The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-01-27
! Custar's Indian Captiyes.
CONDUCT OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
THE woUNDEp-PAss1oN. FOR ,HARD-TAcK.
Field Cor. of the N. Y. Herald.1

During the first few days of the captivi
ty of the squaws of Black Kettles band o.
Cheyennes there was considerable anxiety
felt by them. They ALI expected they
were to be killed in retaliation Of the afro
cities committed by their band. At first
the wounded ones refused to go to the hos
pitai, fearing they were the first singled out
for vengeance. The soldiers talking to
each other not in tones the most gentle
and euphonious and in language they did
not understand, they construed it into q
controversy as to when and how they were
to be disposed of. Ef.4E.s
In constant dread OF what disposition
was to be made of them, several of the
squaws; visited General Sheridan's inter.
prefer, Mr.. Curtis, and asked him whether
they were all to be killed. When assured
that the white man did not kill women and
children for what the warriors did, they
felt materially relieved. Since then the
wounded squaws have appeared more live
ly, and exhibit an unusual feeling of graft
tude for the kind treatment they have been
receiving. This. feeling they manifest by
shaking hands with the surgeon whenever
he visits them. The most remarkable in
stances Of fortitude are exhibited in the ca
ses of the wounded Indian children. The
desperation of the fighting at the battle OF
the Washita, on the part of the savages,
may be judged from the fact that no male
prisoners were taken over eight years old
the rest taking up arms and Joining in the
fight. There.are now in hospital several
very young boys and girls badly wounded
but from not single one of them has come
the slightest audible indication Of their
suffering; yet the expression Of their face,
the wild glance Of their eyes, betray that
they do suffer. During such painful opera
tions as probing and cleansing out their
wounds, placing the thumb on one temple
and stretching the hand across the fore
head, fixing the second finger on the tenn
pile opposite, they close their eyes and pa
tiently submit to such operations as the
teachings Of surgery require. One little
girl about six years of age has bullet
through her body, on the left side, and YET
she sits up and makes no complaints
All the wounded squaws and children rode
in on their ponies, refusing to have any
thing to do with ambulances. Another
singular feature in the wounded is the pc
culiarly offensive odor of the sloughine
wounds.
The well squaws are still encamped will
the cavalry, and seem to be contented will
their lot. The, male children amuse them
selves throwing reeds, as if they were
spears, at different objects, thus displaying
the cultivation of their expanding merit a:
future warriors. si .'iageta @ah -ssis's
Among the trophies brought in was .
handsome lodge, which belongs to Genera
Gustav. To-day this was hnloaded from
the wagon, and having sent for severa
squaws, the General had the lodge put W
in trne Indian style. This is part of tn,
duties of the squaws, and In d very few
minutes they displayed their proficiency t.
an extent which surprised every one. Thu
lodge is ofskins and perfectly white. 1t il
not at all surprising that tho loss Of thei
lodges is looked upon by the savages as 81
great calamity. cr1f J -
The number Of skins. the proper tannin,
of them, fitting and stitching them togeth
er, constitute evidently labor and ex
pense of considerable magnitude. In set
ting up lodge, the squaws get round witt
the lodge poles in their hands these the
lock at the upper extremties and set then
in position, forming the skeleton of tn
lodge. The lodge skin, one end attache,
to pole, is laid in an upright position
against the lodge poles already up; tn
skin is then unroled and wrapped aroun
the outside over the lodge poles. Th
ends are then fastened with thongs, leavin
an aperture about three feet high for a
entrance, and at the top for the egress G
smoke. tzsf agYr'5s t4-4s
The captives, sick and well, have no
lost appetite or flesh since in our hands
Their capacities for slowing away food ar
truly amazing. Hard tack to them is
great luxury, and old and young, sick an
well, devonr it with all the relish Of tn
choicest and richest cake. tEl 4tta
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