Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-09
AMONG TILE INDIANS.

Eighteen Years n Captive-CuriOus Ad-
ventures Of 81 Man and wife.
From the Elmira IN. V Advertiser, Jan. 80
In the spring Of 1S4S a pleasant party
with high wrought visions about the then
virgin land Of gold, California, left East
MeadWay, Mass for an overland journey
across the plains. Among the party was
James p. Kimbail, then only nineteen,
and just married to Jane Mcneil, and half
sister of the famous Kit Carson. The
father and mother Of the bride accompa-
MED them. Everything prospered with
them, the company having been augmented
10 sixty-three, when they set out upon the
overland journey. They reached the foot
Of Chilicothe mountain, June IS, l848,
having crossed the plains of Utah. Here
they were suddenly attacked by a war par
ty of the Snakes and Shoshonees, and the
entire company captured or killed. Kim
ball was successful in saving his own life
and that of his wife by fortunately run
ming the gauntlet twice, for her and him
self He was then exalted into favor among
the Indians and soon became a great
medicine man. His father-in-law had
been previously burned at the stake. When
the Indians had satisfied their barbarity,
the remaining captiyes were hurried away
towards the mouth Of the Columbia river,
in Washington territory, the headquarters
Of the tribe Starting out on another war
path, they ascendea the Columbia and met
hostile tribe In their path, the Enoya, and
were badly defeated, and the wife Of Kim
ball was captured, and remained in slavery
for two years and halt, when another war
terminated in the defeat of the enemy and
the restoration Of Mrs Kimball to her
husband again. The Snakes and Shoho-
nees acted as one tribe, although with diff
ferent head men or chiefs. For the re-
naming fifteen years Of their captivity,
the KimbalPs followed the fortunes of
the tribe, wandering here and there
over a yast region of country, at some
seasons well supplied with provisions, at
others compelled 70 subsist on insects, roots
and herbs, a vagabond life, here to-day and
there tomorrow. During the whole period
they kept an accurate account Of the years
by the passage of the seasons. The reputa.
tion cf Kimball waTed greater and greater,
as the great medicine man OF the tribe. In
last April or March the tribe, in one Of
their raids, approached the frontiers Of civ
iligation, and took part in the Fort Lara
mie massacre. During the progress of the
fight, Kimball made signals TO the United
States soldiers, which gave them to under
stand that he was q white man. He was
soon recaptured by Lieut. Wyman Of the
18th United States infantry. With the as
sistance Of 'the boys in blue" he was for
tunate in lighting his way to his wifestent,
and rescuing her. They both received the
kindest attention from Gen. Darlington,
commanding at Fort Kearney, Kansas, who
helped them we'll on their way towards
friends in the East Two daughters, aged
sixteen and seventeen, they left behind, be-
ing wives Of the Indian chiefs, Peter Ful>
som and John HaWkeye. Afler reaching
this State, Kimbsll was fortunate in finding
that his father had left East Medway,
Mass, and had settled between Corning
and Painted Post, as a farmer and mer-
chant. His name is Newell Kimball. He
left here yesterday forenoon by the mail
train, with his wife. Their appearance TO
his fathers family was like these having
risen from the grave, as, years ago, they had
been given up as lost or killed on the vast
western plains. At the time Of his recap
ture Kimball received a ball through the
left wrist, which paralyzed that arm, and
an Indian arrow passed through his leit
groin. As yet he has not much taste for
the arts Of civilization. His food is ex-
ceedingly primitive-raw beefsteak and but
little besides-gratifying his appetite bet
ter than all the most elaborate efforts Of
cookery.