Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-09-29
NUMBER SO.

Grattan-told him IL he wanted the Indian
he would have TO go and kill him, as he
was unable to get him and then returned 10
the Sioux camp.
Lieut.. Grattan replied that If there was
any killing to be done he would attend to
that matter, and accordingly Immediately
ranged his pieces of artillery, and commen-
ced firing upon the village. Three or four
muskets were also iired at the same time,
but the only result was to knock the top off
Of one Of the lodges, and to wound Mattel
o-wan and his brother, who were standing
in front-the former with three balls, the
latter but one. So soon as the troops fired,
the Indians returned it, and pouring upon
them shower of arrows. The FIRST dis.
charge killed Grattan, who was standing
by the side Of the cannon. AS soon as he
fell, his command at once lost heart and at
tempted TO fy-leaving their cannon, arms
and everything else. The Sioux then charg
ed upon the flying soldiers, and shot and
tomahawked every man Of them save one,
who made his escape by taking down ra-
vine, and thus getting out of sight. The
interpreter who was with the party, Au-
gustine Lucien, who married Sioux squaw,
jumped on his horse and attempted to make
his escape. He succeeded in getting rid
Of his immediate pursuers and in making a
circle around the camp, but instead Of strik-
ing for the prairie he very foolishly attemp-
ed to run thruogh the Brulie camp, which
was directly between him and the Fort, and
which was already alarmed by the firing
| 'Hba roc,lt hot I,1ioo
shot his horse with his rifle, and then came
upon him with his tomahawk. Lucien
cried out to him not TO kill him as he was
Sioux by marriage, but the only reply the
Indian made was to bury his hatchet in his
head. The soldier who escaped down the
ravine was found by Sioux, named "Black
Heart" and owed his life to his assistance
in getting him back to the Fort during the
night.
The tragedy occurred on the afternoon
Of the 10Th Of August, and it was not until
the next morning that news of it reached
the Fort. The Sioux then sent word to
the Commandant to send out some of his
men to bury his dead, and they would
serve them in the same way. They also
went to the depot of the American Fur
Company, which is near their camp, and
where the annuity goods (S5o,000 WORTHY
were in store, and turned them upon the
plain, and divided them out Lieut.. Flem-
ing, upon consultation sent some FIVE or six
Of tie traders down TO see The Sioux and to
bury the dead, but they told the traders
very explicitly that the quarrel was not
one i'll which they were concerned, and
they had better keep out of it, and they
drove them back to the Fort. The conse-
quence was that when the messenger left.
the dead bodies were still lying exposed on
the plains, only two, those of Lucien, and
another having been buried by two return
ing Californians, who ventured to execute
the hazardous task for $25 piece.
Nothing further has been heard from the
Fort at the present time, and it would seem
that the report that the Sioux had surroun-
ded Laramie is not confirmed.
At the last accounts Mattie-i-owan, who
was shot in three places, at the first dis
charge from the soldiers was on the point
of DEATH In even this brief notice of him,
we cannot iorbear speaking word in his
praise. We knew him well, and better
friend the white man never had. He was
brave and gentle. and kind. wise ruler.
skillful warrior, and respected chieftain.-
Even in accepting his position. assigned to
him four years ago at the treaty of Laramie
he only consented after much persuasion;
and then remarked when he did so, that he
"gave his life to the Great Spirit" So far
from any charge Of treachery attaching to
his conduct. his own fate is sufficient proof
Of his fidelity, and, in recording it, we feel
like inscrbing a worthy memorial of one Of
the most high toned and chivalric of all the
Indians whom we have known.
Auguste Lucien also was one whom all
who knew him will deeply lament. A
Frenchman by birth and in feeling yet an
American in his latter sympathies, he was
one Of the most social, true-hearted and
generous of all the voyageurs upon the
plains.
His light and joyous humor was always
the life of the camp; his skill as hunter
supplied the choisest of game, and his
piquant and glowing gossip made the hours
pass like dream beneath the shadow OF
the mountains But he has passed to the
land of dreams, and to the ''happy hunting
grounds" of which he delighted so TO speak,
imbu6ed as he was with the fulness OF an
Indians faith May it be bis lot to drink oi
the fresh waters of the new life, and may
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