The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1863-04-29

~ ""AA"" A4"u0u "nu uleau as not 10 40
anything now, that the company will pur-
sure just that course, and we believe they
will.
Removal of the Condemned Indians.
The condemned Indians that escaped the
gallows last fall by the clemency Of the
President, two hundred and seven in mum.
Der, have been removed from their place of
confinement at Mankato, probably to Rock
Island. 1t is not impossible at their death
sentence has been committed to imprisson-
ment at hard labor for life. Then again,
their removal from Mankato will release the
soldiers that were required to guard them,
from that duty, and enable them to enter
upon the m ore active service of the summer
campaign.
On the 23d inst, the steamer Favorite
stopped, on her way down from the Yellow
Medicine, at Mankato. and, without exciting
The suspicion Of single person in the place,
Col. Miller transferred the condemned In.
dams from the prison to the boat.
The Indians, under the impression that
they were being carried away to be executed,
passed most of their time in religious wor
ship. in the doctrines and practice Of which
they had been faithfully educated by the
Rev. DR.. Williamson during their contine-
mcnt.
In the St. Paul Press of the oath we find
the following vivid description of their wor
ship on IL It Ito them) eventful occasion:
ut was thrilling and suggestive sight to
witness these savage children Of the wilder
ness-the hands of many of them red with
the innocent blood Of men and women and
children-sitting in their shackles on the
low, dark deck-their sombre faces lit IN
with the red glare OF the furnace fires, and
singing praises TO the white mans God in
old Presbyterian tunes-rudely rendered in.
deed, with something Of the savage and
dreary monotone Of the war song in this
Christian hymning-bu: still with melody
OF Its own, that touched the heart Of hearer
and spectator. After the singing an Indian
arose and read chapter from his Dakota
Testament, and then they all knelt down in
the attitude OF worship; one after another
followed in prayer, in the low: sweet under-
tone. like prolonged echo from distance,
which fascnates the guest Of an Indian lodge.
This strange spectacle OF Christian worship,
conducted with such grave and solemn nm.
CONSCIOUSNESS, on the lower deck Of \ Mis-
s'ss'pp' steamer, by this grotesque consre-
gat'on OF savages, condemned for crimes
whose recital makes the blood run cold. is
one Of the most remarkable episodes in the
history q! this Indian war. Undoubtedly.
to many OF the deck hands and firemen who
witnessed the scene, these prayers offered
up 10 God in the unknown tongue of . saw
age race, was the first act Of Christian wor
ship which they had attended for MANY
years.
All the Indians q: Mankato were broush,
away on the boat, forty, eight of whom we're
not condemned. and those were to be left at
Fort Smelling As the boat neared The land
ing, the Indians At the Fort discovered those
on the boat, and made simultaneous rush
to the ievee but Col. Crooks had made
preparations for them by stationins a com
pany Of infantry on the levee, between the
boat and those on the shore, 50 a. to prevent
the possibility Of either escape or rescue.
For description Of the scene that followed
~e again quote from the Press:
"The fortv-eisht unconvicted Indians be
fore referred to. were quickly put ashore, the
plank drawn in. and the loaf pushed off
again on its voyage, when the poor Indian
women, the wires and mothers. whose bus-
bands and sons were not in the released
number, saw the boat moving off without
discharging their relatives, with frantic dis
may. With that quickness Of apprehension
which distinguishes the Indian, they came
to the conclusion tha. they were to be taken
somewhere to be hung. The scene which
ensusd was pitiable in the extreme, and de.
ties description. As the boat moved of with
all their Wild hearts held dear, snatchinc
them again from the arnx already nuts,retch.
ed in joyful welcome. to take them to hor
rible death. the whole vast crowd or sav.ee
forms wrishsd in The agony Of dsappoinI.
mens, aud vail ofErief vent up from hum
drcds OF shriil. wild voices which il ras
heart rentiing 10 hear. The poor Creatures
flung themselves on the ground. and pulled
their heir, and beat their breasts with the
anguish Of the sudden revats:en from hope
To despair. II they might ouiy sp<ak 70
their beloved ones. Bat no; stern,v ana
exorahv ~ ate. The boat moyes "a ana
their las. hope tades away 8 It disappears
in the distance. -
Cant Cprs,ke x>eI.1 sy>n ,>~.. 49,.