Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-29

Soon the loud yells from the IndiaI
camp near our house made it evident tha
the treaty of peace, made that Afternoon
between the Sioux and Chippewas, haC
ended, as all the treaties did, in treachery
and bloodshed. The principal men of tht
two nations had met at the Indian Agency
and in the presence of Major TaliaferrQ
their White Father, had made a solemn
treaty of peace In the evening at the
wigwam of the Chippewa chief, they had
ratified this treaty by smoking the pipe oi
peace together and then before the smoke
of the embematic pipe had cleared away
the treaeherous Sioux had gone out and
deliberately fired into the wigwam, killing
and wounding several of the unsuspecting
inmates. The Chippewas, of course, re-
turned the fire, and this was what had
startled and broke up the pleasant little
party at my fathers honse.'
The Chippewas sought refuge and pro-
lection within the walls of the fort, COM
manded at that time by Col. Josiah Smell
ling, for whom it was named. They
were kindly cared for. One, little girl,
daughter of the chief excited much SYM
pathy, and [ cannot forget the interest [
felt in her, for she was but year or two
older than myself, and it seemed to me so
ruthless to put out her young life. She
fingered but few days in great agony.
and then God took her out of pain.
Meanwhile our Colonel, a prompt and
efficient officer, demanded Of the Sioux
the murderers, and in few days body of
Sioux were seen advancing toward the fort,
as was supposed to deliver up the crimi-
mails. Two companies were sent to meet
. them and receive the murderers at their
hands. Strange to say, although they had
the men, they refused to give them up.
Our interpreter, | cannot recall his name,
stepped out from among the soldiers, and
said
If you do not yield up these men
peaceabIy, then as many blades of grass
as you see beneath your feet. so many
whites will come upon you, burn your vii
lagos, and destroy your nation.
4 few moments consideration, a few
words of consultation, and the guilty men
were handed over TO our troops. The
tribe followed as they were taken into the,
fort. and making small fire within the
wall, the condemned marched round and
round, singing their death songs, and then
were given up to be put in irons and held
in custody until time should determine
how many lives should pay the forfeit
for it Is well known that Indian revenge
is literally life for life and the Colonel had
decided to give them into the hands of
the injured tribe, TO do with them as they
would.
Some weeks passed, and it was found
that five lives were TO be paid for in kind
4 council Of Chippewas decided that
the five selected from the prisoners should
run the gauntlet, and the decision was
approved.
Back over the lapse OF these many
years pass, and seem to be child again,
standing by the side of my only brother
at the back door of my fathers house
The day is beautiful, the sun is so
bright, the grass Is so green, all nature Is
so smiling, 1t Is hard to realize what Is
going on, over yonder by the grave yard.
in that crowd of men and women. For
there are gathered together the Chippewas,
old men, women and children, who have
come out to witness or take part in this
act of retributive justice. There are the
blue-coats, too, and various badges of the
| nited States uniforms, for ii Is necessary
TO throw some restraint around these red
men, we see the wounded, dying chief,
regarding all with calm satisfaction and,
no doubt, happy in the thought that his
death, so near, will not 20 out unavenged,
And there stand the young braves who
have been selected as the executioners. their
rifles are loaded and locks carefully exam
ined, and all is ready when the work shall
be give.
There, too, under guard are the five men
who are to pay the forfeit for the lives ia
ken so wantonly and treacherously.
Away of, l cannot tell how many rods,
but it seems to children long run, are
stationed the Sioux tribe, and that Is the
goal which the wretched men must run for
their lives.
And now all seems ready and we stand
on tip-toe, while the balls and chains are
knocked off, and the captivs are set free.
At word one Of the doomed men starts
the rifles with unerring aim are fired, and
under cover of the smoke a man falls dead.
They reload. the word is given, another
starts with bound for home but ah the
aim of those clear sighted, blood thirsty
red men is too deadly; and one after an
other, until four are down.
And then the last, Little Six whom at
that distance we children readily recognize
from his commanding height and graceful
form he is our friend, and we hope he will
get home. He starts, they fire, the smoke
clears away, and still he is running; we
clap our hands and say he will get home;'
but another volley, and our favorite, al
most a the goal, springs into the air and
comes down-dead | cover my face and
shed tears of real sorrow for our friend.
And now follows a scene that beggarS de-
scription. The bodies, all warm and limp
are dragged to the brow of the hill. Men
who. at the sight of blood, became fends,
tear off the reeking scalps and hand them
to the chief, who hangs them round his
neck. Women and children, with toma-
hawks and knives, cut deep slashes into
the poor bodies, and scooping up the warm
blood with their hands, eagerly drink then
growing frantic, they dance and sing their
horrid seal songs, recounting the deeds of
vigor on the part of their brave men, and
telling of the Sioux scalp ps taken at their
last horrid feast, they leave the mutilated
bodies fostering in the sun.
At nightfall they are thrown over the
bluff into the river ,and my brother and my
self, awe-struck and quiet, trace their
hideous voyage down the Mississippi to the
Gulf of Mexico. We lie awake that night
talking of the dreadful sight we have seen;
and we try to think what the people of
New Orleans will say when they see those
CHASTITY upturned faces and we talk with
quivering lips and fearful eyes of Little
Six and the many kind things he has done
for US, the bows and arrows, the mocauks
of sugar the nrettx headed moccasin be