The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-10-27


appeared in their rear. Then the Indians gave
way. Most escaped, but thirty were taken
and speedily conveyed to the Fort, where &C
commodations were provided for them in the
guard house and the black hole. The Chip.
pewas, too, removed their lodges into the Fort,
and the wounded were carried TO the hospital.
Eight balls had been fired into the Chippe-
wa lodge, and every one took effect. The
wounds were the most ghasily that we ever
saw made by bullets. The party had been
lying, or reclining on their mats /; for there is
no standing in q Chippewa lodge. Consequent
ly the balls passed through their limbs dag.
onally tearing and cutting more than 1t is usual
for pieces of lead to do, though as ragged as
chewing can make them. One woman was
killed outright, one man was mOrtally, and
another severely wounded, the latter being
shot through both ancle joints and crippled
forever. All the rest were women and chill
dren, and more or less severely wounded.
There was weeping and wailing in the Chip
peway lodges that night. The noisy lamenta'
tons of the women broke the rest of the whole
garrison; but no one desired them to be silent,
cerity of their sorrow. Never were Indian
knives driven deeper into squaws' flesh in
token of grief than on that occasion. The prac-
tice OF mortiying the body, on the death of
friends, seems to be, and to have been COM
mon to all rude people. The Jews clothed
themselves In sackcloth and threw ashes on
their heads; Achilles refused to wash his face
till the funeral rites had been performed over
the body of Patroclus. Now, the male Chip
pewas blackened their faces, indeed, but they
did not cash their arms. A soldier who spoke
their language asked of them why they did not
conform to the ancient usage Of their nation.
Perhaps we shall have use for our guns to-
morrow" replied the Little Soldier. We must
loose no blood, though our hearts bleed, tor
RI
barrels"
The Little Soldier was right in his surmise
and precaution. At early day dawn the COM
manding officer visited the wounded Chippe-
was, and asked them if they could recognize
any OF their aggressors, in case they should ap-
pear before them. They replied eagerly in the
affirmative. He then asked them why they
spected your flag, replied the mortally wound
ed man, "and thought that our enemies would
do the same" The Colonel then asked wheth-
er they had given the Dakotas no provocation.
None, said the Chippewa, shut we endur-
ed much" He presented the peace pipe which
that the hair. with which it was ornamented
had belonged to Chippewa head. We know
not how he made the discovery, but it is well
known to all who have lived on the frontier,
that an Indian, on seeing scalp, can tell,
with unerring certainty, to what tribe it be-
longs.
The wounded men were then, with their
own joyful consent, placed on litters and borne
to the guard house. The Dakota prisoners
were paraded before them and they identified
two of the number, as having belonged to the
band of assassins
II deliver them iuto your hands" said the
Colonel to the Chippewa warriors. "They
have deserved death, and you may inflict it. or
not, as you think proper. If you do not, they
met ho snl hxv xho lo~ soA
Americans. l have no power to put them to
death. You may let them CO. If you please !;
l wash my hands of the matter. This speech
was interpreted faithfully to the Chippewas
but none of them answered. Instead of speak
ing, they examined the fints and printing of
their guns. The Little Soldier drew from be-
meath bis robe few fathoms of cord, cut from
criminals, fas ening them together by the ell
bows. 1t was observed that he drew his knots
rather tighter than it was absolutely necessary;
but no one blamed him. The Dakotas were
then led forth. As soon as they passed the
gate, the Cbippewas halted and cooked their
guns, for their vengeance was growing impa-
tient.
"You must not shoot them under our
walls, said one of the officers
II hope you do not expect US to take them
very far," replied Chippewa.
The procession then moved on. One Of the
Dakotas struck up the death song. The other
attempted it, but d id not succeed his voice
sunk into quayer Of CONSERVATION. The
Chippewas led them to a rising ground, about
bade them run for their lives. They were not
slow to obey the mandate, and their execution
ers gave them thirty yards law. At that dis
tance six guns were discharged at them, and
they fell dead. Instantly the prairie rang with
the Chippewa cri de joie, and the executioners
rushed towards the corpses, with their knives
barred, yelling like fiends. Twice and thrice
did each plunge his weapon into the bodies of
the PROSTATE foes, and then wipe their blades
on their face or blanket. One or two display.
ed ferocity which those only who saw, can
entirely realize. They drew their reeking
knives through their lips, and exclaimed with
smack, that they never tasted any thing so
good An enemyis bleod was better than even
fire water. The whole party then spat upon
the body of him who had feared his fate, and
spurned it with their feet Tey had not tast-
ed has blood. 1t would they said, have made
their hearts weak. To him who had sung his
death song, they offered.no indignity. On the
contrary, they covered him with new blank
ct. They then returned to the Fort.
The Colonel met them at the gate. He had
prevented all, over whom his authority extend
ed, from witnessing the scene just described,
and had done his best to make the execution
- 80 ouS,hcSS VI tne SulppeWaS. ne
now told them that the bodies of the slain
must not be suffered to remain upon his land,
Wnere the spectacle might grieve the Dakotas
VINO were innocent of their crime. The partv
retired and proceeded to the slaughter ground.
They took the dead Dakotas by the heels, trail
ed them over the earth to the bluff and there
threw them over perpendicular precipice a
hundred and fifty feet high. The bodies
splashed and sunk, and nothing more was ever
seen or heard of them.
Among the Dakotas detained in the guard
house was an old man named Khova-pa. or the
Eagles Head. We knew him wellrhe once
cheated Us out of considerable amount of
merchandise; but it was in the way of trade.
all fair, according to Indian ethics and we
bear him no malice. He had not slept during
the night but had tramped up and down the
floor, deeply agitated. 70 the extreme disturb