, 1872-11-10
and undagging watch over everything inside end

and among the rest, cool md self-reliant cour-
nse in action, which gave him hold upon the
hardy pioneers of the West, who nro not inclined
to be led On by people Of doubtful courage or
uncertain character.
This motley column pushed along over the
rough rouds n1alo by themselves, in their long
huuts after the Indians and carried with them
such provisions and subsistencc-stores as could
sources of supply.-a MISUNDERSTANDING race
OF men, clad for the most part in bucksEin gar
n.cnts, and to stranger almost as wild as the
Indians themselves. They wore expert wood
men, reared upon the frontiers: md t1ainedfrom
their earliest infancy to @ knowledge Of wood
Graf, ft,-braye and hardy, Injured to priya-
ton and toll, aud ever ready to
shoulder their rifles, and, under the lead |
ersAip Of their fayorito chieftains, march
against their hereditary foeman, the aborigines
cf America. Their language was peculiar, aud,
with an honesty which was proyerbial, they COM
Lincd al appetite for strong drink which seems
never to have been appeased. They chose their
own officers, made pretty much thelr own own laWs'
cipline q long, lank: wry, set Of men, with
ga.1nt Jaws ard Stiff hair, and eyes full Of reso-
luton bordering on ferceness. Tho Major would
scarcely come under tho latter description be-
legged, and, IS his followers eaid, ''rather
sluat-built."
Before starting on the campaign the Major
had made one of Ills characteristic speeches,
anu, at the same L1uc, tlOE1UEO u 4l41 oto1o
OF whiskey for his officers. It was good, IN
oucstiouablv for one hollow-eyed and ''snagg1e-
toothed' Lieutenant after drinking tin-cup-
full of it. remarked as he drew the back OF bis
| hand across his mouth, u FAINT had nothln to
do me so much good senco the nigSers was
hung;" peculiar and delicate way Of expressing
his high appreciation Of the character of the
| liquor. He then threw some triumphant 5lances
| towards some negroes who we're hanging round
| near the log-cabin wherein the liquor WIS dis
penscd aud who were dcberrcd from participate
| ing III the festivities Of the occasion.
| After this party. or whatever 1t may be called,
the Major started out to invade the land Of the
| Sauk Indians. The command pushed it's way
| forward for days and days. seeing little to r.
mind them Of the sava5es, though occasionally
passing deserted villages where they had once
| lived The scene was one Of great grandeur,
the wide prairies forming picture Of surpGss-
| inr beauty. 10 this must be added the appear
a.l.e Of the frontier sollicrs already described,
wLo travelled no:sclessly along the trails made
| by the Indians, tho Major having long since
| abandoned his ambulance. Deer we're seen oc-
casiora!ly and other same peculiar to the North
american plains. Streams OF clear running
WAFER we're frequently crossed, having their
sources in the marshes, and running on toward
| the great rivers.
Near riyhtfa1, as the Majors battalion was
about crossing considerable stream OF water,
! the men were furlously asHailed by large body
| ct Indians, @ho were secreted on either side of
the trail. The attack did not last long, the 1u-
Gans having been driven away easily, and, by
the time darkness had settled upon the face Of
the scene, 1hc soldlelb ''iu erosseu ano oneaAnl-
| ed in the woods near the bank.
in tho fight which had occurred, two Indians
| ha1 heen TAKEN prisoners; lucy we're youle'
athletic fellows, keen-eyed and swift OF foot'
and uTessed IN }>te costume ol t1ell tllDc,-
hc2Fl!y-ir:nGeu AnitlhS-sAlits a ana io5slngs'
| Tie tr1n55 Ee1nS made o1 nho pucEsh'n, prop
crly prepared. and cut in long strips, so as to
make handsome ornament tor tue seams:
Their ualr WAS adorned with 1c" oeaos ana
eagles feathers.
WHO we're led into the Majors presence With
their arms fastened pehlna thelr Dacks. Inc
camp was lighted up with q NUMBER OF llfes ano
groups Of frontiernaen were scattered about here
and there; or lay sstetehea d.! upon l the gIoanu;
watching the proceedings when were taklng
place near the Majors campfire. All around
the blSouac scntlnols we're stationed, as renew
al of the attack by the enemy was momentarlly
expected. This seemed 10 nave no par1lcnla1
effect upon tho whites, who examined tho prlm'
ing OF ther 1lintlock rifles, which, were always
kept in perfect order for immediate service
Each man took pride IN his own weapon, ane
was willing to wager thas ne coa1a take mofe
deadly aid than any of his comrades, and could
knock squlrrels eye OUT from tne Top u tn'
tailest tree III the 1orest' Hotn1ng "as lelt .
chan ce; each man kne" exactly "nat ne conl'
do with MS piece ;,
After the men we're GUY presonteo 70 tn
4haJor, "uo "as eu1toul4ocu y! nIo V!ueoto' ~
commenced mak1ng one ol hlh 1Asol1te speeeue
to the unfortunate prisoners: you Iascala
| you see you are taken prisoners py us. are yo1
not awar-hn-that you nave a tor1elteo your hvo
by your rash conductf "nat nave you Go 3D.
1or yourselFeas
| One OF them fepled III EnBHsu, as louo"s
ave know that we are IN your power. Our ma
ton is only fighting to retain its own lands au
the lodGe-tires OF our people. you nave no r1gn
to invade our country with your men, TO ava
| uad leave US; give us our liberty, and return t.
yonr own wives and children. Let us purau
. ! onr own coursa nndisturbed bv you Wa hay
done YOU no ilarn and all we ask Of you is to 6
avav Wa know as we'll al you do that wa are j
| ,,o,,r nowar md that ro11 ran shed our hloof
Jtar,d w., +I;n1r haat tn do .o You mn
kill us, but you cannot kill of our Who'll
nation. Others will riso in sour places
and in return. will murder all tha
are most dear to you. We daro you to do you
! worst; Sauk warrior is not afraid TO die. Ant
after death, the Great Spirit will avenge the fol-
wrong you do to us and to our people. We a1
:. moor. sud what we have cannot make you rict
Our clothing can he Of little use to you, and OF
. corn-hclds On Rock River have already been d.
J stroyed by YOU. Again We ask YOU to leave GU
. | land"