Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-24
BURYING TIE TOMAHAWK
A Thrilling Episode at am Indian
Council,


A Thrilling Episode at an Indian
Council.
A Fort Abercrombie letter to the st.
Paul Press, referring to council of the
chiefs and influential men of the Sioux
and Chippewa nations at that place, mar
rates the following incident:
In May, 1859, two Chippewas muir
dered some Sioux, whose relations were
now present at the dance and other cere-
monies of the peace. Upon large circle
being formed around the flag of the
United States and the mission flag, two of
the nearest relations of the murdered
Sioux sat in close to the flags, while some
Chippewss were beating the drums, others
dancing around the two Sioux in mourn
ing attitude, and occasionally throwing to
them some precious Indian ornaments as
a compensation for the loss of their pa
rents, relations and friends. ----
All the Indians around looked joyful as
that ceremony was going on. Their joy
had no restraint when they saw the chief
Chippewa soldier stripping himself of all
the beautiful -besd-work ornaments he
was loaded with, and giving them to the
Sioux at the conclusion of a speech in
which he expressed the strongest feeling
of disapproval of the murderous doings,
and regret for the murdered But sud-
denly the two Sioux rose, scornfully
throwing aside all the presents offered to
them, and went out of the assembly,
leaving everybody in consternstion, and
in expectation of some immediate wsrlike
demonstration. ....
Religion now was the only thing to be
resorted to to settle the difficulty. Ihsve
already said the Indians were assembled
around my mission flag. That white flag,
adorned with large red cross, served adj
mirably on the occasion. Speaking to
the two Sioux, made them understand
how beautiful was the example of Christ,
forgiying on the cross, to his prosecutors,
and even praying to His father for them,
and how that same example ought to en-
courage us in the practice of the precept
which requires US to forgive our offenders,
whatever may be the offence.
When showing to them the flag they
had wished me to let them have when
they first asked to become christians, and
which YVES now floating over the camp as
in order to bid them remember to act as
christians, they rose, came to shake
hands with me, ranged themselves on
each side of me to go to see the Chippe-
was again. The whole assembly was ST.
lent TO receive and listen to US.
The two Sioux made speech in which
they expressed their earnest wish to be
excused for having at first refused the
present offered by the Chippewas in the
intention of making peace. They said
they now wished to make peace with the
Chippewas and with every human being,
and that in the name of religion they
were sincerely torgiYing tn, murderers OF
their parents and relations.
Peace was then made in the usual way
by shaking hands and smoking tie calu-
met of peace. 1t was also agreed that on
the next day, 18th of August, there would
be general assembly in the fort, where
q regular treaty would be written and
signed in the presence of the command
ing officer.
The nexI day, therefore, after mass, all
went to the fort, and after few speech
es made by the chiefs to Gen. L. G. Hunt,
the treaty was signed by all the principal
men present. The General was very
kind to the Indians, which helped very
much In the conclusion of the whole
matter to the satisfaction of everybody.
In return, also, the Indians were unusu
| ally polite and agreeable.