Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-15

NO. III.
To the Editor of the Phenin:
DUBUouE, June 81, IS45.


our party attended church ia the chapel of
the fort, in the morning, and we had preach
ing on board the boat at night. An unfortu-
nate occurrence, however, greatly disturbed
the quiet and devotion of the day. Just as
we were entering the chapel, news came to
the commander Capt. Backus, that Sioux
Indian had been killed near the fort, and
that great excitement prevailed. Some SOL
diers were Immediately detached for the duty
of keeping the peace, and our worship went
on. AT noon, however, we we're disturbed
by the noise Of the wailing over the dead
body, which had been brought in and laid in
front of house near the fort, and around
which the friends the deceased, and great
numbers of his tribe had gathered, his wife,
mother, and sisters having commenced the
usual mournful and heart-rending wall for
the Dead in which occasionally other squaws
would participate.
It seems that two Sioux Indians were
riding on horseback, about mile and half
from the fort, when they were fred upon by
three Chippewas, in ambush, and one of
them was instantly killed. The other Jump
ing from his horse, hid himself, until having
seen his comrade scalped, and his enemies
retire. he recovered his horse, and fastening
to the fort, raised the war whoop aud gave
the alarm. No sooner was the fearful and
unearihly sound heard breaking upon the
air, than il was re-echoed by hundred 9TH
err voices, and crowds of Indians began TO
gather with arms in their hands and fire in
their eyes. When | arrived at the spot
where the dead body of the Indian lay, the
scene was thrilling and exciting in the ex-
frpn,a Thara .yac tho corDca strait had unon
its back, and covered with blankets. At its
head, on the floor ofthe porch, sat the moth
err, covered with blood from wounds in1ct-
ed on herself with knife; by its side was
the wife in an agony of grief; while at his
feet upon the ground sat two sisters and all
of them uttering a doleful and prolonged
wall, which might have been heard a mile,
and which was continued for several hours.
Around was vast concourse of Indians to-
gether with few whites the commander
of the Fort and the Indian agent, seeking to
pacify the father of the murdered man and
the chiefs of the band, who were burning for
revenge, and threatning to wreak their ven-
geance on any Of the tribe to which the
s,,nrdArars helnnged, whn should fall into
their power With considerable difficulty
they succeeded in inducing them to rest the
matter until the next day when they were
assured talk should be had with the Chip
pewas, and measures should be taken TO Sc
cure the murderers.
The Chippewas and the Sioux have been
at enmity with each other from time imme-
mortal. They inhabit the country on oppo-
site sides ofthe Mississippi, the Sioux on the
west and the Chippewas on the east Al
) though neighbors, they are essentially differ
ent in character, appearance and language,
having no words in common. They are the
two most numerous tribes on the continent.
: About two years ago however, treaty of
peace was effected, through the exertions of
the IT, S. officers, and Indian agent at ST.
Peters. BY this treaty it was mutually stip-
uated, that murderers should be given up
, TO the injured party and they pledged their
annuites, to the commander OF the fort for
the fu6lment of their engagement, and for
keeping the peace. Sometime since Chip
pewa killed Sioux, and was promptly given
up by his chief, .Hole-in-the-day, but was
permitted to escape punishment in consider
, alton Of s 200, paid by the Chppewas to
the Sioux. There are, however, some dis
tant bands of Chppewas, residing far to the
north, who are not parties of the treaty, who
retain all their ancient hostility to the Sioux
Under cover of the presence Of a band of
, friendly Chippewas at the fort on this occa-
sion the three murderers alluded to, came
down from the north and perpetrated this
outrage upon the unsuspectlng Sioux.
A band of Chippewas had left the fort the
day before, and were encamped near the
+ Falls of St. Anthony, about seven miles dis
! tant, when this event occurred. The first
impulse of the Sioux was to fall upon and
massacre them; but Capt. Backus interpos-
, ed, and declared If they attempted it he
would take part in the contest with the
troops under his command. Meantime,
fearing such movement, as soon as he
heard of the murder, he despatched party
5 of soldiers to bring in the Chippewas under
I cover of the fort. About sunset they arrived
in canoes to the number Of 95, including
women and children, and landing near our
boat, encamped on the shore beneath the fort
for the night the Sioux having retired
S across the st. Peters to the south.
Z The feeling with which we contemplated
I. the strange events Of the day, and the scenes
and circumstances around us can hardly be
conceived of by one who was not present,
n and much less can they be described. Here
o we we're, hundreds of miles from the abodes
: of civilized life All had been confusion
and excitement through the day. Thou
. sands of Sioux were in the neighborhood ;
e and few rods distant the camp of the Chip
o pewas, destined for aught we knew, TO be the
! scene of slaughter before morning. With
, out our boat, cleaned the fires of the sava-