Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-12-15

something which was told me by my father,
who was one of the warriors of the expsdj-
ton. The time must have been about 1870.
Our people were the most contented and
happy Imaginable; the woods were iull OF
game; we had large herds Of cattle; our
horses were the envy Of the surrounding
tribes-Chickasaw ponies were prOverbial for
their beauty. The only unpleasantness we
had was the thevlDg pTopensities OF the
Osages, who were then powerful and occupied
the west bank of the Mississippi. They
would cross the rlver a short distance above
where Memphis now stands. The location
was known the Chickassws as Soc-toc kom-
fab, and was visited by pleas
ure parties of our people, who
would for days watch the current
of the great water as it flowed past them
As | said, they would cross the river, dash
into the interior drive of large dr0ves of our
horses and reCross before we could get ready
to pursue them. These RAIDS would gener-
ally be made IN spring or IN MI winter, when
the river was low. 4 laid had been made
and the Nation was determined to send 4
| band of warriors IN pursuit. About one hun
dred picked braves crossed the Mississippi and
started on the warpath. They had not gone
far when an eagle flew west. Every now and
then the eagle would fly slow, as if waiting
their coming; some said It was an evil omen,
others TO the contrary. They had with them
a noted prophet, who watched the bird, but
eVaded all inquiries as to what be thought Of
It. The eagle was In sight three days. On
! the third night the prophet made FIRE short
distance from camp and invited the warriors
| to form circe round the fire, seated, which
| they did. The prophet entered the circle with
a small dry gCurd In his hand, which ne
would shakel andapoint up to the heavens.
| he commenced singing a plalntlve tone and
dancing slowly; his voice grew louder and
his steps more quick, louder and faster, the
| perspiratIon streaming from every pore; at
| last he fell exhausted to the earth. an at
| tendant crowd covered HIM with some furs,
and he slept. The warriors IN the mean
| time sat silent as statues for two or three
| hours, when the prophet awoke, and the
| charm was broken. Soon the warriors
crowded round him to hear his prophecy. He
| said the eagle was a good spirit plotting them
! toward the enemy; that they must continue
! their course toward the setting sun for three
| days, when they would come on the track of
| the OsaQes, and soon overtake them and en-
gage them in battle. They would kill six,
among them a chief, whom they would
| know by his face being painted one side
| black, the other yellow; on one foot he would
| have moccasin tied with deer-sinews, the
| other foot bare. Of course they were elated
| and marched forward in good spirits On
! the third morning, true as prophecy, they
| struck the trail of the enemy, and the same
| and soon routed them. They found six
! Osages dead on the field, one was the chief,
| Just as the prophet had described" l asked
/ aim If he believed all this; he said, certain
! ly, his father had voucbed for it, and he had
no doubt of its truth. And so ends my chap
| ter. R0GGy
On THE MISSISSIPPI, November 30. 1873.