The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-11-11
A co,orcd Soldier in Luck.

The Milwaukee Wisconsin says 4:
"Sear the close Of the war a colored sol
der found his way up the Mississippi and
landed at La Crosse. He had aquiet, OBJ
servant look. and twenty shillingS i'll his
rocket. While ut La Crosse he heard that
there was good deer-Shooting up III the
northern Chippewa country. lie had Il
taste for the woods, and Il Sharpe rifle. lie
got a chance at 'wooding-up' on one OF
Rumsey's line OF Chippewa steamboats,. ana
put off at Eau Claire early in October. Here
he procured IN axe, ammunition, Il coarse
blanket. and Il small pack-load of provisions.
He then started eastward for the deer range,
taking an old trail through the timber, and
avoiding roads and habitatiOns. The second
dav brought him to I pleasant camplng-
place beside a small stream, where he set up
a Temporary brush shelter for the night. lie
was out at sunrise the following morning,
and in less than an hour shot Il fat young
deer within fifty rods Of his camp. This was
good beginning, and fixed him where he
was. He now set about getting logs to-
cether for cabin. The noise OF his axe soon
brought in Il Chippewa Indian, who was
camped Il mile up the creek. Ncgsibor In
dian talked little broken English, and was
clad and surprised. The day after, the Indian
and two squawS came down to his raising
and helped him roof his cabin with bark.
He gathered boughs for his bed, and slept
like Il king that night That was five years
ago. Since then our colored soldier mas
fiourished. He has now Il homestead Of 100
acres, with ten-acrc clearing, double
log-cabin. wild fruit trees, sWarmS OF bees,
a sugar bush, a pasture lot for his indian
pony, and Il bank account at Eau Clare.
He has been offered 81 900 for his home
stead, but he is satisfied as he IS. lie hunts
and farms betimes. Last winters hunting
receipts stood him over $500. He killed six
bears and thirty deer. Lumbermen pay 4
good price for his corn and hay 1T his door,
During the spring and fall he makes trips
to Eau Claire: stays Il week or two with
his barber friend Bowler; gets trimmed
and posted up; sends provisions round by
lumber teams going to the woods, and then
puts back home by way of his old Indian
trail. Hunters and woodsmcn who visit
him at his cabin speak of him as exceed
inclv friendly and hospitahlc. His cabin IS
4 model OF neatneS>, and his farming admlfa-
bic. He has Il hundred-dollar rifle, Whlch
puts him high among his Indian friends.
We saw him not long ago in our travels up
the Chippewa. He talks with interference
and spirit, and is well booked upin all wood
craft. lie never lacks company, he says.
They often crowd his cabin ut evening, when
he takes down his fiddle and gives them
4 lively set-to in both rooms. indian girls
take great delightto breakdowns,' and Will
hold out the night long without intermiS-
sion. Our sable brother has had frequent
offers of young Indian girls in exchange for
his pony or his rifle. So far he has stood
proof against all the Establishments of the
forest maidens, and has shown no ambition
to perpetuate his name or his race among
the tribes of the red men. lie will be here
after known as the first colorcd soldier i'll
Wisconsin who had the manhood and indie
pendence to push off alone in the forest and
hew out farm and fortune for himself