The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-07

In the summer of 1856, I had the cele-
brated battery commanded by T. w. Sher-
man, of the United States army, better
known as the Buena Vista battery, from
the good work it did in the Mexican war,
zon duty in the Indian country, on &C
count of a great excitement which pre-
vailed among the Indians. The officers
of the battery were Maj. Sherman, First
Lieutenant Aver and Second Lieutenant
Du Barry. It's force of men was about
sixty, including non-commissioned Off
GERS. think it had four guns, but of
this / am not certain.
One day after skirmishing about over
considerable country we made camp on
the Yellow Medicine river, near fine
spring, and everything seemed comfort
able. The formation of the camp was
a square, with the tents and guns inside,
and sort of picket line on ali sid 8 about
a hundred yards from the center, on
which the sentinels marched day and
night 1 tented with the major, and see
ing that the Indians were allowed to
come inside of the picket lines with their
guns in their hands, 1 took the liberty
of saying to him that I did not consider
such a policy safe, because the Indians
could at a concerted signal, each pick out
his man and shoot him down and then
where would the battery be2 But the
majors answer was, "Oh, we must not
show any timidity.' So I said no more, but
it was just such misplaced confidence
that afterwards cost Gen. Candy his life
among the Modocs, when he was shot
down by Captain Jack. Things went on
quietly until one day soldier went down
to the spring with his bucket and dipper
for water and an Indian who desired to
make a name for himself among his fell
lows, followed him stealthiIy, and when
he was in a sitting posture filing mis-
bucket, came up behind him and plunged
a long knife into his neck, intending, of
course, to kill him, but as luck would
have it, the Knife struck his coIlarbone
and doubled up SO the Indian could not
withdraw 1t. The shock nearly orostlslt-
| ed the soldier, but he succeed ed in reach
ing camp. The major Immediately de-
manded the surrender Of the guilty party
and che was given up by the Indians. |
noticed one thing, however, no more In
dams were allowed inside the hines with
guns in their hands.
camp, a. guard tent was established and
he was confined IN 1T, with ten men to
stand guard over him. These men were
Leach armed with the Minnie rifle, which
was first introduced into the army, land
/ which was quite EN- effective weapon.
While all this was going on we were
holding pow-pows every day with the In
dams, -endeavoripg to straigi1ten out and
clear upaaH the Vexed questions between
us. The manner Of holding a. council wa s
ITO select "a place on the prairie, plant an
american flag In the center, and all hands
r squat down in q circle around 1t. Then
the fspeechifyf1g would commence and
last for hours without any satisfactorily
results. Amy one who has had much eK-
| perience in Indian councils is aware of
the hopelessne5s of arriving sat ternai-
nation of the discussion. 1t very much
resembles Turkish diplomacy. But the
weather was pleasant and everybody was
| patient.
The Indians, however, were cencocting
plans all this time to effect the escape of
the prisoner in the guard house. So one
day they suggested certain place for
1.-THE holding of the council, giving some
plausible sreasDn for the change of loca-
l7tion. and when sthe time arrived every
body was assembled Tand the ring was
formed. Those gpresent consisted of all
| the traders, Supt. SChllen, Maj Sherman.
Lieut.. Ayers, in fact all the white men
lat the agency, and about 100 Indians, every
Ioorae of whom had lgun I'm his hands.
had warned the major frequently mot to
allow an Indian to come into coHncil with