Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-20
- c;ven Of Black Kettle by army off

tory given Of Black Kettle by army Off
GERS who have known him well and spent
much time with him on the plains for
twenty years past are to be believed, he
was scarcely below the place assigned to
the high>minded chief Of story.
Ten years ago he was the most re-
nowned warrior and influential chief on
the plains. In person he was marked
man among all bis fellows. He was tall.
and somewhat slender, though well
formed in all respects. His dress was
that of chief, without the usual array OF
ornaments. His fame as an orator was
widely known. He was great in council,
and was there respected and feared, and
his word was law. He has been one OF
the firmest friends Of the whites ever
since they appeared on his hunting
grounds. When the first eTnigrants, on
their way to the mines, were stampeded
in 1859 60, he displayed generosity
in protecting them which was lar
beyond what any had right 70
expect, even from friendly Indians. Fol-
lowing this, he gave the government
most effective aid in maintaining the
peace of the plains and protecting emi>
grafton. When this peace could no longer
| I've kept, he put himself and his tribe
under the protection Of our authorizes
built villags, raised the national nag
| over it, and there remained in faneied
security. Three white guests were with
him when Chivingtou surprised his camp
and attacked it while the flag was flying.
When the fixing began he said to these
three whites that he believed them to be
spies, but as he did not know it he should
not harm, and so let them leave camp
and Join the soldiers, even while these
were shooting his women and children
down. Thus attacked, he turned at bay,
and with forty-fve warriors held SIX
hundred Colorado soldiers at bay for
, seven hours, and then successfully re-
treated with twenty warriors and three
hundred women and children. Among
the rest he carried his own wife, pierced
with twelve bullets, off the field
in his arms. She recovered, and
was with him up to the time Of
Sheridan's last movement. The United
States may possibly. have achieved
the honor of numbering both. This wife
was Bla k Kettles shadow. He has
never had another. Ever since his course
has been known to the whites, this wife
has been with him in the camp, at the
council, on the battle field, in the flight
IL Custar's report be true, they are in the
grave together now.
A ter the Sand Creek massacre Black
Kettle waged relentless war, till the Con,
gressional Committee sent him word
that they wanted to see him. lie a.
, once came in, promptly made peace, anC
| kept it till Hancock burned his villages
and then, when war followed the barbar
Gus act, he himself refused to participate
because he had pledged his word to thu
+ committee to keep peace.
At Medicine Lodge he promised tn
Peace Commissioners that under nj
{ circumstances would he take up arm
> himself, and when the news off the lat
outbreak reached him he asked his younI
, men to kill him, that ne might neithe
> break his word or be disgraced by refus
, ing to fight for and with his people. Jus
before the late battle the report anon
9 the Indians was that he had taken hi
r wife, his ponies and his blankets, an
started for the South, voluntary exll
from his tribe, preferring this to what b
D deemed dishonor It is hoped by man.
here that the report Of his death is with
out foundation.
Surely, a government as wise as our
? should be able to devise some way t
keep peace with such characters as this