River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-08-09
Spotted Tails Daughter.

Of the PhaadelDhia Times
During the latter years of the war
part of Spotted Tails family was at Fort
Laramie, and with them was his favorite
daughter, young girl of Is. The fort
was then garrisoned by companies of an
Ohio volunteer cavalry regiment and
among the officers was handsome young
lieutenant of pleasant manners. Spotted
Tails daughter fell violently il love with
this young man Her passion does not
seem to have been reciprocated, and il Is
said he did all he could TO convince her
he could not marry her, and therefore it
would be wrong for him 10 visit her or
receive visits from her. But the infatuated
girl would not be convinced, and could
not see why she, princess and the daugh-
ter of the most powerful chief on the
llains, was not q suitable wife for the
young soldier. Day after day she would
dress herself with scrupulous care and
come to the fort 10 see her beloved. 1t
was pitiable to observe her as, hour after
hour, she would sit on the doorstep of
the officers quarters, waiting for him to
come out. At other times she would fol-
low him about like a dog, seemingly
happy to be near him, and enjoy the poor
privilege of looking at him.
Spotted Tail, hearing of the strange
conduct of his daughter, and deeply mortl-
fed at her strange want of self-respect,
fastened to the fort, and, putting her in
charge of some kind friends, bid them
carry her into the Rocky Mountains,
where he had little camp, and portion
of her people dwelt In the fall and winter
time. They were told TO divert her in
every way, and, if possible, endeavor to
make her forget her foolish passion. She
went away meekly enough, but fell into
deep melancholy, from which no effort of
her friends could rouse her. Presently
she refused to take food, and pinned away
until she was mere skeleton.
One day courier, whose horse was
covered with foam, sought the chief to tell
him his daughter was dying Of broken
heart, and wished to see him once more
before she passed to the spirit land. Away
over mountain and stream hurried the
great chief, and paused not by night or
by day until he reached the bedside OF
his beloved child. He found her alive,
but sinking very fast, and she bid him sit
close beside her and hold her hands in
his while she told him oil the simple
story of her love and suffering, and a
broken heart. She said: i shall soon
be at rest, my father, and with those Of
my kindred who have gone before. In
that beautiful land / will wait for you,
and you will soon come TO join me, dear
father, for your hair is white with years
Of care and toll, and you are growing old
W.
have vet many warriors, but pray not to
quarrel with the whites, who are more
numerous than the leaves ON the trees OF
the forest. Spare your people, my father,
ard rest yet while in peace, when you
will have reached the end of the journey
of life, and come TO join me in that happy
home where l am going. The pale faces
are the people of him loved so well, and
between you and them | hope war will
never come again. And, oh, my father
and my chief, when / am dead take my
poor body and lay it to rest on the hill
beside the fort where learned to love so
well.n
The chief promised he would do all as
she wished, but bid her live and she might
yet be happy. She fingered a few days
and the faithful heart ceased to beat.
Almost heart broken, Spotted Tail bid
his attendants prepare the body for burial,
and bear it as rapidly as possible on their
shoulders to the fort. Rev. A. Wright,
teen Post Chaplain at Fort Laramie, des-
cribes the funeral as follows, in letter
to the writer Of this sketch:
The body of the girl was wrapped in
buffalo robes. and bound about with
cords Gen. Maynadier ordered the car
penters to prepare a scaffold and coffin,
and when all was in readiness an ambu-
lance was sent for, and Just before sunset,
on clear and bright, but bitter cold day,
the body of Monica was brought out, and
Indians, officers, and soldiers, forming in
procession, marched to the grave. At the
scaffold the coffin was opened, and the
officers filed it with oauntiet gloves,
moccasins, red flannel, and clothes to
keep the dead maiden comfortable on
her journey to the spirit land. | improv-
ised burial service, accommodating my
remarks to the Indian superstition. |
said Monica would look down and take
care of her father, mother, and friends,
and that they would soon meet her where
there was plenty of game and no more
Of the dead girl stood by my side and
wept bitterly, while the father chief often
wiped his eyes. and at the close of each
sentence ! uttered the dusBy crowd gave
loud "Ugh.'' The coffin, which had
been neatly covered with red cloth by
Col. Bullock, the post trader, was raised
upon the scafold and PLACED with the
head toward the east. The two white
ponies of the deceased girl had been killed
as soon as she died, and their heads and
tails, which had been brought with her,
were now nailed to the posts of the scat
fold, and q barrel of water placed under
each pony's head. The ponies were to
convey her to the happy hunting grounds,
and the water was for them TO drink on
the way.
The grave of Monica is among the first
objects of interest that strikes the eye Of
the traveller n he approaches Fort Laramie
on the Cheyenne road. The love affair of
this beautiful Indian girl happened be-
fore | was stationed at the fort, but
often heard the story from Gen. Magma
dier, Col. Bullock, and others. Spotted
Tail, when | knew him, had three wives,
the mother of his unfortunate daughter
Monica being the first and favorite. She
was a small woman and of rather delicate
frame. Spotted Tail, As you know, IS tall,
well-formed, and natural orator. He Is,
l think, the only real good speaker !
have known in the Sioux tribe.
After her death Spotted Tail often
spoke of his daughter Monica, and still
fondly cherishes her memory. In the af-
fectionate council at Laramie in 1868, he
said, with great softness in his voice,
"Were not the hopelessness of resistance
and the dictates If policy sufficient to
deter me from committing acts of war,
the pledge | made ny child in her dying
hour would cause me 10 keep at peace
with your people"
.nrnI L., Ono nhanfn..