Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-29
Beautiful ncident-The Dying Daughter OF
Sioux Chief Requests Burial among White Peo-
plc-Af'ecting Funeral Ceremony.
rEron tbo NotiopoI In+alIioancar1

From the National Intelligencer.l
Fort LARAMIE D. T., March 8, 1866
A very important interview with Spotted TAIL
Chief of the Brue Sioux and party of his tribe
took place to-day with Colonel Maynadier and the
officers Of the post.
notice from Spotted Tail (whom we will call by his
more euphonious Indian name Pegaleshka,) that his
daughter was dead, and requested permission to bu-
ry her at the fort Her last request was to be buried
among the whites, as she had for several years been
| among them, and her death mainly due TO her
inability to stand the hardships of rowing Indian
life during so severe winter as the last.
Permission was granted and Pegaleshka was asked
to come as soon as possible. To-day Colonel May
nader received information that Pegaleshka had
reached the Platte river about two miles from the
fort, and would soon arrive. He with his personal
staff and the principal officers of the garrison, rode
out to meet the chief and encountered him about
midway between the fort and the Platte. Mutual
greetings took place, and they all turned and rode
rapidly to the fort, presenting a brilliant array
of officers i'll uniform and savages in buffalo robes,
while in front rode the Adjutant bearing small
United States flag.
On reaching headquarters, a council was held
The room was decorated with legimental cOlors
of the 9TH United States volunteers and other
flags and soon all were arranged in proper Indian
council order.
Pegaleshka does not smoke, and, moreover, be-
ing in mourning for his daughter, it would have
After few moments of silence, Colonel Magma
der rose and said
Nix BROTHER, (taking his hand am glad TO see
you because it proves that you are my friend, and
that you put confidence in the message sent you.
You know that whatever | say to you you can de-
pend upon, and your being here is proof of it. ]
know the sad errand on which You come, but be-
fore speak of it, let me say that the Great Father
has decided to send commissioners here in order TO
make peace with you, while l. who am only the
oh gnll will mt
the Commissioners come. They will be here in two
or three months.
sympathize deeply in your affection and grief at
the loss of your daughter, and feel proud and glad
that you wish to have her remains left here near the
chief who sleeps on yOnd0r hill and entrusted TO the
safe-keeping of me and my soldiers.
The Great Spirit has taken her, and will keep her
safe until you see her again in tho sky. have
done.
Pegaeshka was visibly affected and tears rolled
from his eyes. For some time he could not speak
at length, summonng his Indian fortitude, he be-
gan
Am dreaming only that am in this beautiful
room, and surrounded by such friends as you have
been asleep during four years OF suffering and dis
tress, and have now awOke TO see this place, or is
it still dream. | can hardly believe il reality,
but the beauty of the day, the sky without cloud,
the wind calm and STILL and the sun shining bright
upon US all, assures me that it Is real.
My BROTHER We have been sadly wronged, and
have suffered much, and are now poor and dis
tressed.
The whites are visiting my comfy in such num-
bers that the game is nearly gone, and 1--we cannot
live without help.
Broad roads have been run through my country,
and the buffalo are driven or For this will ask
some compensation and assistance for me and my
people,
thank yon for Offering to attend to my daughters
funeral. She should be buried as soon as possible
as she has been dead fifteen days l have brought
her more than hundred miles.
He sat down, and Colonel Haynadier rose toreply:
MY BROTHER: / Will answer some Of your re-
marks. know you have heon Unused and that
you are entitled to compensation and protection
but the whites will come as long as there is ANYTHING
to be made 10 this country, and it is impossible to
prevent them The country contains so much to at.
tract white men that they cannot be kept from com.
ing here But lot them come. Look at that flag
peierlng 10 the national colOrs Of the 18TH United
states volunteers)-yOn see red stripe and a white
stripe and red stripe and a white stripe again
they are side by side, and do not Interfere with
each other. so the red man and white man may
live IN this country, which is big enough for botl
side by side, if each will abstain from interfering
with the other "
think your daughters funeral should he at sun.
set this evening. Everything will be prepared and
as the sun goes down let it remind you that your
daughter Is gone from your lodge but remember the
sun rises again tomorrow, and so your daughter will
rise, and you will meet her in the land Of the Great
Spirit.
The council then broke up, and preparations were
MADE FOR the funeral Of Pegaleshkas daughter.
scaiold was erected in the burial ground of the
tort, on which to place the coffin.
shortly before sunset the coffin was carried TO the
graveyard, followed by Pegaeshka, his wife, two
sons, brothers and sisters.
The parapet of the fort, which runs near the grave
yard, was covered by Indian braves sasaws, and
papooses, and in the graveyard were large number
OF soldiers, citizens, and others, led by curiosity to
view the ceremony
When all was ready, the coffin was opened and the
CORPSE placed in it. with several articles as presents
to sustain her on her long voyage, as the Indians
believe to the happy hunting grounds.
Rev. Alpha Wright chaplain of the post, advanc-
ed towards the open coffin. On one side stood Peg
alsshka, and around the coffin the mother, sisters
and brothers Of the deceased, Colonel Mavnagher
and the interpreter. As the chaplain commenced
his prayer every hat in the large assembly was re-
moved, and all assumed an attitude Of devotion.
The reverend chaplain's prayer was translated by
the Interpreter, and as it was plain and most ap
proprise one, there is little doubt the Indians un.
derstoOd it perfectly.
The prayer was ended, the coffin raised upon the
scafold, and all slawly withdrew Thus was the
daughter Of Fegaleshka consigned to her last rest.
ipg,Psce
Who can tell what may be the ending of this in
lerestlQO m i'm