Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-09-26
Correspondence of the Missouri Democrat.
LAST BATTLE OF FONTANELLE,
THE OMAHA CHIEF.


LAST BATTLE OF FONTANELLE,
THE OMAHA CHIEF.
WOLF RIVER. Kansas Ter. Aug. 4, 1855.
Logan Fontanelle, Chief of the Oma-
has, has just been slain and scalped at
Loup Fork, by band of Sioux. Logan
was noble fellow, and in this last NOR
tai conflict, he despatched several of the
enemy to the spirit land before, to herald
the coming Of his own brave soul. He
fought long and desperately, and with
great effect, but numbers finally overcame
him, and his life departed through huns
dred wounds. He died a martyr for his
people. and his name should be carved
upon fame's brightest tablet.
He was on his annual hunt with his
nation. A number Of his lodges were
pitched upon the plains near Loup Fork.
AS young warrior one day rode around
the adjacent hills. he espied a powerful
band of Sioux encamped along stream
inform Logan of the propinquitv and
power Of their natural foe Logan orders
ed his people to pack Immediately, and
proceed in a straight line with all speed
for home. while he would remain behind,
and divert the Sioux BY false campircs.
and other devices from direct pursuit of
them. This was about twilight. lis
people got under way as quickly as pos.
tible, but none too soon for scarcely had
they turned a highland when several ST.
OuN warriors came i'll sight, and discover
ed the place of their recent encampment.
They examined it and found that Omahas
had been there, and being an adequate
force to pursue and slaughter them.
Logan from hiding place, saw all, and
knew that no time was to tie lost in draws
ing their attention from the trail, which
they would soon discover and follow, and
mounting his horse, he dashed away at
full speed across the prairie. at right an
giles with the route his tribe had taken,
and struck fire about eight miles dis
tant, on an tminencG where the Sioux
could distinctly see it. He had scarcely
done SO before ~ powerful band were ups
ON the spot where he and his people had
80 recently lett. and, who, without stoop-
ing to distinguish the trail, started for the
fire which they saw rising against the
clear, blue sky, ard where they expect
ed, in another moment, TO imbruc their
hands in the gore OF their unguarded vic
tins. But Logan had not been unwary.
AS soon as the fire was lighted, he rode
on eight or ten miles, and kindIed another
fire, ust AS they reached the first. This
rather hewldered them. They dis
mounted and examined the ground.
Logan anticipating this had trOtted and
walked his horse around it, SO as to make
the appearance upon the grass Of the
tread Of a dozen horses and this Dire "
them into the belief that a small body
had fingered behind aud kiudled this fire,
and then gone on TO where they
could see this new fire burning. and Sc
they followed with renewed avidity. The
same thing happened as before. Logan
had gone on and another fire met their
astonished gaze, while the same sort oil
footprints were about the one around
which they were now gathered. Their
suspicious were now awakened. They
examined the ground more closely, both
far and near, and discovered that u soil
tary horseman had deceived them, and
they knew it was for the sole purpose o
leading them off from the pursuit of the
party, whose eucampment they had first
discovered.
Logan saw them going around with
glaring torches, and understood their OBJ
ject and knew that his only chance OF
safety was an immediate flight towards
his home and he further knew that by
the time they could rctrace their way tc
their place of starting, and find the trai
that his own people had taken, they
would be beyond the reach of danger.
The Sioux, in the mean while, had di,
vlded into small bands, the largest Of which
was to return and pursue the Omahas
and the others to endeavor to capture the
one who misled them. They knew that
he must be an Omaha, and that he would
either go further and kindle another
"atcn- hre, or start for his nation in
straight line, and therefore one party
went on little further, and the others
spread out towards the Omaha country. fol
the purpose OF intercepting him. Lopar
pressed forward as rapidly as his steed
could bear him, until he thourht he had
entirely eluded them; but as the dav
dawned, to his horror and dismav. he
saw his pursuers close upon his track
he turned his course for raviue, which
he distinguished at a distance, covered
with trees and underground. He succeed
ed IN reaching it., and just within its verge
met an Indian girl dipping water from {
SPRING She was startled, and about tt
cry Tor helP. when he hastily assured he
that he needed protection and assistance
With the true Instincts of noble women
she appreciated his situation in an instant
and all her sympathies were with him
She directed him to dismount and o.,
to asmall natural bower in the verge .