Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-12-01

that they were cowards-an unco mmon
admission for an Iodian to make.
But the greatest institution of the
commiseioD, and the observed Of all OBJ
servers, was the negro Godfrey. lie was
the first tried. llis reputation was
damniag. II was said that he had kill
ed more than any Indian, and been the
most brutal in a.rocity among the bru-
tai, ald the bravest and foremost in bat
tie, aud had acquired the name Of o Ia.
Gle 1he that kills many on account OF
tho great number Of his victims.
These statements favored the natural
prejudices against his color to a white
heat, aud be would have Been lynch ca
when we caught him with tie Indians,
at Camp Release, had the soldiers been
permitted to act as citizens would have
acted. When brought before the COM
mission, he frankly admitted being al
the battles of New Ulm and the fort
and firing, and also that he was called
O.ts-cle by the Sioux; but said he
was forced TO 60 with the Indians or
be killed, and that when he fred. he
did not fire So as to kill any body
that as TO his name, the Ind ans gave
that name to any person, who enters
Just into house where many ale
killed, or who touches one Of the nun.
Der (Which is the truth and that he got
the name in this way. The Indians on
their way 10 New Ulm came to his
house on the road from the fort. and
forced him to accompany them-,ha,
when they came near house they
made him enter the house first-that
lie saw there an old man at breakfast
with his family, whom he only struck
| on the shoulder with the back OF his
hatcket, then the Indians marched in
and killed them, and from that time
they gave him this appelation.
lie entered upon many other details,
and with such an air OF candor that
those who heard him, instead of re-
tanning their feelings OF detestation, be
came prepossessed in his favor. It is
not at all improbable that he may be
as guilty as the worst. 1t is ramored
that there Is other evidences against
him at New Ulm; but If there is none.
| imprisonment is severe enough, in view
of the great service he has rendered
the Commission in their investigation.
| tie has been the means of bringing to
justice a large number of tic savagee,
in every instance but two bis testmo.
ny being snbstantlated by the suhse-
quent admissions of the Indian him-
self.
Ills observation AID memory were
remarkable. Not the least thing had
escaped his eye. Such an Indian had a
double baireled gun, another single
barreled, another long one, another a
shoit one. another lance, ard another
one nothing at al. One denied that he
was at the tort. Godfrey saw him there
preparing bis sons f,r battle, apd recol
lected that be painted the face of one
red, and drew streak Of green over his
eyes.
Another denied that he made a GER
tain statement to Godfrey, which he ties
tilted to. "What," said Godftey, "don't
You rec llect yon said it when you had
! your hand upoa my wagon and your foot
resting on the wheel" To another,
whom he charged with admitting tina,
lie had killed child by striking it with
his war spear over the head, and who
denied it, ''don't You remember Of show.
ing me the spear that y as broken, and
saying that you had broken it in stlik-
| ing a child ?'
Nigh; ennmerate many instances OF
this kind in which his assumed rccol-
lection would cause his truthtulrcss to
be doubted, if he had not been fully sub
s'antlated. 1t was study to watch
him as be sat in court, scanning the face
OF every culprit who came in, with the
eye of cat about to spring. He is a
providence specially designated as al in.
strnrnent Justice.