 | CHAPTER XXVIII. Narrative of my captivity among the Sioux Indians. |  |
CERTIFIED COPIES OF MY CORRESPONDENCE
WITH CAPTAIN FISK.
Washington, D. C.
GENERAL:
* * * * * *
We made our start from Fort Ridgley, where I had
received the kindest attentions and important favors
from the officers in charge, on the afternoon of the 15th
of July.
THE TRUCE—A CAPTIVE WHITE WOMAN.
Soon there was a gathering of what appeared to be
all the Indians about, on an eminence of prairie one
mile away, and in full sight of the camp. There came
from the crowd three unarmed warriors toward the
train, holding up a white flag which they planted in
the ground about seven hundred yards off, and then
retired.
This was an unexpected phase to the affair. While
we were making extra preparations for war, there came
a truce. I sent Mitchell, my brave and efficient officer
of the guard, with two Sioux half-bred interpreters to
on reaching the ground, a letter stuck in a stick, and
directed to me. Without pausing to converse with
the Indians, who were a few rods distant, my assistant
returned to camp with the letter. That letter appeared
to have been written by a white woman, a captive in
the hands of the Indians, and read as follows:
"Makatunke says he will not fight wagons, for they
have been fighting two days. They had many killed
by the goods they brought into camp. They tell me
what to write. I do not understand them. I was
taken by them July 12. They say for the soldiers to
give forty head of cattle.
"Hehutalunca says he fights not, but they have been
fighting. Be kind to them, and try to free me, for
mercy's sake.
"I was taken by them July 12.
have killed many whites. Help me if you can.
they say for the wagons they are fighting for them to
go on. But I fear the result of this battle. The
Lord have mercy on you. Do not move."
I replied to this letter as follows:
"If you are really a white woman captive in the
hands of these Indians, I shall be glad to buy you and
restore you to your friends, and if a few unarmed Indians
will deliver you at the place where your letter
American horses, and take you to our camp.
"I can not allow any party of Indians, few or many,
to come to my train, or camp, while in this country.
"Tell them I shall move when I get ready, and halt
as long as I think proper. I want no advice or favor
from the Indians who attacked, but am prepared to
fight them as long as they choose to make war. I do
not, in the least, fear the result of this battle.
"Hoping that you may be handed to us at once for
the offer I have made,
The above letter was sent back by the Indian messenger,
and we awaited the result. In the afternoon
we received the following reply:
"I am truly a white woman, and now in sight of
your camp, but they will not let me go. They say
they will not fight, but don't trust them. They say,
'How d'ye do.' They say they want you to give them
sugar, coffee, flour, gunpowder, but give them nothing
till you can see me for yourself, but induce them, taking
me first. They want four wagons, and they will stop
fighting. They want forty cattle to eat; I have to write
what they tell me. They want you to come here—you
know better than that. His name Chatvanco and the
other's name Porcupine. Read to yourself, some of
them can talk English. They say this is their ground.
They, say, 'Go home and come back no more.' The
Fort Laramie soldiers have been after me, but they
(the Indians) run so; and they say they want knives
and axes and arrow-iron to shoot buffalo. Tell them
to wait and go to town, and they can get them. I
would give them any thing for liberty. Induce them
anxious for you to move now. Do not, I implore you
for your life's sake.
Kansas."
I returned by the Indian the following reply:
"Your second communication convinces me that you
are what you profess to be, a captive white woman,
and you may be assured that myself and my party
are eager for release, but for the present I can not
accede to the demands, or gratify the wants of your
captors. We are sent on an important trust and mission,
by order of the great War Chief at Washington,
westward to the mountain region, with a small party
of well-armed and determined men, feeling entirely
capable of defending ourselves; but we are not a war
party, and our train is not intended for war purposes.
Powder and shot we have, but no presents for the
hostile Indians.
"I am an officer of the Government, but am not
authorized, by my instructions to give any thing but
destruction to Indians who try to stop me on my
march. However, I will, for your release, give three
of my own horses, some flour, sugar, and coffee, or a
load of supplies. Tell the Indians to go back for the
night, and to-morrow at noon, if they will send you
with five men to deliver you to my soldiers on the
mound we occupied to-day, their main body not to
advance beyond their present position, I will hand
over to them the horses and provisions, which they will
be permitted to take away to their headquarters.
"Should there be occasion, the same opportunity for
communicating will be granted to-morrow.
"The Great Spirit tells me that you will yet be safely
returned to your friends, and that all wrongs that
have been committed on the defenseless and innocent
shall be avenged.
"In warmest sympathy, I am, Madam,
"Capt. and A. Q. M. U.S.A."
* * * * * * *
With high regard, I have the honor to be,
Capt. and A. Q. M. Commanding Expedition.
Washington, March 17, 1870.
Official Extract.
Assistant Adjutant General.
| CHAPTER XXVIII. Narrative of my captivity among the Sioux Indians. | |