The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1864-02-18
WEGWAM AND SETTLE
MENT.
OR
AN INDIANS GRATITUDE.
BY DlNMONT.

BY DlNMONT.
During the summer of 1862, the civil.
zed world was astounded at the afro.
cious balbarities that were perpetrated
upon the settlers Of Minnesota by arm.
cd bands Of infnriatcd savages. Every
a'rncit, known to the calendar Of crime
vas enacted, with al, il bloody and
heart rer'ling accompanimcnts, without
regard 10 age, *, or condition. For
III NY months the different tribes who
lived III the ncighborhood lad been
banded together for the purpose Of ex-
terminating tho white settlers, goaded,
doubtless by the non paymcn, Of their
! government claims: and alarmed at the
continual encroachments of the white
settlers upon tier hunting grounds.
With such quietness and security was
the whole matter conducted that no
suspicion Of their intentions entered the
minds ofthe settlers, and the confidence
which association implants in the hu
man br asst remained undisturbed.
On the night cf-, 1859, at tina;
solemn hour when the parting and the
coming day meet in fond embrace, the
pail Of death fell upon the village Of
The eyes tha. were closed by the gentle
hands Of sleep, were forever scaled by
death, never to open again upon the
light Of this world. The fond mother
who slup,bcred with her babe pillowed
upon her bosom, was inhumanly ms
sacred, and her darling III life was her
companion III death. Neither age, sex
nor infirmity was shield against the
fury of the savage demons, and the
scalping knife and tomahawk glistened
IN the light Of the burning village. The
village was reduced to a shapeless
mass ofsmouldering ruins, with which
were mingled the charrcd remains ct
those who loved their village home.
Among those who escaped the uplift-
cd hand Of tho revengful sayayes was
old Joe Stack ; but while his life was
spared him, yet he was taken prisoner,
and marched away amid the esnl,ant
execratiny shouts Of the sayages.
Joseph Stack, or as he was more
familiarly known, "Old Joe,' was a
man Of about the age OF fifty years, tall
stout. and muscular, with iron grey hal,
and grizzly beard, and possessing a
countenance which stamped him as an
homes, man. lie had resided in the
settlement for a quarter Of a century
long before the birth Of the village
above alluded to. A New Englande,
by birth, and possessing the education
and polished intellect characteristic OF
that portion OF the country, and = de-
scendant Of the Pilgrim fathers, old Joe
was ever truthful man. He married
in early life, but the happiness Of his
blooming manhood was blasted by the
wiiher:ng hand of DEATH and he soon
consigned to their las, resting place the
mortal remains Of his beloved wife
Shortly after he removed TO the fron,ie,
settlements, and sought, by the danger,
OF u frontier life, TO oh.ilerate from
memory The narrowing and affecting
scenes Of his early life. He was a resi-
dent Of the village al the time the Indi
ans made their night attack. was there
taken prisoner, firmly secured to pre-
vent any possibility ofescape; surround
Ell by guard Of Indian warriors, he
was taken to the nearest Indian village
where they arrived soon after mid day
As some time had elapsed since their
descent upon the village, and the ont
rage had become known throughout
the surrounding country, it becam.
necessary, as a matter of prudence
that they should continue their flight
uninterrupted until they reached the
heart Of their settlements, where thci,
increased numbers and superior knowl
edge Of the locality would prove Of vas,
advantage to them in a collision Will,
the white settlers.
The Indians wee all we'll mounted
and old Joe deprived Of horse, nearly
ovcrc omc by fatigue, and his mind near
lyscrazed from the reccollection Of the
appalling scenes Of the previous night
p'noined 50 tightly that the circulation
Of the blood was greatly inpcded and
in SOM Of his limbs entirely prevented,
was compelled by his savage attendants
AID the frequent application Of the lash