Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-08-29
NOT WRITTEN IN HISTORY.


by Indians In Kansas.
The recent reunion Of ex-confeder-
ates in Texas adopted resolution
which calls to mind bit of the unwrit-
ten history Of Kansas. The resolution
In question suggested to ex-confeder.
ates everywhere that the graves Of
those who had fallen in the cause Of
the south DO sought out and marked
with monuments, after the manner of
the union dead, over which annual
ceremonies should DO held in commem-
grafton Of their services There Is Il
spot In Kansas which contains all that
Is mortal Of twenty exsonfcderate Of
fcers Their death was tragic In the
extreme. accompanied, as 1t was, by all
the horrors and bsrbarities Of Indian
warfare.
Early in the conflict between the
north and south, confederates were
dominant In the Indian territory and
well-nigh succeeded in suppressing
every spark Of loyalty among the In
dians there and In Kansas along the
southern border. Several bands Of the
Usage tribe, however, remained loyal.
They were hunted out by the rangers
from Texas and the guerrillas from
Arkansas, and finally sought refuge
within union territory. On the march
to the north many Of them travelled on
foot a distance Of three hundred miles;
great number froze to death on the
route, and their bodies, with only u
shroud Of snow, were left where they
fell to feed the hungry wolves. Final
ly, the bands, under White Wing and
Little Bear, arrived on the Verdigris
river and established their camp on
the spot where the town of Neodesha
now stands. Indeed, "Neodesha' is an
Usage word and means meeting of
the waters" The loyalty Of White
Wing and Little Bear had been accom-,
plished largely through the teachings
OF Father Shoemaker, the venerable
priest in charge Of the Usage mission,
who has long since been gathered to
his fathers. Driven into the union by
the persecution OF the southerners, 1t
Is not difficult to understand that the
Osages were vindictive to an cxtraor-
binary extent toward confcderates, and |
lost no opportunity to wreak a barbar-
GUS vengeance.
The confederates constantly had
emissares out among the western
tribes seeking TO lead them into re-
volt against the federal government
The 0sages assumed it as their part
Of the great conflict to intercept these
emissaries and hold the Indians of
Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico
loyal to the north.
Some time IN 1862 party of conicd-
crate officers, none Of whom held less
rank than that OF lieutenant, were
commissioned by the confederate gov
eminent to proceed west through Kan
sas to New Mexico and organic the
wild plains Indians into maraading
parties whose business It should lie to
intercept government trains and harass
the movement of federal troops from
the west overland. A part OF these of
hcers were also commissioned to organ
ize and enroll the southern synpa-
thizers among the whites IN Colorado
and New Mexico and II possible,
march out few regiments to the seat
of war
This party Of confederate officers at.
to pass through the Usage res
ervation along the verdigris river, but
were met near the mouth of Drum
creek by small band of the Indians,
who demanded their surrender. In.
stead Of surrendering the confederates
opened fire, and killed two of the