University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XXVII.

Mr. Kelly's sudden death, my own sickness, and
the scourge of cholera, all coming at one time, proved
disastrous to me in a pecuniary way. I was defrauded
in every way, even to the robbing of my husband's
body of the sum of five hundred dollars the day of his
death. However, I finally disposed of the remnant
of property left, and started for Wyoming, where lived
the only persons beside myself who survived the attack
on our train. They had prospered, and in a spirit of
kindness, as I then thought, invited and prevailed on
me to share their home.

It proved a most disastrous move for me. My
leisure hours, since my release from captivity, had
been devoted to preparing for publication, in book
form, a narrative of my experience and adventures
among the Indians, and it was completed. The
manuscript was surreptitiously taken, and a garbled,
imperfect account of my captivity issued as the
experience of my false friend, who, by the aid of an

Indian, escaped after a durance of only one day and
night.

I remained in Wyoming one year, then started for
Washington, resolved to present a claim to the Government
for losses sustained at the hands of the Indians.
I knew what difficulties beset my path, but
duty to my child urged me on, and I was not without,
some hope of success.

After learning of my captivity through Captain
Fisk, President Lincoln had issued orders to the different
military commanders that my freedom from the
Indians must be purchased at any price; and my sad
story was well known to the then existing authorities
when I arrived in Washington.

President Grant, learning through a friend from
Colorado of my presence, sent for me, and assured me
of his warmest sympathy. He was cognizant of what
had already transpired relative to me, and told me the
papers were on file in the War Department, in charge
of General Sherman.

In presenting my claim, many difficulties had to be
encountered; but members of Congress, realizing that
some compensation was due me, and understanding the
delay that would result from a direct application to the
Indian Bureau, introduced a bill appropriating to me
five thousand dollars for valuable services rendered the
Government in saving Captain Fisk's train from destruction,
and by timely warning saving Fort Sully

from pillage, and its garrison from being massacred.
This was done without my having any knowledge of it
until after the bill had passed both houses of Congress
and become a law.

During my stay in Washington, Red Cloud, and a
delegation of chiefs and head warriors from the different
tribes of the Dakota or Sioux nation, arrived.
They all recognized me as once having been with
their people, and seemed quite rejoiced at the meeting.

Some of the good Christian people of the city extended
to the Indians, through me, an invitation to
attend church one Sabbath, which I made known to
Red Cloud, telling him of the great organ, the fine
music they would hear, and of the desire the good
people had to benefit their souls.

Red Cloud replied with dignity that he did not have
to go to the big house to talk to the Great Spirit; he
could sit in his tipi or room, and the Great Spirit
would listen. The Great Spirit was not where the big
music was. No, he would not go.

None of the Indians accepted the invitation; but
some of the squaws went, escorted to the church in elegant
carriages; but they soon left in disgust. The dazzling
display of fine dresses, the beautiful church, and
the "big music"—none of these had interest for them,
if unaccompanied by a feast.

I attended several of the councils held with the Indians.

At one of them, Bed Cloud addressed Secretary
Cox and Commissioner Parker in a lengthy speech on
the subject of his grievances, in which he referred to
me as follows. Pointing me out to the Secretary and
Commissioner, he said:

"Look at that woman; she was captured by Silver
Horn's party. I wish you to pay her what her captors
owe her. I am a man true to what I say, and want to
keep my promise. I speak for all my nation. The
Indians robbed that lady there, and through your influence
I want her to be paid out of the first money
due us." Placing his finger first upon the breast of
the Secretary and then of the Commissioner, as if to
add emphasis to what he was about to say, he added,
"Pay her out of our money; do not give the money
into any but her own hands; then the right one will
get it."

In one of my interviews with the chiefs, Red Cloud,
Spotted Tail, and others desired me to get up a paper
setting forth my claims against their people, and they
would sign it. I accordingly made out a bill of items
and presented it to them, with my affidavit, and a
statement setting forth the circumstances of capture and
robbery, which was fully explained to them by their
interpreter.

This document the chiefs representing the different
bands signed readily. It is inserted elsewhere, with
other documents corroborative of the truth of this narrative.

It is also signed by another delegation of chiefs
I met in New York.

With this last interview with the delegation of Indians
I met in New York ends, I trust forever, my
experience with Indians. The preparation of the manuscript
for this plain, simple narrative of facts in my experience,
has not been without its pangs. It has seemed,
while writing it, as if with the narration of each incident,
I was living over again the fearful life I led while
a captive; and often have I laid aside the pen to get
rid of the feelings which possessed me. But my task
is completed; and with the ending of this chapter, I
hope to lay aside forever all regretful remembrances of
my captivity, and, looking only at the silvery lining
to be found in every cloud, enjoy the happiness which
every one may find in child-like trust in Him who
ordereth all things well.