The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-21

other had wit enough to kill white child,
and unfortunately for him the plea of
idocy was not good plea before the Com
mission.
The prisoners were generally cold and
uniupassioned, and strange to say, many
averred that they shot from long dis
lance in the fights, would acknowledge
that they were cowards-an uncommon
admission for an Indian to make.
But the greatest institution of the Com
mission, and the observed of all observers,
was the negro, Godfrey. He was the
first tried. His reputation was damning.
1t was said that he had killed more than
any Indian, and been the most brutal in
atrocity among the brutal, and the bravest
and foremost in battle, and had acquired
the name Of O-ta-cle (''hs that kills
many') on account of the great num-
Der of his victims.
These statements favored the natural
prejudice against his color, to q white
heart, and he would have been lynched,
when we caught him with the Indians, at
Camp Release, had the soldiers been per-
mitted to act, as citizens would have acted.
When brought before the Commission, he
frankly admitted being at the battles of
New Ulm and the Fort, and firing, and
also that he was called Otakle by the
Sioux. But said he was forced to go with
the Indians Or be killed, and that when he
fired, he did not fire SO as to kill any body
that as to his name, the Indians gave
that name to any person who enters just
into house where many are killed, or
who touches one of the number (Which is
the truth), and that he got the name in
this wise: The Indians on their way to
New Ulm came to his house on the road
from the Fort, and forced him to accom-
pany them-that when they came near a
house they made him enter the house first
that he saw there an old man at break
fast with his family, whom he only struck
on the shoulder with the back of his hatch
ct, then the Indians marched in and killed
them-and from that time they gave him
this appellation. He entered upon many
other details, and with such an air of can
dor that those who heard him, instead of
retaining their feelings of detestation be-
came prepossessed in his favor. 1t is not
at all improbable that he may be as guilty
as the worst. 1t is rumored that there is
other evidence against him at New Ulm,
but if there is none, imprisonment is Sc
we're enough in view of the great service
he has rendered the Commission in their
investigation. He has been the means of
bringing to justice large number of the
savages, in every instance but two, his tes-
timony being substantiated by the subse-
quent admissions of the Indian himself.
His observation and memory were re-
markable. Not the least thing had es-
capped his eye or ear. Such an Indian had
a dOuble-barreled gun, another single
barreled, another a long one, another
short one, another lance, and another
one nothing at all. One denied that he was
at the Fort. Godfrey saw him there
preparing his sons for battle, and recollect-
ed that he painted the face of one red, and
drew streak of green over his eyes, An
other denied that he had made certain
statement to Godfrey, which he testi-
fed to. "What," said Godfrey, "dont
you recollect you said it when you
had your hand upon my wagon and
your foot resting ON the wheel" To
another, whom he charged with admitting
that he had killed child by striking it
with his war spear over the head, and who
denied it, he said: "Don't you remember of
showing me the spear was broken, and say
ing that you had broken it in striking the
child2" To another, who said he had a
lame arm at New Ulm, and couldn't fire q
gun, and who had such q bad gun. that he
could net have fired if he desired, he re-
plied= " You say you could not fire, and
had bad gun. Why don't yot tell the
Court the trouble? l saw you 60 to take
the gun Of an Indian who was killed, and
fire two shots; and then you borrowed
mine, and shot with it.; and then you
made me reload it, and then you fired
again"
might enumerate numberless instances
Of this kind, in which his assumed recollec-
ton would cause his truthfulness to be
doubted, if he had not been fully substan-
tiated. 1t was study to watch him, as
he sat in Court, scanning the face of every
culprit who came in, with the eye of cat
about to spring. He is providence,
specially designed as an instrument of
justice.
The victuals of the prisoners are cooked
for them by the squaws. Yesterday Old
Eagle Head was arrested for endeavoring
to push into the building case of knives
and file. If they escape they will have
to be sharp.
Rumors have reached MS to-day of one
or more murders upon the Cottonwood.
The Indian women and few innocent
males, numbering about 1900 in ALL broke
camp and left for Fort Smelling this morn
ing under charge of that brave and gen.
tlemanly officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mar
shall. When this outrage broke out the
Indians thought they would winter their
squaws near St. Paul. Their statements will
prove true, but the fact will not be as agree
able to them as they supposed.
We start early in the morning for South
Bend, homeward bound.
In my last letter spoke of some dead
bodies which Antoine Premier saw on his
way down from Yellow Medicine, upon the
breast of the women of which WAS a live