The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-10-30
A BRAVE DEFENCE.

A BRAVE DEFENCE.
Our family, which consisted of father,
mother, myself and sister, had been liv-
ing in Minnesota nearly two years when
the Indians initiated that murderous and
historic uprising. I was sixteen years
old, and my sister Mamie was twelve.
We were living on 100-acre farm, six
miles from the nearest village and mile
from any neiehbor. We had a snug log
house, barns, sheds, etc., and had about
fifty acres in cultivation. Three days
before the outbreak my father had
marched with company of recruits for
the army, and this same company had
taken almost every able-bodied man out
of our ncighborhood. The crops were
to be left for the wives and children to
harvest, and the idea of trouble never
entered any ones mind. While Indians
were more numerous than white people,
nobody had reason to fear them. They
were under care of the Government,
and, so far as anybody knew, were per-
fectly satisfied, and entertained friendly
feelings toward the settlers.
My father left home the day before
the outbreak, and mother went along to
see him off. This was the case with
several other women in our settlement.
They left early in the morning, intend
ing to return next day. Sister and I
were left entirely alone, but at about Q
o'clock in the forenoon On Indian named
Long Walk made his appearance. He
had often called at our house, sometimes
staying all night. He had bad sore on
his leg, caused by the bite OF dog, and
mother bad made and given him an oint-
ment which was fast healing it up.
Father had mended his gun for him,
mother had mended his clothes, and
Long Walk was indebted to the family
for many other kindnesscs. He was a
man of about forty, very intelligent,
and, as near as we could learn, had never
been married.
was cutting hay about a quarter of q
mile back of the house, and Mamie was
spreading it to cure, when the Indian
appeared. He had been to the house anel
found father and mother gone. When
he. came down 20 us he guericd:
F"Whcre fathcr2"
"Gone with the soldiers, i replied.
"Whcrc mothcr?"
"Shc has gone to sec father off,"
he looked anxious and troubled, and
when asked if he would have something
to eat he replied in the negative. He
sat down in the shalc of tree and had
nothing to say for q while. When re-
peated my inquiry, and Mamie offered to
cook him some breakfast, he rose up and
replied:
"Comc along to cabin"
When we reached the house he took q
long look up and down the road. 1t
was sixteen miles to the railroad station
from which the soldiers would depart,
and Long Walk seemed to be wondering
if he should advise US to set out for that
point. After time he seemed to think
it wouldn't do, and turned and entered
the house. Our cabin was two-roomed
affair, with q garrct above. There were
two windows in each room below, but
none above. Long Walk examined the
windows, and then went out to pile of
lumber in the yard and said:
: sect saw-gct hammer-get nails
get boards, and fix windows. Make
everything good to-day"
"But why?" naturally asked.
"Supposc bad Indian come to.mor-
row2" he qucried in reply.
'sBut the Indians won't hurt us.
"Don't know. Indian heap mad. In
dian drink heap whisky. Indian may
kill white folks"
His manner, more than his words, made
me feel that danger menaced us and l
got the tools he asked for and began work
at once. He measured Tor the windows,
and I sawed OF some pieces of plank.
he then asked for an auger, and before
the pieces were nailed up VIC cut loop
holes in them, two to each window. We
then removed the sashes from the win,
dows and nailed the planks on the inside.
Long Walk examined the front door,
which was the only one, and Ivy his dl-
rection I re.enforced it and added q
second bar. When this had Lccn done
he asked:
"How much gun iu the housc?"
"Wc had rife and shotgun, to-
gether with q revolver, which belonged
to young man who had worked for us
in the spring and was then on q farlr
about ten miles away. I got these arms
together, and Long Walk examined them
with great care. We had two pounds Of
powder, lot of shot and caps, and three
or four bars of lead. He seemed to bt
satisfied, and then took me out Of doors
and said:
"Bad Indian no conc to-day, but come
tomorrow. Get plenty of water in th'
house. Maze rain on the roof. If baC
Indian conss shoot him..