New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-05-28

test, he left the Indians and Joined
Wayne's army. His knowledge of the /
country; of the Indian lang and
above al, Of their habits and mode 81.
{ fighting, pointed him out ASIAN efficient
and valuable scout. Among his men
was oneof the name by Henry Miller,
who likewise had served an apprentices.
ship with the Indians, but had escap
ed leaving his younger brother Christ
Opher who refused to fly in their
hands. The corps Of Capt. Wells per-
formed many deeds Of YalOr and brave
ry during the campaign, which raised
them high in the estimation of the
commander, and excited against him
the implacable animosity of the Indi-
ans.
On one occasion he was directed by
Wayne to bring in an Indian prisoner.
Selecting a few Of his band, he started
on his perilous duty. Cautiously
and secretly they proceeded through
the Indian country, hoping to surprise
a struggling party, but met none with
whom they could cope, until they
reached the Anglaise river, on the
banks of which they discovered Indian
sign. Searching carefully in the
neighbOrh0od, they came upon q party
of three Indians, who were gathered
about q small fire, cooking vension.
They had judiciously selected their
camp, having located it on the apex Of
small knoll, or mound, which was
cleared of underbrush, and gave them
a free and uninterrupted view of the
woods around them, thus rendering it
difficult to approachs without being
discovered. Wells, Miller, and Nc
Clellan carefully reconnoitered their
). FALLEN tree on one side of their camp,
which afforded the only cover within
rifle distance of them. Tt was a deli
cate affair to gain the shelter of it's
branches without being seen, which
would have frustrated their design.
Wells determined to attempt it, how.
ever, and dismounting and tying their
horses, they commenced to creep on
all tours in a zigzag direction. taking
advantage of every inequality Of
ground, every shrub and rock, to shelf
er and conceal their approach. In
this manner, after much exertiOn, they
reached the tree, and for the time were
covered by it's branches. Here they
arranged their plan, and prepared for
its execution. One Of the Indians was
on his hands and knees, mending the
fire; another was seated opposite to
him, engaged in conversation with the
third, who was standing in front
OF the fire, and between the others.
All appeared to be in the best spirits,
in anticipation of their meal, and little
dreamed of the proximity Of danger
and death.i
It was arranged that Wells and Mill
Ter were to shoot the two on either
side OF the fire, while Mcclellan who
was as fleet of foot as a deer, was to
charge through the smoke and capture
the centre one, ere he had time to re-
cover from his first surprise. Resting
their rifles on the trunk of the tree,
they aimed at the hearts of their foes,
and in a moment more two reports a.
woke the echoes of the surrounding
forest and cClellan was bounding at
his utmost speed toward the camp.
Two OF the red skins fell dead, while
the third, discovering the rapid ap.
proach OF the intrepid white hunter,
dropped his rifle which he had not time
to use, and fled toward the river,
which, at the point where he ap-
preached it, had banks twenty feet in
height. Mcclellan was at his heels,
however, followed by the others Of the
party; there was no opportunity to
double, and tbs Indian was forced to
leap off into the mud and water below.
Here he stuck fast, houndering and
trying to get out. Mcclellan disco
vering his situation, sprang upon him,
and as the other drew his knife he
raised his tOmahaWk and threatened
him with instant death unles he sur
rendered. The rest Of the party APP
pearing on the bank above, the Indian
found his escape hopeless, and yielded
himself a prisoner. After considerable
exerti0n they managed to drag both
out Of the mire, and bound their prize,
who proved sulky, and refused to speak
either in the English OF. Indian tongue.
In washing the mud off his person,
they discovered that he was a aUtite
man, but they could learn nothing of
his history, and he still refused to
speak. Miller, thinking it might be
his brother, whom he had left among
the Indians, rode up along side of him
and called him by his Indian name.
The effect was instantaneous. He
started, turned towards his brother,
and eagerly demanded in the Indian
tongue, how he came to know his
name. The other easily explained the
my stery, and the brothers were locked
in each others arms the next moment.
Their prisoner was indeed Christopher
Miller, who, by one of those prOvi-
Dental occurrences by which the white
man seems to be protected from dam
ger, while the red man is fated to ex-
tinctiOn, had escaped instant death, at
the hands, perhaps, of his own broth
er. Had his situation in camp been
different; had he been on either side
of the fire, instead of in the centre of
the group, his death had been inevi-
table.
After scalping the two dead Indians,
the party returned to headquarters
with their prisoner and he was ordered
to be confined in the g,lard-house by
Wayne, who Intercepted him in re-
gard to the intentions of the Indians.
He remained for some time sulky and
reserved, notwithstanding the efforts
of Capt. Wells and his brother Henry
to induce him to abandon the Indian,
and return to civilized life. Upon be.
ing released Internationally, however,
he acquiesced. and, joining Wells COM
pany, served faithfully during the rest
of the campaign.
4 Rold diamond Robhery.