University of Virginia Library

4. CHAPTER IV.

Who that has seen Fort Snelling will not bear testimony
to its beautiful situation! Whichever way we turn, nature
calls for our admiration. But beautiful as it is by
day, it is at night that its majesty and loveliness speak to
the soul. Look to the north, (while the Aurora Borealis is
flashing above us, and the sound of the waters of St. Anthony's
Falls meets the ear,) the high bluffs of the Mississippi
seem to guard its waters as they glide along. To the
south, the St. Peter's has wandered off, preferring gentle
prairies to rugged cliffs. To the east we see the “meeting
of the waters;” gladly as the returning child meets the welcoming
smile of the parent, do the waves of the St. Peter's
flow into the Mississippi. On the west, there is prairie far
as the eye can reach.

But it is to the free only that nature is beautiful. Can
the prisoner gaze with pleasure on the brightness of the
sky, or listen to the rippling of the waves? they make him
feel his fetters the more.

The summer of 1845 found Sullen Face a prisoner at
Fort Snelling. Government having been informed of the
murder of Watson by two Dahcotah Indians, orders were
received at Fort Snelling that two companies should proceed
to the Sisseton country, and take the murderers, that
they might be tried by the laws of the United States.

Now for excitement, the charm of garrison life. Officers
are of course always ready to “go where glory waits” them,
but who ever heard of one being ready to go when the order
came?

Alas! for the young officer who has a wife to leave; it
will be weeks before he meets again her gentle smile!

Still more—alas for him who has no wife at all! for he
has not a shirt with buttons on it, and most of what he has
are in the wash. He will have to borrow of Selden; but
here's the difficulty, Selden is going too, and is worse off
than himself. But no matter! what with pins and twine
and trusting to chance, they will get along.

Then the married men are inquiring for tin reflectors,
for hard bread, though healthy, is never tempting. India
rubber cloaks are in requisition too.

Those who are going, claim the doctor in case of accidents.
Those who stay, their wives at least, want him for fear
of measles; while the disciple of Esculapius, though he
knows there will be better cooking if he remain at home, is
certain there will be food for fun if he go. It is soon decided—the
doctor goes.

Then the privates share in the pleasure of the day. How
should a soldier be employed but in active service? besides,
what a capital chance to desert! One, who is tired of calling
“All's well” through the long night, with only the

rocks and trees to hear him, hopes that it will be his happy
fate to find out there is danger near, and to give the alarm.
Another vows, that if trouble wont come, why he will
bring it by quarrelling with the first rascally Indian he
meets. All is ready. Rations are put up for the men;—
hams, buffalo tongues, pies and cake for the officers. The
battalion marches out to the sound of the drum and fife;—
they are soon down the hill—they enter their boats; handkerchiefs
are waved from the fort, caps are raised and
flourished over the water—they are almost out of sight—
they are gone.

When the troops reached their destination, Sullen Face
and Forked Horn were not there, but the chief gave them
three of his warriors, (who were with the party of Sullen
Face at the time of the murder,) promising that when the
two murderers returned they would come to Fort Snelling,
and give themselves up.

There was nothing then to prevent the immediate return
of our troops. Their tramp had been a delightful one, and
so far success had crowned their expedition. They were in
the highest spirits. But a little incident occurred on their
return, that was rather calculated to show the transitoriness
of earthly joys. One dark night, when those who were
awake were thinking, and those who slept were dreaming
of their welcome home, there was evidently a disturbance.
The sleepers roused themselves; guns were discharged.
What could it be?

The cause was soon ascertained. To speak poetically,
the birds had flown—in plain language, the prisoners had
run away. They were not bound, their honor had been
trusted to;—but you cannot place much reliance on the

honor of an Indian with a prison in prospect. I doubt if a
white man could be trusted under such circumstances.
True, there was a guard, but, as I said, 'twas a dark
night.

The troops returned in fine health, covered with dust and
fleas, if not with glory.