The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-09-15

together with oil the muskets and anmu.
milton not necessary to use on the march
Great efforts were made to conceal this
from the Indians but they learned what
had been done, an we're greatly incensed
and ominous threats were heard from
them.
At this critical juncture Captain Wells
arrived at the fort with fifteen friendly
Miamis. lie had learned Of the intended
evacuation. and knowing the danger oil
passing through the Pottowattamie coun.
try, he made hurried march to prevent
it, arriving just too late All the ar.
rangements were completed, and he Joined
his small foroc with that Of the garrison
all of whom felt that according to human
probabilities they were marching TO their
doom.
Captain Wells had spent the most oil
his life among the Indians, and was one
the most intrepid characters of the from.
tier. Had we space we could give many
thrilling incidents Of which he had been
the hero, previous to this lamcntablc
bunder.
At nine O'Clock. on the fifteenth Of
August 1872, the evacuation took place
Kinzie, who was widely known and re.
spected by the Indians, intrusted his
family to the care of some friendly red.
men, who promised to convey them in a
boat around the head of Lake Michigan
to point on the St. Joseph's river where
to await the arrival of the troops lie
went with the latter in the hope that his
presence would help to restrain the threat
cned vengeance of the Indians.
AS the troops marched out, the Dani
struck up the Dead March, Captain
Wells took the lead at the head of his
little band Of Miams, and they moved
along the lake shore When they reach
ed point where began n range of sand.
hills intervening between the prairie and
beach, the Pottowattamie escort, number.
ing five hundred kept the level of the
prairie, instead Of remaining in the com.
pa1y of the Americans and Miamis
A mile and half were passed in this
manner, when Captain Wells saw the In.
dians were making ready to attack them :;
so he called out for his men to charge.
The words were hardly uttered when a
volley came from among the sand.hils.
The troops we're hastily formed, and
charged up the bank The Miamis fed
at once, but the soldiers fought with II
bravery that could not be excclled
The Indians ragged like demons tolna.
hawking all, without distinction of age or
sex. Mrs. Helm. step.dsughter of Kin.
aie, aud wife of lieutenant, stood little
to one side, gazing, with horror that
cannot be described. upon the massacre
going on before her. She saw an ensign
mortally wounded, but upon his knees,
/ lighting with the GOODNESS Of veteran :;
the surgeon came limping and bleeding
toward her, and was smitten with the
tomahawk almost within reach
She had no hope of escape, and was
standing, dazed and bewidered, and look.
ing upon the awful scene, when an Indi-
an ran up and raised his tomahawk. She
lodged, and the blow fell upon her shoul.
der. She tried to get possession Of his
scalping.knife, that he was endeavoring
to use upon her. when she was dragged
from his grasp by an older Indian, who,
holding her in his arms. despite her re-
sistaDce, ran rapidly in the direction of
the lake, into which he plunged her.
Self.preservation caused her to struggle
desperately, until she found that al.
though her captor persistently held her
under water he as persistently held her
head above water.
Looking sharply at his face, she recog.
nized, through the paint, the familiar
features of their old friend Black Part.
ridge.
lie kept her here until the massacre
was about over. when he lifted her out
and conducted her up the sand banks to
the prairie, where she met her father, and
learned from him that her husband was
safe, although slightly wounded
She was led to tho Chicago River. on
the southern bank of which was the Pot.
towattamie camp.
One of the Indians. who acted the pari
Of guide at this time, held in his hand
the scalp of Captain Wells.
The whites, in their charge upon the
lpdians. became engaged in Il desperate
fight, in which their number was reduced
to twenty-eight; but they broke through
and reached piece of rising groand near
the Oak Woods.
As there was no chance Of escape,
ovcrtures were sent to the Indians to sur.
render ,on condition that their lives should
be spared,a aud a ransom permitted as soon
as practicable.
Just before this,a young savage leapcd
into the baggage. wagon, containing the
children of the white families, twelve in
number, and tomahawked them all.
Captain Wells witnessed the horrible
deed, and called out
"lf You want to kill women aud chill
dren, | will try too :"
With which he turned his horsc's head
toward the Indian camp where their
women and children had been left, and
gallopped away at full speed. intending
to carry out his threat.
Several lndisns started in pursuit, and
fred at him as they rode.
He laid himself fat upon his horses
back, loading and firing in return; but
his horse was killcl and he was badly
wounded
Two indians ran up and endeavored
to protect him from the fury Of the 9th.
ers but third killed him by blow in
the back with his knife
The family Of Mr. Kinzic, who were
seated in the boat awaiting the termina-
tlon OF the massacre, were prey to the
most agonizlng suspense. From where
they sat, they saw the flash Of guns and
heard the report, and knew what was
going on They were faithfully guarded
by hee po.tah aud another Indian.
The horrible confusion was at its
height. when they saw an Indian coming
toward them, lcadiug horse,upou which
was seated lady, apparently wounded
That is Mrs. Head :" called out Mrs.
D Il tp1ta ,trho L. 4