Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-06
srEEcn OF a cnocrAw nRAvE.
To HIS WARRIORS AT FORT wAsIHTA, July
iTH, 1861.

TO Ills hAEtlOkS- Al tpht W ASAti - jul
4TH, 1861.
From the Clarzsvle STANDARD
The Indians were expected in at ten o'clock,
aud about the time they came ia, following their
drum, and an old mau with drawn sword, who
delivered the speech below. The w;H dance was
in the squaru-thu warriors being stripped 10
their lighting costume There were two COM
panies of them, and they advanced into the Fort
with heads erect, aud truly martial bearing, be
meath their colOTs Ga Confederate hag) with
nine white stars in circle, surrounding one in
red with white border, and somewhat larger
than the others In the rear of the companies
were about twenty Indian women. The color
staff being placed in the ground The warriors
slowly circled around it, and upon a signal from
the captains they all stood still and silent, while
the old man before mentioned, drew his sword,
and moving slowly around IN the c!rcI, thus
addressed them:
'Wauiors of the Choetaw and Chickasaw
Nations look around vou, and what do you
see You see men in every garb armed aud
equipped for war. 4 strange sight Tor my ToTng
men. Who are these men ? louT BROTHER
the men Of the South-mcn who h1y. coma from
the laud Of sunshine across Red River-Who5c
star is ~ tho C,uttr of Your flag and who arc IN
our hear as their star is in our eol0Ts-Inon and
the sons of men. who dyed that stlT ia thc blood
Of their brave, and with W hOu you, ny warriors
are here 10 share the tolls dangers and the glory
Of war--Ben who viii lay down THEN lives in IA
Just cause, and who. as vet, have never turned
thcir backs 10 their enemies. You, men and way
riors, must emulate their glorious deeds (Dtaf
eniHE shouts from the W3rrioFs.) i1ei your gu-
e.nies ieel the edges Hf youT knives. VIgh
ugh y Let not your TaT path be through youT
own green cognhelds but let Your knives drink
tie life blood Of your enemies in their own towns
and villages, sid by side with youT white broth
ers, who aTe fighting tor thcir nglita-thcir own
property, and for the protection Of the homes Of
their wives aud children
Warriors We have the same feelings, we
have the same description Of property; and need
tell you to look around and see the women and
madens Of v0uT race, who are assembled to see
the warriors in their paint Their hands have
armed YOU for the fray, and their hearts viii be
with you in the field of death"
The warriors here broke forth into a dance,
keeping time to the beating of the drum, and
uttering the scalp halloo, fired off their guns and
pistols the women at the same time moving
closer to the circle, when an elderly matron, ac-
cUmpanied by the others, in a low, plaintive
voice, commenced song, in which they were
reminded of their mothers and the homes they
had played around when they We're babes, and
how their mothers and sisters had attended their
footsteps MNcn theF were 100 young 10 IOllOW
iheir fathers to hnt the buffalo; and now they
had grown to be men, their sisters were compar-
atively weak, their mothers had grown old, and
the bright sun had changed their raven locks to
gray; and now, should their mothers and sisters
knowing they needed protection, ask it of stran-
gers OF should their own young men, who have
the right, keep the northern men from poutting
their soil The excitement here was intense
The warriors sprang into the air with shouts of
defiance, yelling and whOoping, and the women
ran into the circle through an opening made for
the purpose, aud dancing around the cOlors con
tinued their song, but III NOR animated strain,
in which an illusion was made to the deeds OF
their fOrefatheTs, etc. The old veteran again
came forward and asked a question: which was
not understood by me, but which they answered
by ugh, ugh - and then addressed them again
"Whcre are the men who fought your battles
in former years, who We're a terror to their enc
mics "a moumiul wail) They have passed
from our sight, and gong to thc happy land, but
their blood flows through the veins OF the living
Where are the warriors of their blood {Herc!
here y This is the FIRST time some Of you have
danced in the warriors line; let not your hearts
fail, nor your arms grow weak, as your country
may need every blow"
1t was the FIRST opportunity your cores sponden,
has ever had TO witness the novel ceremonies Of
an Indian war dance, and no one can properly
apprecat, the scene, unless he were present, and
saw the defiant aud determined expression indi-
cated by the gestures and general appearance OF
tie men