The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-19
The Indian War in Minnesota.
A STORY OF WOMAN's COURAGE

"A MIR Foote, with his family of five chill
dren, has been living for the last five year.
near Eagle lake, about 60 miles Southwest
from st Cloud. On Wednesday night of las
week, alarmed by some of their neighbors
they started with one or two families O
Swedes to make good their escape to tht
woods, but after riding about a mile from
their home, some of the party objected to &c
further in the night and rain, so stopped in
little log cabin with two six-lighted windows
gaping crevices on all sides, through which
they could be plainly seen from without
Scarcely were they safely inside when part,
OF fifteen mounted Indians rode up, and call
ing MIR Foote, demanded admittance. Who
are you? Dacotah Sioux. Are You not the
same who have been killing our people and
burning our houses No bad Indians gone
away; we good Indians; deer hunt; want
something to eat. This parley was held
through one Of the windows, before which
they had had larely time to hang an old Goa,
for screen, Mr. Foote holding his gun the
while. Steadily refused admittance they
went little distance from the house and en-
camped TOR the night, making every variety
of hldeous sounds, initiating cackling, crow
ing, barking, &C. Though the increasing
rain relieved them of the dread of fire, there
was no sleep for the inmates of that belea-
guered cabin. In the morning Mr. Foote
went out to them, granted them the potatoes
and corn which they asked for breakfast, tell
ing the Swede, however to let them dig for
themselves. Too unwise to follow this direc-
ton, they shot him while thus at work for
them, firing at Mr. Foote as he turned to en-
ter the cabin, wounding him severely in the
side. He fell forward upon the floor. The
door was secured, and theu commenced a
tragedy too full of horror and pathos to be
conceived-certainly to be described. Would
that you could hear it from the noble woman
! '@A'eA' wiz Hailateu tleSe SOul-tnrlllnp
events with the utmost simplicity and Won
derful selt-mastery, only yielding to a mo-
mentary culver of the lip and dimming of the
eye, while the tears flowed freely from our
own. Two other men were in the house,
with tier wives and three chrildren each ;
Ericsson, Norwegian, and Swanson, a
Swede, who was perfectly paralyz with
fear. No threat or persuasion could induce
him to fire his loaded gun. Covering in the
corner, white with terror, he begged Mis- +.
to open the door, till Mr. F., helpless as he
then was, declared he would shoot the first
one who attempted it. Summoning all his
remaining strength, he partially raised him.
SELF aimed his rife through little crevce
and despatched one of the savages; then, in
his exhaustion, continued loading for his wife,
who fired first from one side, then from the
other, to deceive the foe with the belief that
they were strong in numbers and arms.
Ericsson fired boldly several times, but was
soon mortally wounded, and though with a
broken hip, in his extreme agony he reached
the lott without assistance, where he sank
groaning beside his wife, who, the while, was
aiding Mrs Foote as far as possible by watch
ing the savages through the chinks and Civ
ing notice as one approached. She thinks
she succeeded in wounding one whom she
saw leaning against tree, and who sank
down after her fire and crawled off through
the grass. Mr. Foote meantime, once more
rallied and fired, disposing of one more Indi-
an; but soon after, Leing shot through the
shoulder, the charge passing out near the
shoulder blade, he crawled upon bed in the
corner, whence he could only reassure his
wife by an occasional word, while everything
life or death for the entire household
pended upon her. For more than seven
hours she kept those thirteen savages at bay
receiving flesh wound in the shoulder from
a spent ball, which threw her bleeding and
almost senseess upon the floor. Once more
she returned to the conflict and aiming as fair
as possible at one Of the savages, who stood
just round the corner from her, their pieces
were discharged at the same instant. The
conclusion was terrible 1t seemed to her
for moment that her head was taken off her
shoulders. Mr. Foote now said, IL will fire
Adeline," and looking up, she saw the smoke
rising where the dry moss had ignitel be.
tween the logs. An awful dread for mo.
ment, but MIR Foote assured her it was OILY
the wadding from the Indians gun. She was
now left with only two caps, and reserved
her fire. There was no further need. The
toiled foe had stolen off, and by the light oi
her burning home she knew they were on the
backward trail. The cries of poor old Cuff
too, reached her ears, as his ferocious bark
was followed by the report of gun. Swan,
son now started out with his family, and beg
ged Mrs F. to join them in flight. You may
imagine her reply, as she looked upon hel
helpless. bleeding, heroic husband "No, il
the Indians come back, We will die toge,h
er"
The long night of suspense, of groans, Of
agony Of Thursday, passed. Friday morn
ing the party came again, with whoops ani
yells and every imaginable demoniac noise tc
lure them from the house. Then came {
storm of bullets perfect silence Within
l Fooled again, they left. Their next visit wa