Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-12
THE BIG CHIEF.

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Fire" Stories.
J Oar group of veterans were again gathere
for camp fire talk and smoke, when Il
ex-paymaster, having lit his cigar, remarke
"Boys, did you ever hear of tho Big Chief
Sergeant Ackermann?" 1t happened TIL
none present remembered to have heard {
him. "That's strange" said the ex-payma
tet. ~ thought he was known all thrcug
the army. But, after al, there were so man
men to be talked about those days that Sc
, geant, though he was notable person, mlgi
easily be lost in the crowd. l wouldn't
much surprised, for fact, il half q hundre
or SO of our generals were forgotten by I'll
time we get a good, readable history {
the war" "Nor IT, was the unanimou
response. "Well, let's support tho govern
ment," said another, ''and then, major, yo
tell us about the Big Chief" 81 will, sal
the ex-paymsster, "and III take it sonr thi
time" The licensed sub-collector of inter
nal revenue supplied the party with the bey
erages called for, made his collection and re
tired; when the ex- paymaster relit bis clea
and proceeded with his story.
1t was in the early days OF the great Gel
man migration to this country-perhaps as
late as 1S5O-that a party of westward
bound emigrants was journeying over tn
plains beyond Leavenworth. In the party
was German family named Ackermann
the youngest of which was a small boy just
| learning to talk freely with his parents. The
| train was attacked by Indians and every one
killed except this boy, Andrew AcSermann.
Him the Indians adopted, and he grew up
among them, trained TO their ways and speak
ing only their tongue. He was large OF
his age and strong, and was enterprising
AID bold, so that he was regarded by the
Indians as one of their most promising
young hunters and warriors, and had con-
siderable influence in his band.
In tie spring of 1858 or 80, large body
of these Indians were again in the vicinity
of tho overland route, and Eitelmann was
one of party sent TO ambush an emigrant
train their scouts had reported to be on tho
road. The party approached the emigran.s'
hating place at night time aud was waiting
for the most favorable hour to make an at
tack, in the morning when Ackermann,
who had approached quite near TO the ersi-
grants, heard some of the carly risers in
conversation. They were Germans, and he,
who had not heard q word of his native
language for nine years, recognized it as the
language of his father and mother. He WAS,
except in the color of his skin,
a savage in appearance as we'll as in
training and habits, but he knew that he came
of white race, the speech of which was I'M
like that of the few whites he had seen dur
ing his life with the Indians. He had not
had a desire to seek out the people from
IL l. Of Icav
ing tho Indians. But the tones of these
Germans Voices, and the few words he REQ
ognizsd with faint remembrance Of their
meaning, gave him shock which disturbed
the savage training and aroused the original
nature of the lad.
Hero the OK paymaster relit his cigar, and,
after few vigorous puts of smoke, pro
ceeded to emphatically declare that every
word he had 10 say was true.
Ackermann withdrew from the vicinity of
the emigrants camp and somehow persuaded
the Indians, who lad waited in tho rear
to hear his report, not to make the
attack contemplated. The train went on
in safety, and it was long after before the
emigranis learned of the danger they passed
and how they were saved from it. Acker-
mann Soon left the Indians and made his
way 10 Fort Leavenworth. He spoke the
Indian tongue as if he had been born to it,
bat knew no English and only a few words
Of German. There were those at the Fort,
though, WHO understood his Indian tongue,
ard through them he made his story known;
and whom ne undertook to pronounce the
words of bis childhood which he remember
ed he was recognized as a German. His
hair had faded to nearly whito in tho exposure
of his Indian life, while his skin was finely
Drowned by wind and SUI; but when he was
washed clean, had his hair cut and was dress
ed in white mems clothes, the Indian man.
ners soon dropped away from him. or
course, there was nothing for him to do but
TO enlist. He went into Company e of the
Second Artillery and came under care of
Sergeant John Frerow.
'sFrerow,' said the ex-paymaster, medita-
lively, striking another match and again
lighting his cigar, "Frerow was killed at
South Mountain" He took a fancy to Ack-
ermann and helped him to learn to speak
German and English and to read aad write.
Company E was ordered from Leavenworth
to Augusta, ia, and when tho war was about
to break ont, in 1861, Capt. Elslow brought
tho company, with Guns ala colors, to WASH
ington. Then he resigned, went South, &C
copied a confederate commission, and was
killed in action. Company E mad no officers
when the exp,ymaster came TO Washington
with the "Callfornia Hundred" and he was
commissioned one Of its lieutenants and SO
became acquainted with Ackermann, who
was then splendid looking giant soldier,
six feet and four inches in height and weigh
ing nearly two hundred and fifty pounds
He was steady, obedient and we'll drilled,
and the new officers made him sergeant.
Once afterwards, no was reduced to the
ranks for having picked up pair of disor-
derby soldiers and disabled them for few
days by knocking their heads together, but
he was soon restored. He was too good O
disciplinarian to be left private. 1t was
Lieut.. Col. njamin, now of the adjutant
generals department, then captain of Ack-
ermann's company, who restored him.
By this time Ackeruuann's story had gone
the rounds of the camp fires and he was
widely known as Andrew, the Big Chief. He
was one of the best gunners IN the army and
could shoot our twen'y- pound Parrots with
almost lie accuracy of rifles. He was
a regular student, and studied hard to make
himself proficient in military matters. HI
spoke and wrote English like an educated
American. When Company Z was il
Burnside's starvation Camp" in Eas