The Goodhue volunteer. [volume] (Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minn.) 1861-1864, 1863-06-03


end but what was, my ;consternation and
despair when found it empty! Every ar
ncleg Of food. or clothing removed! !ssf My
heart seemed to die Within me, and I sunk
down down in dispair. The cries of my child ar
reused rouse l,u me from my almost unconscious
state, and began. my search for food. ~ The
house Sc had pot been plundered by theEssIndir
ans but e abandoned i by its Owner. sgIv lad
promised my boy. food when We arri we'd, here
and when none could be found he cried most
bitterly. But I did not shed tear, nor am
conscious Of having done 50 during all this
journey. I found some carrots and. onions
growing in the garden, which + ate raw,
having no fire. Ny. eldest child continued
vomiting. offered him some carrot but he
could not eat it. That night We stayed in
q corn field, and the next morning at day
Light renewed my search for, food. 70 my
great JOY l. found the remains of a spoiled
ham. Here, I may say my good fortune be-
gan. There was not more than a pound 0!
it, and that much decayed. This ! saved,
for my boy, feeding it to him in very. small
Quantities, his vomiting ceased and, he reviv,
ed rapidly. I gathered more carrots. and
onions, ana with this store of provisions, at
about 8 O'Clock on the morning Of the third
day, again set forth on my weary road for
the residence Of Mr.. Brown, twenty five
miles distant. This distance L reached in
two days. Under the effects of the food |
was able to give my boy, he gained strength
and was able to walk all of the last day.
When within about three miles Of the resi-
dence Of Mr.. Brown two of our neighbors
from Lake She,ek settlement overlook us,
under the escort of the m all carrier. Both
! OF them had been wounded by The Indians
and left for dead in the attack OF the settle
lnent Thomas Ireland one Of the party had
ben hit with eight balls, and strange to
say was still abe to walk and had done so
most Of The way. Mrs. Estleck, the other
person under escort, was utterly unable to
walk, having been shot in the foot once in
the side, and once in the arm. Her hus
band had been killed and her son about ten
yeard old wounded. The mail carrier had
ove"taken this party aGer the fight with The
Indians at the lake: and placing Mrs. Est
Ieck in his snky, he was leading his horse.
As the little party came in sight took
them to be Indians, and felt that after all
my toll and suffering l must die. with my
children. by The hand Of the sa:age. l fear
ed 10 look around, but kept ON, my way
until overtak en-. This was little before
sunset, and we all arrived at the residence
Of Mr.. Brown that night. This house was
also deserted and empty, but being fastened
up we thought t@ey might come back. Our
company being too weak and destitute.to
proceed, we took possession Of the house
and remained ten days. There we found
:. potatoes and green corn. The mail carrier
accompanied by Mr.. Ireland lame as he was
proceeded On the next morning to New
Ulm, where thcy found there had been a
battle with the Indians and one hundred and
ninety two houses burned. A party oil
twelve men were Immediately. sent with a
wagon to our relief. 1t was now lhat7.uc
learned the tate OF Mr.. Bro wn and family !;
all' had been murdered !! We also learned
/ Of the general outbreak and massacre Of all
the moro remote settlements, ansait esad,
sickening thought was now fully confirmed
in my mind that my husband was dead =
i my fa.he, less children and myself made begs
gars. s1>azlsT o4 ;,.-.*s~ a@s s25ss4 >f,el Il +
Mrs. IIurd had resided at the Lake three
years, and was well acquainted wIth many
Il OF the Indians, could speak their language,
land bad always treated them with ariIch
.tfriendship.ssaIt is TO that fact that she at
tributes their. mercy ip saving her life. The
|entire settlement Of Lake .bhetsk was desI
.ltroyed and most Of 4 he people sEanrdered.
4 She is woman OF nediam size, rather good
Hooking, twenty~six years old, and OF unu
<uaI irteI'isenc. ,Enjoyed good heath ur
to tie time Of her mistortunss, but now feel:
most keeniys the shock that has SO ,we,gbtiiJ
$. fallen upon her She returned from .isers
j. I,os Ia Crosse, where she NOW resi.es witt
n #gas rs, #H0 Ea Eyt@s &Ess-s Es#ssY Ss55zsssss
her brother. ,s.s ,s.e s-- sstar s4.5
{ The Commissioners i. baTes dealt ksasl,
II with her, and she r.iIzprobzbsy BIZ i,aid se'
loss of property but ssl1o ca. iasns back &
her the murdered husband, The bsans;g. 1oye
illness and enjeyuaen. That surrounded be
. ON the morning Of the 10ah Of f-aus,,s:, lss2
3 or blot from her memory those ax.us drearl
9 nish,s Of watching alone upon the braas
$ prairie. 10 The storm and in The tempest
I tsarnd shupsering4 and Iighs s,ags. Or .hs
: ean conssmpla.s tilat amof1sr's feslinss =
.her sick and helpless child cried fcT bsesd IN
iDere xas sone 70. gre. or as she boTs ls.'