The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-09

bands Of the Usage tribe. however. re-
NAMED loyal. They were hunted out ~
the rangers from Texas ana the kuerrll'
las from Arkansas. and finally sought re-
fuge within Union terrhofy, pn w
ed on foot "A distance OF 30 miles a srea
number frOze to death on tie route, anu
their bodies with only a shrOud OF snow
were left where they fell TO feed the
hungry wolves Finally. he bands, IN.
der White Wing and Little Bear. @ifNed
on the Nerdigris Rivers, and established
their camp or the spot waer.s me Town
% NcOcesha now STANDS Indeed, Neo-
iesha" Is an Usage word anu Leans
''ueetinc O: the waters" the loyalty OF
V bite Wig and Little Bear had been
accom- lished largely through the leHSn n
iucs of Father Shoemaker ne frhtfabic
priest In charge OF the Usage mission
who has long since been gathered 10 his
faflers. Driven into the Union by Tie
l. irs,rUtiOn OF the sOutn'r1ers, " Us not
difficult % understand that the OsaSes
were vindictive 10 an extraordinary eN-
tent toward cOnfederaies, and lost no
opportunity TO wreak D1rbarous ven
geance. -
saries out among the western tribes
seeking 10 lead them into revolt against
the Federal Government The Osages as
sUned a. as their part OF the great con
flict to intercept these emissaries aud
hold the Indians Of Kansas, colorado, ana
New Mexico loyal 20 the North.
some time I'M 1852 a party OF COnfeder-
ate officers, none OF whom held less rank
than that OF lieutenant. were commits
stoned by the Confederate Government
10 proceed West through Kansas 90 New
Mexico and organize the Wild plains IN
dams into marauding parties. whose BUS
mess 10 should bc TO intercept Govern
mcut trains and harass the movement OF
Federal troops from the West overland
part OF these officers were also COM
,mssiOnsd 10 Organize ana enroll me
IHI ice ML
I'M Colorado and New Mexico, and. n
possible. march out few regiments 10
This party OF Confederate officers at
servati0n along the Nerdigris River, hut
were met near the mouth Of Drum Creek
by small band of the Indians. who de-
mandcl their surrender. Instead or sur
rendering the ronfederates opened fire.
and killed two OF the Dsagcs and put the
remainder 20 flight. Fitting along just
out of rifle shot. the Indians gradually
lured their victims into the main camp
Of White Wing and Little Bear, where
they were surrounded by an Overwhelm-
ing force and put TO death with all the
atrocious cruolties the infuriated tribe
could cOnjure. Not man escaped. -
complete was the ambush that not an
Indian was killed in the encounter. such
as were not killed outright were put 10
torture after the custom or the tribe, ana
after Sleath the bodies We're mutilated
beyond ftcORNllloH.
At that time the Government was main-
tanning "A military post at Humboldt and
when the news OF the massacre came, an
officer, with detachment OF troops, was
sent out to investigate the ARRAY: The
officer in command Of that dctachment
was Lieut. W. \. Johnson. now presid-
Ing Judge OF the appellate court Tor the
the Southern department OF Kansas.
When Lieut.. Johnson arrived on the
scene a shocking sight met his vision.
The dead Confederates had all been be
headed and their heads were piled up In
an indscrimiate mass, SO that b. was Inn
possible 20 discover 20 which body "a neai
belonged The bodies We're buried side
bv side bv the troops. The papers found
on them clearly explained their mission
I'm the West. and it is probable that tne
bloody work OF the osages ON tnat DAY
prevented "A serious uprising in the west
ern Territories. which might have cost
rivers OF blood 10 subduo
The Kansas histories contain nothing
of this massacre. It's details can only ne
gathered from the lips Of men whose
memories have become dmmed hy the
lspee of time. II Is now impossible ~
secure the names Of the Confederate or
fcers who are buried along the low lanl
Of the Ncrligris Valley hut no doubt
tho archives ~ the Confedcracy viii re-
veal alike their names and titles. ana in
time there will be a monument over tnelf
burial spot.