East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-04-27
Original aAistellany.
An Indian Campaign.
CHAPTER VII.

accordingly advanced without furthei
fear of molestation. On arriving a
Jacksonville we learned that Genera
Lanes headquarters were near Table
Rock, some twelve miles distant, anG
as our entire mission was to sunni,
ammunition and arms for his com.
mand we at once drank ration o
bad whiskey at the expense of the
city and marched out In all the ''prids
pomp, and circumstance of glorious
war;" ffar
AT nightfall we fell in with the out
posts, and still having rough and
rugged way before us we went tc
grass in torrent Of rain and six in.
ches of mud, with the. blne vault Of
Heaven over us, but beyond our Wis
ion, and intense darkness wrapped
around us; there we lay, within few
miles of the enemy, without sentry,
and almost without a thought of dan.
ger, SO Thoroughly had oil the frights
of other nights convinced US that our
greatest enemy was Imagination and
cuyotas. The morning dragged her.
self up through the rain in miserable
condition and after hasty meal we
again got the command, column for
ward" About noon we found our
selves upon the southern bank of the
Rogue River again, while on the OPP
posite rested the command Of Gen.
Lane and about eight thousand Indi-
ans in the most friendly manner con-
ceivable. Some of the wild fellows of
our company vented their wrath upon
this condition Of affairs and vowed TO
shoot the first Indian caught outside
the camp. In fact an old mulletteer
who had suffered not little from the
Indians in his various trips from the
mines to the valley for supplies, swore
roundly TO have full satisfaction for
tho past, indemnity for the future.
OF course there were enough of the
wild and reckless in the two camps
ready for any undertaking, and on
the following night "crazy Bob Will
son." as ho was generally called, col
lected party of eighteen and started
without the knowledge Of any officer
to make good his threats of vengence.
Being well acquainted with the
country and having discovered from
scouts about the camp, that an Indian
chief, known among the whites as
Taylor Jim, with about twenty Snake
Indians were camped about ten miles
away, they went out and under cover
Of the night surrounded their camp
and with the first streak of morning
light rushed in upon their unsuspect-
ing foes, and before any effectual re-
sistance was made they killed or cap
tured the whole party. The old
Chief was among the prisoners, and
being personally acquainted with vii
son plead for his life, but his captoI
was relentless as fate. One after the
other of the prisoners were set up like
turkies at a shooting match and shot
down without the slightest regard tc
law, human or divine, "Old Bob" cry.
ing out at each shot, "Go in boys Kill
the id diggers and make treaty af
terward." Old Taylor Jim preserved
his stoical indifference, and whom he
alone was left, raised upon his fee
and marched out to the allotted spot
with arms folded and steady step, and
there awaited his death. The order
was given and every man in tho party
fired, and the old chief fell forward
upon his face pierced by eighteen bull
lets. The party then returned t.
camp, fully satisfied with the exploit
and as they were warm friends will
many of the officers their breach O
law was overlooked and charged Il
the casualties of war.
The misfortune which led to thi
brutal outrage lay solely in the fac
that on the day before our arriva
General Lane had attacked tn
enemy, and after sharp skirmish o
two hours duration, in which larg
number Of Indians were killed, an,
several whites wounded, the enem,
begged for a "talk' and before night
fall treaty was effected, and the tw
forces rested side by side upon tn
prairie that lies between Table Roc
and the river. In this skirmish Ger
Lane received shot through the Aes
Of his right arm, just below the shou
der, and the gallant Major Olden, ths
years ago was stationed at Detroi
was shot in frightful manner. TIL
ball entered just beside the main Al
terry on the left side of the neck, an
passed out below the shoulder blad
and yet in q few months afserward v