The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-22
Oar Ne%easks Ccrrespoailence.
FoNrENELLs, Dodge Co., N. r,
Au0ust & l065.

Goo. M. W. Isord 10 Protect the Frontier Settle !
ment-Encitemtnf Amomgst the SstAers-F6nte. !
nellie under Military Prosecfiom-py,uteer Sol |
dirr's Life on The Fr0ntier- General Ne,cs, &c.
BY the time this reaches you the garbled newspa-
per reports of an attack of the Sioux Indians on
Fontenelle, and the murder Of two of our citizens,
will have reached you. should have written you |
before concerning it, but the excitement, &C., PEI.
tanning the reto has rendered it impossible. was
present at the time Of the affair, and will now give
you true statement thereof. FIX |
Foutenelle is one of the most prosperous settle
ments in Nebraska, situated upon the Elk Horn
river, about thirty6ve or forty miles to the north
west Of Omaha City, some twenty-five miles west
from the Missouri river and about the distance
from the mouth of the Horn. Il is the frontier town
in Nebraska beautifully situated near the Big Bend
Of the Platte and overlooking the inxuriant valley
that skirts that river. There are eighteen houses
now erected here, and were about twenty families
all located and improving their claims and town.
The Punka Indians Ga branch Of the Sioux) often
visited us and were quite friendly. The Pawnee
Indian village IL but some eight or ten miles distant
-rthey also were quite friendly. For some weeks
I'VE had been aware of the fact that wariike
Ms of Indians were prowling in our vicinity, but
anticipated not much danger. About week pre-
vious to the attack upon Ms here they had surprised
the Omaha Indians upon their buiialo hunt some
fifty miles to the west of us, killed their chief-Lo-
gan F0ntQpellc-and five of their warriors. Even
then we did not apprehend they would dare kill any
of our settlers.
enjoy good dinner at my quiet frontier boarding
house the startling cry or "Load up, load up: two
men killed and one scalped by the Sioux Indians,
when in the bottoms!" started me toward my cozy
tent, before which was flying Q small edition
Of the stars and stripes. at which point the
settlers were fast gathering with their rifles,
&c. Now, an Indian sscrimmage under
any circumstances ia decidedly unpleasant. 1t looks
well enough on paper. But when it comes in the
shape Of the one refer to, with thirtyve or forty
mile stretch OF prairie between US and the settle
ments, and only bakers dozen of fighting men, wo
men excited and babies crying, it don't feel good
We made up our minds-those that did not feel any
qualms Of conscience for lighting on Sunday-to
give them the best we csdld If they came upon u.s.
were housed, eight of the rangersLCaptain VIM.
Kline, Lieutenant ]. w. Pattson, Sergeant E. G.
McNeely, Z. Carr. j. Underwood, H. CARPENTER, j.
Whittier and W. Haskins started for "free fight"
At the edge Of the town they met the wife OF one OF
the murdered men, who had escaped from the sa-
wages with spear wound in the thigh, hurrying in
Also that the Indians were just below us under
the hill, rfing tent at the backyard. Away went
the party down the hill at full speed. The Indians
broke for the tall grass and chapparal near by in
bend of the river, and right after them came
the boys for hand to hand scrlm ,n IN the
bush. After beating about the grass and chap.
paral, covering about 100 acres, for some two
hours, they returned to town. and then found the
bodies Of the murdered men. The sight was an
unpleasant one. Stretched out upon the prairie lay
two Of our men, shot down in cool blood, and one
scalpod. 1t enough to stir every drop Of blood
that consed in our veins. Around them we stood,
and with hands raised to heaven we mutually swOre
to kill such Of the Sioux or Punka Indians as should
hereafter visit Fontenelle- and orr boys meant it.
From Mrs. Porter--the woman who escaped
learn the following exact particulars Of the dread
ful murder:-Mr. ). Porter, wife and George De
maree, after getting through their weeks work of
breaking prairie some four miles below town, started
on saturday evening" as s was their the Gus
bath among their friends. About mile below
town, in the night they were overtaken by severe
thunder storm, and in their wagon camped for the
strayed away they could not get ready to start be-
ore midday, and just previous to starting the report
OF gun, short distance below them at lake, at
tracing their attention. they all started therefor, and
about half way they met band of about ten or twelve
Sioux Indians, who shook hands; one then snatched
DemaIee's cap from his head, and without any
provocation, Que or more Of their number fired upon
our boys, killing both instantly They scalped De-
maree and whilst doing this Mrs. Porter rushed to
her husband, and whilst turning his body over was
wounded by spear in the hands OF one Of the In
dams. She escaped, however, to lower FOntenelle,
and gave the alarm. How she escaped am at a
loss to determine After rng the bodies and wagon,
they came on up to the brickyard, at the edge Of
the town, from whence, as before stated the Ran.
were from Quincy, I'll.
About midnight, the same night, Mr. j. w. Patti.
son and +. w. Fox started on horseback with the
news to the Governor at Omaha CITY, reaching there
about seven o'clock the following morning. Much
excitement prevailed there The Governor immediate
~ issued orders to Brig Gen. J. M. Thayer to raise
company of40 men, armed equipped and mounted,
and to be stationed there until relieved by United
States dragons. lie Also az soon after as circum-
stances would admit started in person for Fort Lea
ed compsny being forthwith marched to the place.
On the Following morning, Tuesday, the volunteer
company from Omaha CITY, started for FonteneIle
reaching there much to the qualification Of the set
tiers early in the night.
The two companies are now stationed here drafted
into active service and will remain until relieved
by United States dragons. The officers Of the
rangers or !st company Of volunteers for Dodge
Lieutenant; +. W.-Fox, I'd Lieutenant e. G. Nc
Auly, Orderly Sergeant. They number about TWEEN.
ttyfonr men. The officers Of the ID company, or
A. S. Goyer, iss Lieutenant 6. Reeves, ID i Lieu,
tenant A. Chopper Orderly Sergeant. Both com.
panies are under the direction Of Bigadier General
Thayer. There has as yet been no engagement with
the Indians, although We are aatis6ed they are prowl
ing about report came into camp last night that
some forty or fifty lodges Of Sioux are not far dis
tant to the west We all anxious for free fight
Day before yesterday, Lieut.. Pattison took dc.
river to see the settlement at Elk Horn city, and
hunt for Indians and sign" They found the
settlers there, as everywhere very much alarmed.
They returned via the Platte valley, and found
sign of three Or four days old,
soldiers life on the frontier and in an Indian
country, whilst Il has tinge Of romance is strong
~ imprcgnated with reality, when one expects to
hear every night the horrid unearthly whoopng veil
of crowd of Sioux Indians breaking upon his
dreams Of friends and loved ones at home far away
in the States. just imagine your Nebraska cores
fore Platte valley seated upon his blankets in tent
with his writing case perched upon his knees, half
dozen volunteers laying on the ground around him.
little log house to the right used as guard house
and some fifty volunteers lying about in the shade Of
an arbor rear by waiting patiently for every drill
and you have the picture. II any Of your publish.
ers want pencil sketch Of Camp Defiance, let them
send along their orders
There is not much news besides this. Our esteemed
Governor, M. w. lizard, has LETT for his home in Ar
Lar afi Tl,o nrona