University of Virginia Library

2. CHAPTER II.

But yesterday the Dahcotahs and Chippeways, foes from
time immemorial, feasted and danced together, for there
was peace between them. They had promised to bury the
hatchet; the Chippeways danced near the fort, and the

Dahcotahs presented them with blankets and pipes, guns
and powder, and all that the savage deems valuable. Afterwards,
the Dahcotahs danced, and the generous Chippeways
exceeded them in the number and value of their gifts. As
evening approached, the bands mingled their amusements—
together they contended in the foot-race, or, stretching
themselves upon the grass, played at checkers.

The Chippeways had paid their annual visit of friendship
at Fort Snelling, and, having spent their time happily,
they were about to return to their homes. Their wise men
said they rejoiced that nothing had occurred to disturb the
harmony of the two tribes. But their vicinity to the Fort
prevented any outbreak; had there been no such restraint
upon their actions, each would have sought the life of his
deadly foe.

“Hole in the Day” was the chief of the Chippeways.
He owed his station to his own merit; his bravery and firmness
had won the respect and admiration of the tribe when
he was but a warrior, and they exalted him to the honor of
being their chief. Deeds of blood marked his course, yet
were his manners gentle and his voice low. There was a
dignity and a courtesy about his every action that would
have well befitted a courtier.

He watched with interest the trials of strength between
the young men of his own tribe and the Dahcotahs. When
the latter celebrated one of their national feasts, when they
ate the heart of the dog while it was warm with life, just torn
from the animal, with what contempt did he gaze upon them!

The amusements of the dog feast, or dance, have closed,
and the Chippeway chief has signified to his warriors that
they were to return home on the following day. He expressed

a wish to see several of the chiefs of the Daheotahs,
and a meeting having been obtained, he thus addressed
them—

“Warriors! it has been the wish of our great father
that we should be friends; blood enough has been shed on
both sides. But even if we preferred to continue at war,
we must do as our great father says. The Indian's glory
is passing away; they are as the setting sun; while the
white man is as the sun rising in all his power. We are
the falling leaves; the whites are the powerful horses that
trample them under foot. We are about to return home,
and it is well that nothing has happened to occasion strife
between us. But I wish you to know that there are two
young men among us who do not belong to my band. They
are pillagers, belonging to another band, and they may be
troublesome. I wish you to tell your young men of this,
that they may be on their guard.”

After smoking together, the chiefs separated. “Hole in
the Day” having thus done all that he deemed proper, returned
with his warriors to his teepee.

Early in the morning the Chippeways encamped near
St. Anthony's falls; the women took upon themselves all
the fatigue and labor of the journey, the men carrying only
the implements of war and hunting. The Chippeway
chief was the husband of three wives, who were sisters;
and, strange to say, when an Indian fancies more than one
wife, he is fortunate if he can obtain sisters, for they generally
live in harmony, while wives who are not related are
constantly quarreling; and the husband does not often
interfere, even if words are changed to blows.

In the mean time, the two pillagers were lurking about;

now remaining a short time with the camp of the Chippeways,
now absenting themselves for a day or two. But while
the Chippeways were preparing to leave the Falls, the pillagers
were in the neighborhood of Fort Snelling. They
had accompanied Hole in the Day's band, with the determination
of killing an enemy. The ancient feud still
rankled in their hearts; as yet they had had no opportunity
of satisfying their thirst for blood; but on this morning they
were concealed in the bushes, when Red Boy and Beloved
Hail, two Dahcotahs, were passing on horseback. It was
but a moment—and the deed was done. Both the Chippeways
fired, and Beloved Hail fell.

Red Boy was wounded, but not badly; he hurried in to
tell the sad news, and the two Chippeways were soon out
of the power of their enemies. They fled, it is supposed,
to Missouri.

The friends of the dead warrior immediately sought his
body, and brought it to the house of the interpreter. There
his friends came together; and as they entered one by one,
on every side pressing forward to see the still, calm, features
of the young man; they threw on the body their blankets,
and other presents, according to their custom of honoring
the dead.

Troops are kept at Fort Snelling, not only as a protection
to the whites in the neighborhood, but to prevent, if possible,
difficulties between the different bands of Indians; and
as every year brings the Chippeways to Fort Snelling,
either to transact business with the government or on a
visit of pleasure, the Chippeways and Dahcotahs must be
frequently thrown together. The commanding officer of
the garrison notifies the two bands, on such occasions, that

no hostilities will be permitted; so there is rarely an occurrence
to disturb their peace.

But now it is impossible to restrain the excited passions
of the Dahcotahs. Capt. B—, who was then in command
at Fort Snelling, sent word to the Chippeway chief
of the murder that had been committed, and requested him
to bring all his men in, as the murderer must be given up.

But this did not satsfy the Dahcotahs; they longed to
raise the tomahawk which they held in their hands. They
refused to wait, but insisted upon following the Chippeways
and revenging themselves; the arguments of the agent and
other friends of the Dahcotahs were unavailing; nothing
would satisfy them but blood. The eyes, even of the women,
sparkled with delight, at the prospect of the scalps
they would dance round; while the mother of Beloved Hail
was heard to call for the scalp of the murderer of her son!

Seeing the chiefs determined on war, Capt. B—
told them he would cease to endeavor to change their intentions;
“but as soon” said he, “as you attack the Chippeways,
will I send the soldiers to your villages; and who
will protect your wives and children?”

This had the desired effect, and the warriors, seeing the
necessity of waiting for the arrival of the Chippeways, became
more calm.

Hole in the Day with his men came immediately to the
Fort, where a conference was held at the gate. There
were assembled about three hundred Dahcotahs and seventy
Chippeways, with the officers of the garrison and the Indian
agent.

It was ascertained that the murder had been committed
by the two pillagers, for none of the other Chippeway warriors

had been absent from the camp. Hole in the Day,
however, gave up two of his men, as hostages to be kept at
Fort Snelling until the murderers should be given up.

The Dahcotahs, being obliged for the time to defer the
hope of revenge, returned to their village to bury their
dead.