The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-21


cred three objects long distance off, be-
tween us and the train course, and making
towards the train. This actions, as soon
as we come near enough, to judge, con-
WINGED us that they were Indians. Yet
we still kept towards them, and they were
making preparations to meet us, one lead
ing and the other two riding their horses.
We got all ready to give them trial, they
creeping around on one side OF the
bluff, and we went creeping around to
meet them. | saw one raise. lie
had straw hat on, and | re-
cognized him as one of our scouts. He
beckoned us to come towards him. From
all description that l had of him
suppose him to be "Chaska, the
other two were full-blooded Sioux.
Both had Government horses, and armed,
one with Springfield rifle, the other,
with carbine. l asked him where Gen.
Sibley was. They pointed to hill, l
should judge three miles distant from
where we stood, in the direction where the
train passed.
l saw large number of men on bluff,
judged to be about two hundred in num-
Der, whom supposed to be General Sib-
ley's men, Gin Campo looking upon US.
We all at once started direct for them.
About the time we started we saw what
we supposed to be guard of cavalry,
start toward US. After We started the
scouts turned to little lake to water their
horses-ours being previously watered we
did not go with them. We still saw the
cavalry, Gas we supposedly coming, about
fifteen in number.
l remarked to Lieut.. Freeman, that they
must have turned back, as they had dis
appeared, and were out of sight. We
were soon surprised by seeing fifteen In
dams charging upon us with flag of truce.
AS we whirled, they fired q volley upon
US. Iyelled to the scouts that they were
Indians. 1 remarked to Lieut.. Freeman
that we had better put for the scouts.
When we got within twenty or twenty five
rods of the scouts, we were riding about
three rods apart One Indian rode up to
Lieut.. Freeman and put an arrow through
his back, On the left side, and at the same
time another Indian dismOunted and dis
charged his gun at me. laid low on my
horses neck, as close as possibly could,
and "Chaska stepped up to the top of
a knoll and fired once at the Indians who
fired at me. As Lieut. Freeman dropped
from his horse, l asked him ifhe was hart.
He replied, 81 am gone" He wished me
to cut piece of string which was around
his neck and supported part of the An
telope, which he was carrying. As cut
the string he changed his position
more on his side and rested more up hill.
He asked, family, for water. The scouts
had then mounted their horses and left US.
The Indians were then all around US, one
at the side of the lake. As the scouts ran
towards them they fell back. then
took Lieutenant Freeman's rife and re-
volver and followed the scouts. Lieut..
Freeman, to all appearance, was dead.
The Indian mentioned, seeing the Ieuten-
ants horse, which followed me, left US and
broke for the horse. In that way it al
lowed me to Overtake the scouts. He
succeeded in catching the horse. Then
the whole crowd started after US again.
We rode about four miles when we were
surrounded by them, again by the side of
little marsh. We all jumped off our
horses. The scouts made motions and ran
up to meet them, and ''Chaska" motion
ed for me to Jump into the tall rushes on
the marsh. saw nothing more of
the scouts. The Indians all rushed
down to where the horses were. l cooked
my rifle and lay in the rushes within ten
feet of them. They got into a wrangle
about the horses. They presently started
off, l suppose from fear of being overtaken
by our forces, taking q course around the
marsh. lay there about an hour. By
accident in putting down the hammer of
my rifle, it went off. This was about 3 P.
M. There was shower. After it cleared
off Immediately started, course with
the sun at my back, and travelled two
hours. l followed this direction two days,
stopping in marshes during the night time.
struck river at night of the second day.
1t was clear water, running in southerly
direction, and quarter of mile in width.
Next morning struck from there due
south, and travelled that day until almost
night-then took westerly course, con-
Guiding that the trail was not in that d.
rection-travelled little north of west,
and struck Gen. Sibley's trail the after
noon of the third day, about twelve miles
from where we camped the night before l
left the main column, and made the camp
that night l started next morning for
Camp Atchison, and made it in two days.
Arrived here the second night between
eight and nine o'clock, making the dis
lance of the four camps in two days
hareheaded, barefooted, and without
coat. I was obliged to leave my rife on
the last day of my travel, not having suf-
fcient strengh to carry it any farther.
About ten miles before reaching Camp
A, sat down to rest, and had such diff
Guilty in getting under way again, that l
determined to stop no more, feeling sure
that once again down l should never be
able to regain my feet unaided. 1 enter
ed the camp near the camp fire of de-
tachment of the "Pioneers, "(Capt Chases
Company Of the Ninth Minnesota Infantry,)
and fell to the ground unable to raise
again. But, thank God! around that fire
were sitting some st. Anthony friends,
among whom were Messrs. McMullen and
Whittier, attached to that company, who
kindly picked me up, and carried me to
my tent.
I lost my coat, hat and knife in the
fight on the first day. took Lieut.. F. s
knife and with it made moccasins of my
boot-legs, my boots so chatting my feet in
walking that I could not wear them.