Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-01
From the Chicago Democrat.
INDIAN MASSACRE IN 1872.

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various accounts Of the different causes
which led to this unfortunate event, but the
most authentic, as it appears to US, is the one
which we subjoin If we state any circum-
stance connected with the story, that is no
IN strict accordance with truth. our columns
are open 10 communications from any of our
readers, who are better acquainted with it
than ourselves.
Somewhere about the sih or 9Th of Aus
gust, 1872, gen Hull, then occupying De
troii with his army, concerning the garrison
at Chicago as untenable, Tor from some other
motive moi known,) transmitted orders TO
capt Head, then commanding the post ut
this place, to eyacuate it forthwith and march
to fort WAYNE, at the same time lnstructing
him to distribute the provisions and ammu-
milton, that otherwise he would be compel~
led to leave in the fort, among the tribes of
indians the neighborhood, the better to
ensure their friendship, or at least neutrality,
upon which there had been before but little
relIancs In obedience to these orders, pre-
parations were made for the Immediate re-
movai of the troops. The Indians were sent
for some at the distance of $50 miles. They
came in great numbers. By the 18Th OF the
month, Chicago was filled with several hun
dred Potawaiamies, eagerly and anxiousiy
expecting the promised supplies. AT this
5unctaFe, capt. Wells, bold and daring Off
Ger, accompanied by thirty Miami indians,
arrived at tho garrison with counter orders
from gen. Hull, that 40 provisions should be
given to the lndians--that every thing not
needed by the troops should be destroy -
These subsequent orders were carried into
effect. Ga the night following, about 200
rifles were broken, and the fragments, to-
gether with provisions and stores of all kinds,
were thrown iuto the river. This fact came
TO the know ledge Of the Indians, and the first
impulse that actuaed them, was their most
natural passion, reuengc. Indignant at be-
ing called from their homes, to place so far
distant, under the hopes of receiving what
was promised to them, and then finding thai
they had come only to be disappointed in
their expectations, they formed the design o.!
retaliating for the injuries and insults which
they had supposed were designedly practised
upon them. Maintaining as they had pre-
vious!y 10 this, merely neutral disposition,
it needed but the smallest preteXt TO rouse
them into hostility. That pretext they now
considered as held out to them, and the young
men resolved to make use of it. The chiefs
advised and demonstrated, but without effect,
and when these were found unavailing, three
Indians, Perish lie Ciere Cat this very time
in Chcago,) Win-e-mac, or Catfish, and
Muck lit-tah-puck-ke or Black Partridge,
made their way into the fort at night, and
gave information of the evaporation which
possessed the Indians, and the designs which
they contemplated accomplishing. They
further suggested to the officers IA way to es-
cape the dangers that threatened them
They proposed, that it should be held cut that
the troops had relinquished the idea of re-
moving at all, or at least for some time to
come, until they had received further instruc-
tons from gen. Hull, and Until then they
could make no disposition of the stores But
the proposition and the warning were alike
UNDECIDED, and on the 18th Of the month the
post was evacuated, aud the troops marched
out 70 commence their destined Journey to
for. Wayne. They had proceeded along the
beach of the lake, about two or three miles,
in perfect order and in supposed security,
when all at once the yell of two hundred
savage warriors, and The report Of as many
rifles fung in their ears, and the moment at
ter one half of the gallant band of soldiers
tina, had lett the fort, lay dead on the beach
The indians who from the first intimation
that they were 10 be disappointed in their ex-
peeted presents, had kept watchful eye up
on every movement Of the troops, and when
Il. Natter left the garrison, the former with
all the ardor of Indian warriors, took cirs
cuitons route TO the lake shore at the place
where the event above described occurred.
There the ambuscade was formed direct,
behind range of sand hills or bluffs, tina,
rise to a considerable heigih and from fifteen
10 thirty yards from the lake itself Here
the Indians woi,ed until the soldiers arrived.
and when within almost reach at the muzzle
of their guns, they poured in Weir deadly
FIRE. A desperate battle ensued. The whites
fouaht like men whose existence depends
,,non the cast of n,oo'ent, and II was nn.
when The, found their little band oyerpow-
ered bv numbers, and their comrades redu
ced 10 a mere handful, and when indeed i,
would be worse than madness to longer re
sist. that they surrendered. Captain Wells
and his party OF Miami's were some distance
in the rear; they too were not spared. A
detachment of Indians attacked them, and
those of the Miami's who were not killed nj
the first discharge, fed in every direction :.
In addition to the number of soldiers, lieut.
Rounan and the surgeon, doct. Van Voorher,
were killed. Captains Head and Helmes
were severely wounded and taken prisoners.
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