The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-03-12
BIG rHuNoER.s STORY.

BIG THuNoER's STORY.
The Massacre at Redwood Agency,
Aug. IS, 1sOe-IIe Declares that
Neither He Nor Little Crow
Were to Blame.
The Indian chief, Big Thunder, writes
the following letter to The 81. Iaul
Pioneer Press: The truth is good, but
falsehood is bad; SO I shall tell, and
have correctly interpreted, what have
truly heard and what my eyes have seen,
and humbly make it known to the white
men. so that they may have perfect
knowledge of who I am and give heed
to what say. The Dakota Indians
who grew up in Minnesota long ago
were called Mdewakantonwan. The
first missionaries came among them in
1884. The first that came were Rev.
Gideon H. Pond and Rev. Samuel w.
Pond, and then Rev. DR.. Thomas S.
Williamson and Rev. Stephen Il. Riggs.
Then. soon after, in 1887, my father.
whose name was Big Thunder (Wakin-
yantanka), sold to the United States so
much of the Dakota land as was east Of
the Mississippi river. When he came
back from Washington missionary
named Elder Brunson came and locate Il
at his village. and my father put me in
his school. That was in 1888, so think
my father believed the Christian re-
ligion was right. But there were seven
bands to our nation, and they set them
selves against my father and that mis-
sion, SO that the missionaries had to
leave, and my father suffered for the
sin, because O gun went off accidentally
soon after and killed him. Then after
that his son, Little Crow, became chief,
and he also believed there was a God,
and he again sent for missionary. He
asked DR.. Thomas s. Williamson to
come and teach his people, and he came
and started mission at his village ut
West st. Paul (Kapojcl in 1876. Then
after that time, in 1853, the seven bands
of Sioux moved up to Redwood agency.
Then, in 1860, Rev. John r. Williamson
started a mission there, and l held inter-
course with him, and l gave him NV
eldest boy, Caskc, to educate, that he
might bring him up in Gods ways.
Then, in 1862, Little Crow went out
on hunt for Il month and half; then
on the 18th OF August, 1862, about Z
o'clock, the massacre commenced ut
Redwood agency. Then the first person
that commenced thinking what could Le
done to save some lives was John Wake
man (Big Thundcr). And 1 met Little
Crow and he said: "Go and gather up
what white women and children YOU
can. This state of affairs won't last
very long. The Indians will have to 90
pretty soon, and then the captives will
perish. So, go quick" he said. So
took with me six strong young men,
and took staff in my hand, and /
took the captive women and children
and saved them. That was my work.
[ had no moccasins on my feet, but l
went a long way. l went seven miles.
l took Mrs. West and another woman
and two children, and they were saved.
Then that night, the 18th of August,
1862, we gathered the rest of the white
women and children together in Little
Crow house, and stood guard over
them. Those that still live remember
that, l think.
The Little Grow kept good many OF
the captives in his own house, and
treated them the same as his own
children. and had them eat with him.
And early one day, about z o'clock, he
came to my house and said:
"My brother, ] feel very bad this
morning. The captivcs at my house
this morning are crying, and feel very
sorry. Ihave heard that God will have
pity on those who have pity on poor
captives, and, my brother, 1 have heard
that God will be hard on those who are
hard on captivcs. The captives in nv
house have nothing to eat, and so they
are crying. think you could find some
flour where the Indians first commenced
lighting. So take seven young men and
see if you can bring me some to comfort
these people, It won't be u great
whilc," he said.
Iagrced with what Little Crow said,
and rose up quietly and brought some
flour for the captives. While was on
the way met the guards, and had a
hard time with them, but l thought
was doing the work of God, and l went
through. Then Gen. Sibley sent a let
ter to Little Crow, which said:
''lf you are there, Little Crow, the
president says return to him the cap
tivcs. And am at the head of the army,
and the best thing you can do is to make
peace with mc. +"
Then Little Grow set himself to work
to make peace. and there was a great
commotion and much opposition. and
it was proclaimed that he who should
make peace should be tramplcd to
death. And they said to Little Grow:
"Answer, 4 am q man." So Little
Crow turned and said to Passing Hail
|Wasu!hhigaycdaw), you answer the
letter" But the nation replied: mo,
you answer it for US Yourself" But
Little Crow answered them: '.Last
June you rejected me from being lead
er, and this war is not my work." But
the nation were determined, and so
pressed him to answer the letter as they
wanted. Then some of them deceived
him. and went and wrote letter Sc
cretly desiring peace; and so they dis
sembled.
Now, then, the massacre was not got
up by Little Crow, because l was with
him and tell what l know. And the
president of the United States, who
was all wisdom, am assured, will now
look with pity on those who had mercy
on the captivcs. But. although l had
pity on the captives and sought to save
them, am now very poor. When
there was an appropriation to reward
those who had assisted the captives l
received nothing, by reason of theljeal-
ousy of the Indians. Among the white
men who knew some of my conduct
can refer to MIR. S. ID. Hinman, who
knows the same things. and also to Mr..
John p. Williamson, who knows some
also.
Then. Little Crow is my elder broth.
er. We had the same father, but we
had different mothers. And have
taken the name of my father, Big
Thunder (Wakinyantanka), and sub.
scribe nv English name.