, putting the
5:53:34
balance of the command in light marching order, leaving behind tents and all other
5:53:40
articles not absolutely necessary, The little band of determined men started for the camp
5:53:45
of the enemy. Although the Indians were aware of the contemplated attack, such
5:53:51
was the celerity of General Saley's movements, he came within sight of their camp
5:53:55
at least twenty four hours, sooner than they had thought it possible. The
5:53:59
distance could be accomplished, taking the Indians by surprise, they not having time,
5:54:03
as is their custom, to remove their property and women and children beyond
5:54:08
the reach of danger. I was present with this body of Indians when the
5:54:14
white soldiers, my countrymen, came in sight. Alternating between hope and fear.
5:54:19
My feelings can be better imagined than described. I hoped for deliverance,
5:54:26
yet feared disaster and death to that little army. At one o'clock in the
5:54:30
afternoon. The fight commenced and raged with great fury until night closed on the
5:54:36
scene of conflict, leaving the Whites masters of the field and in possession of
5:54:41
the Indian camp. Early in the day, I, with the women and
5:54:45
children and old men, and such property as could be gathered in our hasty
5:54:49
flight, was sent off so as to be out of the way, not
5:54:53
to impede the flight of the Indians in case of defeat. This was a
5:54:57
terrible blow to the Indian About eight thousand of them were gathered there and their
5:55:03
village, with all their property except their horses and dogs, including all the
5:55:08
stores of provisions they had gathered for the winter, were lost, without shelter,
5:55:14
without food, driven into a barren, desolate region, devoid of game,
5:55:18
death from starvation seemed inevitable. Early next morning, pursuit was commenced,
5:55:25
but after a march of about five miles, was abandoned as the country beyond
5:55:30
was impassable for cavalry. Returning to the scene of the previous day's battle,
5:55:34
General Sully spent several hours in destroying the property abandoned by the Indians in their
5:55:40
flight. Lodge poles were piled together and fired, and into the flames was
5:55:45
cast furs, robes, tents, provisions, and everything that fell into the
5:55:49
hands of the soldiers. That night, the command camped about six miles from
5:55:56
but within sight of the battle ground. Going into camp early in the afternoon.
5:56:00
Picket guards were stationed on the hills, three at a post, and
5:56:04
soon after the camp was thrown into commotion by the appearance of one of the
5:56:08
guard dashing toward camp at the full speed of his horse, with indians in
5:56:14
pursuit. His companions, worn out with the arduous service of the preceding three
5:56:18
days, had laid down to sleep, and before the one remaining on guard
5:56:23
could give the alarm, a body of Indians was close upon them. Discharging
5:56:29
his rifle to arouse his companions, he had barely time to reach his horse
5:56:33
and escape. The bodies of the other two were found next day horribly mutilated,
5:56:38
and that night, being within sight of the battleground, the firelight revealed
5:56:44
the forms of a large body of savages dancing around the burning ruins of their
5:56:48
own homes. Returning to Hart River, General Sully took the emigrants again in
5:56:53
charge and resumed the march toward Idaho. Traversing a country diversified and beautiful as
5:57:00
the sun ever shone upon, presenting at every turn pictures of natural beauty such
5:57:06
as no artist ever represented on canvas, the expedition at last struck the mauve
5:57:11
Terra or bad Lands, a region of the most wildly desolate country conceivable.
5:57:18
No pen of writer nor brush of painter can give faintest idea of its awful
5:57:23
desolation. As the command halted upon the confines of this desert, the mind
5:57:30
naturally reverted to political descriptions of the infernal regions reached in other days. The
5:57:36
bad Lands of Dakota extend from the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers towards
5:57:41
the southwest a distance of about one hundred miles, and are from twenty five
5:57:47
to forty miles in width. The foot of white Man had never trod these
5:57:52
wilds before. The first day's march into this desert carried the expedition ten miles,
5:57:57
only consuming ten ten hours of time, and leaving the forces four miles
5:58:03
from and within sight of the camp. They left in the morning on the
5:58:07
seventh of August. The advance guard were attacked in the afternoon by a large
5:58:12
party of Indians. After a toilsome march of many days, a valley in
5:58:18
the wilderness was reached, presenting an opportunity for rest, and here the first
5:58:22
vegetation was found for the famished horses. In this valley, the troops camped.
5:58:29
The advance guard were brought back, having suffered some from the attack of
5:58:33
the ambushed savages. Next day commenced one of the most memorable battles ever fought
5:58:38
with Indians in the whole experience of the government. The whole Dakota nation,
5:58:45
including the supposed friendly tribes, was concentrated there and numbered fully eight thousand warriors.
5:58:52
Opposed to them was a mere handful comparatively of white men, but they
5:58:56
were led by one skilled in war and who knew the foe he had to
5:59:00
contend against. For three days the fight raged, and finally on the night
5:59:07
of the third day, and after a toilsome march of ten days through the
5:59:11
bad lands, the command reached a broad open country where the savages made a
5:59:15
final desperate stand to drive the invaders back. They were the wild Dacodians,
5:59:22
who had seen but little of the white settlements and had a contemptuous opinion.
5:59:26
But a new lesson was to be learned, and it cost them dearly.
5:59:32
They had seen guns large and small, but the little mountain howitzers from which
5:59:37
shells were sent among them they could not comprehend, and asked the Indian scouts
5:59:41
accompanying the expedition if all the wagons shot twice. Terrible punishment was inflicted upon
5:59:48
the Indians in that three days fight. At the close of the second day,
5:59:55
the brigade wagon master reported that he had discovered the tracks of a white
5:59:57
woman, and believe the Indians held one captive. This was the first intimation
6:00:03
General Sully received of my captivity, and, not having received from the western
6:00:08
posts any report of captures by Indians, thought it must be some half breed
6:00:14
woman who wore the foot gear of civilization. But the sympathetic nature of that
6:00:18
brave noble general was stirred to its depths when his Indian scouts brought in the
6:00:25
report that they had talked with the hostile foe, and they had tauntingly said,
6:00:30
we have a white woman captive. The Indians were badly whipped, and
6:00:36
having accomplished that portion of his mission, General Sully went on with his emigrant
6:00:41
train to the Yellowstone River, and beyond that there were long, toilsome marches,
6:00:45
but no battles. Early in October, the command arrived opposite Fort Rice
6:00:51
and went into camp. The tents of the little band of white warriors were
6:00:56
hardly pitched before word came that Captain Fisk, with a large party of emigrants
6:01:00
and a small escort of soldiers, had been attacked by a large party of
6:01:04
Indians. Had corralled their train and could not move, but were on the
6:01:10
defensive and were confident of holding out until relief should come. They were distant
6:01:15
about one hundred eighty miles, and the sympathetic nature of the veteran, while
6:01:19
it condemned the action of his junior officer, thrilled with an earnest desire to
6:01:25
save the women and children of that apparently doomed train. A detail of men
6:01:30
from each company of the command was made and Captain Fisk and his train of
6:01:34
emigrants rescued from their perilous situation. Here was received proof positive of the fact
6:01:41
that a white woman was held captive by the Indians, and while every man
6:01:47
would have been willing to risk his life for her rescue, and many applications
6:01:51
were made to the General for permission to go out on expedition for that purpose,
6:01:56
he had already adopted such measures as must secure her release. Friendly Indians
6:02:02
who had accompanied the expedition were sent out to visit the various tribes to assure
6:02:07
them of an earnest desire on the part of the Whites for peace, and
6:02:11
invite them to meet at Fort Sully to make a treaty. The result was
6:02:15
that about the latter part of October, the vicinity of the fort presented an
6:02:21
unusual appearance of animation. Several bands had come in in anticipation of the big
6:02:26
feast that had hitherto preceded all talks. Their disappointment may be imagined when they
6:02:33
were told that no talk would be had, nor any feast given, until
6:02:37
they brought in the white woman. Their protestations that she was not their captive
6:02:42
and that they could not get her from the band who held her were of
6:02:47
no avail, and at length tall soldier, who was thought to be friendly,
6:02:52
called for volunteers to go with him for the white woman. About one
6:02:56
hundred Indians responded, and the assurance was given that they would get the captive,
6:03:00
if even at the expense of a fight with those they went to take
6:03:03
her from weeks of painful suspense passed, and then came a letter from the
6:03:10
captive woman, brought by an Indian, in which warning was given of an
6:03:15
intent to capture the fort and murder the garrison. The warning was acted upon,
6:03:19
and when, on the twelfth day of December a large body of Indians
6:03:23
appeared on the bluffs overlooking the fort, that little band of not more than
6:03:27
two hundred men was prepared to give them a warm reception should they come with
6:03:33
hostile intent. Not only were arms in prime condition, but every heart beat
6:03:38
with high resolve. When the cavalcade drew up in front of the fort and
6:03:44
the captive woman, with about twelve of her immediate savage attendants, had passed
6:03:48
through the gates, they were ordered closed, shutting out the main body and
6:03:53
leaving them exposed to a raking fire from the guns in the bastions, But
6:03:57
no attack was made. The Indians seemed to know that the little band of
6:04:03
soldiers were prepared, and went quietly into camp on an island opposite the fort.
6:04:10
Next day a council was held and the terms of the captive's surrender agreed
6:04:14
upon three unserviceable horses to replace ponies left with the Ogallallas by the Blackfeet as
6:04:21
a pledge for the captive's return, also fifty dollars worth of presents, some
6:04:26
provisions, and a promise of a treaty when General Sully should return. The
6:04:32
Indians remained about the fort nearly two weeks, and during that time efforts were
6:04:37
made to induce the captive women to leave the fort and visit them at their
6:04:41
lodges, doubtless with the design of recapturing her. After making the captives some
6:04:45
presence, they bade adieu. Two months later. They returned, apparently very
6:04:52
much disappointed when they found the captive had left for her home. They were
6:04:56
soon again upon the war path end of Chapter twenty eight. In early youth,
6:05:03
far in the distant west, with gentle steps, the fragrant fields you
6:05:07
pressed. Then joy rebounded in thy youthful heart. Nor thought of care or
6:05:14
trouble bore no part the morn of life, whose sky seems ever bright and
6:05:18
distant hills are tinged with crimson light. When hope bright, hope, by
6:05:23
flowing fancies driven filled thy young heart with raptured thoughts of heaven. Twas there
6:05:30
neath yonder glorious western sky, where noble forests wave their heads on high,
6:05:37
and gentle zephyrs filled with rich perfume, swept or vast prairies in undying bloom,
6:05:44
And there where silvery lakes and rippling streams go murmuring through the hills and
6:05:48
valleys green and birds sing gaily as they soar along in gentle notes their ever
6:05:53
welcome song. Twas there was past, thy youthful life away, and all
6:06:00
became a dread reality, then wooed and wedded to the one you loved as
6:06:06
partner of thy life. All else above to share thy brightest hopes or gloomy
6:06:11
fears, or mingle in thy smiles or gushing tears, to be to thee
6:06:15
a constant bosom friend, faithful and true till life's last hours should end.
6:06:22
Those days and years so pleasantly passed by no tears of grief, Thy bosom
6:06:27
knew no sigh. But ah, those days, those halcyon days, are
6:06:32
past, those sunny hours, they were too sweet to last. For far
6:06:37
out o'er the broadest prairie plain. Onward you pressed a distant home to gain
6:06:42
days, even weeks so pleasantly pasted o'er that memory brought back those sweet days
6:06:48
of yore, those days of thy youth for which you did sigh. But
6:06:52
ne'er did ye think that some soon should die. For days of sadness,
6:06:59
those days that come to to all, from the humblest cot to the palace
6:07:03
hall. When gathering darkness cloud the clear blue sky, our brightest prospects,
6:07:07
all in ruin lie, while gathering round the camp at close of day,
6:07:12
as the sun set forth her last but lingering ray, the war whoop of
6:07:17
the Sioux Indian band was heard. They come, and all surrounded stand a
6:07:23
moment more, and then around thee lay. As the dark smoke had cleared
6:07:27
itself away, the lifeless forms of those in horror slain, and thou alas
6:07:33
the only one remain. No bosom friend, no counselor is near to soothe
6:07:40
thy troubled breast or quell thy fear. Those dearest by all earthly ties are
6:07:45
fled, And you, a captive, stood among the dead for months,
6:07:51
in bondage to the savage band, with none to rescue from his cruel hand,
6:07:56
to rove with them, or prairies far and wild, from thy husband
6:08:00
and thy murdered child. No star of hope nor sun's resplendent light sends down
6:08:07
one gleam upon this fearful night, no power to pierce the dark and hidden
6:08:11
gloom that veils the heart. While in this earthly tomb, but lo a
6:08:17
change, a wondrous change to thee once held a captive, but now from
6:08:22
bondage free, The Great Jehovah reigns. His arm is strong. He sets
6:08:27
the captive free, though waiteth long, and turns the darkest hours of midnight
6:08:33
gloom into the effulgent brightness of noon. W. S v H. Certificate
6:08:41
of Indian Chiefs personally appeared before me. A notary public for the District of
6:08:47
Columbia, Missus Fanny Kelly, who is at this time a citizen of the
6:08:52
state of Kansas and being duly sworn, deposes and says that in the year
6:08:56
eighteen sixty four, she started from Jene Niva, Allen County, Kansas,
6:09:02
for the purpose of settling with her husband and family in Montana, and for
6:09:07
this purpose she with her husband took all the goods and chattels they had,
6:09:11
which are enumerated below with a mountain value. She further says she is now
6:09:17
a widow and has a family to support, but she was for many months
6:09:22
a prisoner and taken captive by a band of the Sioux Indians, at the
6:09:26
time at war with the white people and with the United States, as follows,
6:09:32
on the twelfth day of July eighteen sixty four, while on the usually
6:09:36
traveled road across the plains and west of Fort Laramie, she with her husband
6:09:41
and family with several other persons were attacked by these Indians, and five of
6:09:45
the party were killed while she was taken captive. That the Indians took or
6:09:52
destroyed all they had. She was a captive for five months, suffered hardships
6:09:56
and taunts, and was finally delivered to the military authorities of the United States
6:10:02
in Dakota at Fort Sully. That the following is a statement of their goods
6:10:07
and effects, including stock. As near as she can remember, the whole
6:10:11
account was made out and placed, as she is informed, in the hands
6:10:15
of doctor Burley, late delegate from Dakota, but which she cannot find at
6:10:19
this time. The amount and the leading items she knows to be as follows
6:10:26
omission. Fannie Kelly subscribed and sworn to before me this twenty fourth day of
6:10:32
February a d eighteen seventy. James H. McKenny, Notary Public, Washington
6:10:37
County, d C. City of Washington, District of Columbia, June eighth,
6:10:44
eighteen seventy. We, the undersigned Chiefs and head men of the Dakota
6:10:48
or Sioux Indians, do hereby acknowledge and certify to the facts set forth in
6:10:53
the foregoing affidavit of Missus Fanny Kelly as to her captivity and to the destruction
6:11:00
of her property by members of our nation. We acknowledge the justness of her
6:11:03
claim against us for the loss of her goods, and desire that the same
6:11:08
may be paid her out of any monies now do our nation, or that
6:11:12
may become doe us by annuity or by any appropriation made by Congress. And
6:11:18
we would respectfully request that the amount as set forth in the foregoing bill be
6:11:23
paid to Missus Fanny Kelly by the Department, out of any funds that may
6:11:27
now or hereafter belong to us. Spotted Taiale, Chief of the Bruel Sioux
6:11:33
swift bear, Chief of the Bruel Sioux fast Bear Warrior, Bruel Sue,
6:11:40
Yellow hair Warrior, Bruel Sue. I certify that I was present when the
6:11:45
above statement was signed by said Bruel Sioux chiefs and warriors, and that the
6:11:51
same was fully explained to them before they subscribed to same by the interpreter Charles
6:11:56
E. Gueru Sue Interpreter, Washington, d C. June ninth, eighteen
6:12:02
seventy, witnessed by de Witt C. Pool, Captain U S. Army
6:12:07
and Agent for Sioux Indians. Red Cloud, Red Dog, Rocky Bear,
6:12:12
long Wolf, Sword, setting Bear, Little Bear, Yellow. I certify
6:12:18
that I was present when the above statement was signed by the Ogolaala chiefs and
6:12:22
warriors, and that the same was fully explained to them before they subscribed to
6:12:27
the same by the interpreter John Richard witness Jewele's Coffee, Washington, d C.
6:12:36
June eleventh, eighteen seventy. Little Swan, Pretty Bear, Black Tomahawk,
6:12:41
red feather. I certify on honor that I was present when the above
6:12:45
statement was signed by the said chiefs and warriors of the Minnecannon and South Arks
6:12:51
bands of Sioux Indians, and that the same was fully explained to them by
6:12:56
Basil Clemens interpreter, witness F. D. Curtis, George M. Randall,
6:13:03
Captain and Brevet Major, USA, Indian Agent, New York, July
6:13:07
fourteenth, eighteen seventy certified copies of my correspondence with Captain Fisk, Washington,
6:13:15
d C. January thirteenth, eighteen sixty five. L. Thomas, a
6:13:21
Judent General, USA, Washington, d C. General. We made our
6:13:26
start from Fort Ridgeley, where I had received the kindest attentions and important favors
6:13:32
from the officers in charge. On the afternoon of the fifteenth of July,
6:13:37
the truce a captive white woman. Soon there was a gathering of what appeared
6:13:41
to be all the Indians about on an eminence of prairie one mile away and
6:13:47
in full sight of the camp. There came from the crowd three unarmed warriors
6:13:51
toward the train, holding up a white flag, which they planted in the
6:13:55
ground about seven hundred yards off, and then retired. This was an unexpected
6:14:00
face to the affair. While we were making extra preparations for war, there
6:14:04
came a truce. I sent Mitchell, my brave and efficient officer of the
6:14:08
Guard, with two sous half bred interpreters to ascertain the meaning of this overture.
6:14:15
They found, on reaching the ground a letter stuck in a stick and
6:14:19
directed to me, without pausing to converse with the Indians, who were a
6:14:23
few rods distant. My assistant returned to camp with the letter. That letter
6:14:29
appeared to have been written by a white woman, a captive in the hands
6:14:33
of the Indians, and read as follows. Makatumke says he will not fight
6:14:38
wagons, for they have been fighting two days. They had many killed by
6:14:42
the goods they brought into camp. They tell me what to write. I
6:14:47
do not understand them. I was taken by them July twelve. They say
6:14:52
for the soldiers to give forty head of cattle. Hehuta Lunka says he fights
6:14:57
not, but they have been fighting. Be kind to them and try to
6:15:02
free me. For mercy's sake. I was taken by them July twelve,
6:15:07
signed missus Kelly, buy me if you can, and you will be satisfied.
6:15:11
They have killed many whites. Help me if you can. Uncapapas they
6:15:18
put words in and I have to obey. They say for the wagons they
6:15:22
are fighting, for them to go on, but I fear the result of
6:15:25
this battle. The Lord have mercy on you. Do not move. I
6:15:30
replied to this letter as follows, Missus Kelly, if you are really a
6:15:34
white woman captive in the hands of these Indians, I shall be glad to
6:15:38
buy you and restore you to your friends. And if a few unarmed Indians
6:15:42
will deliver you at the place where your letter was received, I will send
6:15:47
there for them three good American horses and take you to our camp. I
6:15:52
cannot allow any party of Indians, few or many, to come to my
6:15:56
train or camp while in this country. Tell them I shall move when I
6:16:02
get ready, and halt as long as I think proper. I want no
6:16:06
advice or favor from the Indians who attacked, but am prepared to fight them
6:16:11
as long as they choose to make war. I do not in the least
6:16:15
fear the result of this battle, hoping that you may be handed to us
6:16:18
at once for the offer I have made. I am truly signed, James
6:16:23
L. Fisk, Captain commanding. The above letter was sent back by the
6:16:29
Indian messenger, and we awaited the result. In the afternoon, we received
6:16:33
the following reply. I am truly a white woman and now in sight of
6:16:38
your camp. But they will not let me go. They say they will
6:16:42
not fight, but don't trust them. They say, how d ye do
6:16:48
they say they want you to give them sugar, coffee, flour, gunpowder.
6:16:52
But give them nothing till you can see me for yourself. But induce
6:16:56
them taking me first. They want for wagons and they will stop fighting.
6:17:02
They want forty cattle to eat. I have to write what they tell me.
6:17:06
They want you to come here. You know better than that. His
6:17:10
name Chatvanko, and the others named Porcupine. Read to yourself. Some of
6:17:15
them speak English. They say this is their ground. They say go home
6:17:21
and come back no more. The Fort Laramie soldiers have been after me,
6:17:26
but they the Indians run so and they say they want knives and axes and
6:17:30
arrow iron to shoot buffalo. Tell them to wait and go to town and
6:17:36
they can get them. I would give them anything for liberty. Induce them
6:17:41
to show me before you give anything. They are very anxious for you to
6:17:45
move now, do not. I implore you, for your life's sake.
6:17:48
Fanny Kelly, my residents formerly Geneva, Allen County, Kansas. I returned
6:17:56
by the Indian the following reply, Dear madame, your second communication convinces me
6:18:03
that you are what you profess to be, a captive white woman, and
6:18:07
you may be assured that myself and my party are eager for release, But
6:18:11
for the present I cannot accede to the demands or gratify the wants of your
6:18:15
captors. We are sent on an important trust and mission by order of the
6:18:19
Great War Chief at Washington westward to the Mountain region, with a small party
6:18:26
of well armed and determined men, feeling entirely capable of defending ourselves. But
6:18:32
we are not a war party, and our train is not intended for war
6:18:36
purposes. Powder and shot we have but no presents for the hostile Indians.
6:18:41
I am an officer of the government, but am not authorized by my instructions
6:18:47
to give anything but destruction to Indians who try to stop me on my march.
6:18:52
However, I will for your release give three of my own horses,
6:18:56
some flowers, sugar and coffee, or a load of supplies. Tell the
6:19:02
Indians to go back for the night and tomorrow at noon if they will send
6:19:06
you with five men to deliver you to my soldiers on the mound we occupied
6:19:10
today, their main body not to advance beyond their present position. I will
6:19:15
hand over to them the horses and provisions which they will be permitted to take
6:19:19
away to their headquarters. Should there be occasion, the same opportunity for communicating
6:19:26
will be granted Tomorrow. The Great Spirit tells me that you will yet be
6:19:30
safely returned to your friends, and that all wrongs that have been committed on
6:19:34
the defenseless and innocent shall be avenged. In warmest sympathy, I am Madame
6:19:41
James L. Fisk, Captain and aq M USA, with high regard.
6:19:48
I have the honor to be yours very truly, James L. Fisk,
6:19:52
Captain and aq M Commanding Expedition A Judent General's Office, Washington, March seventeen,
6:20:00
King eighteen seventy Official Extract William Beach, Assistant to Judent General, Statement
6:20:07
of Lieutenant G. A. Hesselberger, Washington, d C. February sixteenth,
6:20:12
eighteen seventy to the Honorable James Harlan, Chairman Committee of Indian Affairs U
6:20:18
S. Senate, Sir, I have the honor to make the following statement
6:20:22
in relation to the captivity and release of Missus Fanny Kelly. In the summer
6:20:27
of eighteen sixty four, an expedition under the command of General Alfred Sully USA
6:20:34
started against the hostile Sioux in Dakota Territory of which expedition I was a member,
6:20:40
being then an officer first lieutenant in the sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. Whilst
6:20:47
on the expedition, we ascertained that Missus Fanny Kelly was a prisoner of the
6:20:51
Indians that we were then engaged against. After the command returned to Fort Rice
6:20:56
in Dakota Territory, news was received from Captain Fisk, an officer of the
6:21:02
Engineer Department USA, that he was surrounded and his train corralled by the same
6:21:07
Indians that we had been fighting. I with others saw Fisk and was personally
6:21:12
told by him that he had received notes and letters of warning from Missus Kelly,
6:21:18
telling him that he must not break his train, and that the Indians
6:21:22
intended to fall upon the two portions if he did, and to massacre his
6:21:26
guard and the emigrants and children with him in the fall. After the expedition
6:21:33
had been abandoned, the troops were scattered at different posts along the Missouri River,
6:21:37
I, with my company being left at Fort Sully, Dakota Territory about
6:21:42
the latter part of November, an Indian came inside the post. I,
6:21:48
being officer of the day asked him what he wanted. He said he came
6:21:52
a long way and wanted to know if I was the big chief. If
6:21:56
so, he had a paper for me to see. He gave it to
6:22:00
me. It was a sheet torn out of a business book and numbered seventy
6:22:03
six in the corner. The substance of the letter was as follows. I
6:22:08
write this letter and send it by this Indian, but don't know whether you
6:22:12
will get it, as they are very treacherous. They have lied to me
6:22:17
so often. They have promised to bring me to town nearly every day.
6:22:21
I wish you could do something to get me away from them. If they
6:22:25
do bring me to town, be guarded, as they are making all kinds
6:22:29
of threats and preparations for an attack. I have made a pencil of a
6:22:33
bullet so it might be hard to read. Please treat this Indian well.
6:22:37
If you don't, they might kill me. After having the Indian remained for
6:22:42
a few days and giving him plenty to eat, he was sent on his
6:22:47
return with a letter to missus Kelly. A short time after this, one
6:22:52
morning we discovered back of the fort on the hill a large body of Indians.
6:22:56
The commanding officer was notified of the fan. He immediately gave orders to
6:23:02
prepare the fort for defense. Since the warning received from missus Kelly, we
6:23:07
had been unusually watchful of the Indians. The fort was poorly constructed, having
6:23:12
been built by soldiers for winter quarters. The Indians were notified not to approach
6:23:18
the fort, and only the chiefs, who number ten or twelve were allowed
6:23:22
to come inside the gates, bringing with them missus Kelly, and when inside
6:23:26
the fort, the gates were immediately closed, shutting out the body of Indians,
6:23:32
who numbered about one thousand to twelve hundred. A bargain was made for
6:23:37
her and the articles agreed upon were delivered for her in exchange. I believe,
6:23:42
and it was the opinion of others, that the advice and warning of
6:23:45
missus Kelly was very valuable to us and was instrumental in putting us on our
6:23:51
guard and enabled us to ward off the threatened attack of the Indians. In
6:23:56
my opinion, had the Indians attacked the fort, they could have captured it.
6:24:02
The day that missus Kelly was brought into the fort was one of the
6:24:06
coldest I ever experienced, and she was very poorly clad, having scarcely anything
6:24:11
to protect her person. Her limbs, hands and face were terribly frozen,
6:24:17
and she was put in the hospital at Fort Sully, where she remained for
6:24:21
a long time nearly two months for treatment. Signed G. A. Hesselberger,
6:24:26
First Lieutenant, U. S. Army, Residence, Leavenworth City,
6:24:32
Treasury Department, Second Auditor's Office, June third, eighteen seventy. The foregoing
6:24:37
is a correct copy of the statement of Lieutenant Hesselberger on file in this office.
6:24:42
E. B. French Statement of Officers and Members of the sixth Iowa
6:24:48
Cavalry. We, the undersigned late officers and members of the sixth Iowa Cavalry,
6:24:55
being duly sworn, do hereby depose and say that, during the winter
6:24:59
of the year eighteen sixty four, in eighteen sixty five, the said sixth
6:25:03
Iowa Cavalry was stationed and doing military duty at Fort Sally in the Territory of
6:25:10
Dakota, that we, in our respective military capacities were present during the winter
6:25:15
stated at the aforesaid post of Fort Sally. Opponents further say that on or
6:25:21
about the sixth day of December in the year eighteen sixty four, an Indian
6:25:26
appeared before the fort and signified to the officer of the day, Lieutenant G.
6:25:30
A. Hesselberger, that he had something to communicate to those within the
6:25:34
fort, and the said Indian was allowed to enter, and he presented to
6:25:38
the commanding officer, Major A. E. House, of the regiment before
6:25:44
stated a note or letter, which letter we all thoroughly knew the purport of,
6:25:48
and it was seen and read by Blank. It was written or purported
6:25:52
to be by one missus Fanny Kelly, who represented herself as a captive in
6:25:57
the hands of certain Blackfeetsie Indians, and that under a pretext of delivering her
6:26:03
up to her people, they intended attacking the town or village to which they
6:26:07
purposed going. Deponents further say that at the time of the receipt of this
6:26:12
letter, the said Fort Sully was not in such a state of defense as
6:26:17
would have enabled the garrison to hold it against the attack of any considerable body
6:26:22
of men, that in consequence of the receipt of said letter, Major House
6:26:26
brought the cannon in position to bear on all sides of the fort, and
6:26:30
otherwise ordered and disposed of the garrison to withstand any attempt to capture or destroy
6:26:36
the fort. Deponents further say that on or about the ninth day of December,
6:26:41
the said Missus Fanny Kelly was brought in as a captive and delivered by
6:26:45
the Indians to the commanding officer at Fort Saley. That the Indians came up
6:26:51
to the fort painted in war paint and singing their war songs, that as
6:26:56
soon as Missus Kelly was within the gates of the fort, they were closed,
6:27:00
and all the Indians, save those who had her directly in charge,
6:27:03
were shut out from entrance into said fort. Deponents further say that they verily
6:27:10
believe from information then gained and from that which they afterward learned, it was
6:27:15
the intention of the Indians to attack the fort, and they were only prevented
6:27:19
from doing so by the preparations which the letter of warning from the said Missus
6:27:25
Fanny Kelly had induced the commanding officer to make. And they verily believed that
6:27:30
had the attack been made without such preparations, it would have resulted in the
6:27:34
capture of the fort and the massacre of its inmates. And such was the
6:27:40
expressed opinion of nearly all the members of the said sixth Iowa Cavalry then stationed
6:27:45
therein. And further, deponents say not signed. John Logan, Captain Company
6:27:52
K sixth Regiment, Iowa Cavalry. Dean Cheadle, O. S. Sixth
6:27:57
Regiment, Iowa Cavalry. John M. Williams, q. MS sixth Regiment,
6:28:03
Iowa Cavalry. John McGee, Sergeant Company H sixth Regiment, Iowa Cavalry.
6:28:10
John Cooper, Corporal Company, K sixth Regiment, Iowa Cavalry. Merret
6:28:15
M. Oakley, Corporal Company, H sixth Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, personally
6:28:22
appeared before me A. J. McKean, Clerk of the District Court,
6:28:26
Lynn County, State of Iowa, and made solemn oath that the foregoing is
6:28:30
true and correct in all particulars, and that neither of the parties hereto subscribing
6:28:37
is interested in any way in any effort which the said missus Kelly may make
6:28:41
or has made for idemnity. On this twenty second day of January A d.
6:28:47
Eighteen seventy A. J. McKean, Clerk, District Court, Lynn
6:28:52
County, Iowa, Treasury Department, Second Auditor's Office, December second, eighteen
6:28:57
seventy I by the foregoing to be a true copy of the original held in
6:29:03
this office. E. B. French, Second Auditor. The memoranda below
6:29:08
are written with pencil. Captain Logan was the officer of the day when missus
6:29:14
Kelly was brought into the fort. Solly John Macgee, Sergeant, Company H
6:29:19
sixth Iowa Cavalry, was sergeant of the guard at the same time to Honorable
6:29:25
James Harlan U. S. S. And Honorable William Smith, m C.
6:29:30
Second Congressional District, Iowa Gentlemen. I was at Fort Sully when the
6:29:36
arrangement was made for the capture of this woman. Was not there when the
6:29:40
Indians brought her into the fort. But am satisfied that the above affidavit in
6:29:45
the main is correct. Signed T. S. Bardwell, Late Assistant Surgeon,
6:29:49
sixth Iowa Cavalry, Treasury Department, Second Auditor's Office, December twenty fourth,
6:29:56
eighteen seventy. I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the
6:30:00
original filed in this office. E. B. French, Second Auditor,
6:30:07
end of Section twenty nine