The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-09-22
From The Cleveland Herald.
GEN. CAsS AND TRUE HERoIsM.


pale face with the red Many of these incidents have
down through the misty channel of tradition, but
Others based upon the testimony Of living Witnesses or
matters of record.
The refinement of true heroism was displayed in
coming tho pejudices of the aborgnes and in meeting
their savage hostility and it is bounden duty to per-
petuae the memory Of those trying scenes. In these
times of advanced civilization, they parake of the
nance which, without positive evidence of their truth
ulness might be set down the offspring Of the imag
nation
Upon the "Planen Lake Superior excursion, met Mr.
G. c. Trowbrdge, Of Detroit who, among many facts con-
nected with the Indians Of the upper country related
which does such honor to the courage OF Gen. Cass that we
take the liberty of relating it.
In 1920 expedition under General Cass, then terri
tora governor Of Michigan made along the shores of
Lake Superior and the headwaers of the Mississippi for
the purpose of curling the hostility existing between diff
rent Indian tribes and the cultivation OF amiy between
the Indians and the whites 1t expedition OF over
1000 miles in extent and performed in bark canoes set
ting out from Detroit General Casss suite consisted Of
Captain David b. Douglass, of the engineers Henry G.
Schoolcra mneralogist; Alex Wolcott physciani Lieu
Mackay, Of the artillery; r. A. Forsyth secretary
James Duane Doty, journalist; A. r. Chase and Q. G.
Trowbridge, assistants to Captain p.
AT the Saul Ste Marie the party entered into negota-
tons with the Indians for the purchase of piece of land
npon which the garrison stands The lavish expendi-
re of British money the annual presentation of gifts
to the natives and the nagardly policy OF our govern
ment towards them had inspired the Indians with respect
for the nation and contempt for the other The
then lately closed had increased British influence to
injury and the presence of British garrison on the Cana
dian side of the river fountain of bad counsel of the
red men, and place of safety in of need The feel
ing therefore of the Indians not friendly towards this
expedition and the enterprise of great danger
Gen Cass invited the chiefs to his tent in the centre OF
which was pile of tobacco, part of which was to be
smoked the OCCASION and the residue presented TO the
Indians the close Of the council The chiefs appeared
costume cuoe sans everything save the "breech-
CLOTH
The leader, tall muscular fellow Of thirty years, with
the devil in his ugly face exception He wore be-
side the breech-coth single eagles feather gracefully
attached to the top of his head red coat with naou
skirts and gold epauettes of British major general
Uncle Sam dispensed such avors to his red children
Gov Cass explained the object of his mission to be the cul
yaon of friendship between them and their deadly Sioux
enemies and also between all the red children and their
father the President To this end our government had
planted military posts among the Sioux on the Mississippi
and wished the ut that point. The governor
also explained that although by the treaty Of Greenyie
the territory ut the Saul belonged to nst having pre-
yously been purchased of their fathers by the great
King OF the Waniegosh or frenchaen and subsequently
by the Sdgno8h or Englishmenyet he wiling to pay
them also for what he wishednamey parcel four miles
square. IL, o~r,n,ont and
The chiefs were surly and taeiturn
eoaAina were OF avail and Gov Cass compelled TO
tell them that the spp should rise the NOR
row. surely should their great father the President es
tablish the proposed military post The governor advised
them to listen friendly counsel and avail themselves OF
the last opportunity for obtaining compensation. Here
the paused for reply and ordered his interpret
err William Riley to light the pipe Having smoked there
of it was offered to the chief who refused it, and commit
ted the grossest political insult known to the savage code
by kicking the pile Of tobacco and rushing out with
his train Of chieftains.
The Indians walked rapidly up the river about half
mile rising ground where their lodges erected,
and Immediately hoised in front Of their camp lurge
British flag This act reported TO Gov Cass who,
upon the instant commanding 10 accompany him
the interpreter walked rapidly into the camp Of these
excited and eadysavage red men, seized the British
flag threw il upon the ground broke the staff and order
ing the interpreter TO roll up the flag and carry 10 the
governors camp told the Indians that they dared repeat
the insult he would fire upon them The Indians stood
amazed the daring Of the governor thus alone
their camp and thus to threaten Them the entire force
of his expedition consisted of but eleven soldiers twelve
Canadian royoGears, nine friendly Indians interpret
ers, suite of eight, and small escort 10 that point OF
twenty -fye soldiers under Lieut. John Pierce
In minutes from the time Gov Cass with such fear
essness carried from the camp of these warriors the flag
every and child and their equipage were on
their way in bark from the Indian camp towards
the British fort across the river and Geo. johnson inform
ed the governor that attack the coming night was
planned by the furious OF the nine friendly In
dams ALL noble fellow, surrendered their arms
and resolved remain neutral The bucklcd on their
belts and armed TO the teeth with their small
band Of soldiers dark night dragged its weary
hours in momenary expectation Of the scalpngkniIe and
tomahnwk of numerically superior force of deadly
ages fred by hatred and by the certainty of crushing their
mortal foe blow. Day dawned after seepess night
and this band of brave spared scene which
would inevitably have cost many lives.
1t subsequently ascertained that deliberate plan
Casss party upon its entrance into the country and that
several hundred warriors within call the Saul
the Of the council for that purpose This plan
tbwarted in part by the daring bravery of Gov Cas
the occasion Of his perous visit to their camp and parc
ulary through the efforts Of Mrs Jonson-oher of Geo
ohnson and daughter Of the great chief of Lake Supe
rorwho passed the whole OF that fearful night with The
hostile chiefs in unremtied efforts 10 dissuade them from
their blood-thrsty resolution From exceedingly in
along the hunting-grounds Of unamabe savages kept
by Mr. Trowbridge we copy entry made on the morn
ing after the expected attack In speaking of the friendly
interference Of Mrs. Johnson, the diary says;
This influence, aud the courage that never knew fear
the part of chief have saved probably hundreds OF
lives and given peaceablc entrance TO country whose
territory skirts inland coeeiensve With the Baltic
and which long he added by cession The mil
lions upon millions of already composing Uncle Sans
farm