The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-12-10
IT WAS LITTLE CROW
THE BAD INDIAN KILLED BY YOUNG
CHAUNCEY LAMPSON.

A Leader of the Sioux Whose Misdeeds
Began with AN Act of Base Ingratitnde.
The Governments Struggles With tho
Hostiles During the War.
The Sioux or Dakota tribe of Indi
ans has been for a considerable time Tho
most powerful confederation Of ab0fig
ines ON the American continent They
could place today several thousand war
riors III the field, and they have given
our government much trouble during
the past generation. Il was the Sioux
who were the most actively engaged in
wnr with us. after the discovery Of gold
in California i'll 1919 caused such ii
stream Of emigration across the CONT
nent; they We're the leaders in the de
struetion of Custer and his command;
ii was they who perpctrated the terri
BILE massacres Of 1862 III Minnesota and
who came so near bringing ON a general
Wal in 1901.
Among the famous leaders of the
Sioux was Little Grow, who at the be-
ginning of the outbreak Of 1862 was
living in a comfortable brick house near
one of the agencies. which had been
erected by our government rs an induce
ment for him TO help in the civilization
Of his turbulent people. He was count
ed upon as one Of the stanchest friendl
Of the whites aud indeed had lost caste
! with many Of his own people because Of
his support of their measures.
Yet on the fatal day III August when
| the fierce bucks ran to his hon - and
awole him from sleep to ask his advice
as To what should be done, Little Crow,
| instead of eounseling peace told them
| that, inasmuch as trouble must inevita-
| bly, occur between the whites and hi9
| people, it might as we'll begin then rs
at any time He proposed that they
| should go To the agency and kill the
traders and volunteered to act as their
| leader Having thus identified himself
with the hostiles, he became one of tho
most bitter and unrelenting Of them all.
He possessed considerable ability, and
| he threw himself heart and soul into
| the fight. He was the leader in several
| of the most decisive defeats received by
detachments of troops; was i'll command
i'll the attacks ON New Ulm, Fort Ridge.
| ly and the agencies, struck many hard
blows, and though he personally did nor
wish to torture prisoners was too weak
to prevent his men from doing so.
1t always takes civilized govern.
ment considerable while to shake it
self into shape when such Il crisis comes
The civil war being then under way,
| quite number Of armed men We're II
Minnesota because of the call of Prcsi-
| dent Lincoln fer volunteers BY aad ny
| Colonel Sibley was able to reach the In
dians, with the consequence that they
were badly beaten. Not only did the
majority surrender, but the leaders in
the atrocious buteheries were caught
| and tried aud 3S We've hanged at Man
) kato in February, lSG3
Little Grew, however fled nolthNara
| with Il large body of warriors and took
refuge III the neigAburhood Of DEVILS
! lake, where, the following year, he re
ncWed his crimes and ontrages He was
SO defiant that he notified Colonel Sib-
| ley where he WAS, adding that soon he
| intended to arrive with his men at the
| yellow Medicine agency
The authorities became so incenecd
| against the Sioux because of their atruc.
titles that they organized scouts to hun5
| them down aud offered reward fer
| every one that killed. Such was tho
state of affairs when, ON Friday after
noon, July ,, 1868, Chauncey Lamp
| son, boy and his father. were walk
ing along the road several miles north
! of Hutehlnsun one of the towns that
| had suffered severely from the massacre
| Each had Il gun over his shoulder and
| they We're walking side by side, talking
III low tones when the son suddenly
| touched the arm Of his father and point.
| ed 10 "A little clearing, opening into tia
woods ahead. The two halted at sight
of couple Of Indians picking berries.
| Their backs were toward the whites.
who softly stepped behind the trees aud
| held whispered consultation as u
what Was best to do.
There was 10 doubt that the Indians
We're hostiles, and had they seen the
others first would have shot them. Mr.
Lampson and his boy decided to mtici.
| pate them. Taking advantage Of the
shelter afforded by Il poplar surrounded
with underground the father crept near
| enough to secure IL good aim, when h.
fired at one of the Indians The savage
| threw up his arms with a yell and fell
| to the ground badly wounded. Not
| knowing how many Indians might be
near, Mr. Lampson began a cautious re
treat, but was obliged to expose himself
in doing so The wounded Indian had
| partly risen and aimed at him At the
same instant Chauncey, the son, drew
a bead on the wounded savage, while
the unWuunded one leveled his gun at
the boy. Rather singululy, all three
| fired at the same moment
Mr. Lampsm received flesh wound
| III the shoulder, the ball Of the uuham
ed warrior Rrazed the boy $ check, WhIl0
the missile Of the youth instantly killed
the wounded Iadim Then, fearing
charge from war party, Chauucey
dashed off for help. As it grew dark the
father started for home hy clreuitme
route aud safely reached there after
midnight The body Of the Slam Indian
was carried IL Hutchinson, where, T.
| the astouishmeut ana relief of all. +
was identified MS that of tine famuua
chief Little Crow. Detroit Free Pres.
conscientious.
Landlord Hauks-Can You refer mp L.